Thanks for Mike and NeoSamurai223 for becoming as a Supporter!
===BREAK===
A person suffering from severe diarrhea can barely speak—as the saying goes, even a hero is no match for three bouts of watery bowels.
For a frail girl like Eloffe to even walk out of the restroom on her own was already quite an achievement.
With Eloffe's testimony, all previous misunderstandings were finally cleared up.
Shao Yun glanced with great amusement at Chiori, who stood by the restroom door wearing an awkward expression, and teased, "Well? Now you finally believe I didn't kidnap your employee, right?"
Chiori froze for a moment before slowly regaining her senses.
Her face flushed bright red, and she stammered, sounding mortified, "I—I'm terribly sorry… it was entirely my mistake. I misunderstood you."
But Shao Yun clearly wasn't planning to let her off that easily—he immediately followed up, striking while the iron was hot.
"I mean honestly, have you ever heard of anyone robbing a clothing store? Robbing a bank, sure—but robbing fabric? What would I even be after? Your cloth?"
"Besides, if I really wanted to cause trouble, do you think your boutique would still be standing? I would've burned the whole place down already."
Seeing how thoroughly she had messed up, Chiori felt nothing but deep regret.
She quickly folded her hands before her stomach, bent forward, and bowed deeply to Shao Yun. "I truly am sorry, dear customer. Lately, competitors have been sending people over repeatedly to stir up trouble."
"When I came back just now, I heard you saying things through the door that sounded exactly like the way they talk, and I couldn't find Eloffe… so I instinctively thought you were another one of them. I apologize…"
After hearing her explanation, Shao Yun couldn't help complaining, "Trying to guess what people mean through a door… I really don't even know what to say to you…"
"I admit I can look pretty scary sometimes, but—"
He cut himself off. He didn't have the energy to continue scolding. After all, he had just finished yelling at Furina earlier that morning—he didn't feel like going at it again.
And, well… Chiori's apology was sincere, and he did still need her craftsmanship to mend Lumine's clothes.
So, after thinking it over, Shao Yun decided to let her off for now.
He stared at Chiori blankly and said slowly, "Alright. As long as you repair this piece of clothing for free, I'll let everything that just happened slide."
Chiori agreed instantly, without a hint of hesitation.
"Of course! This whole mess was caused by my carelessness—I should compensate you!"
Seeing this, Shao Yun wordlessly handed over the box containing the damaged garment and instructed in a rather flat tone, "Here. Take it."
Chiori received the box and opened it—only to freeze completely when she saw the damaged clothing inside.
Because she instantly recognized the unique mark found only on garments made by her own hands.
Emotions surged—shock, confusion, disbelief—leaving her momentarily dazed.
But she quickly steadied herself, took a deep breath, and assured Shao Yun firmly, "Don't worry. I'll have it fully restored by tomorrow."
Shao Yun replied coldly, "Once it's done, send it to the Adventurers' Guild. Leave it under the adventurer 'Lumine.'"
After saying that, he turned to leave—but paused as if remembering something. He glanced back with a faint, subtle smile.
"Oh, right. I'm heading out now, Miss 'judging people by appearances and overly sensitive on the inside.'"
He deliberately emphasized the final words—it was clearly meant as teasing.
For him, this was already the gentlest form of mockery he was capable of. Compared to calling Furina a racist earlier, this was practically a warm spring breeze.
As for Chiori—knowing she was in the wrong—she simply lowered her head and nodded softly.
…
Without looking back, Shao Yun left Chioriya Boutique.
He followed the street, asking pedestrians for directions, and soon arrived at the Fontaine Adventurers' Guild.
From afar, he saw a two-story townhouse repurposed into the Guild's reception building.
Shao Yun muttered inwardly, "Just look at this fancy setup… I bet half the funding came from skimming off the commissions Lumine and Paimon earned. No wonder this 'Katheryne' lives better and better…"
Stepping inside, he immediately spotted Katheryne standing behind the counter as always.
Beside her stood Yanfei, letter in hand, cross-checking the address written on it with Fontaine's Katheryne.
Seeing Yanfei again, Shao Yun greeted her cheerfully.
"Whoa, Yanfei! Didn't expect to run into you again so soon after splitting up. That's quite the coincidence!"
Yanfei, absorbed in her search for her friend's residence, turned at the familiar voice.
"Oh, it's you, Shao Yun. It is quite the coincidence…"
Shao Yun walked up beside her, raising his chin. "So, Yanfei—what're you busy with here?"
Scratching her head shyly, Yanfei explained with some embarrassment, "Well… I'm trying to locate where my friend lives."
"It's my first time in Fontaine, so I'm really unfamiliar with everything. I had no choice but to come ask the all-knowing Katheryne for help."
Following Yanfei's gaze, Shao Yun looked at Katheryne and chuckled.
