Lumine sprinted over and stood before Chu Xi.
Her breath came in short, rapid gasps, and her cheeks were flushed—likely from anger.
Lumine was indeed angry, furious at Chu Xi for disappearing without a word.
She and Paimon had searched high and low, wasting precious time and worrying incessantly.
Finding Chu Xi wasn't just about fulfilling Silaya's final quest; more importantly, Chu Xi was a dear friend—someone they couldn't afford to lose!
In Chu Xi's memory, Lumine rarely lost her composure, usually maintaining a calm and steady demeanor. But now, she seemed genuinely furious.
Feeling guilty, Chu Xi avoided Lumine's piercing gaze.
"Where have you been all this time?" Lumine demanded.
"I..." Chu Xi hesitated, unsure how to answer. She couldn't reveal anything about Silaya, and besides, she wasn't even sure if Lumine remembered Silaya anymore. If Lumine didn't remember her, explaining her whereabouts would be pointless.
Lumine continued to stare intently, her eyes fixed on Chu Xi, who couldn't bring herself to meet that gaze.
Chu Xi tilted her head slightly, sighed, and asked, "Lumine, do you still remember who saved Sumeru?"
Before Lumine could answer, Paimon blurted out, "It was us and Nahida, of course! We saved Greater Lord Rukkhadevata together. What's the problem?"
Paimon's answer clearly wasn't what Chu Xi wanted to hear. She looked at Lumine, waiting for her response.
Lumine's pupils dilated in shock.
From Chu Xi's eyes, Lumine realized that Chu Xi... she hadn't forgotten Silaya!
But... how was that possible?!
Chu Xi was a native of Teyvat. Even Nahida and Greater Lord Rukkhadevata had forgotten Silaya. How could Chu Xi still remember her?
Chu Xi watched Lumine's reaction closely. She had long suspected this, but it was only a hunch. Now she was certain: Lumine remembered Silaya too!
Chu Xi took a step forward, speaking in a language Paimon couldn't understand.
"Lumine, you remember, right? You still remember her, don't you?!"
Chu Xi's voice trembled with emotion, tears glistening in her eyes.
Chu Xi wasn't the only one who remembered Silaya. Lumine remembered her too!
Silaya's sacrifice hadn't been in vain. At least her best friend and Lumine, the witness, would keep her memory alive.
Lumine placed a hand on Chu Xi's shoulder, her heart aching at the sight of her friend's distress.
Chu Xi had already suffered enough—first her entire family had been murdered, and now she had lost her dearest friend.
Lumine's anger had completely dissipated. Faced with such a vulnerable Chu Xi, she couldn't muster a shred of resentment.
I suppose Chu Xi disappeared because of Silaya too, Lumine thought.
Many questions still lingered in Lumine's mind: Why did Chu Xi remember Silaya? Where had she been during her disappearance? Had she been investigating the Dendro Vision? What brought her to Inazuma now?
But this wasn't the time for questions. Chu Xi was emotionally vulnerable and needed their comfort.
Lumine gently embraced Chu Xi, who was slightly taller. Chu Xi leaned down, resting her head on Lumine's shoulder, her shoulders trembling with suppressed sobs.
During her time away from Lumine and the others, Chu Xi had a rough time. Living rough was the least of her worries; what tormented her most was the mental strain.
Her best friend had vanished, erased from Irminsul, leaving her alone to seek the truth and find a solution.
Looking around, she saw only emptiness, without a single clue or glimmer of hope.
Traveling alone was incredibly lonely, especially for someone like Chu Xi.
Lumine gently patted Chu Xi's back, her voice soft and soothing.
"Chu Xi, don't be afraid. You still have us. Paimon and I are your best partners!"
Paimon, though utterly confused, saw how upset Chu Xi was and flew over to pat her forehead.
"Don't be scared! Paimon's here! If anyone dares to bully you, Paimon... Paim... Lumine will definitely settle the score! We'll all avenge you!"
Paimon nudged her head against Chu Xi's shoulder, remembering how much Chu Xi loved to pet her head.
Chu Xi, who hadn't been crying before, suddenly burst into tears of pent-up grief, overwhelmed by Lumine and Paimon's comforting words.
I wasn't even that sad...
-
Live Stream Chat:
[Waaah, my Chu Xi has finally been found...]
[Chu Xi has lost so much weight. She must not have been eating well. Good thing Yuna's here now to help her recover!]
[Why does Chu Xi remember Silaya?!]
[She's so beautiful!]
[I'm still a little worried. It seems like Chu Xi has caught the Doctor's attention.]
-
The final phase of the celebration.
Yuna walked toward them, carrying a large bowl of ice cream and eating as she went.
The celebration was nearing its end. The Boss and the others were packing up. After working hard all afternoon, Yuna deserved a good rest.
She had specifically asked Lumine and Paimon to save this extra-large serving of ice cream for her.
After all, a chef shouldn't be deprived, right?
Hearing from Yae Miko that Lumine and Paimon were here, she had come over to check on them.
Today, Yuna planned to rest in Lumine's Serenitea Pot, where she also had a room she had only visited twice so far.
As she drew closer, Yuna spotted Chu Xi sobbing in Lumine's arms, with Paimon fluttering around, offering words of comfort.
Curious, Yuna approached.
Her footsteps were light, and Chu Xi noticed her just as Yuna leaned in to peek.
Chu Xi released Lumine, sniffled, and wiped her nose.
Yuna felt a bit awkward, suddenly realizing she probably shouldn't have appeared at this moment.
"Ahem, don't be sad. I have some delicious ice cream here. If you don't mind sharing..."
"I don't mind," Chu Xi replied.
Chu Xi took the ice cream from Yuna and scooped a small spoonful with the same spoon Yuna had been using, then put it in her mouth.
The sweet taste chased away Chu Xi's sadness, and she began to feel ashamed of her earlier behavior.
A grown woman like me, still crying on Lumine's shoulder, and Little Paimon and the Boss saw it all...
Waaah...
Chu Xi scooped another spoonful into her mouth, then handed the ice cream back to Yuna. "Sorry about that. Um, if you don't mind sharing..."
"I don't mind," Yuna replied.
The two took turns eating two spoonfuls each, completely unconcerned about hygiene.
After all, they were both beautiful young women... and they were essentially the same person anyway.
-
Beside them, Lumine and Paimon exchanged bewildered glances.
Paimon spread her tiny hands, astonished that Yuna's ice cream had actually comforted Chu Xi...
Lumine's spirits lifted considerably. Chu Xi had been found and seemed unharmed.
Though Chu Xi was still keeping some secrets, Lumine trusted she would reveal them in due time.
Afterward, Lumine introduced Chu Xi to her friends in Inazuma. Amidst laughter and merriment, the Test of Courage Quest Series came to an end.
-
Player World.
Chen Xiyao's game interface also displayed the "Completed" message. After chatting with her viewers for a while, she ended her livestream.
She had already figured out Mihoyo's update schedule. After this event, there would likely be another month-long wait.
But the next update would be a major one!
She was already brimming with anticipation.
Ever since she started playing Genshin Impact, the game had become one of her spiritual sustenance. Every day, she logged in with a pang of regret, diligently saving up Primogems.
This time, she had amassed quite a stockpile, just waiting for the next gacha banner.
Online speculation suggested the next banner would feature either Yuna or Qingxu. No matter which one it was, she was determined to pull them to max constellation!