Even though Song Lan knew Eula would be mad at him, he didn't expect her to pull out a weapon the moment she saw him.
"Eula! Calm down! He's Liyue's Tianxu Star—if you attack him here, it could turn into a full-blown diplomatic incident!" Amber shouted, trying to hold her back.
"Let me go, Amber! I'm cutting this two-timing bastard in half today! I've waited long enough!"
Tianxu raised an eyebrow and laughed.
"Oh? Sounds like there's some history between you two. Well, I've got a fishing date with an old friend this afternoon, so I'll leave you guys to... catch up. Song Lan, treat your guests well."
The moment Eula entered the room, she had gone straight for Song Lan, and even Tianxu was a bit annoyed. Song Lan was his Tianxu Star after all, and not even the Fatui would dare stir up trouble like that on Liyue's turf.
But after overhearing Eula and Amber's heated exchange—and seeing the look on Song Lan's face—Tianxu figured something definitely went down between those two.
He clapped Song Lan on the shoulder, completely ignoring the silent "help me" look on the guy's face, and walked out of the private room without another word.
Luckily, Tianxu's interruption gave Eula enough time to cool off. Under Amber's gentle nudging, she finally agreed to sit down.
"Hmph. To think you of all people ended up one of Liyue's Seven Stars. Disasters really do live a long time, huh?" she snapped.
"Uh... Eula, I think there's been some kind of misunderstanding. That last time—I really didn't mean to! It was Amber who said you were in the lake near the camp!"
Amber immediately sprang to her feet.
"You jerk! Anyone with a brain would know Eula was probably bathing! Who the hell just barges over without checking?!"
"It was the middle of the day! How was I supposed to know she was bathing?! I thought she was fetching water or something!"
"Enough!!"
Eula slammed the table, startling them both into silence.
"I'm not mad about you... seeing me bathing," she said coldly. "I'm mad that you disappeared for two whole years without saying a word!"
"Huh?" Song Lan blinked. "But I've been writing to you every month since I became Tianxu Star! You never got my letters?"
That actually made Eula pause.
Sure, that one incident where he accidentally saw her bathing had nearly gotten him chopped in half. But even so, Eula had been his very first friend in this world, and he really did treasure their bond. Even after rising to his current position, he'd always made time to write her letters—every month without fail. She just never replied, so he figured she was still pissed.
But now… her reaction suggested something else entirely.
"You wrote to me every month? Where exactly were you sending these letters?"
"Well, you once mentioned that people in the Knights didn't really like you, so I figured your mail might get tampered with. I sent the letters to the Lawrence estate instead."
Eula froze.
Sure, if he sent the letters to the Knights headquarters, she might not have received them. But the Lawrence estate? She definitely wouldn't have gotten them there.
"You idiot!" Amber jumped in. "Do you not know how much Eula hates her own family? There's no way the Lawrences would ever give her those letters!"
Song Lan's face went blank for a second, then the realization hit him like a truck.
Oh. Right. Eula was a Lawrence by name, but she couldn't stand her family. And knowing how petty those people were, they probably tossed the letters straight into the fireplace.
"Yeah... that's on me. Okay, next time I'll just address them to Amber and send them to the Knights instead."
"No way!" Eula snapped.
She hadn't even read his letters before, but judging by how embarrassing Song Lan could be, there was no way in hell she'd survive if someone else read them.
"Relax, I'll put them inside another envelope. Amber won't see what we talk about."
"I-I'm not worried about that!" Eula huffed, crossing her arms. "Hmph! Either way, this grudge is officially noted!"
"Yes, yes. My bad, Lady Queen of Holding Grudges," Song Lan teased. "But now that we've cleared that up, let's move on to business. What do you think about today's matchmaking meeting?"
"...Wait, matchmaking?!"
Eula had already been pretty mad at Song Lan, but hearing that completely threw her off.
"Hold on... matchmaking?!" Amber echoed, looking just as shocked.
"Wait, you didn't know?" Song Lan blinked. "Gramps An and Tianxu are super close. Gramps even saved his life once. So the two families agreed on a marriage pact ages ago."
"No wonder that old man was acting all weird and vague when he sent us here!" Eula growled. "Damn it—another grudge! I'm writing that one down too!"
"Well, let's put the marriage thing aside for now," Song Lan said, waving it off. "Anyway, what brings you two to Mondstadt? Business or trouble?"
Eula took a deep breath, setting her anger aside—for the moment.
"Actually... we're here to ask for your help."
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