"Sister Gan Yu, are you sure you won't have some? Xian Tiao Qiang isn't as good when it gets cold."
Gan Yu couldn't help but swallow at the words.
The extremely tempting aroma of Xian Tiao Qiang wafted through the air, an aroma that even an immortal would find hard to resist.
If it weren't for her strong willpower, an ordinary person who hadn't eaten for three days would have likely pounced on it and devoured it.
Gan Yu shook her head, clearing her mind to maintain her composure, and said softly.
"No, no, Ling Feng, please... please take it away. You can give it to Keqing or everyone at Yuehai Pavilion to try."
"But Keqing just finished eating, and everyone at Yuehai Pavilion has either gone out to eat or has already eaten. They shouldn't be hungry after just finishing their meal.
Besides, it's my first day working here, and I'm not familiar with everyone yet. If I abruptly invite them to eat, not many would accept, so I'm begging you, Sister Gan Yu."
Ling Feng continued his earnest, albeit fabricated, persuasion. He had used this tactic countless times and was incredibly skilled.
"Sigh, this... this... but I don't eat Xian Tiao Qiang."
"But Master Liuyun said your favorite dish is Xian Tiao Qiang. I remember Master telling me that every time she brought back Xian Tiao Qiang, you were always the fastest to arrive and ate the most."
Ling Feng seemed puzzled, recalling the details before speaking earnestly.
On Mount Aozang, when Cloud Retainer, the True Lord of the Clouds, was bored, she would "chat" with him. It was from her that he learned about Gan Yu's fondness for Xian Tiao Qiang.
"Eh!!! Liuyun... True Lord!" Gan Yu was shocked. Her past "glorious deeds" had been revealed by Cloud Retainer to someone else!
Mount Aozang
"Achoo! Achoo!"
Cloud Retainer and Shenhe were tinkering with something when Cloud Retainer suddenly sneezed twice for no apparent reason, leaving her bewildered.
"Master, are you sick?" Shenhe, holding an unidentified object, asked worriedly.
"What are you talking about! Your Master is an immortal of three eyes and five manifestations. How could an immortal body fall ill? Someone must be slandering me behind my back. Is it Moonlit Crag Lord or Vapoor essence?" Cloud Retainer retorted indignantly.
"Never mind, the mechanisms are more important. Shenhe, get ready. The manned kite 2.0 test is about to begin. This time, you don't need to worry about it flying away; I've secured the ropes.
For the handle on the right, inject elemental power into it, and it will convert into Pyro elemental energy for acceleration. You can give it a try."
The sneezing was a minor interlude. Cloud Retainer didn't dwell on it, and the immortal and the crane continued to research the "manned kite."
Ever since Ling Feng had discussed a plethora of ideas with Cloud Retainer, she had spent the past five months inventing new contraptions, such as rocket-powered sky lanterns that ascended with incredible speed!
Gan Yu's Office.
Hearing Ling Feng's words, Gan Yu could no longer conceal her feelings and nodded with a hint of helplessness.
"It's true that I used to love Xian Tiao Qiang, but because it makes me gain weight, I've given it up."
"Sister Gan Yu, in this life, only food and love are worthy of pursuit. Haven't you gone three days without eating? A pot of Xian Tiao Qiang would at most replenish the energy you've lost over these days, right? Besides, thinking is also a form of exercise.
Sister Gan Yu, you've been working for a thousand years, haven't you? It's only right to treat yourself to something you like, something good, to reward yourself. Isn't that okay?"
Upon hearing this, Gan Yu didn't immediately reply but lowered her head to ponder Ling Feng's words.
"What Ling Feng is saying seems very reasonable."
"Perhaps... I could make an exception this once? Xian Tiao Qiang, I haven't had it in ages. The last time I ate it was a thousand years ago."
"No! Gan Yu, you must remain calm. Not eating meat is a rule you set. How can you break it? Lord Geo Emperor will be disappointed."
"But Ling Feng was also personally chosen by Lord Geo Emperor, and what he says has merit."
"No! Rules cannot be easily broken."
"But..."
It was as if two little Gan Yus were arguing in her mind, one advocating for eating and the other against it, causing Gan Yu to become momentarily confused.
Ling Feng, outside, saw Gan Yu staring down and occasionally shaking her head. He assumed his persuasion had failed and she still chose not to eat.
"Sigh," Ling Feng sighed, picked up the Xian Tiao Qiang, and turned to leave, saying, "Since Sister Gan Yu doesn't like it, I'll go buy a plate of Four-Way Peace and bring it to you."
"Wait."
As Ling Feng was about to leave, his sleeve was suddenly caught by a hand. Ling Feng turned around.
He saw Gan Yu still hesitant, and she spoke shyly, "I... I'll just have a little."
Seeing this, Ling Feng smiled faintly, placed the Xian Tiao Qiang back on the table, and took out two sets of bowls and chopsticks, one for Gan Yu and one for himself.
Xian Tiao Qiang, even he himself was utterly tempted by the aroma. Even after eating, having a little more was not impossible.
The two began to eat.
Ten minutes later～
Ling Feng left Gan Yu's office with the empty pot.
Inside the office, a slight smile graced Gan Yu's face. She began her work with renewed vigor, her efficiency in reviewing and revising significantly improved.
Perhaps it was her good mood that made everything faster.
In the hallway, Ling Feng put away the pot and bowls, intending to wash them later.
By this time, Keqing should have finished her meal.
"Creak!"
Ling Feng pushed open Keqing's office door and entered. Keqing was currently hunched over, looking at a design blueprint, with her finished lunchbox placed to her right.
Seeing Ling Feng return, Keqing spoke, "You're back. I was just about to come find you. Come here quickly, I need to tell you about tomorrow's work plan."
Keqing had returned to her work mode, as if the awkward situation from a while ago hadn't happened.
"Mhm."
Ling Feng approached the desk and began listening to Keqing's work arrangements and his own role.
Since it was work, he would take it seriously. This was his principle and his bottom line—promises made must be kept, no matter the cost.
"Tomorrow, our main task will be housing construction. Due to population growth, there aren't enough houses. We'll be building another residential area in the western suburbs..."
They chatted until nine o'clock in the evening, the end of their workday, before leaving Yuehai Pavilion to return and rest. After all, they had work to do tomorrow, so they both went to bed relatively early.
Ling Feng, on the other hand, planned to find Xingqiu to discuss the sale of Oculi after his work was done. Although his salary was five hundred thousand mora, it translated to only five thousand primogems, which was still too little.
Oculi could fetch a good price, and selling them was a legitimate and proper way to obtain mora.