"Why have you come, Zhongli?" Ying asked curiously.
"Hmm, the Patriarch called me, but I thought it was just the two of us," Zhongli replied.
"Hehe~ It was indeed just the two of us originally, but we ran into an acquaintance on the way. I never expected that the acquaintance of this Patriarch would also know my esteemed guest!" Hu Tao said curiously, clearly having just learned of the situation.
"Ah, the story is like this." Ying briefly summarized her experiences to Hu Tao...
"Oh~ So that's how it is... Then why didn't you take me with you to send off the Geo Archon, Zhongli? I really wanted to go too (*￣з￣)!"
"The Patriarch had more important matters to attend to, didn't she?"
"Recruiting customers is indeed important, but I feel like sending off the Archon is even more important..."
"Heh heh heh... Regardless, since fate has brought us together here, this meal will be on me," Zhongli said with a light chuckle.
"Ah?! Do you know what you just said, Zhongli?!" Hu Tao stared at Zhongli, dumbfounded, seemingly unable to believe her eyes.
"Yes, rest assured, I brought money this time."
"Heavens! Has the world been destroyed already? Σ(|||▽|||)"
"Hahaha~ Zhongli, how many times have you actually forgotten to bring money? Look how scared Hu Tao is! ๑乛v乛๑"
"Hmm... Considering the principle of rationality, the number of times is too many for me to recall," Zhongli said, stroking his chin.
"Finally found you, the one returning from Jueyun Karst."
"Oh? Such familiar words... Is that Ganyu?! (✪▽✪)" Ying looked up in surprise and saw the adeptus... Ganyu, standing on the eaves!
"No! We have to go!" Lumine grabbed Ying's hand, intending to pull her away.
"Eh! Wait, wait! She means no harm!" Ying quickly pulled Lumine back to explain.
"Yes, please rest assured. I am not from the Millelith, nor am I here to apprehend you. Greetings, I am an envoy of the Liyue Qixing, the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ganyu. I have come to meet you."
(Her voice is so gentle... (//∇//))
"Ahem~ You're here to invite us to the Jade Chamber, right? I understand, I understand~"
"Yes... To be precise, it is to invite her to the Jade Chamber," Ganyu said, shaking her head and pointing at Lumine.
"Ah? Then what about me?"
"I don't know. Miss Ningguang only asked me to invite her."
"Oh, this... Then... how did you recognize her so easily? We look so alike..."
"Hmm... Because she looks smarter."
"Heh heh~ I apologize, Zhongli, something unexpected has come up today. Let's reschedule for next time. Next time, Lumine and I will treat you and Hu Tao to a meal~"
"Understood. You two go ahead, but don't forget about the Rite of Descension. After you return, our next rendezvous point will be in Dihua Marsh."
"Okay, we got it~" Ying and Lumine agreed on the meeting place and hurried off to their respective destinations.
Time passed, unknown how long...
"Strange, I can't find them in the food street. Where did those two go... Could they have been captured?! Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"
"Eh? Isn't this Lumine's little sister? Why aren't you in prison?" Childe, who was enjoying street food, suddenly spotted Ying not far away and walked over curiously.
"Childe? What are you doing here? And what's this about prison you mentioned?"
"Eh? You don't know?"
Ying shook her head, "Not at all."
"That's odd... I recall that little one saying they would inform you..."
"You met them?! Where are they?!"
"Don't worry, let me explain."
Childe's flashback...
"Heh heh... I never expected there to be so much delicious food here. This is truly the happiest day I've had in a long time~" Paimon patted her bulging belly with satisfaction.
"Hmph... Dammit, why do you have such a big appetite..."
Paimon sulked beside her. Although her appetite had increased significantly after transforming into a girl, she still couldn't taste many of the delicacies.
"Hmph hmph~ Perhaps this is the good fortune bestowed upon me by heaven~ (⌒▽⌒)"
"Sigh... Heaven bestowed good fortune upon you, but it bestowed your bill upon me. I never imagined someone could eat their way to a bill piled as high as a mountain..."
Looking at the mountain of menus on the table, Childe couldn't help but roll his eyes, his face filled with helplessness.
"Heh heh~ Thank you for the treat. I will definitely remember your kindness~"
"Oh? And how do you plan to repay me?"
"Hmm... How about I ask her to go easy on you when Lumine beats you up?"
"Erm... That's truly a... good idea... ah..."
"Hehe~ You flatter me, you flatter me."
"Don't ask me for repayment. I only ate a little bit, I didn't spend much Mora of yours (｡•́︿•̀｡)," Paimon quickly said.
"Hmmph... If you don't mind, you can come find me often for meals in the future."
"Really?! (✪▽✪) That's great! Uh... Pfft pfft! No, no... Would you be so kind?"
"Hahaha~ I assure you, I won't treat you for nothing. The prerequisite for me to treat you is... to be my friend (^_^)"
"Eh? Be friends? That's all it takes?" Paimon blinked her beautiful big eyes and asked in confusion.
"Yes, that's all. My purpose in approaching you is to build a good relationship. After all, if I build a good relationship with you, then the distance between me and the Traveler and her sister will naturally shorten."
"Hmmph... Why do you want to get close to us?"
"If you ask me why I want to get close... hmm... perhaps because when I'm with you, I can feel a kind of happiness that is difficult to experience normally..."