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

“The uniforms at Wangshengtang are all custom-made, but the fabric shop owner recently received a big order. I’ll have them make you a uniform after he finishes that batch.”

After the labor contract was signed, Hu Tao enthusiastically trained the travelers herself, explaining the business of Wangshengtang, attendance hours, overtime pay, and details such as work clothes.

"Hmm. No problem." The traveler didn't care about these things. The Rebirth Hall paid well with little work, offered generous subsidies, and had many days off. It was practically a paradise for working people. If there were no work clothes, so be it.

But... could the fabric shop owner's big order be... Mr. Zhongli's order...?

"Our industry is a bit special. We have to wear low-key colors when we're working. Just find something similar to wear for now. I'm sorry to trouble you. As compensation, I'll cover all your meals. I'll also provide employee dormitories."

"I'm not wronged, I'm not wronged!"

The traveler stared intently at the amount of Mora written on the contract.

At this point, she hadn't realized the seriousness of the situation, assuming that this considerable sum of money would be at her disposal, and was even secretly planning which property in Liyue Harbor to buy. She had no idea that someone else already had their eyes on it.

"Alright, that's all I have to say. Your job today is to familiarize yourself with the work process. Guest Elder, she's now your responsibility to guide." Hu Tao entrusted the traveler to Zhong Li.

“You can leave it to me, Master,” Zhongli replied.

"Qingce Manor has a few big orders, I'm going out to negotiate now. You two are left to look after the business at Wangsheng Hall." After saying that, Hu Tao went out to negotiate, leaving the traveler and Zhongli alone at Wangsheng Hall.

"That child didn't get enough rest last night, and then went to do business during the day. Is he alright?" The traveler, unable to bear the silence any longer, spoke first.

"The sect leader is in high spirits and in good health, I think he will be fine. But you, are you alright after being frightened twice in a row?" Zhongli Liu's golden eyes lingered on the traveler's eyes.

"It's not to the point of being frightened. Don't worry, I'm not some delicate little girl. I'll forget everything in a couple of days." The traveler seemed to have given Zhongli a wrong impression.

Me? Delicate?

The teacher once said that women hold up half the sky!

"That's good. It's not easy for you to come to a strange place all by yourself, with no one to rely on. If you encounter any difficulties, just let me know." Zhongli's eyes softened.

"I'm not used to relying on others, and I do most things myself. In my world's values, independence is deeply ingrained. I always feel a little embarrassed to ask others for help," the traveler said, scratching his head as he voiced his thoughts.

It feels a little strange to actively rely on someone who isn't someone you know very well.

"Aren't you lonely?" Zhongli's voice was a little different from usual, her tone was a bit lower.

"Hmm? I do have friends, but there are many things they can't help with. They're fine as casual conversations, but if I tell them about all the difficulties I'm facing, it will only add to my worries." The traveler sensed his unusual behavior and thought he was worried about him, so he said a few more words.

Zhongli seemed to be deep in thought.

The traveler has similarities to himself.

The loneliness that has lasted for thousands of years seems to have faded somewhat.

"You don't need to worry about me. My world has no monsters, so it's safe most of the time. Even without elemental power, I don't have to worry about being harmed by monsters. There are bad people, though, but you rarely encounter them." The traveler didn't know why he suddenly stopped talking and rattled off a lot of things in one breath.

"I see." Zhongli nodded in response.

"I haven't gotten used to this place yet, and I don't know how to fight. You'd better keep an eye on me, or I might suddenly disappear!" The traveler joked, sensing the tense atmosphere.

"Definitely." It was meant as a joke, but in Zhongli's eyes, what the traveler said was very likely to happen, and he kept it in mind.

The traveler, unsure how to continue the conversation, sensed that the man wasn't interested in idle chatter and got down to business: "What exactly do I do at the Hall of Rebirth?"

"If you ask me... I usually have breakfast around 7 AM and then visit the Hall of Rebirth, followed by a cup of tea at a nearby teahouse. Around noon, I go to the Glazed Hall or the Crescent Moon Pavilion for lunch. Around 1 PM, I visit a scenic spot. Around 7 PM, I return to the Hall of Rebirth for a visit and have dinner there." Zhongli stroked his chin, recalling his usual routine.

"Ah..." The traveler understood. He was just clocking in at work, then slacking off, then clocking out again in the afternoon, and then leaving get off work. He was definitely the best employee of the year.

