Breakfast was lavish.
Everyone ate their fill.
Especially Cloud Retainer—almost every dish was to her taste.
After the al, Yaoyao darted over to Xia Zhi and whispered her request. "Big brother, I want to make a Contract with you too."
Xia Zhi blinked. "Contract? What Contract?"
"As a Magical Girl!"
"Where'd you hear that?"
"Sister Noelle told . She said her swordsmanship's been improving fast because of it."
"I see."
"Big brother, can I beco a Magical Girl too?"
"You're a bit too young."
"Eh?"
"You're still a little girl—not even past the minimum for 'maiden.'"
"But big brother, I've already grown really tall!"
"It's not just about height. It's about resolve."
"Resolve?"
"Why does Yaoyao want to be a Magical Girl?"
"So my spear skills can improve faster!"
"That reason's a little too simple."
"Eh? Not allowed?"
Yaoyao's eyes turned pleading, pitiful.
He really couldn't resist.
"…Guess it counts as the heart of a warrior. Fine." Xia Zhi ruffled her hair. "Conveniently, I'm making Collei's Magical Girl transformation item today. I'll make you one too."
"Yay! Thanks, big brother!"
"But you'd better tell your master first. Otherwise she'll think I'm luring you away."
"I know!"
Yaoyao ran to Mada Ping and told her everything.
Ping fell silent.
Cloud Retainer ca by and nudged her shoulder. "What's with the daze?"
"Quiet. I'm thinking."
"…."
After a while, Ping sighed, echoing Cloud Retainer's earlier words.
"When disciples grow up, they can't be kept."
Her eldest disciple, Xiangling, had already gone to learn cooking from Mr. Xia. And now her youngest, Yaoyao, was the sa.
--
Later that day, Charlotte wandered the streets of Mondstadt with her Kara, snapping beautiful photos—scenery, lovely people, and adorable animals alike.
So of the girls, with nothing to do since the potion shop was fully staffed, tagged along to shop and take pictures.
When they returned, Diona seed troubled.
After thinking for a long ti, she went to Xia Zhi. "Boss, there's sothing I want to ask you."
"What is it?"
"While I was out with Charlotte today, I noticed… there are so many stray cats in Mondstadt."
"That's normal. Mondstadt's been through dragon calamities these past two years. Living standards dropped hard. People couldn't earn money—feeding themselves beca a problem, let alone feeding pets. So many house cats were abandoned, and they beca strays."
"They're so pitiful."
"You an…"
"Boss, I want to help them!"
Her expression was dead serious.
Xia Zhi couldn't help but chuckle—the scene felt oddly familiar.
Not long ago, Xia Lin had co to him with the sa words.
Only back then, she wasn't talking about stray cats, but stray people.
That was what had led him to partner with Jean to open a potion shop, using its profits for Mondstadt's public works—providing jobs to those who had none.
Now it was happening again.
Probably because Diona herself was a cat, she naturally empathized with the street cats.
It was a good thing.
Xia Zhi nodded. "Then let's help them."
"Boss, do you have a good idea?"
"You could make a shelter or rescue station for them. But it'd be expensive—housing, food, dicine, staff. All of it costs money. And such a place wouldn't generate profit to sustain itself."
"So… it needs lots of money," Diona muttered, troubled.
"Which is why a pure shelter won't work. The more cats you take in, the more you spend, and it becos a bottomless pit. I think sothing like the Cat's Tail is a great model. The cats are the tavern's biggest draw, bringing custors. Then the profits from custors go back to feeding the cats. A self-sustaining cycle."
It was like giving strays good jobs—earning their own keep.
Diona's eyes sparkled. "That's right!"
"And compared to Cat's Tail, we've got advantages. You've been experinting with drink recipes, right? You must already have plenty of good ones."
"I do!"
"Then use a few as signature drinks. In Mondstadt, as long as the booze is good, the business will thrive."
"Mhm!"
"Cat's Tail's big seller now is mahjong—imported from Liyue. That's child's play for us. Just contact Ningguang on your phone, place an order, and have a caravan deliver it."
"Mhm, mhm!"
"And besides—you've always wanted to change Mondstadt's alcohol industry, haven't you? If you open a tavern like this, not only will you solve the stray cat problem, but you'll also take the first crucial step toward your dream. Two birds, one stone."
"Mhm, mhm, mhm!"
Diona clenched her fists, eyes glowing with excitent.
Xia Zhi smiled. "We're free these days anyway. We'll check the property listings later and find a storefront."
Suddenly rembering sothing, Diona asked, "But Boss, we're heading to Inazuma soon. Who'll watch the tavern?"
