FirstWinterLight: Well, if the hypnosis thing 'doesn't work out', he's probably going to prison, which may put a kibosh on hanging out lol.
ASM769476: Yeeaahhh! Glad you enjoyed it! As for endgame... world domination maybe? Just kidding~
WritingUgo: Pffft, I hope it didn't disappoint.

I'll try my hardest to get the next few chapters out quicker, I've been thinking about them since the beginning. Also, a ton of thanks for over fifty favorites and seventy follows! Wow...!

As soon as the day begins, I get ready and head directly to Wanmin Restaurant, as per the usual. Although… now that my 'special privilege' has ended, I admittedly forgot just how many people think this exact same way, Tables outside are packed to the gills, with every seat taken probably as soon as a vacancy is made, and actually inside the building is no better, oceans of customers everywhere you can see. Kids, teenagers, and adults alike- Wanmin has got something for everyone! No doubt about it, if I was here for breakfast, I'd be waiting for awhile like anybody else.

Good thing I'm special then~

So instead of doing nothing, I make an utter beeline for the double doors imprinted with 'DO NOT ENTER' on them. And guess what I do~?

It only takes a second for me to get what I want~ "H-hey, you're not supposed to be here…!" Xiangling approaches me, probably assuming I can't read. Chef Mao is here too, but he stays committed to working on the back counter, chopping something furiously away… actually, he's probably going faster with me here now, huh?

"I know Xiangling, but I need to tell you something important."

"Uh, ok? What's up?" Her curious look is a little cute, not gonna lie.

"Actually, can I talk to you alone? Maybe outside the restaurant?"

*CHOP* *CHOP* *CHOP*

Careful Mister Mao~ Gripping that knife too strongly might just make it fly out of your hands and hurt someone~ And what a crying shame that would be…

….Unless it slashed Xiangling, then it really would be a shame.

"U-Um, I-I guess so. Give me…a few minutes?" She fumbles with her words, trying to awkwardly smile through it. Can't blame her honestly, I'd probably do the same in her situation.

"Yup, take your time." I say, then backtrack. Out of the kitchen, weaving through the crowd, and out of Wanmin. We won't be able to use the back of the restaurant with this many people- so I'll just take her over the bridge nearby.

…I actually don't know why I'm this obsessed with being secret, what I have to say to Xiangling isn't something anybody else would know or care about? Too late now though.

And so, before I even have time to regret about not asking for some food in the restaurant, my favorite nuisance appears, looking as lively as ever. I redirect her to the destination, where the number of bystanders are blissfully few.

"So what's this about?"

"I'll get right to it. Being blunt; there's some bad news I have to share." I rub my head, cringe, and lean against the bridge's railing.

Xiangling reacts as anyone could predict, with worry spreading across her features like a virus. "What's wrong? Are you ok?" Man… I don't like this expression at all- it's horribly unnatural. And it's about to get worse.

"I'm fine. But…" Oh just say it! "Ahh… I won't be able to go to Wanmin nearly as much anymore."

"…What?! B-but… why?! Oh no, did my dad say something again-?"

"Nothing like that Xiangling! This time, it's no one's fault. No, I'm just… well, broke."

"B-broke…?"

"So it all started a few days ago-"

"Ready to go?"

"Of course." I get a calm look back, as if this is totally normal. I mean, this specific action is, but the actual situation is anything but. The lack of a 'Master' to my question feels a bit strange after Ganyu spammed the word so much, but the setup I've found myself in works better without it.

I refer to being side-by-side with the Yuheng herself, enjoying the twilight atmosphere of Liyue's evening. This time however, I'm not in a corner somewhere away from the hustle and bustle, but rather both of us sit at a table near the Adventurer's Guild receptionist- the first time being out in public with a hypnotized individual here. Naturally it didn't start this way, but just like Ganyu, I whisked Keqing away when she arrived, and had her pay yet another visit to dreamland.

"You will go along with my plans for the rest of the day. Lead me to your house. Don't attract attention to us if you can help it- act normal. And tone down any aggression whatsoever with me.." That last command is for later.

