The early morning sun of Liyue was still as warm as velvet, but today, the atmosphere at Wangshu Inn was subdued a little. Down in the spacious courtyard, the bustle was still present: countless people hurried past one another.
Sturdy young men were carefully carrying large casks of wine, loading them onto the horse-drawn wagons. Not far from them was Elzer, who was courteously conversing with two merchants in the convoy.
Mei stood at the upper floor railing, gazing down at the bustling scene below. She looked around the overly familiar setting once more, a feeling of inexplicable reluctance rising in her heart. With a soft sigh, she asked herself:
“Am I truly leaving this place?”
As if realizing she was stating something superfluous, Mei quickly brought her hand up and slapped her cheek, forcing herself to calm down:
“Snap out of it! I still have to find a way to get home!”
Mei was so engrossed in her own muddled thoughts that the "clop-clop" of footsteps behind her failed to pull her out of the tangle. A familiar voice spoke up, accompanied by a gentle pat on the shoulder:
“Have you finished preparing your luggage, Mei?”
Mei jumped, startled, but quickly returned to normal when she saw Verr Goldet. Scratching her head, she replied with an awkward laugh:
“Haha, Proprietress. I don’t have any luggage to prepare. The clothes all belong to the Inn anyway.”
Verr Goldet heard this and gently frowned, her voice lowering slightly:
“What I gave you means it belongs to you. Just take them with you.”
“I understand.” Mei replied with a touch of awkwardness.
Suddenly, a small scarf came into Mei's view. While she was still dazed, Verr Goldet gently tucked the soft scarf into her hand:
“Keep this!”
“Oh... this...” Mei accepted the scarf in surprise.
Holding it in her hand, she couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of admiration. The scarf was soft, as if woven from a thousand Silk Flowers petals; a vibrant purple Glaze Lily was embroidered in the center, and the exquisite stitching made it look absolutely gorgeous.
“What’s wrong, don’t you like it?” Verr Goldet asked Mei, sounding inquisitive.
“No, no, it’s very beautiful! Thank you so much, Proprietress.” Mei hurriedly waved her hands in denial.
Verr Goldet nodded, looking satisfied.
“Mm, remember to keep it safe.”
After a moment of silence, she spoke again. Her voice was soft and gentle, unlike her usual solemnity:
“If you don't wish to stay at the Dawn Winery anymore... just come back here.”
Mei froze upon hearing those words. She softly lowered her head, not daring to look directly at Verr Goldet. Her eyes suddenly turned red, her nose stung. She replied in a choked voice:
“I will.”
Afterward, Verr Goldet returned to the counter, continuing her daily work. Mei had now calmed down. Sitting down at a table, she instinctively cast her eyes toward the horizon.
Somewhere, gentle cool breezes blew, as if intending to comfort the young girl's mood. But the wind today carried something very strange, like an invisible gaze following her. Taking a sip of tea, Mei mused:
“Hmm, why is the wind so unusual today? It’s not like other days.”
“Ai, I guess I must just be imagining things.” She set the teacup down, whispering to herself.
---
The glaring sunlight began to shine into the familiar room. Mei folded the clothes she usually wore into the hand-carried suitcase given by Verr Goldet. Gently wiping the sweat from her forehead, she muttered:
“I guess bringing this much is enough.”
“Haaiz, even though the Proprietress said I could just take everything... how could I possibly do that? My face is already thick enough.”
Mei glanced at the bracelet resting on the table and froze momentarily. She looked at it for a long time, then breathed out a long sigh before putting it on her wrist.
"Knock knock knock."
The sound of knocking echoed outside, accompanied by a boisterous voice, which made Mei instantly curious.
“The Boss and Yanxiao too!?” Mei opened the door, her mouth agape in surprise.
“What luck, you’re still here. I thought you had already gotten on the carriage.” Yanxiao patted his chest, letting out a relieved breath.
“Diluc told me to take my time tidying up, he would wait. I’m just about to head to the carriage now.” Mei placed the suitcase outside and closed the room door.
At this moment, Huai'an gently tucked a flask of wine into Mei’s hand. Maintaining his cheerful tone, he reminded her:
“Remember to share it with everyone to drink together.”
Yanxiao also stepped closer, tucking a box of refreshments into Mei’s other hand. He cleared his throat and said frankly:
“If you don't mind my craftsmanship, go ahead and taste them.”
Mei laughed brightly, quickly shaking her head in denial:
“Haha, how could I! Your craftsmanship is the number one in all of Liyue!”
