Zhongli's hand paused slightly, and then he suddenly laughed, a sound so faint it was barely audible unless one listened closely. Shen Xing, who happened to be watching Zhongli, choked on his drink, unable to swallow or spit it out.
Zhongli was laughing?
Zhongli actually laughed.
Was it because Shen Xing was choking, or because he stubbornly refused to change how he addressed Zhongli?
Shen Xing smacked his lips, feeling quite proud of himself. Who was sitting in front of him? None other than the longest-living Archon on the Teyvat Continent, Morax. He had seen all the vicissitudes of the world, and even in the storyline of Genshin Impact, Zhongli's laughter was a rare occurrence.
Yet now, Zhongli was laughing because of him!
Shen Xing twitched his nose, lowering his eyes like a thief, and took a couple of bites of his meal. He listened to the leisurely sound of the person across from him picking up chopsticks, then quickly glanced over again. The crimson at the corner of Zhongli's eyes was striking. Whether it was Shen Xing's illusion or not, he felt the atmosphere around Zhongli soften.
Zhongli picked up a piece of food and placed it in his bowl. Even such a mundane act as eating seemed to carry an indescribable charm when he did it.
Shen Xing viewed him through a filter, thinking, "As expected of a man from Liyue!"
He refused to admit that Zhongli might have been amused by his own foolishness.
As for the reason Zhongli laughed, it wasn't what Shen Xing thought, nor was it entirely the latter. It was because of how Shen Xing addressed him.
That person... only called him Morax.
How long had it been? Zhongli remembered clearly. The rocks recorded everything, indelible. A thousand years had passed, and the old friend before him had returned in a peculiar way, the fire in his eyes unchanged, just like their first meeting.
"Shen Xing, what are your plans for the future?"
Zhongli took a sip of tea and directly called him by his real name, addressing Shen Xing, who was boldly devouring his food.
Holding a chicken leg, with oil smeared on his lips, Shen Xing almost dropped the leg when he heard the question.
What was this about? Was Zhongli trying to send him away?!
Shen Xing's pupils shook.
He stupidly and confusedly responded with a sound.
"As you mentioned before, you don't remember your past experiences. Much time has passed now, and I believe you could leave Liyue to explore the other six nations. Perhaps one day, you'll remember," Zhongli suggested.
When Shen Xing woke up to find he had transmigrated, he had casually lied, saying he only remembered his name and nothing else.
Hu Tao chimed in, "Yes, yes, although I hate to see you go, you're efficient, and you've taken over all our work. This god-like life... oops, I misspoke."
Shen Xing: "..."
Hu Tao said, "Compared to here, your background is surely more important. You might have family anxiously searching for you. Besides, I can tell you're extraordinary, not a child of an ordinary family."
"Listen to the guest's advice and find your family. I'll give you your wages for these days, and some extra travel expenses as our blessing to you!"
Even Hu Tao was starting to push him away. Shen Xing didn't want to leave Liyue. Why travel the seven nations? He wasn't some fool like the Traveler.
Speaking of which, he had asked about the Traveler. People in Liyue said the Traveler had left Liyue years ago, only returning for this year's Lantern Rite, and planned to head to Natlan afterward.
When Shen Xing transmigrated, the map of Natlan hadn't been released yet. His understanding of Natlan was limited to the preview storyline, the arena, and the captain's appearance. That red-haired woman was obviously the Pyro Archon. Shen Xing transmigrated the night after watching the preview, not even knowing the Pyro Archon's name.
The Traveler had been wanted in Mondstadt for stealing a lyre, mistaken for an assassin in Liyue, wanted by the Tenryou Commission in Inazuma, saved Nahida in Sumeru and was wanted by the Grand Sage, and ended up in prison in Fontaine for reform through labor.
Always on the run or being hunted. So, if the Traveler went to Natlan... Shen Xing could already foresee the situation—being chased and then captured.
It was so predictable.
He didn't want to be a fool like the Traveler, traveling the world. He wasn't looking for a sister. What if he died on the way? Liyue was the closest place to modern life, and he intended to stay put!
As for finding family, he was a transmigrator and had no relatives.
No way, it hadn't been long, and they were already trying to send him away. Shen Xing's hand shook, and the chicken leg fell into his bowl.
He quickly grabbed a couple of napkins to wipe his greasy hands and mouth, then slid to Zhongli's side, hugging his leg and starting to plead loudly:
"Don't send me away—"
"I'll do whatever you say. I can even bring business to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, without pay, just give me a place to stay. I can continue bringing you meals, and I'll earn money myself!"
Shen Xing racked his brain to sell himself: "I'm very useful, I can do anything. I don't want to leave you or Liyue. I don't care, I'm not leaving. Even if you try to send me away, I won't go!"
By the end, he was practically being shameless.
Zhongli, usually calm and composed, was visibly shocked, unable to comprehend Shen Xing's actions. His right leg, held by Shen Xing's hands, was as hard as a rock, as if returning to its original form. Zhongli's calf tensed, and the tension spread throughout his body, his pupils slightly contracting.
If one observed Zhongli closely, they would notice his eyes widened by a few pixels.
Hu Tao, holding her chopsticks, was about to eat when she saw this scene, and the meat she was holding fell onto the table.
Seeing Zhongli staring at him without moving, Shen Xing inwardly cursed his iron heart, steeled himself, and shamelessly rubbed his face against Zhongli's leg.
Zhongli suddenly stood up, startling not only Hu Tao but also Shen Xing, who was hugging his leg, thinking he was about to be crushed by Dominus Lapidis.
Instead, before Shen Xing could react, Zhongli pulled him up.
Instinctively, Shen Xing looked at Zhongli.
