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

One week? Or two weeks?

The traveler couldn't remember how much time had passed, and there was no calendar at his lodgings to indicate the date.

However, the docks in Liyue Harbor were unusually lively today.

The Lantern Festival is at the end of next month, and families are stocking up on New Year's goods.

Unlike reality, Liyue has no winter; its temperature throughout the year is more like the transition from spring to summer in northern China.

This year's Lantern Festival in Liyue has nothing to do with travelers; she will leave Teyvat before the festival.

But... going shopping with your girlfriends is fine.

Since it was a rare day off for Hu Tao, the head of Wangsheng Hall, Xiang Ling from Wanmin Hall also wanted to try the ingredients brought from Fontainebleau. The two of them took the travelers to stroll around the dock market.

"Wow! This sauce tastes amazing!" Xiangling stuffed the Fontaine sauce directly into her mouth.

The traveler handed the water bottle to Xiangling: "It must be very salty... have a sip of water."

"My tongue is numb!" Xiangling took the water and drank it all in one gulp.

Hu Tao ran over from another toy stall carrying a scary doll: "Hehe! A zombie doll!"

"You like things like this. I heard it's some kind of doll used in witchcraft to curse people. Later, the designer was reported by the residents of Fontainebleau for fraud and was imprisoned in Mero Petersburg, which is Fontainebleau's prison," the traveler explained.

"Here you go, take it and use it to curse the guest minister." Hu Tao stuffed the doll into the traveler's hands.

The traveler quickly stuffed it back: "Hahaha... I've already cursed him in other ways, I drew a circle to curse him, I've already cursed him. And it's fine to just display it as a doll, if that worked, the designer wouldn't have been reported, right?"

“Lu Ren seems to know Fontaine very well,” Xiangling asked.

"I used to love traveling, so I went to explore a bit. I've been to Mondstadt, Inazuma, and Sumeru, not just Fontainebleau." The traveler had been compiling his game experiences into his own personal stories to avoid being exposed, but now there's no one to vouch for him.

"No wonder I've never seen you before." Hu Tao nodded.

"If you like horror elements, I recommend you travel to Inazuma. It's really a ghost town... There's Tsurugamura, which is shrouded in thick fog all day long, Musou-no-Kama, which is filled with lightning, and the mysterious underground abyss."

The traveler recalled his experience doing the Inazuma world quests. Although the most terrifying quest was still the Forest Book, the Inazuma quests were the most bizarre.

"It's a pity that the Hall of Rebirth can't do without me for even a day. Sigh... I hope I'll have the chance to go someday." Hu Tao sighed.

Xiangling exclaimed, "Lu Renzhen is truly learned. No wonder he is a friend of Mr. Zhongli."

Hu Tao whispered a reminder, but it was too late: "Don't mention his name."

Xiangling felt guilty: "Oh! I'm sorry, I forgot!"

"I'm fine now, hahaha." The traveler laughed awkwardly.

I faked a smile too many times today; I'm exhausted both physically and mentally.

An hour later, Xiangling and Hutao finished buying their things.

Seeing that the traveler hadn't bought anything, Hu Tao put her arm around her shoulder and said domineeringly, "What, you're reluctant to spend money? I'll buy you whatever you want!"

"Thank you for your kindness. Actually, I'm going on another trip, and my next stop is Nata. I have too much luggage, so I won't be buying anything." The traveler revealed his whereabouts during the casual conversation, trying not to arouse their suspicion.

"Huh? Lu Ren, are you leaving?" Xiang Ling asked in surprise.

“Yes, she’s already finished writing the handover documents,” Hu Tao interjected.

"I earn money so I can travel." The traveler felt a pang of conscience after saying this; he knew that going to work was just to survive, and he wasn't that carefree.

Woo woo woo.

"Oh, that sounds good! I've got some inspiration for a new dish today, let's all eat at Wanmin Hall," Xiangling suggested.

“Okay. I’ve been eating at the cafeteria these past few days, it’s time for a change,” the traveler agreed.

"Master! Master! We have a job!" Old Meng from Wangsheng Hall came to the market looking for walnuts.

"Sigh... I knew the Rebirth Hall couldn't do without me for even a day." After saying that, Hu Tao followed Lao Meng back to the Rebirth Hall.

*

Manmin Hall.

The traveler helped Xiangling carry the ingredients she bought at the market into the kitchen.

"Thank you, but the store is full today, so we could only arrange a seat for you outside." Xiangling scratched her head apologetically.

The traveler put down his things and helped Xiangling sort and arrange the ingredients: "You're too kind. It's nice outside too, quiet and peaceful."

He helped out in the kitchen for half an hour, assisting Xiangling.

When I get busy, I forget all the bad things that happened.

