Director Hu of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was known for being absent in the mornings and only appearing in the afternoon or evening.
Yet today, they not only saw her bright and early but also witnessed her personally delivering breakfast to the shopkeeper.
So what about them?
Wenqi and Doyle looked at each other.
A second later, Wenqi spoke cautiously to Hu Tao. "Um, Director Hu, the Shopkeeper ordered us to bring this~."
Although they wanted to bring it themselves, it was technically the Shopkeeper's order.
"Is that so?"
Hu Tao nodded in understanding. "That's fine then. You guys keep bringing it. I'll chat with the Shopkeeper for a bit."
Wenqi: "..."
Doyle: "..."
The two guards sighed.
It seemed their chance to curry favor by delivering meals was gone.
They had hoped to build a relationship with the Shopkeeper through food, but now Director Hu had usurped that role.
It felt... uncomfortable.
"Phew."
Inside the Jar Shop, Felix yawned and opened his eyes, feeling refreshed.
[Congratulations Host, you have received 40 Ordinary Jars.]
The familiar system notification rang out as he woke up, bringing a bright smile to his face.
Another 40 jars secured.
Yesterday, he had sold nearly 70 jars.
If he sold another 30 or so today, he would reach the milestone of 100 sold jars again and earn another Exclusive Jar!
Thinking about the ability the first Exclusive Jar gave him—allowing him to travel anywhere in Teyvat—he felt incredibly satisfied.
He wondered what the second Exclusive Jar would contain.
Thinking of this, Felix got out of bed.
As usual, he washed his face, brushed his teeth, went downstairs, and stocked the shelves with the new jars. Then, he opened the door.
Honestly, having the Millelith bring him breakfast was very convenient.
"Morning, Shopkeeper!"
The moment Felix opened the door, he was met by a pair of beautiful plum-blossom eyes and a faint scent of plum blossoms.
Hu Tao stood at the doorway, grinning at him. "This Director brought you breakfast!"
Felix: "..."
Looking at the Director in front of him, and then at the takeaway container in her hand, Felix smiled. "Morning, Director Hu."
He hadn't expected her to be serious about her casual remark last night.
She really was going to bring him breakfast every day.
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. Director Hu really has too much free time.
"Morning."
Seeing Felix greet her, Hu Tao beamed and handed him the breakfast.
"From now on, this Director will bring you breakfast every morning."
As Felix took the food, Hu Tao added with a grin, "Not just breakfast, lunch too!"
"That sounds like a lot of trouble for you, Director Hu."
Felix's mouth twitched again.
Since she was willing, he wouldn't refuse.
He couldn't exactly stop her from doing what she wanted.
Assuming she would even listen to him.
"Um, Shopkeeper, here is the breakfast we brought."
At that moment, Wenqi and Doyle approached sheepishly, holding their own breakfast containers.
Since Director Hu had already delivered food, their offering felt a bit awkward.
If the Shopkeeper refused, it would be embarrassing.
And they couldn't eat it themselves; they were already stuffed.
"Thanks for your trouble."
Seeing the guards, Felix smiled and accepted their food too. "If you haven't eaten, join me. In the future, you don't need to bring breakfast anymore."
"Okay."
Wenqi and Doyle nodded.
Since the Shopkeeper said so, they were off the hook.
Felix took the food, sat at the table, opened the containers, and started eating.
Hu Tao sat nearby, watching him quietly.
Felix: "...."
Feeling her gaze, Felix paused his chopsticks and looked at her helplessly. "Director Hu, if you haven't eaten, you can join me."
Being stared at while eating felt weird.
"Hehe, I already ate."
Hu Tao grinned. "I'm just watching you eat. I thought maybe you didn't need to eat."
After all, Felix was so mysterious. Selling magical jars, yet eating like a normal person.
Felix: "..."
His eyelid twitched.
What kind of logic is that? Of course I'm human. I need to eat.
Shaking his head, Felix continued his breakfast.
"Morning, Shopkeeper!"
A hearty laugh interrupted the silence.
Captain Beidou walked in, followed by Huixing and Qianyan.
