Stardew Valley’s Farming Master

“I… I should head back now. There are still many details I need to add to this painting. Thank you again, Leon—thank you for your encouragement, and for your support. You’re a great model.”

Leah finally calmed herself enough to speak, wiping the corners of her eyes with her sleeve before looking up at Leon.

Even though she had tried to wipe them away, Leon still noticed the faint redness in her eyes.

He didn’t know exactly how much hardship and misunderstanding this girl had endured—leaving the big city, her family, and friends behind to pursue her dream here in Stardew Valley—but judging from how one simple word of encouragement from him had brought her to tears, her previous life must have been far from easy.

Leon’s reply softened naturally, his smile carrying all the warmth he could muster. “No need to thank me. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“Yes… we’re friends.” Leah nodded and repeated softly, then quickly turned her head away before her tears could overflow again. “Well, I’ll get going now. Hope you have a pleasant afternoon.”

With that, she turned and left—almost like she was fleeing.

“Alright. And I hope you create your best work yet.”

Leon didn’t stop her. What she needed most now was some time alone to settle her emotions. Still, as her back disappeared into the distance, he raised his hand and waved goodbye.

Leah didn’t turn back—her tears had already spilled over—but she did hear his voice. She couldn’t resist lifting her free left hand behind her to wave in return, letting him know she’d heard his well wishes.

When her figure finally vanished behind the lush growth of the Coal Forest, Leon lowered his hand with a quiet sigh. Then, slipping back into his usual composure, he pulled out his fishing rod to return to his original plan for the afternoon.

But just as he cast his line, watching the hook sink into the water and the ripples spread from the bobber, he heard Emily’s voice calling from afar.

“Leon! I’m here—sorry to keep you waiting!”

The main event had arrived, so fishing would have to wait.

As he reeled in the line, Leon turned to greet her. “It’s fine, I wasn’t waiting long. I’d just cast my line—didn’t even catch a single fish yet.”

“That’s good then. I could have been here sooner, but Haley insisted on having cake for lunch, so I spent extra time making her a cherry cake.”

Emily reached him, slightly out of breath, carrying a radio in her arms.

Leon’s gaze lingered on her attire.

She wore her usual red dress, but today it was a high-neck style, setting off her graceful figure without looking too flashy. Her short blue hair was tied up in a neat bun. Even without makeup, her clear skin and delicate features were more than enough to turn heads. Paired with the red dress, she was like a proud red rose in full bloom.

“Catch your breath first—you didn’t need to rush. The afternoon’s still long.” Seeing the sweat beading on her forehead, Leon pulled a tissue from his System Backpack and gently dabbed her brow.

It wasn’t strange for a farmer without a bathroom nearby to carry tissues, after all.

Emily, however, hadn’t expected this small kindness. Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t refuse. Instead, she bent her knees a little to make it easier for him—Leon was only about ten centimeters taller, so reaching her forehead took a bit of effort.

Leon noticed her subtle cooperation and nodded inwardly. She really was attentive. This warm, considerate “big sister next door” image… deadly for any man.

After wiping her forehead, Leon couldn’t resist tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear before withdrawing his hand. “That should feel better.”

“Mhm. I just didn’t expect you to be so skilled—helping me with my hair too,” Emily teased with a smile.

“Learned it from TV. This is the first time I’ve actually done it,” Leon replied with a ‘shy’ look that belied his utterly calm heart.

The seasoned charmer’s act was flawless. Emily bought it completely, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh at his bashful expression.

“Looks like you’ve got talent. Keep up that attentiveness—you’ll score high with girls in the future.”

“Who knows what the future holds?” Leon chuckled, steering the conversation away. This was one topic where playing dumb was safest.

Emily let it drop, feeling her breathing return to normal after the small exchange. She then suggested, “Shall we get started, Leon? Are you ready?”

“Of course. Always ready.” He nodded, following her to the largest ancient tree in the Coal Forest.

The ground here was flat, the grass soft and sparse underfoot—like stepping on a carpet. Even a fall here would be harmless. A perfect place to practice dancing.

Before starting, Emily set the radio down and tuned it to a station playing lively symphonic dance music.

“This is the music used for the Flower Dance every year,” she explained. “I called the station ahead of time and requested it. They’ll loop it all afternoon for us, so you don’t have to worry about losing the rhythm if the music changes.”

“All afternoon? You didn’t pay them for this, did you?” Leon asked, knowing a public station wouldn’t loop one track for hours without a special arrangement.

“No, just asked a former classmate for help—she’s the station manager. This channel doesn’t have many listeners, so it won’t cause any trouble,” Emily reassured him.

“Impressive,” Leon said, giving her a thumbs-up. She made it sound casual, but the connections and capability behind it were no joke.

Truly, Pelican Town’s residents should never be underestimated—each one had their hidden strengths.