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"But what's going on with the seating? I was worried the Conqueror of Demons might feel uncomfortable when he arrived, so I specially invited Cloud Retainer to come—"
"Hm?" Cloud Retainer immediately had something to say. "So, you invited this adeptus and Shenhe not to celebrate a new neighbor's housewarming?"
"That too! All of it!" Hu Tao defended herself smoothly. "Cloud Retainer is an adeptus who has protected Liyue for who knows how long, and you know everyone anyway… well, except Zhongli? And Shenhe is our good friend too. You're moving near Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—by reason and by sentiment, I should be the one treating you all to a meal!"
Only then did Cloud Retainer nod. "You little girl are quite eloquent. Pity Shenhe never managed to learn this adeptus' way with words."
"So, ahem…" Hu Tao shot Zhongli a sharp look and asked, "Mr. Consultant, I originally planned to seat the Conqueror of Demons with Cloud Retainer. Those two go back many, many years. Why did you jump in and sit beside Cloud Retainer first?"
Zhongli: "..."
Cloud Retainer: "..."
Xiao: "..."
Shenhe explained, "Actually, Master and Mr. Zhongli are old acquaintances as well. When we arrived, only Mr. Zhongli was present. I suggested that Master take this seat on her own initiative—it's not Mr. Zhongli's fault… If anything, I can give my seat to the Conqueror of Demons."
As Shenhe finished speaking, she was about to stand, but Hu Tao reached out and stopped her.
Hu Tao's gaze moved back and forth between Zhongli, Cloud Retainer, and Xiao. Then she pinched her chin, her tone strange as she spoke slowly, one word at a time: "Zhongli… and Cloud Retainer… are actually old acquaintances?"
Cloud Retainer tried her best to remain calm, yet she hadn't expected a simple dinner gathering to feel like sitting on pins and needles. If she could do it over again, she would choose not to come.
Fortunately, Zhongli had long prepared an explanation. "It was due to mechanism arts. Cloud Retainer's craftsmanship in mechanisms is exquisitely ingenious. I once had the good fortune to see a portion that had been passed down to Liyue Harbor, and I was deeply astonished by it. I then chose a day to seek out the adeptus. Thankfully, Cloud Retainer is rather tolerant toward fellow enthusiasts, allowing me to enter the mountains for guidance when perplexed. Over time, we naturally became old acquaintances."
"Hmm—? I see…" Hu Tao drawled. "I was even wondering whether you and the Conqueror of Demons were old acquaintances too. If that were the case, I could've just seated him next to you. Looks like that won't work, huh?"
"No need to make it so complicated. I can give the Conqueror of Demons my seat."
Xiao: "!"
The seating around the table, with Zhongli as the starting point, rotated counterclockwise by more than half a circle, ultimately ending with Paimon. Between the two of them, there were still two empty seats.
As he spoke, Zhongli shifted one seat to his left. Now, there was an empty seat on each side of him.
"Very good. Our consultant is quite responsible. Then please have the Conqueror of Demons sit there. I'll sit next to little Paimon."
Xiao let out a soft sigh and, feeling slightly dazed, sat down between Zhongli and Cloud Retainer. Aside from the fact that this seat had been given up by Zhongli, it actually felt… not bad?
Cloud Retainer understood this old friend's temperament well and spoke via inner voice: Let's just eat properly from here on. There shouldn't be anything else happening.
Xiao silently nodded.
"Now everyone's here!" Hu Tao clapped her hands. "Perfect timing—on my way back just now, the waiter at Xinyue Kiosk said the dishes I ordered have already started coming out. No time to waste; I'll have them served right away!"
"Wait a moment."
Victor Wang suddenly spoke up. Several uneasy gazes immediately shot over, afraid he might stir up trouble again.
Victor Wang asked, "Would it be convenient to add another chair? I have a friend… he's Mondstadt's best bard. He came for a music festival earlier and hasn't left yet. There should be quite a few people here who know him."
"Victor's friend—and Mondstadt's best bard?!" Hu Tao's eyes lit up. "Say no more, we'll arrange it. But where is he?"
"Right here!"
Before Hu Tao could even look around, whoosh—, the sound of wind surged outside. The room's door was blown open by a perfectly timed gust.
Venti strode in openly, then waved at everyone with a bright smile. "Hi-hi! Whether or not we've met somewhere before, today is a brand-new encounter! New and old friends alike—happy festival to you all~"
Xiao: "!"
Cloud Retainer: "?!"
Zhongli: "..."
Lumine: "?"
Paimon: "Venti?!"
Hu Tao: "Oh my, this young man is quite dashing. Just looking at you makes me feel like we're destined to be friends! Come, come, sit—ah, wait… we need to add another seat first."
As dishes continued to be served, the pace of adding a seat was even faster. The waiter promptly brought over a chair and a full set of tableware.
Dragging the chair over, Venti hesitated. "I know Victor Wang and Lumine, so I'll just sit between them… Eh? Is that person over there "Pillow of Jade"?"
"Ah, it's you?!" Hearing the pen name so suddenly, Xingqiu recognized the bard he'd met at the Iridescence Tour. The fact that his book had sold extremely well in Inazuma wasn't known to many friends in Liyue—nor was his true identity…
"Pillow of Jade?" Hu Tao began to feel that something about this table was riddled with hidden depths. She was starting to lose her grip on the situation.
Venti quickly reacted. "Oh, I meant Pillow of Jade's hardcore fan, Xingqiu. We met at a light novel fan gathering some time ago. Xingqiu is the second person—besides me—who can analyze Pillow of Jade's new works so thoroughly. We really regretted not meeting sooner."
Xingqiu let out a sigh of relief as the pen name crisis was defused. "You flatter me, Venti. When it comes to novel-writing skill, Dust is right here. And when it comes to poetry, your literary talent runs even deeper."
"Ahem…" Zhongli asked with a show of formality, "So this friend is not only acquainted with Victor Wang and Lumine, but also an acquaintance of young master Xingqiu?"
"Not just that…" Lumine was genuinely curious now. "Judging by Xiao and Cloud Retainer's reactions, it seems they know Venti as well?"
Seeing the topic turn back to himself, Xiao reminded Cloud Retainer via inner voice: Do not expose his identity. Like Rex Lapis, he now walks the world in mortal form.
Cloud Retainer's focus was elsewhere. She couldn't help asking, "The Anemo Archon came here just to freeload a meal… I find that hard to believe."
Xiao replied inwardly: Let's observe for now. He once used music to help suppress my karmic debt. I owe him greatly. He shouldn't harbor ill intent in coming here.
After their private exchange, Xiao spoke aloud again. "I do indeed know… Venti. On the eve of the Lantern Rite, malevolent forces were stirring. I was patrolling around Dihua Marsh when I happened upon him. At the time, he was performing. His music was melodious and soothing, calming the heart. I couldn't help but listen for quite a while…"
Cloud Retainer echoed, "I've also heard this one perform—though not recently. It was some time further back."
"Haha," Venti blinked. "Thank you both for your patronage!"
Lumine nodded. "I see."
Zhongli also nodded, how much he understood unclear, before introducing himself. "I am Zhongli, employed by Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, new friend."
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