Once the kitchen was fully staffed, the traveler had some free time and sat outside the shop. She didn't feel lonely at first, but the people around her, whether families, couples, or groups of three or four friends, made her feel like an oddity.

He just wanted Xiangling to finish her work quickly so they could have dinner together.

The next second, a bucket of cold water forced the traveler to face reality.

Xiangling placed the new dish, "Fontainebleau Special Grilled Ribs," in front of the traveler: "There are too many people today, you eat first, don't wait for me."

"Ah? No... no..." The traveler felt a chill run through him as he watched Xiangling's departing figure.

She stared at the large plate of roasted ribs in front of her, lost in thought, and had no appetite at all.

It's been so long, but I still haven't gotten used to eating alone.

A tall, thin man sat down confidently in front of the traveler.

The traveler looked closely and realized that this was the last person she wanted to see.

"What a coincidence, Miss Traveler, you're here to eat at Wanmin Hall today too?" The young man, whose arm was wrapped in bandages and whose face was covered with medical tape, struck up a conversation with the traveler.

"Um... I don't even know where to begin... What happened to your injury?" the traveler asked, pondering how to get revenge.

"Oh, after we parted ways last time, I challenged a master. Although I suffered a minor injury, that battle was incredibly exhilarating!" The young master recalled the previous battle, his heart filled with excitement.

"A minor injury?" the traveler questioned. He had been beaten so badly that even his own mother wouldn't recognize him. A minor injury?

I felt incredibly relieved.

"I only rested in bed for a few days. Speaking of which, the doctors in Liyue are really good." As he spoke, the young master glanced at the traveler's grilled ribs: "It's just that eating isn't very convenient."

The traveler took the kebab away and said, "This was made for me by my friend. I won't give it to you. If you want some, go buy some yourself."

"Alright, alright, you can't just eat grilled ribs without some side dishes to cut the grease. This meal is on me. Can I eat now? I haven't been able to eat properly these past few days, and I've gotten so thin from starvation." The young master showed the traveler his injured arm, looking rather pitiful.

"Don't think that I'll forgive you just because you give me a little something." The traveler made it clear from the start that she didn't need the money.

But since I can't beat him, it's good to take advantage of him a little.

"Tch, stingy." After saying that, the young master called the waiter to order the dishes.

"Who wants to eat with you? Get off my table!" the traveler shooed away.

"The Lantern Festival is almost here, and all the Liyue people who have been doing business abroad are returning from all over the world. Where will there be any seats? Miss Traveler, please do me the honor of eating with me." The young master was unwilling to leave and insisted on staying.

"Alright," the traveler shook his head.

"Miss Traveler, you are truly beautiful and kind-hearted." The young man had a very sweet tongue.

Little did he know that he had already stepped into the traveler's trap.

The traveler picked up a piece of skewer and placed it on an unused plate, removed the bone, and used chopsticks to pick up the meat: "Open your mouth."

"You're going to feed me? I feel so embarrassed." His cheeks were slightly flushed, and he scratched his head with his uninjured left hand.

The traveler placed a lure in the trap, luring the immature little beast into it: "You're not good with your left hand, are you? And when we ate together that day, I knew you weren't very skilled with chopsticks either. What's there to be shy about?"

The young man protested, "I'm not shy!" But his face turned even redder. He obediently offered his face to the traveler.

Snapped!

A loud bang drew the attention of the people eating nearby.

"I'm sorry, it's a personal matter. Please continue eating, don't mind it." The traveler stood up and bowed.

After hearing the traveler's reasons, the crowd took it all in stride and continued eating and drinking as usual.

The young master, whose face was swollen from the traveler's slap, had just recovered from the shock when his innocent heart finally understood what had happened: "You hit me..."

"We're even now," the traveler said, putting the meat into his mouth.

"Ah..." The young master opened his mouth, waiting for the traveler to feed him.

"Eat it yourself," the traveler said, not wanting to concern himself with it.

"You just said you were going to feed me. Now that you've calmed down, hurry up and feed me," the young master said, looking aggrieved.

"I was just kidding you into obediently sticking your face out so I could hit you," the traveler said bluntly.

"It's inconvenient for me to eat, Miss Traveler, Sister Traveler... beautiful and kind Sister Traveler." The young master persisted in feeding me.

"Just one bite!" The traveler took another pair of clean chopsticks, picked up a piece of grilled rib, and put it in his mouth.

The young lady got her wish and savored the meat the traveler fed her. She then lowered her head and spat the bones onto the table, saying, "It's delicious. I wonder if it's because the chef at the Hall of Rebirth has such excellent skills, or if the food you fed me was just particularly delicious?"

"Don't be so poor," the traveler said, looking at him with disdain.

"It's just that the place you hit me with is a little sore when I'm chewing it." The young master reached out and touched his reddened face, looking somewhat like a puppy that had made a mistake.

"Serves you right!" the traveler glared at him.