After the hug, little Klee looked at Hu Tao's chest with a puzzled expression, half understanding.
No one knows a daughter better than her father.
Seeing Klee's face, Ken could vaguely guess what she was wondering about.
"It's so late, Klee, why aren't you asleep?"
To prevent his girl from asking any soul-piercing questions, Ken quickly shifted her attention.
Only then did Klee remember why she'd come. She said excitedly, "Daddy knows Sister Sucrose, right? Albedo's assistant."
"I know. What about her?" Ken had seen the shy, introverted girl at Albedo's place; she always blushed in front of him.
Klee flailed her arms, delighted. "Today Sister Sucrose asked me if I wanted a Jumpy Dumpty that can run and jump. Hehe, of course I do! So she said when she has time she'll research it with me. Klee wants to make hundreds and hundreds, so all the streets, steps, and plazas in Mondstadt are full of Jumpy Dumpty! I got more and more excited and couldn't sleep, so I came to share the good news with Daddy."
Ken: "…"
Even as a civilized gamer, Ken couldn't help cursing in his heart when he heard that.
That's the last thing we need!
If they really made that kind of Jumpy Dumpty, and Klee did what she's thinking, Mondstadt would be blown sky-high.
Hu Tao, though, asked curiously, "Jumpy Dumpty? What's that?"
"Jumpy Dumpty! Jumpy Dumpty that bounce when they explode! Klee loves Jumpy Dumpty the most. If Sister Hu Tao likes them, Klee can give you one too!" As she spoke, Klee pulled a Jumpy Dumpty from her little backpack.
The pitch-brown bomb was about the size of a basketball. In Klee's arms, it made for an adorable contrast.
It was one of Klee's favorite things; if Hu Tao weren't Daddy's guest, she wouldn't be giving out a Jumpy Dumpty at a first meeting.
Hu Tao accepted it and examined it. "Mm… I'll take little Klee's gift. But this Director isn't someone who takes advantage. I'll give you a gift too: a Wangsheng Funeral Parlor package…"
"Thanks, but not necessary for now. If we ever need it, I'll let you know." Ken cut her off. He figured that package was better left alone.
If he accepted it today, Hu Tao might start preparing a family coffin package for them tomorrow.
"Alright then…" Hu Tao said regretfully. "But I do support Klee's idea."
"Really?" Klee's big eyes sparkled. "Master Jean and the others don't support me!"
"Of course Sister Hu Tao supports you! If you blow Mondstadt to ashes, Wangsheng won't finish delivering services till next year!" Hu Tao teased with a grin, picturing the scene in her head.
It was an awfully dark joke, but when she heard Klee's plan, her professional instincts kicked in.
Even if she didn't know the exact power of the Jumpy Dumpty, she could feel the abundant Pyro energy inside.
Spreading Jumpy Dumpty all over Mondstadt…
That's a city-level blast!
Hu Tao immediately pictured Mondstadt getting leveled, and even subconsciously started planning Mondstadt's funeral rites.
Of course, this couldn't actually be done—she was only joking with little Klee. Still, Hu Tao genuinely felt she had plenty to chat about with Mondstadt's little Spark Knight.
Maybe they could even collaborate in the future.
Like, Klee blows things up in front, and she handles the bodies in back.
The thought made Hu Tao rub her chin and let out a "kekekeke" laugh.
Ken: "…"
Hearing their conversation, Ken's eyelid twitched. He immediately said, "Klee, don't listen to Sister Hu Tao. She's joking. You mustn't do things like that. It's late—go to your room and sleep."
With the cross-world travel time now longer, it was fine for Klee to come over to sleep.
Klee nodded. "Mm-hmm! Is Sister Hu Tao not going to sleep?"
"Because when the sun comes out I bask in the sun, and when the moon rises I bask in the moon~" Hu Tao smiled slyly. "Little Klee, off to bed. I still have other things to discuss with your dad. Here's a Glaze Lily to wish you sweet dreams—it's a Liyue specialty!"
