Didn't you go to Teyvat to earn money to support me?

Shen Liang didn't have much luggage, or rather, all his luggage was in the coffin. He carried the coffin on his back and pushed open the gate to his small courtyard. The courtyard was very well maintained, with a sycamore tree, a small pond, and a part of the area that had been turned into fields to grow vegetables.

The first floor seemed to be the residence of other students, and they were the ones who took care of the yard. It was the beginning of the semester, and he didn't see any residents on the first floor. Shen Liang lived on the second floor, but he ignored them and went straight up the stairs. He then took out a brass key and opened the door to his second-floor suite. As soon as he opened it, a dusty smell from months of no one living there hit him.

However, Shen Liang still frowned.

This is a suite, and the living room, which is part of the common area, is piled high with packages. He thought his coffin was big enough, but it turns out his roommate's luggage was probably shipped directly from the hotel. Judging by the size of the package, it probably won't fit in her bedroom and will have to take up space in the common area.

Shen Liang lifted the packages and found them to be quite heavy. There were clattering noises inside, as if they contained a lot of experimental equipment and... musical instruments?

—Is your roommate a boy?

Why does a clattering or clanging sound in a package always indicate a boy?

Because if it were a girl, she would definitely bring a whole bunch of clothes. Boys don't think about this; look at me, I've basically only worn this one corset since I was little...

But honey, you look incredibly sexy in that corset.

【I'm wearing such a restrained, ascetic outfit...】

[Didn't you notice how excited your monster older sisters get when you wear a straitjacket? The more ascetic and conservative you are, the more they want to tear it apart... cough cough, anyway, that's how it is. Just like boys want to possess a pure saintess, we girls also want to possess a saintly son or something.]

Shen Liang was too lazy to discuss this kind of issue with Mistelin; he decided to choose a room first.

There were two rooms, both facing south, one on the east and one on the west. Considering that the east room was closer to the bathroom, Shen Liang went in, put his things down, sat down at the desk, brushed the dust off the desk, and then closed his eyes.

Finally, I can take a break.

Then he pondered for a moment, took out some paper from his pocket, spread it on the table, and began to write a letter.

This was something he had discussed with Raiden Shin before he left. Raiden Shin required him to write a letter every week to tell him what had happened to him and let him know he was safe. Although he didn't really like writing long essays, as a well-behaved and sensible child since childhood, Shen Liang was either rebellious or completely obedient to his mother. He would do anything Raiden Shin wanted without hesitation.

"Your Majesty, I, Liang'er, respectfully report this..."

As Shen Liang was biting his pen, pondering how to continue writing, he suddenly felt a loosening on his shoulder. A pink-haired, fox-eared, shrine maiden-dressed loli jumped down and then crawled under the table.

Shen Liang didn't pay attention and continued to chew on his pen to conceive his thoughts, but then he was stunned. He looked down and saw Yae no Miko kneeling under the desk, biting one end of his belt.

A straitjacket is a tight-fitting garment that is bound by various belts. It is a modern garment, and naturally, it is also bound to the pants by a belt. However, the straitjacket itself is not actually tight-fitting, and if it were not for the binding belts, it would be easy to take it off or pull it open.

"Son of God?"

"Brother seems to have forgotten again that using extraordinary powers comes at a price." Yae no Miko rolled her eyes at Shen Liang. "Just for such a trivial matter, you showed off your healing power in front of others, but in the end, you still relied on me."

Shen Liang immediately realized what she was trying to do and chuckled, "There's no need for that. It's just a little bit, not enough to cause a fire... After all, we just finished dealing with it yesterday, it won't happen so quickly."

"But I'm hungry."

Chapter 45 A fox's only goal is to compete for favor until it's full!

Under the desk, the pink-furred fox had already pulled out one end of the belt. Shen Liang, pen in hand, gently rubbed her soft, fluffy head with his left hand, then squinted his eyes. But quickly, the handsome white-haired, red-eyed boy suppressed his impulse and continued writing at his desk.

