-The Archons are still busy talking. Leave the outfit with me, Ganyu. -Was what Shenhe decided to tell the other, soon noticing the Adeptus' suddenly disappointed expression. Was she perhaps hungry...? -...I have some Qingxin flowers saved up with me. I heard from the master that you like them. Do you want some before you go...?

She suggested upon taking a few of them from her Vision's "Hammerspace",

And reaching out her hands towards the now slightly confused half-qulin…

*The translucent white flowers looking even tastier than usual to Ganyu at the moment,

Their irresistible shape and fragrance making her unable to move her gaze away and…

RUUUUMBLE! GUUUUURGLE! RUUUUUMBLE!

The loud noises came almost out of nowhere,

And Ganyu could feel her face rapidly getting hotter in shame…

-...Y-yes. Thank you for the offered food, Shenhe. -She gratefully and slightly guiltily said, upon putting the bundle of clothes at a nearby chair and soon taking the offered flowers into her hands. -...S-since there is so much to do today, I barely had time to eat anything...!

She explained in that same amount of shame, if not more,

Soon getting an understanding(?) nod from the other as a reply...

*Not thinking much more of it, seeing as she was still hungry, Ganyu gave a small "thank you" again,

Before proceeding to leave the place, chowing onto the food given to her as she went...

...

...

-...Why did I say it like that...? -Shenhe couldn't help but mumble two minutes later, as she turned to look at the clothes, soon taking them into her own hands. -...I should wait for their return. Surely, they wouldn't miss Lantern Rite.

She added upon making herself comfortable on the chair,

Continuing to determinedly hold onto the folded clothes...

...

And all the while, she couldn't help but wonder...

...

Why did she lie to Ganyu, instead of telling her the truth...?

Why was she so certain that the two Archons would return soon...?

...

...

Was there perhaps something wrong with her...?

*She didn't eat anything weird, did she...?

...

Or was it perhaps a malicious curse...?


It was currently very peaceful and relaxing,

The kind of peace that Diluc hadn't been able to enjoy in a while now,

The kind of tranquility he was denied for so long, as Mondstadt kept falling into chaos...

...

He truly missed it, so much,

And he didn't even realize it until now...

*He was glad they decided to go to Yujing Terrace...

...

While strolling through Liyue Harbor and seeing the sights,

The carefully and orderly way that the Lantern Rite preparations were being made...

...

After ignoring Miss Yelan's weird advances on him and her flirting,

Which he soon realized was done in hopes to get information from him...

...

After being given the Traditional Liyuan Attires by Miss Ganyu:

His own being a long crimson red Hanfu, with the sleeved stuffed into brown leather brassiere,

Along the robe were multiple brown falcons stitched in, with a wide black belt on his waist where his vision is hanging from,

And a golden headband on his head, an accessory for his high ponytail...

...

Kaeya's outfit was way less detailed than his own...

*Or perhaps he simply didn't feel like detailing his brother's outfit,

Still annoyed how his so-called "younger brother" didn't stop Yelan from bothering him...?

...

Either way, Kaeya wore a light blue Hanfu with a huge, colorful peacock sewn into it,

With a dark purple belt and a white fur trim along the neckline...

...

...

He was truly glad they decided to come here,

Accepting the Adeptus' invite for a nice cup of tea...

*The tea itself so relaxing, he couldn't help but wonder what it was,

Which leaves were used and for how long were they prepared...?

...

And most importantly, could he acquire some too...?

Could Madame Ping teach him how to brew it...?

*He didn't remember drinking this tea the last time he was here,

Was this perhaps something she prepared for a special occasion...?

...

Oh, right, he did notice how nervous Dvalin and Emilia looked when they arrived,

And based on what he heard later, their nervousness didn't go away for quite a while...

*Perhaps it was part of the Adeptus' plan to help the two relax by drinking this tea...?

...

...

Seeing the two having a dynamic discussion with the Adeptus on the other side of the table,

As Emilia was also busy writing notes into her notebook, probably for "further study", that indeed seemed to be the case...

*Moreover, based on their current attire, both of them must have already been acquainted with Miss Ganyu...

...

Dvalin's attire was a cerulean blue Hanfu with slim sleeves also tucked into bracers,

The Hanfu only reaching his knees with dark blue pants underneath them also tucked in black boots with small silver chains decorating them,

A dark blue belt holding it together and the bracers did have a bit of magenta lining in them, forming a wind pattern...

...

Emilia's attire on the other hand was a long light blue Hanfu dress with long slim sleeves, the Hanfu itself decorated with Cecilia flowers and Windwheel Asters,

The dark blue ribbon holding it all together bound just above her chest, with a long shawl that colors from blue to amber...

...

"Secretary Ganyu made sure that the outfits are worn perfectly, even going as far as to help wear them.", the Winds soon commented, as if answering an unspoken question, having been quietly watching things unfold until now, "...We have to admit, everyone's outfits were chosen quite well. It's a good thing that Alder Knight Frederica sent a letter to Tianquan Ningguang a few hours before everyone's departure. We can't wait to see how Barbatos' will look like~", they soon added, sounding quite glad, before there was suddenly a long pause, "...Dawn Winery's Diluc, we realize that you are finally experiencing some peace and quiet, after a long time not being able to...But, well...You are soon going to have quite the..."Chaotically annoying" company..."

They finally said in some sheepishness,

And before Diluc could even ponder on what they meant...