The other's brows were furrowed, seemingly wanting to scold him for his inappropriate behavior. Zhongli's lips moved slightly, but before he could say a word, Shen Xing interrupted, "I'm not leaving. To be honest, I've already considered Liyue my home."
Very assertive.
Moreover, if they really tried to send him away, Shen Xing could simply refuse to leave. After all, he was a free man, and no one could control him.
He just wouldn't be able to cling to Zhongli's thigh anymore.
Even though he wasn't in any danger now, and could handle monsters quickly, this was Zhongli, after all. What transmigrator wouldn't want a powerful backer?
Who would mind having more support?
Zhongli was silent for a moment, then sighed deeply, "No, I meant to say—if you don't want to leave, you don't have to. It was just a suggestion."
Shen Xing's eyes lit up, the unique flame pattern in his eyes coming to life. Zhongli, slightly dazed, couldn't help but say, "That kind of... thing, you don't need to do it again. We can be friends."
"No need to be formal, but don't be too reckless."
Hugging his leg and such, it was too strange.
What?
Being friends with the Geo Archon!
"Okay." Shen Xing directly ignored the complexity in Zhongli's eyes, not understanding it. As a newly adult, it was normal not to understand what Zhongli was thinking.
Immediately, he cheerfully picked up his bowl and drank the soup, then busily said to them, "You continue, I have something to do, so I'll leave first!"
Hu Tao quietly swallowed a mouthful of food. Shen Xing's bold move had truly made her see him in a new light. To openly hug her guest's leg, Hu Tao knew Zhongli was handsome, with countless admirers, but those were just secret crushes. Who would be as direct as Shen Xing, rushing up and actually hugging him?
Strange, strange.
Hu Tao glanced at the calm and composed person beside her. In the past, Zhongli would predict and avoid such direct advances, and those people couldn't even touch him. But now, he was directly embraced...
He didn't even try to dodge.
Could it be that he was completely unguarded against Shen Xing?
Hu Tao hadn't expected Shen Xing to be so bold. Normally, he was very respectful to Zhongli. If she had to describe it, it would be admiration?
Probably admiration. Hu Tao wasn't sure either. Every time Shen Xing saw Zhongli, his eyes sparkled, and he seemed excited. It must be, no doubt.
Shen Xing: That's the look of seeing a father.
Hmm, so Hu Tao concluded that the guest might be lonely and wanted a friend for company!
With the Traveler gone, and only Tartaglia occasionally visiting Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to invite him for meals, there was no one else. So, he must be lonely.
Hu Tao nodded confidently.
Besides, Zhongli was male, and she was female. If he wanted someone to play and chat with, it would definitely be someone of the same gender.
But wasn't the age gap a bit too large?
Hu Tao scratched her head, her plum blossom eyes full of confusion.
After leaving, Shen Xing returned to his room at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, carefully checked his manuscript from his storage space, and after confirming there were no issues, climbed into bed to sleep.
The next morning, at dawn, he used his Vision to head to the docks and took a boat to Inazuma.
Shen Xing discreetly manipulated the wind to push the boat, speeding up its journey. In the bewildered expressions of the passengers, they arrived in half the usual time. Setting foot on Inazuma's territory, Shen Xing navigated the familiar paths and found his way to Yae Publishing House.
He specifically wore a cloak with a hood, covering his face. To further conceal his identity, he wore a mask.
But those eyes...
Shen Xing was troubled. This world didn't have colored contact lenses, so he couldn't hide his striking eye color.
The young man squeezed through the crowd into the front of Yae Publishing House. After waiting for the crowd to thin, he told the shopkeeper, "I want to submit a manuscript."
Kuroda had already noticed this peculiar person, but instead of being wary, he warmly invited Shen Xing inside, saying with a smile, "Ah Jiu, your last book became a huge hit, much to our surprise. The Guji-sama really chose the right person!"
"She specifically instructed me to treat you well if I saw you again." Kuroda said as he poured a cup of water and placed it in front of Shen Xing. Looking at the mysterious person, whose face was hidden under the hood, Kuroda couldn't contain his excitement and asked, "You said you wanted to submit a manuscript. May I take a look?"
Shen Xing nodded coldly. Here, he spoke as little as possible, mainly to avoid exposing his voice, which could be a hidden bomb revealing his identity. As a modern person, he had watched many novels and dramas, so he needed to be cautious, cautious, and more cautious.
Details determine success or failure.
He took the manuscript from his cloak and placed it on the table.
Kuroda flipped through it, and after a while, his excited expression turned dull, as if cold water had been poured over him. His expression became terrified as he quickly looked up at the author, "—Are you sure about this?"
"Hmm?" Shen Xing's voice, deliberately lowered, was pleasant but carried a hint of depth, making Kuroda feel that the person in front of him was strong and not to be trifled with.
Indeed, not to be trifled with. The person in front of him dared to write about the Harbingers. Wasn't he afraid of their retaliation?!!
Kuroda swallowed several times, trembling as he asked, "Are you sure you didn't take the wrong manuscript..."
"No." In Kuroda's view, the person before him slightly raised his chin, as if smiling, "Isn't it allowed to write about them?"
"...Not exactly."
Kuroda wiped his cold sweat, his sharp eyes catching sight of a corner of the cloak, revealing—an Anemo Vision.
"I need to report to the Guji-sama. She is the chief editor of Yae Publishing House."
To dare to publicly publish such a novel, his identity must be extraordinary, unafraid of the Harbingers' retaliation.
Whether he was a good person or a bad person, Kuroda was anxious and said, "But judging by the overall storyline, if your new book can be published, it will have an even greater impact than the last one."
Could it not have an impact?
The protagonists of this book were two heavyweight figures, Dottore and Tartaglia.
Did these two really have something going on?
Kuroda couldn't help but glance at the title on the cover—"The Yandere Experimental Maniac and His Runaway Harbinger."