In her bedroom, Eula sat on the bed with her new phone.
She stared at the number on the screen for a while before finally dialing.
After a moment, the line connected.
"Hello? Who's this?" came a familiar voice.
Eula hesitated. "Yanfei. It's me."
"Oh? Eula?"
"Mm."
"Long time no see! So you got a phone too, huh?"
"Mr. Xia gave it to me today."
"I see. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine. You?"
"Busy! I just wrapped up a will case, came back from a business trip, and now a pile of lawsuits are waiting…"
Listening to her rambling complaints, Eula couldn't help but smile.
She had few friends. Jean, Noelle, Amber—they counted, but they were all Mondstadters. With Eula's personality, it was hard to open up to them.
Yanfei was different. She was from Liyue, with no baggage between them. The distance made chatting over the phone feel light and easy.
"I've been busy too. Monsters in the wild are acting strange. I have to take my squad out to clear them."
"By the way, how did you meet Mr. Xia?"
"At that dance competition…"
"What a coincidence! Have you tried his cooking?"
"Yes."
"Tasty, right?"
"Yes."
"Let me tell you, Mr. Xia can also give massages. Tried that yet?"
"No."
"I remember you got injured on a mission before, didn't you? You should have him massage you—works wonders!"
--
The two of them chatted late into the night.
Then Yanfei remembered something. "Eula, don't you get bored on night watch? I recommend a novel."
"What novel?"
"Mr. Xia wrote it. I even helped him sign the contract. It's called—"
Eula's face twitched. "Got it. I'll check the bookstore…"
After hanging up, she pulled out the very same novel she'd already read twice.
Since she couldn't sleep anyway, she opened it again.
--
That night, Qiqi waited at the plaza for a while. Fischl never showed.
She pulled out her phone and sent a message.
[Qiqi]: Where are you?
[Prinzessin der Verurteilung]: Not coming tonight.
[Qiqi]: Not feeling well?
[Prinzessin der Verurteilung]: No. Tomorrow I'm taking a bounty from the Adventurers' Guild.
[Qiqi]: ?
[Prinzessin der Verurteilung]: Then I can tell my family and join you all in Inazuma.
[Qiqi]: Understood.
[Prinzessin der Verurteilung]: I'm sleeping now. Go play by yourself.
Qiqi put her phone away, thought for a bit, then went back.
In the room, Xia Le and Xia Lin were tussling on the bed.
Because of the Golden Circlet, Xia Lin had no strength, unable to fight back against her senior's teasing.
"I'm telling Papa you bullied me!"
"How am I bullying you?"
"This! Right now!"
"This is senior's love."
"…Sister Qiqi's back?"
"Mm."
"Is she going out tonight?"
"No."
"Sister Qiqi, help me!"
Qiqi glanced over, then silently returned to her own bed, sat cross-legged, and closed her eyes to cultivate.
Not wanting to disturb her, the two stopped their roughhousing.
Xia Le picked up her phone.
Xia Lin pouted at her senior, then turned her back and pulled out her own phone.
After a while, Xia Lin felt something press against her from behind.
"What are you doing?"
"It's cold at night. Sharing warmth."
"No way."
"Big Brother said we should get along."
"You—"
Before she could finish, Xia Le leaned in and gently bit her neck.
A memory from five hundred years ago flashed back.
Xia Lin shuddered, letting out a weak whimper.
"I'll… tell… Papa… you're bullying… me…"
She really feared that move.
Always biting me like that! Xia Lin thought angrily. Just wait. I'll make Papa bite you too!
--
The next morning, a Fontaine-powered ship docked.
Kirara stood on the pier, soaking in the bustling scene. First thing—snap a photo and post it to her feed.
Then she began her delivery job.
Today's destination: the busiest street in Fontaine, a clothing store named after its designer—[Chioriya Boutique].
She arrived quickly.
Pushing open the familiar doors, a crisp bell chimed overhead, as if wishing good luck to every customer.
"Welcome to Chioriya Boutique. How may I help you?"
The greeting wasn't overly enthusiastic, but carried firm confidence.
Its owner glanced up from the workbench. An exotic figure, captivating eyes—and when she saw who it was, her face lit up in delight.
"Kirara?"
"Chiori! I'm here with a delivery!"
"Oh?"
"It's from Inazuma. Miss Ayaka Kamisato sent a letter asking you to make an outfit. The measurements and requirements are all written inside."
"Understood."
"And your parents sent you some things too."
"All right. Thank you."
"Don't forget to leave a five-star review after signing."
"Of course."
After finishing the delivery, Kirara pulled out her phone.
"Chiori, can I take a picture?"
"Go ahead."
Kirara snapped one and posted it:
[First order of the day—another five-star delivery, meow!]
Replies came in quickly, asking where this place was and why the clothes looked so beautiful.
Kirara started typing out answers—
"Wait…"
A voice came from behind her.
"Eh? Chiori?"
"That just now… yes, that one."
"This avatar belongs to Xia Le."
"Can you zoom in?"
"Sure."
Kirara enlarged Xia Le's profile picture.
It was a selfie, showing her wearing the very first outfit Xia Zhi had given her—the one he'd commissioned directly from the system.
Chiori stared at the photo, eyes wide with shock.
"This outfit… not a single seam… Unbelievable… It's perfect…"