Breakfast was lavish.
Everyone ate their fill.
Especially Cloud Retainer—almost every dish was to her taste.
After the meal, Yaoyao darted over to Xia Zhi and whispered her request. "Big brother, I want to make a Contract with you too."
Xia Zhi blinked. "Contract? What Contract?"
"As a Magical Girl!"
"Where'd you hear that?"
"Sister Noelle told me. She said her swordsmanship's been improving fast because of it."
"I see."
"Big brother, can I become a Magical Girl too?"
"You're a bit too young."
"Eh?"
"You're still a little girl—not even past the minimum for 'maiden.'"
"But big brother, I've already grown really tall!"
"It's not just about height. It's about resolve."
"Resolve?"
"Why does Yaoyao want to be a Magical Girl?"
"So my spear skills can improve faster!"
"That reason's a little too simple."
"Eh? Not allowed?"
Yaoyao's eyes turned pleading, pitiful.
He really couldn't resist.
"…Guess it counts as the heart of a warrior. Fine." Xia Zhi ruffled her hair. "Conveniently, I'm making Collei's Magical Girl transformation item today. I'll make you one too."
"Yay! Thanks, big brother!"
"But you'd better tell your master first. Otherwise she'll think I'm luring you away."
"I know!"
Yaoyao ran to Madame Ping and told her everything.
Ping fell silent.
Cloud Retainer came by and nudged her shoulder. "What's with the daze?"
"Quiet. I'm thinking."
"…."
After a while, Ping sighed, echoing Cloud Retainer's earlier words.
"When disciples grow up, they can't be kept."
Her eldest disciple, Xiangling, had already gone to learn cooking from Mr. Xia. And now her youngest, Yaoyao, was the same.
--
Later that day, Charlotte wandered the streets of Mondstadt with her Kamera, snapping beautiful photos—scenery, lovely people, and adorable animals alike.
Some of the girls, with nothing to do since the potion shop was fully staffed, tagged along to shop and take pictures.
When they returned, Diona seemed troubled.
After thinking for a long time, she went to Xia Zhi. "Boss, there's something I want to ask you."
"What is it?"
"While I was out with Charlotte today, I noticed… there are so many stray cats in Mondstadt."
"That's normal. Mondstadt's been through dragon calamities these past two years. Living standards dropped hard. People couldn't earn money—feeding themselves became a problem, let alone feeding pets. So many house cats were abandoned, and they became strays."
"They're so pitiful."
"You mean…"
"Boss, I want to help them!"
Her expression was dead serious.
Xia Zhi couldn't help but chuckle—the scene felt oddly familiar.
Not long ago, Xia Lin had come to him with the same words.
Only back then, she wasn't talking about stray cats, but stray people.
That was what had led him to partner with Jean to open a potion shop, using its profits for Mondstadt's public works—providing jobs to those who had none.
Now it was happening again.
Probably because Diona herself was a cat, she naturally empathized with the street cats.
It was a good thing.
Xia Zhi nodded. "Then let's help them."
"Boss, do you have a good idea?"
"You could make a shelter or rescue station for them. But it'd be expensive—housing, food, medicine, staff. All of it costs money. And such a place wouldn't generate profit to sustain itself."
"So… it needs lots of money," Diona muttered, troubled.
"Which is why a pure shelter won't work. The more cats you take in, the more you spend, and it becomes a bottomless pit. I think something like the Cat's Tail is a great model. The cats are the tavern's biggest draw, bringing customers. Then the profits from customers go back to feeding the cats. A self-sustaining cycle."
It was like giving strays good jobs—earning their own keep.
Diona's eyes sparkled. "That's right!"
"And compared to Cat's Tail, we've got advantages. You've been experimenting with drink recipes, right? You must already have plenty of good ones."
"I do!"
"Then use a few as signature drinks. In Mondstadt, as long as the booze is good, the business will thrive."
"Mhm!"
"Cat's Tail's big seller now is mahjong—imported from Liyue. That's child's play for us. Just contact Ningguang on your phone, place an order, and have a caravan deliver it."
"Mhm, mhm!"
"And besides—you've always wanted to change Mondstadt's alcohol industry, haven't you? If you open a tavern like this, not only will you solve the stray cat problem, but you'll also take the first crucial step toward your dream. Two birds, one stone."
"Mhm, mhm, mhm!"
Diona clenched her fists, eyes glowing with excitement.
Xia Zhi smiled. "We're free these days anyway. We'll check the property listings later and find a storefront."
Suddenly remembering something, Diona asked, "But Boss, we're heading to Inazuma soon. Who'll watch the tavern?"
