Chapter 24: Emotionally Grounding Cold Fish Skin Salad

The letter, filled to the brim with words, was carefully folded, sealed in an envelope, stamped, and dropped into the little Azure Bird mailbox in the courtyard.

Looking at the tiny, child-sized mailbox, Ming Siyu felt a little uncertain. “That’s it?”

Yun Tao nodded, his round cheeks bobbing along with the motion. “Yep, all set. Just leave me your contact info, and I’ll let you know when a reply comes in.”

Seeing the confidence in his eyes, Ming Siyu felt reassured. She quickly wrote down her phone number.

Yun Tao grinned and extended an invitation. “If you’re not in a hurry, why don’t you stick around for a bit? I can teach you how to make cake.”

The pain of losing a friend wasn’t something that could heal overnight. Yun Tao didn’t feel right letting her head back to the hotel alone.

Ming Siyu wasn’t eager to be by herself either. “You know how to bake?”

A kid this small… and he could do everything?

“I know a lot of things.” Yun Tao tilted his head. “Let’s make tiramisu. Do you like chocolate or matcha?”

“Matcha.” It was Xia Zifeng’s favorite, too.

Yun Tao was a serious teacher, and before long, Ming Siyu found herself completely focused on the process. The slightly bitter scent of matcha filled the air, gradually washing away the heaviness in her heart.

The cake was finally done, sliced into perfect squares.

Jiang Qing and Feifei finished recording their beauty tutorial just in time to be called over for cake. Outside, cicadas buzzed louder as the afternoon stretched on. The wisteria vines swayed gently in the breeze, sending down a shower of purple petals.

The matcha cake had a mild bitterness at first, but the creamy sweetness quickly balanced it out, leaving behind a lingering fresh tea aroma.

Taking a piece of cake back to her hotel, Ming Siyu felt like the emotional rollercoaster of the day had finally steadied.

Everything she had experienced today felt like a dream.

She placed the cake in the fridge, then pulled out the plush Feifei keychain Yun Tao had given her. Holding it in her hands, she whispered, “Xiaofeng, when you get my letter… you’ll write back, right?”

The next morning, Ming Siyu received a text from Yun Fenghe.

“The reply has arrived.”

She shot out of bed, grabbed her bag, and bolted out the door.

On the way to Taotie Delicacies, excitement and nervousness tangled in her chest. But fear? Not even a little. Her friend had always been gentle—there was nothing to be afraid of, even if they were now separated by life and death.

It wasn’t until she took the envelope from Yun Tao’s hands that the weight in her heart finally lifted.

Just like before, the paper felt oddly cool to the touch. The handwriting was familiar, unchanged. The only difference was the sender’s address—boldly written at the top: Some District, Some Street, Some Residential Complex, Underworld.

…It almost looked like a totally normal mailing address.

Yun Tao smiled. “Take your time reading it. We’ll leave you alone.”

Ming Siyu sat beneath the wisteria vines, carefully unsealing the envelope and gently pulling out the letter.

[Dear Siyu,

Seeing your letter felt like seeing you again.

First, I owe you an apology. I kept the truth from you for so long—I’m really sorry. But come on, you’ve been a crybaby since middle school. You always seemed so mature, but deep down, you’re reckless. If I hadn’t kept it from you, you would’ve skipped school and rushed to the hospital to see me.

Am I right? Crybaby, don’t start tearing up while reading this. I was so happy when I got your letter.

Congrats on getting into your dream school! I wish I could be there to see you step into this new chapter of your life. But don’t worry about me—I’m planning for my future, too.

I applied for the Underworld Police Academy this year. Didn’t make the cut, but they said I was pretty talented, so I’ve got a good shot at getting in next year!

The police dogs here are crazy smart. If I get in, I’ll send you a picture.

It must be summer in the human world by now, right? Shanhai Street must be in full bloom. Aunt Ying’s shop always has the best watermelons—every year, I’d get the special “Gratitude Watermelon” with the thinnest rind and no seeds. The Underworld is pretty convenient, but the one thing we don’t have is fresh fruit.

In early summer, the grass and trees grow. Around my home, green shade flows. Birds rejoice with shelter found, Just as I love my humble ground.

Shanhai Street’s summers are beautiful. Since you’re there, be sure to enjoy it for me.

Your friend forever,

Xia Zifeng]

Ming Siyu read the letter over and over again.

