Before long, the manga shop welcomed its first customers of the afternoon.
As usual, they were familiar faces—Yanfei and Xiangling.
"Boss, we're back!"
Yanfei greeted Han Feng with a cheerful smile as she walked up to the counter.
She rarely got a chance to relax, so she had come to enjoy some manga.
"Welcome."
"How's that voice recorder working out?"
Han Feng asked with a smile.
"It's unbelievably convenient."
"With it, I can record everything people say directly."
At the mention of the recorder, Yanfei's eyes lit up.
That little gadget had greatly reduced her workload.
Otherwise, there was no way her efficiency would have improved so dramatically.
"That's good."
Turning to Xiangling, Han Feng asked, "And how about you? How's your father's new dish doing?"
He was rather curious about how well that clothes-bursting cuisine had been received in Liyue.
"Boss Han..."
"It's even more popular than my Magical Mapo Tofu."
Xiangling laughed helplessly.
After she and her father returned yesterday, Chef Mao immediately began studying the recipe.
With the reward's knowledge already implanted in his mind...
He mastered it very quickly.
Curious, Xiangling decided to taste it herself.
After one bite...
She never dared touch it again.
The sensation had been so overwhelming that she'd been embarrassed beyond words.
Who would've thought a dish like that could even exist?
Yet...
Once Wanmin Restaurant added it to the menu...
The people of Liyue absolutely loved it.
Everyone became addicted to that indescribably blissful sensation.
As a result...
Her once wildly popular Magical Mapo Tofu had suddenly become much less sought after.
Although Xiangling knew it was simply because people were excited about trying something new...
She still couldn't help laughing helplessly.
Since everyone had flocked to eat her father's latest creation...
She decided to come relax by reading manga instead.
On the way...
She happened to run into Yanfei.
"There's actually something even more popular than your magical tofu?"
Yanfei's interest was immediately piqued.
She'd already tasted Xiangling's Mapo Tofu before.
It was unbelievably delicious.
Now there was a dish that surpassed even that?
Just thinking about it made her eager to try it.
"Yanfei."
"After we're done reading, come to Wanmin Restaurant with me."
"Sure."
"But you'd better take it home... or eat it in my room."
Xiangling's expression turned rather awkward.
After all...
That dish's "side effects" really weren't suitable for women to experience while dining in public.
"Now you've made me even more curious."
Rather than calming Yanfei's interest...
Xiangling's warning only made her more intrigued.
Even eating it required special circumstances?
If she weren't here to read manga...
She would've rushed over to try it immediately.
"So..."
"Still planning to read Food Wars! today?"
Han Feng asked with an amused smile.
Yesterday...
Chef Mao had tried to stop Xiangling from reading it.
She'd stubbornly insisted on seeing it anyway.
He wondered whether she'd changed her mind.
"Ahem..."
"I'll pass for now."
Xiangling coughed awkwardly and quickly shook her head.
That manga was simply too embarrassing.
She decided she'd wait a while before continuing it.
For the next few days...
She'd read something else instead.
After placing a bag of Mora on the counter...
She headed toward the bookshelves.
"Boss Han, I'm off too!"
Yanfei also paid before following after Xiangling.
Soon...
The two arrived before the shelves and began browsing.
"Oh?"
"Doraemon!"
Xiangling's eyes immediately brightened at the sight of the manga with the blue robotic cat on its cover.
Ever since hearing that Yanfei had obtained the Bamboo-copter from this series...
She'd wanted to read it herself.
Unfortunately...
One thing after another had prevented her from doing so.
At last...
Today she had the chance.
"I guess our timing's just good."
Yanfei smiled.
When she'd entered the shop...
She'd noticed there were hardly any customers.
Sure enough...
The best time to read manga was when the shop wasn't busy.
That way...
There were far more books to choose from.
You could simply pick whichever one you wanted.
"I think you're right."
"I'm taking this one."
"What about you?"
Xiangling picked up Doraemon before looking over.
"I'm still deciding..."
"Hm?"
"Why are there two books in the same series?"
Yanfei looked curiously at Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Until now...
Every manga in the shop had been a standalone volume.
This was the first time she'd seen a continuing series.
"Looks like it's a sequel."
Xiangling guessed after taking a quick look.
"Hehe."
"Then I'll read this series."
"Long stories are always more interesting."
Yanfei's curiosity was immediately aroused.
After comparing the two books...
She figured Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone must be the first volume.
With that...
She and Xiangling each took their chosen manga and headed into the reading area.
...
Meanwhile...
At Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in Liyue...
Hu Tao had already finished getting ready and was preparing to head to the manga shop.
Before leaving...
She glanced toward Old Meng, who was sitting in the main hall.
"Not coming today either?"
"No, Director."
"I'm staying at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor these next couple of days."
"I'll think about going out later."
Old Meng shook his head repeatedly.
To him...
The outside world had become far too dangerous.
The funeral parlour was much safer.
There were coffins everywhere.
Surely...
Even his Grim Reaper physique couldn't cause trouble in a place like this.
"Alright then."
Hu Tao sighed.
She'd originally been thinking that...
If he wasn't going to read manga...
Maybe they could at least go for a stroll.
Perhaps they'd even bring in some new business for Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
But seeing Old Meng like this...
She abandoned the idea.
Once his mindset recovered...
She'd take him out herself.
Combined with her Heartbroken Soul Palm...
The funeral parlour's business would definitely boom.
But for now...
She had something much more important to do.
She'd made a promise with Qiqi yesterday.
After reading manga today...
They were going back into the wild to catch more pets.
"Hehe..."
"Qiqi..."
"My Qiqi..."
Just thinking about that little zombie...
Hu Tao couldn't help grinning.
Humming happily to herself...
She skipped merrily toward the manga shop.
At that moment...
A familiar voice suddenly called out from behind her.
"Hu Tao."
"Heading out to have some fun again?"
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