Faced with Hu Tao's challenge, the white-haired woman showed no reaction whatsoever, simply continuing to sip her tea in silence.
Hu Tao was already in a foul mood, and this indifference immediately pushed her anger to its limit.
Slap!
She stood up and slammed her palms on the table. Her gaze fell on the white-haired woman's Vision, and she let out a cold laugh.
"Oh? You have a Vision too a kindred spirit. So you're deliberately picking a fight. Fine, how about a little contest with me, the Director?"
Flame butterflies materialized around Hu Tao in a swarm.
A dangerous aura began to build.
She hummed, snapped her fingers, and the fire butterflies fluttered and danced.
She was just about to teach this insufferable woman a lesson.
The white-haired woman Shenhe spoke then, quietly.
"This tea is very sweet... No wonder he likes it here."
"Who's 'he'? Never mind, doesn't matter."
Hu Tao's face scrunched up. "Enough chatter. Draw your weapon let's go. Don't come crying later that I, the Director, won unfairly."
Shenhe raised her eyes, glanced at Hu Tao briefly, and then began speaking to no one in particular.
"I admit it having lived in the mountains for so long, I'm quite ignorant of worldly matters. Perhaps that's also why I'm afraid to see him. Afraid that when we meet, I won't know what to say. My heart has been uneasy ever since."
Then, surprisingly, a faint look of smugness crossed Shenhe's composed face.
"So, a few days ago, I went to Wanwen Bookhouse, hoping to find some answers."
"The owner asked what kind of book I was looking for, and I explained my situation. He was quite professional and immediately recommended what are apparently bestselling titles from Inazuma's Yae Publishing House..."
"Ugh, what are you going on about?" Hu Tao said impatiently. "Are we doing this or not? If not, I, the Director, am leaving."
Shenhe shook her head. "This child you're quite lovely. But that temper of yours needs some work."
Hu Tao: "???"
"Child?! Who are you calling a child?"
She bristled. "Hey large-chested woman, don't push your luck. Are you trying to take advantage of me, the Director?"
"Large-chested... woman?"
Shenhe looked down at herself, then at Hu Tao.
"Well yes, comparatively speaking."
She appeared to give this genuine consideration, then nodded. "Though there's no need to feel inferior about it. The books do say that men generally prefer..."
She paused, then added, "But since he clearly likes you, you must have many other outstanding qualities—"
"Shut up!"
"Butterfly's Embrace!"
When had Director Hu ever endured such a direct affront?
Faced with this level of tactless humiliation, Hu Tao finally snapped.
She unleashed her fire butterflies without restraint, and flames erupted in every direction.
Since they were still inside Heyu Tea House, she was careful to control the lethal range so as not to harm other patrons but the table between them looked very much like a casualty.
"Spirit Encasement!"
The air had turned scorching hot, everything bathed in flickering red light.
Then, in the next instant, the temperature plummeted. A flash of icy blue and a talisman spirit stepped forward through wind and snow, interposing itself between them.
Hu Tao's plum blossom pupils contracted slightly.
This woman is terrifyingly strong.
Even accounting for the fact that she had deliberately held back her power, this woman's technique was far too effortless.
Shenhe released her incantation seal and looked at Hu Tao with a slight frown.
"I can't speak to what came before. But if you truly want to be with him, you should try to rein in that temper. He has already endured so much."
"What are you even talking about?!" Hu Tao said, flustered. "I, the Director, have absolutely no idea!"
"That's alright. As I mentioned, I bought two bestselling books from Yae Publishing House at Wanwen Bookhouse. They explain a great deal about the way people in our situation ought to interact."
"I've read them both. They're well written — the author has genuine insight. Things I hadn't thought to consider before, I found answers to within those pages."
As she spoke, Shenhe reached into her bag beside her, produced a book, set it on the table, and said calmly, "I think you should read this one."
Despite her irritation, Hu Tao found her eyes drawn to it.
She squinted at the cover and read the title aloud, suspicious.
