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

The golden light slowly receded, but did not completely dissipate. Instead, it transformed into a faint glow that lingered in the room, ensuring that no shadows could grow again and exposing everything to the light.

Under the light, that familiar face, so familiar that one would recognize it even if it turned to ashes, was now on full display, making the traveler's blood boil.

Zhongli slightly propped himself up, hovering above her, his back to the not-yet-completely-extinguished afterglow of the elements, which made most of his face submerged in his own shadow, except for his pair of golden eyes, which shone brightly, completely enveloping her in his aura and shadow.

His long, dark brown hair, which was always meticulously combed, was now completely loose, cascading down like ink spilled on the ground. Strands of it fell on the traveler's cheeks and neck, bringing a slightly itchy touch and a stronger sense of his presence.

“Zhong, Li!” The traveler squeezed out the two words through gritted teeth.

Seeing that face confirmed my guess, but instead of feeling relieved, it was as if all my pent-up anger, embarrassment, and resentment at being mocked were ignited, and the flames shot up rapidly.

The other party did not seem to intend to get up or explain immediately.

In the lingering light, the traveler could see his condition clearly—his once neat Liyue-style pajamas were now completely loose, and his upper robes had slipped down to his arms, revealing a large expanse of firm, smooth chest and beautifully shaped shoulders and neck, which shimmered softly in the dim light.

He seemed to frown slightly, not out of displeasure, but rather like... a sense of helplessness at being disturbed? In those usually unfathomable golden eyes, a pitiful regret was clearly reflected at this moment. The emotions were a complex mixture of concern for the traveler's expected reproach, and a sigh for something that had been "halfway through but abruptly cut off."

This demeanor was a stark contrast to his usual calm and dignified image; an outsider might have felt pity upon seeing it. But to the traveler, who was on the verge of exploding with rage, it was nothing short of adding fuel to the fire!

"Get out!" She pointed at the closed door without any pity, even with a hint of ruthlessness, her voice trembling slightly with agitation.

Only truly vulnerable women who need protection deserve my gentle treatment! As for someone like you... pretending to be a woman to deceive people and trying to get away with it, the world has been kind enough to you!

I was already being very polite by not stabbing you with a knife on the spot!

What really sent chills down her spine was another problem!

This is too bizarre! If the real Zhongli is here, then who is this "Zhongli" living in the other room? What is he?! It can't be a ghost!

Faced with the traveler's angry shouts directed at the door and the blazing fury in her eyes, Zhongli did not get up and leave immediately as she wished. He simply looked at her and smiled very faintly, almost imperceptibly.

He withdrew his arm from her side as instructed, but instead of getting off the bed, he moved back a little and sat cross-legged on the bed next to the traveler, creating a distance between them that was not so much that she felt suffocated, but definitely not "safe".

It's like receiving an unpleasant instruction but neither carrying it out nor resisting it, just quietly waiting for the other party to soften their stance, change their mind, or perhaps... as time passes, the anger naturally dissipates, allowing them to get away with it.

He even began to slowly and deliberately tidy his disheveled clothes. His slender fingers unhurriedly pulled up the pajamas that had slipped down to his arms, carefully smoothing out the wrinkles, then fumbled for the loose belt, preparing to tie it. His movements were elegant and composed, as if he weren't the one who had just been passionately kissing and nearly lost control.

As he was adjusting his belt, his fingertips seemed to inadvertently slip into a hidden compartment inside the belt, and with a gentle flick, he pulled out a neatly folded, slightly worn, yellowed piece of paper.

He raised his eyes, his gaze falling once more on the traveler's face, which was slightly flushed with anger. He handed over the paper, his tone calm, even with a hint of persuasion: "Vice Hall Master, please look at the document."

See the written agreement?

The traveler was taken aback at first, then realized what was happening, and a surge of even greater anger rushed to his head.

I knew what it said without even looking at it! Wasn't it the "don't get angry with him" guarantee that I had been tricked into writing before?

He actually dares to take it out now!

"You—" She was so angry that her chest heaved, wishing she could tear the paper and the person who handed it to shreds.

However, Zhongli simply held up the paper calmly, his golden eyes fixed on her, as if waiting for her to fulfill the "contract".

The traveler took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Fine, let's see!

She snatched the folded paper and, under his smiling gaze (a smile that seemed particularly jarring to her at that moment), unfolded it with an almost tearing force.

The paper indeed contained familiar handwriting and content, roughly meaning "In view of the past, I promise to try my best not to get angry for no reason and to communicate peacefully in the future," and it also had her signature at the end.

The traveler sneered, turned to the side, opened the bedside table drawer, and took out a small, pen holder-shaped ultraviolet flashlight.

She pressed the switch, and a beam of dark purple light shot out.

Under Zhongli's slightly surprised gaze, the traveler brought the ultraviolet light close to the guarantee, the beam slowly sweeping across the paper, especially in the blank space between the signature and the text.

A miracle happened.

Under the special illumination of ultraviolet light, a line of neat small characters written with special invisible ink gradually appears at the bottom of the paper, which was originally empty.

The text in small print reads:

"If the beneficiary of the above guarantee of 'trying not to get angry' is Zhongli himself, then all the terms listed in this guarantee shall automatically become invalid and shall not be valid."

The air seemed to freeze.

The traveler held up a purple light, its beam fixed on the additional terms that emitted a faint purple glow. She held the note close to Zhongli and read it clearly, word by word: "Look, here."

My lord, times have changed!

"Oh..." Zhongli let out a barely audible sigh. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling on the line of small characters that had suddenly appeared, his fingers unconsciously touching his chin. A genuine surprise flashed in his eyes, as if he had truly not expected the traveler to have such a clever "backup plan."

His expression was like that of a chess player who discovers that his opponent has planted an unexpected counter-pawn in his carefully laid-out chessboard. Amidst his surprise, there was even a hint of... appreciation.

But the slight ripple quickly subsided. He lowered his hand and regained his usual composure.

"Get out!" The traveler pointed to the door again, this time with an even more resolute tone, leaving no room for negotiation: "Otherwise, I really will call for help! I'll let Mr. Taric, and everyone in the inn, see what the guest elder of the Hall of Rebirth is up to by sneaking into the deputy hall master's room in the middle of the night!"

She resorted to her final "trump card"—a defamation threat.

"What happened just now," Zhongli finally spoke up to defend himself, his voice firm, "was what you started first."