Noelle was nervous. Thrilled, too.
Having her own god provide this service… it felt almost blasphemous.
She'd never dared imagine it.
But if Qiqi could, then why not her?
Xia Zhi, sensing her tense body, chuckled. "Relax. There's nothing to worry about."
"…Mhm."
Maybe it was his reassuring voice. Maybe the Calming Incense. Maybe the massage itself.
Slowly, Noelle's body loosened.
"How's business at the potion shop these days?" Xia Zhi asked.
"Good."
"Mostly adventurers buying?"
"Some merchants too. Probably to resell elsewhere."
"Oh?"
"This afternoon a merchant from Sumeru came. She had an Electro Vision. Said she wanted to partner with us—buy a huge batch."
"An Electro Vision… Sumeru merchant… her name wouldn't happen to be Dori, would it?"
"That's her! You know her, Mr. Xia?"
"Sort of. Last year in Liyue, when I opened my shop, she wanted to buy my juice formula. I refused. But I ran into her a few more times, even bought plenty from her stall."
"So… should I accept her offer? She wants so much stock, if we sell it all to her, we'll have nothing left for ordinary customers. And most of our supply already goes to Miss Ningguang…"
"It's your call. You're the shopkeeper."
"Alright."
Since becoming manager, Noelle had grown quickly. Xia Zhi could see a trace of Jean in her.
"Miss Eula's been helping at the shop lately too, right?"
"Yes."
"She's a noble. Why do that?"
"I don't really know. But she seems short on money. She's always taken part-time jobs. Many shops don't want her though… her status is complicated."
"Short on money…"
Xia Zhi lowered his head, thoughtful.
He understood.
The Lawrence clan was finished—clinging to noble pride but unwilling to stoop to real work. They were burning through their last scraps of wealth.
Eula had it hard.
As a friend, he could help. But with her pride, she'd never accept it openly.
Still, she had once saved Yanfei.
And Yanfei had been revealed by Mona's divination as one of his people.
That debt deserved repayment.
If he couldn't give money outright, he'd need another way.
As he continued massaging Noelle, his mind worked.
Eula's noble background was a handicap. Even if he partnered with her on a business, locals might boycott it.
Her sword skills were formidable—the Spindrift Knight's reputation well-earned—but hard to monetize.
What she truly excelled at was art. Years of aristocratic training.
Her performance at the tournament proved it.
Art… elegance… profit…
A thought bloomed.
Maybe he could talk with Miss Ningguang.
She wanted to crack Mondstadt's luxury cosmetics market.
Eula might be the perfect entry point.
--
This time, Jean finally tried the essential oil package.
And it was indeed on another level.
The bed was softer than her office desk.
The fragrance of incense floated in the air. She felt like she was drifting among the clouds.
A sigh escaped her lips.
"What's wrong, Acting Grand Master?" Xia Zhi asked curiously.
"…Regret."
"Regret?"
"I shouldn't have come for a massage today."
"Oh?"
"Because I won't get to enjoy this again later."
Xia Zhi chuckled. "That's a unique kind of compliment."
"It's not flattery. I mean it."
"Oh, right. I made plenty of instant noodles tonight. Left them in the kitchen. Don't forget to take some."
"…You really did?"
"Of course. I promised you this morning."
"Thank you, Mr. Xia!"
"No need. In fact, I may need a favor from you in a few days."
"Say the word."
--
Barbara's first time too.
She mostly came because her sister did.
She was, admittedly, a hopeless siscon—though she'd never dare show it in front of Jean.
Xia Zhi gently soothed her nerves, chatting instead about Miss Yun Jin's new work.
Yun Jin was Barbara's idol.
The moment her idol came up, Barbara forgot her nerves, talking a mile a minute.
She'd even added Yun Jin as a friend, sent her messages every day. And Yun Jin, ever polite, always replied—sometimes even sending short singing recordings. Incredible.
She also said Yun Jin was planning to release a Recorder soon. She was definitely buying several to support her.
Hearing this, Xia Zhi couldn't help smiling.
Barbara was just a starstruck girl.
Adorable, really.
--
Night fell.
At the doors of the Adventurers' Guild, a filthy, soot-blackened boy stumbled up.
Bennett.
When he heard Fischl had gone to Dadaupa Gorge for a bounty mission, he'd panicked. As the sole member of her adventuring party, he couldn't just sit still.
But his luck was, as always, abysmal.
Though the Knights of Favonius had just cleared monsters nearby, he'd still run into packs of Slimes in the woods outside the city.
Not ordinary Slimes either—mutated Electro Slimes.
He'd been roasted badly, his body covered in burns, hair standing on end.
Finally, with no other choice, he retreated back to the city.
The moment he stepped into the Guild, voices rang out.
"Bennett! You're back!"
"Congrats! Your adventure team's just been promoted to a Legendary Adventuring Party!"
"So jealous!"
Bennett froze, utterly bewildered.
"Uh… what?"