"Su Bai, Su Bai! Don't stay cooped up at home. Come with me and help sell some packages!"
Hu Tao pushed open Su Bai's door and tried to drag him out. Ever since that dinner gathering, Su Bai had been locking himself in his room, tinkering with strange things.
"Hey, hey, Su Bai. Why aren't you saying anything? Did you lose your mind?"
Su Bai was led downstairs with a vacant stare. Hu Tao waved her hand in front of his face, but he didn't react. That scared her. What if he really had lost it from staying in his room too long?
She needed to go get Baizhu. If something happened to Su Bai, Sister Shenhe would tear her apart. Remembering the look Shenhe gave when Su Bai scraped himself while asking Zhongli about Geo control, Hu Tao quickened her pace.
"Oww."
In her haste, Hu Tao ran straight into Keqing at the entrance. Books scattered everywhere.
Hu Tao rubbed her head and helped Keqing up. The commotion finally snapped Su Bai out of his thoughts. Finding himself out of his room, he looked surprised.
"How did I get here? Was I sleepwalking?"
"Su Bai, you're back?"
"Back from what? I was just practicing Geo control by trapping myself in my own illusion."
Hu Tao finally understood. No wonder he looked blank. But that trick was pretty convenient.
"So, Keqing, are you here for business?"
"No, I just came to drop off some books for Su Bai. Since when are you interested in alchemy? Alchemy books are pretty rare in Liyue."
Hu Tao flipped through one of the books, but the jargon just made her head spin. Keqing collected them, straightened them out, and handed them to Su Bai.
"Not really interested, I guess. I just have an idea."
Su Bai skimmed one of the books casually. Couldn't understand a thing. He tucked them into his Vision's subspace without letting on. Professional matters needed professional help. If he remembered right, Sucrose, who he'd briefly met, was an alchemist.
"I'll be going now."
Keqing wanted to chat with Hu Tao and Su Bai, but the Geovishap Corps had just been established, and there was still much to handle.
Those Geovishaps following Azhdaha's orders had been absorbed into the Millelith. Ningguang had even picked elite soldiers to form the Geovishap Corps. But she was busy with Liyue Harbor's affairs, so Keqing was in charge for now.
"I never thought Keqing would visit without asking for fines. What a surprise."
Watching Keqing leave, Hu Tao felt relieved. Keqing usually came either to collect fines or demand Mora for merchants—from Zhongli's spending, of course. Bills piled up, and occasionally one slipped through.
"Director Hu, I'm glad you're here. Saves me the trouble."
"I ran into the Yuheng at the intersection. She said she forgot to mention you need to go pay the fine for posting flyers everywhere. If I saw you, I was supposed to remind you."
"Seriously? I just put up a few flyers near Yujing Terrace. That's nothing, right?"
Zhongli walked in and delivered Keqing's message. Su Bai watched Hu Tao's indignant expression and guessed the real reason.
"Director Hu, I heard this morning that some of Wangsheng's flyers ended up on the Tianquan's office window. That might be the real issue."
"Ningguang's office? She lives in the Jade Chamber... oh, right, it's gone. No wonder that empty room at Yujing Terrace is her office now."
Hu Tao slapped her head. Now it all made sense. But Ningguang was being petty. They had eaten together just days ago, and now she was fining her.
"Probably not Ningguang's idea. She wouldn't offend Wangsheng over something this small. It was probably the nobles at Yujing Terrace."
Su Bai never doubted Ningguang's intelligence network. With all the strong people at Wangsheng now, he doubted she'd risk upsetting them over a few Mora.
Zhongli didn't care either way. As long as someone else paid, Mora wasn't a concern. What caught his interest was the alchemy book in Hu Tao's hand. Since when had she taken an interest in alchemy?
"Sister Hu Tao, can Klee see that book?"
"Ah, Klee, you're awake! Here you go."
Hu Tao rubbed Klee's chubby cheeks and handed the book over. Zhongli's eye twitched. If he remembered right, Klee's mother Alice had used alchemy to bring her wild ideas to life.
"Hmm, Klee has seen this book on Brother Albedo's shelf! Brother Albedo said Uncle Timaeus would be able to read it in three years."
"But Klee remembers Sister Sucrose could already read it a long time ago. Weird."
Klee recognized the cover immediately. She clearly remembered Brother Albedo telling Uncle Timaeus he'd understand it in three years. Timaeus got so excited he almost overturned the alchemy bench, earning a lecture from Albedo.
"Albedo? Is Albedo that big brother who takes care of you?"
"Yes! Brother Albedo is a really skilled alchemist and Sister Sucrose's teacher. He's amazing."
Su Bai's eyes lit up. This Albedo person sounded impressive. As Sucrose's teacher, he should be able to help with what Su Bai had in mind.
Just as he was about to ask Klee more about Albedo, Lumine and Paimon burst in, excited after finishing their morning commissions.
"Su Bai, are you here? Want to come to Dragonspine with us? The Adventurers' Guild is holding an event there with great prizes."
"Dragonspine? An event?"
Su Bai thought it over. He needed to go to Mondstadt to seek Albedo's help anyway. If it was on the way, a trip to Dragonspine wouldn't hurt. He could even bring Shenhe along to enjoy the snow.
"Dragonspine! Klee wants to go too! Brother Albedo loves staying on Dragonspine. Maybe Klee can see him there!"
"Please say yes, Brother Su Bai! Please, please!"