"Director Hu is here too? Morning!"
Beidou was surprised to see Hu Tao but greeted her warmly.
"Morning."
Felix smiled at the newcomers. "Captain Beidou, you're here early. Bringing people to open jars?"
Beidou should be busy right now.
The Steam Battleship was open for tours. As the Captain, she should be overseeing things.
Yet here she was at his shop first thing in the morning.
Aside from opening jars, he couldn't think of another reason.
Hu Tao, of course, was different; she was just here to deliver food.
"Yeah."
Beidou nodded. "Qianyan wants to open more jars, so I brought her over."
"Oh?"
Felix raised an eyebrow and looked at Qianyan.
The Crux Fleet's accountant had opened one jar yesterday, gotten bad luck, and stopped.
He didn't expect her to return so soon. Good news.
"How many jars does Miss Qianyan plan to open?"
Yesterday, she pulled a Sea Ganoderma from one jar.
"Nine!"
Qianyan declared seriously.
She had thought about it all night. She had to max out her weekly quota of ten jars.
Beidou had told her that opening jars had only upsides.
Worst case, she lost some Mora. Best case, she gained something priceless.
If she pulled another Steam Battleship, she'd be set for life.
Even if she didn't, any magical item was a huge win.
The things in this shop couldn't be bought with Mora outside.
Take the battleship docked at the harbor. Someone could offer 100 million Mora, and Beidou wouldn't sell.
It was a priceless treasure.
And it came from this shop.
She had witnessed its extraction and transformation with her own eyes.
Aside from the magic, she was awed by the Shopkeeper.
A man who casually put battleships in jars.
Truly mysterious.
Hearing Qianyan wanted nine jars, Felix smiled brightly. "Please choose your jars, Miss Qianyan."
Nine jars. One step closer to his next Exclusive Jar.
...
Meanwhile.
At the entrance of Northland Bank.
When Xie Jun arrived, he saw an old man sighing and shaking his head. "Should I borrow the money or not?"
Seeing the man's distress, Xie Jun approached him. "Sir, what are you worried about?"
"Oh, are you here to borrow money too?"
The old man glanced at Xie Jun and whispered, "I might as well tell you. I have an opportunity in front of me. Success means wealth and glory; failure means losing everything. My friend heard some news from the Jade Chamber. If it's true, it's a guaranteed profit."
"But I lack capital. I can only come to Northland Bank for a loan. But I know once I borrow this money, there's no turning back. Sigh."
The old man sighed again. "If the news is false, I'll fall into an abyss. Northland Bank shows no mercy to debtors."
Xie Jun's face paled. "How... no mercy?"
"Are you asking about the fate of those who can't pay? No one can answer that."
The old man shook his head. "I knew a guy. Business failed, owed the bank a lot. He ran into the deep mountains to hide. They found him. Since then, I've never heard from him again. No one knows where he went."
"I'm not afraid of death, but I worry about my wife and children. If I'm gone, they... sigh."
"Forget it. I'll go back and think about it. Young man, unless it's a matter of life and death, don't borrow from Northland Bank. Once you do, there's no turning back."
Shaking his head, the old man walked away.
Hearing this, Xie Jun felt a chill.
He wanted to leave. But he looked at the Hand for Asking on his wrist and felt he couldn't.
He stood at the entrance, hesitating.
His eyes darted toward the ominous bank doors.
It was the notorious Northland Bank, after all.
"Excuse me, sir. Are you here for a loan or a deposit?"
A few minutes later, Nadia, the bank guard, opened the door and walked out.
Seeing Xie Jun dithering on the steps, she approached him with a warm smile. "Good morning! This is Northland Bank. What business do you have? If you have any needs, just tell me."
Business had been bad lately. Few loans, fewer deposits.
Liyue Bank across the street was stealing all their customers.
No fees for transactions. High interest on deposits. Any merchant with a brain went there.
So these days, Northland Bank was empty.
Even a loan applicant was welcome now.
In the past, she wouldn't have even glanced at a borrower. Take it or leave it.
Now? A borrower meant interest profit. So she was very proactive.
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