Chapter 3: Lumine's First Day Out

**(Next Day, Wednesday-June 2nd; Morning)**

Zhongli hummed as he awoke and sat up, rubbing his eyes to remove the sleep and looked up, seeing a fresh set of clothes on his dresser and he sighed. He told Lumine to take the day off. Once he was dressed, he left his room and watched Ganyu run past and down the steps. "Ganyu!" He called his adopted daughter and she stopped, turning with a smile. "Dad!" She called out and turned back up the steps, hugging him. "I heard you gave Lumine the day off, is that true?" She asked and he nodded.

Ganyu beamed and giggled. "I figured, all I saw was her getting your clothes ready before she went back to her own room, changed but…I was wondering…" Ganyu twiddled her thumbs a bit and Zhongli tilted his head, waiting for her to finish speaking. "Can I…can I take Lumine into town and get her more clothes? I really want to take her shopping." Ganyu said softly and while Zhongli was surprised, and very hesitant, he hummed. It wouldn't do any good to keep Lumine cooped up inside all the time.

Plus, he had friends who could watch her.

He sighed, relenting. "Yes, you may take her into town but be careful." Zhongli stressed and Ganyu nodded, before hurrying down the stairs. "Xiao! Dad said yes!" He heard a sigh of relief from his adopted son and chuckled, descending the rest of the steps. He saw Ganyu and Xiao at the table while Lumine brought breakfast over. "I believe I said you are to take the day off." Zhongli teased Lumine, who gave a small smile. "I was hungry myself you know, so were the kids. I made enough for you as well." She sassed and Zhongli's heart did a flip when she said 'kids' as if they were her own.

Zhongli merely chuckled though, walking over to join them at the table. As he ate, he listened to Ganyu and Xiao tell Lumine where they planned on taking her and he made a mental note to request one of the guards to follow them and keep an eye on them. Ganyu and Xiao would know, maybe even Lumine…unless she perceived it as a threat. Hopefully Xiao and Ganyu would be able to diffuse the situation if it came to that. Lumine looked a little unnerved to be leaving the safety of the mansion and he frowned a bit. Was she that uncomfortable with going outside? His mind went back to the day he found her.

**Flashback**

Zhongli had just finished his meeting with some associates who came to the parlor, seeing if they could go over documents. Apparently it was an emergency and couldn't wait for an appointment. Hu Tao had been annoyed because that meant they had to close the parlor early so no one would overhear what was being said. He looked at his watch, shielded from the rain by a wide umbrella; it was just after midnight. That meeting had gone for far too long in his opinion since no one wanted to listen to him.

He had passed by an alleyway when bright gold caught his attention and he stopped, turning to the alleyway and seeing a body. At first he was going to pass it off as someone who was dead, it wasn't uncommon for him to see something like this at night. Not with his jobs and contacts. However, he caught the faint rise and fall of her chest and he froze, mind going back to a night similar ago when Guizhong was killed.

Zhongli had rushed over, dropping his umbrella and catching his guards attention as they followed, since they hadn't seen the person at first. Zhongli had knelt down, seeing the crimson liquid staining her body and the multiple bruises. Due to all the wounds this woman had, he was surprised they were alive!

What had really concerned him was the blood leaking from the side of her head.

He had tried to rouse her, ignoring the blood soaking his outfit. If it was still leaking, then it was fresh. Hazy and clouded gold eyes had opened, locking with his cor lapis before falling shut again, she had been far too weak to do much. Zhongli felt the urge to rush back to the mansion with her. His guards tried saying she needed a hospital but something within him stirred unpleasantly at that. As though he knew that wasn't safe or smart.

**Flashback End**

Zhongli remembered how long it took for her to regain herself and- "Dad?" He jerked a bit, taken out of his musings and saw Ganyu, Xiao and even Lumine looking at him confused. "Hm? Sorry?" He asked, wondering what was asked of him. "I was wondering if we could take the town car. Not the limo." Ganyu questioned, seemingly worried about his lack of attention yet Zhongli nodded. "I have no qualms with it, it's more discreet." And would be just the excuse he needed for a guard to be with them. The guard would be their chauffeur and the town car wouldn't draw attention.

