Lorna felt genuinely happy for Gali. She noticed that Gali, who usually didn't have many friends around Xu Mo and seemed like a stranger to others, could benefit from having a companion. Lorna appreciated having a stable place to stay, a good job, and a comfortable home, all thanks to Gali's presence.
Even though there had been some bumps along the way, Lorna was glad that she and Gali had become friends.
"Yes," Xu Mo agreed. He saw the value in Gali having a friend; spending every day watching children's animation could be quite dull without some variety.
"Hmph, are you talking bad about me?" Gali's voice cut through as she peeked out from the crack in her bedroom door.
Xu Mo, having heard her, walked over and gently ushered Gali into the bathroom. "Go wash your face."
When Gali reappeared, she saw that Xu Mo had already started working on new sketches in the study. She decided to lie down on the sofa and watch TV reports instead.
"Welcome to the American Morning News. Here are the latest updates," the news anchor began.
"Norman Osborn, chairman of the Osborn Group, has been reported missing. Speculations are rife, but there are no updates from Stark Industries either."
"Last night, there was a terrorist attack on the Brook Bridge. The super criminal Green Goblin fought with Spider-Man, but the outcome is unknown. Witnesses have reported seeing Spider-Man active in New York this morning."
"The military has conducted a large-scale operation in the desert with advanced weapons. The purpose remains unclear."
"Five astronauts will board an airship this afternoon, heading towards the Universe Storm to gather data on human genetic inheritance and benefit humanity."
Gali, disinterested, found the news to be mundane. She was more accustomed to the colorful and imaginative world of Xu Mo's cartoons.
She quietly approached Xu Mo and peeked over his shoulder, observing him work on a new manga featuring a protagonist named Kurosaki wielding a large kitchen knife. Gali raised an eyebrow and chuckled to herself.
"Why don't you go play with Mindy?" Xu Mo asked casually, not looking up from his work.
Xu Mo knew Gali was just curious about his drawing process but didn't seem impatient. She was more likely looking for something to do.
Gali pouted and said, "Mindy has gone to school. I promised not to disturb her while she's there."
Mindy, being both mischievous and studious, attended school to prepare for her future. Gali, not wanting to interfere, had accepted this.
"Why don't I send you to school with Mindy? That way, you won't disturb her," Xu Mo suggested. He thought it might be beneficial for Gali to get out and have some new experiences.
Gali's eyes lit up with excitement. "Okay, I'll call Mindy and see her at school!" she said eagerly.
As Gali prepared to make the call, Lorna interjected, "Um, schools usually don't allow eating in class. Can you handle that for so long, Gali?"
Lorna had noticed that Gali seemed to eat constantly, which she attributed to either a side effect of her superpowers or a need to maintain physical strength.
Gali's face fell, and she gasped, "What? No place to eat? That sounds awful!"
For Gali, who had a near-constant appetite, the idea of a place where eating was restricted seemed like a nightmare.
Xu Mo nodded sympathetically. "Yes, it looks like you might not be able to go to school after all."
Gali whimpered in distress but accepted her fate, sulking back to the sofa where she resumed eating and drinking.
Xu Mo and Lorna exchanged glances and shook their heads, returning to their work. It wasn't long before Gali slowly approached them again.
"Gali, what's wrong?" Xu Mo asked.
Gali hesitated before speaking. "Hey, Xu Mo, I want to paint."
Xu Mo, confused, asked, "What do you mean?"
"I want to draw comics!" Gali exclaimed. "It's so boring just watching TV. I want to paint too!"
Xu Mo was taken aback by Gali's sudden enthusiasm and frustration. "You want to draw comics? Do you even know what you're doing?"
Gali, frustrated and rolling around on the floor, insisted, "I want to paint! I need to do something!"
"Get up, you're not even touching the floor properly," Xu Mo said, exposing her lack of sincerity.
Lorna, who was enjoying the scene, burst into laughter. Gali's dramatic antics added a lot of fun to the daily routine.
"What do you want to draw?" Xu Mo asked.
"A cat! Like Doraemon!" Gali replied with excitement.
Xu Mo smiled and handed her some drawing materials. "Alright, draw a cat. Let's see what you can do."
Gali, now eagerly working on her drawing, felt a renewed sense of purpose.