Qiqi returned with Yaoyao.
The two parted ways in front of Bubu Pharmacy.
Qiqi watched Yaoyao climb the steps before turning and entering the pharmacy.
She made her way to the backyard, where Dr. Baizhu's room was still lit.
Qiqi walked over and knocked on the door.
Changsheng's voice came from inside. "Who is it?"
"Dr. Baizhu, Changsheng, it's me."
"Qiqi, you're back."
A moment later, the door opened.
Changsheng raised her head, her serpentine eyes fixed on Qiqi.
"You've grown taller again, Qiqi."
"Yes."
Qiqi nodded and stepped inside.
Baizhu was at his desk, fiddling with a petri dish, his notebook filled with rows of data.
He looked up and greeted her warmly. "Qiqi."
"Dr. Baizhu, Master asked me to bring you something."
"Oh?"
Baizhu accepted the ring Qiqi handed him.
"This ring contains various sauces."
"My thanks to Mr. Xia."
Qiqi then took out another ring and passed it to him.
Baizhu blinked.
"And this one?"
"Master prepared it specially. I don't know what's inside, but he said you'd understand once you saw it."
"Is that so..."
Curious, Baizhu checked the contents.
Inside the ring was a book, two bottles, and a box.
Qiqi added softly, "Dr. Baizhu, I'll be traveling with Master tomorrow, so I won't be able to gather herbs for you anymore."
"That's alright."
"I'll clean my room before I leave. You can find a new herb-gathering apprentice to stay there."
"No need to worry about that."
"Thank you for taking me in, Dr. Baizhu. Ying'er and I developed a hand cream together. The profits will be transferred to this card every month. I'm giving it to you. If any patients can't afford medicine in the future, you can use the money in this account to help them."
"You... Ah, very well... That's very thoughtful of you..."
Under Qiqi's earnest gaze, Baizhu accepted the Liyue Bank card—though, truthfully, Bubu Pharmacy wasn't short on funds.
Qiqi seemed to relax.
"Goodbye, Dr. Baizhu."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Changsheng."
"Goodbye, Qiqi."
Qiqi left the room and returned to her own.
Baizhu watched her go before turning his attention back to the second ring. He took out the book inside.
It was a notebook.
Inside were detailed notes on antibiotics—cultivation, extraction, injection...
Every problem that had plagued him these past days was suddenly resolved.
Baizhu was immediately absorbed into this new realm of knowledge.
It wasn't until Changsheng spoke that he snapped out of it.
"Baizhu, Qiqi's gone."
Baizhu looked up and out the window.
The room that had been lit just moments ago was now dark again.
"She has her own path to walk."
With that, Baizhu set the book down and retrieved the two bottles from the ring.
One contained a rainbow-hued liquid, exuding a peculiar fruity fragrance.
Baizhu recognized it as Rainbow Juice.
No—Rainbow Concentrate, which needed to be diluted to become the Rainbow Juice he usually drank.
Changsheng glanced at it and remarked, "It seems Mr. Xia was worried you'd overuse forbidden arts to heal others, so he left you this juice to restore your vitality."
Baizhu nodded. "Mr. Xia's kindness is much appreciated."
The other bottle held a radiant golden liquid.
The moment Baizhu opened it—
Changsheng stiffened, her voice grave. "I can sense an immense [vitality] within this—far greater than that of the Rainbow Concentrate... What is this?"
Baizhu recapped the bottle and shook his head.
"Mr. Xia didn't say. He only instructed me to dilute it before consuming it."
"..."
Finally, Baizhu took out the box from the ring.
Inside was a complete set of alchemical equipment.
He flipped to a specific page in the notebook.
There, illustrated step-by-step, was the process of extracting antibiotics—using the exact same apparatus now before him.
In other words, Baizhu could now produce antibiotic medicine directly, bypassing countless hours of trial and error.
He reached out and ran his fingers over the alchemical equipment.
"The dawn of a new medical era in Teyvat begins with Mr. Xia."
---
In the room.
Shenhe and Ganyu sat on the bed, chatting.
"Senior Sister, how did it go?"
"How did what go?"
"With the boss."
"N-nothing happened!"
"Liar."
"Huh?"
"You haven't stopped smiling since this evening."
"Have I?"
"Try touching the corner of your mouth."
"..."
"How far have you gotten with the boss?"
"W-well, just..."
Ganyu lowered her head, her face burning, as she haltingly recounted what had happened during the massage.
Shenhe listened with an impassive expression.
That's it? And you're this flustered?
Senior Sister is way too innocent.
It seems all she's done these past few millennia is bury herself in work.
And Master—she has no experience either, so her guidance was practically nonexistent...
Guess I'll have to give Senior Sister some private lessons.
Shenhe looked at Ganyu and spoke earnestly. "Senior Sister, you can't hold your breath while kissing. You have to breathe in between. Also..."
Ganyu listened in a daze.
Her junior sister's expertise was on another level—it was almost overwhelming.
But she still learned a great deal.
After the lesson, Shenhe stood up. "Senior Sister, I'm going to get something to eat."
"Oh—huh?"
"Want to come with me?"
"N-no! You go ahead, I'll..."
Ganyu's face flushed as she waved her hands frantically.
Though she was an Adeptus, she couldn't bring herself to be as uninhibited as her junior sister.
Shenhe's like this because of the Red Rope Soul Binding—she doesn't care about many things...
But I can't. I've lived among mortals for too long. Even though I've made up my mind, I can't let go of everything all at once.
Shenhe didn't press her. "Alright."
She left the room.
After a while.
Ganyu's gaze shifted from the door to the wall.
Though she lacked the courage to join her junior sister in sneaking snacks, she had plenty of courage to eavesdrop through the wall.
And I mean plenty!
---
On the other side of the wall.
Shenhe leaned against it, holding a Silence Orb.
The orb's effect enveloped her, the boss, and her senior sister on the other side of the wall.
Meaning any sounds she made would only reach Ganyu's ears.
"Senior Sister, the theory lesson is over. Now it's time for the practical."