Xiangling's movements were surprisingly fast, as if he were afraid this rare kindred spirit would change her mind.
Lovia could hear a cheerful clatter of pots and pans coming from the stove, along with Xiangling's occasional commands to Guoba, "Guoba, pass me that!" interspersed with the tuneless little ditty he was humming.
Before long, a strange aroma wafted over. It wasn't the traditional oily or meaty scent of most dishes, but rather something fresher—a blend of the sweet crispness of lotus root and a smooth elemental aura.
"It's here, it's here! Freshly made slime glazed lotus root slices!" Xiangling carried a snow-white porcelain plate, almost skipping over in excitement, and carefully placed it in front of Lovia.
His eyes were sparkling as he looked at Lovia with anticipation.
Lovia looked down at the plate.
The white lotus root slices were cut evenly, possessing a translucent quality, and were coated in a crystal-clear, jelly-like pale blue viscous sauce. Tiny bubbles dotted the sauce, reflecting a subtle luster under the light.
A few strands of tender green scallions were sprinkled on top, adding a splash of color.
The presentation... was unexpectedly good? Lovia was secretly surprised.
This Slime dish looked excellent whether from a human's or a Melusine's perspective. (Melusine vision is different from humans, but I don't know how to write Melusine vision, so I'll just fudge it.)
"Hurry, try it!" Xiangling urged impatiently. Even Guoba leaned in closer, tilting his large head and curiously watching the little guest's reaction.
Lovia took a deep breath and picked up her chopsticks. She first picked up a slice of lotus root covered in the pale blue condensate, hesitated for a moment, and then brought it to her mouth beneath her hood.
First, she felt the crispness and slight sweetness of the lotus root, followed immediately by the unique texture of the Slime condensate melting in her mouth.
For humans, this slimy, slightly fishy-smelling mucus-like sensation might be unbearable, but for a Melusine... it was delicious!
Lovia's eyes widened under her hood!
It was an indescribably wonderful experience. The condensate melted instantly, bringing a cool and sweet taste, like the purest spring water from the mountains, yet with a unique denseness and smoothness that perfectly balanced the crisp hardness of the lotus root, creating a rich layering of textures.
More importantly, the faint hydro element contained within the condensate acted like a gentle nourishment, making her feel extremely comfortable.
This wasn't "dark cuisine" at all; this was... a delicacy tailored specifically for her!
Just as she thought, just as she thought!
She had wondered before if Xiangling could cook Melusine cuisine, but she just hadn't had the time to verify it. Now, it seemed she could finally continue to enjoy delicious Liyue cuisine—and it was Chef Xiangling's delicious cooking at that!
"How is it? How is it?" Xiangling asked nervously from the side.
Lovia quickly swallowed the food, her voice carrying a hint of excitement and joy: "Mmm... it's very special! It's slippery and cool, the lotus root is very crisp, and the flavor is fantastic. It's delicious!"
"Really? That's great!" Xiangling was so happy he almost started dancing. "I knew it! There's always someone who can appreciate these pure, natural flavors! Try some more; it tastes even better when you eat the condensate and the lotus root together!"
Encouraged, Lovia no longer hesitated and took several more bites, each one confirming her feelings further.
Slime cuisine was definitely a boon for Melusines!
She even began to feel that the so-called "normal" Melusine food she had eaten before was simply bland and tasteless.
Seeing her little guest eating with "relish" (though he couldn't see her expression, the movements didn't lie), Xiangling's creative passion soared like never before: "It seems you really enjoy this flavor! Want to try something else? The crispness of rising mist, or the explosive Flame Spark? My treat!"
Lovia was tempted—not because it was free, but because the food was right there, and it was a rare delicacy that suited her palate.
She felt the bulging coin purse in her arms, then felt the call of her taste buds, and finally nodded, saying in a shy and expectant voice: "Then... then I'll have another portion of 'rising mist', thank you, Big Sister."
"No problem! Leave it to me! Guoba, let's do our best too!" Xiangling returned to the stove full of energy and began a new round of cooking.
Lovia sat in the corner, eating the plate of "slime glazed lotus root slices" in small bites, feeling the surprise and satisfaction on her taste buds.
Beneath her hood, her face wore the most genuine and happy smile since she had traveled to Liyue.
Living in Liyue Harbor wasn't bad at all; there was even food here that she could feast upon!
She began to seriously consider whether she should frequent Wanmin Restaurant from now on.
————————————————————————————
"rising mist" was served soon after.
Just as the name suggested, this dish was full of light movement. Slices of Anemo Slime, as thin as a cicada's wing, complemented tender yellow bamboo shoots and black wood ear mushrooms amidst bright green scallions; the overall color was refreshing.
The ingredients in the dish looked as if they were truly being blown by a gentle breeze, emitting a fresh yet elastic aura. (I don't know how to write this, so I'm just making it up.)
Lovia picked up a mouthful with her chopsticks.
The texture of the Anemo Slime slices was extremely unique, even more refreshing than the hydro element condensate. It had a minty coolness that paired wonderfully with the crispness of the bamboo shoots and the toughness of the wood ear mushrooms.
That light flavor made her feel as if her whole body was about to float away, and her mood became even more joyful.
"Rua!" Guoba had approached again at some point, his round eyes staring unblinkingly at the plate in front of Lovia, his furry face seemingly showing a bit of curiosity and greed.
Seeing Lovia's almost non-stop chopsticks and her obvious pleasure, the smile on Xiangling's face grew even brighter.
He pulled over a small stool and sat down, his chin resting on his hands like a child waiting for praise: "How is it? This one's not bad either, right? Let me tell you, handling Anemo Slimes requires very precise heat control; if it's even slightly overdone, it loses that light texture..."
Lovia couldn't help but nod as she ate.
At this moment, the satisfaction brought by the food made her temporarily forget the tension of their first meeting, and she began to respond naturally: "Mhm, it's really special and delicious!"
Hearing this clearer feedback, Xiangling opened up even more, talkatively sharing his journey of developing these Slime dishes—from how he discovered the characteristics of different elemental Slimes to how he combined them with traditional Liyue ingredients, overcoming conflicts in taste and texture... [Gift bonus rules are in the author's note of Chapter 63, thank you for your support!]
[Current progress bar: 0%] (This time it's just right, hahaha)
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