Chapter 43

After drinking two cups of tea, Xia Zhi returned to his room upstairs. While the morning's inspiration was still fresh, he continued writing his novel.

The quiet scratching of pen on paper echoed through the room.

Only after finishing a major plot point involving driving did Xia Zhi put down his pen, stretch lazily, and walk to the window.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the glazed window panes, bathing him in warmth and comfort.

Xia Zhi tilted his face upward, inevitably recalling his time living in the wilderness.

Back then, he would sit with Little Mother Crane under a Sunset Fruit tree, the sunlight dappling through the leaves onto their bodies, bringing the same warmth and comfort.

He suddenly missed Little Mother Crane again, missed burying his face in her fragrant, soft feathers.

After standing quietly for a while, he went downstairs to the kitchen and took two Sunset Fruits from his inventory, washing them clean.

Returning to the front hall, he found Zhu Zi still seriously reading at the table.

Xia Zhi walked over and handed her one of the Sunset Fruits, saying, "Zhu Zi, this is for you."

Zhu Zi put down her book and happily accepted it, smiling, "Thank you, Boss."

Xia Zhi nodded and sat down on the other side of the table, taking a bite of his own Sunset Fruit.

The taste was sweet and crisp, familiar and delicious.

While eating, Xia Zhi observed how Miss Zhu Zi ate her Sunset Fruit.

She first placed her book aside to avoid any juice splashing onto it, then brought the fruit to her small, cherry-red lips, taking delicate bites.

Her mouth was petite and alluring like a cherry, her teeth white and even, and her cheeks puffed out adorably like a hamster's when she chewed.

Watching a pretty, cute girl eat was truly enjoyable.

After finishing the Sunset Fruit, Zhu Zi thoughtfully offered him a clean handkerchief: "Boss, here you go."

Xia Zhi smiled as he accepted it, wiped his hands, and returned it to her.

Once Zhu Zi had finished her fruit as well, Xia Zhi stood up and said, "Zhu Zi, let's go."

"Where are we going, Boss?"

"It's time to go to the tea house to watch the opera."

"We're going again today?"

"Well, we have nothing else to do at the shop anyway. Let's go."

"Alright."

After locking up the shop, they went to the Heyu Tea House and ordered a pot of 100 Mora Jueyun Tea.

They sipped their tea while listening to the Tea Master tell stories.

When they had drunk half the tea, the Yun-Han Opera Troupe took the stage, and Miss Yun Jin performed an opera that Xia Zhi hadn't heard before.

It was both beautiful to watch and pleasant to hear.

Though Miss Yun Jin's progress bar still hadn't increased today, she seemed to glance at Xia Zhi when leaving the stage.

She was probably curious.

After all, Xia Zhi wore black glasses, which was eye-catching enough, and he had been coming here every day lately, making him a peculiar audience member that Miss Yun Jin had noticed.

This was a good thing.

Xia Zhi smiled, finished his tea, and said, "Zhu Zi, shall we go?"

"Yes, Boss."

They continued strolling around Feiyun Slope, and when they passed the Northland Bank, Xia Zhi took Zhu Zi inside to help her open a bank card.

Xia Zhi noted down her card number and said, "I'll transfer your monthly salary to this card from now on. You can withdraw money whenever you need it."

Zhu Zi held the thin card in her hands, her face flushed with excitement: "Thank you, Boss!"

When they left the bank, evening was approaching.

Countless ships were anchored on the distant sea, the white sails tinged with sunset, like red flames silently burning.

Zhu Zi became entranced by this magnificent yet melancholic scene.

Until Xia Zhi's voice broke through: "Zhu Zi, shall we go eat?"

Zhu Zi suddenly snapped back to reality: "Yes, Boss."

She followed Xia Zhi, secretly glancing at his gentle face, thinking how the beautiful scene was right before them, yet her boss couldn't see any of it. A faint sadness welled up in her heart.

Zhu Zi couldn't help but sigh softly.

???

Xia Zhi "watched" as this girl's mood suddenly shifted from excitement to depression, finding it quite puzzling.

Miss Zhu Zi... could it be... that time of the month?

At Wanmin Restaurant, Xiangling greeted them both enthusiastically as usual.

Afterward, Xia Zhi naturally walked to the kitchen entrance, greeted Chef Mao and Guoba inside, and chatted briefly with them.

Only after Guoba's golden progress bar reached [2%] did Xia Zhi satisfactorily leave the kitchen and return to the table.

Soon, the food was served.

The new stir-fried meat slices, with seasonings improved according to Xia Zhi's suggestions, indeed tasted better than the lunch version.

Zhu Zi ate her rice heartily, praising it endlessly.

Xia Zhi glanced at her and said softly, "Zhu Zi, you're not feeling well these days, so you should eat less spicy food."

Zhu Zi looked up, a grain of rice still stuck to her lip, her expression both cute and confused: "Boss, I'm feeling fine though."

Xia Zhi looked at her, paused, then said, "Never mind, go ahead and eat. If you like it, eat more—it's free anyway."

Zhu Zi tilted her head and responded quietly: "Oh."

After dinner, Xia Zhi took Zhu Zi for a walk along the wharf.

A street vendor was selling grilled sausages, the charcoal fire creating an enticing meat aroma.

They bought four, two for each person.

Next to it was a fresh juice stall with a hand-cranked press machine, offering Sunset Fruit, Sunsettia, and Lotus Fruit juices.

Small cups were 15 Mora, large cups 20 Mora.

So they bought two large cups of Lotus Fruit juice to cleanse their palates.

After walking away, Zhu Zi quietly said, "Boss, this juice isn't as good as the one in our shop."

Xia Zhi couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Of course not. Our shop's juice is 100 Mora per cup, while this is only 20 Mora—much cheaper."

Zhu Zi licked her lips, remembering the dreamlike taste she had this morning, and said, "It's not about the price, Boss. I think our shop's Rainbow Juice is the best juice in all of Teyvat. I've never had anything so delicious."

"You like it that much?"

"Mm-hmm!"

"Well, when we get back to the shop, I'll make you another cup of Rainbow Juice."

"Really?"

"Really."

Zhu Zi's face lit up with joy, then turned hesitant.

"Boss, will I have to pay for it?"

"Of course not. You're a shop employee—why would you need to pay for drinks from your own shop? You can have it whenever you want. Consider it a staff benefit."

"Yay!"

A cup of Rainbow Juice cost 100 Mora. Drinking one cup daily for a month meant thirty cups, equivalent to an additional 3,000 Mora in benefits.

Of course, the money didn't matter—what mattered was being able to drink the world's best juice every day!

Zhu Zi looked up at the beautiful starry sky, feeling that her future life would be wonderful.