The general sat silently on the edge of the bed, looking at the little fox who was staring at her with a defiant gaze, remaining calm and uttering no words.

The newly opened bedroom fell silent, save for the scratching of a pen on paper and the sounds of someone diligently working. Shen Liang sat upright in a wooden chair, calmly writing a letter to Lei Dianzhen.

“Speaking of which, Brother Mi Nu mentioned it before. It’s dinner time now, but we still don’t know where to eat.” Shen Liang said casually as he wrote. “There is a kitchen in the room. It seems that Ji Gong also encourages students to cook for themselves. After all, this place is under military management, and self-reliance is probably part of the training.”

"I'm just a puppet; the only one who needs to eat is my brother," the general replied calmly.

However, dinner was not a concern for Shen Liang. Although he did not have the Eye of God and therefore did not have a personal space, his coffin was very large and contained a lot of his belongings.

Although there weren't any real fresh fruits and vegetables, the basic seasonings were still there. Shen Liang was a very strange person. Over the years, he had never gotten used to the Inazuma style of cooking. As the saying goes, different regions nurture different people, but Shen Liang just felt that Inazuma cuisine was either too oily or too bland. He also found the "original flavor" pursued by the Inazuma nobles to be absurd and laughable. Therefore, he and Mistelin had developed countless high-tech gadgets, such as hot pot base.

But perhaps Misterin's research project spoiled his taste; after all, even the compressed biscuits that Misterin disdained were rare and delicious snacks in this era. Shen Liang had never liked Inazuma cuisine since childhood, but with Misterin around, he learned to cook on his own, so he had lived a relatively comfortable life for the past ten years or so.

Of course, Inazuma cuisine is not without its merits.

Although Shen Liang's admiration for Liyue cuisine might seem somewhat like a Westernized worship to Inazuma, he had to admit that Inazuma's dishes were at least exquisitely presented, even simple meals were arranged like works of art. At first, Shen Liang thought this aesthetic style was flashy and impractical, but over time, he came to appreciate the philosophical depth behind Inazuma's meticulous approach despite his less-than-stellar skills.

In fact, Shen Liang has always felt that Inazuma cuisine is cuisine to be savored with the eyes. This is not sarcasm, but a genuine assessment.

Compared to the visually appealing, aromatic, and flavorful cuisine of Liyue, Inatsuma cuisine emphasizes the senses of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. While the senses of smell and taste are easy to understand, Inatsuma chefs place even greater emphasis on the three senses—sight, hearing, and touch—than aroma and flavor. Exquisite plating, vibrant color combinations, meticulous dining rituals, and a carefully planned setting where even the way flower petals flutter is carefully considered…

Just as one might enjoy cherry blossoms in spring with a pot of sake, or a sukiyaki feast in winter with the first snow, the beauty of food—whether it's beautiful to eat, how it's eaten, or the ambiance and process of the meal—is an indispensable part of Inatsuma cuisine.

Therefore, it's not hard to understand why, despite the exquisite flavors and superb culinary skills of Liyue cuisine, restaurants in foreign lands like Fontaine and Winterfell often feature Inazuma cuisine. This isn't because Liyue people or Liyue cuisine are inferior; rather, it's because Liyue people disdain this pursuit of aesthetics. Foreigners, on the other hand, crave "outstanding exotic flair," thus relegating Liyue restaurants to a lower level.

Perhaps this reflects the pragmatism of the people of the "Golden Land." In Liyue, even top-tier restaurants like the Luminous Moon Pavilion don't place much importance on elaborate rituals.

In fact, Shen Liang felt that the people of Liyue actually needed to pay more attention to these "flashy but impractical" aesthetics. As a great nation with thousands of years of history, Liyue is not lacking in refinement or profound beauty, but these things are rarely promoted. Liyue cuisine, with its almost unparalleled taste, has never been considered "classy" on a global scale. This is because it doesn't know how to package itself and doesn't understand the importance of ritual.

