Chapter 379

Click.

A sharp sound broke the silence of the moment.

Zhongli turned his head.

He saw Xia Ci holding a Kamera in one hand—clearly having just snapped a candid shot of their little group—and in the other hand, she was holding something even more familiar: Sunflower Seeds.

And considering the sudden appearance of Raiden Makoto…

Zhongli more or less figured out the source of last night's strange phenomena on Mt. Tianheng.

Xiao followed his gaze and also noticed the pile of Sunflower Seed shells laid neatly on a napkin on the table.

He froze once again.

"Please, everyone sit. I still need to finish preparing the food in the kitchen, so I'll excuse myself."

"No worries, Mr. Xia. Go ahead."

Having gotten his fill of entertainment, Xia Zhi contentedly returned to the kitchen.

Zhongli and Xia Zhen exchanged a brief, tacit glance and wordlessly looked away from each other.

Then Zhongli led Xiao to sit at a separate table, where the two quietly sipped tea.

Ten minutes later, Madam Ping arrived with Yaoyao and the two adepti, Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper.

Seeing Xiao seated beside the Geo Archon surprised them a bit, but recalling that Xiao had gone to the construction site last night to search for the Archon, they quickly understood and took their seats.

Shenhe called Yaoyao over.

"The boss handed out wages this morning. I picked yours up for you. Hurry and store it safely in your ring."

"Thank you, Sister Shenhe!"

"This is your red envelope for the New Year. There's a card inside from the Liyue Bank. Take good care of it."

"Mm-hmm! Thank you, big brother!"

"And your year-end bonus is ready too, but it's still with the boss. He'll give it to you later."

"Okay! Yaoyao understands!"

The little girl was dressed in new clothes today too—absolutely adorable.

Shenhe looked at her and smiled softly, reaching out to gently ruffle her hair.

Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper, on the other side, were both stunned speechless watching Shenhe smile like that.

They exchanged a glance and began whispering.

"Did you see that just now?"

"Yeah... Shenhe just smiled."

"That can't be right."

"Has the Red Rope Soul Binding stopped working…?"

"Impossible. If the spell had failed, you'd be choking on your tea by now, and this place would be a madhouse."

"True… then what's going on?"

"I have no idea."

Moon Carver furrowed his brow, then called out, "Yaoyao, come here a moment."

Yaoyao obediently trotted over. "Uncle Moon Carver? What's up?"

He lowered his voice and asked, "Has your Sister Shenhe been acting any different lately?"

"Sister Shenhe? Hmm... she seems happier, smiles more."

"!!! ...Since when?"

"A few days ago, I think."

"Why didn't you say anything at home?"

"I told Master!"

"Huh? Ping?"

The two adepti looked over at Madam Ping, who was smiling warmly while petting Guoba.

They fell into a moment of silence.

"Ping... that old fox kept it from us..."

"You know how she is… slyer than anyone."

"And I was going to give her stomach medicine, too… Leave it to Cloud Retainer to be the straightforward one..."

"So about Shenhe...?"

"Wait, I'll do a divination. As long as I stay away from her thread of fate, it should be fine."

Moon Carver pulled out a Mora coin and secretly performed a reading for Shenhe.

The result made his eyes widen in disbelief.

"What is it?"

"The reading has changed."

"Huh?"

"Her original fate—one of isolation and calamity—is gone."

"Then what is it now?"

"She… brings luck to her husband."

"…What?"

The two adepti looked at each other, suddenly understanding.

Moon Carver turned his gaze toward the kitchen, his eyes full of reverence.

To change fate like this... A true miracle.

He had once taken great pride in his discussions with Mr. Xia about divination, believing their skills to be on par.

Now? He felt nothing but shame.

When he had read Shenhe's fortune as a child, her destiny had been so ominous that he'd had no choice but to seal it away—along with most of her humanity.

For years, he'd searched for a solution, never finding it.

He always carried a small guilt toward her reserved, distant demeanor.

And now? Mr. Xia had simply… solved it.