Xia Zifeng was still the same—forever warm, like a little sun. Even failing an entrance exam sounded easy when she talked about it. It was hard to believe this was the same girl who had once been frail and bedridden.

“Just as I love my humble ground…”

Ming Siyu sighed, thinking about No. 8 Shanhai Street. You must really miss it.

The paper, once cold to the touch, slowly absorbed the warmth of the human world. The inked words blurred… then faded completely.

But it didn’t matter. She had memorized every word.

Carefully, she folded the now-blank paper, slipped it back into the envelope, and made her way to Aunt Ying’s fruit shop.

Aunt Ying picked out a large watermelon for her and asked kindly, “Everything go okay?”

Ming Siyu smiled, genuinely this time. “Yeah. Everything’s great. Thanks, Aunt Ying.”

Back at Taotie Delicacies, Ming Siyu announced, “Let’s eat watermelon!”

Yun Tao, swinging his little legs, peered up at her. “Sis, are you thinking about sending a watermelon to Xiaofeng?”

Ming Siyu was once again amazed by the kid’s sharpness. “I want to, but I know I can’t.”

Yun Tao’s smile turned mischievous. “How do you know if you don’t try? Go get a smaller one.”

Even the smallest watermelon in the shop was still bigger than the Azure Bird mailbox. But Yun Tao didn’t care—he netted it up, stuck on a stamp, wrote the address, and stubbornly hung it beneath the mailbox.

Ming Siyu hesitated. “Is this really gonna work?”

Yun Tao nodded firmly. “Mhm!”

That night, when the Azure Bird courier arrived, it stared at the ridiculous watermelon, then scratched its head with its wing.

Who mails stuff like this?

This mailbox isn’t even upgraded to a courier station yet!

Then it checked the owner’s profile.

…Oh. It’s Little Taotie.

Fine, I’ll make an exception.

With its third foot, the Azure Bird clutched the watermelon net, wobbled a bit, then took off into the night.

Underworld, Some Residential Complex

Xia Zifeng got a notification: “A delivery has arrived at your building entrance.”

She teleported to the gate using her newly learned ghost movement technique—only to find… a giant watermelon.

Xia Zifeng: !!!

First, she received a letter from the human world.

Now, she had received… a human world watermelon.

The security guard grinned and gave her a thumbs-up. “Kid, in all my years working here, you’re the first one to get a watermelon from the living world.”

Xia Zifeng hugged the giant fruit, beaming. “Hehe, it’s from my friend!”

She skipped home, watermelon in hand, basking in the envious stares of passing ghosts.

Back home, Xia Zhifeng sliced open the watermelon and scooped out a heaping spoonful. The flesh was crisp and juicy, and each bite filled her mouth with sweet summer refreshment.

It felt as though the summer breeze from the human world had blown straight into the underworld.

Hugging the watermelon, Xia Zhifeng couldn’t help but smile. “Sending a watermelon to the underworld… Just how powerful is this ‘expert’ Si Yu found? Did she empty her savings just to pull this off?”

Ming Siyu: Thanks for asking. Postage? Twenty yuan.

[Mission Complete! Reward Issued!

Azure Bird Mailbox XP Progress: (500/1000)]

With the side quest wrapped up, the restaurant’s short break was coming to an end, and a new main quest popped up just in time.

[Level 4 Quest: Introduce a new signature dish featuring Wenray Fish and sell at least 100 orders within two days.

Reward: 400 Shanhai Points, 400 Shanhai Coins, 1 Shanhai Coupon

Penalty: Mandatory 24-hour volunteer shift in a random dimension.]

Since Wenray Fish had been unlocked, Yun Tao had been feasting on it for three days straight—Wenray porridge, steamed Wenray, braised Wenray… Every preparation was delicious, and he never seemed to get tired of it.

Still, Yun Tao’s personal favorite was the chilled Wenray fish skin salad.

With the weather heating up, diners were craving light and refreshing dishes, and this region in particular had a knack for enjoying chilled fish skin.

The Wenray Fish currently sold in the marketplace was the “Madness Remedy” variety. While its “bountiful harvest” buff was nearly nonexistent, its primary effect was something special.

“Madness Remedy” meant that consuming it could calm frenzied minds, restoring peace to those in a manic state. For those without such afflictions, it still offered a remarkable sense of tranquility. In the sweltering summer, a calm mind could cool the body, too.