These seemingly flashy but impractical contents are actually cultural territory. If you don't occupy cultural territory, someone else will. The reason why Inazuma cuisine is squeezing the international space of Liyue cuisine around the world is because Inazuma's emphasis on "beauty" overshadows Liyue's "truth".

When it comes to "flowers in spring, wind in summer, moon in autumn, and snow in winter," these classic seasonal scenes are clearly Zen poems from Liyue, but the first thing that comes to everyone's mind is the haiku recited by the vagabond in Inazuma.

But rather than saying that the Inazuma people plagiarized culture, it's more accurate to say that the people of Liyue have to bear the bitter consequences of not occupying the cultural high ground.

【Oh, honey, you're being cynical again. Think about it carefully. You're the crown prince of Inazuma, not a Liyue citizen. You can't just think from a Liyue perspective every day because you like Liyue food.】

[I'm not thinking from the perspective of the people of Liyue. Cultural competition is about who has more charm. If the people of Liyue don't compete, they shouldn't blame others for taking the high ground.] Shen Liang glanced speechlessly at the white-haired mature woman lying on the bed with her legs crossed, reading a book, and then he suddenly gasped.

Clenching his teeth, Shen Liang's delicate face flushed slightly. He instinctively leaned on the table, his voice trembling as he said, "No... with your teeth..."

Yae no Miko stared at him with unfriendly eyes, licking her lips and revealing her fierce little tiger teeth. "My dear princess, have you forgotten me? The puppets over there don't need to eat, but I am just a mortal and haven't even reached the stage of abstaining from grains yet. Dinner! Dinner!"

Helpless, Shen Liang could only turn to look at the general. The young general understood and went to the storage area outside the coffin to take out a box of compressed biscuits.

"I want the fried tofu flavor!" Yae no Miko poked her head out from under the table and shouted.

"There's no fried tofu flavor. My brother only made this to replenish his energy in an emergency. It's only available in savory and sweet flavors," the general said casually. "Also, compressed biscuits are very hard and require a lot of chewing. Haven't your cheeks gotten sore after fifteen minutes?"

The pink-furred fox rubbed its sore cheeks and glared angrily at Shen Liang.

Shen Liang was at a loss.

"Honey, you should at least be a little more tolerant of girls around your age. She's not some older sister like Torachiyo or Kitsunemiya; you're making her feel really frustrated..." Mistelin chuckled. "She'll start to doubt her own charm."

So the hungry little fox received the compressed biscuits, and then continued to eat them while working, still feeling resentful.

“You can finish eating first and then continue,” Shen Liang kindly suggested. “I’m fine with it. I’m more worried that you might choke.”

“Brother… you’re hypocritical…” Yae no Miko whispered.

"How am I being hypocritical?" Shen Liang felt wronged; he was clearly very concerned about his sister's diet.

"There's plenty of food, yet you insist on giving me these compressed biscuits that I can't swallow without liquid." Yae no Miko pouted. "Do I need to spell out your dark thoughts, brother? Hmph, you say it's okay, you act all protective, but you didn't give me a choice at all. Alright, give them to me now!"

【puff. 】

Shen Liang swore to the heavens that he had no such thoughts. He really gave her the compressed biscuits because he thought they would fill him up and that Yae no Miko liked them. He absolutely did not have such dark and bad ideas!

Why does this fox have such a peculiar thought process?!

Just as Shen Liang was so sad that she wanted to cry, the door to the outer suite opened.

A woman hummed a tune and carried several bags into the suite.

"Oh, my dear little princess, you've arrived." The bedroom door was immediately pushed open, and Rosalin greeted Shen Liang with a smile, "You're my new roommate, just as I thought."

"Hey, you..." Shen Liang subconsciously tried to stand up, but was suddenly pulled back by Yae no Miko.

“Me?” Rosalyn smiled.

"What are you doing here?" Shen Liang didn't stand up, but was pulled so hard that he almost stumbled forward. His handsome face turned red, and the little fox suddenly widened its eyes.

