Miss Yelan, with a satisfied smile, headed to the bathroom for a shower.
Meanwhile, Xia Zhi glanced at his inventory and noticed a Silver Treasure Chest had been added.
This was something he had just "retrieved" from Yelan during her massage session.
Like the other Black Iron Treasure Chests, he decided to keep it for now, planning to use these as year-end rewards for the shop's most outstanding employees.
That aside, Yelan's observational skills lived up to her reputation as an intelligence officer. She managed to deduce both his love for tea and the shop's dwindling tea supply with just a single cup.
What an intriguing woman.
---
Xia Zhi walked over to the doorway and beckoned Baishi to come inside.
The little secretary still appeared a bit bashful, even though this wasn't her first massage.
Soon, the room was filled with soft murmurs of relaxation once again.
---
After completing the massage and washing his hands, Xia Zhi returned to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Ningguang, along with her secretary Baishi and her intelligence specialist Yelan, stayed for the meal, essentially freeloading dinner at the shop.
What could they do? Their taste buds had already been shaped by the flavors of Mr. Xia's cooking.
After dinner, they agreed to meet tomorrow at the Jade Chamber. With that, Ningguang and her entourage took their leave.
Back at the Teahouse in Chihu Rock, Yelan sat deep in thought. After a while, she summoned one of her subordinates.
"Lady Yelan."
"From now on, there's no need to monitor the Summer Shop anymore."
"But what about Shenhe…?"
"No need to worry. I'll check on her personally every day."
"As you wish."
"Also, retrieve the finest tea from our storage—newly sourced from Qiaoying Village."
"Yes, Lady Yelan. Shall I package it carefully?"
"No need. Just store it in one of our standard tea containers."
"Understood."
Once her subordinate left, Yelan flexed her wrists, relishing the newfound lightness in her body. Suddenly, she chuckled softly to herself.
"With Mr. Xia around, I don't have to hold back as much in the future when I'm on the job."
---
Back at the Summer Shop, Xia Zhi returned to the kitchen. He brought out some [Bliss Rice], mixed it with [Momentary Wine Starter], and poured the mixture into the [Dragon-Turning Pot]. Then, he sealed the lid to let it ferment.
After a short while, the pot finished brewing, and the familiar aroma of Bliss Rice Wine wafted through the air.
The scent caught the attention of Diona, who was washing dishes alongside Shenhe.
"Boss, is that the rice wine from last time?"
"Yes."
"Are we having rice wine with egg for breakfast again tomorrow?"
"Not this time."
"Not?" Diona's ears drooped slightly, looking somewhat disappointed.
Although she had adamantly resisted the rice wine the last time, one sip had completely won her over.
"Then why are you making rice wine, Boss?"
"It's for you."
"What? For me?"
"You're bartending for Lady Ningguang at the Jade Chamber tomorrow, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"Think about it—the Jade Chamber is the most prestigious venue in Liyue. For any bartender, the opportunity to serve drinks to its elites is an incredible honor."
"I guess… that's true."
"You're young, and as an outsider, being handpicked by Ningguang for such an important role is bound to make some people jealous. Don't be surprised if someone tries to sabotage you."
"No way!"
"You don't get it. That's how it always goes in stories. If you don't believe me, ask Zhu Zi."
"I believe you, Boss!"
"Good. That's why I've prepared a secret weapon for you."
"This rice wine?"
"Exactly. Do you find this rice wine delicious?"
"It's great! I love it! And it doesn't even make me drunk!"
"Good. I remember you have a shaker, right? Clean it tonight and bring it to me tomorrow. I'll fill it with the rice wine. If someone tries to mess with you, just make them a Rainbow Juice Special Rice Wine and shut them up."
"Got it! Thanks, Boss!"
"No need to thank me."
"But, Boss, what if no one tries to cause trouble?"
"In that case, play it by ear. If you like someone, offer them a drink and make a new friend."
"Okay!"
"Now, get me a cup. Let me taste the rice wine to see how it turned out."
"Got it!"
Diona scurried off to fetch a clean cup.
Xia Zhi scooped a small amount into the cup, tasted it, and clicked his tongue. "It's good, but the alcohol flavor is a bit mild."
Diona gazed at him expectantly. "Really?"
"Want to try it?"
"Yes!"
"Well? Isn't the flavor mild?"
"I think it's just perfect!"
"You don't know anything about alcohol."
"!"
"Don't worry. I'll figure out a way to make the flavor stronger."
With that, Xia Zhi carried the [Dragon-Turning Pot] upstairs.
---
Diona stared at the small cup in her hands before realization struck.
Wait… didn't the Boss just drink from this cup?
And he didn't even wash it before I drank from it…
Doesn't this mean we just… indirectly kissed?!
Her face turned scarlet, as red as a ripe apple. Feeling light-headed, she stumbled back to continue washing dishes.
Shenhe glanced up at Diona's flushed cheeks.
"What's wrong with you?"
"N-nothing!"
"Your face is very red."
"T-that's because I just drank wine!"
"Oh."
Shenhe calmly lowered her head and resumed her dishwashing.
---
Upstairs, Xia Zhi returned to his room with the [Dragon-Turning Pot].
Heading to the windowsill, he retrieved the [Essence Bottle] that had been basking in moonlight.
He recalled that the [Essence Bottle] had a trait called [Contain], which allowed stored liquids to grow stronger over time. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to test its effect on the Bliss Rice Wine.
Though the bottle appeared small, its interior contained a spacious dimension capable of storing vast amounts of liquid, with the added bonus of separating different liquids as per the user's wishes.
Xia Zhi poured half of the pot's rice wine into the [Essence Bottle], then returned it to the windowsill to continue absorbing moonlight.
---
Afterward, as night deepened and the Mahjong game wrapped up, Xia Zhi used the remaining rice wine to prepare rice wine with egg as a warm late-night snack for everyone.
Strangely, Diona, who had been eagerly craving the dish, seemed oddly distracted while eating. Her mind appeared to be elsewhere.
Perhaps it was because she had lost every round of Mahjong that evening.
---
After finishing the snack, everyone chatted for a while before heading off to sleep.
In her room, Shenhe tied her hair into neat twin ponytails, applied a fresh coat of nail polish, and then knocked lightly on the wall.
Xia Zhi couldn't help but criticize her for what he deemed a wasteful pre-sleep grooming habit, lecturing her for quite some time.
Afterward, the two of them entered the dream world together.
In the dream, they retained their usual posture, cuddled together on the bed in Xia Zhi's upstairs room at the Summer Shop.
However, tonight Shenhe appeared not as the young girl she sometimes resembled in the dream world, but as her mature self from reality.
Perhaps it was due to some subtle competition after her encounter with Greater Lord Rukkhadevata the previous night.
Damn this cursed competitive streak.
Shenhe straddled Xia Zhi, leaning down to "play" with him.
Just as things were about to escalate, there was a soft knock on the door.
Shenhe smirked, ignoring the visitor outside. She stole a few deep kisses before reluctantly getting up to answer the door.
As expected, it was Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. However, tonight, she appeared not as her tall, elegant self, but in her small, childlike form from reality.
"You got smaller?" Shenhe asked.
"You got bigger?" Rukkhadevata replied.
The two stared silently at each other.
Watching this scene unfold, Xia Zhi couldn't help but get deja vu.
He could almost smell the powder keg of jealousy exploding into a battlefield of chaos.
----
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