Just like that, Keqing started walking to the center of Liyue again, with me some steps behind. A few people noticed her and said hello, which made her curtly return the gesture and press on. It's really quite funny; a hypnotized, mindless government worker walks among you all, and no one notices! Panic could complete overtake your peaceful harbor town, one wrong interaction away with anyone leading to upheaval, but the fuse remains dormant. There is a certain thrill to this 'hiding in plain sight' aspect…but I make sure not to push it too much. Someone would have to notice Keqing's eyes being "off" first, and that isn't happening with how quickly she moves anyway.

"Hey, where are we now?" This is quite strange, as I can now look down and see some fishes swimming below. Without any change to our elevation, we're now walking across a bridge?

"Let me explain. In front of us is a way out of the harbor, to our right and up those stairs is Bubu Pharmacy. If you ever need medicine or other treatments, be sure to visit- hopefully on a day where Baizhu is available. Otherwise you may find yourself waiting a while. And to our left and up those steps is the Yuehai Pavilion and our destination, my house."

I was actually questioning why there's a pool here, that was it, but oh well… Looking in the last direction listed reminds me of a certain chef taking me up a mountain- the same girl who Keqing is already proving to be a much better tour guide than. "Heck of a climb though…"

"Do you want me to carry you?"

"Yeah, no." Vision or not, the crowd may have thinned here, but it's not empty. Anyone seeing their responsible Keqing carry a total stranger is not forgetting the sight anytime soon~ With a sigh expelled, my legs get to climbing up another flight of steps…

And eventually… I get there, trailing behind a woman who didn't even break a sweat. Several needy gulps of air later, the shift in atmosphere here begins to take form. slight but still noticeable. So far, the areas of Liyue I've visited have really been packed to capacity, making things a little cramped. Narrow streets and shops on top of each other will do that nicely. But this area is much wider, buildings and houses having a clear separation between them and the next. There's even a medium-sized area in the center, a plaza of sorts I'm guessing. Speaking of:

"Keqing, why is that old lady surrounded by like five people?"

"Hm? Oh, that's Madam Ping. She's well-known around this part of the city, always willing to lend an ear to everyone. Want me to introduce you?"

"No thanks. No real point." If I'm going to be visiting this place often, getting to know anyone before I absolutely have to would be a mistake. Speaking of- "Ganyu was right. I see the Millelith, but they seem to be just patrolling and loosely guarding. There's less of them too."

"Right. It is fortunate we don't need to pass through the Viyan Temple, most of the guards are stationed there. Now, this way." She says, hurrying off to the east. I take one more look at this 'Madam Ping' before following, relieved at the lack of interruptions. From there, it's a relatively unremarkable trip as we pass by good-sized houses one after another. It honestly doesn't hit me how impressive this is until I'm standing right in front of my destination.

"You live here? Alone?"

"Of course."

A low whistle comes from my lips; clearly Liyue pays their Yuheng well. The house - Keqing's house - is not opulent or this massive complex, but it is at least two stories and has quite an imposing feel, like I'm treading into somewhere forbidden. Which I gets fits reality. Keqing takes the lead, going up to the front door, and I'll admit to finding myself more than a little curious about her quality of life. Most people like her fit into one of two categories: either their home is a perfect mirror of their work life and is incredibly neat and tidy, or it's the polar opposite of the person they show off and is a total pigsty.

But once Keqing opens the door, gestures me inside, and we both remove our footwear, I know the answer even just from the entrance hall. It's the former, spotless floor shining and comfortable lighting signaling as much.

"Do you need a tour?" Thanks for snapping me back to reality Keqing, I could feel myself begin to slip. Can you blame me- this is a major upgrade over the docks or behind Wanmin Restaurant~ We're isolated, the walls are- yup, pretty thick- and if anyone does hear our illicit activities, they'll have to knock and give themselves away! Aka: No more crises!

Although speaking of that, while it's true that I can't keep her for too long…

"No thanks. But please close the door behind us."

"Right away-"

*SMACK*

"Ahhn-!"