"So pretty~ Sister Hu Tao is a good person!" Klee took the flower, sniffed it, and headed to her little private bedroom.
At first, when she started staying over here, Klee liked to cling to Ken and sleep together.
But after getting used to Blue Star, she slowly started sleeping independently.
Watching Klee leave, Ken quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
If Klee and Hu Tao, those two little devils, stayed together, who knows what kind of big trouble they'd stir up—it wouldn't be as simple as just fishing with explosives.
Those two were better off spending less time together.
"Mr. Ken, take me around here, will you? It's my first time."
Hu Tao only spoke after the light in Klee's room went out and she was asleep.
Ken checked the time. "Alright, but before we go out, you should change clothes."
Although Hu Tao's banner hadn't dropped yet and her popularity wasn't at its future peak, her stunning looks and that distinctive anime-esque figure, paired with her retro outfit, drew way too much attention.
Plus, because he often strolled around with pretty girls, he'd become a hot figure online.
So it was best to keep a low profile this time. Ken didn't want to be mobbed.
"Change clothes? Hmm… okay."
Hu Tao thought for a moment and agreed readily.
Her current clothes had a lot of meaning.
The dark brown, cross-collared jacket didn't really fit her age but added a touch of solemnity.
On the two tails at the back were delicate embroidery of red spider lilies and butterflies.
Red spider lilies represent destruction and rebirth; butterflies symbolize the cycle of death and revival—perfectly fitting for the Director of Wangsheng.
Though she usually seemed playful and flighty, she was very serious and proper about her work.
So back in Liyue, her usual attire was like this.
But here on Blue Star, trying out Blue Star fashion sounded fun too.
Hu Tao blinked her plum-blossom eyes as she watched Ken take a brand-new outfit from the wardrobe.
"Go try it on. If you don't understand how to wear it, you can call me." Ken was happy to help.
"You underestimate this Director!" Hu Tao pouted.
She took the clothes to the next room, closed the door, undid the frog fasteners, and slowly took off her outfit.
Then she picked up the clothes Ken gave her.
"Why does this feel a bit weird?"
Blue Star fashion didn't look very Liyue-like to Hu Tao, but while it seemed odd at first glance, it looked pleasing once she put it on.
After neatly folding her original clothes, Hu Tao looked at the Vision pinned on her outfit. In the end, she took it off and hung it on a cord around her neck.
Then she checked herself in the mirror and stepped out with confidence.
Hehe… This Director looks beautiful even in Blue Star clothes.
"How is it? This Director did justice to the outfit, right?"
Hu Tao strode out with her slender long legs, open and unselfconscious.
The slightly solemn Liyue-style cross-collared jacket was gone, replaced by the JK outfit Ken had prepared.
The black-and-white sailor-collar top was soft and cute, exposing Hu Tao's fair swan neck.
The Vision hanging at her neck slipped along the collar and dipped into the not-very-undulating plains below.
The shirt hem was tucked into a black pleated JK skirt; the black tie was knotted into a bow at her waist, accentuating her slender, hand-span waist.
Her straight, slim legs were wrapped in over-the-knee white stockings.
Her brown twin-tails swayed gently as she walked, matching the outfit to a 99% degree, maxing out Hu Tao's lively vibe and adding a touch of coy charm.
"Leave the hat at home for now, too."
Ken pointed at her head. Though the hat complemented the red plum blossom, it didn't match this look.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Hu Tao took off the hat, lovingly blew off a speck of dust, and set it with her folded clothes.
Without the hat's constraint, her twin-tails showed their full glory.
Ken's gaze was full of praise. As expected of Hu Tao—wearing a JK uniform she outclassed every 3D idol; especially those white-sheathed legs, impossible to look away from.
Though the top looked like a flat tablet, he figured he could personally 'help' her later.
"Put on a mask too; then we're good. Let's go."
Mask on, car keys in hand, Ken was ready to take Hu Tao to the entertainment district.
