The Next Morning
Yae Miko arrived at Yae Publishing House and called for Aratani.
This young woman handled project planning and coordination for the publishing house.
In fact, the most popular project at the moment—This Novel is Amazing!—was her idea. She had planned and organized the entire contest.
"Lady Yae!"
"Any leads for the next project?"
"Yes! How about a special issue? Or maybe a relay-style serialization—those are popular too!"
Yae Miko shook her head.
"Everything you just mentioned is too ordinary."
Aratani hung her head, embarrassed. "I'm sorry for disappointing you… I'll brainstorm something fresh."
But Yae Miko stopped her.
"I heard you've always had a keen interest in books from beyond the borders of Inazuma?"
"Uh… Lady Yae, my job relies on creativity! It's totally reasonable to stay informed about new things from outside, right?"
"So that's why you've secretly asked people traveling in and out of Inazuma to bring foreign books for you. And also smuggled in seized books from Ritou? Aratani, that's illegal."
"I didn't! I mean—technically I did, but the Sakoku Decree has been lifted!"
"It hadn't been lifted back when you did it."
Aratani looked utterly pitiful. "Lady Yae…"
Yae Miko finally dropped the act and smiled. "Relax, I'm just teasing. It's just a few books—how serious could it be? Readers will be readers."
"Exactly!"
"But since you're so interested in novels from outside, I happen to have a work-related 'publicly funded trip' for you."
She looked up, eyes sparkling.
"I heard the publishers in Liyue have been churning out a lot of cultivation novels lately. There's even a new hit romance light novel aimed at women. I'd like you to visit and negotiate some licensing deals—get Yae Publishing the rights to a few promising titles."
"Lady Yae, leave it to me!"
"And while you're in Liyue, swing by the Summer Shop. I'm quite intrigued by their Rainbow Juice. Bring back a few bottles."
"Noted!"
"Start preparing now—you'll want to leave soon."
"Yes!"
Aratani left with barely contained excitement.
Yae Miko watched her go, thoughtful.
It would take about twenty days to sail from Inazuma to Liyue.
By the time Aratani arrived at the Summer Shop, Makoto would likely already be off traveling.
Still, this would open the path for future cooperation between the two sides.
Once she got to meet Mr. Xia in person, she'd have a perfectly legitimate reason to get closer.
After all, as an editor at Yae Publishing, wasn't it only natural to build good relations with contracted authors?
Yae Miko's lips curled into a sly smile, her narrow eyes gleaming with foxy charm.
---
School Grounds
Xia Zhi was woken up by the morning bell.
Not Shenhe's bell, of course.
The one blasting from the school's loudspeakers.
"So nostalgic…"
Xia Zhi lay in bed listening to the familiar tone, gazing out the window.
Shenhe sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"Boss…"
In the morning sunlight, her figure was flawless.
She stretched like a cat and leaned into his shoulder.
"If you're still sleepy, go back to bed."
"No need. We've got important stuff to do today. I'm heading out to find my senior sister."
"Going straight for it?"
"Of course not. Her personality's pretty complicated—I'll need to persuade her carefully."
"Want me to help?"
"No need. Just be your usual self."
"Okay."
Shenhe's lips pressed into a small pout.
Xia Zhi glanced at her with a grin. "Jealous again?"
"No. I already got jealous last night."
"Then what is it?"
"I'm a little hungry."
"Alright. I'll make something delicious for you this morning."
"I want pickled cabbage and shredded pork noodles."
"Got it."
---
Xia Zhi headed to the cafeteria.
Since he was already cooking for Shenhe, he figured he might as well make breakfast for everyone.
Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper took their noodle bowls to a corner table and sat down.
"See? Told you not to rush breakfast. Look—we still got some!"
"Mm, mm."
The two adepti finished their noodles and set down their chopsticks with satisfaction.
"Xia Zhi's cooking is always the best."
"Xiangling's still got some catching up to do."
Elsewhere, many students were also having breakfast, accompanied by teachers keeping things orderly.
Mountain Shaper glanced around. "Yaoyao will probably study here someday, won't she?"
"Madame Ping was planning on it, but Yaoyao seems reluctant."
"Why?"
"She says she's all grown up now."
"…"
They exchanged a look, a shared flicker of sympathy in their eyes.
Kids… once they grow up, they're hard to manage.
Mountain Shaper sighed. "She probably just wants to follow Xia Zhi around on his travels, huh?"
Moon Carver nodded. "Most likely."
"What's Madame Ping going to do?"
