Check out my new translation!
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There is only tragedy.
Only tragedy can, after a single stunning glimpse, leave one tossing and turning, leave one choking on unspoken words, leave one unable to find peace—something that remains unforgettable even decades later.
If there were a chance to prevent a tragedy, and the price was that the story would become dull… no, this is not a story. This is a person's life.
Those who save themselves are saved by the heavens; those who help themselves are helped by the heavens; those who abandon themselves are abandoned by the heavens. No one can protect another forever. I hope Zhiqiong can walk out of her own 'Chasm' someday.
Victor Wang pushed these troubles aside and walked into Wanmin Restaurant.
From the counter, he could see that Chef Mao was currently in charge. Xiangling was likely in the back kitchen preparing for the Chef's Tournament. But the server today…?
"Welcome! Long time no see. What would you like to eat? It's my treat."
"Uh… actually, I'm here to see Xiangling…"
"It's my treat."
"…Then I'll have a Black-Back Perch Stew."
"Alright, please wait."
Since it wasn't mealtime, the place had hardly any customers. Victor Wang muddled his way to a seat, and after he ordered, Shenhe naturally sat right beside him.
"Why are you here?"
"Adventurer commissions are too easy. I usually finish them during my early-morning training. After that, I have nothing to do the entire day. It's boring."
Shenhe even sighed with faint emotion before continuing, "Xiangling sometimes goes out searching for new ingredients. Chef Mao can't manage everything alone. Yaoyao and Yanfei often come here to hang out. Ganyu and Chongyun come to eat here a lot. Working here… isn't lonely."
You're bored, huh… Victor Wang nodded in agreement and was just about to give her some advice when she kept talking: "And I need Mora. I've saved a lot, but it's still not enough. I want to buy a house in Liyue Harbor."
"You want to buy a house too?"
"Yes."
"Liyue Harbor's housing prices are pretty high… aren't you living with Ganyu? Did something happen between you two?"
"No, it's just…" Shenhe hesitated. "It's just inconvenient. It's her house. If I bring other people over… it wouldn't be appropriate."
"O-other people?!"
"For example, my master… well, I mean my master. She's alone in the mountains. She might feel lonely."
"But your master… isn't she also on good terms with Ganyu?"
"Ganyu's house can't fit that many people."
"But she's worked so many years—"
"Don't ask… I want to buy a house with my own effort. And Liyue Harbor's housing prices really are high…"
Victor Wang silently closed his mouth. This girl has really changed… it hasn't even been a year since she came down the mountain, and she's already grown her own little ambitions.
The air grew quiet. Shenhe asked nervously, "Why aren't you talking?"
"You told me not to."
"I… I didn't mean it like that."
"…Shenhe, working here means you'll have to deal with all kinds of people. Are you able to handle that?"
"I think so. Sometimes I run into strange people, but I deal with them properly."
"If you run into strange people, explain things to them first. If they don't listen, show your fist. Especially those who aren't here just to eat!"
"That's not necessary. I've already become very tactful. I've found that if I just use a colder tone, they leave obediently."
"…"
"Your dish is ready. I'll bring it over."
A steaming, fragrant, spicy plate of Black-Back Perch Stew was set before Victor Wang. Meanwhile Shenhe propped her elbow on the table, resting her cheek on her hand as she turned sideways to stare at him.
How was he supposed to eat under that gaze?
Victor Wang had no idea. He felt a hundred ants crawling over him—utterly uncomfortable…
"It's only one fish. Want another one? My treat."
"I'm not hungry. I already ate at mealtime."
"I also… I actually came to see Xiangling."
"Yes. For the Chef's Tournament—Xiangling already passed the preliminaries. The finals are the day after tomorrow during the Moonchase Festival."
"Then could you call her for me?"
"I can. But don't rush. Finish eating first."
"…?"
Slow bites… slow bites. He ate cautiously like a man on his last meal, afraid that one wrong move would cause an accident. And the fish was so spicy!
Don't lose composure… don't lose composure. Why do some people like staring at others while they eat?!
By the time he finally finished the dish, Victor Wang felt as though a century had passed. Before he could speak, Shenhe took the initiative to call Xiangling out.
"Hey! A few days ago Lumine and I visited all our nearby friends, and we even went to Wangshu Inn with Keqing for a meal. You were the only one left!"
The moment Xiangling appeared, the air seemed to come alive. Victor Wang relaxed again and waved his hand. "Honestly, I'm not that familiar with cooking. I just happened to create a few innovations involving the use of slimes."
"It's not that complicated! It's just a public taste survey—tell me what dishes you like!"
Before he could answer, Victor Wang noticed Shenhe inching closer as well. He swallowed nervously and answered with great caution: "Actually, I like all Liyue dishes. But during holidays… I tend to crave dishes like… Tianxu Meat, Yuxiang Shredded Pork, or… Mapo Tofu—just common home-style dishes."
Catching a new term, Xiangling's eyes lit up. "Yuxiang Shredded Pork? What's that?"
She didn't know?!
Thinking back, Teyvat's cookbooks indeed did not list it. Victor Wang improvised: "It's a dish I once happened to taste. The main ingredient is pork, but by using seasonings such as chili pepper, scallion, ginger, garlic, sugar, salt, and soy sauce, it creates a flavor that combines salty, sour, sweet, spicy, and savory notes. Because the final taste resembles a fish-fragrance, it's called 'Yuxiang Shredded Pork.'"
"Wow!" Xiangling was practically drooling. She leaned forward eagerly. "How do you make it? Can you make it? Teach me!"
"Don't rush. This dish goes best with rice. It can be served alone, but its presentation is difficult to make visually impressive."
"Oh, that's not a problem! As long as you teach me the core technique, I can make adjustments. Even if I don't use it in the finals, it will still help me improve!"
Xiangling grew more animated, pacing in a circle before hopping in excitement. "It makes game meat taste like fish! See? I knew dishes combining mountain delicacies and seafood shouldn't be limited to that high-end, expensive, complicated, overly time-consuming Adeptus' Temptation! That dish is not remotely accessible!"
"I should have asked you for advice long ago!!" She grabbed Victor Wang by the hand and dragged him toward the kitchen. "Hurry hurry hurry! Teach me right now!!"
Shenhe's brows furrowed, and she followed behind them.