"Oh! You must be Lovia, the one Xiangling talks about all the time—the one with the amazing palate who gives her so many good ideas, right?" Master Mao's voice was loud, hearty, and full of vigor.
He casually put the kitchen knife down on the chopping board with a "dong," and a simple yet warm smile spread across his face: "Welcome, welcome! I finally get to meet you. That girl Xiangling hasn't stopped singing your praises!"
His attitude was so natural that it was as if Lovia having antennae on her head and a tail on her behind (?) was the most ordinary thing in the world, something you could see anywhere in Liyue Harbor.
Lovia's hand froze mid-air on its way to the cloak. She stared blankly at Master Mao, momentarily forgetting how to react.
Xiangling, seeing this, quickly interjected: "Dad, you startled me! Yes, this is Lovia, the Special Taste Consultant I told you about. She's incredibly talented!"
Master Mao laughed heartily and took a few steps closer, maintaining a distance that wouldn't make Lovia feel pressured. His eyes were filled with approval: "Excellent, excellent! Talented at a young age! Thanks to you helping Xiangling vet those strange ideas, the customers have been praising the new dishes lately. I should be thanking you!"
He rubbed his hands together, and seeing Lovia still looking reserved, his tone became even kinder: "When you're here, treat this place like your own home, don't be shy! Xiangling, make sure you look after her well. Grab whatever ingredients you need!"
With that, he turned back to the stove, resuming his "thud-thud-thud" chopping endeavor, as if what had just happened was a trivial matter.
There were no strange looks, no unnecessary questions, and no special treatment—only the most direct acceptance and welcome.
In this atmosphere, the anxiety Lovia had been holding onto slowly settled.
An indescribable warm current enveloped her, warmer than the sun and sweeter than Xiangling's special candies. She withdrew her hand, quietly clenching it by her side, her fingertips tingling with excitement.
"See, I told you!" Xiangling nudged her shoulder proudly, lowering her voice and chuckling, "My dad is super nice. He only cares about skill and sincerity; he doesn't worry about anything else!"
Lovia looked at Master Mao's busy, broad back, then at the brightly smiling Xiangling beside her, and Guoba, who was tilting his head and rubbing against her leg. Her eyes felt slightly warm.
She blinked hard and nodded vigorously. For the first time, outside of the hill, without the concealment of her Hood and cloak, and in front of others, she revealed a relaxed smile... And so, from that day on, the backyard of Wanmin Restaurant truly became Lovia's "safe haven" in Liyue Harbor.
She visited more and more often.
Initially, she only dared to remove her Hood and cloak when she was absolutely certain the backyard was quiet. Slowly, even when a helper occasionally rushed past, she could manage to stay calm, though her wings would instinctively press tight against her back.
Later still, she could naturally stretch her antennae and wings even when Xiangling and Master Mao were present, focusing on researching those "special" dishes with Xiangling.
Master Mao, having moved from his initial hearty acceptance, also grew accustomed to having this "special" little assistant in the backyard, and never asked about the things he was genuinely curious about.
Sometimes he would happily hand Lovia some "test samples" adjusted to her taste. Watching her eyes light up and then receiving precise descriptive feedback on the flavor, Master Mao would stroke his chin, smiling even more cheerfully.
In his eyes, Lovia's features were no longer strange; they had become as normal and cherished as her keen sense of taste.
The change happened without her realizing it.
The white Hood and cloak hung behind the door of Lovia's small room for longer and longer periods.
She still habitually put it on when going out, but on the way to Wanmin Restaurant, the Hood no longer seemed as tightly fastened as before. Occasionally, when the wind blew, it would playfully lift a corner, vaguely revealing strands of hair and the slightly trembling blue tips of her antennae.
She still wasn't ready to walk openly on the streets of Liyue Harbor in her true appearance, but the once-impenetrable barrier she used for self-protection had cracked open into a wider gap, thanks to a friendship held without reservation and a backyard as warm as home.
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