บท 104: Chapter 104
"Ah, it's the Hall Master!"
"Good evening, Mr. Xia! Oh, you're eating noodles? What kind of noodles are these? They smell amazing!"
"We have a guest tonight, so I made a simple vegetarian mushroom noodle dish to serve her."
Hu Tao stepped into the shop, her eyes lighting up when she saw the blue-haired guest sitting at the table. She paused for a moment. "Isn't this Secretary Ganyu from Yuehai Pavilion?"
Ganyu quickly swallowed the food in her mouth, set her chopsticks down, and turned toward Hu Tao. Her face was slightly flushed as she politely replied, "Ah, it's Hall Master Hu from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
Xia Zhi was a little surprised. "You two know each other?"
Hu Tao grinned. "We've worked together before, so I guess you could say we know each other."
Ganyu nodded. A few days earlier, after Morax's passing, she had collaborated with Hu Tao to handle the Rite of Parting ceremonies.
Though curious why Ganyu was visiting Xia Zhi's shop so late, Hu Tao didn't press the matter. Instead, her attention shifted to the steaming bowls of noodles on the table.
"Vegetarian mushroom noodles? What kind of mushrooms smell this good? Or is it just that Mr. Xia's cooking skills are extraordinary? No wonder your mooncakes were so delicious."
"Thank you for the compliment. But, Hall Master, is there something you needed from me tonight?"
"Not really. I just saw the lights on as I was passing by and wanted to stop by to thank you for the mooncakes you sent over last night."
"They were just some snacks. No need to be so formal."
"Also, I came to settle the tab for Zhongli's drinks these past few days."
"Just a few juices; it's nothing…"
"Mr. Xia, that's no way to run a business. Even among friends, it's not right to keep freeloading off you."
"Alright then. Zhu Zi, could you grab the ledger?"
"On it!" Zhu Zi quickly got up and fetched the shop's ledger.
"Hall Master, Mr. Zhongli has an outstanding tab for three occasions, totaling 600 Mora."
"Alright."
Hu Tao handed over the Mora, and Zhu Zi carefully recorded the transaction and crossed out the owed amount in the ledger.
"Done. I won't keep you from enjoying your midnight snack. See you around!"
"Take care, Hall Master."
Hu Tao waved goodbye but couldn't resist taking another glance at the bowls of noodles.
As she stepped out of the shop, she gulped and muttered to herself, "What kind of vegetarian mushroom noodles are these? They smell way too good! Ugh, now I'm starving! I need to head to home and find something to eat!"
---
Inside the shop, after Hu Tao's departure, Ganyu picked up her chopsticks again and resumed eating her noodles. Zhu Zi couldn't hold back any longer and eagerly grabbed her own bowl.
"I'm starting!" she declared softly.
As soon as a strand of noodle entered her mouth, Zhu Zi's cheeks flushed, and her eyes glistened as if she were on the verge of tears.
"It's so good!"
Xia Zhi chuckled and picked up his chopsticks to try a bite himself.
The noodles were springy, the mushroom strips soft and flavorful, and the broth rich and aromatic. The combination was exquisite, and he could feel his mood lightening—a clear effect of the [Creamy Mushroom], which boosted positive emotions.
Before long, the three bowls were empty, with not even a drop of broth left.
Looking at Ganyu and Zhu Zi, Xia Zhi noticed that both girls wore expressions of pure satisfaction, their smiles carrying an air of bliss.
Ganyu's golden progress bar had jumped to [32%] thanks to the meal.
While the increase was fast, it wasn't as extreme as Guoba's situation, where the progress bar had been maxed out instantly. Clearly, that had been a unique case.
---
"Miss Ganyu, are you full?" Xia Zhi asked gently.
Blushing, Ganyu nodded softly. "Yes, I'm full. Thank you, Mr. Xia, for the meal. This was the best bowl of noodles I've ever had."
"You flatter me, Miss Ganyu. As long as you enjoyed it and it lifted your spirits, I'm glad."
