"Zhu Zi…"
"Hm? What's the matter, Hu Tao?"
"What did you usually eat growing up?"
"Fish."
"Fish?"
"Yeah, Inazuma is by the sea, after all. A lot of people there make a living by fishing."
"Oh…"
Hu Tao stared at Zhu Zi's generous and curvaceous figure, falling into deep thought.
I used to eat fish all the time too… So it's not the fish.
Combining this with Shenhe and Yun Jin's circumstances, it definitely wasn't about diet.
Then what was wrong?
Could I be sick?
If that was the case, she should probably visit Bubu Pharmacy. But thinking of Baizhu… Hu Tao really didn't want to go.
Maybe it's just delayed growth. By next month, I'll probably find my clothes suddenly don't fit anymore.
Yes! That must be it!
Comforting herself internally, Hu Tao was suddenly pulled back to reality by Diona's indignant voice.
She looked up to see Miss Chi Yu teasing Diona, causing the little bartender to blush furiously.
"Miss Chi Yu, stop touching my ears!"
"Diona, don't be shy."
"I'm not shy!"
Ying'er joined in, reaching out her hand. "Her tail looks so soft too!"
Miss Chi Yu's eyes sparkled. "Really?"
Diona wriggled free, her small face red. "You're all horrible! Next time, I'm not bathing with you!"
Ying'er teased her, "If you're not bathing with us, then who will you bathe with? The boss?"
Diona flared up. "I'll bathe alone!"
Miss Chi Yu chuckled. "That'd be so lonely. If you think it's unfair, you can touch mine too."
"??"
Diona glared at Miss Chi Yu's… well, generous assets, her face darkening. "I don't want to!"
Watching the scene unfold, Hu Tao couldn't help but feel sympathetic.
Sure, their figures may be a little… modest. But at least I'm taller than Diona.
Diona, soaking alone in the bath, suddenly noticed Hu Tao swimming toward her.
Her expression turned wary, thinking Hu Tao might also be interested in her ears and tail. She was just about to sternly refuse when Hu Tao looked her over with a strange gaze, then leaned in and whispered:
"It's okay. You're still young."
"???"
"No, I mean, you're young now, but you'll grow. Don't feel envious of others."
"I'm not envious!"
"Yes, yes, I know. You're not envious. I get how you're feeling."
"..."
"Let's both work hard from now on, alright?"
"..."
What is wrong with Hu Tao?!
---
After some playful banter, everyone finished their bath.
They rose from the pool, rinsed themselves off with clean, warm water, changed into fresh clothes, and headed out.
In the main hall, they found the boss, Xia Zhi, sitting with Qiqi, seriously discussing something.
"Boss, we're done!"
"How was it?"
"So relaxing! I almost fell asleep in there!"
"Next time, you could float some wooden boards on the water and enjoy a drink while bathing."
"Oh, we should get Diona to…"
"No way I'm making drinks for you!"
Xia Zhi looked puzzled. "What happened to Diona?"
"She got her ears and tail touched in the bath just now."
"... Don't bully her."
"Got it."
"I wasn't bullied! I just…"
Xia Zhi "looked" at Diona's flushed face and couldn't help but shake his head.
Cat ears and tails really were soft, but her personality was just as prickly.
"Cousin, is the cup design finished?"
"It's done."
"Good. Ying'er, take the design to Scent of Spring Kiln and get it made."
"I'll go with Ying'er."
"Go ahead, but don't buy a bunch of random nonsense while you're out shopping."
"Everything I buy is useful!"
"Like what?"
"The clothes I picked out for you weren't nice?"
"Please, I'm blind. How would I know if they look good or not?"
"..."
Being blind really is an unbeatable excuse.
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata glanced at Xia Zhi and said, "Cousin, your hair's getting a little long."
"It's not too bad."
"Please, you're blind. How would you know if it's too long?"
"..."
"I'll go buy some scissors later and trim it for you myself."
"I don't think that's necessary…"
"It is! Come on, Ying'er."
"Okay."
Xia Zhi reached up and ran his fingers through his hair. It was indeed getting a bit long, but long hair was normal for men in Liyue.
He didn't really care whether it was cut or not. If his cousin wanted to have some fun trimming it, he'd leave her to it.
---
By this time, Shenhe had already prepared a fresh set of clothes for Xia Zhi. She handed them to him and said softly, "Boss, the bath is ready."
"Alright."
Xia Zhi nodded and turned to Qiqi, who was holding her notebook.
"We'll stop here for today. Take some time to review it, and if there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me."
Qiqi nodded obediently, replying softly, "Okay, thank you, Boss."
Xia Zhi smiled and gently patted her head. "Keep it up."
Qiqi looked at him seriously. "Mm."
Shenhe watched this heartwarming scene, her eyes flickering with a trace of emotion.
Xia Zhi stood up and headed for the bathhouse, Shenhe following with the clothes in her arms.
---
When they reached the bathhouse, Xia Zhi took the clothes from Shenhe, but noticed she was still looking at him. Her gaze held a faint sense of expectancy.
"Shenhe, what's wrong?"
Shenhe softly replied, "Could you… pat my head too?"
Xia Zhi was momentarily stunned, then chuckled. He raised his hand and gently patted her head.
"You're really something."
Shenhe's cool, clear eyes narrowed slightly in genuine enjoyment of the gesture.
Xia Zhi found her so endearing in this moment that he couldn't resist leaning down to kiss her lightly.
Her lips tasted like sour plum.
"When did you sneak a candy?"
"While washing dishes."
"No wonder you go through jars of fruit candy so quickly."
"They're delicious. I like them."
"Didn't Miss Ningguang give you a bunch of candy a while back?"
"I didn't like those. They're sitting in my room."
"Alright, I get it. I'm going to take my bath now."
"Need me to scrub your back?"
"Scrub my back?"
"Like in the anime."
Xia Zhi "looked" at Shenhe, taking in her freshly changed bathrobe that accentuated her figure, her damp white hair still glistening from her recent bath.
"We'll save that for another time."
"Mm."
---
Xia Zhi stepped into the bathhouse, steam swirling in the air.
Sliding into the water, the warmth enveloped his body, and he felt utterly relaxed.
Leaning against the pool's edge, he twitched his nose, sniffing the humid air.
Thanks to his exceptional sense of smell, he detected faint, lingering traces of mixed fragrances.
Zhu Zi's scent. Shenhe's scent. Diona's scent. Miss Chi Yu's scent…
These were all familiar to him from countless massage sessions.
But beyond those, there were two unfamiliar aromas.
Ah, it must be Hu Tao's and Miss Yun Jin's scents…
----
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