There wasn't that much to see there, but it was the liveliest nearby spot. If Hu Tao wanted the vibe of the Magic City, it was perfect.
"Okay!"
Catching the appreciation in Ken's eyes, Hu Tao felt a little smug.
But once she got in the car and they reached the bustling streets of the Magic City, that smugness vanished, swept away by the view outside the window.
…
Skyscrapers glittered intoxicatingly—the Magic City was a true steel metropolis.
Hu Tao had always thought Liyue Harbor's nights were lively.
She didn't expect the Magic City's nights to be even more so.
Cars streamed along the roads, the towering buildings utterly different from Liyue's style. Music drifted occasionally from the streets, stirring Hu Tao's poetic mood.
"The 1st Hilichurl got ill,
The 2nd Hilichurl came to see him;
The 3rd Hilichurl collected herbs
The 4th Hilichurl decocted
The 5th Hilichurl died...
"
The "Hu Tao's song" gently echoed in their ears.
Driving, Ken felt a twinge of nostalgia.
In his previous life, this song had been endlessly remixed by Facebook creators; he'd even followed the trend himself. Hearing Hu Tao sing it live now felt different.
After circling the entertainment district for a while, Ken drove back.
Passing a dessert shop, he noticed Hu Tao's curious gaze, so he parked and took her in.
"Eh? The pastries here look different from Liyue's. This Director likes strange-looking things… but strange things like these must be expensive, right?"
From Hu Tao's experience, the prettier something looked, the pricier it was.
She didn't know Blue Star prices and subconsciously glanced at Ken.
If it was too expensive, Director Hu would feel embarrassed.
"Don't worry. Pick whatever you want."
Ken didn't mind.
"Even if you've got money, you shouldn't splurge… I'll just choose a few I like." Hu Tao muttered, carefully scanning the dazzling display and making her selections.
"Even the boxes are exquisite. If we brought these to Liyue, they'd definitely attract customers…"
Hu Tao chose four small cakes, watching the clerk package them with care, and couldn't help murmuring.
After paying, Ken carried the cakes back to the car. As soon as the doors closed, Hu Tao couldn't wait to taste them.
"The flavor's pretty good too." Eating, Hu Tao suddenly thought of something and asked, "Do you want to open a specialty shop in Liyue? You opened one in Mondstadt."
Seeing white cream at the corner of her mouth, Ken wiped it off for her before saying, "I do plan on it, but I'm not going to sell the same things as in Mondstadt."
"Hm?" Hu Tao licked the spot he'd wiped and grew curious.
"I'm planning to sell instant noodles, self-heating hotpots, energy drinks, and packaged meats in Liyue."
"The names sound a bit strange… but that's not important. What matters is—do you need this Director's help? I can help you find a storefront, how about it?" Hu Tao asked with a mischievous grin, nibbling her cake.
"You're trying to profit off me." Ken gave her a look.
That smile definitely meant nothing good.
This girl had a new scheme every minute; if you weren't careful, she'd lead you by the nose.
"You saw through me?" Hu Tao sighed. "Alright… I admit it. I want to find you a place near Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. That way, when people come to your shop, they'll see Wangsheng too, and I'll have a chance to pull in clients. But I know… most people don't like opening near the funeral parlor. They think it's unlucky."
"That's all?" Ken chuckled. "I don't mind. If that's what you want, I'll leave the store hunt to you. As payment, I can put an advertising board for Wangsheng at the shop entrance."
"Really?" Hu Tao's eyes widened, her mood even brighter.
Suddenly, the cake in her hand didn't taste as good.
"Let's head back, then? I want to go back right away and have Zhongli handle it. He knows a lot and strolls around all day—he'll definitely find a suitable spot nearby."
Hu Tao was raring to go.
Ken: "…"
Good grief.
He thought she'd handle it herself, but she was going back to squeeze labor out of Zhongli.
Then again, considering how Zhongli went out without money and often had Hu Tao reimburse large sums of Mora… Ken figured, yeah, having the Geo Archon find him a location sounded just right.
…
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