Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

"Delicious!" exclaimed the player who had accidentally wandered into the Teyvat continent.

"It's Xiangling's turn to work today, so coming here to enjoy some delicious food is the best choice." Mr. Zhongli picked up his teacup, blew on the steam, and drank it.

"Zhongli, thank you for helping me so much." After saying that, she took a bite of Wanmintang's new dish, "Jadeite and Silk Fresh Soup".

"Since you're new to Liyue, I should extend my hospitality as a host," Mr. Zhongli said with a slight smile.

The story begins with my first encounter with Zhongli last night.

As the star fell, the entire treasure-hunting gang collapsed.

“I think this way… they won’t dare disturb travelers on the road next time.” The one who came to the rescue was Zhongli. He turned to the player and said, “Young lady, are you alright?”

"I, I'm fine..." Unable to contain her excitement, her heart rate soared. She hadn't expected to see Zhongli so soon.

"Judging from your attire, you don't seem to be a native of Liyue. Night travel is dangerous, especially since monsters and beasts often roam the mountains. May I ask why you risk traveling like this?" His words revealed concern and a hint of questioning from an elder.

His golden eyes met the player's, blushing her cheeks.

Breathing and heartbeat stopped for a moment.

Is this what it feels like to see yourself push it?

There seemed to be no fear around him, and there seemed to be no darkness in the place where he was.

"My clothes... don't look like those of a Teyvat, do they?" the player muttered to himself.

After the initial joy faded, all that remained was awkwardness.

Oh my god! How did I end up wearing this to him?! I hope he won't mind my attire, since he's so particular about his clothes!

"Could it be that you are a traveler from somewhere else?" His expression showed no surprise.

The player, who had unexpectedly arrived, didn't answer directly, his mind racing: How should he respond? Hmm… wasn't his presence here a coincidence? He suddenly appeared and saved me; that's too strange. The Wangshu Inn is nearby, and Xiao is stationed in this area. Could it be Xiao who told him?

My sudden appearance as an outsider would surely arouse suspicion, wouldn't it? Could Zhongli have been observing me for a long time? Did he only confirm my harmlessness after discovering I couldn't even defeat the treasure-hunting group?

In fact, Zhongli had been observing her for quite some time. However, discovering her was an accident. He had come to Biyue Plain to enjoy the night view, having nothing else to do that night. The sudden appearance of her aura made him sense something unusual, which led him to discover this stranger. His intuition told him that this person was not to be underestimated; it seemed she possessed something within her.

It's best to avoid misunderstandings.

She explained her current situation: "I... am Ying... um... but not Ying. My eyes can follow Ying on her travels, but my body isn't here. Sometimes I can also help her solve some problems remotely... so that she can find her brother."

"But suddenly my body was pulled into this world, which I wasn't supposed to be allowed to enter. That's why I'm here—because it all happened so suddenly, and I was still in my pajamas..."

Zhongli frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.

The player herself was in a dilemma, because she couldn't really tell Zhongli that he was a character in a game.

"Does that traveler know of your existence?" Zhongli asked.

"I probably don't know," she replied.

“Hiss…” Zhongli’s eyes showed a moment of wariness, then softened again: “Ah… I haven’t asked your name yet. I am Zhongli, a guest elder of the Hall of Rebirth.”

“I know… because… I…” the player reminded him.

“I misspoke. I shouldn’t have asked. Ying has visited Liyue, so you should know my identity.” He frowned again.

"My name is..." She stopped abruptly after saying only a few words.

A line of text seemed to appear in my mind: "Failed to set player name. Player name cannot be set."

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Zhongli asked, noticing her hesitation.

“I…please call me a traveler from another world,” she said.

"Alright." Zhongli nodded. "Traveler, is there anything I can do to help?"

"Yes, Mr. Zhongli, please tell me, is there a way for me to go back?"

“I have never heard of it… Let me inquire and then I will tell you, young lady,” Zhongli replied.

His heart was filled with doubt, and a bad feeling permeated his mind.

The girl before me is a new Invader. Each Invader brings bloodshed and chaos to Teyvat. This girl may be a being even more advanced and dangerous than the laws of nature.

The best course of action is to keep her close at hand, observe her closely, and then make a decision. Judging from the conversation, she is not inherently bad and may not pose a threat to Liyue.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhongli," the player said.

