“You can still make one more, right? Please, Miss, just this once!” Renee begged with sincerity.


    “You cane back tomorrow. It’s just some dumplings. People won’t die just from not having one,


    right?”


    “No, no, someone might really die without those dumplings… Basically, it’s super important, so please


    make one more! I’m a regr, aren’t I? You wouldn’t let me go back empty-handed, would you?”


    “Oh, you, alright, alright! Come on!” The storekeeper shook her head helplessly and opened up her


    kitchen again just to fulfill Renee’s request.


    In actuality, the storekeeper wasn’t the only one who cared for Renee. The entire town loved her and


    would do anything to help her out.


    Naturally, they sympathized with her because she had to take care of a disabled man, despite her


    fragile figure.


    However, she managed to win them over with her sincere and adorable nature, along with her


    diligence. She had always helped many elderly who lived alone with technology, so everyone thought


    of her as a lovelypanion.


    As the storekeeper started wrapping the dumplings, she made some small talk with Renee. “Who’s this


    person dying over dumplings? It’s not Van, is it? I remember he doesn’t like carbs, though?”


    “It’s not him.” Renee helped out with wrapping the dumplings as well, swiftly cing the filling into a


    dumpling skin and pressing the edges together.


    “Not him?!” The storekeeper froze, and her tendency to gossip was piqued. “My my, did I find out some


    kind of big secret? These dumplings aren’t for Van, but someone else?”


    “It’s… for an old friend I knew back in my hometown,” Renee said mysteriously.


    “Then this old friend must be quite important to you. You bought so many dumplings every day without


    fail. And now you’re begging me to make another despite it being sote! Why do I feel like… they’re


    more important to you than Van?”


    “Haha, why would you ever think that, Miss? You know me and Van are the model couple in the town.


    Are you doubting our rtionship?” Renee jokingly quipped.


    To the public, they would always present themselves as lovers, which was why many thought they were


    deeply in love and were quite envious of their rtionship.


    However, behind closed doors, they seemed more like lonelypanions, merely living on for their


    purest desires.


    “That’s because Van only seems like a responsibility to you. I can tell you’re tired. However, your


    feelings towards this person… feels more like genuine love, as you’re very passionate about their well-


    being.” The storekeeper replied straightforwardly.


    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Renee was stunned to hear this. After a moment of silence, she tried to justify herself by speaking


    philosophically. “Well, isn’t the purest form of love… responsibility?”


    Soon, the dumplings were done cooking, with their amazing fragrance permeating through the air. This


    time, most of them were wrapped by Renee herself as well. Although they didn’t look as good, she


    found it rather meaningful.


    The storekeeper put the dumplings in a small container and handed it to Renee. Just as she was about


    to pay, the storekeeper refused.


    “Joan, you made these dumplings yourself, so I’m not taking any of your money. I just hope these


    dumplings will bring you a smile, a genuine smile.” The storekeeper patted Renee on the shoulder, her


    words strangely cryptic.


    ‘That child is so young, and yet she has been carrying so much responsibility on her shoulders…’


    ‘I’ve only started seeing a blissful expression on her facetely; perhaps that’s what these dumplings


    truly mean to her.’