Xu Zheng did not return to his room.
He headed straight for Ganyu's office.
As his master's most beloved disciple, knocking was… optional. Or more accurately, it was not part of his vocabulary.
He nudged the door open just wide enough to slip through and sure enough—there she was. Ganyu was completely immersed in her work and hadn't noticed a thing.
Xu Zheng plopped himself down in the guest chair and waited quietly.
A few minutes later, Ganyu finished a document and stretched—shoulders lifting, chest out, that qipao straining to contain righteousness. It was a cinematic moment.
Xu Zheng seized the opportunity.
"Master, that rice merchant guy, Chayevich—any news from the investigation?"
His task was still hanging over his head:
[Quest: Investigate the Rice Incident]
[Full Rewards: 160 Primogems]
Totally worth grinding for.
"I already issued the orders," Ganyu said. "We should be getting results soon."
As if summoned by prophecy, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
It was Baiwen.
She entered, saw Xu Zheng, blinked twice—an obvious "I didn't rat you out for sneaking off" look.
Xu Zheng blinked back—"Thanks, comrade."
Ganyu: …Should I leave?
With her level of perception, of course Ganyu noticed. Her gaze shifted suspiciously.
Wait a minute.
Baiwen… you're not interested in my little Xu Zheng, are you?
Why else would she be batting her eyes like that?
He's not even of age!
This is illegal!
And even if it weren't… this marriage? I object!
Her thoughts were spiraling, until Xu Zheng's voice yanked her back to reality.
"Master, speak of the devil. This must be the file from the Chayevich investigation."
"Devil?" Ganyu asked, puzzled.
"Ah, just a quirky warlord with some questionable kinks. Not important. Let's focus on this report."
Ganyu decided to let it slide for now and opened the document.
To: Lady Ganyu, from the Millelith.
We have completed the investigation on the merchant Chayevich. After releasing him from Liyue Prison, as per your instructions, we did not expel him. Instead, we placed him under surveillance.
He has not contacted anyone of interest, with the exception of one individual—a Snezhnayan businessman who recently opened a theater in Liyue.
Our findings show that this theater merchant's name is Chaye-wei-weird. He's the rice merchant's younger brother.
Xu Zheng let out a long sigh.
Just as he thought.
That damn blondie really was his brother.
But why are these names so hard to remember?
The rest of the report was fluff—Millelith bragging about how hard they worked, even if the results were crap.
"Well, what now?" Ganyu asked, handing him the paper.
Xu Zheng didn't even hesitate. "Keep digging. Tail the theater guy. Watch him like a hawk."
Ganyu gave a little laugh at his tone. "You're not allowed to give people silly nicknames."
"Criminals don't count as people. I'm innocent."
Ganyu thought about the blondie's behavior and, to be honest, couldn't argue.
Off to the side, Baiwen was—as usual—completely lost in the master-disciple madness.
"Is it possible," Baiwen said cautiously, "that these brothers aren't involved in the rice price surge?"
"No way," Xu Zheng said flatly. "Look at them. The kind of people who would do shady things, even if they didn't this time. Might as well catch 'em on something."
Meanwhile, high above Liyue on the Jade Chamber deck…
A woman stood looking down over the city.
Long platinum-blonde hair flowed down her back. Crimson tassels dangled from her forehead, matching the deep ruby of her eyes. A white-gold-black qipao hugged her figure, revealing just enough of her porcelain legs to distract even the diligent.
Ningguang held a file in her hands—the very same report.
Her elegant fingers flipped through the pages, expression shifting from curiosity to thoughtfulness.
"And what did he say?" she asked without turning around.
Behind her, Baiwen (somehow teleported) bowed and relayed Xu Zheng's exact reaction.
Ningguang nodded. "Then we'll let him and Ganyu handle this. You just assist from the sidelines."
"Yes, Lady Ningguang." Baiwen vanished again, probably by smoke bomb.
It was lunchtime.
"Morning, Master Xiangling!" Xu Zheng chirped.
"It's noon," she muttered. Then paused. "Actually… call me 'Sister Xiangling' again. I like it better."
"Alright. Sister Xiangling~" Xu Zheng said sweetly.
They entered the house, only to find someone already inside.
It was the middle-aged theater owner from yesterday—Huai Tiancheng.
As soon as he saw Xu Zheng, he grinned ear-to-ear and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, young friend! I tried your method yesterday—and to my surprise, the theater was packed! We even doubled our earnings!"
This guy had been getting crushed by Blondie's Snezhnayan theater. But Xu Zheng gave him a tip: hand out free peanuts.
And it worked.
People came flooding in. Every seat was filled. Ticket sales skyrocketed.
Why?
Free peanuts = more mouths = more thirst = more drinks sold.
Especially the drinks Xu Zheng helped invent—milk tea and ice cream.
"Don't mention it," Xu Zheng said with an old-man-like pat on his back. "We're business partners now."
Huai Tiancheng blinked, then laughed. "Right, right. Your share's secured, don't worry!"
He'd promised a 50/50 split on the drinks.
Actually…
Xu Zheng took 30%. Xiangling got 20%. The owner got 50%—even though Xu Zheng didn't have to do anything now.
Xiangling handled the production and training. The theater guy did logistics and sales.
Xu Zheng? He just raked in passive income.
It was a clean, glorious scam.
Xu Zheng was now… filthy rich.
Huai Tiancheng hesitated. "There's just one thing…"
Some people died, but not completely...