Xiao ate the Almond Tofu prepared by Mu Yang.
He was currently a bit puzzled—Mu Yang seemed somewhat different now.
Compared to before, he felt more approachable.
This feeling was a little strange, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Mu Yang took out a box of mooncakes. "Try these. If you don't like them, you can give them to Boss and Yanxiao to taste."
"Mm."
Xiao hesitated for a moment but still asked, "Have you still not remembered anything about Marchosius?"
He truly hadn't expected that Mu Yang and Lumine's joint activities were actually an investigation into Marchosius.
Mu Yang shook his head—of course, he had to keep up the act thoroughly.
Xiao's eyes dimmed. Mu Yang's situation was truly heartbreaking.
But then, Mu Yang's next words made the usually stoic young man even more unable to keep his composure.
Mu Yang said that although he hadn't recalled Marchosius, he did remember something from when he first woke up five hundred years ago.
Back then, he had met Bosacius in Qingce Village.
Little did he know, that would be their final meeting.
"Big Brother Bosacius…"
...
By the time Mu Yang came downstairs, Yanxiao's dishes were almost all served.
Lumine waved Mu Yang over to sit beside her.
Paimon asked, "Mu Yang, where did you go just now?"
Mu Yang replied, "I made some Almond Tofu for Xiao."
[I ship it]
[Ship it? Did you bump into the corner of the table? (laughing)]
[This guy just won't take a hint, huh? (dog head)]
Xiangling, who was nearby, chimed in, "Thank you, Mu Yang. The adeptus left too quickly—I didn't even get a chance to thank him."
Xiangling thought Mu Yang had gone specifically to thank Xiao on her behalf.
"It's fine. He's not the type to fuss over such things."
Lumine also explained that Xiao carried the burden of karmic debt.
His aloof demeanor was simply because he didn't want to harm others.
"Adepti have their own troubles too…"
As they spoke, Yanxiao brought out the last dish.
"Here we go! All the dishes you ordered are served."
After all, he was someone who had made it to the finals—Yanxiao's skills were quite solid.
Xiangling closed her eyes. Just from the aroma alone, she could tell Yanxiao would be a worthy opponent.
Paimon couldn't hold back her excitement. "Wow—it smells so good! So good!"
Keqing was a little surprised. "I never expected that an inn not known for its food would have such a skilled chef."
Yanxiao smiled and explained, "Whether guests are staying or just passing by, everyone wants a good meal."
"Though we're technically an inn, we have to excel in everything to make people feel truly at home."
With that, he invited them to enjoy their meal and went off to attend to other matters.
Xiangling suddenly stood up and called out to him.
"Yanxiao, are you participating in this year's Masterful Chefs competition?"
Yanxiao turned around. "Don't tell me you…?" (Stove God! Activate!)
"Yes, I'll be participating, and I'll do my best to reach the finals. Yanxiao, your cooking is amazing—I really look forward to facing you in the finals."
A mutual admiration between masters.
Yanxiao wasn't about to back down.
"Haha… Interesting. Alright, see you then!"
Paimon: "Was that a declaration of war just now?"
Keqing: "More like meeting a worthy rival."
Xiangling remarked that from Yanxiao's dishes, one could tell his foundation was solid.
Moreover, he was an honest person—someone like that would make for a great opponent.
Lumine teased her, "Xiangling's fighting spirit is burning brighter and brighter."
"Hehe… Not at all, not at all." Xiangling turned her head—and gasped in shock.
"Eh?! Guoba, what are you doing?!"
Guoba retracted his little hands. "♪～"
While everyone was chatting happily, in an unnoticed corner—
No, in the corner where only Mu Yang was watching, Guoba had already polished off the Golden Shrimp Balls.
Mu Yang hadn't joined the conversation from the start—why chat when you could watch the Stove God sneak food?
Sure enough, the smile on Keqing's face had already vanished.
"Ah! It—it ate…"
Xiangling scolded Guoba, "How could you steal Keqing's favorite dish?!"
The sad catgirl whimpered, "Wuwu… My Golden Shrimp Balls…"
[Wow, Keqing—I've fallen in love at this moment]
["Wuwu, my Golden Shrimp Balls"]
[Hello everyone, from now on my name is Golden Shrimp Ball]
[You're a potato thread—so thin you could pass through a needle's eye]
Xiangling crossed her arms, clearly genuinely angry this time.
She had just scolded him yesterday, and now, while eating out, he did it again!
"Guoba, bad!"
[Guoba! Bad!]
[A new iconic moment is born, haha]
[Why are they each cuter than the last?!]
Guoba widened his eyes. "?"
"You didn't even leave a single one… Sigh, didn't I just tell you yesterday not to do this when we're outside?"
Lumine was curious. "Yesterday? Did Guoba do something like this yesterday too?"
Xiangling explained how Guoba had eaten two whole boxes of mooncakes.
Now Paimon was fired up. She wagged her finger. "Guoba, even if you really like something, this isn't the right way to go about it."
"Paimon, you're the last one who should be saying that."
"I always ask before eating your stuff!"
Xiangling apologized to Keqing. "I'm sorry, Keqing. I'll make it up to you."
Paimon suggested they could just order another serving.
But Xiangling insisted that when you're craving a specific dish and don't get to eat it, no substitute can truly make up for that feeling.
Food is a fusion of emotion, flavor, and atmosphere—none of these can be missing.
So, Xiangling told Keqing to name any dish she wanted, and as compensation, she'd do her best to fulfill the request.
Keqing took Xiangling up on her offer and pulled out her grandfather's old recipe book.
She wanted to see if Xiangling could recreate the flavors from it.
"Sure, no problem." Xiangling agreed.
Everyone enjoyed the dishes prepared by Yanxiao.
Afterward, the group returned to Liyue Harbor.
Since it was already late, Keqing said she'd bring the recipe tomorrow, and they'd meet at Wanmin Restaurant.
As everyone turned to leave, Keqing quietly pulled Lumine aside.
"What's wrong, Keqing?" Lumine asked, puzzled.
She even had to avoid Xiangling and Mu Yang—was Keqing trying to tell her something in secret?
Naturally, Keqing's next words had to be kept from Xiangling, as they were about how to interact with her.
As for Mu Yang—Mu Yang already knew too much!
She couldn't afford to reveal any more weaknesses to him!
Lumine never expected that the decisive Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, Keqing, would also struggle with matters of friendship.
Keqing said, "Xiangling has always been very warm toward me, especially this time—she even helped me out…"
"Anyway, I'm not very good at handling overly enthusiastic, kind-hearted girls. Lumine, please teach me."
Lumine said it was actually very simple.
"Just smile at her more."
"R-Really?"
Lumine nodded—Xiangling wasn't the type to fuss over such details.
Keqing didn't need to overthink it.
With this "answer," Keqing's mood instantly lightened. "Thank you. Then, see you tomorrow."
Watching Keqing leave, Lumine noticed her steps seemed much lighter.
[I'm done for—I've completely fallen for Keqing. I love her personality so much!]
[I've already licked my screen so much the thigh-highs are wearing out, and now you tell me this?]
[Disgusting coomer]