[Genshin Impact] A world where only travelers are alone.

Chapter 75 Rain

Mingxun was afraid of dying.

In this era where human life is cheap, she witnessed the deaths of her relatives and friends time and time again, not only because of the demon war, but also because of other human beings.

Sometimes they were killed by burly men who came to demand food because they couldn't afford anything at home; sometimes they were pushed out to be a shield by kind-hearted but unfortunate people who took them in...

To die so easily, to die so ridiculously.

At that time, Mingxun was still a very young child. Children of this age are often the first to be abandoned when they encounter danger, but Mingxun still survived to the end because her parents and relatives left the hope of life to her.

Mingxun's attitude towards cowardly, good-natured people who don't know how to resist is always complicated. She loves them without a doubt, but she also laughs at them and vows that she will never become like them.

She didn't want to be the one to be slaughtered, not just among humans.

It's laughable that an ant could try to shake a tree, but fate played a cruel joke on her, presenting her with an opportunity.

Mingxun found a child.

He had amber eyes and jet-black hair, and was clean and tidy, completely unlike someone from this era.

Before making contact with him, Mingxun had observed him from a distance for a long time. When no one was around, the child was not at all like this harmless child. The dragon horns on his forehead and the heavy dragon tail trailing behind him all highlighted his special nature.

Was it a demon god or some other species she had never seen before?

Mingxun wasn't sure, but she decided to seize this opportunity that had come her way and take the risk. If she handled it properly, he might become a stepping stone to realize her ambitions.

So the girl put on a sorrowful expression, shedding a few crocodile tears, as if pitying a poor child wandering alone in the woods without any relatives, ignoring the bloodied prey beside him, and went forward to hug him.

She won her bet.

Although she didn't know why this cold-eyed guy agreed to go back to the tribe with her, it didn't matter; she would always find a way to soften him up.

Mingxun has this confidence.

*

Because of the friendship between Hu Tao and Xiang Ling, most of the employees of Wang Sheng Tang prefer to dine at Wan Min Tang, and Zhong Li is no exception.

During the time Mingxun was helping out at Wanmintang, she saw him almost every day, but she never dared to strike up a conversation. Instead, she would occasionally wander around in front of him.

With other people around, it's really not a good time to try and get closer to them.

The lively Hu Tao took the lead in speaking almost all the time, and Zhong Li was happy to remain silent and sit quietly beside her when she was present.

Therefore, Mingxun used the Mora he had earned at Wanmintang a few days ago to ask for outside help, and arranged a farce to ask someone to seek help from Wangshengtang, which finally got Hutao away.

The relationship between Mora and Morax is very close. Even though most of the Mora are now forged by the Golden House under the jurisdiction of the Seven Stars, Mingxun was still unwilling to take the risk of carrying them with him. It's just as good that he has spent them now.

While carrying the dishes, Mingxun couldn't help but steal a glance in Zhongli's direction.

The man was sitting there quietly enjoying his breakfast, his eyes slightly lowered, the rosy cheeks at the corners of his eyes captivating.

Mingxun was in a daze until her fingernails dug into her palm, and the sharp, stinging pain finally brought her back to her senses.

However, before she could figure out what to do next, Xiangling, who always took good care of her, had already noticed this scene and playfully nudged her shoulder: "You've been watching Mr. Zhongli for quite a while now~"

Mingxun pursed her lips and smiled shyly: "I'm sorry, perhaps it's because you've been sitting there for a long time that I was just a little curious."

As she spoke, she turned to go back to the kitchen, seemingly worried that her lazy behavior would displease Xiangling.

Then the latter stopped her, winking at her understandingly: "It's okay, it's getting late, most of the customers have already left, it's nice to slack off a little now and then."

She smiled slyly, set the plate down, and pulled her to sit down for a chat: "Mr. Zhongli is famously handsome. Many wealthy young ladies like to find excuses to visit the ancestral hall and catch a glimpse of him!"

"A rich... young lady?" Mingxun asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, yeah." Xiangling glanced furtively at the girl sitting there motionless, then whispered gossip in her ear, "Because Mr. Zhongli always goes out without money, many young ladies hope to get close to him by paying for him!"

Mingxun was still a little confused: "Doesn't Mr. Zhongli dine at Wangsheng Hall every day? Couldn't he have chosen this time to try and get closer to him?"

"Well—" Xiangling scratched her head, "Actually, Mr. Zhongli never used to sit and eat in the Hall of Rebirth, and sometimes he wouldn't even show his face, only asking Hu Tao to take the food back for him. Hu Tao said it was because Mr. Zhongli was lazy, but I think it was because he was worried about causing us trouble..."

Too many unwanted suitors will not only cause trouble for the person involved, but also for those around them.

It's not surprising that Zhong Li made this choice to avoid her suitors affecting other guests' dining at Wanmintang. Even now, she only sits there for a while during the quieter breakfast hours when there are fewer people.

"Sir... is a kind person." Mingxun said casually, as if remembering something.

Xiangling nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, so you mustn't be shy. If you're really interested in Mr. Zhongli, you can't hesitate! Just look boldly!"

The topic suddenly circled back to the beginning, and Mingxun almost couldn't contain her expression, looking completely bewildered.

However, Xiangling on the other side hadn't finished speaking: "Being so reserved won't do, after all, Mr. Zhongli is a rare and sought-after commodity! Just like—just like the giant octopus that Big Sister Beidou brought back from her sea voyage, it's hard to get!"

