Chapter Text
Chapter 13 - A Change of Pace
Zhongli's suggestion caught Lumine completely off guard.
"...How about we take a short break?"
For a brief moment, she simply stared at him.
“...A break?”
Of all people...
She hadn't expected those words to come from Zhongli.
He had spent the better part of two days marching them across Liyue in search of flowers, perfumes, jade and whatever else the Rite demanded.
Before she had time to respond, Paimon threw both hands into the air.
"Finally... Paimon’s exhausted!"
Lumine raised an eyebrow.
"...You're exhausted?"
"Of course I am!"
Lumine let out a quiet sigh, unable to hide the faint smile tugging at her lips.
Across from her, Childe chuckled beneath his breath.
"I certainly won't object."
His voice carried the same easy confidence as always, but there was something about the way he'd inserted himself into the conversation that made her suspicious.
What convenient timing.
First he just happened to be passing through.
Now he just happened to have time for a leisurely break.
She wasn't convinced.
Not even a little.
Still...
If he wanted something, he was doing an excellent job pretending otherwise.
"Then let us be on our way."
Zhongli led them away from the busier streets of Feiyun Slope, where the noise of merchants gradually softened into the familiar rhythm of Liyue's afternoon.
For once, there was no urgent task waiting for them.
No rare ingredients to collect.
Just a quiet walk through the city.
Lumine found herself relaxing slightly despite herself.
Perhaps a break really wasn't such a bad idea.
They hadn't gone far when a voice called out from a nearby stall.
"Ho there, come and have a look. Each item here is a treasure you would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere!”
Lumine turned toward the source.
A man with dark hair and bright blue clothing stood behind a small kiosk, gesturing enthusiastically toward the various objects displayed before him.
Among the collection were old-looking teapots, ceramic vessels, and other strange ornaments that seemed to carry an air of age and mystery.
The man smiled proudly as they approached.
Zhongli's eyes immediately drifted toward the displayed items, his expression becoming slightly more attentive.
“What are your wares?”
“Interested, are we? Well then, allow me to tell you a little something—”
The seller pulled out a brass incense burner, delicately decorated with dragons and patterns.
“Look at this censer, if you will. Legend has it that it has offered incense to Rex Lapis himself for a thousand years, and has become filled with adeptal energy in the process!”
Lumine glanced at Zhongli.
She expected him to dismiss the claim immediately.
Instead, he simply studied the censer with a thoughtful expression.
"Is that so?"
The merchant nodded eagerly.
"Indeed! And this porcelain bottle, it may look plain, but it is a true relic, perhaps worth as much as half of Chihu Rock!”
Childe leaned slightly toward the counter, hands still tucked into his pockets. His gaze wandered over the intricate blue patterns decorating the porcelain surface.
Judging by the doubt on his face, he didn’t see whatever made this piece so priceless.
"Are you selling these?" Paimon asked curiously.
The merchant blinked.
"Selling? Oh no, I never said I was selling. In fact, you couldn't make me sell these.”
A pause.
Childe crossed his arms over his chest.
A teasing grin spread across his face.
"So what's with the shop if you're not selling?”
The merchant smiled proudly.
“Ha, that's a good one. Whoever said that a shop must needs hawk wares? I bought this store here precisely to show these beauties off to any who would pass by.”
Childe let out a short laugh.
"Now that's a business model I've never heard before."
Lumine struggled to hide a small smile.
Somehow, that was the most Liyue thing she had heard all day.
Paimon opened her mouth, then closed it again.
"...Paimon doesn't understand Liyue merchants."
A quiet laugh escaped Lumine.
“I think we’re good, thanks.”
They turned away from the stall and continued down the street.
Zhongli inclined his head politely toward the merchant.
"Thank you for sharing these stories with us."
The merchant waved happily.
“Sure. Come again if you have time to spare, and I'll spin you another yarn!”
. . .
Childe glanced back at the collection of supposedly ancient artifacts one last time.
He still wasn't entirely sure whether the merchant was a genius or simply eccentric.
Perhaps both.
He turned his attention back to the group ahead.
For the next few minutes, their walk continued peacefully. Zhongli occasionally pointed out small details about the surrounding streets, while Paimon filled the silence with her usual stream of comments.
They had just reached the next row of shops when a gentle voice called out from nearby.
"Oh... it's you two."
Childe looked up.
A young woman stood outside a small stall, dressed in elegant shades of violet. The moment she spotted the Traveler and her floating companion, her eyes lit up with unmistakable recognition.
"Did you come all this way just to see me?"
For the first time that afternoon, Lumine looked genuinely caught off guard.
The woman then noticed the rest of their company.
Her smile deepened.
"Oh?”