The charged rush of breath coming from Keqing is quickly followed up with a knowing glare at me- and specifically, my right hand. Along with one of her own going down to her backside. However, she isn't intimidating at all, earlier command making sure of that.

"What was that for?!"

"That? That was just a taste~" Sauntering over to her, I put my elbow on Keqing's shoulder, who responds only with another peeved look. "Hey Keqing- do you even realize how close to you were to fucking everything up? Actually no! It's even woree! That language implies that there would be a way for me to un-fuck everything after! But considering your efficiency and speed, IF you got your way, I'd be on a one-way ticket to the Fortress of Meropide by now…!"

Yeah, if Ganyu hadn't shot the Vision- something she only barely ended up doing by the way - then everything after would have been ruined. There's no guarantee Ganyu would've grabbed Keqing's arms, but even if she did, it's impossible to believe that Keqing wouldn't have overpowered her instead right after. There's no way I could've helped either, with that freaking Vision… yeesh, I was this close to losing everything…

It was over, I really thought that way, that I was doomed to rot in a prison cell forever. This close to an actual 'international incident', as Keqing herself so lovingly put it, but instead it's just a very close call. An expensive one too…

So, yeah, you could say I need a little stress relief. Keqing would be exceedingly lucky if all she got was one slap on the ass.

"Go to that room." I say, pointing nearby. "And take off all your clothes before coming back."

"Fine." The sharp response is everything I was hoping for, complaining about my orders while having no choice but to obey them. When she rounds the corner out of my view-

"Oh right. Slide your Vision across the floor to me." Visual confirmation isn't even needed here, as the steady sound of a god-given sphere rushes across the shiny floor, concluding in a soft thud against my feet.

I hate to admit it, but I get a little mesmerized of my own, bending over and grabbing the Electro Vision with no wasted movements. The purple sphere reminds me of Ganyu's eyes, but more than that, I can hardly believe that this is happening. A Vision- in my palm… The crackle of electricity rumbles throughout, a mere taste of the very Archons' power… It's almost like a living being, the way it's vibrating, the shine softly humming as seconds pass.

Until, of course, too many of them do and reality smacks me, this time in the form of the Vision dimming- permanently. And all I feel now are tiny shocks in a steady, but very light rhythm.

It recognized who was holding it. Or, more specifically I guess, who wasn't holding it.

Throwing the Vision at the wall would only succeed in making a giant dent, so I just click my tongue and shove it in a pocket. I know, I know- I shouldn't be upset, most people aren't Vision-holders after all. But… it's just tough… Is there even a criteria to this? Was there some kind of choice I could've made years ago that would've granted me a Vision of my own? What Archon did I fail to please? The incredible power of the gods could've been mine, just like Ganyu or Keqing or Lyney, but no. I was passed over- for some freaking reason. Was it never a possibility…?

"Keqing-" I call. "Does this Vision let you do anything special?" A vague question, but Ganyu summoning fucking ice storms was certainly special~

"I do not know what you mean. But I use my Vision to move at the speed of light, so people often compare it to teleportation."

Huh, I see… wait a minute! Teleportation…from a Vision-holder… So does that mean, for that trick, Lyney-?!

"H-Hey Keqing? How far can you 'teleport'? A fair distance?"

"Hardly. It's a few feet at most. This is a skill used for combat, not traversal."

Ok, it sounds like I'm on the wrong track. Hm, one day I swear I'll learn the truth there, but let's focus on what actually matters now. And of course I refer to-

"I'm finished."

Keqing. Another low whistle escapes as this simply unimaginable situation is made real- the super responsible and mature Yuheng- whose actions got me in a massive jam not just once, but twice - stands mere inches away, totally nude! And almost-completely at my mercy. A fact I will be eager to test in just a few moments, but let's show some respect first.

Keqing is not Ganyu, and her body deserves not to be compared to Ganyu's- especially when it's perfectly nice all on its' own. That becomes more than apparent as I take my eyes off her exceedingly heavy blush and begin soaking in the whole thing.

…Damn, nice ass.

