TN: And we're back! sorry for the week long hiatus, it was not intentional since I had to get my right leg in a cast after tripping 3 floors down a stairwell (like an idiot ://) and be unable to use my PC setup upstairs BUT I should be OK now.
Anyways, Thanks for Arcanic Madness, WeissAkumu and WolfWTF for becoming as Supporters!
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The location of this house had a small protruding peak of Mt. Tianheng at its back, making it very suitable for Cloud Retainer's discreet comings and goings in and out of the city, and it also allowed one to head up Mt. Tianheng at any time to enjoy the scenery.
Across the bridge, one could see Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, where Zhongli and Hu Tao were, and it didn't close at night. On the other side was Yanshang Teahouse under Yelan's control. As long as one didn't break the law, living nearby gave a strong sense of security.
Besides, Yanfei had already said this was the most cost-effective house available, so there was probably no need to look at others. Victor Wang quickly nodded and said, "I also think this house is pretty good. As for any possible harassment, as long as they understand that the owner of this place isn't someone they can afford to provoke, that should be enough."
Yanfei didn't deny this simple and direct method, but still said, "But if you make the first move, you'll definitely be in the wrong, and it could even escalate into a diplomatic incident."
"...The Fatui here should still be under 'La Signora' and 'Childe.' Maybe dialogue is possible… In any case, leave it to me. If you want to buy it, there's no need to worry about extra issues."
"Then it's settled?"
Yanfei looked at Victor Wang, then at Shenhe, unsure who was supposed to make the final decision.
Shenhe also looked at Victor Wang. Seeing him nod, she said, "Then let's do it."
The Ministry of Civil Affairs had been troubled by how long this house had remained unsold. Shenhe had prepared the full payment, and with Yanfei handling the entire process, it only took a little over an hour for the ownership transfer to be completed at lightning speed.
"Thank you for helping me these past two days. It's getting dark anyway—come back to Wanmin Restaurant with me. I'll treat you to a meal."
Shenhe extended the invitation, and Yanfei didn't refuse.
Shenhe's red ropes… seemed to have mostly been replaced. Still, a personality shaped over more than a decade didn't change so easily. When dealing with strangers, she still carried a cool and distant air, but with friends she could already be this courteous. Victor Wang felt a sense of quiet relief.
"You should come too. I'll treat you."
Shenhe also invited Victor Wang. Already alone and with nothing else to do, Victor Wang naturally wouldn't refuse.
"Yanfei likes hot dishes, especially tofu. As for you… you like Black-Back Perch Stew. That's the dish you order most often at Wanmin Restaurant."
By the time they returned to Wanmin Restaurant, it was already close to the evening dinner rush. Any later and Chef Mao alone wouldn't be able to handle it. Shenhe muttered softly, ordering many dishes based on her usual observations of Yanfei's and Victor Wang's preferences, then threw herself into helping with the work.
After a hearty meal, Yanfei took her leave first.
To free up seats for other customers during peak hours, Victor Wang also left Wanmin Restaurant and wandered around outside for a while. Along the way, he didn't see Zhongli or Lumine… not even a single familiar face. By the time the dinner rush passed and he returned to Wanmin Restaurant, he found that Xiangling, Xingqiu, Hu Tao, and Chongyun still hadn't returned from the sea either.
"Do you need to pick out furniture for your house, or move things in? I'm free to help with either."
Quietly watching Shenhe finish what could already be considered a late-night meal, Victor Wang spoke in a bored tone.
"As for furniture, once I invite my master over, no one will be living in the cave abode at Mt. Aocang anymore. There are some things my master will probably bring along."
"I see… With an adeptus taking action, it seems moving won't need any help either."
"But… but… my house is quite large. Besides my master and me, there are still two empty rooms. Furniture might really need to be purchased… if someone is going to live there."
"There should be someone who will live there…" Victor Wang thought of Shuyu, who hadn't appeared yet. "Even if no one moves in right away, preparing in advance is good for handling unexpected situations."
Shuyu's parents were Millelith soldiers who had gone on dangerous missions and never returned… they might already have sacrificed their lives. Only she and her grandmother Yuandai were left. Once Yuandai also… no one could possibly let a child live alone. After Shuyu became Cloud Retainer's disciple, she would definitely need a room as well. The timing was uncertain, but it would most likely be after next year's Lantern Rite.
"There will be someone living there…?" Shenhe didn't know about the future. Her eyes suddenly lit up, but the words she wanted to say stopped at her lips, unsure how to voice them.
"For example, if Ganyu overworks herself and collapses on Yujing Terrace, you and Cloud Retainer could bring her back to your place to rest."
"Our place…"
"Yes. Even though some unpleasant things happened in the past… from now on, that house will be your home in Liyue Harbor."
"Then… could you help furnish the empty rooms, pick out some furniture you like?"
"Leave it to me. I'm very experienced at this!"
Victor Wang patted his chest and promised confidently. His Serenitea Pot layouts had been copied countless times—he was known as the god of interior design.
"Then tomorrow morning we'll go to Mt. Aocang to find my master, invite her to see the house and choose a room. Once the empty rooms are decided, we'll go buy furniture in the afternoon. How does that sound?"
"I've been free lately. We'll go at your pace."
"Then I'll go ask Chef Mao for leave right now."
The next morning, when they met again, Shenhe was accompanied by Ganyu, Lumine, and Paimon.
"This matter was mentioned yesterday afternoon—someone is searching in Liyue for an adeptus skilled in music who may have once saved a drowning person with a melody. Lumine and Ganyu are helping with the search. When they heard, we were going to Mt. Aocang, Ganyu suggested we act together."
Shenhe gave a brief explanation, and Victor Wang expressed understanding.
Ganyu also explained to everyone, "In my impression, 'saving a drowning person with music' is something almost all adepti can do, but there aren't many whose gender matches the description. So, the simplest method is elimination—asking them one by one. I just happened to finish all my work last night, and when I got home, I heard Shenhe say she had already bought a house and was planning to invite Cloud Retainer to Liyue Harbor today."
This was the first time Lumine and Paimon had heard about Shenhe buying a house, but Paimon was more curious about something else.
"Is Cloud Retainer really coming to Liyue Harbor?"
Recalling her master's excitement and emotion upon hearing that Shenhe had bought a house for her to live in, Shenhe said with certainty, "I didn't expect it either, but my master really does intend to come."
"But she's a… um… is it okay to say it like this?"
Seeing that no one understood what she meant, Paimon gathered her courage and continued.
"But she's a bird! Even if she's an adeptus bird, it's hard to imagine what it would be like to live in human society. If she goes out, won't people surround her?"
Ganyu helped explain, "That won't be a problem. Adepti possess transformation techniques. Cloud Retainer should be able to take human form."
"The human-form… Cloud Retainer?"
"Paimon, did you forget?" Lumine shook her head. "The adeptus we're looking for is a woman."
"That's true… then… could it be that Xiao and Granny Ping, those adepti who already look human, also have other forms?"
Shenhe was still very young among the adepti and had no idea, so she could only shake her head.
Ganyu suddenly placed a hand on her horns, her gaze avoiding everyone as she said, "Yakshas are inherently close to human form. As for Madame Ping… from the time I've known her, she has always acted in human form."
"Oh?"
Paimon pinched her chin, eyes spinning as she floated over to Ganyu's side.
"Then does Ganyu have an adeptal beast form? I remember it's a qilin, right? I'm really curious!"
"Ganyu doesn't… Ganyu doesn't…"
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