"Why can't I be here?" Rosalyn tilted her head, then plopped down on his bed, revealing a mischievous smile. "Ah, I know, Your Highness probably wants to live with a male classmate you don't know, right? Studying at Jigong takes three whole years. You've been living a life of luxury in Daocheng for too long and want some excitement in Liyue? That's too much, Liang'er. A beauty like me is incredibly popular among the new students, isn't that better than those stinky men? Humph~"

Rosalyn was teasing him, but she didn't see Shen Liang's verbal retort. She only saw the white-haired, red-eyed beauty clench her teeth, and then relax after a long while. She suddenly found herself speechless, feeling very strange. Shen Liang, with her eyes slightly closed and relaxed, possessed a stunning beauty, a beauty that seemed almost eerie.

The blush on Shen Liang's face gradually faded. He remembered that Rosalin was indeed a freshman at the Elemental Academy, and an international student at that.

This year, the only international students at the Elemental Academy are him and Rosalyn, both from the Assassination Department. How could they possibly not be assigned to the same dormitory? Besides, although the dormitories at Jigong are all individual bedrooms, so co-ed rooms aren't a problem, if possible, men and women would definitely try to share. And him…

Well, because of the reason for the battle, he was probably tacitly accepted as a girl by the Ji Palace.

To reiterate, Shen Liang doesn't really care about misunderstandings about his gender. His striking appearance and the long hair that Lei Dianzhen has intentionally or unintentionally styled for him have led him to be mistaken for a girl more than once or twice. If he were to argue heatedly every time there's a misunderstanding, the adults would just make fun of it.

Shen Liang, on the contrary, remained indifferent to this, and others rarely mentioned his appearance, which was comparable to that of the most beautiful woman in Inazuma. Shen Liang wasn't bothered by his looks; rather, he knew from a young age that he had received many preferential treatments because of his face... Appearance is an important part of social interaction, and treating people based on their looks is the rule of the world; if you don't like it, don't play the game.

"I don't like men," Shen Liang said without any attempt to hide it. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to tell Rosalyn the truth: "I am a boy myself."

“It’s okay, I understand. Liang’er doesn’t need to hide it. Actually, I have a bit of that tendency too.” Rosalind smiled and patted his shoulder. “Or rather, everyone in Mondstadt is free. As long as someone is pretty and cute, I like them whether they are boys or girls! I’m fine with either!”

What do you know? You think you know everything?

Shen Liang knew she didn't understand.

"No, I am indeed a boy..."

"Yes, yes, I'm glad Your Highness likes it. Seeing Your Highness makes me wish I were a boy too. I understand."

Shen Liang didn't know how to continue the conversation.

Faced with Rosalind's explosive statement, Shen Liang suddenly felt a little sorry for Mr. Rustin... To be honest, Rustin is quite a handsome young knight, and apparently a big shot in Mondstadt, but now it seems that he might have caught Rosalind's eye simply because he's handsome enough. And Rosalind's statement that Mondstadt people have lesbian tendencies seems to be some kind of ancient tradition...

What kind of tradition is this? Inazuma is the same as Mondstadt. I'm so desperate about this world full of yuri!

At this moment, Yae no Miko emerged, hiccuping as she glared resentfully at Shen Liang. Shen Liang instinctively looked away, unable to meet the little fox's murderous gaze.

“Oh, who is this…” Rosalyn was taken aback.

“My sister, or you could say… well, my page, our Inazuma Narukami Shrine Maiden, Yae no Miko,” Shen Liang introduced. “The one you’ve seen before is the fox that’s always been on my shoulder.”

Yae no Miko gave Rosalyn a cold look, then turned back to stare at Shen Liang: "Remind me next time, I don't have the same level of cultivation as Lord Zhaigong, it's really difficult... hiccup."

Her adorable hiccups made Rosalin hug her instantly, rubbing her face against hers. "So cute! So cute! It's a fox! It's a fox! It's a fox! This is the first time I've ever seen a real little fox! So fragrant, so soft, so adorable. Liang'er, how come your little sister is just as cute as you!"