C14 Too Short!

"I'm exhausted..."

Mu Jin collapsed on the ground, gazing up at a sky blanketed with stars, feeling utterly unmotivated to move...

The rice crust beside her seemed to share her sentiment.

"We're almost at Wangshu Inn! We can rest there for the night! Mondstadt isn't far now!"

"Hehe... There's so much food I've never tried just waiting for me!"

Xiangling's eyes sparkled with excitement, her gestures animated as she lost herself in dreams of discovering ingredients and creating new dishes.

Mu Jin had been traveling with her for several days. What had seemed like a brief trek in the game turned out to be a marathon in reality.

And then there were those travelers with their anchor points...

Damn, I'm jealous!

She had seen those anchor points, even reached out to touch them, but to no avail.

Frustrated, Mu Jin had taken her baseball bat to a few Hilichurls that had ambushed them.

The result was a disheveled appearance and a scolding from Xiangling, leaving her feeling quite aggrieved.

Somehow, Mu Jin's forlorn expression only made her seem more endearing.

Feeling a pang of guilt, Xiangling made grilled fish for Mu Jin that evening.

Which was promptly devoured by Mu Jin in her characteristically hearty manner.

What was it that made me find this clumsy, white-haired goofball so adorable?

As their friendship deepened, Xiangling came to understand the kind of person Mu Jin really was.

A food lover, a bit naive, she'd even talk in her sleep about what she wanted for breakfast.

She had an air of innocence about her; the smallest treat could bring her joy for hours.

She was like a stray cat in many ways.

But she had her serious moments too, like when fighting off Hilichurls or repelling the Treasure Hoarders' raids.

And then there were the times she'd dash off on her own.

Returning with minor cuts, covered in dust, and clutching her blood-stained wooden bat, her easy demeanor and adept combat moves revealed that this girl was no stranger to battle.

She was far more complex than she appeared on the surface.

(Mu Jin: I... I was just thinking about fighting Hilichurls to get crystals for the gacha draw. Why did you read so much into it?)

At that time, there were hardly any around, and Xiangling had only caught a glimpse of them on a few occasions.

Snapping out of her reverie, Xiangling pulled herself back from the brink of nostalgia.

There sat Mu Jin, drowsy and clutching a rice crust, slumping casually on the grass with a massive rock at her back.

She thought to herself, better to just rest now. After all, she was only a chef; no need to fret over anything else.

Xiangling quickened her pace and moved closer.

Without much thought, she leaned next to Mu Jin, deciding it was time for a well-deserved break.

It was surprising how well the rice crust and Mu Jin got along.

Initially, Mu Jin had mistaken the rice crust for something she could eat.

The memory of the rice crust, looking forlorn as it recounted a white-haired ghost's desire to devour it, almost made Xiangling burst into laughter.

But seeing them get along so well was quite heartwarming.

Observing Mu Jin's blissfully sleeping face and the drool nearly escaping her mouth, Xiangling couldn't help but chuckle quietly.

She had been through a lot, though. Once they reached Wangshu Inn, she could finally rest properly.

After trekking alongside Xiangling for the better part of the day, Mu Jin's eyes lit up at the sight of Wangshu Inn, the place she had been yearning for!

"Lady Boss, could we have a double room, please?"

Mu Jin stepped forward before Xiangling, presenting the Mora she had gathered in recent days to the innkeeper of Wangshu Inn.

Having enjoyed Xiangling's cooking and care for the past several days, Mu Jin felt it would be awkward to let her pay now.

Understanding Mu Jin's sentiment, Xiangling remained silent, giving her a look of pride, as if to say, "My child has grown up."

With her back to Xiangling, Mu Jin was oblivious to her gaze and felt an inexplicable shiver.

Suddenly, a delicious aroma wafted up from below, and Mu Jin's stomach responded with an audible rumble.

The innkeeper, catching the sound, gave the young girl a bashful smile and asked, "Miss, would you like to place an order?"

Xiangling, unable to contain her excitement, chimed in, "Lady Boss, may I go down and check out the kitchen? I'm really curious about what your chef is whipping up! It smells absolutely divine!"

"Absolutely, there's a table available over there too. You can place your order there as well."

"Yay!"

Xiangling, brimming with excitement, dashed toward the kitchen, with the rice crust ambling behind her.

Mu Jin offered an apologetic smile to the proprietress of Wangshu Inn before hurrying after them.

Upon entering the kitchen, he observed Xiangling curiously circling the stove. "Hmm, is this almond tofu?"

"Indeed, it's specially made for a young fellow who may not be tall, but is undeniably handsome," the chef remarked, not even glancing up as his hands continued their swift dance with the knife.

A young man who's short but handsome?

Mu Jin stared at the almond tofu, lost in thought.

...Could he possibly be referring to Xiao?