Inside the Serenitea Pot.
Ye Xi had already finished making several large ponds by the seaside.
These ponds were sealed off from the sea, yet there was a gate that could be opened to connect them to it.
First, he placed the top-grade seafood Beidou had brought back into the ponds.
These shrimp, fish, crabs, and the like could breed and multiply in the ponds.
Once their numbers grew, he'd release some into the sea.
Over time, the sea too would gradually come to teem with all manner of marine creatures.
He had to maintain the biodiversity of the Serenitea Pot!
Once everything was done, Lisa praised him again and again.
"I don't quite understand how you did it, but it feels incredible."
From her vantage point, Ye Xi had merely reached out and touched the ground.
Then the massive boulders along the shore began to deform, and the entire coastline started to change.
It was a sight that bordered on the miraculous.
Ye Xi smiled, and just as he was about to speak, an excited voice came from one side.
"Wooow——!"
"Fish! So many fish!"
"Klee wants to blow up the fish!"
Little Klee came running over, clutching her Jumpy Dumpty.
Ye Xi hastily grabbed her schoolbag and hoisted Klee up.
"Klee, you can't blow these up, or everyone will have nothing to eat later!"
"Oh..."
Klee instantly looked a little dejected, but she didn't act up or cause any mischief.
"My, my, it seems little Klee listens to you very well~"
Lisa said with a smile, "Master Ye Xi, actually there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"Oh?"
"Go ahead."
Seeing Lisa's serious expression, Ye Xi stopped what he was doing and grew a touch more solemn.
Lisa turned and waved toward the "240" Amber and Eula in the distance, and the two little beauties reluctantly came over.
Then Lisa spoke up, "Actually, I'm planning to take them back to Mondstadt tomorrow."
"Originally I'd planned to stay a few more days and leave only after Klee helped you finish the work."
"But seeing how well you and Klee get along, and how obedient she is, I thought it might be better to entrust Klee to you for now."
"Once the mission is complete, we'll send someone to bring her back."
Ye Xi was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected Lisa to be in such a hurry. "You could stay a while longer—are you not used to it here?"
"How could that be?"
Lisa said with a look of utter contentment, "It's far more comfortable and pleasant here than in Mondstadt, it's just..."
"I've gained so much new information here that I need to get back to Mondstadt as soon as possible and have a proper talk with Jean about this matter."
"Since it concerns the Dawn Winery, I'll naturally also need to have a long talk with Diluc, the master of the Dawn Winery."
"I see."
Ye Xi nodded.
For Mondstadt, Diluc's standing was beyond question.
If Mondstadt wanted to undertake the construction project, Diluc's support and sponsorship would surely be indispensable.
If the Mondstadt side was eager to break ground, they'd definitely need to communicate with Diluc early on.
He looked down at Klee in his arms and asked, "What about your opinion, Klee? Are you willing to stay here on your own?"
Klee hurriedly nodded, "Klee still wants to blow up rocks and blow up fish! Once she's done blowing things up, she'll go back!"
"Auntie Lis—"
"Hmm?"
Lisa suddenly revealed a terrifying smile that gave Klee a fright.
She had a feeling that if she let the word "Auntie" slip out, Lisa definitely wouldn't come back for her!
At this thought, she hastily changed her words, "Big Sister Lisa, you absolutely have to come back for Klee, okay~"
"Otherwise Klee will get really homesick!"
For a child, no matter how fun a place was, she'd still miss home.
Lisa smiled and patted Klee's little head, "Don't worry, when the time comes I'll have your Grand Master Jean come fetch you."
"Yay~"
And just like that, Klee's hurdle was cleared.
Ye Xi looked toward Amber and Eula.
The two little beauties hung their heads, looking hesitant.
Seeing this, Lisa tactfully said with a smile, "Little Klee, let's head back and let Amber and Eula have their talk."
"We're about to have dinner~"
"Okay~ Klee loves Big Sister Xiangling's cooking the best~! The crab is so yummy!"
Klee actually hated eating crab the most.
Because she wanted to go out and play, not sit at the table prying open crab shells.
But for the crab Xiangling made, she'd prepare both the crab and the shrimp in advance.
So Klee could gobble it down in big mouthfuls!
And so, she'd taken to it at once!
After watching Lisa and Klee leave, Ye Xi asked, "Did you two say goodbye to Collei?"
