Just a few days ago, they had been walking hand-in-hand down the streets like close sisters.
Even Keqing herself couldn't quite figure out whether her feelings for the Traveler carried a faint spark of something… different.
But now, the girl she had grown fond of suddenly showed up with a partner at her side.
Keqing's heart was thrown into complete chaos.
Faced with the choice between a finely crafted Morax figurine and a plate of golden shrimp balls, Keqing found herself unable to resist temptation.
Not only was her attention successfully diverted, but even the sharp look she had been giving Nagami softened noticeably, her frosty air melting away.
From this alone, it was clear just how skillfully Lumine could manage the feelings of the girls around her.
'What a sly little heartbreaker she is!'
"Lumine! You came to Wanmin Restaurant and didn't even tell me?"
A bright, lively voice rang out.
A young girl in a brown qipao-style outfit stepped out of the kitchen, a Vision the color of red-orange fire swaying at her waist.
Following close behind was a small, adorable creature that looked like a raccoon.
It was Xiangling, carrying a steaming dish bursting with color, aroma, and flavor.
Her face lit up with joy at the sight of the golden-haired Traveler, who could easily be crowned Teyvat's greatest social butterfly.
"You brought so many friends today! Oh, and there's someone new too—did you make another friend already?"
She greeted Lumine cheerfully, but when her eyes fell on Lumine and Nagami's intertwined hands, her eyes widened in surprise.
Setting the fragrant dish down on the table, Xiangling then turned her curious gaze toward Nagami, studying him as though he were some rare panda on display.
Unlike Keqing or Ganyu, however, she didn't seem flustered at all.
To Xiangling, Lumine was simply a good friend—nothing more, nothing less.
"It's been a while, Guoba! Did you miss me~?"
Lumine bent down, stroking the little creature that was rubbing affectionately against her legs, before looking up with a silly, warm smile.
"Since you looked so busy today, I didn't want to disturb you."
"Hehe, and it's all thanks to your advice from the other day!" Xiangling's face beamed with delight. "Really, I'm so grateful! This meal—consider it my thanks!"
"Haha… is that so? Haha…"
Lumine scratched her head awkwardly, her eyes darting toward other tables in the restaurant.
Her smile looked just a little guilty.
As the daughter of a renowned culinary family, Xiangling had learned to cook from her father since childhood.
Her skills, of course, were impeccable.
But being a spirited and inventive girl, she wasn't satisfied with sticking to the same old recipes.
She wanted to innovate—to create dishes that were even more delicious and unique.
That meant experimenting with unusual ingredients.
Take Slime Condensate, for example.
Though it was nothing more than the remains of a defeated slime, its cool, springy texture inspired her to invent "Slime Jelly Mushroom Stew."
Unfortunately, not a single customer bought it.
The same happened with raw Yunlai octopus—tender and flavorful, yet no one dared try it.
Just when Xiangling was feeling disheartened and about to experiment with frog legs, lizard tails, or even bright blue butterfly wings, Lumine had offered her a piece of advice:
"Change the names."
After all, who would want to order something called 'Slime Condensate Stew with Dandelions'?
But rename it 'Jade Pearl Soup', and suddenly it sounded luxurious and refined.
The price wasn't steep either, so people would be drawn in by curiosity and tempted to try it.
Sure, the ingredients sounded strange, maybe even off-putting.
But the flavor? Surprisingly good.
And once people tried it once, they often came back for seconds… and thirds.
Even if they later found out what the dish was made of, many could accept it after tasting how delicious it was.
"No need to treat me to a free meal. That would be embarrassing! Don't worry, someone else will cover the bill."
Lumine put on an exaggeratedly shy expression.
"Is that so? Then I'll thank you properly next time! For now, I've got lots of dishes to cook."
With a radiant smile, Xiangling hopped back into the kitchen, her energy as infectious as ever.
Meanwhile, Lumine deliberately picked up a plate of golden shrimp balls and waved it lightly in front of her.
Keqing's eyes couldn't help but follow the dish, her gaze locked on it as if drawn by an invisible thread.
