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

"You're so cute, Guoba!" The traveler from another world hugged and pinched the chubby Guoba.

Guoba gave up struggling in her arms and whimpered, making some incoherent noises.

"Um...sir..." Xiangling was standing to the side, unsure whether to stop him or not, and was stuck in a daze.

After the meal, thanks to Zhongli's connections, the traveler saw Guoba in the kitchen of Wanmintang.

Upon seeing Zhongli, Guoba trotted over to greet him. Seeing the adorable, furry creature, the traveler couldn't resist the temptation and pounced on it.

"You look like a baby." The traveler was completely charmed by Guoba's appearance.

"Guoba, it used to be the Kitchen God who protected the people of Liyue..." Xiangling said when she saw that the traveler was interested in Guoba.

"Wow, you're amazing!" The traveler rubbed his face against Guoba's chubby face.

The traveler had encountered the event storyline that Xiangling had mentioned, but because of Zhongli's warning, she chose to conceal her identity and pretend not to know anything.

"Actually, I liked to rub against him like that when I first found him, but now I feel a little embarrassed." Xiangling scratched her head.

“Xiangling, I don’t think Guoba will mind. He will only feel disappointed if you deliberately distance yourself from him after you find out his identity,” said Mr. Zhongli, the most famous spiritual mentor in all of Teyvat.

“…Yeah, that’s true.” Xiangling looked at the traveler and Guoba’s intimate interaction with each other and looked on with envy. She took a deep breath and said, “Count me in!” After saying that, Xiangling, who had resolved her inner conflict, ran over and “tortured” Guoba with the traveler.

after awhile……

"I'm full, satisfied." The traveler released the furry victim.

"It's almost time," Zhongli reminded them, who was waiting nearby.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, let's go." The traveler stood up and patted the burrs off his clothes.

The two bid farewell to Xiangling and arrived at Mingxingzhai.

Shop assistant Xingxi: "Mr. Zhongli is here. Please come in and make your selection."

“We just came back from outside, and we’re tired from the journey, so we won’t trouble you.”

The traveler, who was yawning, nodded in agreement.

Xingxi: "Mr. Zhongli, what rare item would you like this time? We have reserved one of our Crystal Moons for you, and we'll wrap it up for you right away."

"Thank you. Could you please pick out a few sets of jewelry suitable for this young lady, Miss Xingxi? I'll take them with me."

“Okay, I’ll go prepare it right away. This is your first time buying a gift for someone. Our shop has a few hairpins that wealthy families used as tokens of love. Why don’t you take a look at them too?” Xingxi began to promote the items.

"Hehehe, little sister Xingxi has misunderstood. She is a distant relative of mine," Zhongli explained.

"Oh, we're relatives. I misjudged you. I'll wrap up your things right away."

It doesn't matter if Xingxi misjudged, but the traveler blushed at her words.

"It's alright, little sister, may I pick out a set of jewelry that suits this outfit for her to wear?"

"Okay. Please wait a moment." Xingxi went into the shop to get busy.

Zhong Li opened his wallet and paused.

The traveler went over and saw that there were only a few Mora left in his wallet.

I reckon he's already spent all of last month's salary...

"Actually... you don't need to buy it for me." The traveler quickly offered him a way out.

"It's alright, I'll ask the young lady in charge of the ceremony to secretly put it on the account of the Hall of Rebirth tomorrow," Zhongli said calmly, without the slightest embarrassment.

He spent the money at the funeral parlor quite comfortably.

"Alright, then I'll thank you in my heart, Master Hu." The traveler shook his head.

When Xingxi returned, Zhongli took the things from her hands.

As agreed, Xingxi gathered the traveler's hair and secured it with a jade hairpin, then helped her put on a light pink bracelet and a gold-inlaid jade necklace.

"Mr. Zhongli, what do you think?" Xingxi asked confidently.

"Yes, it adds luster and splendor, like stars accompanying the moon," Zhongli praised.

It's rare to hear a derogatory word from him. Everything he says seems to come from the heart, making it impossible to tell whether it's genuine or just politeness.

"Then I'll just put it on the bill for you at the Rebirth Hall as usual." Xingxi had long been aware of this guy's tricks.

"Thank you for your trouble." Zhongli picked up his things, turned to the traveler and said, "We need to go to another place. The young lady looks tired. Can you hold on for a little while longer?"

“Alright, since we’re already here,” the traveler agreed.

Don't underestimate the spirit of staying up late in the internet age!

*

Zhongli led the traveler to another shop—Chunxiang Kiln.

The shop owner, Ying'er, waved a handkerchief as she approached from afar: "Oh, it's Mr. Zhongli, a rare guest indeed. You've even brought your girlfriend this time."

“This young lady is a distant relative of mine,” Zhongli explained again.

Ying'er covered her mouth and smiled, "You don't need to hide it, I understand."

"Hmm...would it be possible to pick out a set of rouge and face powder for her?" Zhongli changed the subject.

"Of course. Come in, young lady brought by Mr. Zhongli. Let me try on your makeup." Ying'er beckoned the traveler inside.

"I can't go in, so I'll wait for you outside," Zhongli said to the person beside him, turning his back to look at the bustling street.

Chunxiang Kiln is a place exclusively for female customers. Occasionally, male customers will also buy things for their sweethearts, leaving without going inside.

"it is good."

Upon entering the store, Ying'er displayed dozens of different blue and white porcelain boxes.

Ying'er fiddled with the fine powder in the box: "I'll let you try them one by one. It will take some time, so please be patient."

"Let's hurry... Zhongli is still waiting for me outside." The traveler couldn't get over it.

We are highly qualified young people.

“Little sister, let me tell you. You have to make a man wait for him to feel sorry for you. We’re not in a hurry.” Ying’er said, taking the traveler’s hand. “Let me try it on the back of your hand first. Look how delicate this powder is, a masterpiece of the world. And try this one…”

Fearing she might misunderstand, the traveler added, "I really am just a distant relative of his."

"Okay, okay. I know. Oh dear, why are young people these days so secretive?" Ying'er said, applying another type of lotion: "This one is waterproof... and this one too, and the scented one. Why don't I put them all on you?"

"One is enough."

"Little sister, a man's heart is where his money is; you can't skimp on it. I'll pack it all up for you later." Ying'er seemed to completely ignore the traveler's words.

"Wrap them all up," Zhongli, who was standing outside the door, interjected when he heard the traveler and Ying'er locked in a stalemate.

"I knew Mr. Zhongli would be kind to people. You're so lucky, little sister." Ying'er said with a smile as she packed up the bottles and jars on the table.

"Sigh..." the traveler sighed.

I appreciate Miss Ying'er's kind words, but I can't afford to support him.

As they walked out of the store, Zhong Li was still standing there waiting.

"Thank you for your help this time," the traveler said formally.

"No need to be so polite. You must be tired from your journey; you should find a place to rest." Zhongli took the things from the traveler's hands: "Let me take them."

The traveler didn't refuse and handed over the things he had just bought, silently thanking Hu Tao, whom he had never met but who had unknowingly spent so much money on him.

"where are we going?"

"This is where I live." Zhongli's casual remark startled the traveler, leaving him frozen in place.

"Where do you live?" The traveler thought he had misheard, and all his drowsiness vanished.

"Hmm, what's wrong?" Zhongli looked completely innocent, seemingly not realizing anything was amiss.

The traveler from another world reflected on everything he had done since meeting Zhongli, and it all seemed both bizarre and logical. Wasn't that just his character? But from a normal person's perspective, wouldn't that count as a date?