[Taking Chenxi away turned out to be far easier than you had imagined.]
[You had already braced yourself to fall out with the Fatui.]
[After all, Chenxi was a hostage the Fatui had deliberately left behind in Snezhnaya to keep you in check.]
[What you never expected was that Chenxi's adoptive parents would fully support your decision, even going so far as to help you.]
[The moment you met them, you knew they were not ordinary people.]
[Every word they spoke, every movement they made, carried the marks of training. You suspected they were sleeper agents the Fatui had planted in Snezhnaya's business circles.]
[Yet they still dared to defy the Fatui's orders and hand Chenxi over to you.]
["Snezhnaya's environment is too harsh," her adoptive father said quietly. "Whether it's the land itself or… the things children like Chenxi are exposed to, she deserves to grow up somewhere better."]
["We… we can't give Chenxi a better life," her adoptive mother murmured. "Maybe… maybe it's better if she goes with you."]
[Chenxi's adoptive mother looked out the window at her daughter, who was laughing with pure, radiant innocence. The smile on the woman's face wavered, giving way to reluctance and quiet sorrow.]
["People like us…"]
[You could tell they truly loved Chenxi. They did not want to carry out the Fatui's orders and use her as nothing more than a pawn.]
[By making this decision on their own, they were certain to face the Fatui's reckoning in the future.]
[Even so, they chose to love Chenxi without reservation, and your heart was filled with gratitude toward them.]
[You promised Chenxi's adoptive parents that she would remain innocent forever, that you would never let even a trace of darkness touch her.]
[Before the Fatui could fully uncover the value of the Sigil of Permission, The Knave ordered you to return to Liyue and await further instructions.]
[And so, you set off on the journey back to Liyue, bringing with you Chenxi, who cried and screamed, unwilling to leave Snezhnaya.]
[You brought Chenxi to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and arranged a place for her to stay.]
["I hate you!!! I don't have any brother at all!!!"]
[With eyes swollen red from crying, Chenxi shouted at you in fury before slamming the door shut with a loud bang.]
[I'll become the best brother in the world.]
[You remembered the vow you had made deep in your heart when you were young.]
[It's all right, Chenxi.]
[Hate me if you want.]
[As long as you can grow up safely, everything is worth it.]
[Hu Tao stood beside you, clearly puzzled.]
["Kael, didn't you say she's your little sister? Then why does she look like she hates you so much…"]
[You let out a self-mocking chuckle and lowered your voice.]
["She'll understand someday."]
[It sounded as much like something you were telling yourself.]
[Chenxi would understand your intentions one day.]
[While you were away from Liyue, Wanmin Restaurant had welcomed a new consultant.]
[His name was Zhongli.]
[When the two of you met, Hu Tao stood to the side and made the introductions.]
["Kael, this is the new consultant I hired for Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. He's incredibly knowledgeable, knows a lot about Liyue's history, and he's very familiar with funeral rites. From now on, if there's anything we don't understand, we can ask him."]
["Zhongli, this is the Kael I told you about. My future lover. What do you think? Handsome, right?"]
[When Zhongli saw you, a brief look of stunned recognition crossed his face.]
[You smiled at him.]
["Mr. Zhongli, why are you looking at me like that?"]
[A trace of nostalgia appeared in Zhongli's eyes.]
["Mr. Kael gives me the same feeling as an old friend of mine."]
[Heavy... Oppressive... Unwavering...]
[How could such a presence exist within someone involved in funeral rites?]
[After returning to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, you continued to carry out your plans with steady precision.]
[Perhaps because you had brought Chenxi back to Liyue.]
[This action stirred the Fatui's suspicions. They felt they could no longer control you the way they once had.]
[You could sense it. The intelligence the Fatui provided you had recently begun to come with omissions.]
[Still, you paid no mind to the change.]
[Chenxi was by your side now. You had nothing left to fear.]
[The threads you had buried before were ready to be drawn tight.]
[You arranged to meet Yelan at Yanshang Teahouse.]
[You surveyed the interior, which looked completely different from before.]
["I didn't expect Miss Yelan to become the new owner of Yanshang Teahouse."]
[Yelan gave you a seductive smile.]
["I have Mr. Kael to thank for that. If not for your intelligence, Yanshang Teahouse wouldn't have fallen into our hands."]
["You also gave me the inspiration. Our organization needed a place to gather information. It may not compare to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, but it's still a decent location."]
[After a brief exchange of pleasantries, you and Yelan began trading the intelligence each of you had gathered recently.]
[Yelan spoke as if casually.]
["I heard you brought your younger sister back to Liyue. Was that the reason for your trip to Snezhnaya this time?"]
[You neither confirmed nor denied it.]
["I wonder if I might have the chance to meet Mr. Kael's little sister someday. I imagine she must be very cute…"]
[You caught the probing hidden in Yelan's words and, without the slightest hesitation, raised your hand and seized her by the throat.]
["Miss Yelan, my sister is just an ordinary child. I don't want her involved in these matters."]
[A bone-deep chill flared in your eyes.]
["Please don't disturb her. Can you do that?"]
[Your attack came without warning. Yelan was completely unprepared as you clamped down on the most vulnerable part of her neck.]
[Her pulse throbbed beneath your cold fingers.]