After finishing his instructions to Enjou in the study, Ye Xi stepped out the door.
The moment he came out, he ran into Dehya, who was strolling about the house showing Candace around.
Introducing her own home to her dear best friend, Dehya was quite pleased with herself.
"Master Ye Xi."
Candace waved her hand and said, "Thank you for letting me come and stay. I really shouldn't have accepted."
She couldn't shake the feeling that, with even Lesser Lord Kusanali and Greater Lord Rukkhadevata living here, a descendant of the Red King like herself would always seem out of place.
Ye Xi said with a smile, "No need to be so polite. The portal's in Aaru Village anyway, so just come over in the evenings—it won't interfere with your daytime work."
"Mm!"
Candace hurriedly nodded. "Just as you said, I placed the portal in a very hidden spot, so there's no worry of anyone coming to disturb it."
Dehya put her hands on her hips and laughed, "Actually, it's right in her bedroom!"
"Master, if you ever fancy a night raid, it'd be awfully convenient to sneak over in the dead of night and launch a little ambush~"
"Dehya!"
Candace flushed red at once. She really had to hand it to Dehya—she'd blurt out absolutely anything!
Seeing Candace in such a state, Dehya burst into hearty laughter.
After chatting idly for a few moments, Ye Xi led the two of them back downstairs to get ready for dinner.
By this time, the girls were all gathered in the living room in little groups, chatting away.
Some were drinking, some playing the Genius Invokation TCG, some watching cartoons, some playing Liyue Millennium.
This place had completely become the spot where the girls came to relax and amuse themselves after work.
Ye Xi felt he could expand the little Western-style house a bit more and add even more areas.
Just as he was thinking this, waves of fragrance came drifting from the kitchen.
He leaned over to take a look into the kitchen and was instantly astonished by the lavish spread before him.
Among so many dishes there were not only Wanmin Restaurant's various signature offerings, but also many delicacies that didn't belong to Teyvat at all.
That very morning he'd given Xiangling the recipes rewarded by the system, and to his surprise, in just a single day, Xiangling had actually mastered them and brought them to the table!
"How come it's such a feast?"
Hearing Ye Xi's question, Xiangling said with a beaming smile, "Three new guests arrived today, so of course we have to celebrate properly."
"Besides, it's the perfect chance to try out the delicacies in the recipes!"
As she spoke, rice ladle in hand, she nuzzled against Ye Xi's chest, her eyes brimming with gratitude.
"With these dishes, Wanmin Restaurant can add dozens of signature dishes all at once!"
"When my dad saw the recipes, he nearly passed out from excitement."
Normally, Wanmin Restaurant's signature dishes were already quite a draw for customers.
To survive among Liyue's many restaurants—and thrive at that, going arm-to-arm with the Liuli Pavilion and the Xinyue Kiosk—was proof enough of Wanmin Restaurant's strength.
And now it was adding dozens more signature dishes all at once.
When that happened, it might snatch away all of the Xinyue Kiosk's and Liuli Pavilion's customers in one fell swoop.
How could Chef Mao not be delighted?
To be honest, for a cook, money didn't really matter one way or the other.
Fame and status weren't worth mentioning.
The most important thing was having new dishes to explore!
So when Xiangling brought out the recipes Ye Xi had given her, Chef Mao was already overjoyed.
Hearing Xiangling's words, Ye Xi nodded.
He suddenly remembered that Yae Miko would also be bringing Kamisato Ayaka over, so he spoke up, "I think there should be four new guests tonight."
"Eh?"
Xiangling was slightly taken aback, then her eyes filled with playful amusement. "That's just like you, my Master Ye Xi~"
With that, she shrugged and said, "You really are something."
"I thought having two Dendro Archons, plus two members of the Liyue Qixing, was already impressive enough."
"I never imagined that today you'd even drag Inazuma's Raiden Shogun over here too."
"If my dad found out that I cook every day for the Dendro Archon and the Electro Archon, he might just faint from joy, wouldn't he?"
Ye Xi chuckled and said, "Actually, you've cooked for the Geo Archon too."
"Eh?"
A flash of shock crossed Xiangling's eyes.
The Geo Archon!
As a citizen of Liyue, she naturally knew that the Geo Archon was none other than Liyue's Rex Lapis!
She'd cooked for Rex Lapis?
How could that be possible!
Ye Xi had no intention of hiding it. After all, she was already his wife, so it didn't matter if this kind of secret got out.
So he laid his cards on the table. "Zhongli is actually the Lord Rock King."
"Uh... Eh——!?"
Xiangling was stunned on the spot, her eyes full of disbelief.
Of course she remembered Zhongli!
Zhongli was the Consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and a frequent patron of Wanmin Restaurant!
And he was so learned that, even though he wasn't a chef, he could offer suggestions for improving quite a few of Wanmin Restaurant's dishes!
Apart from the fact that his pockets were often empty, he was a highly respected figure throughout Liyue Harbor!
