Yanshang Teahouse.
Yelan was listening to a report from one of her agents.
"You're saying Childe suddenly returned tonight?"
"Yes."
"Did the city gates log anything?"
"No."
"The harbor?"
"Nothing either."
"Then how did he get into the city?"
"…We don't know, Lady Yelan. It's like he just appeared in front of the Northland Bank out of thin air."
Yelan frowned in thought.
A Fatui Harbinger slipping into Liyue completely undetected—this was no small matter.
She recalled what Mr. Xia had told her during their massage.
So something had happened tonight, just as he'd said.
But he had also said it would be a good thing…
She asked again, "What happened next?"
"About thirty minutes later, Childe left the bank and disappeared again."
"So you have no idea where he went?"
"That's correct…"
"Anything else?"
"Well…"
The agent suddenly looked hesitant.
Yelan raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
"There's something else… related to Mr. Xia…"
"Oh?"
Yelan perked up immediately.
"What about him?"
"Not long before Childe appeared, Mr. Xia left the shop with Miss Xia Zhen. They were heading in the direction of the Northland Bank."
"And?"
"After Childe vanished, Mr. Xia and Miss Xia Zhen came out of a shop nearby and returned to the Summer Shop."
"So you're saying… he was in a shop the whole time?"
"Presumably."
"Presumably?"
"Lady Yelan, per your instructions, none of us are allowed to gather intel on Mr. Xia without your direct approval. So we didn't observe him deliberately—just happened to notice it while tracking Childe."
"...Understood. You're dismissed. Keep watching the bank."
"Yes, Lady Yelan."
The agent left.
Yelan sat quietly, piecing the events together.
Mr. Xia and Childe...
The timing felt… suspiciously convenient.
The next day—
Andrei, the Northland Bank's manager, went and opened an account at the Liyue Bank.
Both Yelan and Ningguang received the report and had very different reactions.
The event caused quite a stir in Liyue. Even customers visiting the Summer Shop were chatting about it with enthusiasm.
Xia Zhi stood behind the counter, listening with a pleasant smile.
In truth, last night's visit to the Northland Bank hadn't just been about the Liyue Bank situation.
The real reason had to do with the Abyssal Residue.
That strange dream had left him suspicious that Childe might be connected to the Abyss. Not to mention his mysterious swordmaster mentor.
With no Harbinger currently stationed at the bank, Xia Zhi had taken the opportunity to break into Childe's office and see if he could dig up anything useful.
It also served as a field test for the synergy between the [Temporary Certificate] and the [Hypnosis] trait.
But truth be told, the biggest reason—just like he told his cousin—was that he'd gone out looking for fun.
He placed two freshly mixed juices onto a tray and handed it to Qiqi to serve, deep in thought.
Word was, Signora had died in Inazuma, and the seat was still vacant.
Oh right, there was also someone in the Fatui called [The Doctor]. Maybe he could try being a [Master's Degree Holder]...
Sigh. His cousin's influence was definitely turning him into a full-time goofball.
That evening, both Ningguang and Yelan stopped by together.
Xia Zhi gave Ningguang a massage.
"Miss Ningguang."
"Mm?"
"There's something I should mention."
"Please go ahead, Mr. Xia."
"You know I dabble in divination."
"Yes."
"Last night, hearing how troubled you were about the Northland Bank, I tried a quick reading."
"That was very thoughtful of you."
"The signs pointed toward a solution in a certain direction, so I took a walk that way in the evening."
"Oh, that explains what Yelan told me…"
"What did Miss Yelan say?"
"Oh, nothing much. Just that while she was monitoring the Northland Bank last night, she thought she saw you inside a certain shop."
"Oh, that."
"And then?"
"And then I picked up something strange."
"Strange?"
"I had my cousin take a look. Seems like they're two lists of some kind. But I'm blind, and she's from out of town. We couldn't make much sense of it, so I figured it was best to show you."
"Oh? Let me take a look."
Xia Zhi walked over and retrieved the two copied lists from the cabinet—ones he'd transcribed the night before in the bank's office.
He handed them to Ningguang.
She opened them and began reading. Her expression gradually turned serious.
As a Calligraphy Master, Xia Zhi had intentionally changed his handwriting when copying the lists, so Ningguang didn't suspect anything.
After a while, she looked up.
"These lists appear to name people who've been bribed by the Fatui. They're definitely useful to us."
"Possibly. But I did just pick them up on the street. Best if you double-check their authenticity—wouldn't want to wrong anyone."
"I trust your divination, Mr. Xia."
"Well…"
"But you're right. Just to be safe, I'll hand these over to Yelan and have her investigate the names discreetly."
"That's for the best."
"Once again, you've helped me a great deal."
"It was no trouble at all, Miss Ningguang. Think nothing of it."
"I'll be sure to remember these favors."
"Favors, huh…"
"Something the matter, Mr. Xia?"
"No, nothing."
Later, once Yelan had finished her massage, she and Ningguang soaked in the bath together.
Ningguang handed her the two lists and explained where they'd come from.
Yelan's face turned amusingly unreadable.
"Picked them up on the street," huh?
More like stolen by my husband.
---
In the main hall.
Xia Zhen lowered her head slightly, listening to the voice of her best friend drifting from the back room.
"Guoba, have you ever had a massage before?"
"Wuu."
"Why not?"
"Wuu?"
"Let me tell you a secret—massages can restore divine power."
"Wuu!"
"But your whole body's covered in fur... probably not that great for essential oils."
"Wuuu…"
Xia Zhen chatted with Guoba for a bit.
Once the voices inside went quiet, she got up and walked into the back.
"Cousin."
"Mm?"
"I want a massage too."
"Then lie down."
"Oh."
"Over here. Lie down."
"I want the same massage Xia Ci got!"
"Got it."
And that was that.
If there was anything else to add, it'd be that her cousin's figure was still just as stunning as the first time they met.
---
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