Ganyu nodded with a smile as Xiao gave a small nod, even as Lumine merely titled her head, unsure on how to feel about leaving the mansion. "Do not fret Lumine," Zhongli said, catching her attention. "I'm sure you'll enjoy your time." He said and she nodded, still unsure. Breakfast finished and the dishes put away as Zhongli insisted he be the one to do so, Ganyu and Xiao were then dragging Lumine off. Zhongli cast his eyes over his shoulder at the man behind him. "Follow them." He said and the dark haired man nodded, following them.

XXX

Lumine groaned as Ganyu pushed another dress into her hands, making the young blonde grumble. Xiao almost laughed with their chauffeur beside him, alias Moon Carver, or MC as others called him. Eventually Lumine came out wearing a simple black dress with a gold clip between her breasts in the shape of the Geo symbol. The collar came up, wrapping around her neck, keeping the dress up and the skirt part was trimmed in gold flowers. She was wearing laced up black heels that had an amber hue to them.

She also wore black bracelets, courtesy of Ganyu to keep her scar covered wrists hidden, just as the laces hide the bruising around her ankles. Though Lumine still felt exposed, she had a few lighter color scars lining her arms and legs, though they weren't noticeable unless you were looking for them. She was just glad the collar wrapped around her neck, keeping it covered. The scars there were as bad as the scarring on her wrists if not worse…and the worst part of it all? Lumine couldn't remember why or how she got the scars.

They bought the outfit and then Ganyu had Lumine wear the outfit as they left, walking around town and asking where she'd like to eat. It was the first time that Lumine had left the mansion, certainly she'd like to eat out? After they agreed on Wanmin Restaurant, MC relaxed, they had friends there that would keep an eye out for any danger. Xiangling was a friend of them, her whole family was and she was skilled in combat; she'd help him protect the trio.

"Hello! Welcome to-Oh?" Xiangling went silent as she saw it was her friends with someone new and she lit up like a christmas tree. "Oh! Oh! Someone new!" She grinned and directed them to a table that had a view of the waterfall, signaling to a few customers to be on alert. Once they were seated, she handed out menus and took a quick scan, no one she didn't know walked in behind them. So far so good, they were safe. "What can I get you all to drink?" She asked, seeing a few customers get up and move closer to be a shield should something happen.

Once she wrote what they wanted to drink down, she headed off to get what they wanted. "So Lumine," Ganyu began, grabbing the golden haired girl's attention, "what do you think of being outside for once?" Ganyu questioned and Lumine frowned a bit. "Overwhelming." Lumine replied honestly and Xiao scoffed. "As I would think it would be. You've been cooped up inside the mansion for so long, I had tried talking to father to let you out a bit more." The green and teal haired boy gruffly replied, gold eyes narrowed a little as he scanned the area.

Lumine fidgeted a bit. "I feel exposed being outside." Heck she even kept her window closed, locked and covered by thick curtains so as to feel safe. She hated being outside and even felt more exposed by nothing covering her arms. Her maid outfit covered her arms and almost reached her feet. "Don't worry Lumine," Ganyu said in a soothing tone. "You'll get used to it." Lumine hoped not, she preferred being indoors. Xiao smiled before tensing, hearing some others murmur in concern and thus, turned his eyes to the entrance.

The person there looked around, covered in all black and red, the symbol of the Fatui on his chest. While Xiao had no trouble with them because of his father…the way the Fatui paled upon looking at them was enough. Shit! Trouble! He could see, even from his potion the brown eyes of the male were focused on Lumine, the male trembled and made to leave when a customer near the entrance stood, grabbed the guy and forced him out. Xiao briefly saw the 'customer' tug the man to the side and only then did he relax.

Problem taken care of.