Episode 174.13: Xiao: I shouldn't be here; I should be under the table.
『 Xingqiu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and, in turn, praised Venti: "Venti is too modest; when it comes to poetic talent, your foundation is much deeper than mine." 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "These two guys are just blowing smoke." ]
[ Chika Fujiwara (Love Is War): "Um, if I'm not mistaken, shouldn't that be 'commercial mutual flattery'?" ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Huh? Is, is that so?" ]
[ Lumine (Genshin Impact): "…" ]
[ Xingqiu (Genshin Impact): "Hahaha, little Paimon still needs to study hard." ]
[ Venti (Genshin Impact): "Exactly, exactly." ]
[ Shizuka Hiratsuka (Oregairu): "It's not easy for such a small fellow to know so much." ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Hehehe." ]
[ .....]
『 At this moment, Zhongli saw the situation and quickly smoothed things over with Venti.
"Hehe, is this the old friend of Young Master Xingqiu?"
However, he was secretly holding back a surge of resentment, wishing he could give a certain green-clad figure a piece of his mind.
Beside them, Lumine also spoke: "He's an old acquaintance of mine, too, and it looks like you know him as well, Xiao."
As soon as her voice fell, everyone's gaze collectively turned to Xiao and Venti.
Xiao, hearing this, snapped out of his daze.
"Mm, yes, yes."
Although the response was affirmative, his voice carried a hint of uncertainty. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Xiao's voice is so weak right now." ]
[ Lumine (Genshin Impact): "It should be." ]
[ Hu Tao (Genshin Impact): "Oh my, I didn't expect a gathering organized by this director to be so awkward." ]
[ .....]
『 Immediately after, a flash of inspiration struck Xiao, and he found an excuse to explain:
"The end of the year is approaching, and the closer it gets to the Lantern Rite Festival, the more restless the evil spirits become."
"On the eve of the festival, I happened to be patrolling in the Dihua Marsh area and coincidentally met this, uh, this…"
Xiao's words suddenly got stuck at the end.
Venti, hearing this, feigned sadness and looked at Xiao,
"Oh dear! It's only been a few days, and you've already forgotten that I'm a bard?~"
He looked like an abandoned innocent youth.
Zhongli and Lumine, standing by, exchanged bitter smiles, feeling helpless towards this heartless bard. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "As expected of you, Tone-Deaf Bard" ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Still as unserious as ever." ]
[ Venti (Genshin Impact): "What's wrong with me? Don't I look like I'm helping Xiao out of a jam?" ]
[ Xiao (Genshin Impact): "Uh…" ]
[ .....]
『 Venti, with a mischievous look, eyed Xiao.
"Just like Paimon said. I was performing in Dihua Marsh before."
At this moment, Venti was full of curiosity, wanting to know what kind of excuse Xiao would come up with to get by.
Facing Venti's "accusation," Xiao reacted and slowly explained to Hu Tao and the others: "Oh, oh, this bard, he happened to be performing in Dihua Marsh at the time."
"The music was melodious and pleasant, soothing to the heart. I, too, couldn't help but listen for a while longer."
Venti, with a wide smile, looked at Xiao, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Hehe, thank you for your patronage! ~"
Lumine and Paimon exchanged glances, looking at the overjoyed Venti with wry smiles.
Lumine shrugged helplessly.
"So that's how it was. I see."
In any case, getting away with it was a victory. At this point, Zhongli also nodded slightly to Venti.
"I understand now, too."
Then, he began to introduce himself.
"I'm Zhongli, currently working at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. It's a pleasure to meet you, new friend."
Hu Tao chimed in loudly: "Mm-hmm, his superior is me. If you have any dissatisfaction with the work of the consultant, you can also come to me."
Zhongli cast a calm glance at Hu Tao.
"The Director truly goes to great lengths."
Venti, meanwhile, looked at Hu Tao like a little fan.
"Oh? Hmm, no wonder. Only a boss as savvy and reliable as you would be able to hire such an impressive consultant!"