"Here I was, thinking that your attitude may have over-compensating for something, but nope~! Turns out you're blessed as well!" I chuckle a bit, but there is truth to my words.. whether by accident or intended design, Keqing's clothes did a great job of hiding her physique. I'll be direct- both chest and rear are a bit bigger than I expected- not exactly intimidating, but you'd probably need all of both hands to really feel the whole thing. Naturally though, I am not one to merely speculate on such a pressing question.

"A…aahhhn~"

…Hm, yup, it's so nice…! Very smooth, comfortable to the touch even! Both are equally supple, and so easy to hold…no rough spots either…! And I can smell something…a bit of fragrance? Perfume? A flowery scent…probably a Liyue-style that I wouldn't know, hm? Well, whatever it is, it's certainly pleasant. Keqing must take great care of herself, as expected of someone in her position. Probably wants to mask any odors when conducting business.

And speaking of, before I can break off, fortune smiles upon me and sends something magical to my vision. . The Yuheng's sexy stomach- and wow, are those muscles? Ho ho~ They are! The ghost of abs, but still present enough to notice the pink lines. I suppose frequent trips to Wanmin would get the body moving after all- a fact which is most welcome. It is clear that this has affected her legs as well, as Keqing still shows no sign of fatigue from leading me here. They are just like the rest of her- slender, yet deceptive in exact size- still-nice pair of firm cheeks reminding me of the first day alone with her.

"Huh, you know, in some ways, you may be even more beautiful than Ganyu…! A body like yours…a LOT of people crave this~" My hands drift down to her thighs, just sliding over a small patch of violet hair…

"H-Hanngh…"

"Oh?" That reaction was interesting. "Say Keqing, have you ever been in a relationship before?"

"O-Of course!"

Sigh… I guess 'go along with me' doesn't necessarily mean 'don't lie'.. I stand up.

"What are you-?"
SNAP

Finally. I get rewarded at this step, a knocked-out Keqing colliding with my chest, beautiful breasts pressing against. My hand explores her bigger-than expected ass freely for a moment, curling around all the plump bits, vigorously sinking into soft flesh. "Keqing, every lie you tell me, you willl turn your back to me. After I punish you, you will tell me the truth."

"Yes…"

SNAP

Alright, let's try this again. "Keqing, have you ever been in a relationship?"

"Again? Of course I have, this is nothing new to me-EEeahn~!"

I'm not going to let myself get too out of hand with this, but there was definitely some anger behind that slap, her posterior already turning a rosy pink.. Call it revenge for using Ganyu's letter to bait me. "I asked Ganyu about this already, and she said the opposite."

"Fine." Keqing huffs. "I have absolutely no time to use on forming an intimate relationship with someone " Ah, the time excuse, is that right?

"What about Ganyu then? What's your opinion on her?" As soon as I mention the secretary's name, Keqing slightly relaxes, taking on a more neutral look.

"She's- Ganyu is invaluable, to myself and the Millelith as a whole. She's much smarter than she gives herself credit for, and is always willing to take some work off my plate… She puts other people's needs before herself, and can be surprisingly stubborn about it! …But don't get the wrong idea…! I have never taken advantage of her mindset!"

"I see…I see." Looks like she's telling the truth here- and oh right! Talking about Ganyu reminds of the one thing I forgot to ask her about. Maybe Keqing would know?

"Keqing, do you know a person named Shenhe?"

"Hmm…Shenhe… if memory serves me right, I believe she shares the same teacher as Ganyu."

Wait, what? She does know something! I honestly expected another dead end. "A teacher? Who is this person? And where does this Shenhe live anyway?"

Keqing's nose crinkles. "Apologies, I don't have those answers. I only really remember her name based on occasional conversations with Ganyu. However I do not believe she resides in the city." Another mountain-dweller perhaps? Dang, now I really wish I remembered to ask Ganyu about her that night. If they're fellow students, she definitely knows something interesting.

…You know, I don't really get why I'm so interested in a person I've never met or even seen. Maybe it's the fact that her name keeps popping up? I'm not that horny, right…?

Don't answer that.

