Genshin Impact: Being a Male God in Liyue

The next morning, around eight o'clock.

Xia Zhi woke up as usual, got out of bed and opened the window to see quite a few tourists already strolling on the street outside.

After all, this was the prosperous Fei Yun Slope.

At this hour, most shops had already begun their daily operations - few shops opened as late as nine o'clock.

Of course, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was an exception.

People passing by on the street would occasionally stop, looking curiously at this newly opened shop.

"Summer Shop? What do they sell?"

"Don't know, but looking at how new the sign is, it must have just opened?"

"The young lady sweeping at the entrance is so pretty, why don't we go ask?"

"Hey!"

"Sorry, customers, our shop hasn't started business yet. Please come back after nine."

"Alright..."

Xia Zhi listened to the voices from downstairs and couldn't help but smile, turning to walk to the table.

His manuscript was still where she had left it, exactly as it was.

Xia Zhi collected the manuscript, changed out of his pajamas, and picked up the incense burner.

Walking downstairs, he saw Qiqi sitting alone at a table inside the shop, quietly staring at the wall lost in thought. However, he didn't see any medicine basket in the shop, so Qiqi probably hadn't gone herb-picking last night.

Zhu Zi was sweeping at the entrance, wearing the cheongsam uniform they had picked up yesterday. The proper size perfectly displayed her youthful curves, her slender straight legs wrapped in black stockings emanated a gentle allure, and she wore high heels that made her figure look even taller and more attractive.

"Boss, you're finally up!"

Zhu Zi had been sweeping for half the morning, looking into the shop countless times, and now finally seeing Xia Zhi's figure, she immediately called out loudly.

Xia Zhi nodded, smiling and said: "Good morning, Zhu Zi."

Seeing his completely unworried appearance, Zhu Zi felt that helpless feeling of an employee being more anxious than their boss, and said: "Boss, we're opening today!"

"It's fine, there's still plenty of time. We start at nine."

"So many customers have already come by to ask!"

"I know."

"Huh?"

"I heard from upstairs."

Zhu Zi opened and closed her mouth, suddenly at a loss for words. She cutely puffed up her cheeks and looked toward the table inside the shop, saying: "Qiqi came early too."

Xia Zhi pretended to just learn this, after all, he was blind - if Qiqi didn't speak, he shouldn't know she was sitting there. He nodded: "Miss Qiqi, good morning."

Qiqi looked at the incense burner in his hand and said softly: "Good morning, Mr. Xia."

Xia Zhi walked over, put the incense burner on the table, took out a small piece of incense and lit it.

The familiar pleasant fragrance wafted through the air.

Smelling this scent, Qiqi's pale little face couldn't help but show a trace of satisfaction.

Compared to that beautiful female ghost from last night, her demeanor was much more reserved.

Xia Zhi turned around, went to wash up in the back room, and returned: "Miss Qiqi, we're going to get breakfast. Could we trouble you to watch the shop for a while?"

Qiqi sat up slightly straighter and said seriously: "Okay."

"If any customers come asking, just tell them the shop isn't open yet and to come back after nine."

"Mm."

"Then we'll trouble Miss Qiqi."

"It's no trouble."

Xia Zhi and Zhu Zi went out.

Qiqi thought for a moment, moved her chair to the shop entrance, and sat there quietly watching the passersby on the street.

Whenever customers came to inquire, she would stand up from her chair, tilt her head slightly back, and tell them in a very serious tone that it wasn't business hours yet, please come back after nine.

Having just sent away a curious customer and about to sit down, Qiqi suddenly heard an energetic voice full of mischief.

"Oh my, if it isn't Qiqi?"

As if hearing something terrifying, Qiqi's movements suddenly froze, and she slowly turned her head.

A familiar figure came into view.

Deep red twin-tails, black hat with the Qian-Kun Tai-Gua symbol, vibrant red plum blossoms, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's emblem...

Hu Tao wore a brilliant smile, her hands behind her back as she approached Qiqi with light steps.

Her shoes made low tapping sounds against the ground, seemingly echoing against Qiqi's long-stilled heart.

Being captured multiple times, having a bag thrown over her head, watching her eagerly dig burning pits, writing apology letters lamenting that she wasn't quick enough to let herself rest in peace...

These unpleasant and frightening memories had been forgotten by Qiqi, but in the past two days, due to the effects of the incense, she had remembered them all.

Hu Tao walked up to Qiqi, looking at her curiously and asked: "Why aren't you staying at Bubu Pharmacy today? How dare you come to my territory?..."

Qiqi lifted her head, silently looking at her. Previously, she had always been caught by her during the ghostly hours of night in places where no one was around, but now it was broad daylight on a busy street - surely she wouldn't be so reckless?

Hu Tao felt strange being stared at with such an unusual gaze. In her memory, Qiqi's eyes had always held a bewildered innocence, never as normal as today.

Hu Tao felt that this Qiqi was somehow different from before, and couldn't help but ask: "What's wrong with me?"

Qiqi blinked and said softly: "I'm helping Mr. Xia watch the shop."

"Helping Mr. Xia watch the shop?" Hu Tao paused, raising her head to look at the sign above. "Summer Shop... So this is why that wealthy Mr. Xia bought the building?"

She had met Xia Zhi a few days ago and remembered this young neighbor wearing black glasses. She had planned to visit him after he moved in, but then she got a big job and had been busy in Qingce Village for several days, only just returning now.

Hu Tao curiously looked at the interior setup - a counter toward the back, several tables with books, overall feeling quite empty: "What does this shop sell?... Eh?"

A faint incense fragrance entered her nose, making her pause again. Then her gaze suddenly fixed on the incense burner on the table, her face showing an expression of surprise.

"What kind of incense is this?"

As someone who frequently walked the boundary between life and death, she immediately noticed the true effect of this fragrance.

Qiqi looked at her and said softly: "This shop sells special juice."

She glanced at the incense burner again and continued softly: "That incense, Mr. Xia said, is calming incense."

"Calming?"

Hu Tao repeated in a low voice, with a strange expression.

"Shouldn't it be soul-calming instead?"