Hu Tao giggled in response:
"Heh, Venti, your words are so sweet."
As she spoke, Hu Tao stood up, hands on her hips, and walked over to the two of them.
"My consultant is truly remarkable; he's well-versed in everything from astronomy to geography, and there's nothing about ancient or modern, Chinese or foreign affairs that he doesn't know."
"Sometimes, the sophisticated way he speaks, it's hard not to suspect that he could very well be an adeptus in disguise! Hehe."
Suddenly, Hu Tao jumped to Xiao's side and asked: "Xiao, you're an adeptus! Do you think it might be possible?"
Xiao spoke faintly: "I…"
"...Sorry, I'm only good at conquering demons. I'm afraid I don't have much knowledge in that matter." With that, Xiao lowered his head, no longer meeting Hu Tao's and Venti's gaze.
Paimon stared at Xiao in surprise.
"Eh? Is that so?"
"But Xiao, I think you're very knowledgeable too, you know a lot of things?"
Paimon's words caused Xiao a hint of embarrassment, wanting to gloss over it.
But Paimon mercilessly retorted.
Lumine, seeing Xiao's expression, quickly urged Paimon mentally.
"Paimon, play along!"
Paimon looked at Lumine blankly.
"Huh??"
After seeing Lumine's strange expression, Paimon suddenly realized.
"Oh, ohhhh! Riiiight..."
Awkwardly turning around, Paimon explained to Xiao and Hu Tao: "Uh, Xiao's a warrior. He doesn't come to the city very often, so it's, uh, pretty normal for him to not know anything... Yeah..."
Whether this explanation convinced anyone was unknown, but Paimon felt she had done her best.
Venti curiously eyed Xiao.
"Eh!? Is that really so!?"
Clearly, he wasn't entirely satisfied with the answer. So, he turned to Zhongli, who was leisurely sipping tea.
"I've actually heard a few things about Mr. Zhongli before."
"The guests in the tavern talked about this refined and courteous man who, instead of having wine at Mondstadt's finest tavern, ordered a cup of hot tea with the most complex name." Venti finished speaking, shrugging helplessly, as if truly puzzled by that young man.
A young man who comes to a tavern just to drink tea… it always sounds a bit off, doesn't it?
The young Zhongli, who was leisurely sipping tea nearby, heard Venti's compliment, which was mixed with an inexplicable meaning, and returned a blow without showing any weakness.
"...Now that you mention it, I seem to recall that there indeed is a musician like yourself in Mondstadt."
"I've heard that he's elegant and amiable, his works witty and vibrant. It's no overstatement to regard him as the best bard in Mondstadt."
As the two conversed, there always seemed to be an undercurrent of competition between them.
Was the superficial flattery hiding inner mockery? 』
『 .....』
〜Genshin Impact World〜
Mondstadt, Angel's Share Tavern—
A patron, overhearing, loudly voiced his opinion.
"Oh my, Mondstadt's best tavern, isn't that our Angel's Share?"
A patron beside him eagerly expressed:
"Could it be that the future Geo Archon will come here??"
A middle-aged patron directly proposed another possibility.
"I think the Cat's Tail Tavern is also good."
The young patron immediately refuted the middle-aged patron.
"Then why aren't you at the Cat's Tail now?"
The middle-aged patron awkwardly scratched his head.
"Hehe, little Diona isn't on duty today."
A patron looked over with a mischievous smile.
"You scoundrel!"
The middle-aged patron loudly declared his innocence.
"Don't talk nonsense, her drinks are really good."
Another patron nodded seriously.
"That's true."
Diona is Mondstadt's best bartender.
No matter what ingredients, as long as they pass through her hands, they become absolutely delicious.
And she's also a cute little cat, loved by everyone.
—
『 Venti scratched his head sheepishly, his gaze falling on Zhongli, a hint of slyness twinkling in his eyes.
"Oh dear, you praise me so much, I'm getting embarrassed."
