Liyue Harbor, Wanmin Restaurant
At this moment, Xiangling was busy in the kitchen, cooking up a meal. Meanwhile, Tartaglia, Qiu Bai, and Qiu Yue sat at a table, their hands resting on the surface, waiting for the food to be served.
Xiangling wiped the sweat off her forehead with one hand while skillfully stir-frying with the other.
"I really got scolded by my dad when we got back earlier."
"Good thing Mr. Qiu Bai helped explain everything."
"Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have been allowed out for a while."
Thinking about this, Xiangling glanced gratefully at Qiu Bai, who was sitting outside. Then, she focused even more on preparing each dish with care.
Meanwhile, Childe was staring at Qiu Yue, lost in thought.
"A younger sister, huh? I wonder how Tonia is doing."
"It's been a while since I last went back to Snezhnaya..."
"But Qiu Bai sister… she really is stunning."
Childe found himself dazed, unable to look away from Qiu Yue.
Qiu Bai on the other hand smiled knowingly, watching Childe with an expression full of amusement.
Qiu Yue, noticing that Childe had been staring at her the entire time, started to blush. She lowered her head, clutching the hem of her dress tightly in embarrassment.
"Mr. Tartaglia, is there something on my face?"
Qiu Yue finally spoke in a soft, shy voice, her head still lowered.
"Hey, Childe, staring at a lady like that is pretty rude, you know?"
Qiu Bai pressed his hands together, resting his arms on the table while looking at Childe with a playful smile.
"Uh—my apologies, Miss Qiu Yue! I was just lost in thought."
"Seeing you reminded me of my younger brother back in Snezhnaya."
Childe hurriedly explained, not wanting to be mistaken for a creep especially not in front of such a beautiful girl!
Somewhere in Snezhnaya, Tonia nodded approvingly:
"Big brother, you're absolutely right."
But when Childe glanced at Qiu Bai again, he suddenly shuddered.
That smiling, peaceful expression on Qiu Bai face it was oddly intimidating.
"Strange… Qiu Bai is just an ordinary person without a Vision."
"So why does he give off such a dangerous feeling?"
Childe felt a surge of excitement.
"Man, I really want to spar with him!"
"Food is ready!"
Xiangling cheerful voice rang out from the kitchen.
She stepped out, balancing a dish on her head, while carrying one plate in each hand. Meanwhile, Guoba also held a dish in his little arms.
The aroma of the food filled the air, making everyone's stomachs growl.
Xiangling placed the dishes on the table and smiled brightly.
"Enjoy your meal, Mr. Qiu Bai, Miss Qiu Yue, and Mr. Tartaglia!"
"This meal is on me!"
With that, Xiangling sat down to join them. Meanwhile, Guoba stood on a chair, since he was too short to reach the table.
"Then, let's dig in."
As soon as Qiu Bai spoke, he picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a piece of meat, and placed it in his mouth.
"Mmm... as expected of Xiangling."
After chewing a few times, he closed his eyes slightly, savoring the flavors.
"The beast meat is first deep-fried in hot oil until crispy, then sugar and fruit jam are added to the pan, letting the sauce thicken before setting it aside."
"Then, the crispy meat is placed back in the pan, coated with the thickened sauce, and stir-fried to perfection."
"A masterful technique, backed by the confidence of a skilled chef."
Qiu Bai slowly opened his eyes and praised Xiangling with a calm, appreciative tone.
"Hehe, you're making me embarrassed, Mr. Qiu Bai."
Xiangling scratched her head, a little shy from the compliment.
But deep inside, she was delighted.
"This Qiu Bai guy… he's just like Mr. Zhongli. Even the way he talks sounds similar."
She still remembered how Zhongli would also analyze every dish when he dined at Wanmin Restaurant.
Well… except Zhongli always forgot to bring money.
"Haha, I'm just speaking the truth."
"Nothing to be embarrassed about. If you don't believe me, ask my sister."
"Or Childe, for that matter."
Qiu Bai turned to his younger sister Qiu Yue, who was skillfully using her chopsticks, as well as Childe.
"Mhm! Big brother is right!"
"This is delicious, Xiangling!"
Qiu Yue gave a thumbs-up, her usually calm and elegant face now puffed up with food, making her words sound slightly unclear.
At this moment, all traces of her usual graceful and refined demeanor had completely vanished.
Seeing this, Qiu Bai eyelid twitched.
"I can't believe my sister, who always looks so gentle and refined, turns into this when she eats."
Childe also gave Xiangling a thumbs-up.
"Miss Xiangling, your cooking..."
"It's even better than what I've had at Liuli Pavilion and in Snezhnaya."
If not for his position in the Fatui, he might actually start liking Liyue.
"Hehe, thank you, Sister Qiu Yue and Mr. Tartaglia!"
Xiangling smiled brightly, feeling truly happy.
Meanwhile, Guoba was also eating enthusiastically, standing on the chair with one foot propped up, stretching as far as he could to reach the food.
Seeing this, Xiangling picked Guoba up.
"Guoba! Why are you getting heavier and heavier?"
She held Guoba up so he could grab some food, then used all her strength to place him back on the chair, panting slightly from the effort.
"Lululu (＾ω＾)"
Guoba looked at the dish in front of him, a happy smile spreading across his face before he dug in enthusiastically.
Xiangling had anticipated this exact situation, so she had prepared extra-large portions of every dish.
Half an hour passed.
Qiu Bai stood up, stretched lazily, and took out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth.
Xiangling began clearing the plates from the table.
Behind her, Qiu Yue sat there, her mouth glistening with oil, looking up at Qiu Bai with a dazed and adorable expression.
Qiu Bai couldn't hold it in.
"Pfft—HAHAHAHAHA!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Clutching his stomach, Qiu Bai laughed so hard he almost spit out the food he had just eaten.
Qiu Yue, however, puffed up her cheeks in frustration, standing up and staring at her older brother in confusion.
"What's so funny…?"
"Um… Miss Qiu Yue, there's some oil on your face."
"Here, take this handkerchief. You can use it to wipe your mouth."
Childe, watching Qiu Yue adorable expression, reached out and handed her a fresh handkerchief.
Qiu Yue took the handkerchief and, mimicking her brother, wiped her mouth.
"Oh… so that's how it's done."
She murmured to herself, feeling like she had learned something new.
Then, she turned to Childe, smiling sweetly.
"Thank you, Mr. Tartaglia!"
"You're such a good person!"
Qiu Yue beamed like a blooming flower, radiating pure happiness as she handed Childe a "Good Person Card."
Childe was a bit confused when Qiu Yue extended her delicate hand toward him.
He assumed she was offering a handshake, so he shook her hand.
The moment their hands touched, a faint white light radiated from Qiu Yue palm, flowing into Childe's body.
A warm sensation surged through him, comforting and soothing, like stepping into a hot bath.
The exhaustion he had been feeling over the past few days vanished instantly.
Even the side effects from using his Delusion over the years disappeared.
For the first time in a long while, his eyes shone with clarity.
"Why do I feel like… my strength has returned to what it was before I ever used a Delusion?"
Meanwhile, Qiu Bai scanned Childe with his divine sense, checking his condition.
"Did my sister just use her Authority to extend his lifespan?"
"Damn… Childe really hit the jackpot today."
But Qiu Bai couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
"Of all the ways to show gratitude, she chose to… increase someone's lifespan?!"
(Author's Note):
Just finished playing through the latest 3.2 version storyline…
AND MY NAHIDA GOT HARD-PITY LOST—NOOOOOO!!!
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