"Ah, it's been a while since we last met at Bubu Pharmacy. I've been searching for you everywhere!"
Childe's expression was friendly as he strode over to Bai Luo, as if afraid Bai Luo would disappear if he were even a step slower.
But that wasn't enough for him. He then firmly wrapped his arm around Bai Luo's neck, a faint fishy smell wafting from him.
To intercept Bai Luo, he hadn't even changed his clothes and had rushed over immediately.
"Can't help it. I offended an adeptus and had to hide in the mountains to avoid trouble."
Holding his red plum-patterned umbrella, Bai Luo spoke as if it were a matter of course. In a sense, he really had offended an adeptus—and not just any adeptus, but one who was particularly troublesome and prone to jumping into fights.
"An adeptus? Which one?"
Childe had done some research on Liyue and was naturally aware of some of the adepti, though he hadn't had the chance to interact with them yet.
Mostly because these adepti were elusive, hiding deep in the mountains. Even if he wanted to fight them, he often found himself thwarted by strange barriers and ended up being driven away like a common mortal seeking immortality.
Do I, Childe, really look that ordinary?
"Every single one."
"???"
Childe was initially surprised, but then he thought about Bai Luo's mischievous personality and realized it was entirely possible. In fact, if Bai Luo hadn't offended any adepti, he wouldn't be the "Instructor" he was known as.
"Please don't tell me you've also offended Morax."
Thinking about Bai Luo's personality, Childe considered another possibility and joked about it.
But then he noticed Bai Luo's expression change.
"You haven't offended Morax... right?"
Damn it! I haven't even started my plans in Liyue yet! Don't mess things up! And... why haven't I met Morax yet when I arrived here before you? I was here first!
"Let's not talk about that for now. I came back to Liyue to eat, but I haven't had a single warm meal yet, so..."
Indeed, Bai Luo had originally planned to grab a bite to eat, but at the teahouse, he only had some fruit. Then he followed the Geo Archon to the seaside and got a mouthful of sea breeze. Now he was still starving.
Actually, whether he was hungry or not didn't matter anymore. He just wanted to eat something flavorful—anything would do.
Now, smelling the fishy scent on Childe, he was tempted to start a fire and roast him on the spot.
He suddenly remembered the koi pond at Bubu Pharmacy.
So tempting.
"Let's go to Xinyue Kiosk. The food there is pretty good."
Childe didn't mind. As long as Bai Luo didn't run off, anywhere was fine.
A few minutes later, the two of them, along with a large group of Fatui agents, arrived at Xinyue Kiosk and secured a private room.
The Fatui subordinates waited outside, and only a few of Childe's trusted aides were inside the room.
However, these aides didn't dare to sit down. They just watched nervously as the two ordered a table full of dishes, wondering if they could actually finish all of it.
They had been to Xinyue Kiosk before. After all, as Childe's trusted aides, many merchants tried to curry favor with them, so they knew the value of this table of food.
This table alone... could buy a decent house in Liyue Harbor for an entire family from Qingce Village.
"Gentlemen, the dishes are all served. May I ask..."
"He's paying!"
"The Instructor's paying!"
Both of them pointed at each other almost instantly, but Bai Luo played a trick by only saying "he" without mentioning Childe's name.
This allowed him to say it faster than Childe.
"Bai Luo! Haven't you spent enough money under my name these past few days?! That red-clad Inazuman was you, wasn't it?"
When it came to this, Childe still looked like he was grinding his teeth.
Recently, bills from all over Liyue had been sent to the Northland Bank, and the lady in charge of finances had been giving him strange looks.
The main issue is that little peach fragrance from the Scent of Spring—those who know, understand that it's a type of spice, but those who don't... well, they're bound to get the wrong idea.
Especially when many ladies looked at him with eyes that said, "You could have had your way with me, so why would you go to a place like that?" Childe felt like his reputation had been completely ruined by Bai Luo.
He had to take responsibility! He absolutely had to make this guy take responsibility!
"Well... I guess it was me."
Bai Luo had to admit he'd been careless, but this identity didn't need to be hidden from people outside of Inazuma. It seemed fine to reveal it appropriately within the Fatui.
As long as Childe didn't screw him over.
"Then it's settled! Today, you're paying! You must pay! Miss, please make sure to put this on the Instructor's tab!"
"Hold on, that's not fair. This is Liyue, and you're the Fatui's envoy in charge of Liyue. I'm just visiting your territory, so this should go on Childe's tab!"
"No, no, no. You're of Liyue origin, born and raised here. I'm the one visiting your territory, so this should definitely go on the Instructor's tab!"
"You're the 11th Harbinger, a senior. You should take care of your junior. Put it on Childe's tab."
"You're the junior, so you should show respect to your senior. Put it on the Instructor's tab."
"You're the one who suggested Xinyue Kiosk, so you should pay. Miss, put it on Childe's tab."
"You stepped into Xinyue Kiosk with your left foot first, so you must pay. Dear miss, put it on the Instructor's tab."
"..."
Watching the two of them bicker without backing down, the waitress who had served the dishes timidly said, "Um... I'm just here to serve the dishes. I don't handle the billing. And... no matter who pays, won't the bill just be sent to the Northland Bank anyway?"
Bai Luo: "..."
Childe: "..."
Oh right. No matter who was responsible for paying, the bill would ultimately be covered by the Northland Bank. Their argument seemed a bit...
"How about we put it on La Signora's tab?"
After a moment, Bai Luo tentatively proposed a new idea.
Although La Signora appeared cold and aloof, she was actually a decent person, especially toward her own people. When Bai Luo was officially appointed, she was one of the few who had smiled at him.
But hers was just a polite smile.
The others either wanted to beat him up, dissect him, or simply gave professional fake smiles.
"Is that... really okay?"
Childe didn't like La Signora, so he wasn't keen on involving her in this way.
"Since it's all going to the Northland Bank anyway, why don't we just put it on the Tsaritsa's tab?"
"..."
Damn, that's so like you!
Childe's hand twitched, and he suddenly felt that Bai Luo's previous suggestion wasn't so bad. After some discussion, the two quickly settled on the lucky person who would foot the bill.
La Signora.