Meanwhile, Ningguang pulled Jean and Eula into a new chat group.
She renamed it [Mondstadt-Liyue Mutual Aid].
After a moment's thought, she added Keqing and Yelan too.
Keqing was supervising a construction site when her phone buzzed. She checked it, then slowly typed: [?]
[Ningguang]: Join us and make money. Don't want to? You can leave.
[Keqing]: …All right then.
Money was money—who would refuse? These days even a massage cost too much, let alone dating.
[Ningguang]: Let me introduce some of my industries: lipsticks, perfumes…
[Jean]: If we import all these at once, the Knights of Favonius won't have enough funds to support it.
[Ningguang]: That's why I brought in two partners.
[Yelan]: Just give me a number when the time comes.
[Keqing]: +1.
Eula scrolled through the chat, silently sighing to herself.
Liyue people really were rich.
In her office, Jean was reading the same chat and muttering the same words.
Mondstadt's springlike climate meant endless flowers year-round—perfect raw material for perfumes and cosmetics.
That could add a whole new pillar to Mondstadt's economy.
And new industries meant construction, raw material gathering, manufacturing… all requiring workers, easing unemployment.
When the business discussion ended, Ningguang sent Jean a private message.
"I visited the school today. Captain Jean, would you be interested in seeing it?"
"Oh? The one Mr. Xia founded? Of course I would."
Ningguang sent her a video call invite.
Jean accepted.
When it finally ended, she sat staring blankly at her phone, still dazed.
Through the teachers and students she'd just seen, she could almost glimpse Liyue's dazzling future.
And when she compared it to Mondstadt… a helpless weight pressed down on her.
The gap between the two nations was too wide.
In Mondstadt, they called it freedom. But truthfully? People were lax.
Blessed by the Anemo Archon, with such a mild climate, fruit ripened year-round in the wild. Few ever starved.
But that ease dulled Mondstadt's drive to fight against nature.
"This can't go on…" Jean murmured.
Countless ideas churned in her mind.
"I need to talk to Mr. Xia. Mondstadt needs schools too. We can't fall behind…"
And tonight, she'd be at the Serenitea Pot anyway.
The thought steeled her resolve.
School.
Ningguang pushed open the vice principal's office door, Baishi following at her side.
Behind the desk, Zhongli lifted his head, greeting her evenly. "Miss Ningguang."
She shook the phone in her hand. "I've already introduced our school to Captain Jean."
Zhongli inclined his head. "Thank you for your trouble."
Ningguang waved it off. "It was no trouble. But judging from her expression during the call, I think she's realized the importance of schools."
Still working on documents, Zhongli replied calmly, "That captain is intelligent. She won't overlook the value of education."
Ningguang studied him. "And why did you decide to draw Captain Jean into this?"
"Mr. Xia once said: universal education isn't just the duty of one nation, but of our entire age."
"That's the only reason?"
"The only one."
"I understand… you've worked hard handling school affairs these past weeks."
"As vice principal, it is my duty."
They exchanged a few more words about administration, then Ningguang left with her secretary.
Zhongli thought for a moment, then took out his phone and sent Venti a message.
[Zhongli]: I've kept my promise. Captain Jean should bring up the school soon.
[Venti]: Thanks, bestie!
[Zhongli]: Think nothing of it. Rare to see you serious. If you need help again, just ask.
[Venti]: Will do.
Setting down his phone, Venti smiled in satisfaction.
He and Dragon King had been drinking together often lately, chatting about everything.
Old memories made poor company; new stories made better drink.
Since leaving prison, Dragon King had taken a job as a school guard. Most of what he talked about was his experiences there.
The cafeteria food that put Mondstadt taverns to shame.
The children, each bright and sharp.
The textbooks, all filled with real substance.
…
As a god who'd lived among mortals for centuries, Venti could see through the descriptions alone: this new Liyue school wasn't like any academy he'd ever known.