Zhongli remained silent, his eyes filled with the meaning of "let you perform." Then, Venti turned to Hu Tao and said with a slight apology:
"Actually, Mondstadt's poetry level is just so-so; the creative level is very limited."
"For example, a poem I heard a few days ago: 'The old house is renewed, welcoming the spring breeze, awakening old memories.'"
"The meaning was indeed conveyed, but the wording was too common, lacking any new literary flair."
After Venti finished speaking, he quietly awaited Hu Tao's reaction.
At this moment, Zhongli's hand had already clenched tightly, silently exerting a little force.
His carefully written poem was now being critiqued by this unreliable sprite.
Zhongli silently decided to sober someone up properly later.
You say he didn't drink?
No, if I say you drank, you drank. A pot of sobering tea is needed. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Venti (Genshin Impact): "Oh my, I actually say that?" ]
[ Kaeya (Genshin Impact): "These two lines, why do they not sound like Mondstadt-style poetry?" ]
[ Kaeya (Genshin Impact): "Instead, they sound like Liyue poetry." ]
[ Zhongli (Genshin Impact): "…" ]
[ Diluc (Genshin Impact): "If you can't speak, you can be a mute." ]
[ .....]
『 Hu Tao savored the poem Venti quoted, then nodded seriously: "Indeed, the writing lacks a bit of charm."
"If this Director were to write it, it might be like this:"
"An old melon on a vine, a new flower that grows fine."
At this moment, the view shifted to the old gourd on Venti's head.
And the blooming flower on Hu Tao's head. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Chtholly Nota Seniorious (WorldEnd): "Hehehe!" ]
[ Hu Tao (Genshin Impact): "What does this shot mean? What's wrong with the peach blossoms on my head!?" ]
[ Venti (Genshin Impact): "Exactly, I don't have an old gourd on my head either?" ]
[ Ogata Rizu (BokuBen): "Is this really considered a poet?" ]
[ Hu Tao (Genshin Impact): "That's right, I'm Hu Tao, the renowned Alley-Dwelling Dark Impromptu Poet of Liyue!" ]
[ Venti (Genshin Impact): "That's right! I'm Mondstadt's best bard!" ]
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "You two are getting ahead of yourselves after being praised." ]
[ .....]
『 After listening, Venti greatly praised: "Ohh, good one! It feels unique and has a nice ring to it!"
Hu Tao was beaming with excitement, hands on her hips, showering Venti with praise:
"You have great taste, Venti. I was right about you! Let's shake hands."
With that, she excitedly extended her hand, looking directly at Venti. Venti happily shook it:
"Of course, of course!"
The two shook hands, swaying them up and down, and the atmosphere on the scene became extraordinarily lively.
Zhongli shook his head helplessly, his heart a mix of emotions.
Xiao likewise felt powerless by the events of the evening, a hint of fatigue showing in his brows.
At this moment, Xiangling, witnessing the subtle atmosphere, gently tugged at Xingqiu's sleeve:
"Xingqiu, I need to tell you something."
Xingqiu turned his head curiously, his eyes questioning.
"Hm? What is it?"
Xiangling, slightly shy, whispered her request:
"Could you lend me a few books to look at later? Just pick some with good writing."
"I always feel my appreciation skills aren't good enough; I can't tell good from bad."
After saying this, her gaze involuntarily drifted towards Hu Tao and Venti, that "vortex center" that confused her.
Chongyun sighed and interjected: "I think it's really not your fault."
Even he was confused by the rhetoric of those old hands, let alone Xiangling.
Xingqiu nodded silently, agreeing with Chongyun's point.
"Chongyun is right, it's their profoundness, not our fault for not understanding."
Lumine, seeing this, turned to Paimon, who was engrossed in eating, and chuckled: "Paimon, watch and learn from Hu Tao and Venti. This will come in handy for your ugly nicknames."
"Remember that one for Alhaitham?"
Paimon, hearing this, looked at the two of them over there, then nodded vigorously at Lumine.
"Ohh, you have a point!"