"No need for honorifics, just call me by my first name."

"You shouldn't add any more girls either."

"I'll call you Traveler."

"Alright, Zhongli."

The grass blades on the ground, guided by the wind, brushed against the traveler's ankles. Though unintentional, they stirred the heart.

A refreshing fragrance wafted around.

“Qingxin, growing in a high place, with an elegant fragrance, is truly rare.” Zhongli looked at the flower in the traveler’s hand.

"Here you go," the traveler said, offering the flowers.

"It's an honor." Zhongli accepted the flowers from the traveler. The leather glove brushed against the traveler's fingertips.

Before his heart could even settle, he spoke again: "You don't have a place to stay yet, do you? Why don't you come back to Liyue Harbor with me? I'll find you a place to stay and change your clothes."

"Sigh... I don't have any Mora, so it's not good to buy on credit." The traveler sighed.

"It's alright. Having received such a valuable gift, it's only right to reciprocate with courtesy. Don't worry about the money; I'll take care of it."

"This... I'm a little embarrassed," the traveler said, feeling ashamed. In reality, such a wonderful thing could only be imagined.

"Don't worry about it. If I ever feel down, you'll help me out. Consider it my way of showing sincerity in making new friends," Zhongli comforted the traveler.

“Okay. If needed in the future, I will definitely help as long as it is within my ability,” the traveler said firmly.

This statement also sowed the seeds of future trouble. Travelers from another world will surely pay an unimaginable price for this promise.

"There's one more thing! Could you take me to the nearest statue?" The traveler from another world remembered that he might be able to access the statue and gain elemental power like Ying.

"Why is that?" Zhongli asked.

“After the traveler came into contact with the statue, he was able to manipulate elemental power even without the Eye of God. I want to try it too,” the traveler explained.

“Yes, this might give you the ability to defend yourself.” Zhongli immediately understood the traveler’s intention.

"Yes. After all, finding a way out might require wandering around. I'd be in trouble if I had no means of self-defense in the wild." There's no guarantee I'll run into him again if I encounter danger next time.

“The weather is perfect, and I’m sure you can enjoy the scenery while walking along the mountain path. I’ll accompany you.” Zhongli didn’t refuse and agreed.

"The traveler journeys beyond the green mountains, the boat sails before the emerald waters..." The traveler was captivated by the refined atmosphere and then recited a line of poetry he had memorized in his childhood.

"What a fine poem! Even travelers from afar enjoy poetry?" Zhongli seemed intrigued.

"Oh, it's just a line of poetry I memorized as a child. In my world, it's just an ordinary line of poetry," the traveler said. He couldn't remember many of the lines anymore. The traveler silently begged him not to ask anymore, or he would embarrass himself.

“The poems from a foreign land are wonderful. The road ahead is long, so let’s talk about them along the way.” Zhongli walked to the traveler’s side, gesturing for her to set off.

“I’ve actually forgotten a lot of it.” She didn’t want to show off her limited knowledge in front of the most learned person in Teyvat.

“A gentle breeze, towering peaks, shallow grass, clear water… After seeing these, you might remember.” Zhongli seemed unwilling to let the topic go.

"Huh? Okay." The traveler suddenly felt like he was being checked on his text by a language arts teacher.

“Reciting poetry while walking has always been a most elegant pursuit. Few like-minded people exist in this world, and I am extremely fortunate to have made a new friend like you.” Zhongli walked forward.

The traveler followed in his footsteps: "It's better not to have too high hopes... I might reveal my ignorance if I say too much."

"Hehe... No need to be nervous. We're learning from each other; there's no such thing as superior or inferior."

"Alright," the traveler said, giving up.

“Hmm. There’s a dead end ahead, and it’s difficult to walk. Your luggage is a bit heavy, let me help you across.” Zhongli extended his hand to the traveler.

"Thanks." The traveler shook his hand.

The leather gloves felt slightly cool, and when they touched my skin, they trembled slightly along with my heart.

"Are you cold?" Zhongli asked.

"It's alright." The traveler's mind went blank.

"If you don't mind, I'll lend you my coat for now."

"then you……"

“I’ll be fine, but you might catch a cold if you don’t wear it.” As he spoke, he naturally let go of the traveler’s hand and prepared to take off his coat, but the traveler’s hand was still tightly clenched, with no intention of letting go.