The night before reopening, Yun Tao finalized the new dish: Emotionally Grounding Cold Fish Skin Salad.

The next morning, the restaurant opened on schedule, the renovation barriers now removed.

After two days of gaming marathons at the internet café, Tai Sui and Lin Xiao were both dead tired. Lin Jiuyuan, who’d spent his weekend pulling an all-nighter to finish the latest chapter of his serialized comic, looked even worse. His dark circles were so prominent, they nearly obscured his tear mole, and he drifted through the restaurant like a ghost.

Meanwhile, Yun Fenghe and Feifei, both with healthy sleep schedules, looked bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, standing in stark contrast to the trio of night owls.

Yun Fenghe brewed a pot of goji berry and red date tea and placed it in front of them. “For energy and blood nourishment—drink up, especially you, Xiao Lin. You’re way too young to be running yourself into the ground.”

Lin Jiuyuan muttered, “Brother Fenghe, are you even old enough to lecture me?”

Yun Fenghe: “…” He was already over three hundred years old.

Yun Tao chimed in, “I think they’d be better off with some Spicy Snap Chicken—it’ll wake them up for sure.”

Feifei: “Agreed.”

And so, the late-night trio found themselves seated outside the restaurant, munching on spicy chicken legs with goji berry tea—a truly hardcore breakfast.

When Jiang Qing dropped by for breakfast, she took one look at their sorry state and sympathized immediately. “Ah, Monday. Even the coolest guy isn’t immune to its curse.”

Feifei burst into laughter and pointed at Tai Sui and Lin Xiao. “These two fried their brains playing games.”

Jiang Qing gestured to Lin Jiuyuan. “And him?”

Feifei grinned. “Overachiever alert—he spent the whole weekend grinding out the latest chapter of his comic.”

She paused, then added, “Oh, and he somehow managed to drag Ming Siyu over to the restaurant, too. Truly a hero among men.”

Jiang Qing shook her head in admiration, then glanced around the dining area. “I was just about to say—the place looks amazing after the renovation!”

Taotie Delicacies had only revamped the main dining hall, but from her perspective, it was a stunning transformation. The old ceiling had become a dreamy expanse of painted clouds. Minimalist yet deeply evocative landscape art adorned the white walls. The wooden flooring, staircase, and tables had a rich, polished finish with intricate golden veins running through them.

Each table was decorated with freshly cut flowers, adding a touch of refined romance.

To achieve this kind of result in such a short time, they must’ve hired some incredibly skilled contractors.

“Thanks!” Feifei winked at her. “We just added a new chilled fish skin dish. You should try it sometime.”

Jiang Qing nodded eagerly. “My coworkers are all Taotie Delicacies superfans. They already saw the announcement about the new dish and decided we’re having it for lunch today. I’ll send a courier to pick up the order.”

Since her office was more than three kilometers away, they couldn’t get delivery directly. On weekdays, they always pre-ordered and hired couriers to fetch their meals.

Feifei assured her, “No problem—we’ll make sure it’s packed up perfectly.”

By noon, word of the renovations had spread. Diners marveled at the upgraded interior, showering the staff with compliments. A few even asked about the contractor, but the team skillfully dodged the questions.

Meanwhile, at Jiang Qing’s office, their Monday morning meeting had dragged far beyond its usual end time. Every proposal they’d submitted the previous week had been rejected, and the new director was in a foul mood. He’d spent the entire morning holding brainstorming sessions, determined to hammer out a solution.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Jiang Qing peeked at the screen—it was the courier. Their lunch had arrived.

Her stomach growled. If this went on, they were all going to pass out. Steeling herself, Jiang Qing spoke up. “Director Li, I ordered lunch for you. It’s here now. Why don’t you take a break and eat something? No need to wear yourself out with us.”

Director Li glanced at the time—well past the usual lunch break. Her comment reminded him of his own hunger, and he finally nodded, though his expression remained stern. “You all eat, too. Thirty minutes. After that, back to work.”

The team groaned inwardly. Thirty minutes was barely enough time to grab a rice ball downstairs. Still, they couldn’t really complain. Without Jiang Qing’s intervention, they’d have had no break at all.

Jiang Qing handed a portion of the chilled fish skin salad to Director Li before retreating to the break area. Her teammates had already secured a table, their frustration and exhaustion showing as they divvied up the food. They passed her a share, grateful for the reprieve.

