Night fell over Mondstadt.
At the fountain plaza, a traveling circus was performing. A huge crowd gathered outside to watch.
Inside the restaurant, Jiang Chen placed a freshly cooked spicy grilled perch on the table. Beneath the plate was a small charcoal stove filled with glowing coals, keeping the dish hot.
Some nearby diners who noticed it were fascinated.
The aroma of charred fish and spices filled the air, mixed with a sharp, mouth-watering chili fragrance.
Barbara swallowed.
At that moment she felt that in this lifetime she could only marry Jiang Chen.
He was handsome, kind to her, strong—and most importantly, he could cook dishes like this. She simply couldn't resist.
"Stop looking so lovestruck," Jiang Chen said, pinching her cheek.
"Hmph."
Barbara blushed and protested softly.
"Noelle, go downstairs and bring Klee up."
"Okay!"
Noelle's eyes brightened as she hurried out.
A customer nearby asked curiously:
"Boss Jiang Chen, what is this dish?"
"It's a method to keep the main dish hot while you eat," Jiang Chen explained politely. "You can also cook vegetables in it. It'll be added to the menu later."
"Spicy…?" the customer hesitated.
Klee's Gift
Soon Noelle returned with Klee.
Klee was holding two Windwheel Mushrooms.
"Jiang Chen哥哥, these are for you! They feel fluffy when you touch them!"
"Oh~ I like those too," Barbara said.
"Then we'll cook them."
After washing them, Jiang Chen added them to the dish.
Klee stared in surprise.
"Are we eating them?"
"Of course."
Klee's eyes widened.
"Then can we eat Dodoco too?"
"No. Friends aren't food."
Dodoco was the stuffed toy hanging from her backpack—made by her mother Alice.
After eating the hot mushroom, Klee shook her head excitedly.
"Dodoco… I'm sorry. I almost tried to cook you."
Night in Mondstadt
By the time they finished eating, the circus outside had ended.
Klee looked disappointed from the window.
"Why did it end so early today? No midnight show?"
She thanked Jiang Chen politely.
"I'll come again tomorrow morning!"
Then she left.
Barbara also said goodbye.
"Jiang Chen哥哥, I'll keep praying for you like always."
She walked a few steps away—then suddenly ran back.
Standing on tiptoe, she quickly kissed his cheek.
"I'm leaving!"
She ran downstairs before anyone could see.
Noelle's Determination
Later, Jiang Chen returned upstairs to bathe.
Noelle had already prepared the hot water.
For a moment Jiang Chen wondered if he had truly become a lazy noble master.
Barbara cleaned the dishes in the sink before leaving.
Noelle soon returned as well.
She had changed clothes and entered quietly with a towel.
"Boss Jiang Chen… don't you prefer soaking in the bath?"
Jiang Chen froze.
Was that really the important question right now?
Noelle blushed slightly.
"I've been studying in the library recently. Senior Lisa helped me choose some books…"
"I still need practice though."
She began washing his back carefully.
"If I do anything wrong, please tell me so I can improve."
Jiang Chen sighed inwardly.
Lisa… what kind of books did you give her?
Still, it was just a back wash.
Noelle hummed happily while working.
She loved cleaning—clothes, floors, windows.
And now she had a new favorite task.
Washing Boss Jiang Chen's back.
The Next Morning
Early the next morning, Noelle arrived before everyone else to help Sarah clean tables.
"Boss, you still haven't solved this?" Sarah complained jokingly.
"I'm the one about to be solved," Jiang Chen replied.
Just then Klee's cheerful voice came from downstairs.
"Jiang Chen哥哥! Klee and Kaeya哥哥 came to find you!"
Heading to the Forest
Soon Jiang Chen, Kaeya, and Klee left Mondstadt together.
"Where are we going?" Klee asked excitedly.
"To find a friend."
"A friend?"
"It's a surprise."
Klee giggled happily.
They took a path toward Springvale, then entered the forest.
Klee suddenly said:
"This place feels familiar…"
"Alright, Klee," Jiang Chen said.
"Call Razor."
Klee immediately understood.
"Oh! The friend is Razor!"
She pulled a bomb from her backpack and threw it into a rocky area.
BOOM!
The explosion echoed through the forest.
Birds flew away in panic.
"You call people like that?" Kaeya asked in disbelief.
"Razor can hear explosions from very far away."
Klee whispered quickly:
"But don't tell Jean it was my idea."
Razor Appears
Rustling sounds came from the forest.
Kaeya and Noelle drew their swords cautiously.
But Jiang Chen and Klee remained calm.
A figure suddenly appeared on a tree branch.
A white-haired boy wearing a hood.
"Klee… you called?"
It was Razor.
He jumped down.
"Your smell… familiar."
Klee explained:
"Jiang Chen哥哥 wants to see you!"
Razor nodded slowly.
"My teacher… once took me to Jiang Chen's place. The meat there… very good."
Kaeya finally remembered.
"Ah, Lisa's strange apprentice."
Jiang Chen smiled.
"Come with us somewhere."
But Razor shook his head.
"I must hunt. Set traps. Catch boar. Or family will be hungry."
Klee awkwardly admitted:
"My bomb scared the boars away…"
Jiang Chen asked calmly:
"What happens if you hunt all the boars?"
Razor paused.
"I… don't know."
"You're human, not a wolf."
"You can raise animals instead of hunting them all."
He pointed toward the hills.
"Like the Hilichurls from the Meat Tribe who raise boars."
"Want to go observe?"
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