Genshin Impact: My confession was rejected, so I traveled to seven countries

Life went on uneventfully, day after day.

Since that trip, the old man's health seems to have improved, and he is getting stronger every day.

Seeing this, Hu Tao was genuinely happy and regained her usual liveliness, occasionally playing around the old man. She seemed a bit clingy, but actually wanted to spend more time with him.

During the old man's illness, Hu Tao managed the Rebirth Hall very well, acting as its acting head. She was the only one who had the final say, except when it came to the old man. Overall, things went smoothly. The only thing that bothered her was the new guest elder named Zhong Li.

Zhongli usually does nothing, but when he comes to the hall, he just sits down. If someone sees him for the first time, they might mistake him for the hall master.

Even when he was nowhere to be seen, Hu Tao assumed he had gone out to handle some business or was on official business trips. But in the end, she would find him either going to Yunhan Society to watch a play or going to Sanwanbuguxiang to drink tea.

Good heavens, she's living a more comfortable life than even the acting head of the hall.

Thinking of this, Hu Tao felt a surge of anger rising in her heart.

And so, Zhongli is going out again today.

Hu Tao immediately blocked his way, tilted her head back, and demanded with piercing eyes, "Where are you going!?"

Zhongli looked down at the little girl who had reached his waist, his eyes showing a hint of realization, and said that he had important matters to attend to at the Hall of Rebirth.

Hu Tao frowned and looked him over with a strange expression.

This guy does nothing all day, how could he possibly have anything important to do this time? She didn't believe it at all; was he just lying to her?

Seeing that Hu Tao remained silent, the other party instead asked Hu Tao why she didn't believe him. Could it be that in the eyes of the hall master, he was that kind of person?

Hu Tao was speechless for a moment; she couldn't very well say that he was indeed that kind of person.

That's what she really thought.

Seeing the other party's confident demeanor, Hu Tao had no choice but to let them go.

Watching the other person smile faintly and step out the door, Hu Tao felt something was off. She turned around, went into the room, told the old man what had happened, and expressed her dissatisfaction and speculation.

The old man didn't say much, but just smiled and advised her to trust Zhongli. Hu Tao didn't get the answer she wanted, and she didn't listen carefully to what the old man said next. She felt that her grandfather was deliberately favoring Zhongli, and she was angry. Before the old man finished speaking, she turned around and left.

That night

The old man's violent coughing woke Hu Tao from her sleep.

The young girl hurriedly dressed and checked on the elderly man.

This inspection gave Hu Tao a fright.

Who would have thought that the old man, who was so eloquent during the day, was now extremely weak, his whole body was emaciated, and his spirit had vanished, leaving him lifeless.

This scene almost broke Hu Tao's heart. She hurriedly helped the old man sit up, patted his back to help him catch his breath, and looked at the pale-faced, coughing old man, her eyes were already glistening with tears.

The old man's cough subsided slightly. Seeing the anxious look in her eyes, he patted her hand and gently comforted her, "Xiao Tao, Grandpa is alright... cough cough cough..." Before he could finish speaking, he started coughing violently again.

Hu Tao looked anxious. "Grandpa, wait for me. We're going to Bubulu right now..." she said, and ran outside. She needed to find someone to help her.

"No..." the old man tried to stop him, but his hand grasped at nothing, leaving only a gust of wind echoing throughout the house.

……

At this moment, Hu Tao was completely disoriented, with only one thought in her mind: to find someone to help her grandfather.

However, when they called out in the courtyard, no one responded.

It was naturally the middle of the night, and most of the staff at the Hall of Rebirth were from Liyue Harbor. After their shifts, they would go home to rest and return to work in the morning. Therefore, Hu Tao's calls were particularly clear in the courtyard, echoing through the empty valley. However, no one responded.

Thinking of the old man's situation, large tears streamed down her face as she prepared to run out of the hospital to seek help.

One of the doors opened, and the sound startled Hu Tao. Looking closely, she saw it was Zhong Li.

At this moment, Hu Tao seemed to have found the last straw when he was drowning. He didn't care about the fright he had just experienced. He wiped away his tears and hurriedly ran to Zhong Li's side. Before Zhong Li could ask any questions, he pulled him towards the old man's room under Zhong Li's puzzled gaze.

