Just imagining getting 100% accurate feedback on her new dishes had Xiangling thrilled, her eyes shining like stars.
She was seriously tempted to kidnap Ye Xi home right then and start cooking up a storm every day...
Heh heh, fun stuff!
Should it be stir-fried Ghostflickers? Or clear Ghostflicker soup?
Thinking of her new recipes with no one to try them yet made her impatient!
"Sister Beidou, got it! I won't say a word!"
Ye Xi watched Beidou and Xiangling whispering with a puzzled look, wondering what they were plotting.
But he had a bad feeling about it.
At that moment, Old Zhao chuckled beside him. "Don't mind them, Brother Ye Xi. The boss lady and Sis Xiangling are super close—they're always whispering like this."
Ye Xi nodded. He remembered the lore on that front.
Back then, the accountant on the Alcor had been drawn to Wanmin Restaurant's cheap, hearty meals. After bumping into Xiangling in the market, he'd dragged her aboard.
Sure enough, her cooking won over the entire crew instantly.
Beidou was especially impressed with Xiangling's skills, boldly declaring that her dishes would one day shake all of Liyue.
From then on, they became close, and Beidou often took Xiangling out to sea.
Beidou, who normally stayed far from the kitchen, could now identify all sorts of seafood and knew the ins and outs of gourmet feasts.
[Wait a sec...]
[Does that mean the stuff I'm eating now is Xiangling's cooking?]
[The flavor really is top-notch!]
[With skills like that, her fish-flavored pork, kung pao chicken, and pine nut corn...]
[How delicious would those be?]
Ye Xi eyed the appetizers on the table, sighing inwardly.
Xiangling whipped her head around like she'd heard something super intriguing.
She nearly blurted out and asked Ye Xi what those dishes were!
But thankfully, she remembered Beidou's warning and held back.
[I gotta find a way to get those recipes!]
Xiangling was obsessed with recipes!
Different dishes could inspire new combinations!
If she learned more recipes, she could innovate and create even more meals! She had a hunch—those few dishes in Ye Xi's mind would become Wanmin Restaurant's hottest new hits.
Her eyes darted around slyly as a plan formed.
"Ye Xi, want to check out my kitchen?"
Ye Xi's mouth twitched involuntarily.
[She wouldn't make me taste-test right now, would she...]
[Sometimes, Xiangling's like a little devil!]
Beidou, hearing Ye Xi's thoughts, barely held back her laughter.
Who knew Ye Xi saw Xiangling as a mini demon king?
Watching Ye Xi get roped in by Xiangling made Beidou want to burst out laughing.
By now, Old Zhao and Hailong could tell Beidou was in a great mood.
They noticed that ever since Ye Xi boarded, their usually stern boss had become much more cheerful.
Few people could make the boss lady happy, and Ye Xi was the first.
They were in absolute awe of him now, like he was some kind of god!
Xiangling caught Ye Xi's thoughts too and grabbed his arm with a grin. "Don't worry, we're not at the taste-testing stage yet!"
"As a welcome gift, I'll make you try some of Wanmin Restaurant's signature dishes!"
"That way, you'll come visit us more often!"
That's right—Xiangling was going to cook!
She needed to draw Ye Xi in!
Liyue was huge, and she didn't know his plans now that he was back. But to keep such a "sincere" taste-tester around, she'd use some special tactics.
Her mom always said: To capture a man, capture his stomach first!
So she'd whip up all her best dishes and hook Ye Xi's taste buds tight.
That way, whenever he craved good food, he'd naturally come to her!
With her mind made up, she didn't even wait for Ye Xi's answer—she just grabbed his hand and pulled him along.
Seeing this, Beidou laughed heartily. "Ye Xi, go experience the skills of Liyue's top chef!"
Ye Xi had no choice but to nod.
Who'd turn down good food, after all?
As long as it wasn't anything too weird.
"Alright, I didn't expect you to be such a pro at reeling in customers, Xiangling. If it's tasty, I'll definitely swing by Wanmin Restaurant!"
Xiangling patted her chest. "Leave it to me!"
With that, she led the way ahead.
The kitchen was in a separate little cabin nearby.
Cooking on a ship could easily start fires, so keeping it on deck was safer.
Flames burn upward, so if they couldn't be put out in time, it wouldn't cause a huge blaze.
The kitchen was fully equipped with utensils.
"First dish: Wanmin Restaurant's boiled fish!"
"This is one of our golden signature items!"
"Using fish we just caught..."
The ship sailed on, from sunrise to sunset.
By now, Inazuma was cloaked in night.
Kamisato Ayaka had arrived at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
As agreed, she was about to face the High Priestess Yae Miko directly!
She could guess that Yae Miko must like Ye Xi.
So, the biggest obstacle between her and Ye Xi was about to appear.
And she had no right to resist.
If the High Priestess insisted on breaking them up, the Kamisato Clan had no way to fight back!
Her heart was pounding with anxiety.
Just then, a voice sounded in her ear.
"Young lady from the Yashiro Commission, come in."
The next moment, the space before her twisted.
This scene was all too familiar.
It was clearly Ye Xi's Small World!
Ye Xi had actually given his Small World to Yae Miko!!
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