Hearing Ye Xi say that Zhongli was Rex Lapis, she was truly given a fright!
"N-No way!"
"But... hasn't the Lord Rock King already passed away?"
"And besides, how could he possibly have no Mora?"
Ye Xi smilingly told Xiangling about how Zhongli had faked his death and retired.
After hearing it, Xiangling was full of worry. "Oh no, oh no—that day when you and Zho... uh, when you and the Lord Rock King came to eat at Wanmin Restaurant, I comped your meal but not his!"
"He won't hold a grudge, will he?"
At the thought of having offended Rex Lapis, Xiangling's little heart went thump-thump-thump.
Ye Xi reassured her, "What's there to be afraid of? He owes me so many favors—what reason would he have to be sore over a meal?"
Xiangling nodded. "Looks like Wanmin Restaurant will have to entertain the old gentleman carefully from now on."
"I really never imagined I'd already cooked for so many gods!"
"Come to think of it, it really is quite something."
....
Just as Ye Xi and Xiangling were chatting in the kitchen, two figures appeared outside the door of the little Western-style house.
Kamisato Ayaka was stunned.
After she returned that afternoon, she told her brother Kamisato Ayato, who'd just gotten home, about everything that had happened.
Hearing that Yae Miko wanted to keep her by her side, Kamisato Ayato was naturally quite gratified. He packed her luggage for her right away and sent her off to the Tenshukaku.
Kamisato Ayaka was utterly at a loss, wanting to cry but with no tears to shed.
Just when she still had no idea what she'd be facing next, Yae Miko suddenly appeared.
Instead of taking her back to Mt. Yougou, she led her into the Tenshukaku, where she met the Raiden Shogun.
But before she even had a chance to pay her respects to Her Excellency the Shogun, she noticed that the longsword in Her Excellency the Shogun's hand had begun to glow with a dazzling light.
The next moment, she and Yae Miko found themselves in a marvelous space.
Before she could even react, she was pulled by Yae Miko through a strange door.
And then she arrived in this extraordinarily vast world.
She felt as if she were dreaming!
In a daze, she'd followed Yae Miko off to who-knows-where.
The crucial thing was that the little Western-style house before her was especially magnificent—far, far more magnificent than the Kamisato Estate!
The quiet bluestone paths, the warm-toned streetlamps, the spacious courtyard....
It felt like the people living here must be refined and interesting.
When the door opened, a great many figures suddenly appeared inside!
When she saw Raiden Ei and Kujou Sara sitting in front of the television, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.
"Eh!?"
"Y-Your Excellency the Shogun? But... weren't you just at the Tenshukaku a moment ago!?"
"And Sara's here too!?"
Although she was the eldest daughter of the Kamisato family of the Yashiro Commission, she truly had no knowledge of the Puppet Shogun.
Not just her—not even any of the three great Commissions knew.
Only Yae Miko understood this matter clearly.
Seeing Kamisato Ayaka, Raiden Ei was a bit surprised as well.
Although she usually stayed within the Plane of Euthymia, she cared a great deal about her subordinates.
After their parents' early deaths, the Kamisato siblings had worked hard to steady the family's internal troubles and had also fulfilled the duties of the Yashiro Commission.
She thought very highly of the two Kamisato siblings.
So she paid close attention to Kamisato Ayaka as well.
Yae Miko lightly covered her mouth and introduced her with a smile, "Everyone, this is my little follower, Kamisato Ayaka."
"These days I've had her come stay with me for a while, to experience life here."
"By the way, she's also the younger sister of the Yashiro Commission of Inazuma, so if there's any official business, you can discuss it with her too."
Hearing Yae Miko's introduction, Dehya's eyes suddenly lit up.
"So you're Kamisato Ayaka!"
"Eh? Do you all know me?"
Kamisato Ayaka was slightly taken aback, sizing Dehya up carefully. As she recalled, she'd never met Dehya before.
Dunyarzad and Setaria and the others had all remembered.
"I remember—back then the Traveler insisted on being your... your dog...."
"I remember now—it was Paimon who said it!"
"Cough, cough, cough...."
Kamisato Ayaka instantly flushed red.
She never imagined that her reputation had spread in such a way!
Just as she was about to say something, an excited voice came from afar.
"Ayaka——!"
Lumine came pouncing over excitedly and, in one go, threw her arms around Kamisato Ayaka.
"Heh heh heh, my wife, you've finally come!"
"Eh!? T-Traveler! Paimon! How are you two here as well!"
Kamisato Ayaka's face was full of astonishment.
Right now she really wanted to know—just where on earth was this place?
Why were there so many people!
Why was the Raiden Shogun here, and Kujou Sara too!
And Captain Beidou of the Southern Cross fleet!
What in the world was going on?
Lumine was overjoyed.
She felt her choice back then had been completely right!
The wives were arriving one after another!
This place was simply paradise!
She felt more and more that her harem dream was almost about to come true!
......
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