"Auntie Cloud Retainer!"
A small figure rushed toward her, beaming.
Cloud Retainer looked at the girl in front of her, unsure. "You are… Yaoyao?"
"That's right! Auntie didn't recognize me, huh?"
"You've grown so tall!"
"Yaoyao drank soup!"
"Soup?"
"Yup! Delicious soup!"
Yaoyao explained earnestly, but Cloud Retainer didn't really follow.
Not that it mattered.
She gently nudged Yaoyao aside with her wing and turned to Xia Zhi. "Mr. Xia, long time no see."
Xia Zhi nodded, flashing that familiar smile. "Long time no see, Cloud Retainer."
"I was in seclusion and failed to welcome you properly. My apologies."
"No need. We came uninvited. I hope you won't take offense."
They exchanged pleasantries, and then Cloud Retainer cautiously shifted the conversation.
"Mr. Xia, these two are…?"
"Oh, this is my older cousin, Xia Zhen. And this is my younger cousin, Xia Ci."
"So they're family."
Xia Ci smiled sweetly. "Yep! We're Cousin's most important family."
Something about her tone felt loaded with meaning, and Cloud Retainer's mind began spinning with wild associations about their "real" relationship.
As the boss, Xia Zhi introduced everyone to Cloud Retainer—Zhu Zi, Diona, Ying'er…
When he got to Qiqi and Chi Yu, Cloud Retainer's gaze clearly flickered.
She recognized them both—one a zombie, the other a former director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. How had this group even formed?
She had countless questions, but now wasn't the time.
Glancing at a massive mechanical clock on the far wall, she said, "It's nearly noon. Please excuse me—I shall go prepare lunch."
"Lunch?"
Everyone's expressions suddenly turned a bit awkward.
"No need to trouble yourself, really!"
"Yes, there are so many of us—"
"You are guests. It's my duty," Cloud Retainer said firmly.
Madame Ping shook her head. "Forget it, Cloud Retainer. In your current form, cooking would be a hassle."
Cloud Retainer huffed. "Shenhe and Ganyu will help me. I'll use my cooking mechanisms. It'll be easy! You've never seen them, have you? The Auto-Cooking Pot! The Exquisite Soup Cauldron!"
She couldn't resist showing off her inventions in front of outsiders.
"Well? What do you think?"
Yaoyao clapped. "Auntie Cloud Retainer is amazing!"
Ying'er nodded. "As expected of Adepti craftsmanship."
…
Everyone was complimentary, but Cloud Retainer couldn't help feeling their praise lacked sincerity.
Whatever. They were mortals—what did they know?
Once they tasted her cooking, they'd understand.
"Please wait here a moment. I'll go prepare the meal."
Xia Zhi smiled. "Then we'll gratefully accept your hospitality."
Might be nice to try the little crane's cooking.
Once the boss had spoken, no one objected further.
Cloud Retainer noticed this—he seemed to be the center of this group. Even those two goddesses seemed to defer to him.
"Ganyu, Shenhe, come help me."
"Alright."
Shenhe followed calmly.
Ganyu looked resigned but went anyway.
In the kitchen, Cloud Retainer began barking orders.
Shenhe moved with practiced ease.
She had helped her master cook before, even though she mainly ate herbs like Qingxin during her cultivation.
Ganyu, on the other hand, was clumsy.
She had always worked in Yuehai Pavilion—cooking was not her forte.
Fortunately, the mechanisms were simple to operate. Only ingredient prep was a bit troublesome.
"See this Exquisite Soup Cauldron? It brings out flavor better than any normal pot."
Ganyu glanced over.
That's it?
Didn't seem better than the [Jade Dragon Pot] back at the shop.
As she directed them, Cloud Retainer couldn't help but nag.
"Smell that? Isn't it fragrant? Ganyu, remember what I said—my food is delicious, but don't eat too much at lunch. Watch your weight…"
Ganyu paused.
"Master, this won't do. Mr. Xia's cooking is better."
"Him?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Don't be ridiculous. What does he know about cooking?"
Cloud Retainer scoffed.
She hadn't forgotten the fish he grilled during their travels. Barely edible!
That was supposed to be good?
Hmph. Just wait—I'll show him and all of you what real Adepti culinary mechanisms can do!
----
Not long after, Ganyu returned to tell everyone that lunch was ready.
