17 Unmoving Statue

"..."

"..."

Xiangling was currently staring at the unmoving statue-like Zhongli. Although the latter doesn't look like it, he seems to be like it.

You might be wondering what is happening right now in front of Igarashi's shop, no?

It's quite easy, you see.

Xiangling, who just finished helping her father with their restaurant, went out with her best friend Gouba for some fresh air.

When she gazed at Igarashi's shop, she saw a particular person that was standing there, undisturbed by their surrounding. It was as if the man himself was a statue that just stood there.

He did not blink and just merely crossed his hands together as if waiting for someone, upkeeping that stern look of his.

"...Mr. Zhongli?"

Xiangling naturally knows of the man. Sometimes, he would come to their restaurant and eat her cooking and point out some errors in her cooking which she would improve, which leads to her thanking him.

On some occasions, he would be eatin— no, it would be more like dragged by Hu Tao who loves eating steamed fish and prawn dumplings, contrary to Zhongli that doesn't like seafood.

Overall, their relationship is acquaintances.

"Mr. Zhongli, why are standing outside Boss Yunru's shop?" Xiangling walked over to him carrying Gouba and asked.

Zhongli turned his head and calmly replied, "Ah, it's you. It's nothing. I am merely waiting for the author of the book you sold me the other day."

Zhongli then took out a book from god knows where and handed it to Xiangling. "I am merely here to discuss some matters with the author."

When Xiangling saw the book and she immediately... Misunderstood what he meant.

'I see, so Mr. Zhongli is also here to ask if there is a sequel to Boss Yunru's book. Hehe, too bad, I'm the only one that has the sequel, Mr. Zhongli' Xiangling mischievously thought.

She then nodded and went back to Wangming Restaurant to fetch the book Igarashi gave her 2 days ago.

Zhongli thought that Xiangling would leave him alone, however, the latter can't back after about a minute.

She then held a book in her hand and displayed it in front of Zhongli proudly. "Look what I have, Mr. Zhongli~"

Zhongli looked at the book that Xiangling was holding and what he saw were two young people. A male and female with the sunlight gazing down on both of them, and in the background, a rainy city.

It was also colored, giving it a unique look just like 'Your Name'.

It was, of course, the manga Igarashi promised Xiangling: 'Weathering With You'. The sequel of 'Your Name'.

"This..." Zhongli muttered.

"Hehe, yup! It's the sequel of Boss Yunru's 'Your Name'! And only I have it!" Xiangling proudly said, making a smug look which Gouba also imitated. "Lo ♪ Lo ♪ Lo ♪"

Zhongli just calmly stood there and did not move as he looked at the book Xiangling was showing.

Truth to be told, he wasn't here to ask Igarashi about the sequel of his book. But instead, discuss matters regarding the inventions in his book which have connections to the fallen nation from 500 years ago, Khaenri'ah.

Though... He did want to see the sequel of what happened to Mitsuha and Taki. 'I am merely filling my curiosity... Yes. This is merely a curiosity of wanting to learn more about what the author of these books knows about Khaenri'ah.'

Zhongli stopped crossing his hands and said to Xiangling, "Excuse me, Miss Xiangling, would you let me borrow this book for a moment?"

Xiangling thought for a moment and pondered in her mind whether to give the book to Zhongli. She put her hand on her chin and made a thinking gesture before speaking, "I'll do it. But in exchange, you will have to teach me your most treasured dish that you know! Deal?"

Zhongli thought for a moment before replying. "I accept."

Xiangling celebrated with Gouba as she heard Zhongli's reply. The man was basically a walking diary. There's bound to be some precious fish buried in Zhongli's mind.

Xiangling handed him the manga. After handing it to him, she gave him a light warning. "Oh yeah, Mr. Zhongli, make sure to not tell anyone about this! Boss Yunru said that he will make more of this book in the future, but not now. So please, keep it a secret for me!" She pleaded.

Zhongli was taken aback for a moment before gently smiling. "I see. Then, I will make sure to not tell anyone."

Xiangling nodded before sitting down on a seat nearby as she waited for Zhongli to finish reading.

Zhongli looked at the Little lady sitting on the seat before paying attention to the book in his hands. He opened it and what he saw was... Nothing. Just blank pages.

It was, of course, the system's anti-counterfeit function. A function that prevented anyone from tracing Igarashi's drawing and copying it, or reading it without buying it.

Zhongli was confused as to why the pages were blank. He kept turning but they were all blank. 'It can't be that she was lying, it seemed like she was telling the truth earlier... Hmm...'

Then, an idea emerged in Zhongli's mind and made a speculation. He then went to Xiangling and showed her a page. "It seems that I wasn't able to see this part clearly, can you tell me what it is?"

Xiangling looked at him dumbfounded for a moment before answering. "Mr. Zhongli... You're pointing at the waters around the ship... What are you trying to see there? Fish? But I thought you hate them?"

Zhongli didn't reply and just stared at the manga page as he silently thought to himself. 'I see, so it is what I think it was. Something is preventing me from seeing the contents of the book... But how...'

He pondered for no less than 30 seconds before coming up with a theory. 'Perhaps only those that bought the author's book are capable of seeing his work...'

He internally sighed as he straightened up his posture. 'I have lived for a long time yet this is the first time I found someone actually using mystic arts for their products...' He was amused by this thought and got more interested in the author of the books.

He then went out of thinking and replied to Xiangling. "Never mind. It seems like my eyes blurred for a moment."

"It's fine, Mr. Zhongli. You already act like an old man so it isn't a surprise that you're also showing an old man's qualities!" Xiangling said.

"..."

He then gave back the book to Xiangling and said to her: "On a second thought, I'd rather buy one for myself. Once it's officially released, of course."

"Ehh? Are you sure?" Xiangling asked, quite surprised that Zhongli would actually pass this opportunity.

"Yes." Zhongli just nodded.

"Well... Okay. As for your part of the deal! I want the best dish you have, Mr. Zhongli!" Xiangling enthusiastically said as her eyes lit up

"Yes, yes, how could I forget." Zhongli nodded with a smile. "Well then, the best dish I know... Hmm..."

Zhongli thought for a moment before speaking again. "Hmm... Yes, this should work."

"Miss Xiangling, can you give me some paper and some pen?" Zhongli asked

Xiangling nodded and immediately went back to their restaurant before coming back running with a notepad and pencil with her. "Here! Here!" She held it in front of Zhongli

The latter took the notepad and pencil and started writing down some ingredients.

After writing down the ingredients, he returned them to Xiangling which the latter read. "Umm... Mr. Zhongli, what is this dish?"

Zhongli breathed deeply before explaining. "A complex and famous dish of Liyue in the past, in which specifically selected ingredients are submerged and slowly bowled in soup stock."

"It was called... Adeptus' Temptation." Zhongli said.

"Said to even make an Adeptus come down their mountain to eat it."

Zhongli was definitely not referring to a certain vigilant Yaksha in the past...

* * *

Meanwhile, in Wangshu Inn, the vigilant Yaksha, Xiao, who was sitting at the very top of Wangshu Inn, sneezed. Which was odd because he rarely sneezes unless it had external interference.

He then looked back at Liyue seriously and thought to himself: 'Is someone talking about me? Morax?'