Tomorrow marks the grand banquet at the Jade Chamber.
Nearly every customer at the Summer Shop was discussing this event.
Those who were fortunate enough to receive an invitation were especially spirited, boasting about it, leaving others envious.
After all, the floating Jade Chamber is an iconic wonder of Liyue, imbued with the legendary aura of the Tianquan Star. For a Liyue native, visiting the Jade Chamber is a matter of great prestige.
Standing behind the counter, Xia Zhi listened with great interest. It became increasingly clear to him just how influential Lady Ningguang was in Liyue; none of the other Qixing carried themselves as high-profile as she did.
And yet, this noble and elegant Lady of Liyue, who commanded such admiration, would surrender so delicately under his hands every day during massages, always pleading softly for him to ease up and take his time...
The thought left him feeling somewhat... amused.
---
There were still plenty of rare ingredients delivered by Ningguang yesterday. At noon, Xia Zhi picked out a few and prepared a simple meal, leaving everyone full of praise for his cooking.
After closing the shop for the afternoon, Xia Zhi headed into the kitchen.
Since the oil used for frying small fish could become pungent, he decided to fry the chicken and potatoes first, leaving the fish for last.
Before long, an enticing aroma of fried food began wafting from the kitchen, accompanied by bits of conversation between the boss and Zhu Zi.
"Is it ready?"
"It's ready!"
"Is it flavorful?"
"Yep! Very flavorful! Delicious!"
This was the privilege of stoking the fire—though the job was hot and messy behind the stove, it came with the perk of being able to taste-test the boss's cooking.
Diona's cat ears twitched as she secretly swallowed a bit of saliva.
Glancing briefly at her senior, Chi Yu, she noticed the latter looking frustrated.
The task of tending the fire was highly competitive, and today, Chi Yu had lost.
Diona's feline ears perked up even more as she overheard Chi Yu muttering to herself about how, "It was easier when I was in ghost form—I'd just float in and never fail..."
---
At that moment, Lady Ningguang arrived, accompanied by Baishi and Yelan.
Yelan had been summoned by Ningguang in the afternoon and greeted Shenhe upon entering.
Shenhe nodded slightly in acknowledgment toward this woman, who had asked her to craft Adepti Sigils at the Jade Chamber a few days prior.
Ningguang sniffed the air, her eyes lighting up as she glanced toward the kitchen. "It smells great. Is Mr. Xia cooking?"
"The boss is frying chicken!"
"And fried fish too!"
"Lady Ningguang, please have a seat. If you're here for a massage, you'll have to wait until my cousin is done."
"No rush. I'm not in a hurry. This is a good chance to chat with Miss Xia Ci."
Ningguang made her way to Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's side and began consulting her, with Baishi quietly following along.
Yelan, on the other hand, felt no need for formality and wandered around the shop, exploring the changes.
The last time she'd visited to have juice, the shop hadn't yet been expanded. Now, it felt much more spacious.
---
Not long after, Zhu Zi emerged from the kitchen carrying a large plate of fried chicken.
"There's more inside."
"I'll help carry it!"
"Me too!"
Chi Yu and Diona dashed into the kitchen.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata set aside her book and stepped in to greet the guests on Xia Zhi's behalf: "Come on, everyone, dig in while it's hot. Don't be shy."
Shenhe glanced at her but said nothing.
She simply picked up a chicken wing, her Vision glowing faintly as she cooled it with her Cryo power. She then handed it to Yaoyao.
"Thank you, Sister Shenhe."
"Eat slowly."
"Okay!"
The fried chicken was, without question, delicious—especially since it was prepared with master-level cooking skills. The taste was so exquisite that it brought a sense of pure happiness.
For someone like Yelan, tasting it for the first time, the joy was doubly potent.
---
Xia Zhi stepped out of the kitchen, smiling as he greeted Ningguang and the others.
When he "saw" Yelan, he paused briefly, feeling a flicker of surprise—not for any particular reason other than noticing the fresh scars on her body.
It seemed she had recently undertaken yet another dangerous mission.
---
After finishing the fried chicken, Ningguang, familiar with the routine, followed Xia Zhi into the back room. Without needing his instruction, she lay down of her own accord.
"Mr. Xia, I'll be disrupting your business tomorrow."
"It's no trouble. I'll just write a notice and post it on the door later. Mora isn't something we can ever fully exhaust, after all."
"Mora may be limitless, but I think the more, the better."
"Well, Lady Ningguang represents wealth as the Tianquan Star."
"Tianquan Star... To be honest, I'm actually someone who lacks a sense of security. Maybe because my origins were too humble—I came all the way from Yaoguang Shoal, witnessing too much ugliness along the way. This lofty position of power often feels so intangible. Only the weight of Mora gives me a sense of stability."
"Oh?"
"I used to struggle with sleeplessness, especially after Morax departed and Liyue transitioned to a human-led government. The Qixing gained more power, but the pressure on us also grew immensely... But ever since Mr. Xia began helping me with massages, I've been sleeping soundly at night. I must truly thank you."
"Well, you paid for it. It's the least I can do."
"Heh, it's so relaxing talking to you, Mr. Xia. With others, I always feel the need to wear different masks."
"Lady Ningguang has it tough."
"Doesn't she? These banquets—honestly, I'm not that enthusiastic about them. But in today's Liyue, this kind of gathering is necessary. It boosts morale and helps establish connections."
"I'm just there to enjoy the opera, anyway."
"Ah, Yunjin's performance?"
"Exactly. I've heard many customers talk about the story of 'The Divine Damsel of Devastation.'"
"Mr. Xia might not know this."
"Know what?"
"The inspiration for 'The Divine Damsel of Devastation' likely comes from a local legend. Based on my investigations, the prototype for that legend is none other than Shenhe."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Mr. Xia, are you aware of Shenhe's background?"
"She hasn't mentioned it, so I don't know much."
"While conducting a search for something, Yelan stumbled across records and uncovered some things about Shenhe's family background. Let me share them with you…"
Ningguang recounted what she had learned, aligning with what Xia Zhi already knew.
Feigning surprise, Xia Zhi exclaimed, "I never imagined Shenhe experienced such things as a child…"
Ningguang sighed, "Fate is merciless, allowing no control over one's life."
"Thank you for sharing, Lady Ningguang. I'll make sure to take better care of Shenhe from now on."
"Mr. Xia, you're truly kind-hearted."
"As her boss, looking after employees is my responsibility."
"That's true. Actually, my relationship with Yelan is a bit like that of a boss and employee. Over the years, she's undertaken numerous missions for me, sustaining many injuries, and still carries scars to this day. Seeing how effective your essential oil massages are for recovery, I'd like to ask if you could also help Yelan with her injuries."
"Of course."
"Naturally, I'll pay extra."
"No need for that. Yelan has quietly contributed so much to Liyue over the years. I'd be more than happy to help alleviate her pain."
Xia Zhi, thinking about the silver progress bar associated with Yelan, nodded with a serious expression.
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