"No idea. Let her figure it out herself."
---
At another table, Shenhe and Ganyu ate noodles together.
Ganyu's bowl was the same vegetarian noodle soup she had yesterday, with added medicinal herbs.
As she ate, she felt the lingering restlessness in her heart begin to ease.
She quietly let out a breath of relief.
Still, sitting next to her junior sister after… what happened last night, left her feeling faintly awkward.
Shenhe ate in silence.
After they finished, Shenhe wiped her mouth with a napkin from the table.
This new paper from Lady Ningguang's paper mill really was high quality. It had just hit the market and was already a hit.
"Senior Sister, let's go for a walk outside."
"Ah… I need to get back to work at Yuehai Pavilion…"
"Just a quick walk. Call it a post-breakfast stroll. Surely you're not in that much of a rush?"
"Well… I guess not."
Ganyu reflexively wanted to say no—maybe because of a lingering sense of guilt.
But Shenhe's expectant eyes made her pause.
That was then; this is now.
With the Secretariat's support, her workload had already lightened considerably. There wasn't really anything pressing to go back for.
So the two walked out of the cafeteria and strolled slowly through campus.
The weather was lovely, and the sunlight lazily warmed their backs.
Shenhe looked up at the clouds and said, "Senior Sister, there's something I haven't told you…"
Ganyu tilted her head. "Hm?"
---
Later That Morning
Xia Zhi sat with the three vice principals, drinking tea.
Ningguang smiled. "Now things are finally getting on track."
Zhongli nodded. "Indeed."
Xia Zhi glanced at his system panel. Compared to yesterday, his luck stat had gone up again.
Outside of Shenhe's [Brings Luck to Husband] bonus, the rest came from Ganyu's [Auspiciousness] buff.
His merit value kept increasing thanks to the school's special building effect.
Every new school year meant a new batch of students—and with them, more merit.
Xia Ci frowned. "I think our library has too few books."
As the God of Wisdom, she was clearly displeased with the collection.
Ningguang sighed. "I've already gathered most of the books from Liyue."
"Still far from enough," Xia Ci said. "Our goal is to be the best school in all of Teyvat."
Xia Zhi said, "We'll have to build it up gradually."
Zhongli mused, "Mondstadt's library has a considerable collection. If we could borrow a few, that would help a lot."
"You're suggesting…?"
"Since Mr. Xia is planning a visit to Mondstadt anyway, he could stop by their library and propose an exchange. We'd offer copies of our books in return."
"That's a solid idea."
"It might delay your trip slightly."
"No problem. As the principal, it's part of the job."
Ningguang nodded. "I'll draft an official document for you to present—make sure you have a proper title when negotiating with Mondstadt."
"Much appreciated, Lady Ningguang."
After about thirty minutes, Ningguang took her leave.
She was a genuinely busy woman—couldn't spend all her time at school.
Xia Zhi remained with Xia Ci and Zhongli.
Xia Ci turned to Zhongli. "Morax."
The sudden use of his real name made Zhongli's expression stiffen slightly as he looked up at her.
"What is it?"
"How is Azhdaha doing these days?"
"Why ask about him all of a sudden?"
"Just curious."
Zhongli hesitated, but answered truthfully.
"He's deeply afflicted by erosion, his memories fragmented and mind unstable. His former dwelling was damaged during mining operations, which enraged him. He began lashing out. I battled him and ultimately sealed him beneath Nantianmen."
"The Dragon-Queller Tree, then?"
"Yes."
"You plan to keep him sealed until he perishes?"
"I don't have any better options."
Zhongli sighed.
"His erosion is far too severe, compounded by wounds from the Archon War…"
"Maybe my cousin could help."
"Hm?"
"Remember that tea he brought last time?"
"You mean Silver Dew?"
"Yes. It helps restore memory."
"That tea may work, but for someone like Azhdaha… he'd need an immense quantity…"
Zhongli shook his head.
"It's undoubtedly rare. Mr. Xia couldn't possibly have that much…"
Xia Zhi put down his teacup.
"Well… I might."
"Azhdaha is mountain-sized."
"I've got tea leaves with even stronger effects."
If quantity wasn't enough, quality could make up the difference.
If he evolved [Silver Dew] to Platinum-tier, the effect should be much stronger.
Zhongli paused. "Why exactly are you looking for Azhdaha?"
Xia Ci smiled faintly. "Nothing much. We just want him to be a server."
"…A server?"
Zhongli was completely baffled.