"'Mother Dear, Please Dote on Me' — what is this—"
Slap. Thud.
Shenhe stiffened suddenly, lunged forward, flipped the cover over, and snatched the book back.
"N-no not that one!"
A blush had spread across her face.
Shenhe took a slow, deep breath her chest rising and falling visibly before she managed to compose herself.
She reached back into her bag, rummaged around, and produced a second book, which she pushed across the table.
Hu Tao leaned forward, read the title aloud with great deliberateness:
"'Concerning the Matter of the Neighboring Angelic Childhood Friend Unconsciously Spoiling Me Rotten.'"
"Puhahaha!"
Hu Tao dissolved into laughter, slapping the table, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. "This — this book what kind of title is that?! So long! So bizarre! Haha!"
"I found it strange at first as well," Shenhe said, with complete seriousness. "But after browsing several books with titles like this at Wanwen Bookhouse, I grew accustomed to it. I also find them unexpectedly clear and interesting. Without even reading the content, you already know what the story is about it saves considerable time."
She continued, "According to the owner, Ji Fang, all books published by Yae Publishing House in Inazuma follow this convention. This type of novel even has a specific name Light Novels."
"Oh... Light Novels. Is that right."
Hu Tao's laughter faded. Her expression went flat again. She waved her hand. "Either way, I'm not interested, and I don't want to read your book."
She sighed. "You're a strange woman so powerful, and so generously built, for one thing. And you keep saying things I can't follow."
She leaned back. "Normally I'd stay and chat longer, but honestly I'm not in the mood to deal with anyone right now."
She stood up, waving carelessly. "We met through a fight, so I'll consider us acquainted. Hey waiter! This miss is paying today's bill!"
From the corner where he had been cowering throughout the entire exchange, the waiter appeared.
Shenhe showed no particular reaction to this shamelessness. She simply called out to Hu Tao's retreating back:
"Aren't you taking the book? I selected it specifically for you. I believe its contents could teach you something useful about how to interact with him."
"Keep it. Not interested."
Hu Tao yawned, waved over her shoulder, and didn't look back.
Shenhe watched her go, brow furrowing slightly.
Before, they seemed so close. Could it be that I misread their relationship...
Then, under her breath, she murmured, "An'er..."
"What An'er?"
Somehow Hu Tao had materialized back at the table, sitting across from her, plum blossom eyes wide and fixed on Shenhe with an expression caught somewhere between confusion and alarm.
"My An'er — Ji An. Don't you know him?"
Hu Tao: (｀・・´)!?
Shenhe shook her head. "Never mind. It seems I misread things. I thought, given how close you seemed, that you must have feelings for him. But since you're apparently not interested, I'll find an opportunity to mention it to him. Matters of the heart can't be forced."
She began to rise, reaching for her bag.
"Who said I'm not interested!"
"I am interested!"
Hu Tao snapped out of her daze and shot to her feet, planting herself directly in Shenhe's path.
Shenhe looked at her, bewildered. "But you just said—"
"I didn't say anything of the sort."
Hu Tao's face had gone bright red. "Xiao An and I are — we're in love! Pretty sister, you didn't misread anything!"
Her tone, for once in her life, was soft and a little shy.
"Hm. Is that so."
It didn't seem like a performance. Shenhe wavered.
"Hehe — pretty sister, don't leave yet. Come sit a while longer."
Hu Tao tugged her by the arm, suddenly very eager.
Shenhe was pulled back to the table. After a moment, she said, "My name is Shenhe. And by worldly conventions, you... probably shouldn't call me sister."
"Mm-hmm, I understand completely. Girls don't like being called sister. What should I call you then? A-Shen? A-He? Little Hehe?"
To her credit, Hu Tao was making a genuine effort to be considerate.
Unfortunately, upon hearing these alternatives, Shenhe's expression grew even more complicated.
She looked as though she wished to say something, but couldn't quite find the words.
Hu Tao, entirely oblivious, reached over and took her hand warmly.
"A-He, what's your relationship with Xiao An? Calling him An'er like that are you his sister?"
