"La la la la..."
In the steaming pot, tiny bubbles popped one after another, releasing a delightful fragrance. On the bustling platform, the enticing aroma made passersby stop and gaze hungrily at the young girl who was carefully preparing her dish in the tea stall.
Tiny starry lights flickered as Paimon flew around Xiangling, who was sipping on the broth with a focused expression.
"Xiangling! Is it ready yet? Can I have a taste? I'm so hungry!"
"Yes, it's ready." Xiangling's eyes lit up, and she placed the ladle back in the pot. She grabbed the impatient Paimon, who was circling her endlessly.
Holding Paimon in front of her face, Xiangling looked seriously at Paimon. "Don't cause trouble, little Paimon. Great food requires patience." She leaned in closer. "Next time, be careful, or I might just create a special recipe for you!"
"Paimon is not emergency food!" Paimon struggled, eyes widening. She hastily promised, "Paimon understands! I'll wait patiently next time! Please let me go now."
"Don't move!" Xiangling inspected Paimon, but eventually let her go with a sigh. "Such a pity, a rare ingredient I've never seen before."
"Paimon is not an ingredient!" Paimon shouted back, glancing nervously at Xiangling, who was still staring at her, slightly drooling. With a squeal, she flew off toward Lumine, who was standing by the railing, looking into the distance.
"Paimon is not for eating! Xiangling, just hurry up and cook the extinct delicious boar we found! Remember to call me when it's ready!"
Xiangling giggled at the sight of the flustered Paimon. She couldn't help but smile even wider.
"Xiangling? What are you laughing about? Can you share with Klee?"
"Hiroshi, you're back," Xiangling looked up at the voice and smiled. "I was just thinking how Paimon reminds me a lot of my junior, Yaoyao. Anyway, breakfast is almost ready."
The blue and violet crystal bracelet on her wrist gleamed slightly. Xiangling produced a stack of bowls and chopsticks, handing them over to the eagerly waiting Klee. She then turned to Hiroshi, smiling gratefully. "Thank you for this gift. This bracelet has helped me a lot on my travels, hunting rare ingredients. I promise to pass down everything I know to you!"
"I'll be counting on you, Master Xiangling." Hiroshi chuckled. He looked at Klee, who was setting up the bowls with Paimon's help, and sighed. "Ever since Klee met you, she doesn't ask me to cook anymore."
"That's not good! As a new-age homebody, cooking is a skill you can't afford to lose!" Xiangling said, laughing.
"Haha, sometimes I feel like you are one of us from Liyue. Your name, your habits..." Xiangling said as she dished out a bowl of broth, handing it to Hiroshi with a warm smile. "That might sound odd, haha."
"Food's ready!" Paimon called out, waving her hands at Lumine. "Lumine, come and eat!"
By the railing, Lumine withdrew her gaze from the distant Geo Archon statue and the towering Wangshu Inn, nodding. "I'm coming!"
As she approached the table, the rich aroma of Xiangling's cooking filled her senses, lifting her previously somber mood.
"Thank you, Xiangling," Lumine said softly.
"Huh?" Xiangling paused while serving the rice, then smiled brightly, placing a bowl into Lumine's hands. "No need to thank me! There's plenty more after this!"
Lumine stared at the bowl for a second, feeling like Xiangling might have misunderstood her words. Still, the mix of the rice fragrance and the aromatic dishes was too much to resist. She swallowed a gulp of saliva, then picked up her chopsticks.
"Alright, then. I'll dig in!"
Watching Lumine start to eat eagerly, Xiangling's smile grew wider. "I'm so glad you like it!"
"Xiangling! Paimon wants some too!"
"Xiangling! Klee also wants some!"
Swiftly, Xiangling handed portions to the two small figures, while Noelle, who was assisting, took out more plates of food.
"Thank you, Uncle Zhou, for lending us the place." Xiangling walked over to the stall owner, an elderly man with thinning white hair. She handed him a special dish, smiling kindly. "I made this just for you, Uncle Zhou. I hope it is easy for you to enjoy."
"Haha, thank you, little girl." Uncle Zhou accepted the dish, his eyes twinkling. He looked at Xiangling and said, "This flavor, this look... Are you from Wanmin Restaurant? How's little Mao doing now?"
"Oh? Uncle Zhou, you know my family!" Xiangling helped the old man sit at a table nearby. She looked toward Noelle, who was helping Aunt Qiao, before continuing, "My dad is the head chef of Wanmin Restaurant now, and he's doing well. Did you know him before?"
Uncle Zhou took a bite of the pale blue plant Xiangling served, his toothless smile widening as the flavors melted in his mouth. The fresh, delicate taste spread throughout his body, cooling him from the inside out.
"It seems Wanmin Restaurant is in good hands," he said, chuckling.
He slowly got up and went into a small shed behind him. After rummaging through a cabinet, he pulled out a wooden box.
"Here, child." He beckoned Xiangling over and placed the box in her hands. "This is my token of gratitude for this wonderful meal."
He turned his gaze to Klee, who was curiously crouched beside him. Uncle Zhou's eyes softened, and he sighed. "I once had a granddaughter as cute as you."
From the cabinet, he took out another small wooden box with delicate carvings. Within it lay a green four-leaf clover decoration, filled with nostalgia and sadness.
Uncle Zhou carefully opened the box, the lucky green flower lying inside. He gently touched the leaves, his eyes filled with memories.
"Come here, little one." Uncle Zhou smiled at Klee, pointing to the clover on her hat. "It looks like this is perfect for you."
Holding a big bowl of rice, Klee tilted her head and asked curiously, "Grandpa, what is this? You seem to like it a lot. Why are you giving it to me?"
"Because I think it suits you." Uncle Zhou carefully placed the lucky green flower on Klee's hat. He looked at the glowing green leaves with a gentle but aged gaze. "It seems it truly belongs with you. Perhaps, this time, I finally made the right choice."
Seeing the shimmer in Uncle Zhou's eyes, Klee put down her bowl and pulled out a handkerchief from her backpack. "Grandpa, here, take this. I have two of them. Since you gave me the flower, I'll give you this."
"Thank you, little one." Uncle Zhou accepted the small handkerchief and patted Klee's head. He then looked over at Hiroshi, giving him a gentle nod and smile.
Standing up, Uncle Zhou placed the handkerchief into the small wooden box and turned back to Xiangling. "This is for you, little girl from the Mao family."
"But—" Xiangling began to protest, but Uncle Zhou had already sat back down, focused on his meal. He waved a hand dismissively, signaling that the conversation was over.
Slowly eating his food, Uncle Zhou wore a smile. Long ago, in his youth, he had wielded a spear against monsters, leaving home at dawn and returning at dusk.
With a group of brothers bonded by life and death, they roamed across Liyue, keeping the land safe in turbulent times.
Now, in his twilight years, he honored the old promises by staying at Liyue's gate—the Stone Gate.
Watching Hiroshi and his companions leave, Uncle Zhou smiled.
"Welcome to Liyue," he said softly.
"Welcome to a land of gods and adepti."
"A land of merchants and heroes."
"A land where mortals walk alongside the divine."