“Yes, little Diona.” Ye Xun looked down, his tone gentle.
Diona started slightly, her cat ears twitching.
“You know me?” “Of course!” Ye Xun laughed as if it were obvious.
“You’re the best bartender in all of Mondstadt!” At the word “bartender,” Diona’s little face immediately fell, a flash of frustration in her eyes.
Her dream was clearly to destroy Mondstadt’s wine industry.
And yet, somehow, she had inexplicably become its finest bartender.
It was so frustrating!
Still, she quickly rallied, puffing out her chest and saying seriously, “Boss Ye Xun, Dad sent me to tell you—the townspeople approved the cooperation proposal!
You just need to go to the Knights of Favonius to handle the paperwork, and it’s set.” “Thank you for letting me know,” Ye Xun said with a smile.
“I’ll go to the Knights of Favonius the day after tomorrow to process the paperwork for building the winery.” “Wait—!” Diona’s eyes snapped wide, her voice spiking.
“Did you say…
building a winery?!” Ye Xun nodded.
“Didn’t your father tell you?” “Agh—!
I’m so mad!” Diona stamped her foot and turned, running off in a huff.
Her tiny figure quickly receded in the sunset, her cat tail puffed out in fury.
Ye Xun watched her retreating back and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
“You terrible guy, always picking on others!” Beside him, Lynette let out a quiet hmph and turned toward the hotel.
Ye Xun shook his head helplessly, unsure of how he had offended her this time.
Stepping forward, he followed her toward the hotel.
……..
The next day, at the Fatui stronghold.
Ye Xun stood before a group of Fatui, a heavy wooden chest resting quietly beside him.
He slowly looked around the room and declared loudly, “Everyone, I said a few days ago—as far as I’m concerned, funding is never an issue.” With that, he flipped open the chest.
In an instant, the brilliant golden glint of Mora burst forth, dazzling everyone so brightly they could hardly keep their eyes open.
“Now, everyone come over and collect last month’s salary,” Ye Xun continued.
However, silence fell over the room.
No one stepped forward.
Ye Xun looked slightly puzzled and was about to ask when Lyudmila spoke up in a low voice, “Officer Ye Xun, our salaries have already been paid.” “Is that so?” Ye Xun stroked his chin, then waved his hand magnanimously.
“Then consider it last month’s overtime pay.” “But we didn’t work overtime either…” Lyudmila replied truthfully.
Ye Xun’s brow furrowed slightly with mild impatience.
“Then consider it last quarter’s bonus…
and that’s final!” Lyudmila said no more.
He was clearly set on giving them money; pushing back any further would just be tactless.
Next, Ye Xun had everyone line up while he personally handed out the money.
This method of winning people’s hearts was simple and crude, yet far more effective than a thousand words.
As each of them received the gleaming Mora from Ye Xun’s hands, an unmistakable surge of excitement and gratitude welled up in their eyes.
If sent back to Snezhnaya, this money could smooth out a few wrinkles on their parents’ brows and add another cutlet to their younger siblings’ plates…
After handing out the money, Ye Xun asked seemingly casually, “Is there anyone left who hasn’t collected theirs?” A staff member from Northland Bank answered, “Officer, currently only Maxim and his men haven’t come to collect.” “Oh?” Ye Xun raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a perfectly calibrated note of confusion.
“When did I ever say they get a quarterly bonus?” The staff member immediately caught on and quickly adjusted, “My apologies, I misremembered!” Ye Xun gave a generous wave of his hand.
“No matter.
Just remember next time.” He paused, his expression turning stern.
“Maxim and his crew have forgotten the Tsaritsa’s supreme ideals and betrayed the Fatui’s grand belief.
If they remain stubbornly unrepentant, what awaits them will be an even harsher punishment!” His chilling words echoed through the room.
Everyone’s expressions turned solemn, a newfound awe and dread filling their eyes.
A moment later, Ye Xun’s expression softened, a smile floating onto his lips.
“Everyone, that’s all for today.
Later, head over to the Cat’s Tail Tavern—everything’s on my tab!” As his words fell, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted in the room.
Before long, the crowd dispersed in small groups, heading joyfully toward the tavern.
Ye Xun turned to look at Lynette beside him, only to see her pressing her lips together, her small face drooping, and her cat ears sagging in a somber mood.
Everyone had received a bonus except her.
In this jerk’s heart, was she really that insignificant?
Just as she was thinking this, Ye Xun bent down, picked up the chest that still held one or two million Mora, and held it out in front of her.
“I’m not carrying this for a jerk like you!” Lynette turned her face away, huffing angrily.
Ye Xun asked with a smile, “Are you really not taking it?” “I’m not!” Lynette’s tone was resolute.
“Alright then.” He let out a sigh of exaggerated regret.
“I was originally going to give it to you as your bonus.
Since you don’t want it…
I guess it’s mine.” “Who said I don’t want it!” Lynette snatched the chest and hugged it tightly against her chest, the tips of her ears turning slightly red.
Ye Xun let out a quiet laugh, turned, and strode outside.
Lynette followed behind with the chest, her slender cat tail already unable to contain itself, swishing happily from side to side.
Later that evening, inside the Cat’s Tail Tavern, lights blazed bright amidst lively laughter and clamor.
Everyone raised their glasses, drinking and chatting in a warm, harmonious atmosphere.
Meanwhile, in another corner of Mondstadt, the scene was entirely different.
In a dim, dreary room, Maxim and a few of his men sat around a moldy wooden table.
On the table was only a pot of thin, bland potato soup, beside which sat several pieces of black bread even harder than dalieba.
The door creaked open, and Olag walked in with a complex expression.
“What did Ye Xun assemble everyone for today?” Maxim asked with a frown.
Olag hesitated briefly before speaking.
“To hand out money.” “Hand out money?” Maxim froze.
“What money?” “Last quarter’s bonus…
100,000 Mora per person.” A faint hint of envy and disappointment lingered in Olag’s voice, impossible to conceal.
The others’ eyes instantly lit up, and they asked urgently, “Is there any for us?” Olag shook his head.
“…No.” A chorus of low sighs immediately resounded through the room.
Maxim’s face turned pale with rage, his fists clenching tightly.
He knew that if he didn’t do something soon, this “family” would completely fall apart.
He slammed his palm on the table, rattling the soup pot.
“Ye Xun is just enjoying a brief moment of success!
If he fails to secure the Gnosis, his end will be horrific!
Meanwhile, we will return to the Winter Capital with dignity and a bright future before us!”