Learn more vocabulary from old foxes; it will be very useful for nicknames later. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "So Alhaitham's nickname has been owed for so long." ]
[ Lumine (Genshin Impact): "So you need to think about it carefully." ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "True." ]
[ .....]
『 Thinking of this, Paimon's gaze turned to Venti, who had reseated himself, and curiously asked:
"But speaking of, why is the Tone-Deaf Bard here? Are you here to take part in the Lantern Rite too?"
Venti answered readily, almost without thinking: "Heh, I heard Liyue is holding a Lantern Rite Music Festival this year! As a songwriter and poet, how could I resist joining in the fun and seeking some inspiration? Art needs exchange and collision for sparks to fly!"
Lumine couldn't help but murmur to herself: But the music festival seemed to be a last-minute idea…
Before Lumine could finish her thought, Venti spoke again: "Speaking of which, as for the Fontaine friend who hosted the festival, I saw him near Stone Gate the other day."
"The Iridescence Tour has finally been held successfully for once, so I had to congratulate him."
Lumine nodded solemnly, responding to Venti: "Don't worry, he'll definitely be very grateful to you."
Venti winked at Lumine, smiling brightly: "Let's not be so formal between us, it's too distant!"
Venti changed the subject and chuckled: "Speaking of which, I just saw you all enter the Xinyue Kiosk, and no one even noticed me hiding nearby. Is my invisibility skill too superb, or did someone simply not care about that gentle breeze?"
As he said this, Venti's eyes secretly drifted towards Zhongli, who was oblivious to his surroundings and calm, carrying a hint of resentment, as if his glow had dimmed a bit, like a small complaint to an old friend, or perhaps a helpless surrender.And Zhongli, he just quietly looked back, speechless for a long moment.
Everyone around them also tacitly watched the interaction between these new (old) acquaintances. Lumine and Paimon could no longer hold back their snickers. Xiao buried his head, vigorously eating his rice, trying his best not to let his gaze drift towards the two of them.
Suddenly, Zhongli chuckled, breaking the brief silence: "Haha... Whenever Lantern Rite comes around, Liyue Harbor becomes bustling with activity. People are all busy watching the lanterns and strolling around the shops, and they might just go travel somewhere on a whim. It is rather difficult to predict another's whereabouts."
"The current celebration is progressing smoothly, with new and old friends gathering together, which is already a double joy. To be able to reunite with everyone at the beginning of the new year is truly a great pleasure."
Speaking of joy, Zhongli stood up and looked around: "In this situation, allow me to toast you all with tea instead of wine, to celebrate this wonderful time together."
With that, Zhongli raised his cup and looked at everyone.
Xiao, hearing this, his chopsticks instantly froze in mid-air, his face filled with disbelief:
"Uh..."
Xiao looked at Lumine blankly, appearing somewhat at a loss.
Lumine gently shook her head, indicating it was fine. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "What does Xiao mean by this?" ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Why is he looking at the Traveler?" ]
[ Shinomiya Kaguya (Love Is War): "He probably wants to run away." ]
[ Shinomiya Kaguya (Love Is War): "Hehe, how cute." ]
[ Xiao (Genshin Impact): "For Lord Rex Lapis to toast with tea, I truly cannot accept it!" ]
[ Hu Tao (Genshin Impact): "Oh dear, then you're in trouble. With my personality, there will be quite a few more." ]
[ Xiao (Genshin Impact): ".... (I'll just rot in Wangshu Inn from now on.)." ]
[ Xiao (Genshin Impact): "Propriety cannot be abandoned." ]
[ .....]
『 After Zhongli stood up, Venti also smiled and expressed his thoughts to Zhongli.
"Mr. Zhongli said it well; he directly said everything I wanted to say."
"Speaking of which, I'm a little embarrassed."
"I, an uninvited guest, suddenly crashed your gathering."
"I hope I haven't caused too much trouble for everyone?"
Venti said this while awkwardly scratching the back of his head. 』
『 .....』