Early next morning, Qiqi had already finished gathering herbs and was quietly waiting at the shop door.
Miss Chi Yu opened the door for Qiqi. She had stayed overnight watching the shop and had taken so pastries from the kitchen as a midnight snack.
After breakfast, Shenhe left with her gifts and Xia Zhi's pastries to visit Chongyun's family.
Zhu Zi also took out the various gifts she bought yesterday, planning to go to the docks to find Komore Teahouse's ship to help send them ho.
Seeing she had quite a lot of things and was having her period, Xia Zhi had Qiqi accompany her and help carry things.
"Boss, we're going!"
"Did you bring your key?"
"Yes!"
"When you return, rember to make several more copies of the keys. Everyone at the shop should have their own door key, so Qiqi can co in directly when she arrives early."
"Okay!"
"Be careful on the way."
"Got it!"
With Shenhe, Zhu Zi, and Qiqi gone, the shop suddenly beca quiet.
Fortunately, Miss Chi Yu was there. Though she appeared mature and steady when being serious, once you got familiar with her, you'd find she was actually similar to Hu Tao - a lively and mischievous personality.
Xia Zhi closed the shop door, brewed a pot of good tea from Qiaoying Village, invited her to drink together, and chatted about various Liyue legends and tales.
One person and one ghost were deep in conversation.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and a strange girl's voice.
"Boss, are you in the shop?"
The girl's Liyue language wasn't very standard, her voice sounding sowhat childish, sweet and clear but with an indescribable hint of lazy pride.
Xia Zhi didn't get up, thinking she was probably an uninford outside custor. Once she saw the notice posted on the shop door saying Sumr Shop was closed today, she would naturally leave.
The person and ghost continued chatting and drinking tea.
"Boss? You're in there, right? I hear people talking inside."
"Open the door, I'm here to find you."
"I really have sothing important to discuss with you."
The girl persisted calling from outside.
Xia Zhi felt sowhat helpless, putting down his teacup: "Miss Chi Yu, please step aside for a mont."
Chi Yu nodded, smiling as she concealed herself.
Xia Zhi felt a familiar ripple of illusion magic.
Miss Chi Yu must have used her [Moon in the Water] ability.
Xia Zhi stood up, walked to the door, and opened it.
Outside stood a petite strange girl. She had pink hair, wore a cute hat, and was dressed in typical Mondstadt clothing. At her waist hung a wine gourd common among Mondstadt people, with a Cryo Vision inlaid on it.
In Xia Zhi's "eyes," she had a silver progress bar: [0%].
All this was normal.
What Xia Zhi found more interesting was that this girl actually had fluffy cat ears and a cat tail.
The girl looked up at Xia Zhi coming from the shop, her cat ears twitching slightly, very cute.
"Excuse , are you the owner of Sumr Shop?"
"I am. If you want to drink juice, please co back tomorrow. Our shop is closed on Saturdays and Sundays."
"I'm not here for juice, I'm here for you!"
"For ?"
"Yes! I hope you can teach how to make rainbow juice!"
The girl looked at him, her green eyes shining with pure bright light.
"Whatever requirents you have, I'll work hard to et them!"
Xia Zhi paused, then smiled and said: "I have no requirents, and I don't want to teach anyone how to make rainbow juice. Please leave."
The girl beca anxious: "Why?"
Xia Zhi shook his head: "No reason, I simply don't want to."
The girl's cat ears drooped, she lowered her head, her mood becoming very downcast: "You really won't teach anyone no matter what?"
Xia Zhi "looked" at her cute tail also drooping behind her, and asked curiously: "I can tell you're quite young. Can you tell why you want to learn how to make rainbow juice?"
The girl said seriously: "Because I want to destroy Mondstadt's wine industry."
"?"
"That's my dream!"
Xia Zhi looked at her, feeling this cat girl seed not very bright.
"Rainbow juice isn't wine."
"But it tastes better than wine! Those who've tried rainbow juice all quit drinking!"
"So, you want to learn how to make rainbow juice, open a juice shop in Mondstadt, and make drinkers quit alcohol after trying the juice?"
"Yes!"
The girl nodded vigorously.
"Then why do you want to destroy Mondstadt's wine industry?"
"Because wine is bad! People go crazy when they drink! It's all wine's fault! Wine bewitches people, makes them stupid! It's evil!"
The girl clenched her fists, looking cute even when angry, her silver progress bar changed to [1%].
Xia Zhi could feel her determination. This girl really thought this way - she wanted to learn how to make rainbow juice not to make money, but simply to help people quit drinking.
Xia Zhi thought for a mont, then said: "Co in first."
The girl felt things might be turning around and quickly nodded: "Okay!"
She followed Xia Zhi into the shop, looking at the simple furnishings, feeling this shop was sowhat similar in style to Cat's Tail tavern.
"Please sit."
"Oh, okay!"
"Would you like so tea?"
"Yes... no! Thank you!"
The girl abruptly changed her mind and refused, though from the way she secretly licked her lips while looking at the clear tea in the cup, it was obvious she was very thirsty. She was just being cautious about drinking tea offered by strangers.
Xia Zhi nodded inwardly. Though this girl appeared naively foolish, she wasn't completely simple-minded.
"My na is Xia Zhi, I'm the owner of Sumr Shop."
"I'm Diona! From Mondstadt! I was previously a bartender at Cat's Tail!"
"Bartender?"
"Yes! It was a job I worked hard to get! I always make 100% disgusting drinks for those drunkards, but sohow they always say my drinks taste especially good..."
"What's a 100% disgusting drink?"
"Like lizard-salt wine, lizard tails, pepper, sea snails..."
"And they actually find this tasty?"
"Yes! They even ask for more!"
"..."
Xia Zhi fell silent.
Are Mondstadt's drinkers all this hardcore?
"Miss Diona, did you co from Mondstadt alone?"
"Mm! I ca with a rchant caravan!"
"Do your family know?"
"I left a letter!"
So she's even a runaway girl! After chatting a bit more, Xia Zhi pretty much understood Diona's situation.
"So what are your plans?"
"Plans?"
"What will you do if I don't teach you how to make rainbow juice?"
"I... I'll stay in Liyue! No matter how long it takes! I must learn it!"
"Do you have money?"
"I brought 20,000 Mora!"
"Living expenses in Liyue are very high. 20,000 Mora... won't last long."
"I can work part-ti!"
"Part-ti..."
Liyue isn't like Mondstadt. There are rchants from everywhere here, and innocent girls like her could easily be tricked into signing contracts under the pretense of part-ti work.
Really can't do anything about you.
Never mind about the cat-eared server or silver treasure chest, he mainly didn't want to see a holess poor girl get hurt.
Xia Zhi looked at her cute cat ears and said: "How about this - my shop needs another server. If you're willing, you can stay and work here. We can sign a proper labor contract, either full-ti or part-ti. I'll pay you according to our shop's standards. As for making rainbow juice, I won't teach you for now, though you can try to learn by watching. If you can learn it, that's fine. Miss Diona, what do you think?"
Diona froze for a mont, then her eyes lit up brightly.
"I'm willing to stay! Boss!"
----
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