The mouthwatering aroma of the chilled fish skin salad filled the entire break room, turning heads and drawing envious stares.

“What’s that you’re eating? Smells amazing!” Fang called over, clearly intrigued.

“It’s the new Emotionally Grounding Chilled Fish Skin from Taotie Delicacies,” Panda replied, sighing dramatically. “I need it. My emotions are on the edge right now.”

Fang’s eyes widened. “You’re eating from that place again? Is it really that good?”

Panda grinned. “Try it for yourself next time, and you’ll see.”

But Fang wasn’t one to wait around for “next time.” Lured by the tantalizing smell, he ditched his instant noodles and hurried over. “Hey, Panda, could you spare me a little? I’ll even make you another bowl of noodles as a trade!”

“Who wants noodles?” Panda scoffed, though his usual generosity warred with his attachment to the prized dish. Sharing snacks was one thing, but Taotie Delicacies? That hit differently.

Still, seeing Fang’s sleep-deprived, bloodshot eyes, Panda relented with a sigh and served him a small portion. “Here, but don’t get used to it. Next time, it’s all mine!”

Luckily, Taotie Delicacies didn’t skimp on their portions.

Fang nodded eagerly, grabbing his prize. “Thanks, Panda! Next time’s on me, I swear!” He wasted no time, pulling up a chair to join Panda and taking his first bite.

The chilled fish skin was refreshingly cool, delightfully springy, and balanced with a sweet-and-sour tang that paired perfectly with the finely chopped onions and scallions. It was the kind of dish that made your appetite roar back to life. After just one bite, Fang’s noodles were a distant memory. He could already imagine how heavenly this would taste alongside a bowl of rice.

“What kind of fish is this? I’ve never had fish skin this good before—it’s sweet, sour, and crazy delicious!” Fang exclaimed, practically inhaling his portion.

Panda, mid-bite as he mixed fish skin with rice, pointed at the takeout bag. “It’s from the legendary Wenray Fish. Heard of ‘Eater’s Elixir’? That’s why this dish is called Emotionally Grounding Chilled Fish Skin.”

Fang stared, skeptical. “You’re kidding, right? Isn’t Wenray Fish supposed to be a myth?”

Before Panda could reply, Fang suddenly realized something strange—his frustration from the morning’s chaos had vanished, leaving behind an unexpected calm. It was like a fog lifting, bringing a sharp clarity to his thoughts.

He glanced around the room. Everyone else was quietly enjoying their lunch, their tense faces now relaxed and peaceful. It was like the earlier workday hell had never even happened.

“Holy crap,” Fang whispered. “This really is Emotionally Grounding Fish Skin!”

Panda smirked, clapping a hand on Fang’s shoulder. “And you’ve only scratched the surface of Taotie Delicacies’ magic.”

But the biggest surprise of the day was still to come.

Their famously short-fused, workaholic boss emerged from his office with an empty lunch container, looking oddly calm and refreshed. “Take an extended lunch break,” he announced. “We’ll pick things up this afternoon. Oh, and I’ve ordered some afternoon tea for everyone.”

Fang gawked. “No way… The fish skin even tamed him?”

Panda chuckled knowingly.

Shaking his head in disbelief, Fang turned to Jiang Qing and gave her a thumbs-up. “This is the right way to use Wenray Fish!”

Jiang Qing sighed. “One boss with a superiority complex leaves, and now I’ve got a workaholic to deal with. At this rate, I’ll need to consider quitting—again!”

The chilled fish skin dish became an instant summer hit. After all, who wouldn’t want a light, refreshing dish that melted away stress?

Customers started cracking jokes online:

• “Want to show you care about someone’s mental health? Treat them to Emotionally Grounding Chilled Wenray Fish Skin!”
• “A single minute of emotional stability is already impressive. Good thing I can eat chilled Wenray Fish Skin whenever I need it.”
• “There’s no such thing as a stress-free working adult. But after freaking out, just go eat a plate of Emotionally Grounding Fish Skin. Problem solved.”

Some even started begging for Wenray Fish-themed merch, like plushie keychains, promising, “We’d buy it instantly!”

After two days of record-breaking sales, Shanhai Marketplace introduced a new batch of Wenray Fish with a “Bountiful Harvest” buff.

Yun Tao didn’t hesitate—he added them to his cart immediately. “Let’s add another dish: Steamed Wenray Fish with Bountiful Harvest. Time for everyone to rake in some wealth!”