One was named Zhongli, one of Hu Tao's consultants at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and he seemed to have a very good relationship with Hu Tao.
The other introduced herself as Granny Ping. She looked like an ordinary old woman, but upon closer inspection, she didn't seem so simple.
Stelle politely greeted both of them.
He felt that not only did he find something off about the two of them, but they also seemed to have noticed something a bit off about him.
"This young friend seems to have a good relationship with the Director." Zhongli slowly began to speak. He glanced at Hu Tao and Stelle's hands, which were still held together and hadn't let go.
"Ah, um, Hu Tao has helped us a lot..." Stelle then realized that Hu Tao was still holding his hand. He tried to pull away slightly, but couldn't free his hand from Hu Tao's grip.
He hadn't known Hu Tao for long, but she was very enthusiastic and had given them a lot of help.
Of course, part of it might be due to his constitution, but no matter what, he was very grateful to Hu Tao.
"Of course! Stelle is my best friend!" Hu Tao tightened her grip on Stelle's hand and said with a smile to Zhongli.
"Best, best friend..." Stelle had thought Hu Tao would tell Zhongli that he was a new employee at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Although the term 'best friend' wasn't a particularly rare distinction for Hu Tao, both Qiqi and the earlier Da Mi and Er Mi had received this honor from Hu Tao.
But even though they were all 'best friends,' the meanings they represented seemed to be subtly different.
It just depended on how Hu Tao chose to define the term.
"I see." Zhongli nodded and scrutinized Stelle again.
This made Stelle inexplicably nervous, as if he had been brought by his girlfriend to meet her parents.
"This young lady is truly pretty. Come, come, you two, please sit." Granny Ping smiled and motioned for the two to sit down, then somehow produced two chairs and poured them each a cup of hot tea.
Stelle and Hu Tao then sat down, and their clasped hands finally separated.
"Director, why do you have time to come to Yujing Terrace today?" Zhongli picked up his teacup and blew on it, but then put it down again.
"Of course, I'm bringing my best friend to explore Liyue. She's new here and not familiar with the place yet." Hu Tao explained.
"Oh? Is this your first time in Liyue, young friend?" Zhongli looked at Stelle.
"Um, yes, yes, I'm here to see the Please Immortal Ceremony." Stelle nodded, feeling inexplicably nervous facing Zhongli.
"Here to see the Please Immortal Ceremony, huh..." Granny Ping nodded, her eyes seeming to change, though Stelle didn't notice.
Indeed, many foreigners were interested in the Please Immortal Ceremony, but those people wouldn't come so early. Perhaps this Damselette had another reason.
"But I came too early, so for now, I can only work part-time at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to support myself..." Stelle scratched his head, saying a little awkwardly.
"That's right, that's right! Now Stelle is also a temporary employee of our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the kind who works for free for two months." Hu Tao said with a smile.
"Working at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, huh..." Zhongli stroked his chin.
Working at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor probably meant there wasn't much work at all.
Although Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was Liyue's largest funeral institution, basically the first choice for Liyue people to handle funerals.
But funerals didn't happen every day; it was even possible to not have business for half a year.
For two months, perhaps the only work would be to accompany the Director in playing...
"Speaking of which, Zhongli, you'll have to take good care of our Stelle then. You know so much, she'll definitely learn well." Hu Tao said to Zhongli, even giving Stelle a strange nickname.
"Pfft, Stelle?" Stelle almost spat out the tea he was drinking. It was the first time he had heard anyone call him that.
"It's a nickname, I just came up with it."
Hu Tao's thoughts were always very sporadic, like her previous categorization of customers.
Stelle only found out later that it was also an idea Hu Tao had on a whim; Wangsheng Funeral Parlor had never actually defined Adventurers as 'Peach' level customers.
"Then should I also call you Taobao... Uh, I just feel like that's weird." Stelle raised his eyebrows.
It felt like calling a platform's name, a bit unaccustomed.
Indeed, it was better to continue calling her Hu Tao...
"Heh, Director, rest assured, I will do my utmost." Zhongli chuckled softly and nodded.
As a consultant, his duty was to lecture the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's ritual masters and improve their cultivation.
However, he felt that there wouldn't be much time to teach this Damselette in the future.
--
The two didn't stay with Zhongli and Granny Ping for too long. They simply rested their feet, freeloaded two cups of tea, and then quickly left.
Granny Ping and Zhongli watched the two slowly depart.
"Do you think, that Damselette..." Granny Ping didn't finish her sentence, but Zhongli understood what she wanted to say.
"No matter. Although dangerous, there is no harm." Zhongli shook his head and said slowly.
An outsider, with a strange and terrifying energy within him—Zhongli could see all of this.
He seemed to be an unstable factor, but since the heavens had shown no indication, they didn't need to be overly anxious.
In fact, in the future, this Damselette might even become their aid.
"It seems that girl Hu Tao is very fond of him." Granny Ping smiled slightly. She, too, didn't believe that Damselette was a threat to Liyue.
In fact, that Damselette even gave her an inexplicable sense of familiarity, which she liked very much.
"That's right, while the Hu Tao has always been casual about making friends, she never makes bad ones." Zhongli was quite confident in this aspect; none of the people close to Hu Tao, such as Xingqiu, Chongyun, and Xiangling, were bad kids.
Hu Tao herself was well aware of this, so she felt very at ease about that Damselette.
"It's just a pity that the Please Immortal Ceremony she wants to see will disappoint her," Granny Ping sighed, turning to look at Zhongli.
She could understand Zhongli's thoughts, but she was worried about how this matter would unfold.
Although she had lived in Liyue Harbor for countless years and had a deep understanding of the people of Liyue, she still felt concerned about what needed to be worried about.
"Hmm… but the Rite of Parting should not disappoint her." Zhongli pondered for a long time before slowly speaking.
"You really are…" Granny Ping chuckled twice, not knowing what else to say.
Who sends themselves off?
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