"Barbara, it seems like Jams is acting strange."
Klee held Barbara's hand, her beautiful eyes filled with worry. "After that green guy showed up, Jams became a bit weird. Hmm, please help Jams,."
"Oh, come on. That green guy isn't just anyone. His name is Venti, a very talented bard. I even sang his poems before," Barbara reassured Klee.
Barbara spotted Venti and couldn't hide her surprise, a hint of delight appearing on her face. "Long time no see, Mr. Venti. By the way, are you also acquainted with Jams?"
"Well, how should I put it..." Venti pondered, jokingly. "I guess you could say we're newly acquainted friends."
"What kind of 'newly acquainted friends'?" Jams glanced at him, speaking seriously. "Venti and I have been close for a long time."
"..."
Barbara squinted her beautiful eyes and murmured softly, "First 'newly acquainted,' and now 'close for a long time.' They've really tried every possible angle..."
"You still have room for improvement in your thinking, young lady. Otherwise, you might lead the whole city of Mondstadt astray with your idol here," Jams teased, rubbing Barbara's golden hair.
"Ugh, why did you suddenly touch my head? And your hand smells strongly of fish. I hate it ."
Barbara initially found it quite pleasant when Jams touched her head, but after catching a faint fishy smell, she wasn't feeling well anymore.
Touching a girl's head without washing his hands properly, how uncivilized!
"Haha, sorry, sorry. No head-touching then. How about a face-touch?" Jams apologized with a guilty expression, extending his hand towards Barbara's fair cheek.
"Mmng! Stay away from me!"
Barbara, like a startled kitten, exclaimed and hid behind Klee. "Don't touch me! If you want to touch, touch little Klee instead."
"Yeah, yeah, Jams, don't hold back. Klee isn't afraid of any fishy smell!"
Klee stood with her hands on her hips, tilting her head slightly, a cute expression that said, "Come and touch me!"
"Okay, stay right here. I'll go wash my hands."
Jams turned around and headed towards the clear lake.
"Uh, well..."
This scene stunned Barbara, who was trembling with fear of the fishy smell.
After the surprise came confusion and indignation.
"Wow! Jams, why don't you wash your hands before touching me, but you wash them when touching Klee? That's so hypocritical!"
"Well, Klee tends to cuddle up to me all the time, and if she ends up smelling like fish, it wouldn't be pleasant for me either."
After washing his hands and splashing water on his face, Jams gave Barbara a mischievous smile. "Does Miss Barbara also want to cuddle up to me like Klee does?"
"You!"
Hearing his words, Barbara's face turned red with anger, and her violet eyes filled with a sense of "killing intent." She wished she could pounce on this shameless man right now!
"You're bullying me! I will definitely report this to Captain Jean when I go back!"
"Tsk, you have no backbone. If you can't argue with me, you run to the authority figures."
Jams used his clean hands to pinch Barbara's tender and elastic cheek, smiling playfully. "If you're brave enough, let Captain Jean come and confront me. I guarantee she won't leave unscathed."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Barbara's anger subsided.
She thought about Captain Jean, who had recently become noticeably gentler, especially the affectionate look in her eyes when mentioning Jams.
"No, if I ask my sister... Captain Jean to teach Jams a lesson, it would only give them an opportunity. It's like handing them a free pass!"
Barbara looked up at Jams, her violet eyes filled with mixed emotions of embarrassment, anger, and helplessness.
She had to admit that this man was quite charming, albeit a bit mischievous.
At such a close distance, Barbara could smell the pleasant fragrance emanating from Jams and even feel his warmth.
Thinking about this, Barbara's cheeks grew even redder, and she didn't resist when Jams pinched her cheek.
"Hahaha, who would've thought the Bishop of the Church of Favonius would show such a shy expression."
Venti, sitting under the shade of a tree, chuckled, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Too bad I'm not a painter; otherwise, I would capture this youthful scene on canvas forever."
"You... hmph!"
Barbara snapped back to reality, feeling her face burning and her Hydro element inside her body boiling as if releasing steam.
"Wow!"
Klee's face lit up with excitement as she pointed at the steam coming from Barbara's head. "Jams, is this a steam princess?"
"I've said it many times, don't add 'princess' to it."
Jams ruffled Klee's little head and then looked at Barbara, whose body was getting hotter. He sighed somewhat regretfully. "Too bad this world doesn't have a Cooling Charm; it would definitely bring down the temperature."
"Alright, let's not tease this innocent lady anymore~"
Venti smiled and gently strummed the strings of her lyre.
Strum, strum, strum!
As the sound of the lyre filled the air, the surrounding Anemo energy became lively. A cool breeze brushed past, blowing away the heat in Barbara's heart.
"Th... thank you."
Barbara nodded to Venti and then glared at Jams with an inflated pout. However, she didn't dare say anything else. She didn't want to turn into a vaporized maiden again.
After this little interlude, they enjoyed a sumptuous and joyful grilled fish feast.
Everyone praised the delicious taste of the grilled black-back perch.
"This is definitely the most delicious grilled fish I've ever had, hands down!"
Barbara, who was still sulking, brightened up after taking a bite of the grilled fish. Her eyes sparkled, and she couldn't help but exclaim how amazing it was.
Klee sat in Jams' lap, eating heartily and occasionally helping him with his food. Her mouth was never idle, as she couldn't stop eating.
Even Venti, the god of winds who had seen much in the world, couldn't help but show a contented expression. She even thought about composing a poem for this fish.
Jams also enjoyed it, with a satisfied expression on his face. It felt like both his body and soul were nourished.
[You have consumed the blessed grilled fish. Mood +5, Charm +3, Physical Health +3, Anemo Resistance +3]
[Your grilled fish has gained recognition from the Anemo Archon, Barbatos. Divinity +1, Anemo Resistance +20]
"Indeed, the most direct way to obtain divinity is through the gods!"
Jams was initially stunned by the system prompt, but then an unexpected joy overwhelmed him. His gaze towards Venti became intense and passionate.
"Huh?"
Venti, who was enjoying her food, sensed something and looked up, meeting Jams' overly enthusiastic gaze. She suddenly felt a tightening sensation in her chest.
What's with this feeling of being targeted by a big bad wolf all of a sudden!?
"Jams, is there something on my face? Why are you suddenly staring at me?" Venti weakly asked.
"Oh, I'm just worried that you might not eat enough and be unsatisfied."
Jams warmly cut a large piece of grilled fish for Venti and smiled, "Quick, eat. This grilled fish is very precious, so let our friend have it first."
"Well..." Venti licked her lips, smelling the delicious aroma of the grilled fish, and hesitated.
"Go ahead and eat, why aren't you eating?"
"Thank... thank you."
In the end, Venti couldn't resist the temptation of the delicacy.
As for being poisoned or anything like that, she wasn't afraid. After all, she was a god; it wasn't so easy to poison her.
Tsk, tsk, tsk, it's so delicious!
However, she ended up being poisoned after all. This poison was called "deliciousness"!
Seeing her enjoying the food so much, Jams' smile grew brighter, like a fox that had stolen a chick.
[Divinity +1]
[Divinity +1]
[Divinity +1...]