Venti meant that, for now, he was just a Mondstadt bard.
There was no reason for anyone in Mondstadt to know who he really was.
Kael chuckled. "Fair enough. Mondstadt would be a lot duller without a bard like you around."
Venti could tell Kael understood him perfectly, so he let the topic drop.
There was something inexplicably warm about Kael, the kind of person you liked the moment you met him.
Venti had thought well of him from the start—and after spending time together, and after Kael helped hide both his and Morax's identities yesterday, Venti was certain: Kael bore him no ill will.
Now that he knew Kael wouldn't expose him, he finally relaxed.
Mona, however, had no idea what kind of coded conversation the two were having. She simply frowned at Kael.
"Kael, do you know this guy? He just told me he wants to play music at Wanmin Restaurant to earn a meal."
"It's not begging," Venti corrected. "It's performing."
Kael glanced around. "...Where's Zhongli?"
Zhongli hadn't handed over his Gnosis yet, so he could still create Mora.
As Morax's old friend, how would Venti possibly be reduced to singing in Liyue for meal money?
Venti rubbed his cheek, embarrassed.
"Zhongli's been out working with Hu Tao these past few days... I heard you were at Wanmin Restaurant, so I came over..."
So Zhongli wasn't here—and Venti decided to cling to him instead?
Kael sighed internally. "Your poetry might not really fit Liyue's culture. Singing here might not work out."
But Venti was brimming with confidence.
"Relax. I used to hang around Inazuma—I'll be fine. My singing can move anyone in Teyvat."
Kael didn't plan on letting him starve. Now that Venti counted as a friend, he could at least cover a few meals. That didn't require Chef Mao's approval.
"...Alright. Go ahead and sing. Dinner's on me tonight."
Venti pulled out his Lyre and stepped to the entrance of Wanmin Restaurant...
Mona watched him go and muttered under her breath, "Another freeloader."
Then she eyed Kael from head to toe.
"You haven't come back for two days. Where were you running off to this time?"
"You have no idea what kind of life I've had these past few days..."
The more she thought about it, the more upset she became. She grabbed Kael's sleeve, ready to complain.
Suddenly, three loud thuds boomed behind them.
"Mona! Where are you going? I made a few more dishes—come help me taste them!"
Mona's face instantly went pale. She shot Kael a terrified look.
"Since you're back now, Xiangling's all yours. I'm going to hide."
She bolted out the door before Kael could respond.
The moment Mona escaped, Xiangling walked out carrying several colorful dishes.
When she saw Kael, her eyes lit up.
"Big bro! You're back!"
Kael stared at the plates—bright, unrecognizable, and more concerning the longer he looked.
No wonder Mona had run for her life.
"I'm gone for a few days and you're bullying Mona again?"
Xiangling stuck out her tongue. "I'm getting ready for the Master Chef Competition. I didn't have any inspiration, so I just asked Mona to try a few dishes."
Judging by the way Mona fled, "a few" was definitely an understatement.
Kael sighed. "If you need someone to taste-test, don't drag Mona into it. I'll help."
Mona had been guarding Wanmin Restaurant the whole time he was away—she'd earned a break.
If someone had to suffer through Xiangling's experiments, it might as well be him.
Xiangling brightened. "That'd be great! You always give the best feedback."
She lined up her invented dishes neatly in front of Kael and handed him a pair of chopsticks.
"Here you go, big bro. Try these!"
Kael accepted the chopsticks and stared at the strange-looking piles on the plates. He took a deep breath.
"...This one has Sweet Flower, right? These little fish already taste earthy—you tried pairing them with Sweet Flower for a sweet aftertaste. But it only makes the earthiness worse..."
"...Ugh. You shouldn't use Cryo Slime Condensate. Once it's frozen, it tastes like chilled snot..."
"...Bleh."
By the time he finished tasting everything, Kael finally understood why Mona had run.
His Head Chef Talent had heightened his sense of taste—every strange flavor was magnified tenfold.
His vision dimmed for a moment.
Xiangling tapped her chin. "So that's why... Looks like I failed again."
Suddenly, a gentle melody floated in from outside, catching her attention.
She looked toward the door and noticed someone leaning there, listening with his chin slightly tilted.
"Big bro... who's that?"
"That's my friend from Mondstadt—Venti," Kael said. "He's here to help bring in customers. Make sure to set aside a normal plate of dinner for him tonight. Normal, Xiangling. Not an experiment."
Xiangling's shoulders slumped.
"Fine..."
She perked up again a second later. "Big bro, I've been researching dishes for days, but I still can't beat the other chefs..."
Then she locked onto him with sparkling eyes.
"What if you compete for Wanmin Restaurant this time? With your skill, you'd win for sure!"
Kael didn't answer, so she grabbed his arm and shook it relentlessly.
"Please, big bro! You're part of Wanmin Restaurant too—we can have an international representative team!"
"Please, big bro!!!"
"Just say yes already..."
Chef Mao came out wiping sweat with the towel around his neck.
He heard Xiangling pleading and approached them. "What's going on? What are you trying to make him do?"
"Dad!" Xiangling said quickly. "I'm asking big bro to represent Wanmin Restaurant in the Master Chef Competition. If he competes, he'll definitely win!"
"Of course he'll win," Chef Mao said. "His cooking is the best in all of Teyvat. But..."
He hesitated.
If Kael agreed, that would be wonderful—but more than winning, he wanted Kael to choose his own path.
His only wish was for Kael to live well and stay healthy. He didn't want to force him into anything.
Kael had planned on refusing. Cooking wasn't even a hobby for him.
But when he saw the cautious, hopeful look in Chef Mao's eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say no.
He'd tasted the dishes at Xinyue Kiosk and Liuli Pavilion—he knew the level of their chefs.
Competing wouldn't waste much of his time.
Kael exhaled softly.
"Alright, Xiangling, you're going to break my arm. I'll do it."
"Yay!!" Xiangling cheered, throwing her hands up.
"Wanmin Restaurant is winning this year for sure."
"I'll enter the competition—but only this once," Kael said seriously. "After this, you need to keep training. Wanmin Restaurant depends on you."
Xiangling patted her chest proudly. "After the Master Chef Competition, I'll leave Liyue and keep training. Don't worry, big bro—I'll surpass you one day!"
"Alright. I'll start thinking about what dish to use."
Chef Mao watched them with relief.
He knew Kael wouldn't stay at Wanmin Restaurant forever, but if Kael could win the championship for them just once...
Having that trophy to look at whenever he missed him would be enough.