Xia Zhi thought. "Then we'll need to find a Mondstadt local. Reliable, and a cat-lover…"
In Diona's mind flashed the image of a cold-faced nun.
"Boss, I've got an idea!"
Truthfully, the best candidate to manage the tavern would be Noelle.
But she was already running the Dragon Potions as its manager, with her schedule packed full every day. Expecting her to take on a second job as head of a pet tavern was obviously unrealistic.
Aside from Noelle, most of their friends in Mondstadt were already tied up with duties in the Knights of Favonius. People like Jean and Lisa had no spare ti to take on a role like this.
Venti, as a bard, was usually pretty free. Plus, he knew his liquor—he should've been a perfect fit.
Except for one fatal problem: he was allergic to cats. The mont he got near one, he couldn't stop sneezing. That was completely out of the question.
Barbara, as a Deaconess, had free ti too. But she was too young, and unlike Noelle, she lacked the experience and decisiveness to handle such responsibility.
Which left only one last option.
The seemingly cold, but in truth love-starved Cryo nun—Rosaria.
She adored cats. Even strays, if she found them, she'd take them ho and look after them.
And as a nun of the Church of Favonius, she was recognized by the institution itself. That ant her character was trustworthy—no risk of her running off with the profits.
The only thing uncertain was whether she had the ability to actually manage the business. That would need testing.
Xia Zhi chuckled. "Got soone in mind?"
Diona voiced her thought. "Boss, what about that nun Little White likes so much?"
Xia Zhi thought it over. "From what I recall, she's fine. Barbara seems close to her too. Give Barbara a call, ask her about Rosaria's situation."
"Okay, Boss."
--
By dinnerti, everyone already knew Diona was planning to open a pet tavern.
Naturally, everyone was intrigued, tossing around ideas and suggestions.
After the al, they all headed to Cat's Tail to check the place out again, studying its strengths firsthand.
Thanks to the Mahjong Tournant's success not long ago, Cat's Tail's business was booming. Every mahjong table was full, with more people crowding around to watch or wait their turn.
As for Genius Invokation TCG, aside from two die-hard tables hidden in a corner, the ga was basically invisible.
They wandered the tavern, played with the cats, and snapped photos of the furniture with their phones, planning to use the sa standards when decorating their own shop.
When Margaret, the proprietress, spotted Diona, she happily ca over to chat—after all, little Diona had once been her best bartender.
Diona, a bit embarrassed, fidgeted under the attention.
When they left Cat's Tail, she looked like she had sothing on her mind.
Xia Zhi caught on. "Mahjong parlors are a rising trend now. Cat's Tail alone can't handle the flood of custors. Even if you don't open one, soone else will. So don't worry about stealing business—you're not."
Only then did Diona relax, nodding. "Mm."
Back at the Church of Favonius, they ran into Rosaria, sitting on a bench, cigarette holder in hand.
With a subtle thought from Xia Zhi, the kitten in Diona's arms—Little White—squird free and bounded onto Rosaria's lap.
With such a fluffy little bridge, conversation naturally followed.
Rosaria set her smoke aside, stroked the cat, then glanced up to greet them.
Diona grinned. "See? Little White really likes you—it ran over the mont it saw you."
Rosaria's face was as flat as ever. "It's fine."
They chatted idly for a bit.
At last, Rosaria reluctantly lifted the cat off her lap and handed it back to Diona.
Xia Zhi spoke. "Miss Rosaria, would you have any interest in becoming a tavern manager?"
Rosaria turned her head, eyes narrowing slightly. "Manager?"
"Yeah. We're planning to open a pet tavern in Mondstadt."
"Like Cat's Tail?"
"That's right."
"But aren't you all heading to Inazuma soon?"
"Oh? Miss Rosaria already knew?"
"I heard you ntion it last ti."
"Exactly. Which is why we need soone to run the place."
"And why ?"
"Because we think you're the perfect fit."
"Perfect fit?"
Her expression was sowhere between skeptical and amused.
Xia Zhi said, "Tomorrow we'll be scouting for a property. If you're interested, you could co with us."
Rosaria neither agreed nor refused. She simply said, "I know."
Once more, Xia Zhi gave a subtle ntal nudge. Little White wriggled free from Diona's arms, scampered back onto Rosaria's lap, and settled there.
Diona bent down, gently scolding, "Little White, you can't just keep climbing on people like that."
"ow."
Xia Zhi smiled. "It's fine. Since Little White loves sticking with Miss Rosaria, let it play with her. Sorry to trouble you, Miss Rosaria."
Rosaria stroked the cat. "It's fine. I'll look after it."
Only after watching the others head into the Church did Rosaria lift the white cat again. She gazed into its bright, soulful eyes.
"ow."
So cute.
User Comments
0 comments from readers