[After listening to Hu Tao, you walked into Chenxi's room.]
[The little girl sat on the edge of the bed, sulking. When she saw you, she turned her face away in a stubborn huff.]
["Coming to live in Liyue was also your adoptive parents' wish," you said calmly. "Don't waste the care they put into this decision."]
[Chenxi whipped her head back around, eyes red as she glared at you.]
["This is all your fault! If you hadn't suddenly shown up, I wouldn't have had to come to Liyue at all! I hate this place where it's spring all year round! I hate the damp air! I hate the wind! I hate the people here! I hate everything about this place!!!"]
[The hatred on Chenxi's face sent a sharp pain through your chest. You were already used to suppressing your emotions, though, and your expression remained cold and distant.]
[Seeing that look only made Chenxi angrier.]
["You're not my family at all! I'm definitely going back to Snezhnaya!"]
[You knew Chenxi had already begun planning to run away.]
[Even though Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was busy every day, with people constantly coming and going.]
[It was not a suitable place to keep watch over her.]
[After some thought, you decided it would be better to leave this task to professionals.]
[Yelan arranged for Chenxi to stay in the back courtyard of Yanshang Teahouse.]
["Mr. Kael, I've already arranged for two subordinates to take turns guarding the courtyard," Yelan said. "You can rest easy. Your sister won't be able to escape."]
[Yelan reached out, intending to touch your cheek.]
["So… how does Mr. Kael plan to repay me…"]
[A slip of paper held between your fingers blocked her hand.]
["This is the Fatui's next plan regarding the Sigil of Permission. I think this intelligence should be more than enough as compensation."]
[The Fatui were already on guard against you, withholding much of their information.]
[But you had been rooted in Liyue for many years and had long since built your own intelligence network.]
[Obtaining Fatui intelligence only required a bit more effort.]
[Yelan smiled as she drew the paper from your hand.]
["Ah, Mr. Kael, you're just as heartless as ever. I'll take this information as interest. Someday, I'll come to collect the principal from you myself."]
[Yelan blinked at you, radiating mature charm.]
["You know exactly what I want."]
[Using the intelligence you provided, Yelan easily destroyed the Fatui facility on the outskirts that had been replicating the Sigil of Permission.]
[The original Sigil of Permission also returned to her hands.]
[After the replication facility was destroyed, you officially defected from the Fatui and became a wanted criminal in Snezhnaya.]
[The Fatui placed a massive bounty on your head. Countless people lurked in the shadows, watching you like hungry predators.]
[That night, a faint sound came from the courtyard. You snapped awake, leapt lightly from the bed, and hid yourself behind the door.]
[During this period, you had already survived several assassination attempts at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.]
[You guessed this time was probably another Fatui hit.]
[You waited by the door for a while, only to find that the sound had vanished. The enemy who should have entered never appeared.]
[You quietly opened the door and checked the courtyard.]
[At the stone table in the center sat someone you never expected.]
["Mr. Zhongli?"]
[Zhongli held several cups of wine. When he saw you, he smiled and raised one of the cups toward you.]
["Mr. Kael, you're not asleep yet? The moonlight is beautiful tonight. Would you care to enjoy it with me and have a few drinks?"]
[With lingering doubts, you walked over to Zhongli.]
["Mr. Zhongli, was there anyone else in the courtyard just now?"]
[Zhongli set an empty cup in front of you and gracefully poured wine into it.]
["Just a few annoying little pests disturbing the peace. They've already been chased away."]
[From the moment you first met Zhongli, your instincts told you he was unfathomable, certainly not an ordinary man.]
[Still, you found it strange that he would be willing to help you.]
[Noticing your confusion, Zhongli smiled calmly.]
["It was nothing more than a small favor. You should learn to trust others a little more."]
[Zhongli looked at you with eyes full of tolerance and kindness, carrying a warmth like that of an elder toward a younger generation.]
[You shook your head, brushing away the strange thought.]
[Zhongli didn't look much older than you. You must have been overthinking it.]