“Looks like your palate isn't bad either.” Yanxiao responded in kind, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Huai'an listened to their conversation and happily chimed in. Gently patting Mei’s shoulder, he spoke:
“If you run out of wine or find that the food in Mondstadt doesn't suit your taste, just come back to Wangshu Inn.”
“I’ll bring some out for you then.”
Mei took a deep breath, then offered a smile. But that smile contained an indescribable sadness:
“Thank you both very much! It’s getting late, I’ll be leaving now.”
Yanxiao nodded softly, while Huai'an gently waved his hand, his voice a little quiet:
“Take care, Mei.”
---
Seeing Mei descend the stairs, Diluc stepped forward slightly. His voice was aloof as usual:
“Are you all prepared?”
“All done,” Mei nodded in reply.
Diluc suddenly reached out toward Mei. To her surprise, he took the suitcase and proceeded straight toward the carriage. Mei saw this and became flustered, her hands waving frantically:
“Oh... Master Diluc, my suitcase…”
Countless questions sprang up in her mind: “Don’t tell me he’s afraid there are hidden weapons or a slow-detonating bomb in there, heavens!”
Contrary to Mei’s awkwardness, Diluc spoke with great composure:
“How could I let a lady carry her own suitcase?”
Upon hearing this, Mei could only force a strained smile, following him out to the carriage.
In front of the spacious courtyard, there were two carriages and a wagon. Most of the people were already getting onto the vehicles. Only two figures remained standing, seemingly waiting for someone: Elzer and a stranger whom Mei had never met.
“Huh!? A new NPC? Which quest is this?” she wondered internally.
The man, with chestnut brown hair and eyes, approached Diluc and Mei, giving a gentle smile and a courteous bow:
“Everything is fully prepared, we can depart now, Master.”
Diluc looked at him with an icy gaze, then spoke softly, his voice even-toned:
“Thank you for your trouble, Viber.”
Afterward, he walked towards the first carriage in the convoy. Looking at Mei, he spoke:
“This side.”
“Something seems off here.” Mei felt a quiet sense of unease in her heart.
Seeing her still standing frozen in place without moving, Elzer stepped forward, gently touching her shoulder, his voice soft:
“Please get in the carriage quickly, the Master is waiting for you.”
Mei felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her mouth agape, her feet trembling. Gently wiping away a drop of sweat, she forced a smile and walked over next to Diluc:
“Can I ride with Elzer?”
Diluc briefly glanced at Elzer, then looked back at Mei, his voice indifferent:
“Elzer has other matters to attend to, he cannot attend to you with proper hospitality.”
Mei remained outwardly calm, but internally she was screaming wildly: “What kind of 'proper hospitality' are you talking about! Just looking at that cold face of his, I can barely swallow a pastry!”
Pausing for a moment, he continued:
“Get in the carriage.” Diluc subtly offered his hand, as if for her to hold onto.
Mei could only helplessly comply. Her eyes desperately searched for help toward Elzer. That pitiful sight caught Elzer’s eye, but he could only force a smile, clasping his hands together in a gesture that implied: “I can’t help you this time.”
The convoy began to roll, heading towards the bridge connecting the Inn to Dihua Marsh. Mei softly turned her head to peer out the window, taking one last look at this place. Feeling the cool breeze spreading all around, old memories experienced here unconsciously flashed through her mind.
Mei sighed softly, feeling an inexpressible reluctance surrounding her. She still wanted to stay a little longer, to continue chatting with Verr Goldet, trimming the plants with Huai'an, and cooking with Yanxiao. But now, sitting on the comfortable seat of the carriage, Mei felt a strange sense of emptiness.
Diluc saw Mei looking dejected, and merely gave her a quick glance without paying much attention. But when he saw her bow her head, looking at the bracelet on her hand with sadness, he spoke up, his voice full of resolve:
“Our choices all come at a cost. You have made your decision. Now, think about what awaits ahead, instead of what we have left behind.”
Mei was startled upon hearing Diluc’s words. Although the statement was uttered in a cold manner, it strangely made Mei feel better.
She discreetly glanced at the young man who was leaning his head out the window, as if he had never spoken those words. A moment later, Mei stirred. Taking a deep breath as if to regain her spirit, she firmly declared:
“The Master is absolutely right. My journey ahead is still very long; I cannot continue to be sad like this.”
Diluc nodded, then looked down at Mei’s newly bandaged arm, inquiring:
“How is your wound?”
“It’s fine, it’s not bleeding too much anymore.” Mei replied cautiously.
