Liyue Harbor — Yuehai Pavilion.
Ganyu crouched down, clutching the horns on her head, trembling miserably.
To be fair, she really had nothing to do with coconuts!
She was of Qilin blood, not some coconut-milk-producing "Cocogoat"!
[Paimon]:Wait, Miss Ganyu is actually a Qilin? (Paimon·shocked)
[Paimon]:My apologies for the misunderstanding! (Thoma·kneeling)
[Zhongli]:So what little Qiqi meant by "coconut milk"… was literally coconut milk? (Zhongli·black lines)
No one had to speculate further — the video made it abundantly clear.
Gu Chen and Zhongli exchanged a long, silent look.
At the same time, Baizhu appeared in the doorway, laughing heartily.
[Baizhu]:Well, that turned out to be quite the lesson in life! @[Qiqi] I'm on my way back to Bubu Pharmacy now. Wait for me, I'll take you to buy some coconut milk myself.
[Qiqi]:Okay. (Sucrose·obedient)
[Dehya]:What a coincidence! I'm in the marketplace right now — want some Sumeru coconut milk? I'll send everyone some to try!
[Dehya sent a red envelope.]
[Gu Chen grabbed 3 bottles of coconut milk.]
[Qiqi grabbed 3 bottles of coconut milk.]
[Gu Chen sent an exclusive red envelope.]
[Qiqi received the exclusive red envelope.]
[Qiqi]:Thank you. (Sucrose·polite)
[Paimon]:Wait—how did you grab it so fast?! Don't tell me I'm the only one who didn't get any?! (Qiqi·falls over)
[Lumine]:I got two. I'll share one with you.
[Gu Chen]:I'm just… built differently. (pro gamer)
[Klee]:Dehya's the best big sister~! (Klee·yay)
[Yanfei]:Hold up, I think I just spotted a scammer!
In the video—
"Of course I have Everlasting Incense," said Baizhu with a calm smile. "Three million Mora. Premium quality."
"Three million?!"
"You might as well rob the Golden House while you're at it!"
Both Lumine and Paimon were stunned, and even Gu Chen's usually steady face twitched slightly.
"Hmm… three million," Zhongli murmured. "At first glance, not much. But by general reason, that is… somewhat difficult."
"There's no way we can pay that! Not even you, right, Mr. Zhongli?" Paimon spread her hands helplessly.
"Indeed," Zhongli admitted without hesitation.
"Then let's find a sucker to pay for it," Gu Chen said casually.
"A sucker? You mean Tartaglia?" Paimon blinked, then nodded slowly. "...Actually, that fits perfectly."
Lumine nodded in full agreement.
[Tartaglia]:Excuse me?! Gu Chen, how is that something a friend says?! (Keqing·pouting)
[Tartaglia]:You spend my Mora and still call me a sucker?! I've never known such betrayal! (crying)
[Gu Chen]:Relax—there's a first time for everything! (smirk)
[Tartaglia]:The pain! It hurts so much!
[Kaeya]:Given you're with Fatui and you started by setting Gu Chen up, being called a sucker is merciful. (grinning)
[Paimon]:@[Tartaglia] When we reach Liyue, could you… be our wallet? Please? (Xiangling·sparkly eyes)
[Tartaglia]:I'm tired. I'll never love again. (Raiden Ei·depressed)
[Paimon]:You know, Tartaglia's actually… kinda nice. Just a little bit though!
In the video, Tartaglia showed up just in time to pay.
After hearing the situation, he laughed heartily, covered the cost without hesitation, and even promised that the Fatui would establish a fast coconut milk supply line for Bubu Pharmacy.
[Tartaglia]:Haha! If you ever need help, the Fatui can handle logistics in real life too!
[Baizhu]:Thank you for the offer, but I'll handle things myself once I finish my current work.
[Tartaglia]:Haha, looks like Mr. Baizhu still doesn't trust Fatui, huh? But as you can see, we haven't actually done anything bad in this story!
In the video, however, Tartaglia hadn't gone far.
From his hidden agents, he learned what was really happening in the Golden House — and aside from concealing the remains of the Geo Archon's mortal vessel, what else could it be?
He immediately turned and headed straight for the Golden House.
It was clear now: everything had been part of his plan all along.
[Keqing]:@[Tartaglia] How do you explain this then?
[Heizou]:At this point, Fatui became much more suspicious. Based on the evidence, I'd say Tartaglia's goal in his past life was the Gnosis. Approaching the Archon's mortal shell would be the perfect cover to seek it out. The picture's starting to come together.
[Heizou]:Still, the exact role Fatui played in the Archon's fall remains unclear. The truth behind the Geo Archon's "death" is yet to be revealed!
[Tartaglia]:Anyway—it wasn't us! Definitely not!
[Azhdaha]:I hope it was me!
[Ganyu]:Senior Azhdaha, please don't be so eager to take the blame... (facepalm)
[Paimon]:Forget that for now—wait, Zhongli's treating everyone?!
"As payment for your help with the Rite of Parting preparations," Zhongli said, "I shall treat you all to a meal."
"Zhongli... is treating us?" Paimon blinked.
"Oh my," Lumine was equally stunned.
Gu Chen eyed him up and down and asked the most crucial question of all:
"Did you… bring money this time?"
"Hmm?" Zhongli paused, then chuckled. "Rest assured. I've remembered to bring Mora this time."
[Hu Tao]:Incredible! Our guest consultant actually remembered to bring money!
[Keqing]:One can clearly sense Mr. Zhongli's progress. Truly admirable!
[Zhongli]:...I will do my best to continue remembering.
In the video, Zhongli indeed hosted the meal.
As they ate, a storyteller named Tian Tiezui spoke about the current Tianquan Star, piquing everyone's curiosity.
Then, a soft, graceful voice interrupted—
"I've finally found you, traveler from Jueyun Karst."
They looked up.
Ganyu stood poised on the rooftop.
Gu Chen tilted his head slightly, glancing up—then quickly looked away.
He murmured, "Not a bad angle, though."
[Ganyu]:!
[Lumine]:Unfair! Why didn't we get to see Gu Chen's first-person view?!
[Paimon]:Lumine! What are you even thinking?! (Paimon·shocked)
[Gu Chen]:Send me 50 Mora and I'll tell you what I saw.
[Lumine]:Really?!
[Keqing]:Gu Chen's clearly teasing you. He looked away immediately in the video—he's not that kind of man.
[Lumine]:Good thing you said that fast… I almost DMed him!
In the video, Ganyu blushed slightly as she landed gracefully before them.
"Please don't be alarmed," she said quickly. "I'm not with Millelith, nor am I here to arrest you. I am Ganyu, emissary of the Liyue Qixing, and I come at Lady Ningguang's behest."
"Lady Ningguang has issued an official invitation in her capacity as the Tianquan Star," she explained, holding out a sealed letter. "She wishes to meet you at her skyborne palace—the Jade Chamber."
"She said, and I quote: Bring him to me. I will personally cut, one by one, the tangled threads that bind the undercurrents beneath Liyue Harbor."
Gu Chen looked up at the floating palace, then back at Ganyu.
"So… how do we get up there?" he asked calmly.
—Zhongli's rerun banner is live!
And look—he even brought Keqing as a trial character this time! That's the kind of prestige only the Lord of Geo himself could command.
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