The soothing warmth of the bath was utterly irresistible.
Xia Zhi ended up soaking for half an hour before reluctantly pulling himself out.
After rinsing off with clean water, he changed into the clothes Shenhe had prepared for him and left the bathhouse.
As he made his way toward the front hall, the lively sound of mahjong tiles clinking against one another reached his ears.
To his surprise, Yun Jin and Hu Tao were engaged in a game.
Judging by Yun Jin's intrigued expression, it seemed she had gotten along well with everyone.
It was likely thanks to their recent shared bath, which had erased any sense of awkwardness between them.
Truly, there was no faster way to bond than spending time together without barriers.
Xia Zhi approached, and the girls looked up at him.
"Boss, done with your bath?"
"Yeah."
"Feeling good?"
"Very. I almost didn't want to come out."
"I told you so!" Zhu Zi chimed in.
Instead of playing mahjong, Zhu Zi was sitting at a nearby desk with a pen in her hand.
Inspired by Ying'er, her mind was overflowing with creative ideas, and she was using the opportunity to furiously write her manuscript. Suddenly, she turned to Diona.
"Diona!"
"What?"
"I heard Mondstadt has a Hot Spring Festival! Is that true?"
"Hot Spring Festival? Nope, never heard of it."
"Really?"
Diona thought for a moment before shaking her head. "Mondstadt only has the Windblume Festival and the Weinlesefest. I've never heard of a Hot Spring Festival."
"Ah, there really isn't one."
"Where'd you hear that?"
"Probably from a light novel I read at Yae Publishing House."
"Ha? Then it's definitely just something the author made up!"
"What a pity."
Yun Jin, curious, asked, "Miss Zhu Zi, what was the novel about?"
"Oh, it's nothing special," Zhu Zi said, her face reddening slightly. "Just a cliché love story. I barely even remember the details."
"I see," Yun Jin nodded.
"Do you like novels too?"
"Yes. I'm striving to follow in my father's footsteps. I hope that one day, I can create a theatrical masterpiece as magnificent as The Divine Damsel of Devastation. To achieve that, I need to read widely, study diligently, and collect as many stories and legends as I can."
"Ah, I see… But Miss Yun Jin, have you ever read the boss's novel?"
"Mr. Xia's novel?" Yun Jin blinked, looking a little stunned. "Mr. Xia writes novels too?"
"He does! It was just published recently by Liyue's publishing house and sold out instantly. It's been super popular!"
"Really?"
"You didn't know, Miss Yun Jin?"
"I honestly didn't. I've been out of touch with the world lately—I was searching for Sunset Vermillionite, and once I found it, I secluded myself in the Yun-Han Opera Troupe to perfect The Divine Damsel of Devastation. I haven't kept up with external affairs…"
"That makes sense. You didn't even know about Rainbow Juice! We have a copy of the boss's book here at the shop, want to read it?"
"Of course! I'd love to see Mr. Xia's literary skills!"
"Cough, cough…" Xia Zhi couldn't help but clear his throat.
Listening to Yun Jin's enthusiastic words, he felt a bit awkward.
Yun Jin, being such a renowned cultural icon, probably preferred refined and sophisticated literature.
His novel, with its straightforward narrative and "spicy" plotlines, might be… let's say, a bit intense for her taste.
He couldn't help but feel it might sully her image of him.
"Mr. Xia, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I just choked on some tea. The tea leaves are a bit coarse."
"I have some good tea at home. I'll bring some for you next time."
"No need to trouble yourself, Miss Yun Jin. I just forgot to get fresh tea. I should've asked my cousin to buy some from the tea shop earlier."
Although Xia Zhi didn't really want Yun Jin to read his novel fearing it might ruin the dignified image she had of him, he also didn't have a valid reason to stop her from doing so.
Oh well…
---
After finishing the mahjong round, Yun Jin gave up her seat and went over to the table to pick up one of Xia Zhi's novels.
Eyeing the title, Cultivation: Starting with a Broken Engagement, she smiled. "A cultivation-themed novel? How very Liyue."
An intrigued expression crossed her face as she sat down and began to flip through the book.
Xia Zhi sipped his tea and observed her reaction from his God's-eye view.
Just as he expected, Yun Jin's demeanor began changing halfway through the book. Her face grew redder and redder—she must have reached one of the spicier sections. Her understanding of the implications came instantly.
However, to her credit, her reaction was limited to a slight blush.
She showed no other signs of being overwhelmed or scandalized.
In fact, she seemed to be intently studying that particular segment, her eyes lingering on the page.
Far from being flustered by the "spicy" content, Yun Jin appeared engrossed in analyzing the unique structure and style of Xia Zhi's writing.
The novel's tone and techniques were unlike anything she had previously encountered, giving her a sense of fresh inspiration.
Xia Zhi couldn't help but admire Yun Jin's professionalism. As a true cultural enthusiast, her focus remained entirely on the artistic value, unclouded by anything inappropriate.
By comparison, Miss Chi Yu's reaction when reading the same novel had been far more dramatic. Not only had she blushed furiously, but even her entire spirit form had turned red.
What a pure-hearted soul, Xia Zhi mused with a faint chuckle as he took another sip of tea.
He immediately grimaced.
The tea really is too coarse. It's full of tiny leaves that ruin the flavor.
Looking back on it, he felt a bit embarrassed serving such poor-quality tea to guests like Zhongli and Yun Jin wasn't exactly ideal hospitality. Next time, he'd have to make it up to them.
Setting his cup down, Xia Zhi opened the [Shop] interface and searched for tea leaves. After a thorough comparison, he selected two varieties of high-quality Silver-tier tea leaves and purchased them for a few dozen points.
---
By the time Yun Jin finished reading, her initial slow pace had transitioned into much faster reading.
Closing the book, Yun Jin raised her head, her slightly flushed face reflecting a sense of satisfaction and lingering curiosity.
"Mr. Xia, your novel is truly excellent."
Xia Zhi waved his hand modestly. "It's just something I casually wrote. There's no real depth to it, it's just a story I had in my heart. Miss Yun Jin, you're too kind."
"A story from the heart…"
Hearing this, Yun Jin fell silent for a moment, her expression thoughtful before turning serious.
"My father once said something similar. Whether it's opera or novels, at their core, they're about telling a story. But very few people can genuinely convey the stories in their hearts."
"That's true."
"I hope that one day, like you, Mr. Xia, I can write the story I want to tell. Even more so, I hope to write a story that not only belongs to me, but also resonates with others."
"Miss Yun Jin, with your talent and dedication, I'm sure you'll achieve it."
"I still have a long way to go. May I visit more often to seek your guidance?"
"Of course. You're more than welcome."
A radiant smile lit up Yun Jin's face.
"Then, I'll be in your care from now on!"
----
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