"Thank you Keqing, that was very helpful. As a reward, you may have your Vision back~" I start to reach into my pocket-

"Hmph, if you were expecting me to act grateful after you stole it, you will be extremely disappointed."

"Oooh~! Good idea!"
"Wh-"

SNAP

Man, I'm really having the day of my life- getting to feel up Keqing's breasts for the second time in minutes! The squish, the bounce, the hardened nubs as my thumb flicks them…perfect~ I'm going to stay focused though. "Alright Keqing, you will now believe that the only way you're getting your Vision back is through begging me! And so you will. Physical confrontation is completely off the table! Understood?"

"Yes…"

SNAP

Give it a second for her to wake up and- Wow, that's a really thick blush~

"Please…"

"Oh? Please what?"

Keqing says no more at first. Instead, the extremely proud and confident Yuheng peels off my body, pauses for a moment… and slowly sinks to the ground. Still completely naked, still in her own house… does not matter. Her knees collide with the shiny floor, and her posture shifts backward allowing for that impressive butt to touch bare ankles. Finally, Keqing takes a big bow forward, stopping only when her body finishes bending into the smallest pretzel she can. It's almost enough to make me jealous of the fucking ground~

"Please… give me back my Vision. It's extremely important."

Right, I'm roleplaying- and to that end, I take the requested orb out and flip it, much like one would do to a coin. "Why? Isn't this the ideal situation for you?"

Keqing looks up in confusion. Thanks for the nice view~

"Hasn't the hypocrisy ever hit you before? Aren't you the one who believes in man more than the gods anyway? Yet here you are, begging for a Vision like it's the only thing that matters in your life… but wouldn't you look amazing to everybody who didn't receive one of these fucking things if you completely ditched yours?"

"Hmph. It's not that simple. I thought the same way as you at first, that the gods were just trying to take credit for my work, that the only reason why they granted me the Vision was to protect their own ego…"

"So what changed?"

"Ganyu. Her reaction to what I am telling you, in specific. She has always been a devout follower of Rex Lapis, and even now after his death, she's still honoring the contract she formed with him. No matter how many years and Lantern Rites go by… So when I told her my feelings towards my Vision, she just shook her head and said, 'that couldn't be further from the truth! Rex Lapis would never give a Vision to someone who wasn't worthy.' The next twenty minutes were completely filled with her listing my perceived 'positive qualities', trying to convince me that the Vision was a acknowledgement for my work, not an award given out of pity. And when Ganyu is truly insistent, nobody can stop her.

"So as embarrassing as it may be to admit, her plan seemed to have worked. In a way, the Vision doesn't just represent the gods' approval of me, but also a part of mine and Ganyu's friendship. So please…" Keqing's head goes back to looking at floor. "Give it back…I'm pleading with you."

I joyfully roll my eyes. "Oh fiiiiine~" The Vision begins sliding from my hand-

SNAP

And both the gift of the gods and the head of the Yuheng plop to the ground at the same time.

"That's a nice story~" I say, moving around to Keqing's rear, propped up. "But sadly, I don't care. Recall that this is a punishment for nearly ending my vacation, bubblebutt~" The nickname is followed by my hand going up, and cracking against more ripe flesh. I will have no one tell me I'm not hilarious, thanks. Keqing lets out a little mewl at the impact, but otherwise stays silent.

Now it would be so easy to finally embrace my deepest desire- the hypnosis might not be strong enough, but that's a problem only when consciousness is a factor. But I won't.

...I want Ganyu to be my first.

Still, I sit right behind Keqing and engage in my childhood dream of playing the drums. Let's see, my next move… my neeeext move~ What should it be~? Well obviously, I need to finish writing the letter to Fontaine where I ask for mechanical parts, payment included of course. Don't have a choice in the matter sadly- like I said, it is now total luck that I'm still here. If there's any lesson to be learned, it's that I need another weapon, one for any future emergencies that might occur. After thinking about it, a flashlight will be the way to go, but with a whole lot of emphasis on 'flash'…when I'm done modifying, it will be the best 'get out of jail' free card imaginable…!

