Achoo! Achoo!
With fine wine before her, Wendy almost forgot about her cat hair allergy, her sneezes coming in rapid succession, yet her gaze remained fixed on the wine glass.
Helpless, Wendy devised a plan. Pinching her nose, she avoided smelling the wine's aroma and directly lifted the cup to her lips.
"Wow, this is so delicious? Achoo..."
Wendy took a small sip, and the magical taste simply astounded her.
It was as if she was personally experiencing the process of a witch brewing medicine...
A mere small cup of wine could grant her such a unique experience. This tavern truly lived up to its reputation!
However, the inevitable allergy would not be delayed just because she pinched her nose.
Thus, Wendy drank the fine wine, experiencing both pain and pleasure, and wanted another cup.
"I said before that I'd treat you to a free drink, but only that one just now. Wendy, if you want a refill, you'll have to pay for it yourself!"
Feng Yi glanced at Wendy, who was clearly craving more, and kindly reminded her.
"No problem, I'll owe you first, and I'll pay you back later!"
Wendy had no money on her, of course.
But she wanted more wine, and in her desperation, she resorted to her family's ancestral skill: putting it on the tab!
"The tavern operates on a small scale and does not offer credit. If you have no money, you can go to 'Angel's Share' next door. The people there are simple and have plenty of money; they'll let you put it on the tab!"
Feng Yi knew well the nature of this slacking wind god. Wendy in the game was unparalleled at evading debts. Diluc had no choice but to eventually agree to let her pay with performances.
The next day, Diluc blacklisted this penniless bard!
Feng Yi wasn't as wealthy as Diluc, who could buy fakes for a hefty sum without batting an eye.
Therefore, he resolutely refused Wendy's request to put it on the tab, giving her no chance to wriggle out of it.
"'Angel's Share' allows putting things on the tab? Hehe, I'll go check it out..."
Wendy downed the last drop of wine in her glass, then stood up to leave.
Feng Yi: Comrade Wendy, how much Diluc loses depends on your drinking capacity! Go for it!
Feng Yi watched Wendy depart, a slight smile playing on his lips. He left the empty wine glass for Noelle and the others to wash and headed towards the kitchen.
He had promised Noelle he would make them Slime jelly milk tea as payment for their labor, and it was time to fulfill his promise.
"Hahaha, the milk tea is here! Noelle, Barbara, Lumine, come quickly and drink it while it's hot!"
Feng Yi carried several cups of steaming hot milk tea to the counter, calling out to the three who weren't busy at the moment to come and taste it while it was warm.
"Noelle, why aren't you drinking?"
Feng Yi looked at Noelle, who was holding her milk tea and staring at him quizzically, and asked with some confusion.
"Feng Yi, tell me honestly, did you add that to it..."
Noelle sniffed the milk tea, feeling something was missing.
"Add what?"
Feng Yi tried to play dumb.
"The Water of Life!"
Noelle pressed on.
Feng Yi: "No!"
Noelle: Slime jelly milk tea without the Water of Life is like the West without Jerusalem, like the 3D district without Tifa...
"Alas~~~"
Noelle sighed, expressing endless regret, her gaze lingering on Feng Yi's fingers.
"Noelle, so this is the milk tea you were talking about?! It's really delicious! Oh right, why aren't you drinking it?"
Barbara took a small sip and was immediately won over by the milk tea's rich and mellow taste. As expected, the drinks recommended by Noelle were reliable!
However, she then noticed that Noelle seemed to be in a bad mood for some reason, not even drinking such delicious milk tea.
"Alas, Barbara, you're still young. You wouldn't understand if I explained it to you!"
Noelle said in an old-fashioned manner, making Barbara even more perplexed.
"Alright, seeing as you've been working so diligently for me today, I'll make an exception and indulge you this once! Noelle, bring your milk tea and come with me for a moment!"
Noelle's demeanor made it seem as if he was bullying her. Feng Yi ultimately chose to compromise.
"Hooray!"
Upon hearing that Feng Yi had finally relented, Noelle instantly revived, excitedly carrying her milk tea and following Feng Yi into the kitchen.
Not only Feng Yi, but even Barbara didn't expect that the usually pure and kind Noelle would also resort to "schemes"!
A few minutes later, Noelle emerged from the kitchen, licking her lips with a satisfied expression, leaving Barbara and the others bewildered.
"Noelle, what did you and Feng Yi do?"
Barbara was extremely curious.
"It's a secret. It's a secret between Feng Yi and me!"
Noelle said mysteriously.
Barbara: Humph! If you won't say, you won't say! As if I don't have secrets with Feng Yi!
A short while later, Feng Yi emerged after washing his hands and happened to see a dejected Wendy re-entering the tavern.
"Wendy? Are you alright? Did 'Angel's Share' refuse to put it on the tab?"
Feng Yi sat down next to Wendy and asked curiously.
It shouldn't be like this. Logically, this was Wendy's first time at Angel's Share. Diluc, not knowing Wendy's penchant for evading debts, wouldn't have blacklisted her!
"'Angel's Share' does allow putting things on the tab, but the drinks there... aren't as potent as here!"
Wendy said with a troubled expression. But Feng Yi's tavern wouldn't let him put it on the tab, so what was he to do?
"Wendy, that hat of yours is nice. If you're willing, you can exchange it for a drink!"
Feng Yi sensed a peculiar aura from Wendy's hat, like a divine essence nurtured by prolonged wear by a deity. Feng Yi was rather curious, so he casually mentioned it.
"This is my treasure! It's not worth just one drink; it should be at least two!"
Wendy's righteous rebuttal.
"Alright, deal!"
An extra drink or two wouldn't make much difference to Feng Yi. This was a huge profit!
"Hehe, then this hat is yours from now on!"
Wendy took off her hat and handed it to Feng Yi, then urged Feng Yi to serve the wine.
He felt he had great negotiation skills; his words doubled the profit. This was a sure win!
But after he took a sip of the wine exchanged for his hat, he immediately frowned and demanded Feng Yi refund him.
The reason was that the taste wasn't as good as the previous cup...
Feng Yi gestured for Wendy to calm down and, after asking Diona, understood that Diona hadn't added those strange ingredients to the drink.
"Alas, you should still add them for him!"
Feng Yi sighed helplessly and asked Diona to re-make a cup for Wendy.
Wendy seemed to have developed a rather peculiar taste. Feng Yi dared not say, nor dare he ask.
"Hoo... Achoo! This one has the right kick!"
Wendy sneezed as he drank the re-made wine by Diona, a look of satisfaction on his face.
"Refill... Refill, achoo..."
Since his hat could be exchanged for two drinks, wouldn't his clothes be worth even more?
A bold idea suddenly sprang into Wendy's mind!