"Ha! Looks like Katheryne doesn't just handle commissions—she's turning into a full-on know-it-all service provider."
Katheryne, however, didn't react to the joke at all.
Maybe her CPU couldn't process that many inputs at once…
Expression unchanged, she continued her work, quickly jotting down the address Yanfei needed and handing it over with a gentle, "Here you go. I've written it down clearly for you—please keep it safe."
Yanfei thanked her profusely. "Thank you so much, Miss Katheryne! I wouldn't have known what to do without you!"
With her standard smile, Katheryne nodded at Yanfei before turning to Shao Yun.
"Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild. May the stars and the abyss guide you."
Shao Yun confirmed the code phrase, pulling out his adventurer's certificate as he said, "Same deal—transferring my adventurer registration. And recommend me a place to stay."
Katheryne efficiently handled his certificate while asking, "You're looking for accommodation, correct?"
"Yeah," Shao Yun replied with a nod. "New city, gotta find a place to stay. I can't just sleep on the streets…"
He gave a tired little smile.
Moments later, Katheryne finished the paperwork and successfully transferred his registration to the Fontaine Guild.
"Are you looking to rent an apartment? I have some brochures."
The word "apartment" caught him off guard. "Wait, aren't there inns here?"
Katheryne immediately switched into sales mode.
"Fontaine's apartments are excellent! They provide a home-like environment—cozy, comfortable, and varied in price and location. There's always one that suits your needs. The experience is as good as, if not better than, an inn. It truly feels like home!"
"Plus, housekeeping services here are very developed. Subscribing to a service saves you from cleaning or cooking. And since inns charge for those services anyway, apartments end up more cost-effective."
Her pitch was surprisingly persuasive—and Shao Yun found himself wavering.
He recalled the large Mondstadt house that landlord Goethe had provided him. A home really did feel better than a hotel.
And he wasn't short on Mora. As the saying goes—listen to good advice and you'll never go hungry.
"Alright," Shao Yun agreed readily. "I'm here in Fontaine to relax anyway. Might as well choose comfort."
Seeing his agreement, Katheryne returned his ID and handed over a stack of apartment brochures.
Shao Yun flipped through them one by one.
Katheryne then added, "Coincidentally, the apartment Yanfei asked about has vacant rooms. You could check there as well."
…
On the northern side of the Vasari Passage stood a distinctive three-story apartment building.
Following the address from her friend's letter and Katheryne's note, Yanfei found the place.
Inside, she quickly located the building manager.
After a short exchange and registration, the manager nodded and allowed both Yanfei and Shao Yun to go in.
They climbed the stairs together toward the third floor.
Upon reaching it, Yanfei stopped and examined the door before them, comparing it repeatedly with the letter.
"Let me check… yup, looks like the right place! Just need to confirm the door number… yep, this is it!"
Shao Yun had only followed because Katheryne suggested it.
But just then, a faint hammering sound drifted in from afar.
It came from Beaumont Workshop—not loud enough to disrupt life, but audible.
Shao Yun frowned. "Living here, you'd hear this annoying noise every day?"
"I really don't know why your friend would choose this place…"
Yanfei sighed helplessly. "Probably to save Mora… her letter mentioned that money's been tight since she arrived in Fontaine."
She let out a long breath. "I still don't understand why she left the Knights of Favonius…"
Shao Yun, flipping through brochures, froze the moment he heard Knights of Favonius.
He jerked his head up. "Hold on—what did you just say? Knights of Favonius?!"
Yanfei blinked, startled by his reaction, then smacked her forehead. "Ah! I forgot to tell you. The friend I'm here to visit is 'Eula'!"
At that moment, the apartment door creaked open.
Eula appeared wearing soft blue pajamas—the loose fabric doing very little to conceal her elegant, sinuous curves.
Her silky hair was slightly messy, a few strands falling lazily across her cheeks, giving her a languid yet enchanting charm.
Still half-asleep, she rubbed her eyes gently.
She had simply intended to pick up her morning milk and newspaper.
But the instant she stepped out, the sight before her shocked her awake.
Yanfei hurried forward, apologizing, "Ah, Eula! Sorry I'm late! Ran into some trouble on the way."
Meanwhile, Shao Yun also noticed Eula.
And the moment their eyes met, his heart felt like it had been smashed by a hammer—an overwhelming sense of dread flooding through him.
"Oh no… why is it her? I'm done for…"
Eula, likewise, stared at him wide-eyed, trembling.
Her lips quivered, as if wanting to speak, but her throat constricted, unable to produce a sound.
A few seconds later, indescribable terror devoured her expression.
She clutched her head, and a piercing scream tore through the hallway.
"AAAAAH!!!"
Right now, Eula's feelings were probably similar to Cornwall's—I came all the way to Fontaine, and I still can't escape you?!
===BREAK===
Like the story and want more chapters?
Join and support me by joining my Patreon!
[email protected]/SiRoasa