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

(Congratulations to the main character for winning this year's Valentine's Day event by two votes!)

"Yesterday?" I answered in a whisper, trying not to let the person outside the door hear me.

“Three days ago…” His voice lowered further as he leaned close to my ear, his warm breath brushing against it: “Didn’t the Deputy Hall Master say that he would spend Valentine’s Day with me in this foreign land? Why have you forgotten all about it in the blink of an eye?”

The smile in his eyes faded somewhat.

what?

Valentine's Day?

I froze for a moment.

Today... does it really seem to be February 14th, "Valentine's Day"?

In recent years, young couples in Liyue have also started celebrating this holiday, and the streets are filled with shops selling roses and chocolates. Just a few days ago, I saw shops displaying "Valentine's Day Special Offers" signs, and various heart-shaped decorations were hanging everywhere.

In other words...

I promised two people that I would spend Valentine's Day with them.

"What's that sound?" Hu Tao outside the door seemed to have noticed the commotion inside the room. To everyone's alarm, the door moved slightly inward, making it seem as if the leader was about to enter to investigate.

If someone saw me in this position...

That's it!

The statements such as "The deputy head of the Rebirth Hall and the guest elder of the Rebirth Hall committed an unforgivable crime of defiling the main hall!" are terrifying.

And how can you show this to children!

"So it was handheld fireworks..." Fortunately, Hu Tao was only talking about a couple on the street downstairs, not the inappropriate sounds coming from inside the room.

The door panel was simply being moved by the wind.

"By the way, Lu Ren!" Hu Tao's voice came from outside the door again: "Did you know that young couples in Liyue Harbor have been celebrating Valentine's Day in other countries these days?"

"Um...I know."

"Aren't you going to spend the holiday with the guest minister today?" Her tone carried a hint of indignation on my behalf: "That guy only knows how to drink tea, watch plays, and browse antique shops all day long. He probably doesn't even know what Valentine's Day is."

I looked at the guy in front of me who "didn't even know what Valentine's Day was."

His eyes were fixed on me, waiting for my answer. His gaze was calm, but I knew what lay beneath—a deep pool, seemingly still on the surface but turbulent beneath.

What a joke! There's no one braver than me in all of Liyue. I'm not afraid of the Geo Archon's authority, and dancing in his minefield is my favorite thing to do.

“I won’t stay with him,” I said deliberately, raising my voice to make sure Walnut outside the door could hear me. “Because I like you more.”

Hu Tao, standing outside the door, seemed taken aback by the bluntness of the words. After a two-second silence, her voice broke through, unusually hesitant: "Ahem... Well, then I'll go find him first. You wait for me in the room! Don't wander off! Wait for me..."

The footsteps faded away quickly, skipping every three steps and hopping every five, gradually disappearing at the end of the corridor.

I breathed a sigh of relief, then met Zhongli's slightly elongated pupils. They weren't human-shaped; the pupils were vertical with a faint golden glow at the edges, more like the pupils of some ancient creature.

Only when his emotions are running high will he unconsciously reveal this true side of himself.

"The deputy hall master just said..." His voice was low, his breath hotter as it brushed against my face, "He doesn't want to spend the festival with anyone?"

"hehe."

I've decided that those who are pragmatic and adaptable are wise.

Happy Valentine's Day, Mr. Zhongli.

I tilted my head back and placed a very light kiss on the corner of his lips.

Otherwise, the consequences could be quite serious. I'm not feeling well today, so I'd better not add fuel to the fire.

The undercurrent in his eyes subsided somewhat. He looked at me for a long time, then shook his head helplessly.

"Never mind."

He looked down at the person beneath him, whose clothes were disheveled, hair was messy, face was flushed, and eyes were still watery from just waking up. The person looked pitiful, as if he had been thoroughly exhausted.

"Then let's go together."

He reached under his pillow and fumbled around for a while before taking out an exquisitely packaged item.

It was a small, dark blue box, tied with a dark gold ribbon. The ribbon was tied into an exquisite bow, and every fold showed meticulous care.

It turns out that he took some time to buy this before leaving home in the morning.

I sat up and straightened my wrinkled undergarment.

The neckline of my undershirt was mostly open, offering little to no concealment. I quickly gathered it up to cover the obvious marks.

Zhongli untied the ribbon, opened the box, and inside were neatly arranged dark brown chocolates, each one shaped differently and held in gold foil, shimmering in the sunlight.

He broke off a piece and brought it to my lips.

I opened my mouth and took it in, along with his fingertips.

The sweet taste slowly melts on the tip of your tongue.

The rich cocoa flavor intertwines with the gentle milky aroma, gradually filling the entire mouth. The sweetness is not cloying, just right, and leaves a subtle aftertaste after swallowing.

The surface of the chocolate is smooth, but after it melts, you can taste the tiny nutty particles inside, adding another layer of texture.

"It's delicious," I replied to his kindness.

"Hmm." He looked at my expression, a smile appearing in his eyes, and added, "The price is also acceptable."

At least he didn't buy up all the chocolates in the store, which is an improvement.

"Pour me a cup of tea," I said, my voice still a little hoarse. My throat was already dry, and eating something sweet made it even drier. "It's a bit dry."

"it is good."

He agreed, but showed no intention of getting up.

His gaze fell on my lips, where a little melted chocolate still clung, glistening faintly in the afternoon sunlight.

Then, he leaned over.

That sweetness was shared by the two of them.

When his lips descended, they carried the lingering sweetness of chocolate, along with his unique tea aroma. The kiss was deeper and slower than in the morning, as if he were savoring some precious wine.

After a long while, he finally stepped back.

"Tea," he said in a low voice, "just a moment."

He finally got up and left the bed. I wrapped myself in the blanket and watched him take his outer robe from the hanger and put it on, his movements as unhurried as ever. The sunlight outlined his tall profile, and the smooth lines looked particularly handsome in the light and shadow.

After the sound of flowing water gently touching the porcelain faded, he returned with a cup of tea.

I took it and took a sip.

The temperature was just right, not too hot to burn your mouth, and not so hot that the aroma would dissipate.

Faint sounds of bustling activity from Feiyunpo drifted in from outside the window: the cries of vendors, the laughter of children, and a love song melody that seemed to float from some shop.

The sounds blended together, becoming the gentlest background noise of the afternoon.

Valentine's Day has only just begun.

The sweet taste in my mouth hadn't faded yet, seemingly foreshadowing that this affection would last for an unimaginable amount of time.