When the plate was finally set down in front of her, Keqing let out a tiny sigh of relief.
But as her eyes traced the slender arm holding the plate, she was met with Lumine's radiant, playful smile.
Her face heated up instantly. Anger surged, and with a swift motion, Keqing smacked the back of Lumine's head.
"Where's that bard? He's been gone forever. Let's not wait for him any longer!"
The tantalizing aroma drifted under Paimon's nose. She sniffed eagerly, wiping away the drool threatening to spill from her lips. Her earlier worry for Venti vanished in an instant.
"You're right. He probably won't be back anyway. Let's just dig in!"
Nagami's smile deepened, carrying a hint of mischief.
Tilting his head slightly, and with the help of his abilities, he easily spotted a familiar green silhouette lurking not far from the steps outside the main gate.
For the Anemo Archon, finding someone was hardly a challenge—the thousand winds themselves served as his eyes and ears.
And with that "little floating fairy" acting as a very obvious landmark, it hadn't taken long for Venti to ask a few curious bystanders and track down their location.
If Zhongli weren't here, he would've charged right in without hesitation, ready to freeload a meal.
But since the old man was present… he had to consider the very real possibility of getting punched.
"Come, come—this is some fine wine I brought from my homeland. Everyone, give it a try."
"Wine? Where?!"
Paimon scratched her head in confusion.
Nagami clearly hadn't brought any luggage, so where exactly was this wine supposed to come from? Zhongli and Keqing's attention also shifted toward him, intrigued.
"Right here," Nagami said casually.
A rich, intoxicating fragrance filled the air.
No one quite understood how he had done it, but in the blink of an eye, Nagami set a sealed jar of wine on the table.
Paimon had been about to ask, but the moment he cracked it open, the thick aroma washed through Wanmin Restaurant, silencing her words.
The guests nearby perked up instantly, sniffing the air, craning their necks to figure out where the mouthwatering scent was coming from.
The vessel Nagami had produced looked and smelled exactly like real wine—its authenticity undeniable.
"Indeed, this is…" Zhongli leaned in, inhaling the fragrance with approval.
He was about to finish his thought when a streak of emerald blurred into the room.
The figure was so fast it left dozens of afterimages trailing in its wake.
"You're all eating without me?!"
Venti appeared in a rush, hastily wiping the drool from his lips as he jabbed an accusing finger at Nagami and Lumine.
His expression was the perfect blend of three parts indignation and seven parts wounded disappointment.
"Do you know how hard I've been searching for you? …Eh? Wait a second—Old man? You're with them too?"
Only then did his eyes land on Zhongli, and he froze in surprise, as though he'd just realized he'd walked into the wrong room.
The exaggerated performance on his face—an Oscar-worthy display of betrayal and despair—fooled even Keqing.
Who stood there watching like an innocent bystander, convinced Nagami and Lumine must have done something truly terrible to the poor bard.
Even Paimon shrank back nervously, neck tucking in as though she were guilty herself.
"You finally came back, bard! Are you okay?" she asked, voice tinged with guilt.
After all, they had left him behind, and then came here to enjoy a feast without inviting him.
"We waited for you for so long, but when you didn't show up, we ran into Zhongli instead…" Paimon's voice trailed off, growing quieter as she realized the atmosphere had shifted.
Nagami and Lumine were glaring at Venti with matching dead-fish eyes, while Zhongli lifted his head slowly, his expression unreadable, gaze fixed firmly on the bard.
Venti's acting was superb—but tricking the cunning Rex Lapis, and Lumine who had literally seen him hiding through Nagami's eyes? Not a chance.
Outwardly he looked a mix of pitiful and overjoyed, but inwardly Venti was panicking.
'I could get pummeled for this, he thought. But for this wine, I'll risk it.'
Even worse—what if the drink had some strange property?
If it was hotter than that cursed spring water, he could end up transforming into a girl here and now, right in front of everyone.
But despite the risk, he refused to back down.
This wine had to be his.
This was the unshakable conviction of Barbatos, the Anemo Archon.
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