Shao Yun leaned quietly against the wall beside the Adventurers' Guild reception desk, holding the package in his arms, waiting for Lumine.
After a while, Lumine arrived with Paimon and Mona.
Mona trailed behind them, looking both embarrassed and helpless. She wore the blank expression of someone who had just stumbled upon her own master's youthful blackmail-worthy past by accident.
When Shao Yun's eyes met Lumine's, he smiled and stepped forward to greet them.
"So, did the great bomb-fishing scholar tell you what you wanted to know?"
Mona covered her face with one hand, refusing to speak.
"Come on, cheer up. At least we made it safely to Mondstadt."
Lumine sighed and began explaining everything that had happened while Shao Yun was away. Just like in the script, Mona had accidentally witnessed the black history of her master from fifty years ago and couldn't return for now—she would have to temporarily stay in Mondstadt.
"So, we brought Mona to see Miss Katheryne at the Adventurers' Guild. We need a place that's livable and suitable for astrology research."
"I see..."
Shao Yun gave a slight shrug and turned his gaze to Mona, who looked increasingly uneasy.
With a playful glint in his eyes, he said in a mock-serious tone, "Since you've already paid, I might as well help to the end, Miss Mona. But once we find you a place to stay, you'll need to make good on your promise. You haven't forgotten about the blood relative stuff with Lumine, right? Because I haven't."
Mona slowly lowered the hand covering her face after hearing that.
How am I supposed to fulfill that promise now? But she didn't dare say anything, worried Shao Yun might just kill her on the spot!
Noticing Mona's fear, Lumine immediately stepped forward and gently tapped Shao Yun on the shoulder, signaling him to ease up.
She then turned to Mona, speaking softly.
"Let's not talk about that now, Mona. First, we'll help you find a place to live. The rest can wait until you've settled in."
The subtext was clear—I'm not in a rush for that promise, so you don't need to be either.
Mona was immensely grateful for Lumine's kindness. She nearly wanted to hug her on the spot.
Besides, their main goal this time was to attend the wine estate gathering and pick up the package—not to hunt down her so-called future brother-in-law.
Shao Yun nodded, agreeing with Lumine's suggestion. His tone softened as he looked at Mona again.
"Alright, we'll go with Lumine's plan."
...
Lumine stood at the reception desk, explaining Mona's predicament in detail to the ever-gracious Katheryne, including her urgent need for a cheap place to stay that could also support astrological experiments.
Katheryne listened carefully, her fingers lightly tapping the desk in thought.
"A house that's both affordable and suitable for experiments... That won't be easy to find."
Her voice carried a trace of apology. A cheap house with multiple functions—it was a tall order.
Lumine bowed her head slightly. She understood Katheryne's difficulty, but there weren't many options left. She pleaded earnestly, "Please, Miss Katheryne, help us out... otherwise, my friend might have to sleep on the streets."
Katheryne suddenly seemed to remember something and began rifling through the commission slips.
"I recall a magical laboratory in Mondstadt that's currently vacant. But it's sealed by some sort of enchantment. The owner once issued a commission about it. Though Mondstadt does have experts capable of breaking the seal, they're all busy with their own labs and didn't show much interest, so the matter was left unresolved."
A look of surprise spread across Lumine's face.
"Really? Where is that lab?"
Katheryne smiled and retrieved a long-neglected commission slip from a drawer, handing it to Lumine.
"This is the commission for that magical lab. The address is written in detail. If your friend can remove the seal, the owner should agree to let her stay."
Lumine accepted the slip, her expression full of gratitude.
"Thank you so much, Miss Katheryne."
Katheryne waved her hand with a warm smile.
"No need to thank me. It's my job."
...
Night fell. Mondstadt's lights gradually lit up like stars beneath the veil of dusk, mirrored softly across the cobbled streets.
With the commission slip in hand, Lumine led Shao Yun, Paimon, and Mona through winding alleys in the residential district, arriving before the rumored magical laboratory.
The laboratory's doors were tightly shut, bearing a mysterious Hydro-based seal that shimmered like a flowing stream in pale blue light.
Mona stood before the door, extending a slender finger to gently touch the seal, feeling the cold, moist energy pulsing at her fingertip.
"The person who placed this seal... wasn't simple."
She turned to the others and explained, "The structure of this seal is extremely complex. If we try to brute-force it, the consequences could be... unpredictable."
Paimon hovered in the air, hands on her hips, muttering, "I'm really curious. Why would the tenant go to the trouble of sealing this house? And why didn't the owner just get an expert to unlock it? Katheryne said the experts weren't interested, sure—but the owner didn't even try?"
Shao Yun curled his lip.
This house belongs to Goth. And knowing how he's made a fortune off Goth Grand Hotel, I wouldn't be surprised if he stiffed the previous tenant on their deposit. They got mad and sealed the place out of spite. Then the old man, too stingy to hire an expert, decided to wait for a 'fated' person to show up. He's the biggest landlord in Mondstadt anyway—what's one house to him?
Mona shook her head, interrupting Paimon's train of thought.
"Let's not get bogged down by all that. Our priority now is unlocking the seal and getting inside."
She took a deep breath and began divining, initiating the process to dispel the enchantment.
As Mona worked on the seal, Shao Yun seized the moment to wave the package in front of Lumine's eyes with excitement.
"Lumine! Look, your new clothes are here! Are you excited? Do you like it?"
Lumine accepted the package, gently running her fingers along the patterns on the wrapping paper, feeling the warmth from afar. She looked up and winked at Shao Yun playfully.
"Once we find a place to stay, I'll try it on. I'm curious too—what kind of outfit you picked out for me."
Shao Yun's excitement only grew. He rubbed his hands together, already eager to see Lumine in her new clothes.
"Awesome! I can't wait! You're gonna look amazing in it!"
Just then, Mona suddenly stopped her movements. The Hydro seal on the door vanished.
"It's done! I've broken the seal!"
Paimon clapped her hands in delight.
"That's great! Let's go tell Miss Katheryne—Mona, you've got a place of your own now!"
At that moment, a calm but powerful voice reached their ears.
"No need to inform Miss Katheryne. I already know."
Mona turned around to see an old man approaching them.
"Excuse me, but... you are?" she asked with a hint of confusion.
The old man smiled and said calmly, "I'm the owner of this house—Goth. Thank you. That troublesome seal is finally gone."
A flash of delight crossed Mona's eyes.
"So that means... I can stay here now?" She hadn't expected the owner to show up in person—what a coincidence.
But Shao Yun found it a bit too convenient. Something felt off about this old man...
Goth nodded with a gentle expression.
"Of course. You've done me a great favor. I'll rent it to you at the most favorable price."
But the moment the word rent left his mouth, Mona's face froze.
"Rent? I didn't hear that wrong, did I? I removed the seal for you..."
Goth kept smiling.
"I understand, I understand. The rent will be very affordable."
Seeing no better option, Mona sighed softly.
"Alright... looks like I don't have a choice. I'll... rent it, then."