"Do you have any questions?" Zhongli asked, noticing the traveler's surprised expression.

"When do you start working?" the traveler asked.

His new employee training only taught him how to slack off; that's unacceptable. Doesn't he feel guilty taking so much money?

"If there is any emergency, Master Hu will inform his subordinates. After that, you can allocate your remaining time as you wish," Zhong Li explained patiently.

"Are there any things you have to do every day?" the traveler asked.

The poor oppressed by capitalism were unaware of their own abnormalities, but Zhongli did.

"Sigh, you... work is just to support your family. There's no need to rush to work when there's no work available, just to make things harder."

Zhongli shook his head, a slight smile on his face, as if looking at a naive child.

“Oh…now that you mention it, I think that makes sense too,” the traveler agreed.

Of course, slacking off is great! Who doesn't love slacking off? It's even better if someone's with you. Since even he says so, I'm relieved.

"It's noon, what would you like to eat?" Zhongli asked, glancing at the sun outside the window.

"Hmm...whatever."

From then on, the traveler and Mr. Zhongli became partners for meals and for slacking off.

New Moon Pavilion Private Room.

"That's all," Mr. Zhongli said to the waiter after ordering half of the menu.

"Thank you for the expense." After thanking him, the traveler asked, "But can the two of us finish all this?"

“You can finish your meal. Since this is your first time at Xinyuexuan, you should try a few more dishes.” Zhongli helped the traveler set out the tableware, the arrangement of the bowls and chopsticks was very particular.

The traveler recalled that he had said in the game that "his structure is different from that of humans," so perhaps his appetite far exceeds that of humans.

"By the way, I fell asleep while we were chatting last night. It wasn't that I thought what you were saying was boring, I was just too sleepy." The traveler couldn't help but blush as he recalled the embarrassing incident from last night.

It was really because I was so tired! Nothing else!

“Last night…” Zhongli’s thoughts were drawn back to yesterday.

*

Late at night, in a guest room on the sixth floor of the Baiju Inn.

"Speaking of Shenyu Valley..." Before she could finish her sentence, Zhongli noticed that the traveler in front of her had fallen asleep on the tea table. She had no sense of wariness towards a stranger she had only known for a short time.

“To you, I might not be a stranger.” Zhongli gleaned some information from her words and guessed that she knew something about this continent and herself.

Zhongli carefully picked her up; the person in his arms was fast asleep, her breathing steady.

Everything that touches your fingertips is soft.

"How can such a delicate body dispel the calamity brought by the invaders?"

He placed the traveler on the bed that had never been used before. He lifted the covers and gently covered her with them.

"It's not your fault that you wandered into Teyvat."

"Although I have entrusted Liyue to the Seven Stars and relinquished the Heart of God, I have not relinquished the duty bestowed upon me by the laws of nature."

"I will bear the brunt of the demon's calamity."

"It's still early, let's go to Wangshu Inn. We should also inform them about matters related to the Demon God."

*

Today, it is called Xinyuexuan.

"Don't worry about it. It's been a long time since I've had a pleasant conversation with someone, so it's understandable that I'm a bit talkative," Zhongli said, placing the specialty dishes in front of the traveler so she could easily pick them up.

"I still really enjoy listening to you talk about these things, and I don't mean to be disgusted. We can continue our conversation when we have time in the future."

"Perhaps it's because we don't live in the same world, but I can easily say things to you that I wouldn't normally say," the traveler explained.

“Alright, we’ll have plenty of time in the future.” Zhong Li’s lips curled up slightly.

"Yes, I just don't know when this journey will end. I always have a feeling that I will suddenly go back, just like a dream that I don't know when I will wake up. Sometimes it's at the beginning; sometimes it's at the crucial moment; sometimes it's one dream after another..." The traveler unconsciously expressed his feelings, and then felt saddened.

“Every journey has an end, cherish the present, and don’t be in a hurry.” Zhongli took a sip of tea.

He had become accustomed to parting.

“That’s true. I haven’t even had a proper look at every blade of grass and every tree in Liyue yet, so I shouldn’t be so sad.” The traveler picked up the tea that he had poured for him, took a sip, and then, as if remembering something, continued, “Mr. Zhongli, if one day I am no longer on the continent of Teyvat, will you still remember me?”

……

After a moment of silence, he said this...

"When you stepped onto this continent, the starry sky of Teyvat already bore your mark. Even if I lose my memory due to wear and tear in the future, I will remember you as long as I look up at the sky."