After handling a few more files, Huixin took her leave, arms full of paperwork.
Ganyu picked up the little qilin plush again, idly kneading it between her fingers.
Life was all about two things: career and love.
She had devoted all her years to "career." Maybe it was finally ti for "love" to have its turn.
Sure, her job at Yuehai Pavilion was based on a contract she made with the Geo Archon himself—but hey, he bailed first.
So technically… she could too.
No—wait. Morax withdrew so Liyue could transition from divine rule to mortal rule.
Which ant… if she passed her authority down to a mortal, she'd be fulfilling his will. Totally justifiable.
If she trained Huixin properly, she could retire just like the Archon.
Well, not fully retire. Since Morax worked as a vice principal now, she could do sothing similar—take a job at the school, be like her junior sister, and work as Mr. Xia's secretary.
But before that… she'd travel with Mr. Xia for a while.
She hadn't left Liyue in thousands of years. It was about ti.
She'd just consider it cashing in all those unused vacation days in one go.
Perfectly reasonable.
Ganyu put down the plush and pulled out a photo, her eyes misting over as she bit her lip.
That gnawing emptiness in her heart…
It was getting harder to ignore.
[Now that Senior Sister is an adeptus, and I am too… as immortals, shouldn't we be above all taboos? Why be so afraid of desire?]
Ganyu couldn't help but recall sothing Shenhe had said to her.
"Above all taboos… Mother must've fallen for Father because of love too, right? And now, the one I've fallen for… is a god."
----
February 8th, Monday.
Principal Xia spent the entire day attending classes with the students, checking up on the teaching performance of the school's faculty.
Overall, everything was excellent.
There was just one issue—whenever he stood outside a classroom, the young female teachers who were in the middle of lecturing would invariably turn their heads to glance at him, their eyes shining with unmistakable interest.
The effect of [Angelic Voice] might have been a little too strong.
To avoid disrupting normal instruction, Xia Zhi decided to bring everyone back to the Sumr Shop the next day.
"Everyone, take a day or two to get your things in order."
"Boss, are we heading out?"
"Yeah. The Windblu Festival in Mondstadt is in March. Today's already February 9th."
"There's still twenty-sothing days left!"
"We're also stopping by Mt. Aocang first. We're on a tight schedule."
"Miss Shenhe's ho, right?"
"Mm. My master's adeptus abode."
"Cloud Retainer!"
"Auntie Cloud Retainer!"
"Boss, should we go to the market and stock up on food?"
"Yeah, buy plenty. We'll be cooking during the trip, and there won't be much decent food out in the wild this ti of year."
Xia Zhi couldn't help but think back to when he'd first arrived in this world—when he got hungry, he had no choice but to eat those unbearably sour fruits in the trees with the little crane. Thankfully, he later managed to blow up a fish in the river.
He still had so of those sour fruits stashed in his inventory. They'd been ant as ergency food, but he never ended up needing them.
Though the little crane seed to love those fruits—she'd eat several at a ti. When he went to visit her this ti, he could bring so as a gift. She'd probably be overjoyed.
---
Long-distance travel was honestly a pain.
So things they already had at ho and could just toss into the storage inventory.
But others had to be bought last-minute in the market.
Naturally, the two shopaholic goddesses in the house imdiately suggested they go shopping together.
Xia Zhi didn't join them—not because he didn't want to, but because he had to cook.
During one of their recent massages, Lady Ningguang had subtly hinted several tis that, of all the things she could eat during her busy workdays, only his pickled vegetables made her feel like she had an appetite.
Definitely not because she was pregnant or anything.
After all, nothing inappropriate had happened between him and Lady Ningguang.
She was just… accustod to the taste of his cooking. That's all.
Sa case with Lady Keqing, Lady Yelan, Lady Yanfei…
If Xia Zhi wasn't around, who knew how empty their stomachs—and hearts—would be?
So he had to prep so food in advance before leaving, to make sure no one starved.
It vaguely felt like he was setting out extra kibble for his cats before going on a trip.
"Xiangling, Guoba, co help in the kitchen."
"Okay, Master!"
"Wuwu!"
"Master, what are we making today?"
"Sauces. They'll last longer."
"Mushroom sauce?"
"And fernted black bean sauce. Go wash so soybeans and load them into the [Dragon-Turning Pot]."
"Got it!"
"Fernted fish with black beans, black bean chili sauce, black bean chicken… This ti, let's try making a full line of Lao Gan Die-style condints."
"Wuwu!!"
They finished a batch of chili-black bean sauce and left it out to cool.
Xiangling and Guoba couldn't resist tasting it with a spoon.
"How is it?"
"Delicious!"
"Wuwu!"
"But Master, I think it's not spicy enough."
"Oh?"
"If we swapped the normal chilies for Jueyun Chilies, it'd be way better!"
"That'd be too spicy. They won't be able to handle it."
"But Lady Yelan loves spicy food. Whenever she ca to Wanmin Restaurant, she'd specifically ask to add Jueyun Chilies to her dishes."
"In that case… let's make a special extra-spicy batch."
"Yay!"
They whipped up a second batch—Jueyun Chili Black Bean Sauce—and left it to cool as well.
Of course, Xiangling and Guoba ca over to taste-test again.
"How is it?"
"Hhhaaa… so… spicy…"
"Fwwwaaa!"
"Water… hhhaaa… water…"
Gulp gulp gulp!
These two dummies…
Xia Zhi laughed and shook his head, then went upstairs to his room and brought down a set of alchemy equipnt.
When he got back to the kitchen, he found Xiangling collapsed next to a water bucket, eyes glazed, cheeks flushed, lips parted, and her clothes soaked through… a scene that defied polite description.
Guoba lay belly-up at her feet, stomach round and distended. Who knew how much water he'd gulped down?
"Master…"
Xiangling whimpered weakly.
"This… isn't Jueyun Chili, is it?"
"It is."
"Then why is it so spicy?"
"Maybe a new variety? I'm not sure. Xia Ci grew them."
"!!!"
Xiangling took a few sharp breaths.
"You still feeling it?"
"It felt like my insides were on fire at first… now it's better."
"That's what you get for being greedy."
"Wuwu…"
"Master, what's that thing in your hand?"
"A canning machine."
"Huh?"
"I told you about it before."
Xia Zhi stepped over to the stove, scooped so sauce into a container, and gently pressed the lever down.
Click! A sealed, circular can popped out from the other side.
Xiangling watched with wide eyes. "So that's how canned food is made?!"
Xia Zhi shook his head. "That's not how it's done comrcially. This is a thod I improved myself."
"Master, you're amazing!"
"Wanna try it?"
"Yes!"
"Then I'll leave the canning to you. I've got other sauces to make."
"Mm! Leave it to !"
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