That fast?
Everyone followed her to the dining area—which, unsurprisingly, was another floating island. Atop it sat a large table already set with over a dozen dishes.
There was a rich spread of both meat and vegetables.
Shenhe was carrying over something that looked like a wooden tub with one hand.
She placed it beside the table and lifted the lid. A cloud of steam wafted out, revealing perfectly cooked, plump white rice.
Just as everyone was settling down, Cloud Retainer floated over as well, several plates levitating beside her.
Since she couldn't take human form at the moment, she was using Anemo power to carry the dishes with precision and grace—clearly demonstrating her expert control over the element.
Cloud Retainer spoke up, "You all arrived so suddenly today. I didn't have time to prepare properly, so I just made a few simple dishes to welcome you."
Xia Zhi waved a hand. "You're too modest. This is already a feast. We won't be able to finish it all."
Cloud Retainer chuckled. "No worries. Whatever's left, we'll let Guoba handle."
Guoba looked up, face blank.
"Come, everyone! Don't be shy! Try this Adeptus' cooking!"
"Alright, thank you for your hard work."
Urged on by her enthusiasm, everyone picked up their chopsticks and began eating.
Cloud Retainer beamed with confidence. "Well? How is it?"
Xia Zhi nodded and smiled. "Not bad at all."
He meant it. Though the dishes were made using cooking mechanisms, the flavor and heat control were comparable to dishes from Liuli Pavilion.
It was clear Cloud Retainer had truly put effort into researching this craft.
That kind of dedication was worth acknowledging.
Even Granny Ping, after tasting a few bites, looked a little surprised.
Cloud Retainer had demonstrated these cooking gadgets to her old friends before, but back then the food hadn't tasted nearly this good.
Clearly, she'd made improvements to the mechanisms since.
Everyone else followed suit with compliments.
Cloud Retainer looked pleased. "Don't hold back—eat as much as you like."
"Okay…"
Ganyu finished her bowl of rice and stood up to head toward the kitchen.
Cloud Retainer called out, "Ganyu, the rice is right here."
"I know."
"Then come refill your bowl."
"No, Master, I'm full…"
Cloud Retainer immediately began to nag. "You child! You're all grown up now, why are you still so stubborn? I only said not to eat too much—not that you could only have one bowl. Must you be so dramatic?"
Ganyu looked helpless. "Master, it's not about you. I really just can't eat any more."
"What do you mean, can't? When you were little, you'd eat ten bowls per—"
"Master!"
Hearing Cloud Retainer start to bring up her childhood blackmail material, Ganyu's face flushed red, and she quickly interrupted.
"Please don't say any more!"
"Oh, alright… fine. I won't."
Under Ganyu's glare, Cloud Retainer relented.
Ganyu sighed in relief, only to notice everyone else looking at her with curious expressions. Her face turned even redder, and she quickly made a run for the kitchen.
"That girl…" Cloud Retainer shook her head at Ganyu's retreating figure, then turned to Shenhe. "Shenhe, you should eat more. You used to only have medicinal herbs, but now that you've changed, you should nourish your body properly."
Shenhe replied calmly, "Yes, Master."
Cloud Retainer thought for a moment and said, "Speaking of nourishment, the most effective dish would be Adeptus' Temptation. I just so happen to know how to make it, and I've already gathered the ingredients. Since you're back, I'll make some for everyone to try."
"Adeptus' Temptation?"
When the group heard that name, their expressions turned a little… odd.
Cloud Retainer nodded. "Yes, it's an extremely complicated and difficult dish to prepare, but the flavor is exceptional. I doubt any of you have ever had it."
Everyone looked even more awkward. "We…"
Xia Zhi cleared his throat and said, "We haven't, actually."
Which was technically true. What he had made before wasn't "Adeptus' Temptation," but "Gods' Temptation."
The two had similar preparation methods, but vastly different ingredients—they weren't the same dish.
Cloud Retainer said, "Don't worry. This time, I'll make sure you all get to enjoy it. But the dish needs to simmer slowly over a long period of time, so it won't be ready until tomorrow."
Xia Zhi smiled and agreed, though the feeling of being welcomed into the home of a future mother-in-law who was pulling out all her best recipes for him was growing stronger by the second.
Well, if the mother-in-law wants to cook, might as well go along with it.