"Ugh, this is so good!"
After an hour and a half, Feng Yi, having devoured ten hearty dishes prepared by Xiangling, finally felt full. Though these were new creations by Xiangling, their taste was undeniably exquisite. Feng Yi accepted them all, providing timely feedback for adjustments.
"Here we go! Feng Yi, I've brought back the ice cream!"
Xiangling excitedly called out, carrying the ice cream from the freezer. She couldn't wait any longer!
"Wow~ I can't believe such a common ingredient like eggs and milk can create such a delicious dessert! Feng Yi, with your amazing culinary talent, not becoming a chef is truly a loss for Liyue... no, for all of Teyvat!"
Xiangling took a small spoonful and savored it. The way it melted in her mouth was a delightful sensation, causing her to instinctively close her eyes and relish the taste. She was certain this dessert would be loved by many customers. Xiangling could already picture the long queues outside Wanmin Restaurant once the ice cream was released.
"Hahaha~ Xiangling, you flatter me! Researching food is just my amateur hobby!"
Feng Yi felt a pleasant warmth spread through him at Xiangling's praise. He thought, "If you want to keep talking, please do! I have no objections!"
"So, Feng Yi, what's your main line of work?"
Xiangling scooped a large spoonful of ice cream into her mouth and curiously looked at Feng Yi.
"Main line of work?"
Feng Yi pondered for a while. He didn't seem to have a main job. Since arriving in Liyue, he had been spending time with his confidante, seemingly without engaging in any serious occupation. But could spending time with a confidante be considered work? If not, did he not have a proper job at all? No proper job equals being idle?
*Arataki Itto: Young man, this great me thinks you have great potential! The Arataki Gang needs talent like you!*
Did he just sound like Itto?
"My main job is traveling, experiencing the customs and traditions of every nation in Teyvat..." Feng Yi suddenly had an inspiration. He, Feng, wouldn't be idle, would he? Traveling was his main occupation!
"Eh? Okay... Guoba, the ice cream is so delicious, why aren't you eating it?"
Xiangling noticed that the ice cream in front of Guoba hadn't been touched and asked with concern. Did it not suit Guoba's taste?
"No dessert can replace the supreme status of milk tea in my heart!"
Guoba declared that he only needed milk tea as his dessert for the rest of his life.
"Is that so... Wait, Guoba, you can talk now?! Heavens, when did you start talking?!"
Xiangling, who moments before was regretting Guoba missing out on such a tasty treat, was suddenly startled and looked at Guoba with a shocked expression. Had her Guoba become sentient?
*Guoba: Xiangling, you truly live up to your reputation! Your reaction time is incredibly slow! I was talking yesterday too, you know? Why didn't you notice then?!*
"I had amnesia recently and only regained my memories these past few days..." Guoba said calmly. He had no intention of revealing his true identity for now and planned to live as Guoba for the foreseeable future, unless absolutely necessary.
"I see, that's why you didn't remember anything when I met you that day! So now that you've recovered your memory, are you going to leave this place and find your family..."
Xiangling suddenly realized that Guoba might leave her now that he had recovered his memories. Her heart felt heavy, and she lost her appetite. Even the delicious ice cream before her was now difficult to swallow.
"Wanmin Restaurant is my home, and you are my only family. I don't want to go anywhere but with you..." Guoba thought to himself, "Leaving Wanmin Restaurant means I'd have to pay for food! I can't bear to part with Xiangling, my free cook, let alone my daily dose of milk tea!"
*Chef Mao: *Cough cough!* While my presence might be subtle, I'm not completely insignificant, am I? What do you mean Xiangling is your only family in Wanmin Restaurant? What about me?!*
"That's good! That's good! Hehe!"
Xiangling quickly wiped away her tears. If Guoba had hesitated any longer, she would have almost cried. Having lived with Guoba for so many years, she had come to regard him as family. If Guoba were to suddenly leave, she would be truly heartbroken. Xiangling gently stroked Guoba's cute little head and squeezed his wiggling little ears, feeling the familiar texture.
"Ice cream is so delicious, it would be such a waste to not eat it! If you're not going to eat it, then I'll eat yours!"
Xiangling looked at the dwindling ice cream in her own bowl and said kindly.
"Of course! I, Guoba, would rather starve, rather go without milk tea for a day, than to compromise the supreme status of milk tea in my heart!"
Guoba stated with utmost seriousness.
"Cough cough! Uhm... Guoba, I'll kindly remind you, perhaps you should taste it before you make your declaration! Oh... right, Yuanbao really likes this kind of dessert, saying it's even better than milk tea..."
Feng Yi's eyelids twitched. The legendary "True Fragrance Emperor" moment flashed in his mind. He was eager to see Guoba become another "True Fragrance Emperor" and thus mentioned Yuanbao.
"Yuanbao likes this dessert called ice cream? Then I'll try it too..."
Since Yuanbao liked it, it must be something extraordinary. To have something in common with Yuanbao the next time they met, Guoba decided to give it a try.
"Ah, this... this, this, this... The rich milky flavor, the melt-in-your-mouth texture, leaving a lingering aroma and an endless aftertaste! Hmm... truly fragrant!"
The law of true fragrance is terrifying! Even a god cannot escape it!
"Yuanbao's taste is indeed unique. This dessert called ice cream is truly delicious. From today onwards, it will share the supreme status of milk tea in my heart!"
Guoba stated that sharing the top spot was still being first, and milk tea still held its revered position in his heart. He hadn't broken his word.
"Guoba, look quickly, there's a wild milk tea behind you that no one wants!"
Xiangling finished the ice cream in her bowl and suddenly eyed the portion in Guoba's bowl.
*Xiangling: Guoba just regained his memory, and it wouldn't be good if he ate too many cold things and froze his brain! She was doing this for Guoba's well-being!*
"Where?"
Guoba instinctively turned to look in the direction Xiangling was pointing, but there was nothing there. He immediately realized he had been tricked; Xiangling was using a diversion. He quickly turned back, only to find his ice cream bowl empty. Xiangling was there, cheeks puffed out, hopping around from the cold.
"Xiangling, you used such a low-level trick to deceive me! Give me back my ice cream!"
Guoba spun around in frustration, vehemently protesting Xiangling's thieving act.