"Likely so. Age-wise, it would fit."
She answered her own question, then pouted. "Hmph stinky Xiao An, hiding a beautiful sister like this from me. A sister with such an impressive — ahem. He never said a word!"
She fell quiet for a moment, a sudden worry creeping in.
Eh. If Shenhe really is Xiao An's sister, then he's been around someone like her since childhood. His standards must be... refined.
If what Shenhe said about men earlier was true...
Then on their wedding night, when Xiao An sees her little buns would he be disappointed?
Wuu...
Of course not! Hu Tao did not think of herself as small. She was only small compared to Shenhe, who was excessively endowed. By any normal measure, she was perfectly fine.
Just a tiny bit smaller.
Only a tiny bit!
While Hu Tao was thoroughly lost in this spiral of thought, Shenhe spoke.
"I am his mother."
"Oh, so you're Xiao An's..." Hu Tao said automatically.
Then stopped.
"...mother?"
Hu Tao: "!??"
---
Stone Gate area, Liyue.
"Hey. Disciple? Disciple!"
Lying on Herloxia's back, Ji An simply turned over and pretended not to hear.
A flash of blue light.
"Stop pretending to sleep." Mona stepped out of thin air directly onto Herloxia's back. "Get up."
"Chirp."
"Oh, don't be so territorial, Herloxia!"
Mona stomped her foot. "What's the logic here? Ji An can ride you, but I — Mona, his master cannot?"
"Chirp, chirp."
"Alright, alright, don't be upset... Look, I caught you something! I saw you liked birds earlier!"
Mona reached out and plunged her hand into what appeared to be a void of dark blue.
A moment later, she actually pulled a live bird out of the sky.
"CAW, CAW—!"
Mona stared at the large bird flapping desperately in her hand and let out a startled noise. "How did I end up catching a crane?!"
"Sorry, sorry, Herloxia — wrong bird!"
With this much racket, Ji An had clearly lost the battle for sleep. He opened his eyes with a sigh. "Mona, are you hopeless?"
"I told you — you're supposed to call me master."
Mona crossed her arms. "Otherwise I won't honor those three requests of yours."
Ji An gave her a flat look. "We're still in Liyue. I agreed to call you master once we entered Mondstadt."
"We're practically there. Would it kill you to say it just once?"
A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Hmph. I've spent my whole life being the one who calls someone master. The day someone finally calls me master hehe."
---
This was the day after Ji An had left Wangshu Inn with Mona in the middle of the night.
Before leaving, he had written a note explaining that an urgent matter had come up and he had to go on ahead, and asking that no one worry. He left it with the front desk manager, Verr Goldet, with a request to pass it to Zhang Hong at daybreak.
Then he and Mona slipped away under cover of darkness.
Originally, Mona had said she could use an astrological ritual to get them to Mondstadt quickly. Ji An had no objection a shorter journey was ideal.
But just as Mona was drawing the ritual array, she paused mid-divination and looked up at Ji An with suddenly bright eyes.
"Disciple, I'm seeing something extraordinary."
"There's a fate line on you unlike anything I've encountered before. It spans hundreds of years of the river of time, yet at this very moment, it connects directly to you." She glanced around, looking animated. "I can sense that the person at the other end of that line is somewhere nearby."
"Can you get them to come out and meet me?"
Ji An stared at her.
You can actually divine something that specific?
He was genuinely shaken. If this was what real astrology could do, it was terrifying. For a girl like Mona if someone ever married her, they'd probably have a very difficult time hiding even a single Mora of pocket money.
But then.
Ji An reconsidered. Mona was, by her own description, a seeker of stars and fate someone whose life's pursuit was the advancement of the mystic arts. Beyond that, the ordinary things of the world held little appeal for someone like her.
It was rather hard to picture Mona, a girl whose heart encompassed the stars and the vast heavens, settling down with any particular man.
Ji An shook his head with a quiet smile.
There was no point thinking about it anyway.
It wasn't as though she would possibly end up with him, of all people.
-------
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