On the way, Hu Tao explained the situation to Zhong Li. At this moment, Zhong Li also realized the importance of the matter, and his expression became somewhat solemn.

The two arrived at the old man's room. The old man, who had been helped to sit up by Hu Tao, was now leaning against the headboard, his head tilted to the side, his life hanging in the balance.

This scene felt like a thousand needles piercing Hu Tao's heart. Heartbroken, she threw herself onto the bed, tears streaming down her face once more.

She called out anxiously to the old man, hoping for even the slightest response. But there was no sound at all.

Hu Tao's heart sank to the bottom. She reached out her hand and tremblingly checked the old man's pulse.

Fortunately, it still throbbed slightly, but this throbbing was like a ray of light in the darkness, illuminating Walnut's already gloomy heart.

Ignoring her joy, she turned to Zhongli for help.

Compared to Hu Tao's excitement and anxiety, Zhong Li was calmer. He came to the bedside, comforted Hu Tao, and was about to reach out to touch the old man.

Hu Tao suddenly became agitated, pushed Zhong Li away, spread her hands, and exclaimed excitedly, "What are you trying to do!"

Zhongli explained, and only then did Hu Tao, somewhat uneasy, step aside.

Zhongli examined the old man's condition and pulse, his brows furrowing.

Hu Tao urged excitedly, "What are you waiting for? Let's hurry up and take Grandpa to Bubulu, or we'll be any later..."

Hu Tao didn't dare say what she was going to say next. She was afraid that if she did, her words might come true.

Zhongli withdrew his hand, instructed Hu Tao to prepare candles, and then went out to his room on his own.

Hu Tao watched the other person's departing figure, feeling lost and anxious, her eyes darting back and forth between the old man and his retreating back. She wanted to leave, but her legs felt like they were made of lead, as heavy as a thousand pounds, making it impossible for her to move.

"Don't worry, there's still hope. If you're any slower, it will really be too late," a voice drifted slowly from the courtyard.

Upon hearing this, Hu Tao seemed to have her legs released from restraint, and began frantically rummaging through drawers and cabinets looking for candles.

Looking at the brightening flame, Hu Tao couldn't help but look outside the door, but it was still pitch black, with no sign of anyone.

The old man's breath on the bed was growing weaker and weaker, and Hu Tao felt as if a fire was burning in her heart, making her pace back and forth, restless.

Just as she was about to go out to look for someone, Zhongli, carrying the items, finally stepped through the door.

Zhongli spread the object out on the table. When Hu Tao saw what was inside, her heart skipped a beat. Inside was a row of silver needles of various sizes. The tips of the needles emitted a cool, faint light under the candlelight, each showing how sharp they were.

Zhongli instructed Hu Tao to bring the candles, then took out a silver needle and rubbed it on the candlelight before heading towards the old man.

"No!..." Hu Tao cried out instinctively, then shut her mouth and said nothing more.

Zhongli paused slightly, glanced at Hu Tao, and then stabbed at one of the old man's acupoints.

The old man, who was on the verge of death, suddenly hummed in agreement.

Seeing this, Zhongli quickened his pace, and in an instant, eight silver needles had fallen.

Looking at the silver needles on the old man's body, Hu Tao pursed her chin tightly, her eyes filled with heartache. She felt that the silver needles were so sharp and there were so many; her grandfather must be in a lot of pain. At the same time, she felt a little guilty towards Zhong Li; why couldn't he be a little gentler?

Seeing that Hu Tao was standing there motionless, Zhong Li gently comforted her while inserting the needles, "It's alright, a few more needles will do."

Hu Tao remained silent, watching quietly.

Zhongli continued to insert needles, and as the last needle fell, the old man finally stirred, slowly opening his eyes and looking at the two of them. His gaze finally landed on Hu Tao's pretty face, which was covered with tears.

"Xiao Tao..."

Hu Tao's tears rolled down her cheeks, and she was about to put down the candle, but Zhong Li stopped her.

The old man looked at the silver needles on his body, his wrinkled face seemingly mocking himself, "Looks like this old fellow is really no good anymore."

