They continued walking through town.
Thanks to the festival, the streets were lined with many small vendors.
Some were traveling merchants from other nations, selling rare foreign goods, like toys from Liyue or spectacles from Fontaine.
Others were local people from the surrounding areas of Mondstadt, selling country fare — mushrooms, venison, smoked sausage, grilled fish…
But the group was used to going out every night to stroll the streets in Liyue. Mondstadt, for all its size, was still a bit lacking in bustling excitement compared to Liyue's commercial energy.
So although the festival atmosphere was lively, there wasn't much that felt truly new or fresh.
Really, they'd probably have to wait for the actual festival days to see the fun kick in.
Xia Zhi thought for a moment. "Why don't we head over to the Cat's Tail tavern?"
Ying'er looked curious. "Boss, what makes you want to go there?"
Xia Zhi grinned. "Because Diona probably wants to see her old workplace again, right?"
Diona instantly reacted like a cat with its tail stepped on, eyes wide. "I do not! No way! Boss, don't make things up!"
This tsundere cat was too cute.
Xia Zhi chuckled. "All right, all right, you don't — it's me who wants to check it out."
He used the same tone you'd use to coax a little kid.
Diona's face turned bright red. "There's… there's nothing special there anyway…"
Xia Zhi laughed. "Didn't you say the Cat's Tail has lots of kittens? We can go pet them! I really like scratching cat ears — they're so soft and comfy…"
Diona lowered her head, thinking about how he'd massaged her before.
He liked to rub her ears and her tail, too.
Those were places she never let anyone else touch.
But she couldn't help it — whenever the boss massaged her ears and tail, it felt even better than when he worked on the rest of her body.
That extreme sense of pleasure made it impossible to resist.
So… was it because the boss liked scratching kittens' ears that he also liked rubbing hers?
Or was it because he liked rubbing her ears, that he ended up liking kittens' ears too?
Diona's thoughts spun around and around, leaving her weirdly tangled up inside.
The group made their way toward the Cat's Tail, crossing a few streets until they returned to the small square and fountain they'd seen when they first arrived.
The same few kittens were still lazily sunbathing in the plaza.
Xia Ci crouched down with a smile. "Guess they're slacking off on the job?"
Diona didn't quite get it. "Huh?"
"The tavern's open — shouldn't they be inside keeping the customers company?"
"There's no such thing! The kittens at the Cat's Tail are free!"
"Mondstadt's spirit of freedom, huh?"
"That's right!"
"Diona, you still have those dried fish snacks, right? Gimme a couple."
"Huh?"
"The canned ones Cousin made before we left — didn't you take them?"
Diona hesitated. "I… I don't have that many left!"
"Not many? How many are left?"
"Just… just two cans."
"Only two? But I haven't even seen you eating them."
"I… I get hungry at night and can't sleep, so I nibble a few…"
Xia Ci looked at her, expression a bit odd.
You can't sleep because you're hungry?
Girl, just say you get the munchies!
Diona grew embarrassed under everyone's gaze, took out a can, and reluctantly, with a pained expression, handed it over to Xia Ci.
"Here."
Click!
A crisp shutter sound.
Charlotte lowered her Kamera, made a victory sign, and smiled. "Perfect! I just captured that moment!"
She showed the picture to everyone.
It showed a heartbreakingly adorable Diona handing over her precious can of dried fish.
Everyone burst out laughing, the mood turning warm and happy.
Diona froze, then shrieked and lunged at Charlotte, hugging her tight. "No photos! Delete it right now!"
Charlotte laughed. "What's the harm? It's a great memory!"
"No it's not! It's humiliating! I don't want this kind of souvenir!"
"What's humiliating about it?"
"Everyone laughed!"
"They were happy!"
"Don't lie to me!"
The cat girl and Charlotte ended up wrestling around.
Meanwhile Xia Ci popped open the can.
A crisp click sounded.
The kittens in the plaza all twitched their ears.
Then they sniffed the air, catching the scent of something delicious, and instantly opened their eyes wide, racing over like lightning, clawing at Xia Ci's trouser legs, meowing frantically.
Xia Ci looked down with a smile. "What a bunch of greedy little kittens…"
She pinched a dried fish between her fingers and flicked it outward.
Immediately, a kitten jumped up, snatched it in its mouth, and started munching with a blissful expression.
Xia Lin watched intently.
Xia Ci lifted her eyes and smiled at her. "Want to feed them? Come here…"
Compared to two days ago, Xia Lin wasn't as scared of this sister who had a huge tree behind her.
She hesitated, then let go of Xia Zhi's hand and walked over.
Xia Ci handed her a piece of dried fish.
Xia Lin turned it over in her hands a few times.
Then she popped it into her own mouth.
Everyone stared at her cheeks puffing up, then burst out laughing again.
Xia Lin stood there, still confused about why everyone was laughing.
She just thought her dad's dried fish tasted really good.
Xia Ci held out another piece toward Xia Lin's mouth.
Xia Lin opened up and took it, munching it down again.
Xia Ci used her clean hand — the one that hadn't touched the dried fish — to gently stroke Xia Lin's hair.
Compared to feeding kittens, feeding this little dragon was way more satisfying.
"Achoo!"
Just then, a sudden sneeze rang out nearby.
Everyone turned curiously toward the sound.
There stood an exceptionally handsome youth — so pretty you might have a hard time telling if he was male or female at first glance.
He had hair tied in braids on both sides, draped over his shoulders, with a green hat perched jauntily on his head and a blooming Cecilia flower tucked into his hair.
He wore baroque-style clothes, a green cloak, and held a simple wooden lyre in one hand, with a jewel that looked like an Anemo Vision on his belt.
From Xia Zhi's god's-eye, a sparkling diamond progress bar was floating above this mysterious young man:
Progress [0%].
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