So, when Bai Ge heard the crying and ran from the backyard to the front hall,
what he saw was a precious scene of an early human offspring taming a Hydro Hilichurl.
In order to cheer up the crying Bai Ke'er, Tartaglia hopped and jumped about, occasionally even breaking into a Tarzan-like chest-pounding dance.
At the same time, precious elemental energy splashed out like flowing water.
One moment it became water fish, the next a watery crane, then two water cats fighting each other.
Under Tartaglia's exquisite control of elemental power, the whole thing played out like a circus performance.
With sunlight refracting through it all, rainbow-colored light filled the courtyard, creating a dreamlike scene.
It had to be said—Tartaglia was indeed quite good with children.
At first, watching Tartaglia amuse Bai Ke'er, Bai Ge found it hilarious.
But as he kept watching, the smile on his face gradually faded.
To be honest, this level of elemental manipulation was something Bai Ge himself couldn't achieve.
And children's emotions come quickly and leave just as quickly.
When Bai Ke'er went from tearful sobbing to clapping her hands and smiling, Bai Ge finally stepped out.
"Yo, I didn't expect the dignified Fatui Harbinger to be so skilled at entertaining kids," Bai Ge laughed.
"At this rate, you'd definitely make a fortune if you opened a kindergarten."
"Big brother!" Hearing Bai Ge's voice, Bai Ke'er turned around in delight.
She hurried over and hugged Bai Ge's leg.
"Big brother, a toy salesman from Snezhnaya came to our house! Can you buy me some of his toys?"
"Sure," Bai Ge replied smoothly.
He looked at Tartaglia. "What do you think, Mr. Toy Salesman?"
"Of course there's no problem," Tartaglia said helplessly, noticing Bai Ge's teasing.
"Then shall we go talk outside?" Bai Ge made an inviting gesture.
"Alright," Tartaglia replied, turning away first.
Once momentum is broken, it's hard to rebuild it.
Having his full fighting spirit unexpectedly interrupted by Bai Ke'er, all Tartaglia could do now was head outside.
"Ke'er, wait here for a bit, okay? I'm going to talk with this big brother, and I'll bring you toys when I come back," Bai Ge said to her.
"Okay!" Bai Ke'er clapped her hands happily.
So, after instructing the servants to keep an eye on Bai Ke'er, Bai Ge left together with Tartaglia.
However, the moment they stepped outside, the harmony between the two vanished, replaced by a tense standoff.
"Let's hear it," Bai Ge asked coldly.
"You, toy salesman from Snezhnaya—what exactly were you trying to do by barging into my home today?"
Bai Ke'er was a younger sister he cherished deeply.
Scaring her like that had already crossed Bai Ge's bottom line.
"I did knock," Tartaglia explained weakly. "But no one answered for a long time…"
He also knew that if someone broke into his own home like that, he'd be furious as well.
So after saying that much, Tartaglia didn't continue making excuses.
"I'm sorry, Bai Ge. I sincerely apologize for what just happened," Tartaglia said seriously.
"I came today to ask about Lady Signora. Please—you must explain it to me. What exactly did you mean by what you said that day?"
"Signora? What happened to her?" Bai Ge asked in confusion, having heard nothing about her since that day.
"Signora…" Thinking about everything that followed, Tartaglia gave Bai Ge a resentful look.
"Let me explain it slowly," he sighed. "It's like this…"
...
"So that's how it is," Bai Ge nodded after listening to Tartaglia's explanation.
It seemed that the impact he'd had on Signora was quite significant—enough to tie up the Fatui's attention and keep them from coming after him.
"So please—tell me," Tartaglia urged again, clearly anxious.
Seeing this, Bai Ge instead felt a bit puzzled.
"You mean you haven't heard the news circulating around Liyue? About Yun Jin's new opera?"
"Yun Jin's new opera?" Tartaglia looked blank.
He'd been so busy lately that his feet barely touched the ground. Knowing such a thing existed was already enough—who had time to go watch it?
Besides, the renovation of Heyu Teahouse had been paid for with Fatui money. Going there would only make his heart ache.
Still, he knew the title.
"You mean The Secret Records of the Crimson Witch? What does that have to do with Signora?" Tartaglia asked, confused.
Seeing his expression, Bai Ge smiled slightly.
"In that case, come with me. I'll tell you."
Bai Ge remembered that Yun Jin's new performance would be staged very soon.
Whenever a new opera debuted, Yun Jin always sang it more intensively—and naturally, tickets were more expensive.
As he spoke, Bai Ge grabbed Tartaglia, preparing to fleece a wealthy patron.
Come to think of it, he hadn't used this human-shaped ATM yet…
But soon enough, the two stopped in their tracks.
"Tartaglia, were you looking for me?"
A white-haired, purple-eyed woman appeared before them—beautiful, alluring, and exuding a mature charm.
That familiar cleavage, and the long, jade-like legs revealed by the high slit—
if it wasn't Signora, then who was it?