Xia Zhi thought. "Then we'll need to find a Mondstadt local. Reliable, and a cat-lover…"
In Diona's mind flashed the image of a cold-faced nun.
"Boss, I've got an idea!"
Truthfully, the best candidate to manage the tavern would be Noelle.
But she was already running the Dragon Potions as its manager, with her schedule packed full every day. Expecting her to take on a second job as head of a pet tavern was obviously unrealistic.
Aside from Noelle, most of their friends in Mondstadt were already tied up with duties in the Knights of Favonius. People like Jean and Lisa had no spare time to take on a role like this.
Venti, as a bard, was usually pretty free. Plus, he knew his liquor—he should've been a perfect fit.
Except for one fatal problem: he was allergic to cats. The moment he got near one, he couldn't stop sneezing. That was completely out of the question.
Barbara, as a Deaconess, had free time too. But she was too young, and unlike Noelle, she lacked the experience and decisiveness to handle such responsibility.
Which left only one last option.
The seemingly cold, but in truth love-starved Cryo nun—Rosaria.
She adored cats. Even strays, if she found them, she'd take them home and look after them.
And as a nun of the Church of Favonius, she was recognized by the institution itself. That meant her character was trustworthy—no risk of her running off with the profits.
The only thing uncertain was whether she had the ability to actually manage the business. That would need testing.
Xia Zhi chuckled. "Got someone in mind?"
Diona voiced her thought. "Boss, what about that nun Little White likes so much?"
Xia Zhi thought it over. "From what I recall, she's fine. Barbara seems close to her too. Give Barbara a call, ask her about Rosaria's situation."
"Okay, Boss."
--
By dinnertime, everyone already knew Diona was planning to open a pet tavern.
Naturally, everyone was intrigued, tossing around ideas and suggestions.
After the meal, they all headed to Cat's Tail to check the place out again, studying its strengths firsthand.
Thanks to the Mahjong Tournament's success not long ago, Cat's Tail's business was booming. Every mahjong table was full, with more people crowding around to watch or wait their turn.
As for Genius Invokation TCG, aside from two die-hard tables hidden in a corner, the game was basically invisible.
They wandered the tavern, played with the cats, and snapped photos of the furniture with their phones, planning to use the same standards when decorating their own shop.
When Margaret, the proprietress, spotted Diona, she happily came over to chat—after all, little Diona had once been her best bartender.
Diona, a bit embarrassed, fidgeted under the attention.
When they left Cat's Tail, she looked like she had something on her mind.
Xia Zhi caught on. "Mahjong parlors are a rising trend now. Cat's Tail alone can't handle the flood of customers. Even if you don't open one, someone else will. So don't worry about stealing business—you're not."
Only then did Diona relax, nodding. "Mm."
Back at the Church of Favonius, they ran into Rosaria, sitting on a bench, cigarette holder in hand.
With a subtle thought from Xia Zhi, the kitten in Diona's arms—Little White—squirmed free and bounded onto Rosaria's lap.
With such a fluffy little bridge, conversation naturally followed.
Rosaria set her smoke aside, stroked the cat, then glanced up to greet them.
Diona grinned. "See? Little White really likes you—it ran over the moment it saw you."
Rosaria's face was as flat as ever. "It's fine."
They chatted idly for a bit.
At last, Rosaria reluctantly lifted the cat off her lap and handed it back to Diona.
Xia Zhi spoke. "Miss Rosaria, would you have any interest in becoming a tavern manager?"
Rosaria turned her head, eyes narrowing slightly. "Manager?"
"Yeah. We're planning to open a pet tavern in Mondstadt."
"Like Cat's Tail?"
"That's right."
"But aren't you all heading to Inazuma soon?"
"Oh? Miss Rosaria already knew?"
"I heard you mention it last time."
"Exactly. Which is why we need someone to run the place."
"And why me?"
"Because we think you're the perfect fit."
"Perfect fit?"
Her expression was somewhere between skeptical and amused.
Xia Zhi said, "Tomorrow we'll be scouting for a property. If you're interested, you could come with us."
Rosaria neither agreed nor refused. She simply said, "I know."
Once more, Xia Zhi gave a subtle mental nudge. Little White wriggled free from Diona's arms, scampered back onto Rosaria's lap, and settled there.
Diona bent down, gently scolding, "Little White, you can't just keep climbing on people like that."
"Meow."
Xia Zhi smiled. "It's fine. Since Little White loves sticking with Miss Rosaria, let it play with her. Sorry to trouble you, Miss Rosaria."
Rosaria stroked the cat. "It's fine. I'll look after it."
Only after watching the others head into the Church did Rosaria lift the white cat again. She gazed into its bright, soulful eyes.
"Meow."
So cute.