Her gaze drifted leisurely between Zhongli and Childe.
“And you've brought two handsome gentlemen with you...”
She rested a finger lightly against her lips.
“Why don't you come feast your eyes on what we've got in store?”
Childe's gaze flicked between the two women.
...What exactly was happening here?
Only moments ago, the Traveler had looked perfectly at ease.
Now she stood strangely rigid.
Lumine suddenly raised both hands as though trying to physically hold the conversation back.
"Oh— ahh, Miss Ying'er... we'd love to, but we really have to be somewhere right now.”
Childe stared at her for a beat.
Had she just stuttered?
That was new.
Paimon laughed awkwardly.
“Yeah, that’s right. Maybe some other time?”
Miss Ying’er sighed dramatically.
“Oh come now, why so stuffy?”
"I simply thought your companions might enjoy seeing what I have to offer."
She smiled knowingly.
"I assure you... everyone leaves satisfied."
Childe raised his eyebrows.
"...That's quite the sales pitch."
Lumine's eye twitched almost imperceptibly.
She shot Zhongli and Childe a pointed look and cleared her throat.
"Well!"
She clapped her hands together once.
"We really should get going."
She looked directly at Zhongli.
"...Right?"
Finally, he seemed to catch on.
"Indeed."
Zhongli dipped his head politely.
"Thank you for your invitation, Miss Ying'er."
"We shall visit another time."
Miss Ying'er smiled sweetly.
"I'll be waiting."
Without another word, the four of them slipped away before Miss Ying'er could continue. They cut through a narrow alley between two houses and emerged next to what Childe recognized as the Adventurers' Guild.
The scent of perfume slowly gave way to the aroma of freshly cooked food as they emerged onto a broader avenue.
Only then did Lumine finally stop.
She closed her eyes and let out a long breath.
Childe glanced at her, one eyebrow slowly rising.
"So..."
A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“How exactly do you know miss Ying’er? You looked ready to flee the country."
She looked at him with that annoyed stare, though the upturned corners of her lips said otherwise.
"She's the perfumer who helped us yesterday."
Childe blinked.
"...The perfumer?"
Lumine folded her arms.
"Mr. Zhongli insisted we needed ceremonial perfumes freshly decocted."
"So naturally, I had to spend an entire afternoon with her."
She shot Zhongli a meaningful look.
He met it with his usual composed expression.
"I admit..."
He paused thoughtfully.
"Miss Ying'er's manner of speaking is rather... peculiar."
Childe couldn't help laughing.
"So that's what happened."
He looked back at Lumine, still visibly amused.
"I was beginning to wonder what sort of people you've been associating with."
He shrugged innocently.
"I thought perhaps I'd misunderstood your hobbies."
For the first time since they'd met—
Lumine actually looked flustered.
A light shade of pink tinted her cheeks; her expression caught somewhere between anger and embarrassment.
"W-what?! How did you even come to that conclusion?"
Childe smiled and spread his hands.
"I call it professional observation."
Lumine stared at him for a moment before turning away.
"Well, your professional observation skills need improvement."
Childe chuckled, deciding he'd teased her enough.
"I'll keep that in mind."
He glanced between the group.
"Anyways, are any of you feeling hungry?"
Paimon immediately perked up.
"Paimon's hungry! She can already smell the food from Wanmin Restaurant all the way over here! It smells delicious!"
Zhongli looked toward the direction of the restaurant, considering the suggestion.
"A quick snack would not hurt."
Childe gestured toward the restaurant down the stairs.
"Alright, it’s my treat."
Paimon cheered and the group began making their way down toward Wanmin Restaurant.
Lumine and Paimon walked a few steps ahead, their conversation blending into the sounds of Liyue's streets. Their voices rose and fell between the chatter of merchants and the footsteps of passing pedestrians.
Childe followed behind them, hands resting casually in his pockets.
For all the effort he'd put into observing them, he had gained surprisingly little.
They had gathered the necessary materials for the Rite of Parting.
Zhongli continued guiding her from one task to another.
Nothing unusual.
Nothing useful.
At least, nothing he could act on.
His gaze drifted toward the man walking calmly ahead.
Zhongli remained as unreadable as ever.
A man who spoke about contracts, traditions, and history as though he had personally witnessed every moment of them.
Perhaps he had.
Childe frowned slightly at the thought.
No.
That was exactly the problem.
There were too many things about Zhongli that didn't add up.
And yet, every time he thought he was close to understanding him, the man revealed nothing.
A small laugh from ahead caught his attention.
Lumine was saying something to Paimon, her expression far more relaxed than it had been earlier.
Childe looked away.
Interesting.
Somewhere along the way...
This had stopped feeling like surveillance.