Not just because three gods served as principal and vice principals. But because the quality—and quantity—of talent it would produce was unprecedented.
This would shape a nation's future.
With Liyue shifting to mortal rule, the country was already transforming.
If Mondstadt clung to old ways, the day would come when…
Venti rarely meddled in politics. But seeing so far ahead, he couldn't just do nothing.
It wasn't too late. Not yet.
Gods were meant to fade into the background. Mondstadt couldn't be allowed to lag behind Liyue.
That night, while playing games, he'd quietly asked Morax for help.
Zhongli had agreed. And since his relationship with Jean was distant, he'd asked Miss Ningguang to make the introduction.
That was how this all came about.
Jean would never guess it was her easygoing Anemo Archon who'd planned everything.
Beside him, Dragon King gave him a strange look. "Why are you smiling like that?"
Venti clapped his shoulder. "Just thinking of something that makes me happy."
Dragon King's face twisted. "What, are you memeing now too?"
Venti laughed. "No, really happy. We get another free dinner tonight."
Dragon King chuckled. "That's true."
Then Venti leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "I just had an idea. Maybe we can get more wine from bestie."
"Oh?" Dragon King's interest lit. "What kind of idea?"
"You remember when Moon Carver did that divination for Eula and Barbara? Only we know about it. Bestie doesn't."
Dragon King considered. "True. Though Mr. Xia's skilled at divination too. But I doubt he'd spend his time matchmaking for them…"
Venti's eyes sparkled. "Exactly. We can tell him about it. Then ask for some wedding wine."
Dragon King rubbed his chin. "Might work. That'd count as celebratory drinking, right?"
Venti nodded eagerly. "Yep. So who tells him—you or me?"
Dragon King coughed. "I'll go. You already asked him for ten bottles once. I'll have better luck."
Venti thought it over, then agreed. "Fair enough."
Dragon King wasted no time. Spotting a quiet moment, he slipped over to Xia Zhi and told him the story.
Xia Zhi's face went odd. "Seriously?"
Dragon King nodded firmly. "Absolutely. If not, I'll smack that Moon Carver brat myself."
Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper weren't far away, and Moon Carver nearly choked. What did this have to do with him? He hadn't even wanted to do the reading—Dragon King had forced him!
That old man was shameless.
Xia Zhi thought it over. "Miss Eula… Barbara… I see. I'll calculate it myself later."
Dragon King coughed again. "Mr. Xia…"
Xia Zhi eyed him. "Why do you look like you've got something else to say? Is there someone else?"
Dragon King remembered another time Moon Carver had read fortunes in the Serenitea Pot—for Lisa and Sucrose.
He'd almost blurted it out. But then thought: if he saved it for later, that meant more bottles.
So he shook his head. "No. Moon Carver only read for those two."
"Then why the cough?"
"My throat's dry. Haven't had wine all morning."
"Didn't Venti give you five bottles earlier?"
"Only five…" Dragon King gave him a meaningful look.
Xia Zhi sighed. "So how many bottles to clear your throat?"
"Ten should do it."
"Fine. Here."
Dragon King returned grinning, splitting five bottles with Venti.
Venti smirked. "So now you're paying me back?"
"See? I'm a good friend, aren't I?" Dragon King said smugly.
"Not bad."
"So… am I bestie now?"
"Of course."
Just then, Moon Carver stared at him with a look full of grievance.
"What's wrong with you?" Dragon King asked.
"I was the one who did the reading. Don't I get a share?"
"…Fine. One bottle."
Mountain Shaper cleared his throat. "It was my intuition that time. Don't I get one too?"
"…All right, one for you."
Dragon King sighed heavily. "Should've asked for more. Mountain Shaper, any other intuitions?"
Mountain Shaper hesitated, then said, "That Rosaria woman?"
Dragon King's eyes lit. "Moon Carver, read it—"
But Moon Carver shook his head furiously. "No way! You'll just hit me again!"
"…"