"That girl must've been quite crestfallen to hear you're heading back to Mondstadt, right?"
Eula sighed, "Indeed. Watching her and Amber being so fond of each other today, I couldn't even bear to interrupt them."
"Eh?"
Amber scratched her head with a smile, "Did I? I didn't even notice."
"Hmph! You didn't? I felt like a third wheel!"
"I'm noting down this grudge!"
Watching Eula and Amber bicker, Ye Xi couldn't help but laugh.
"You two will have plenty of time together back in Mondstadt, so today you ought to keep Collei company more."
Hearing Ye Xi's words, Amber lowered her head, her heart in turmoil.
Today she had made up her mind.
Who knew when they'd meet again?
She wanted to make her choice and leave no regrets.
Eula, beside her, remarked with feeling, "I say, Master Ye Xi, don't you dote on Collei a bit too much?"
"It's making me a little envious of Collei!"
Not just Amber—even Eula could feel how much Ye Xi doted on Collei.
What girl could resist that feeling of being doted on?
Ye Xi nodded as a matter of course, "She's my wife—how could I not dote on her?"
These words struck Amber's heart to its very core.
She clenched her fists and spoke up, "Ye Xi! I... actually have something I want to tell you!"
At this moment, Amber's sudden outburst left Ye Xi a little startled.
Eula, beside her, was taken aback.
Seeing Amber's expression so earnest, a startling thought flashed through her mind.
Could it be...
Could it be that Amber was about to...!
Although she really wanted to ask, she didn't break Amber's momentum.
This was clearly the look of someone about to confess!
Ye Xi looked puzzled, "What is it? Why so serious?"
"Go on, I'm listening."
A blush spread across Amber's little face as she stammered, "Actually, I don't know when we'll meet next either—maybe it'll be a very, very long time..."
"So, before I leave, I want to... to you...."
"Hmm? Meet? Won't we be able to meet again in a couple of days?"
"Eh!?"
Ye Xi's words left both Amber and Eula stunned.
Seeing the girls' astonished faces, Ye Xi suddenly remembered and said, "I forgot to tell you—hold on a moment."
As he spoke, he reached out and opened a rift in the air—this was his portable space.
After fishing around inside, he took out a crystal.
"Take this and bring it back to Mondstadt."
"What is it?"
The girls took the crystal, examined it, and were quite puzzled.
"This is a Teleport Crystal."
Ye Xi explained, "Take it back, place it anywhere, and activate it."
"Then it can create a gate that connects to this place."
"By then, I'll be able to go to Mondstadt anytime too."
"Ehh——!?"
Hearing Ye Xi finish, Amber and Eula were both astonished.
Had she heard of this earlier, Amber would certainly have been overjoyed.
But she'd worked so hard to build up her feelings, and now she simply couldn't get the words out!
With the worry of meeting being difficult now gone, she instantly deflated.
'I can meet him anytime from now on anyway, so why force myself!?'
'What if I get rejected!'
'Maybe I should just wait until next time!'
A string of thoughts surfaced in Amber's mind, instantly dousing her ardor.
Ye Xi asked, "By the way, Amber, what was it you wanted to say just now?"
"Uh..."
"It's, it's nothing now...."
Amber sighed, wanting to cry but with no tears to shed.
Ye Xi found it a bit odd.
Just now she'd said she had something important, so why was it nothing now?
At this moment, the portal outside suddenly lit up.
Ningguang's three little secretaries had returned, bringing Ganyu with them.
Upon seeing Ye Xi, the three secretaries hurriedly stepped forward to claim credit.
"Master, we've lured Miss Ganyu here!"
"How can you call it 'luring'? That's so weird!"
"Right, right, it should be 'seduce'!"
Ganyu instantly blushed, "Why use such a strange word for it!"
Ye Xi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so he changed the subject, "Ganyu, you've come at just the right time—there's something I need to trouble you with...."
Watching Ye Xi's receding figure, Amber sighed and sat down on the stone steps.
Eula, beside her, crossed her arms and leaned in close to Amber, asking, "Amber, you weren't trying to seize the chance to confess just now, were you!?"
Amber's pretty face reddened, and she nodded.
"Why, you—didn't I tell you that if you had feelings, you should let me know first!"
"And yet you kept it from me again!"
