Xiangling picked up her chopsticks, half-skeptical.
Hmph. Let's see what you're made of, baby chef.
She snagged a bite of stir-fried greens. Just simple vegetables. No tricks. No fancy sauces.
The moment it hit her tongue—boom.
Crisp. Clean. Flavorful. Like the essence of spring punched her taste buds with a green, leafy fist.
"…What the heck," she muttered, immediately diving for another dish.
Then another.
Then another.
Each one somehow better than the last.
She looked up—eyes wide, expression stunned—as Xu Zheng stood there smugly, arms folded behind his back like some miniature kitchen god who didn't even need an apron.
Ganyu, meanwhile, was on cloud nine. She hadn't tasted anything this good since—well, ever. She never imagined there could be anything tastier than Qingxin.
"Little Xu Zheng," Xiangling said with her mouth full, "can you teach me these dishes?!"
"Of course, Xiangling-jie," Xu Zheng said generously, like a gracious food deity descending upon the mortal realm.
At that moment, he practically glowed in her eyes.
Ganyu, watching from the side, smiled like a proud mom at graduation.
My little Xu Zheng… already a man. It's all thanks to my excellent parenting, obviously.
After the meal, Ganyu had to return to Yuehai Pavilion for work. Meanwhile, Xu Zheng stayed at Wanmin Restaurant to "bond" with Xiangling and help around the kitchen.
Ding!
[Daily Quest Complete – Reward: 10 Primogems]
[Daily Quest Complete – Reward: 10 Primogems]
Xu Zheng mentally checked his loot.
Two tasks done:
Cook 3 dishes
Assist Xiangling with cooking
Yet when he checked his Primogem stash, disappointment hit harder than a Cryo Slime in winter.
Still under 160.
No wishes? No pulls? What is the point of living?
He did the math in his head. 60 primos a day from dailies. Every three days = one wish.
If he got lucky with bonus quests… maybe a draw every two days.
Sigh. The life of a gacha slave… truly tragic.
Just then—
"Xu Zheng! Table Seven wants a milk tea!" Xiangling called out. "Their request: sugar. Like, sugar-to-kill-a-god level."
"???"
Xu Zheng blinked from the back kitchen.
Sugar-only milk tea?
Challenge accepted.
He skipped the milk. Skipped the tea. Went straight for the sugar jar like a gremlin with nothing to lose.
Result: 1 cup of instant diabetes.
He carried it out and placed it before the guest—a disheveled, unshaven middle-aged man who looked like the human version of a bad life decision.
The man took a sip, nodded solemnly. "Life is bitter. But this… this milk tea is sweet enough."
He said it loud—way too loud. Heads turned. Ears perked up.
Xu Zheng narrowed his eyes.
This man was radiating "I have a tragic backstory, please ask me about it" energy.
"Alright, fine," Xu Zheng said, playing along. "Uncle—uh, big bro—got some trouble? Maybe I can help."
The man sighed like someone who practiced sighing as a hobby.
"Even though you're just a child… I suppose I'll share."
Xu Zheng wanted to say: You really don't have to. No one asked that hard.
But he remembered he was in NPC-helper mode, so he bit his tongue.
"I inherited a theater from my father," the man explained. "Worked hard, built it up, bit by bit. It wasn't booming, but it was honest work. But lately, business is dying. My father's legacy is crumbling in my hands."
A few customers at nearby tables whispered.
"…Isn't that guy from the West Gate theater?"
"Yeah, that's him. I've seen his face on the playbills."
Xu Zheng asked, "What changed?"
"I did some digging," the man continued, "Turns out, a shady merchant named… Chayev-something set up a rival theater nearby. Stole half my business."
Chayev-something?
Xu Zheng's face darkened.
Chayev the Prick… Blondie from earlier… same guy.
One part human. Nine parts scammer.
This wasn't just some random drama. This was a full-blown plot arc.
"I've been to your theater," Xiangling piped in, curious now. "The salty peanuts there are amazing."
The man smiled, genuinely touched. "Our peanuts have always had a good reputation."
Xu Zheng's eyes lit up with inspiration.
"Then start giving them away."
"…Come again?"
"Make the peanuts free," Xu Zheng said. "Everyone likes free snacks. You'll draw more people in. Increase foot traffic."
Xiangling nodded eagerly. "It'll definitely work. Free food = happy crowd."
The man hesitated. "Sure, but if people come for the free stuff and don't buy tickets, I might lose more money…"
Xu Zheng leaned in, voice serious. "Then let me pitch you a real plan. A big one."
Ten minutes later, the man walked out of Wanmin Restaurant—still unsure, but intrigued.
Xiangling watched him go, then turned to Xu Zheng.
"Are you sure this peanut-milk-tea-theater crossover plan will work?"
Xu Zheng clasped his hands behind his back and nodded like an old soul reborn in a baby's body.
"You're thinking too small, Xiangling-jie."
She didn't get it.
But she was definitely impressed.
Just then, laughter and footsteps echoed from outside the restaurant.
"…I'm telling you, Eula, this place is amazing! They've got this thing called milk tea and something cold called ice cream. You're gonna love it!"
Yanfei's voice drifted through the air, casual and cheery.
Xu Zheng's eyes twitched.
Eula!?
Incoming…
Some people died, but not completely...