Yanfei and Yun Jin stayed at the shop for a long time before leaving.
So, instead of going out for a walk that evening, they brought out the mahjong set and played a few rounds happily.
After bathing, everyone returned to their rooms to sleep.
Shenhe, as usual, came to Xia Zhi's room to visit.
"Where's your nail polish?"
"Here."
"Give it to me. I'll paint your toenails."
"Toenails?"
"Yes, try it. It'll look nice."
"Okay."
Shenhe obediently sat on the bed and exposed her clean feet.
They were no less beautiful than Miss Yun Jin's, with a kind of icy, snow-like elegance.
Amazing!
Xia Zhi chose red and carefully painted Shenhe's toenails.
So alluring!
And then, nothing else happened.
Well, if you had to say, it was just unlocking a new way to have fun.
The next day, it was Friday again.
Xia Ci sat alone at a corner table in the shop in the morning, drawing a bunch of part designs on paper.
After lunch, she dragged Zhu Zi and the others out to go shopping.
"Ying'er, which is the best blacksmith in Teyvat?"
"The best blacksmith? Let me think… probably Hanfeng Ironmongers."
"Where is it?"
"In Chihu Rock, next to the Adventurers' Guild. Many adventurers buy their weapons there. After completing commissions, they also go there to maintain their weapons and equipment."
"Oh, so it's trusted by adventurers. That sounds good. Let's go check it out."
"What are you planning to buy?"
"A little something. You'll see when we get there."
After walking for a while, they arrived at Hanfeng Ironmongers in Chihu Rock.
Xia Ci took out the part designs she had drawn in the morning and said, "I need these custom-made. Can your shop do it?"
Old Zhang looked them over carefully and nodded. "We can, but we're currently working on another customer's order. It'll take some time before we can start on yours."
"How long?"
"About three days. If you're in a hurry, you might want to try another shop."
"It's fine. I can wait."
"Alright."
Next came Xia Ci's favorite part—bargaining.
Old Zhang was worn out, feeling like this girl's mouth was sharper than the furnace in his shop.
After paying the deposit, Xia Ci left Hanfeng Ironmongers satisfied. She and the others continued shopping and bought a lot of "cheap" goodies.
"Cousin, I bought you a gift."
"What is it?"
"A scarf! It's from Snezhnaya, excellent for keeping warm. It's getting cold, so you should wear it."
"…Thanks."
"Put it on and let's see how it looks."
"Uh…"
"It looks pretty good!"
"…"
Xia Zhi reluctantly took off the dark scarf around his neck.
This was actually one of the more normal gifts his cousin had given him.
In the afternoon, Ganyu didn't come to the shop.
Perhaps because she had already visited once this week, or maybe she was too busy today.
At night, the bell was ringing.
Shenhe noticed the scarf he had placed by the bed and, for some reason, suddenly picked it up and wrapped it around her neck.
"Boss…"
"!"
This looks great!
So this is the correct way to use a scarf!
And then, nothing else happened.
Well, if you had to say, it was just unlocking another new way to have fun, and the bell rang even louder.
Later, in the dream world.
Shenhe looked at Xia Ci with a sense of victory in her eyes.
Xia Ci was baffled.
Wait, why do you look like you've cuckolded me or something?
"What are you looking at?"
"Hmph."
Shenhe turned her head away and focused on her book.
Xia Ci glanced over and saw that Shenhe was holding a fourth-grade English vocabulary book!
"!!!"
Wait, yesterday you were still reading the Xinhua Dictionary!
How did you jump straight to British English today?
Did you secretly learn a lot of… knowledge from cousin while I was out shopping this afternoon?
Danger!
Suddenly, I can't figure this woman out anymore!
Xia Ci glanced at her cousin.
Indeed, men are women's best teachers.
"Cousin."
"Yes?"
"I want to eat rice cakes tomorrow morning."
"Sure."
"I want them sweet."
"Ugh, sweet faction heresy!"
"Salty faction is the heresy!"
"Sorry, I prefer spicy rice cakes."
"That's even more heretical!"
"Fried rice cakes are good too."
"I agree! Shenhe, what about you? How do you like rice cakes?"
"New Year cake."
"?"
"That's how you say it in English."
"…You're hopeless."
Xia Ci facepalmed and sighed.
What's this? I thought you'd become more cunning, and I could finally have some fun with you.
Turns out you've just become a nerd…
Seriously, you got me all excited for nothing.
How boring.
---
Late at night, at the construction site.
Keqing lay alone on the wooden bed in her shed, tossing and turning under the blanket.
She couldn't sleep.
Sigh.
Keqing reached out and touched her stomach.
She was so hungry.
Keqing looked toward the table.
Although it was pitch dark, she knew there was a pile of instant noodle boxes on it.
Unfortunately, they were all empty.
A few days ago, Shenhe had brought over that piece of Sunset Vermillionite and, as a bonus, a lot of instant noodles. Keqing and Zhongli had split them.
Then, over the next few days, she had instant noodles for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even midnight snacks.
There was no helping it—Mr. Xia's instant noodles were just too delicious!
The best noodles she'd ever eaten in her life were instant noodles!
Her dream used to be to ensure everyone in Liyue had a place to live.
But now, her dream had become eating instant noodles every day.
Unfortunately, Shenhe had only brought so many instant noodles. With her habit of eating four meals a day, two boxes per meal, she had finished her share by noon today.
In the evening, she went to the construction site's canteen for a meal.
She only took one bite.
There was no helping it—she just couldn't eat it.
So she went hungry.
Hungry until now.
Hungry to the point where she couldn't sleep.
Keqing rolled over and stared blankly at the ceiling, muttering to herself.
"Mr. Xia…"
"I really want Mr. Xia…"
---
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