Eula gave a snort, looking somewhat indignant.
With a teasing look, Amber smiled and shot back, "Eula, you care so much about what's between me and Ye Xi—don't tell me you too..."
"Cough, cough, cough...."
Eula coughed a few times, her face suddenly flushing all over.
She hurriedly waved her hands, "Y-you mustn't talk nonsense! I do not!"
"I just think that, since we're good friends, I ought to help you, that's all!"
However, after Eula had argued for a good while, she found that Amber's face was still plastered with a mischievous grin.
She felt as though, before Amber, she was utterly laid bare—long since seen right through!
"Eula, we've been good friends for so many years—do you really think I can't tell when you're lying?"
"Eh!?"
Eula covered her face and began to stammer, "I-I'm not lying!"
"Think whatever you like! I'm noting down this grudge!"
With that, she crossed her arms and turned her flushed face aside, not daring to look Amber in the eye at all.
Amber said with a beaming smile, "All right, this works out nicely too!"
"With this, we can come here anytime even after we return to Mondstadt! Isn't that a win for everyone!?"
Amber pressed the Teleport Crystal and waved it before Eula.
Eula came back to her senses as well.
Her heart, too, was filled with joy.
In truth, she'd grown so content here that she'd half-forgotten home and no longer wanted to return to Mondstadt.
Her days here were free of any discrimination against her, and were thoroughly enjoyable and pleasant!
She'd been worried before that once she went back to Mondstadt she'd have no chance to come here.
But now, with the Teleport Crystal, she could come right over the moment she was back in Mondstadt!
That way, she could carry out her duties as captain of the Reconnaissance Company in Mondstadt, then come here after work to enjoy the lively company of her friends!
Far, far better than going to the tavern to drink after work and being discriminated against, as before!
The mere thought of it lifted her spirits enormously!
"Hmph, that Ye Xi fellow didn't bring out such a wonderful thing sooner, putting us through such a painful farewell!"
"I'm noting down this grudge!"
Amber gave a giggle and wrapped her arm around Eula's slender waist, "There, there, go ahead and note down plenty of grudges against Ye Xi!"
"And when the time for revenge comes, do your best to wring him dry!"
"That way, your revenge plan will be a resounding success!"
"Wring... wring him dry!?"
Eula's face was full of embarrassment, and she couldn't help exclaiming, "Amber! You've turned wicked these past few days!"
"Heh heh heh...."
Amber and Eula promptly started horsing around.
Watching them so happy, Lisa—who'd been sitting by the window inside, observing all along—felt quite puzzled.
Their mood had been so low just a moment ago, so how were they now laughing and playing?
What on earth had happened?
.....
Meanwhile, on another side.
Ye Xi told Ganyu about his idea of wanting to take up farming.
Hearing Ye Xi's words, Ganyu was quite puzzled, "There are two Dendro Archons right here—I... I'm surely not as professional as they are?"
Though she did indeed have a fair grasp of vegetable cultivation, compared to the Dendro Archon, one of The Seven Archons of the Mortal World, she felt a little inferior.
Ye Xi spread his hands, "As you can see, those two are still working overtime in Sumeru, so I thought of you."
"Then... then all right."
Ganyu nodded, "I'll try to explain in as much detail as I can. If I get anything wrong, just don't blame me for it."
"How could I?"
Ye Xi gave his solemn assurance.
Next, Ganyu very earnestly walked Ye Xi through the knowledge of vegetable cultivation.
Her voice was very gentle, and her explanations easy to follow, so Ye Xi quickly understood.
It was just that, hearing such a soft voice, he couldn't quite resist wanting to listen a while longer.
So he deliberately picked out certain details and pressed her about them again and again.
Ganyu, too, patiently answered every question.
"Ganyu, can potatoes be grown in this plot?"
"Yes, they can."
"Then, Ganyu, can Zaytun Peaches be grown here?"
"Mm, you could even grow Mondstadt's Wolfhook Berries!"
"Ganyu, then can Sea Ganoderma be grown here?"
"Yes, and Padisarah can be grown too!"
In the midst of all the questions, Ye Xi suddenly said, "Ganyu, may I touch your horns?"
"Yes, of cou— Eh!?"
Ganyu abruptly snapped back to her senses and instantly blushed.
"N-no, you may not..."
Ye Xi burst out laughing.
....
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