Zhongli said softly, "It's alright. It's better not to talk now. Get plenty of rest and go to Bubulu at dawn."

The old man nodded, then looked at Hu Tao, who had a worried expression, and told her not to worry too much. Hu Tao simply nodded, and after Zhong Li removed all the silver needles, Hu Tao turned and left.

The old man watched Hu Tao's retreating figure, his emotions a mix of emotions. He knew his own body well, and now that he was truly leaving her alone to manage this vast Hall of Rebirth, the burden on this girl's shoulders would likely increase in the days to come.

He looked at Zhongli, as if pleading, and said, "Young friend Zhongli, Xiaotao is still young, so you may need to be more lenient with her."

Zhongli nodded, "Young Master Hu is a bit impulsive, but he is still very sensible. You don't need to worry too much, I know what I'm doing."

Hearing Zhongli's words, the old man felt a sudden sense of relief, but then some worry returned. This was not the kind of person his Xiaotao would be; neither her age nor her personality matched.

After settling the old man in, Zhongli stepped out of the room and saw a light on in the kitchen, indicating that someone had set up a stove.

The gentle moonlight casts a silvery glow, creating a unique silhouette behind people.

Hu Tao sat on the steps outside the kitchen door, her arms crossed on her lap, her body bent over, her head lowered, staring at the cold, shiny stone steps beneath her feet, lost in thought.

Zhongli sighed softly and came to her side. Before Zhongli could speak, Hu Tao asked without looking up, "Has Grandpa settled in yet?" Her voice was soft and ethereal, carrying a sense of sorrow and grief.

Zhongli hummed in agreement.

Hu Tao asked again, "Can I go see him now?"

Zhongli hesitated for a moment, then nodded again. He knew that Hu Tao's heart was currently riddled with wounds, and that having close family by her side might help.

Zhongli's voice fell, but Hu Tao remained completely still.

The surroundings were silent, with only the crackling sound of burning wood in the kitchen providing the only noise in this otherwise quiet environment.

Hu Tao suddenly spoke up, "Zhongli, have you ever experienced the feeling of losing a loved one? You're all alone, with nothing left. Sometimes it feels like their existence is just an illusion..."

She had experienced that feeling before. Although her grandfather had been with her since childhood, how could she not be emotionally affected when she saw others with parents? What's more pitiful is that she only has vague memories of her parents and doesn't share any common memories like other children who have lost their parents.

Sometimes she would comfort herself, thinking, "If we don't have those memories, then it's okay. If we really do have shared memories, losing them later would probably make me even more heartbroken..."

Hearing Hu Tao's question, Zhong Li nodded, "Yes..."

Hu Tao gave a wry smile and shook her head. "Then we really are pitiful people."

Zhongli remained silent and simply sat down on the steps with Hu Tao.

A pitiful person?

Maybe

Those old friends who helped build Liyue are now falling one by one like leaves in the wind. Each time he sees one go, his heart is filled with complex emotions. It is said that rocks are hard objects without hearts, but even rocks will leave some indelible marks under the erosion of time, let alone him and Hu Tao.

Time will not be kind to every waiter.

He has witnessed too much birth, aging, sickness, and death. He can't even say whether some things are right or wrong, or whether they exist or not.

"By the way, Zhongli, thank you for today," Hu Tao said.

Zhongli shook his head. "I am a guest elder of the Hall of Rebirth, and these are my duties. I have no reason to thank you. But you can't be so negative. I think the Hall Master still wants to see a happy and lively Hall Master Hu."

Hu Tao sniffed and looked up at the full moon overhead, its reflection shimmering in her plum blossom-shaped eyes.

Hu Tao nodded emphatically, "You're right! I can't do that, Grandpa still needs me to take care of him!"

Seeing Hu Tao like this, Zhong Li felt a little relieved. If this girl continued to let her mood be low and to view the world pessimistically, he would really feel sorry for her.

Zhongli looked up and saw the moonlight pouring down like ink, like an old snowfall with no one to keep their appointment.

The light patterns from a thousand years ago remain unchanged, but the silhouettes that once stood side by side have been quietly replaced by the years.

The moon is still full, but people are shattered into ink spots in memories, and it is difficult to piece them back together to their original outline.