-So this is where you were, Diluc! Finally woke up from your little nap, I see! -A familiar, yet highly annoying voice, was suddenly heard from nearby and Diluc felt himself wondering what he did to deserve this. -...Me and Enjou just had a spar! It was so spectacular and fun! It also made me really thirsty, you know! -Childe happily and slightly amusingly continued, as he proceeded to walk towards and stop by Diluc's seat by the table, soon brazenly taking the still half-full tea cup from the other's hands and quickly drowning its contents. -...Oh, sorry about that. I didn't know it was yours. -He added a few seconds later, not looking apologetic at all. -...Are you mad enough to have a small spar with me now, "Master Diluc"...?~

He couldn't help but ask in amusement and rising anticipation,

Which only grew as Diluc coldly glared towards him...

*As Childe felt his own crazed smile swiftly widen...

...

This was the prelude for their grand battle and he was eagerly...!

-Didn't we already have a spar together? Was it really not enough to satisfy you...? -His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sad voice of Enjou, who walked to the area, looking quite hurt. -Besides, seeing how much work went into the city's decorations and considering the quite handsome looking attire "Mister Diluc" was currently wearing...-At this the Abyss-Lector-in-human-form motioned towards Diluc's Hanfu. Which had quite a nice shade of red, just like his true form~ -...Wouldn't it be better if instead of a spar, you two fought in another, yet still challenging, way...? -He suggested, soon looking thoughtful. -...Since you love the straightforward approach, Childe, Chess definitely wouldn't do. But I heard that Lantern Rite often holds the "Theater Mechanicus" event, which from what I gathered, sounds like an amusing strategic game. How about playing that instead...?~

He continued with this, hoping that his friend and "comrade" will agree,

Both since this kind of "battle" between the two is bound to be amusing...

...

And also because Childe was already HIS sparring partner, one he didn't want to lose...

*It was mostly due to his "comrade"s fighting urge and the way he fought, so similar to his own~

If they could, the two of them would have eagerly fought for days at a time, if not longer!

It was truly such a shame that he couldn't be seen by the Liyue citizens in his "original form"...


-Cocogoat milk is tasty. Dr. Baizhu's dish is also tasty. -Qiqi quietly and slightly gratefully commented, as she was sipping some coconut milk and eating a spoonful of the "Heat-Quelling Soup" dessert. -I know that Yaoyao likes it too. Do you like it too, Klee?

She asked upon turning to look towards the small pyromaniac,

Whom, together with Yaoyao, was currently enjoying her own portion of the dessert and drink...

*Which was a little hard to do in her current Traditional Liyue attire, one which was given to her by Ganyu a few minutes prior:

A short red Hanfu dress, which was coming to her knees,

Patterned with golden dragonflies and a short-sleeved orange overcoat bound by a wide yellow ribbon…

...

The outfit was a little weird and she couldn't move as well as she used to,

But she still loved how pretty it was and was happy that she matched her friends!

-I like them a lot, Qiqi! Both the coconut milk and the dessert! Dr. Baizhu made it very tasty! -She truthfully admitted moments later, looking and sounding quite happy. -Klee is also happy how our outfits match! Even if I am not used to it, Klee is still glad to be like Yaoyao and Qiqi!

She continued in even more happiness,

As she looked between her two friends' outfits again...

...

The first one and the most interesting was Qiqi's:

A short dark purple Hanfu dress, coming to her knees, this one patterned with light purple Violetgrass,

And a wide, long-sleeved overcoat was bound around her waist with a purple-bluish ribbon…

...

And then Yaoyao's pretty outfit was next:

A short emerald green Hanfu dress, coming to her knees,

Patterned with yellow and white bunnies running along the hem of the dress,

With a short-sleeved overcoat bound by a golden ribbon…

...

...

Seeing how similar and pretty their outfits were,

Klee was happy to imagine herself as Qiqi's and Yaoyao's sister!

*She already had Big Brother Albedo and Big Sister Emilia,

But imagining her two friends as her same-age siblings...~

-I apologize for interrupting your snack break, but there is something I would like to ask you, Klee. -The familiar voice of Baizhu was suddenly heard, as he soon proceeded to walk up to and crouch to her level. -Last time I was in Mondstadt and talked to your big brother, I forgot to ask him a few things. Sadly he is not here at the moment and I can't leave Liyue Harbor either in this busy celebration season. -He soon explained, looking and sounding quite sad. -...Klee, can you help me instead of your brother...? -He slowly asked, soon noticing the child's slightly confused expression. -Don't worry, the questions themselves are not about any hard topic. I just wish to know more about your mother, miss Alice.

He soon reassuringly explained,

Making sure to sound nonchalant about the topic at hand...

*Even though it was anything but, since from what he heard, Alice was not originally from Teyvat,

And what's more, apparently she and Klee were both a part of a long living race...

...

Those were the types of questions he couldn't bring himself to ask before,

Especially with Albedo surely realizing the reason for him asking them to begin with...

*As an Alchemist, if Albedo knew what he was trying to do, would he approve of it...?

Or would he instead, accuse him of...?

"Can you stop overthinking it, Baizhu? You act as if what you plan to do is something nefarious!", the familiar and now slightly-annoyed voice of Changsheng was soon heard in his head, this telepathic communication only possible due to their generational contract, "...It's bad enough that the Traveler once said you were "acting overly suspicious like some kind of Orochimaru clone", whoever that is. When in truth, your real goal is quite noble, even if incredibly foolish...!", she mumbled in more annoyance, before a deep sigh was heard, "...I know full well that you want to save any potential inheritors and even myself from this contract's ultimate price, but do you truly still think you would be able to achieve immortality...?"

She asked him in all seriousness, reminding him once again what their contract entailed:

The vast Knowledge and mastery of medical arts, in exchange for his own health,

With a lot of his "medical treatments" letting him absorb the illness into himself...

*All the while Changsheng could keep living thanks to her power's current host…

...

...

Baizhu decided not to answer her this time, as his decision didn't change,

And instead proceeded to ask Klee for any information about her mother...