She had little experience in matters of love and romance, so she could only use the analogy of rare ingredients that she had to fight desperately to obtain. Although it sounded a bit funny, it was very easy to understand.

Xiangling thought the analogy was quite apt and nodded to herself, "So Xunming, you'd better hurry up! Why don't you go and talk to Mr. Zhongli now? Anyway, there's nothing else to do right now, so consider this me granting you leave!"

Mingxun: Huh!?

She was shocked by Xiangling's "reasonable and well-founded" words. Before she could react, she was pushed towards Zhongli by a helpful guy.

The commotion was quite loud. In any case, by the time she regained her footing with a blank expression, Zhong Li on the other end had already looked up at her.

With things having progressed to this point, Mingxun could no longer back down.

Moreover, she believed that Zhongli's hearing was sharp enough to have overheard Xiangling's previous discussion with him, and perhaps now was a good opportunity to use Xiangling as a cover to openly seduce him.

A dark glint flashed in Mingxun's eyes, but she maintained a timid expression, nervously touching her arm and softly calling out, "Sir..."

Zhongli had probably finished breakfast, and at this moment, she casually placed the soup bowl in her hand on the table, gracefully wiping away the little bit of glistening liquid that clung to her lips.

After finishing all that, he replied casually, "Is there anything I can help you with, Miss Xun Ming?"

To be honest, such an attitude was somewhat cold to Zhongli, who was always gentle and polite to others, but this special attitude, which was completely different from that of ordinary people, was enough to make Mingxun feel satisfied.

She used so much power to construct those dreams, wasn't it all so that Zhongli could remember their past?

She believes she once held an important place in Morax's life; if described using terms from popular novels today, she would probably be considered a "white moonlight" figure.

But at this moment, she is playing a person who, after the death of her beloved Bai Yueguang, reappears in front of Zhongli and has the same appearance and similar personality as Bai Yueguang.

Mingxun kept this disguise very well, and she firmly believed that her fake death back then was very successful. Zhongli would not easily associate them with a relationship, and would only think that they were two different individuals.

However, the difference between a perfect image and a similar product cannot be explained in a single sentence.

Then—please look for the shadow of "me" in me, please cherish "me" again, and love "me" once more.

*

The rain outside started suddenly and heavily, splashing onto the bluestone pavement and spreading out in a dark color. The street, which was already somewhat deserted because it was still early, was now even more desolate.

But right now, no one is paying attention to what's happening outside.

Zhongli watched as her lips parted, but the sound that came out was drowned out by the sudden rain outside, leaving only the last breath of her enunciation.

Perhaps due to the heavy humidity outside, the tapping of his fingertips on the table quickened imperceptibly, revealing a hint of his current irritation.

"What did Miss Xun Ming just say?" Zhong Li asked in a deep voice.

Mingxun's expression froze slightly. He opened his lips several times as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he swallowed his words back: "It's nothing, sir."

So his fingertips stopped, and Zhong Li suddenly stood up from his seat: "Since Miss Xun Ming has nothing to say, then I shall take my leave. The Hall Master is not here, and there are still matters waiting for me to handle in the Hall of Rebirth."

But as soon as he set off, Mingxun followed closely behind, holding an umbrella in her hand.

Zhongli doesn't have the ability to predict the future, nor does he have the habit of subconsciously carrying an umbrella when he goes out. Mingxun's actions clearly indicate that she intends to see him off.

He frowned: "No need..."

Mingxun, unusually bold, interrupted him: "Sir, please don't joke. Going back in the rain will make you sick. Besides, Miss Xiangling said that she's not busy right now, so I can leave for a while."

Having said all that, anyone who still refused the offered kindness and insisted on getting soaked in the rain would be considered foolish. Zhong Li had no reason to refuse and could only agree.

Perhaps because it was a rare opportunity to be alone with him, especially in the small space under the same umbrella, Mingxun's face was flushed, and her eyes were slightly evasive when she looked at him.

She was only up to Zhongli's shoulder, and when she held the umbrella, she tried her best to grip the lower part of the handle to avoid the umbrella hitting Zhongli's hair.

However, this posture was somewhat challenging for her strength, especially since the ribs of the paper umbrella were mostly made of bamboo, and their weight was not to be underestimated. Before long, Mingxun felt her arms were sore.

Before she could figure out how to subtly switch hands, the heavy umbrella was suddenly taken from her.

During the handover, the skin that her palms accidentally touched felt the warmth of another person, so hot that she was stunned and even forgot to refuse.

However, Zhong Li's act of taking the umbrella directly probably meant that he didn't intend to give her a chance to refuse.

The man's sigh eventually melted into the patter of the rain and the sound of their footsteps walking side by side.

(End of this chapter)

The author says: I am indeed writing, but I'm experiencing writer's block, writing only a few hundred words a day, and revising them repeatedly, which is why I haven't been able to publish it yet. Honey, you don't need to send me messages urging me to update; just leave a comment asking. QVQ

感谢在2024-03-25 00:00:20~2024-04-01 23:07:50期间为我投出霸王票或灌溉营养液的小天使哦~

Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: Lu Jiqi (2 landmine);

Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Lu Jiqi (11 bottles); Jiang Ge (3 bottles);

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!