[Daily Quests Refreshed]
Perform three songs using the Purple Bamboo Flute.
Soothe twenty people with your music. Progress: 2/20
Slay one Slime.
Use a Teleport Waypoint.
Each task rewards 10 Primogems. Bonus 20 Primogems for full completion.
Xu Zheng squinted at the list.
First one? Easy. He'd already played two pieces this morning—just one more and done.
Third and fourth? A bit trickier.
Wait—I can use teleport waypoints?! Since when?! Why didn't anyone tell me I had fast travel unlocked!
He rolled his eyes and focused on the flute tasks. The soothing skill, Echoing Flute, scaled with musical quality. If he wanted to get stronger, he'd need to keep grinding performance EXP.
Luckily, this courtyard of his had turned into a foot traffic hotspot. Everyone reporting to Ganyu had to pass by. Which meant—free listeners.
By midday, his audience count had ticked up to 8/20.
Almost lunchtime.
"Xu Zheng, come in for a moment."
Ganyu's voice drifted out from her office.
Xu Zheng blinked. Huh? Doesn't she usually take me straight to Wanmin Restaurant?
He stepped inside.
Ganyu handed him a document. "Take a look."
It was a trade proposal—from Snezhnaya.
They wanted to expand commerce with Liyue, especially in "civilian-use goods."
Xu Zheng frowned. "Isn't this timing a little too convenient?"
Ganyu perked up. "Go on."
"Prices in Liyue have been fluctuating lately, right? If Snezhnaya's pushing trade now, they might be trying to capitalize on the chaos... or cause more."
Ganyu nodded. That's what I thought too. But hearing it confirmed from Xu Zheng gave her extra confidence.
"I'll forward this to Ningguang," she said. "Ultimately, it's up to the Qixing to decide."
Xu Zheng felt smug. Smart kids unite!
"Alright, let's go eat."
To Xu Zheng's surprise, Ganyu actually reached for his hand and gently pulled him along.
Somewhere deep inside her heart, a little flutter joined the lunch queue.
Wanmin Restaurant
"Ganyu, Xu Zheng! You made it!"
Xiangling greeted them with a sunny grin.
"We're here, Xiangling-jiejie!"
"Here, try these—some snacks I whipped up this morning!"
"Thanks, jiejie!"
Xu Zheng had discovered a lifehack over the past two days: call every cute woman jiejie, and they start feeding you like a stray cat. Win-win.
"What do you feel like eating today?" Xiangling offered him a menu.
Xu Zheng scanned the options, then asked, "Do you guys have cold drinks?"
"Cold drinks?" Xiangling tilted her head, confused.
Yep. No iced drinks. Summer was already baking the city, and no one here had figured out the miracle of chilled refreshment?
Tragic.
"Well, it's basically just frozen drinks. I'll show you."
Xu Zheng rolled up his sleeves and headed into the kitchen.
Inside, he started piecing together the recipe for milk tea from memory.
Thankfully, Wanmin Restaurant's pantry was ridiculously well-stocked. All the ingredients were fresh, high quality—and yes, definitely included real milk.
After brewing a perfect batch, Xu Zheng summoned his Cryo power.
He sculpted three types of ice cubes: classic square, delicate lotus-shaped, and… one that looked suspiciously like a crispy rice cracker.
Even Guoba would've raised an eyebrow.
Ganyu stood nearby, watching as the ice danced through the air, perfectly balanced. Her eyes softened.
The level of Cryo control needed to form three distinct shapes simultaneously?
Equivalent to drawing a circle with one hand and a square with the other—while doing calculus with your feet.
The three milk teas were completed. Xu Zheng handed them out with flair.
Lotus ice cube for Ganyu. Rice cracker cube for Xiangling.
"Whoa! What's this amazing drink called?" Xiangling asked, sniffing the cup with visible anticipation.
"Milk tea," Xu Zheng announced proudly.
Ganyu repeated the name under her breath like a spell: "Milk tea…"
"Try it!"
Xiangling took a sip—and her pupils dilated like she'd just discovered a new element.
"This is insane!" she gasped, then took a full chug.
Ganyu sipped more cautiously, but Xu Zheng noticed the slight shift in her expression.
[Ganyu's affection +10. Reward: 10 Primogems.]
Xu Zheng smirked. Did I just seduce my master with milk tea?
...Wait, is she actually a tsundere?
Then Xiangling turned to him, eyes sparkling.
"Can you teach me how to make this? I'll pay!"
"Xiangling-jiejie, no need. You've been super good to me—I'd be happy to."
"No, no, no. You're still young. You don't understand the value of Mora. Let's do this: I'll give you 10% profit share on every milk tea sold."
Xu Zheng paused.
I mean… I'm not a money-grubber.
But also… I am not stupid.
He wouldn't need to lift a finger. Xiangling would be doing the labor, selling cups day in and day out, and he'd just sit at home collecting dividends.
True idle game unlocked.
"…Deal. But only because you're jiejie."
"Yay! Then show me another one!"
"Coming right up!" Xu Zheng grinned and ran back to the kitchen.
Behind him, Ganyu swirled the last of her drink, watching the lotus-shaped ice rotate lazily in her cup.
Her lips lifted ever so slightly into a quiet smile.
Some people died, but not completely...