Moon Carver tucked the Mora coin away, his lingering regret lifting.

Well, no matter what else—this marriage, I approve! Even if Cloud Retainer objects, it's a done deal!

"Moon Carver."

"Hm?"

"Why are you smiling?"

"Oh, nothing. Just... thinking about something that makes me happy."

At that moment, Ganyu and Ningguang arrived.

With them were Baishi, Baiwen, Baixiao, and Charlotte.

All four had been specially invited by Xia Zhi.

The three Bai assistants were, shall we say, regular collaborators in certain nightly activities.

As for Charlotte, she'd been tagging along with Ningguang lately for free meals. Xia Zhi figured she was far from home on assignment from Fontaine, so why not let her join the fun?

The moment Ganyu walked in, all eyes from the girls around the room lit up with excitement.

She looked around, confused.

"Everyone's staring…?"

"We actually have a favor to ask, Miss Ganyu!"

"Oh? What is it?"

"Just a small thing!"

"A small thing?"

"Really tiny!"

"Uhh…"

Shenhe walked over to clarify. "Senior Sister, here's the thing—the boss gave everyone a year-end bonus this morning. It's a mystery chest that can contain anything. Since everyone thinks you're the luckiest one here, they'd like you to open it for them."

"Oh, I see…"

Opening a box? That really was no big deal.

Ganyu nodded.

"Sure, I don't mind."

"Thank you, Miss Ganyu!"

"Where's the chest?"

"Right here!"

Zhu Zi handed it over, and Ganyu curiously examined it.

It was a sleek, black iron-colored chest with strange patterns etched into it.

"Anything could be inside?"

"That's what the boss said!"

"Alright, I'm opening it now?"

"Yes! Please!"

"If I don't get anything good, no one's blaming me, okay?"

"We promise!"

"Well, then—Zhu Zi, what would you like to get most?"

"Hmm... just something useful, I guess."

"Got it."

With that, Ganyu opened the chest.

A strange glow flashed.

The chest vanished.

And in its place appeared a long, pen-like item.

"What is that?"

"Looks like... a pen?"

Zhu Zi picked it up and tried scribbling on paper—nothing.

"It doesn't write… I'll go ask the boss. He must know what it is."

She ran off to the kitchen.

"Boss! Boss!"

"What's up?"

"Ganyu opened my chest—what is this thing?"

"Let me see."

Xia Zhi took the pen, quickly glanced at it in his inventory, then handed it back.

"It's a special fountain pen."

"A pen?"

"It only needs to absorb clean water to write. And when you hold it, whatever color you imagine—red, green, gold—it'll write in that color."

"That's amazing!"

"Go try it."

"Boss! It works! I can write in any color I want! It's awesome!"

"Right? Should be helpful when you're writing your novels."

"Totally! This is exactly what I needed! Ganyu's luck is unbeatable!"

"Yaoyao should be here now. Can you take this box over to her?"

"On it, Boss!"

Zhu Zi ran back, beaming, and showed everyone how the pen worked—earning a chorus of "oohs" and "ahhs."

Which only made everyone stare at Ganyu with even more admiration.

Thus began a joyous round of mystery box openings.

Shenhe got a pair of color-changing contact lenses.

Qiqi got a whistle that increases affinity with animals.

Diona received a crystal that can ferment ingredients without yeast.

Ying'er got a scent box that fuses different creams into new perfumes—a budget version of the [Blazing Incense Burner].

Chi Yu got a wooden charm that wards off evil spirits—perfect for gifting to Hu Tao on her ghost-hunting rounds.

Yaoyao received a telescope for long-distance viewing.

Xiangling got a jar that turns ingredients into liquid—a low-tier [Wolf's Bane Pot] variant.

Guoba received gloves that let his little paws move like human fingers.

Xia Ci and Xia Zhen opened their own boxes and got, respectively, a self-cleaning hairbrush and a ring that grants +5 Strength.

As the boxes were opened, more people arrived—Yun Jin, Yanfei, Hu Tao, Baizhu, and Chef Mao.