Diluc acknowledged this with a simple sound, then continued looking out the window, his voice even-toned:
“Is the wind in Liyue always this strange?”
“Huh?” Mei was puzzled by the question, but chose to ignore it as if she hadn’t heard anything.
Heading toward Dihua Marsh, she came across a group of Adventurers chatting animatedly about something. Mei only caught a few fragments of their conversation:
“Is it true that residents around here found several strange bloodstains early in the morning two days ago?”
“Mhm, only bloodstains, nothing else was found. Even today, there are no traces left.”
“How frightening…”
After that, the carriage quickly drove away, preventing her from hearing anything further.
“Why does that sound familiar?” Mei wondered internally.
Diluc saw Mei concentrating on eavesdropping so intently that she was almost crawling out the window, so he asked, his eyes fixed straight on Mei:
“You seem very interested in those rumors, don’t you?”
“Haha, do I? You must be mistaken,” Mei scratched her head, forcing a strained smile.
“You have worked at Wangshu Inn for quite a while, haven't you? You see, sometimes people in service know more about this world than those in power. Miss Mei, you seem to know more than you let on.” Diluc’s gaze silently observed the expression on her face.
“No, no, my job at the Inn doesn't require me to know that much information,” Mei hurriedly waved her hands in denial.
“Oh my god! I knew it, sharing a carriage with Diluc really is pure torture.” Mei secretly screamed internally.
The carriage continued to drive further away, and Wangshu Inn gradually disappeared behind the thick layers of clouds.
Throughout the journey, Mei remained in a state of apprehension, just in case Diluc unexpectedly asked her something else. But fortunately, until now, he hadn't spoken again.
The faint light of the setting sun gently shone down, painting a patch of the sky in a warm orange color. In contrast, the inside of the carriage was strangely cold. No words were spoken, and the space was immersed in a frightening silence, making Mei “shiver without the cold.”
“This atmosphere... it’s terrifying.” she shuddered, thinking to herself.
“I must have used up all the bad luck in my life just to be riding with Diluc. The script should have been me sitting next to Elzer, happily enjoying tea, eating pastries, and watching the sunset together.” She secretly complained in her heart.
And so, weariness and fatigue enveloped Mei. Her eyes began to droop, and a sense of exhaustion spread throughout her body, causing Mei to inadvertently lean against the window frame and fall asleep without realizing it.
"Thump!" A small jolt from outside the carriage caused Mei’s head to gently bump into Diluc’s shoulder. But the young woman continued to breathe peacefully, completely unaware.
Diluc lowered his head, looking down at the small, sleeping face. Her warm breath gently fell onto his shoulder. He sighed, gently shifting closer to allow her to rest more securely, without any further movement.
Afterward, he continued to look out at the sky, which was slowly being covered by a mysterious black hue. Diluc fell into reverie once more; a memory from that evening, the day Mei showed him and Elzer the secret of “The Vanity of the Wind”, suddenly came back to him.
---
“What!? The Master wants to invite her to the Winery to work?” Elzer jumped up, speaking incredulously.
“Is there something wrong? I think she is capable enough,” Diluc crossed his arms, calmly leaning against the window in the room.
Elzer had regained his composed demeanor, but his eyes were still wavering, immersed in contemplation.
“That’s not it... Mei... We know nothing about her. Isn’t this a bit too hasty, Master?”
Diluc looked straight at Elzer, coldly saying:
“Mmm, perhaps it is.”
Diluc's gaze drifted toward the glass of grape juice resting on the table. He walked towards it, lifting it and gently swirling the liquid in a practiced manner.
"But I don’t believe it's just a coincidence. She knows more than she lets on. From the matter of the wine, to the book... everything suggests suspicion."
“In any case, if we can exploit what she knows, this will surely be a valuable piece on the board.”
Elzer seemed to have been convinced by Diluc’s words. He did not want to interfere too much with Diluc’s decisions, he trusted his Master.
“So, what if she does something that harms Mondstadt?” Elzer asked softly, his final question for Diluc.
Diluc raised an eyebrow, lifting the glass high; its deep purple hue was like the dark night, swallowing the overhead lights whole. His gaze was sharp, and his voice chilled by several degrees:
“The person I bring back, I will bear full responsibility for.”
“If she poses a threat, I will personally see to the end of the matter.” His voice was firm, emphasizing every word.
In the end, only the refreshing sound of 'glug-glug' could be heard as the grape juice gradually emptied. After listening, Elzer let out a soft sigh, complying with his master's words.