"So, Miss Yun Jin, you only drink tea usually?"
"Not exactly. I actually love trying all kinds of drinks. I've already tasted plenty of traditional and refined tea blends handed down by the older generation, like [Pine Dew] and [Plum Snow]. But recently, in preparation for this important performance, I've enforced a very strict diet on myself."
"That sounds like quite the sacrifice."
"If not for that, Miss Yun Jin, you would've visited our shop long ago."
"Maybe so…"
"But we've finally met now, which means we were destined to cross paths," Xia Zhi remarked with a smile.
"Absolutely!" Yun Jin nodded earnestly.
"Now that your performance is over, you should allow yourself to relax, right?"
"A little, yes, but I still need to control my diet. No overeating, and I must maintain my figure and protect my voice."
"Being a superstar seems so bittersweet!"
"Zhu Zi, do you still envy her?"
"Not anymore! I mean, what's the point of living if I can't gorge myself on the boss's cooking?"
Wait, the boss cooks?
Yun Jin blinked, momentarily stunned.
Xia Zhi smiled and spoke up: "Zhu Zi, go ask Diona to prepare a few glasses of [Rainbow Juice Wine]."
"Got it, Boss!"
"And make sure she uses the best wine from her shaker."
"Understood!"
Zhu Zi quickly ran off and returned shortly, carrying several colorful glasses of Rainbow Juice Wine.
"Granny Ping, Miss Yun Jin, Miss Ganyu, Miss Yanfei, please have a taste," Xia Zhi offered.
Since his employees had already enjoyed this drink earlier in the morning, he served it now to their esteemed guests.
Yaoyao raised her hand. "Big Brother! Yaoyao wants some too!"
Zhu Zi hesitated. "But isn't it bad for children to drink alcohol?"
Xia Zhi chuckled. "It's fine. A small amount is good for her health."
Zhu Zi poured a small portion for Yaoyao. "Yaoyao, drink slowly."
The ladies lifted their glasses, took a sip, and their eyes lit up with surprise.
"This wine…"
"Delicious, isn't it?" Xia Zhi asked with a knowing grin.
"It's amazing!"
While the adults drank, little Yaoyao quickly finished her small glass. Her cheeks flushed pink, and in her soft, sweet voice, she called out, "Zhu Zi Sister, I want more."
Granny Ping smiled warmly and picked Yaoyao up, cradling her in her arms. She gently told her, "No more for today, my dear. You can have some again tomorrow."
Yaoyao obediently nodded. "Okay."
A moment later, she closed her eyes, slowly succumbing to sleep in Granny Ping's arms.
The little girl was clearly no match for the effects of even a small amount of alcohol.
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata glanced around at the lively surroundings and remarked, "It's a bit noisy here. Should we take Yaoyao somewhere quieter to rest?"
Granny Ping gently stroked Yaoyao's small ears as if casting a sealing adeptal spell. "No need. Yaoyao won't hear a thing now," she reassured.
Yaoyao's serene expression deepened as she peacefully slept.
Granny Ping then glanced at the small figure of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, her thoughts momentarily complex.
She had recently learned the truth about this figure's identity—from the two old friends who had been loitering in her home and causing endless headaches.
The former Dendro Archon.
It was hard to imagine that someone who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Rex Lapis himself would now befriend little Yaoyao.
Truly, Yaoyao's fate was extraordinary.
No, this wasn't mere fate—it was divine favor.
Granny Ping sighed to herself, though she couldn't help but recall her other disciple, Xiangling.
Xiangling had gone to Mondstadt to train and hadn't returned since.
On one hand, this showed her growth and determination to improve.
However, there was another perspective. Granny Ping couldn't shake the feeling that Xiangling had chosen the wrong path.
After all, no training could compare to even a casual word of advice from a god.
Miss Yanfei set down her glass and licked her lips in satisfaction. "This is honestly the best drink I've ever had."
"Next time you visit, I'll set aside a few bottles for you," Xia Zhi offered generously.
"Really? If you ever need legal help with your business, don't hesitate to call me!" Yanfei replied with a grin.
"You're the only one I trust."
"Hehe."
Ganyu, while visibly tempted, remained quiet. She enjoyed drinking but knew her demanding workload didn't leave much room for such indulgences. A single drink during her weekly visits to her junior sister was enough for her.
Then again, it was already Friday.
As Ganyu sipped her Rainbow Wine, she found herself conflicted. In the past, visiting Shenhe was meant to strengthen their bond. But now, with Shenhe's relationship with Xia Zhi becoming more defined, Ganyu worried her visits might feel intrusive.
The massage sessions were non-negotiable, of course, but perhaps she could skip staying over for the time being.
With that thought, Ganyu took another sip of her drink, masking her inner turmoil.
Meanwhile, Yun Jin raised her glass in curiosity. "Is this the Rainbow Juice sold at your shop, Mr. Xia?"
"No, this is Rainbow Wine—a special drink Diona made using Rainbow Juice as the base."
"It's incredible!" Yun Jin exclaimed.
Though she'd sampled countless tea blends and drinks before, she had never encountered anything quite like this.
"Our shop recently expanded, which helped boost business even further," Xia Zhi explained casually.
"I see! No wonder it's so popular!"
As the conversation turned to Rainbow Juice, a faint, charming flush spread across Yun Jin's delicate face.
"Mr. Xia," she suddenly addressed him.
"Yes?"
"Are you satisfied with my performance today?"
"It was excellent."
Yun Jin's eyes sparkled, as if Xia Zhi's simple words of approval carried more weight than all the applause she had received earlier.
"There must still be areas where I could improve, right?"
"Well…"
"Please, guide me!" Yun Jin pleaded earnestly, her gaze full of anticipation.
Xia Zhi fell silent, appearing deep in thought.
During their encounter in the dream, he had relied on his [Art Appreciation] skill to point out areas for improvement in Yun Jin's new play. It was like how a food critic, though unable to cook, could keenly identify flaws in a chef's dish.
Today, however, Yun Jin had refined her performance to such a high standard that all the issues he had previously mentioned had been resolved. It spoke volumes about how much effort and dedication she had poured into her craft.
But now, he found it genuinely hard to offer her any new advice.
He had no choice. It was time to level up.
A simple critic might identify flaws, but a critic who was also a fellow practitioner would have a far sharper eye.
"Would you like to use [Skill Steal] on the target?"
"Yes."
"[Skill Steal] successful. Skill [Mastery of Drama] acquired."
In an instant, Xia Zhi's mind was flooded with a wealth of knowledge about theater. He had become a true master of drama—not just of Liyue's opera, but also of various forms of theater from his original world, including Beijing opera, Kunqu, and Huangmei.
Now, his perspective was far broader than Yun Jin's.
There was no question—this was the perfect case of "using foreign techniques to outdo the locals."
After a brief pause, Xia Zhi spoke: "Overall, your performance was outstanding. However, there are a few minor details that could be refined…"
The more Yun Jin listened, the brighter her eyes grew.
"Mr. Xia, you're incredible! Thank you for pointing out so many areas I can improve in—I'll keep working hard!"
"I just happen to know a little about theater," Xia Zhi replied modestly.
Heh? , Cousin, the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata thought, rolling her eyes.
"A little," you say? Sure. Just keep stealing the spotlight.
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