But for now, it's command time~ "Twenty seconds after I leave Keqing, wake up, dress yourself, and go back to work. Tell nobody what happened after you left for dinner or anything about me- in fact, this whole thing will feel like a dream. You had your precious Shrimp Balls like normal. Aside from that, keep thinking up arguments to get Ganyu out of the Jade Chamber. Make sure they're good ones, this 'Ninggaung' can't know anything. Finally, you will continue to visit Wanmin once every few days, happily greeting Xiangling- but even more happy to see me when I arrive.".

"mrrphh…aaah…. " Oh right, should probably stop turning Keqing's skin the color of her hair and actually let her breathe. …There we go~ I don't need to check to make sure the commands stuck either, by now I can rest easy on that front. After everything that happened, this was a success~ I had my fun with Keqing, have a new base to work from, and even learned somethings about Shenhe! What a glorious day!

And all it cost was a significant chunk of Mora.

…Ow.

"Yeah… I'm going to have to be a bit more frugal with my spending. No going to Wanmin three times a day anymore."

No, I obviously didn't tell Xiangling the full truth, or even really one percent of it. No Keqing, no mention of tools, and barely a talk of Fontaine. However, the best lies are born from true statements- and it's true that I was never expecting to have this many expenses. Here's the shortened version of what I actually said:

"Most of my money has gone to my room in the hotel. I also set aside a bit of funds for any Lantern Rite items I want. (This is true.) Along with any miscellaneous or emergency expenses I would make during my time here. Needless to say, I very much was not expecting to encounter a place like Wanmin, with your amazing food at pretty good prices. And I just kept coming back there over and over… No matter how cheap an individual dish may be, it adds up fast if you're too reckless, as I was. So unfortunately, if I'm going to enjoy Lantern Rite to the fullest, I'm going to have to cut back."

I take a deep breath, finishing with a look back to Xiangling- who still wears her frown. Damn it… if she really had a solution, she'd currently be cockily grinning, I know it. And I was actually kind of hoping for that.

"B-but… our meetings were so fun…"

"I mean, we can still hang out while I'm here…!" The positive spin I'm trying to put on is certainly respectable - but there's no fooling anyone. Wanmin was an extremely convenient place for us to meet, she was literally at her work and I had delicious meals. Without that slice of the day dedicated for her, Xiangling is just way too busy to hang out consistently- if only it wasn't Lantern Rite season, attracting all the customers!

…Can't believe I'm thinking like that to be honest, has she really rubbed off on me that much so quickly?

"I could….um, maybe-?"

"Please don't say you would give me a discount." I hear a grumble right after, confirming my thoughts. "Cause while I would absolutely take you up on that, it's probably… not something you should be doing. If anyone else found out about it…"

Well, considering I know very little about the law, I don't actually know what could happen. Could Wanmin be investigated for something like that…? I imagine a 'personal discount' given to a random stranger from Fontaine while everyone else is paying in full isn't exactly legal. Or even if it is, it definitely isn't ethical. …Gah, just a whole pit of trouble I'd be keen to avoid.

"Ugh, I know…"The unsure way she brought it up makes it clear she didn't expect that to work, yeah... "But there's gotta be something I can do…!"

In fact there is, Xiangling. You could quit your job to hang out with me 24/7! Or just dump me a few thousand Mora right now! But failing that, I'm honestly just as stumped as you.

"I've gotta get to the restaurant, but I'll talk to Dad about this! We'll find a way to keep hanging out, cheer up!" And with a hopeful smile reappearing across her face, Xiangling takes off.

And now that I'm all alone…I don't know, maybe it would be for the best if I stopped hanging out with Xiangling so much, if not completely. I could really focus on hypnotizing Ganyu and Keqing with the free time- as well as maybe see if I could find anybody else… Oh yeah, and really refine my performance for Lantern Rite!

But on second thought, nah. Being with Xiangling like this- it's easily the most interesting thing to happen to me in years~! Back to the present though, I cannot believe I have to rely on Chef Mao.

"I-I'm sorry Xiangling, can you repeat that?"