With the crowd growing, the atmosphere turned lively and warm.

Xiao, however, seemed out of place—quietly sipping tea by himself, not speaking to anyone.

Hu Tao, holding the charm Chi Yu gave her, walked over to Zhongli and finally noticed him.

"Oh? The Great Adeptus is here too!"

"Mm. Greetings, Director…"

"You know Mr. Xia as well?"

"…Yes. We had dinner together at Madam Ping's birthday."

"Oh! That explains it! There are so many immortals here today—Mr. Xia really has some connections, huh?"

"Mm…"

"But it's rare for everyone to gather like this. Why are you sitting here alone?"

"I…"

"Worried about your karmic debt?"

"No… that's not it. I just wanted some quiet."

"Fair enough."

Hu Tao nodded in understanding.

Xiao wasn't exactly the social type. She'd invited him in the past, but he never came.

So really… it had to be Xia Zhi's influence.

But since Mr. Xia was busy in the kitchen, someone ought to step up and host his VIP guest.

As a close friend and neighbor, she was basically family—naturally, this job fell to her.

Thinking this, Hu Tao turned to Zhongli and said solemnly, "Zhongli."

"Hmm? Something, Director?"

"Why are you sitting here drinking tea alone too?"

"I…"

"You know who this is, right? Let me introduce you to Adeptus Xiao."

"We were introduced at Madam Ping's birthday."

"Really? Then why aren't you two talking? Aren't you working on a Liyue history textbook? I know you're well-versed in everything, but books can have mistakes. Why not take this chance to ask Xiao about the past firsthand? Makes for a more accurate record!"

"You have a point."

"History textbooks are read by children. It's about legacy. We can't afford errors."

"Indeed."

"Then I'll leave you two to it! Great Adeptus, we're counting on you!"

"…Of course."

Hu Tao nodded, satisfied.

She'd helped Mr. Xia break the ice, found Xiao a tea buddy, and even helped Zhongli with his textbook research. Triple win.

Not bad, Hu Tao. Not bad at all.

She left happily.

Zhongli took another sip of tea.

The tea here was definitely better than what they had at the construction site.

Xiao quietly asked, "—uh, about the textbook. Do you need my help?"

Zhongli shook his head. "No need. I've finished that part."

Xiao nodded and said no more.

Zhongli glanced at him. "Your karmic debt… it's growing heavy."

Xiao was silent for a moment. "I can still manage… for now."

He had endured centuries of fighting corrupted remnants of fallen gods—inevitably accumulating immense karmic debt.

Zhongli, too, was powerless to help. If he could dispel it, the five Yakshas wouldn't have dwindled to one.

But Xiao had guarded Guili Plains alone for hundreds of years. It was nearly his limit.

Zhongli set down his teacup and looked toward the kitchen.

Mr. Xia… might have a solution. After all, he'd even managed to purge Forbidden Knowledge from the Dendro Archon.

Just as he was lost in thought, a soft, clear pop echoed from the kitchen—the sound of a lid being lifted.

Then, an indescribably rich, mouthwatering aroma wafted into the room.

Even someone as composed as Zhongli felt his composure waver.

Xiao instinctively swallowed.

The once-bustling hall fell into sudden silence, as though muted.

Every head turned toward the kitchen.

Guoba was hit hardest. He swayed like a drunken toddler, stumbling forward.

Thankfully, Madam Ping caught him mid-lurch. "Stop right there!"

"Mmmnnn!"

"No causing trouble in the kitchen! Sit down and wait for dinner."

"Uuuu…"

Guoba slumped in defeat, eyes full of despair.

Meanwhile, the two adepti were practically drooling.

"That smell… is that Adeptus' Temptation?"

"Xiangling said so earlier…"

"No way. I've had it before, and it never smelled like this."

"Well, this is Mr. Xia we're talking about."

"Good point."

"Doctor Baizhu! Help! Where's my digestion pills?"

"Oh… here you go."

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