Childe Gets the Nice Guy Card

Liyue Harbor, Wanmin Restaurant.

Xiangling was cooking in the kitchen, while Tartaglia, Qiu Bai, and Qiu Yue...

...sat on chairs with their hands on the table, waiting for her to finish preparing the food.

Xiangling wiped the sweat from her face with one hand while stir-frying with the other.

Dad really gave me an earful when I got back.

Thank goodness Mr. Qiu Bai explained things for me.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have been allowed out again for a while.

At that thought, Xiangling glanced gratefully at Qiu Bai, who was sitting outside.

Then she put her heart into every dish.

Childe looked at Qiu Yue, who was sitting beside Qiu Bai, lost in thought.

His little sister, huh? I wonder how Teucer is doing.

It's been a while since I went back to Snezhnaya.

Still, Mr. Qiu Bai's little sister really is beautiful.

Childe gazed at Qiu Yue, a little dazed by the thought.

Qiu Bai, meanwhile, watched Tartaglia with a warm smile in his eyes.

Being stared at by Tartaglia made Qiu Yue blush a little. She lowered her head and clutched her skirt with both hands.

"Mr. Tartaglia, is there something on my face?"

Only then did Qiu Yue speak shyly, her head still lowered.

"Hey, Tartaglia, it's rather rude to stare at a girl like that."

Qiu Bai clasped his hands together, rested his elbows on the table, and smiled at Tartaglia as he spoke.

"Uh, sorry, Miss Qiu Yue. I was just thinking about something."

"Seeing you reminded me of my little brother back in Snezhnaya."

Childe hurried to explain. After all, who wanted such a beautiful girl to think he was a creep?

Teucer: "Whatever you say, big brother."

Then he looked at Qiu Bai again, only to shudder at his warm smile.

Strange. Mr. Qiu Bai is clearly just an ordinary person without a Vision.

Why does he feel so dangerous?

Childe found it puzzling, but also thrilling. He really wanted to have a proper spar with him!

"Your food is ready!"

Xiangling's voice rang out from the kitchen.

Then, somehow, Xiangling emerged balancing a plate on her head.

She carried another plate in each hand, while Guoba carried one as well.

The dishes gave off an aroma that promised delicious food, and they were set on the table.

"Enjoy, Mr. Qiu Bai, Miss Qiu Yue, and Mr. Tartaglia!"

"This meal is on me!"

With that, Xiangling sat down too. Guoba stood on a stool, since he was simply too short.

"Let's dig in, then."

Qiu Bai picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of meat, and popped it into his mouth.

"Mmm... just what I'd expect from Xiangling."

Qiu Bai chewed a few times, then half-closed his eyes and savored the taste.

"You fried the meat in hot oil until crisp, then added sugar and jam to the pan in turn, setting the sauce aside once it thickened."

"Then you returned the crisp meat to the pan, poured in the thickened sauce, and stir-fried it until the sauce reduced."

"Beyond the superb technique, there's also the chef's confidence in her own cooking."

Qiu Bai slowly opened his eyes and praised Xiangling.

"Hehe, you're making me blush, Mr. Qiu Bai."

Xiangling scratched her head, a little embarrassed as she spoke to him.

His praise had touched her right where it mattered.

She hadn't expected Mr. Qiu Bai to be so much like Mr. Zhongli. Even the way they spoke had the same feel.

She remembered that Zhongli had been just like Mr. Qiu Bai when he came to eat.

Well... except that Mr. Zhongli always forgot to bring money.

"Hehe, I'm only telling the truth."

"There's no need to be embarrassed. Ask my little sister if you don't believe me."

"Or Childe Tartaglia."

Qiu Bai looked at Tartaglia, who seemed fairly comfortable with chopsticks, and his sister beside him as he spoke.

"Mhm! My brother's wight."

"It's weally yummy, Xiangling!"

Qiu Yue gave her a thumbs-up.

Her normally quiet face had puffed-out cheeks full of food, leaving her words muffled.

All traces of ladylike grace were gone, which was proof enough of how delicious Xiangling's cooking was.

But Qiu Bai's mouth twitched hard at the sight. He hadn't expected his sister...

...who usually seemed so gentle and quiet, to eat like this.

Tartaglia also gave Xiangling a thumbs-up.

"Miss Xiangling, your cooking..."

"...is better than anything I've eaten at Liuli Pavilion or back in Snezhnaya."

If not for his allegiance, he really might have grown fond of Liyue.

"Hehe, thank you, Qiu Yue and Mr. Tartaglia."

Xiangling thanked them with a smile, delighted.

Beside Xiangling, Guoba was also digging in eagerly, propping one foot on the chair as he struggled to reach the food.

Seeing this, Xiangling picked him up.

"Guoba! Why do you keep getting heavier?"

Holding Guoba, Xiangling helped him reach the dish.

Then she used all her strength to put him back on the chair, panting.

"Lu lu lu (＾ω＾)"

Guoba smiled happily at the dish before him, then started eating.

Xiangling had prepared generous portions of every dish precisely because she'd been worried about this happening.

Half an hour later, Qiu Bai stood up and stretched, then took out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth.

Xiangling began clearing the plates from the table.

Behind him, Qiu Yue gazed at him with a quiet, adorably vacant expression, her mouth covered in grease.

Qiu Bai couldn't hold it in.

"Hahahaha."

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Qiu Bai clutched his stomach, laughing so hard he nearly spat up the meal he'd just eaten.

Qiu Yue stood up indignantly and looked at her brother, unable to understand what was so funny.

"Uh... miss, there's grease on your face."

"Here, this is a handkerchief. You can use it to wipe your mouth."

Tartaglia, who was beside her, took in her adorable appearance and offered her a fresh handkerchief.

Qiu Yue accepted the handkerchief from Childe and wiped her mouth, copying her brother.

"So that's how it works..."

Qiu Yue murmured, feeling that she had learned something new.

Then she gave Tartaglia a sweet smile.

"Thank you, Mr. Tartaglia!"

"You're such a nice guy!"

Her smile bloomed like a flower as she looked sweetly at Tartaglia.

And just like that, she handed Tartaglia the nice guy card.

After speaking, Qiu Yue held out her delicate hand. Not understanding what she meant, Tartaglia assumed she wanted a handshake.

As soon as their hands met, a faint white glow appeared around Qiu Yue's hand and flowed into Tartaglia's body.

Childe felt warmth spread through his body, as comfortable as if he'd just stepped out of a bath.

The fatigue that had built up over the past few days vanished.

Even the side effects from using his Delusion over the past few years were gone, and a little light had returned to his eyes.

Why does it feel like my strength has returned to how it was before I ever used a Delusion?

Qiu Bai scanned Tartaglia with his divine power, checking the state of his body.

Did my sister use her authority to extend his lifespan?

I never expected Tartaglia to get this lucky.

Still, his sister certainly had a peculiar way of showing gratitude. Qiu Bai's mouth twitched hard at the thought.

After all, who thanked someone by extending their lifespan?

I just finished playing through the latest version 3.2 story, and I lost the fifty-fifty on Nahida! No!!!