"Oh come on! I've said it, like, three times already!"

"Please?"

She sighs, looks me over- and then smacks a sheet of rolled-up paper on the table in front of us. "I found a solution to our problem! In order for us to continue hanging out so much, Dad has agreed to… give you a job working for Wanmin Restaurant!"

Yup, four times and no hint of her joking that I can see. Which means- "…Can you say that again?"

"What?! What's wrong with you…?! Oh, are you doing another trick with me?"

"That's my line. Xiangling- your father, in case you forgot, doesn't like me! Why in the world would he offer me a job?! I can't even cook!"

"There's more to working at a restaurant than just cooking you know."

"Highly doubt I'd be a good server or cashier or anything really…"

She huffs. "Well maybe let me explain what it is first and stop being so negative!" I pause, making a motion of shutting my mouth, and urge her to continue. "We want you to help us with gathering ingredients."

"Don't you have suppliers for that?"

"Well yes, and we also keep an emergency stash in case. However, with everything going on at this time of the year, we're getting more customers than ever! So it's kind of hard to find time to restock, heh heh. Having someone to pick up some food growing out of the city would be a big help!

"Um, you say that, but I don't know where anything important would even be."

"Heh heh heh~ Not for much longer!" The same piece of paper Xiangling held is very dramatically slammed down- and expanded. Allowing me to clearly see- "A map?"

"Yup! Here we are…" Her finger goes to the southern part of the sheet, pointing to a spot right in front of me. "-And the nearby colors and drawings are places that I know ingredients grow! These red ones mean Jueyun Chili, yellow means Berries, blue mean Mint, these red are for Apples, these green bits over here are Qingxins and so on…"

If being a chef ever doesn't work out for Xiangling somehow, well, I know a career she absolutely should NEVER pursue: Artist. She draws like absolute shit. THOSE represent Apples!?- it looks more like someone stabbed themself, then took the knife and smeared blood everywhere! Oh well… "So all I'd need to do is go to these spots and…pick the food? That's it?"

"Yup! You'd be doing us a big favor~ We'd provide a basket too~ Now… we can't pay you much, sorry about that. B-but it'd be enough to order some meals!"

I snort at that- it would be essentially free labor. A basket, whoopdedoo. "Wait, don't I need to know about what I'm picking? Like, what signs to look out for when harvesting?"

Xiangling gives a big thumbs-up. "Don't worry! I always say, 'There are no bad ingredients, just bad cooking!' I guarantee that anything you get will work!"

Why does it feel like she's been waiting the entire conversation to say that..? A saying like that is just waiting, nay, begging for me to poke holes in it too… but it can keep waiting for all I care, because honestly, this proposal… doesn't sound so bad? Finding food for money at Wanmin, giving me the perfect excuse to hang out with Xiangling. It's a tempting offer, and there's one hidden benefit that really tips me over the edge.

Between the struggles climbing up mountains and stairs here… I've becoming an out-of-shape piece of shit. And since physical appearance is a lot to a performer- I need to fix this now. Going out of town is a good of a starting point as any.

"I'll do it on one condition." I respond after contemplating.

"What's up?"

"You-" This time, my pointer finger goes up, right beneath Xiangling's nose. "Have to play cards with me every time I return. If I'm doing this for not much money, I think there should be another reward of some kind."

It takes a bit for the chef to respond, but she manages through flushed cheeks eventually. "Y-you're on…!" Then she thrusts her hand out, directly into mine! A familiar warmth begins to creep up on me… "Looking forward to working with you~"

"Likewise Xiangling, likewise."

"Oh right, have to tell Dad this- see ya!" Once again she's off like a rocket, sprinting back to Wanmin as fast as possible- leaving me alone and really wondering if this is actually a good idea . But in the end, I decide to give a shot- can always quit later.

Of course, if I knew what was going to happen next, I would have never agreed to take the job.
Then again, if I knew what came after that, I would have taken the job twice as fast. Everything related to Xiangling is wild like that.

Next time, the third (or fourth, depending) main girl finally shows up!