Chapter 163

Returning to Summer Shop, Chi Yu curiously looked at the pile of things Zhu Zi bought.

"Is this silk scarf from Sumeru?"

"Yes! It's expensive, but the quality is good!"

"What's a single young girl buying such a nice silk scarf for?"

"It's for my mother!"

"What's this?"

"A mechanical pocket watch from Fontaine!"

"For your father?"

"Mm!"

"Zhu Zi is so filial."

"Hehe, I finally earned my first salary, of course I have to buy gifts for my parents."

"Isn't your home in Inazuma, Zhu Zi? That's so far..."

"Komore Teahouse can help send it back! I sent a letter home before, don't know if it's arrived yet."

"I see."

Chi Yu looked at Qiqi and Shenhe, who had also bought some things, though not as much as Zhu Zi.

"By the way..." Qiqi seemed to suddenly remember something, looking at Zhu Zi who was organizing things. "Miss Zhu Zi, how much was that new bedsheet you lent me?"

"That? I think it was 50 Mora."

"I'll give you 50 Mora, and consider it bought from you, is that okay?"

"Sure, then that room will be Qiqi's from now on."

"Mm."

Qiqi carefully counted out 50 Mora and handed it to Zhu Zi.

Zhu Zi put away the money and smiled: "When I first came to the shop, only the boss lived upstairs, with four empty rooms. Who would've thought they'd all be almost full now."

At this time, Xia Zhi's voice came from the kitchen: "Someone come tend the fire, I'm going to start cooking."

Chi Yu immediately responded: "Boss, I'm coming!"

Zhu Zi watched Miss Chi Yu suddenly disappear before her eyes, her expression freezing as a sense of crisis welled up inside her.

After Miss Shenhe had taken away her laundry rights, would Miss Chi Yu take away her fire-tending rights?

Zhu Zi really liked helping the boss tend the fire. Although the work wasn't fun, she could sneak tastes!

Because whenever the boss cooked, he would always have her taste-test the flavors.

Whenever the boss made new delicious dishes, she was always the first to taste them. That feeling of being fed by the boss was absolutely wonderful.

But now with Miss Chi Yu here, this special privilege seemed like it would be shared.

Getting her first salary, making her first legendary ghost friend - two happy things overlapping should have made her even happier, but...

Thinking this, Zhu Zi couldn't help feeling worried.

Lunch was ready, and Xia Zhi had made it very abundant, mostly vegetarian dishes.

This was originally specially prepared for Miss Ganyu, but unfortunately she had to return to work overtime.

But it didn't matter too much. They could consider it welcoming new employee Miss Chi Yu to the shop, while also celebrating last month's booming business.

One familiar dish on the table was the Treasure Mountain Flying Dragon Pot.

It was Miss Chi Yu's first time eating it, and she loved it: "Such delicious cuisine, no wonder Xiangling could win the Cooking Championship with it."

"Boss, wonder where Miss Xiangling has gotten to now."

"She left with the merchant caravan last Sunday morning. It's been almost a week now; if they traveled quickly, they should be near Mondstadt."

"Miss Chi Yu, have you been to Mondstadt before?"

"Went once, but Mondstadt wasn't very interesting back then."

"Oh."

"Miss Chi Yu, have you eaten at Wanmin Restaurant before?"

"Yes, but back then Wanmin was just a small restaurant - big portions, cheap prices, and as for taste, nothing special."

"Really!"

"There were also Liuli Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk, both small unknown eateries back then. Who would've thought they'd become Liyue's landmarks now."

"Our Summer Shop will definitely become a Liyue landmark too!"

"Indeed!"

Xia Zhi looked at his energetic employees and nodded with a smile.

After lunch and resting a while, Yaoyao came.

"Yaoyao! The boss gave out salaries today!"

"Eh?"

The little girl hadn't really thought about salary; she felt being able to help Big Brother and get free juice at the shop was already great. This way she could save the 200 Mora her master gave her daily for juice - that's 6,000 Mora a month!

So when Shenhe brought Yaoyao's salary, the little girl looked at the pile of shining Mora with a somewhat dazed expression.

"Half month's basic salary 2,500 Mora, bonus 5,000 Mora, heat allowance 2,000 Mora, total 9,500 Mora."

"So much!"

"It's all earned by Yaoyao's hard work, keep it safe."

"Yaoyao has nowhere to put it... can I leave it with Sister Shenhe for now?"

"Okay."

Shenhe took the money back to keep it safe.

Earning so much pocket money for the first time, the little girl looked excited, counting on her fingers, thinking about what birthday gift to buy for her master.

After drinking a glass of juice, Zhu Zi and Shenhe took Qiqi and Yaoyao out to order uniforms at the tailor in Chihu Rock.

Xia Zhi and Chi Yu stayed at the shop, sitting and chatting.

At this time, his [Skill Steal] cooldown had also finished.

The shop was closed today, so there were no customers to use it on, only employees.

Perfect time to test Miss Chi Yu's depths.

Xia Zhi "looked" at Chi Yu and selected her.

"[Skill Steal] successful, learned skill [Moon in the Water] from target."

"[Moon in the Water]: Can cast illusions on targets, pulling them into an illusory realm. Mana cost depends on illusion size and duration."

This was a mental-type skill. From the effect description, it had no damage potential, but if used properly, could be quite effective.

Not bad.

--

Yanshang Teahouse, a certain room.

"Miss Yelan, this is from Lady Ningguang."

Baiwen handed over a document.

Yelan took the document and read it carefully.

"Oh? Want me to investigate the three candidates recommended by the Tianshu Star?"

"Yes."

"Though this matter is important, surely it doesn't require my personal attention?"

"Secretary Ganyu recently received information that one of the three candidates, Zhiyi, may have been bought by the Fatui Ambassador and secretly poisoned the Tianshu Star."

"Such a thing?"

Yelan was surprised. This was a major issue, yet she, Liyue's intelligence chief, hadn't heard even a whisper of it. Instead, Secretary Ganyu, who was always busy working overtime at Yuehai Pavilion, learned of it first.

"Where did Secretary Ganyu get this information?"

"Secretary Ganyu didn't reveal the source, only reported it to the Qixing and hoped for a thorough investigation."

"...I understand."

Yelan's expression became serious.

"Since it involves the Fatui, I'll investigate quickly."

"Miss Yelan, please be careful. I need to go to Bubu Pharmacy to request Dr. Baizhu to examine the Tianshu Star, so I'll take my leave."

"Mm, take care."

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