"Boss Han, you were joking, right?"
Yanfei's mouth twitched.
Nobita being a mental patient… Doraemon just a figment of his imagination…
What kind of messed-up ending was that?!
Which author could even come up with such a brain-dead conclusion?
It felt like swallowing something foul—you couldn't spit it out, but you couldn't stomach it either.
She'd rather the manga just stop updating.
Noelle felt the same.
Even though she hadn't read that particular comic yet,
just knowing that everything was the protagonist's delusion…
that was unbearable.
Han Feng chuckled.
"Kidding. The real ending is Nobita growing up, and Doraemon returning to the future."
In truth, there wasn't any real definitive ending.
What he'd just said were simply two versions that circulated online.
The first one was utterly ridiculous—
like when some authors abandon their stories midway,
saying the protagonist merely dreamed everything.
Then he wakes up still an ordinary wage-slave.
Seeing that sort of ending makes you want to punch someone.
Even if the protagonist woke up, looked in the mirror, and died from his own handsomeness—that would be better!
As for the second ending, most readers found it more acceptable.
Doraemon came from the future to help Nobita grow.
Once Nobita matured,
he no longer needed Doraemon's company.
Having completed his mission, Doraemon returned to his own world.
A bit bittersweet, but far more reasonable.
"Scared me to death. I knew you were joking!"
Yanfei let out a sigh of relief.
If the story really ended with the first version,
she wouldn't dare pick up another comic ever again.
It would scar her for life.
Who could stand that?!
"Boss, that kind of joke isn't funny at all," Noelle muttered.
When they read comics, they put themselves into the world,
to experience the story as if it were real.
If in the end it was all just a fantasy—
if the protagonist achieved nothing, changed nothing—
then why even bother reading?
While they chatted, Eula flew back in from outside.
"How was it? Useful?" Yanfei asked, smiling as she handed back the bamboo-copters.
"Fantastic—better than Wind Gliders!"
Eula's face lit up with admiration.
With the Bamboo-Copter, she could take off anytime, fly however she wished.
Its mobility was leagues ahead.
But Wind Gliders required wind currents to function.
The difference was night and day.
Eula thought to herself, If the Knights of Favonius each had one of these… our combat power would skyrocket.
"This is something worth bringing up with Acting Grand Master Jean," she mused wearily.
Every time Boss Han introduced a new comic or item,
they had to treat it with utmost seriousness.
If enemy factions got ahead of them,
Mondstadt would fall behind.
Yes… it was all because this shop brimmed with treasures.
"Mm, I agree—it's more useful than Wind Gliders," Yanfei grinned.
Now she could toss those wings into storage.
Just then, Xiangling ran over from the comic section.
"Boss, I finished reading! What's my reward?!"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Having witnessed Yanfei's Bamboo-Copter reward,
she could barely contain her anticipation.
She hoped for something truly fitting—
perhaps a dish, or even just a recipe, like what Miss Sara received.
Han Feng smiled, glancing at the system.
[Customer Xiangling has finished reading Cooking Master Boy, reward obtained—Recipe: Magical Mapo Tofu]
[Magical Mapo Tofu: Contains six layers of taste—spicy, fragrant, colorful, hot, crispy, and numbing. Created by celestial chef Chen Bangling.]
"She really drew a cooking recipe? Not bad at all," Han Feng praised.
Perhaps chefs who came here to read would always receive food-related rewards.
Sara had.
Now Xiangling did as well.
And since she was from Liyue and already a masterful cook,
this recipe might elevate her craft even further.
Buzz—
A brilliant light shone down, wrapping Xiangling within.
Moments later, it faded.
Xiangling felt her mind swell with new knowledge.
"It seems… it's the recipe for that Mapo Tofu?"
Once she sorted out the information, joy spread across her face.
Her luck really was good!
"Thank you, Boss Han."
Xiangling's voice brimmed with gratitude.
She had come here searching for new ingredients,
but instead encountered this rare opportunity.
Now, with this Mapo Tofu recipe,
she was sure to cause a sensation back in Liyue.
And all of it was thanks to Boss Han.
"No need. Just keep coming," Han Feng waved it off.
For him, the best repayment was simply visiting the shop often.
And if they brought friends and family along, even better—
just as Eula had.
"Of course! I plan to learn every dish in that comic!"
Xiangling laughed.
At that moment, Eula noticed the darkened sky—
Boss Han would soon be closing.
"Since we're done reading, let me take you around Mondstadt. There are still plenty of fun places to see."
"Alright. Boss Han, we'll take our leave."
Yanfei and Xiangling nodded, leaving with Eula.
Stepping out of the alley, Xiangling glanced back at the shop.
It still felt unreal.
"Even now, I can hardly believe it… I learned a whole gourmet recipe just from reading a comic."
Her mind told her it was true, though.
Yanfei nodded in agreement.
"Hah! I told you both, but you didn't believe me. I'll remember this grudge," Eula teased.
The two looked a bit sheepish.
"By the way, Xiangling, I plan to return to Liyue tomorrow and report this matter to Lady Keqing and Lady Ningguang," Yanfei said apologetically.
After all, she had just arrived, yet was already leaving her friend behind.
She felt guilty, so she quickly added,
"But don't worry. With the Bamboo-Copter's speed, I'll definitely be able to make the round trip in a single day."
"It's fine, go ahead!" Xiangling nodded understandingly.
Something this important had to be reported to the Liyue Qixing.
As for her, she planned to stay and read a few more days of comics.
"No worries, I'll be around," Eula reassured her with a smile.
Though they hadn't known each other long, she already considered Xiangling a friend.
And friends should look out for one another.
"Come on, let's head to Good Hunter. It's evening—time for a legendary golden dish!"
Eula extended the invitation.
Yanfei and Xiangling both agreed at once.
They'd heard about it before and were eager to see for themselves.
So the three of them set off together toward the Good Hunter restaurant.
~~--------------------------------------
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