Ganyu paused, realizing her gloomy mood had indeed lightened significantly. The warmth from the simple yet extraordinary noodles seemed to have melted her worries away.
---
Zhu Zi chimed in, still savoring the aftertaste. "This was the best bowl of noodles I've ever eaten too! It's amazing! Even though it's just mushrooms"
Xia Zhi smiled. "That's not surprising. High-quality ingredients often shine with the simplest cooking methods."
The noodles had relied on two extraordinary ingredients, one of which was the silver-grade [Melk Star Powder]. Naturally, the flavor surpassed dishes made with ordinary ingredients.
"Zhu Zi, please clear the table and bring the bowls to the kitchen. Also, boil more water for Miss Ganyu's bath; she'll be staying with us tonight."
"Got it, Boss!"
Zhu Zi obediently stood up, wiped the table clean, and carried the bowls to the kitchen.
---
Xia Zhi sat down with Ganyu to chat while they waited for Shenhe to return.
"Miss Ganyu, do you have any hobbies?"
"Hobbies? Hmm… I'd say work is my hobby."
"Work?"
"Yes, doesn't that count?"
"Of course, it does. I'm just surprised. Turning your hobby into your job is a wonderful thing. I used to have similar dreams."
"Oh? What's your hobby, Mr. Xia?"
"I used to love reading, especially novels."
"Used to? What about now?"
"Now… reading has become a bit inconvenient."
Xia Zhi removed his glasses, revealing his gray, lifeless eyes.
"Because of an issue with my eyes, I can't see."
Ganyu stared at him, stunned.
When she first noticed his dark glasses, she'd thought they were merely a stylistic choice. She hadn't realized he was blind.
Despite his blindness, he had personally cooked such a delicious bowl of noodles for her…
Ganyu's mood, which had been lightened moments ago, suddenly grew complicated.
She felt a mix of guilt, astonishment, gratitude, and an unplaceable warmth.
---
At that moment, Xia Zhi noticed her golden progress bar increase by another [5%].
What's this? Could it be tied to emotions? Maybe significant emotional fluctuations above a certain threshold cause progress changes? Was Guoba's case an example of extreme satisfaction?
"Mr. Xia…" Ganyu hesitated, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately settled on, "I'm sorry…"
"Miss Ganyu, why apologize?"
"I didn't realize your condition. If I had known, I wouldn't have troubled you…"
"It's no trouble. For me, cooking isn't difficult. If we're friends, the best thing you can do is treat me like a normal person. That's all the thanks I need."
"I… I understand!"
Ganyu nodded earnestly, her gaze filled with sincerity.
---
Xia Zhi smiled and put his glasses back on. "Earlier, you mentioned feeling out of place in Liyue Harbor because of your adeptal bloodline. I think that's too harsh on yourself. I have a friend who shares your heritage, and she's thriving in Liyue. She even runs her own legal consultancy and finds great joy in her work."
"Are you referring to Yanfei?"
"Yes. Do you know her?"
"I do. When she was just a child, she told me her dream was to live a happy life while honoring her contracts. Now she's a respected figure in Liyue…"
"Looks like we're all connected. Hall Master Hu, Yanfei, now you… Do you know Chef Xiangling?"
"Xiangling's famous! But… I avoid going near Wanmin Restaurant. The food smells wafting through the streets are too tempting. Even the vegetarian dishes there make it hard to control my appetite…"
"Sometimes, it's okay to indulge a little."
"I can't. You don't understand, Mr. Xia—my constitution makes me prone to weight gain."
"That's alright. Just exercise regularly."
"But my work keeps me so busy… I often have to work overtime and have no time to exercise…"
"That sounds tough. No wonder your voice always carries a hint of exhaustion. When was the last time you truly rested?"
"I suppose I've felt particularly tired these past few days from traveling."
"In that case, would you like me to give you a massage?"
"Huh?"
---
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