"But…"
Xiangling was the first to snap back to reality.
"There are already so many kinds of candy out there, with all sorts of flavors and textures. Even if I can imagine how chewy the slime becomes once it's turned into a gel or solid, can it really compete with toffee?
"After all, it's made from slime. If this 'chewing gum' can't outperform its competitors, it's unlikely to become popular."
Victor Wang addressed her concerns:
"Compared to other candy, chewing gum has one unmatched advantage: other candies melt and are digested as you chew them, but slime can't be digested in the mouth.
That means it keeps its chewiness for a long time. You can chew it until the flavor fades, then swallow it if you like it—or spit it out like sugarcane if you don't.
Basically, anything that's chewy, not digestible while chewing, and preferably edible can be made into chewing gum. But there aren't many such materials—I've only ever tasted them in dreams.
This Mushroom Slime Stew gave me a moment of clarity. The only remaining challenge is to refine the slime into a solid that can be chewed over and over again."
Chewing gum on Earth is made from natural latex or glycerin resin as a base, mixed with syrup, mint, sweeteners, and pressed into shape. Slime is also a colloid—tough and sticky—there's no reason it shouldn't work… though he didn't know if it could blow bubbles.
If it could blow bubbles, that would be a killer feature.
Xiangling thought for a moment, then said, "I think it's doable. I'll try to refine it now."
And then, she returned looking defeated.
"Did it fail?"
"No." She pointed at the three finished dishes of Mushroom Slime Stew. "I used up all the slime I had..."
Victor Wang, Xingqiu, and Chongyun all let out helpless laughs.
"No worries—once I'm off work, I'll go hunt some slimes!"
"I'll help you make some more flavoring agents in the meantime, for your experiments."
"Yes, yes! What flavors can those agents be made into?"
"All kinds of vegetables and fruits. Right now, the only more complex one is ham-flavored."
"Vegetables and fruits... We've got a surplus of Sweet Flowers, Mint, Onions, Jueyun Chilies, and Apples in the kitchen—I'll go grab some."
Victor Wang took the ingredients and headed off to brew more agents.
"If this gum actually gets made, the price of slime products might go up."
"You believe in chewing gum that much?"
As the second young master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, one of Liyue's pillars of trade, Xingqiu might seem unorthodox, but he had long since mastered everything expected of someone from a merchant family.
Chongyun had witnessed his sharp business instincts and quick execution before.
"Any innovation that carves a new path from among countless old ones shouldn't be underestimated. Especially in food—there's never a shortage of stories about a single dish rocketing to fame. Not that it's my job to worry about that—we'll just wait to eat it~"
"Sigh… No matter what, I'm definitely dreaming about slimes tonight…" Chongyun twisted in his seat.
Because of Xiangling's frequent 'assaults,' they hadn't even finished their original dishes. Xingqiu casually picked up a Lotus Flower Crisp, closed his eyes, and savored it. The defeated expression he wore when eating the slime dish was gone.
"Hey, someone untie me!"
"Eh? You've regained consciousness?"
"You… you've been talking to me normally this whole time!"
"No rush. Let's wait a little longer—if you flip the table at Wanmin Restaurant again, that wouldn't be good. As your best friend, I have to protect your wallet."
"I..."
"Aiya, this Lotus Flower Crisp is so good! Handmade petals—more layers than a real flower! Each one is crisp as a cicada's wing. The flavor when you bite into it... tsk tsk..."
Chongyun muttered under his breath, "Where was all this commentary when you were eating Mushroom Slime Stew..."
"Aiya! And this Triple-Layered Consommé! So many ingredients finely shredded with masterful knife work, all uniform in width! The salty-sweet layers, the complexity—this is gourmet perfection!"
"Untie me already!"
Xingqiu remained unmoved—until Victor Wang returned, at which point he solemnly said, "Forgive me for earlier. I just needed to confirm you'd fully recovered. Now that I'm sure, I'll untie you."
He was so serious that Chongyun doubted whether it was real.
After handing the bottles and vials to Xiangling, and happily finishing dinner with his new friends, Victor Wang wandered around Feiyun Slope and Chihu Rock, finally choosing to stay at an inn on the northern edge of Chihu Rock.
This inn sat near the wooden bridge connecting Liyue Harbor's northern and southern districts—close to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and not far from Wanmin Restaurant. But the real reason he chose it was the name: Dragon Gate Inn. He had to stay there.
"Perfect timing, guest! With the Rite of Parting, there are tons of visitors. We've got just one room left. Here's your key—call the floor runner if you need anything!"
After a few simple instructions from the innkeeper, Victor Wang found his room. As he stepped in and turned to close the door, the door directly across from his opened.
It was Lumine—and Paimon.
"Whoa! Whoawhoawhoa! Don't tell me you asked Xiangling where we were staying and booked the room right across from us on purpose!" Paimon accused.
"I did eat at Wanmin Restaurant and saw Xiangling, yes. But staying here? Total coincidence... well, not entirely. I wandered around all afternoon and chose this inn. And this room? It was the only one left. Besides, I stayed at the Goth Grand Hotel first, remember?"
Victor Wang defended himself with everything he had—even his fear of Paimon was momentarily forgotten.
Two different nations, no planning, yet they'd chosen the exact same inn both times—and ended up in rooms right across from each other. The odds of that were like randomly running into Eula taking a bath in Dragonspine.
Luckily, Paimon and Lumine weren't the type to make baseless accusations.
Lumine's slightly parted lips curled into a smile. "Maybe this is what Liyue people call 'fate.'"
Victor Wang nodded. "It must be a special kind of fate that always puts us in rooms across from each other. Did you just come back from Wangshu Inn—or did you... teleport?"
"We teleported! Just one whoosh—and we were here!" Paimon drew a big circle in the air.
"Ahaha…"
"We originally teleported back to check on things—but it looks like the warrant for us has been revoked."
"Yeah, we heard the Liyue Qixing officially acknowledged the Geo Archon's death."
"A god really... just died like that? If we could only examine the Archon's body… no, let's not talk about that. We're heading to Liyue's night market now—wanna come?"
"I... I have to get up early tomorrow. I'll skip this one. Hope you two have fun!"
"Mhm!"
After closing the door, Victor Wang leaned against it, his eyes misty.
Getting invited to go out with a girl—even just as friends—it was the first time in his life. And he rejected it himself!
All because of Paimon… Paimon! Who even are you?
But I can't cut ties with Lumine just because of Paimon... arghhh!
In his mind, two little Lumines were fighting. One said, better safe than sorry. The other shouted, I've had enough—time to confront Paimon!
The latter won. She sat on the other's back and said to Victor Wang, "Follow your heart!"
To hell with Celestia! I cursed them the day I got here! Besides, Paimon's met both Dainsleif and Aether—and she didn't attack them. Why would I be the exception?
Charge! Before Lumine gets too far—catch up and go shopping with them!
Paimon: "Achoo!"
"What's wrong? Did you catch a cold?"
"Not sure. My nose just suddenly felt itchy."
"Let's find Xiangling for some food therapy first."
"Okay." Paimon glanced back—right at Victor Wang poking his head out the door.
Strangely, though the inn was fully booked, the hallway connecting all these rooms was completely empty—just the three of them. Aside from Lumine's soft bootsteps, the space was eerily silent.
Paimon froze at the unexpected eye contact—then grinned and gave a small wave.
Victor Wang, caught off guard, gave a sheepish smile and retreated inside.
Noticing Paimon flying backward, Lumine turned and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Victor just seemed a little... shy."