"How about it? You think I'm scared you'll eat me out of house and home?"
Lin Mo chuckled. "Come on, Liuli Pavilion's right across the street—they should have space."
Whoosh~
A flurry of fireflies danced through the air.
In an instant, Hu Tao was at Lin Mo's side.
Lin Mo blinked, caught off guard.
Was she that hungry?
She'd even tapped into her Vision's power just to hurry over?
"Let's go, let's go~"
Hu Tao's plum-blossom eyes sparkled with anticipation as she urged him on.
It looked like she was genuinely excited for this dinner.
Well, truth be told, Hu Tao wasn't really looking forward to the meal.
What she craved was a chance to scrutinize Lin Mo up close—to spot any differences between this guy and the one from her dreams.
"Alright, let's head out."
Instinctively, Lin Mo raised his right arm.
He draped it over Hu Tao's shoulder, resting his hand there lightly.
The air...
went still in a way that felt almost unnaturally heavy.
The two of them locked eyes, wide and unblinking.
Just staring at each other's faces in silence.
Oh no...
Lin Mo's mind raced with alarm.
Hu Tao had been the love of his life in his previous assignment—the one who'd stayed by his side until his final breath.
In those last ten years, he'd been so frail he could barely move on his own.
Every labored step out of bed had come with Hu Tao at his right, steadying his shoulder.
Thanks to her care, he'd managed to shuffle beyond the confines of his room in his twilight years.
It sounded ancient history—"last life," "ages ago."
But in Lin Mo's senses, it had only been a little over a month since.
The mission had ended, and he'd woken up in Mondstadt, crossing paths with Klee.
Now, seeing Hu Tao right there beside him, just like in his memories...
Perfect distance.
Perfect angle.
He'd reacted on pure reflex, his hand finding her shoulder.
This is bad, this is really bad...
Can't play it off now, can I?
Lin Mo panicked inwardly.
"Why'd you put your hand on my shoulder?" Hu Tao asked, her face a blank slate—no hint of what churned beneath.
"Uh... well... in our free-spirited Mondstadt..."
"It's just a habit for close friends walking together—arm over the shoulder like this."
"It shows how tight you two are, you know?" Lin Mo fought through the awkwardness, spinning an excuse on the spot.
Anyway, his hand stayed right where it was on her shoulder.
"Oh? For real~?"
Doubt swam in Hu Tao's eyes, plain as day.
Lin Mo's explanation...
She couldn't poke a hole in it just yet.
After all, even in her dreams, she'd never mingled much with Mondstadters.
"Totally real—it's all about that bond of friendship!"
Lin Mo nodded firmly.
"So, do I need to do anything?"
Hu Tao tilted her head, all innocent curiosity. "Look at you—you're so tall. I can't even reach your shoulder~"
"Well... usually, the girl hooks her arm around the guy's waist!"
"Ow! Why'd you step on me~?"
Lin Mo yanked his hand back in a flash.
Hu Tao's little leather shoe packed a real sting!
"Don't think I don't see through you—you're just trying to take advantage of me!" Hu Tao shot back, her expression screaming busted.
She hadn't even considered any other angle.
After all, slinging an arm over a shoulder? That was his quirk, not hers.
"Uh... keep it down, will you? Don't want outsiders overhearing—that's no way for a knight to act~"
"Oh? And groping me didn't cramp your knightly style back then?" Hu Tao's voice rang out loud and clear, drawing stares from passersby.
She didn't give a damn, though—if anything, she doubled down. "Only the Lin Mo gets to take liberties with me! You might look just like him, but fat chance!"
"Alright, alright~"
Lin Mo nodded with a wry smile.
Sure, it was a misunderstanding.
But hey, he'd dodged the bullet—for now.
The two put a bit of space between them.
Under the puzzled gazes of the crowd, they made their way to Liuli Pavilion.
The server spotted them approaching and beamed. "Welcome! Table for how many? Reservation?"
"Two, no reservation," Lin Mo replied simply.
"No reservation..."
The server's face fell a touch. "Sorry about that—we don't have any private rooms open right now. Might need to wait a bit."
"Wait?"
Lin Mo's brow furrowed; he clearly wasn't thrilled.
His eyes flicked across the street.
To the rival spot: Wanmin Restaurant.
The server jumped in, flustered. "Sir, please don't go anywhere just yet—come with me. I'll see what I can do."
"See what you can do? I thought there were no spots—how?" Lin Mo asked, puzzled.
"You wouldn't know, sir."
The server gave a sheepish grin. "There's this one guest who's had a private room tied up forever—no orders, just lingering."
"It's well past the cutoff for room reservations now."
"I'll go ask him to wrap it up."
Lin Mo and Hu Tao exchanged a glance.
A quick nod between them.
Moments later, they trailed the server to a door.
Knock knock knock.
"Sir?"
The server rapped politely.
"Mm. Come in."
A deep, steady voice—magnetic and composed.
It hit Hu Tao and Lin Mo like a thunderclap.
Both froze.
*Zhongli!?
The name flashed through their minds in unison.
And right then...
The server eased the door open, smiling. "Sir, your reservation's time limit for ordering has passed. We've got two guests waiting for the room—"
He stuck to the script, hoping the guy would get the hint.
As the door swung inward...
Lin Mo and Hu Tao caught sight of Zhongli, seated calmly at the head of the table.
"Hey~! Zhongli! You're here too?" Hu Tao burst out, delighted.
"Hm? It's you."
Zhongli took a measured sip of tea, his expression unchanging. "Come in. I'll clear out the room now."
"Whoa whoa—no need, no need at all!"
Lin Mo popped out from behind the server.
Evict Zhongli from a room in Liyue Harbor?
He wasn't that bold!
Clink!
In that instant...
The teacup slipped from Zhongli's grasp, shattering on the floor.
The moment his eyes landed on Lin Mo...
Even he fumbled it.
"Uh... since you all know each other, about the room—"
The server hesitated.
"You're dismissed. We'll handle it," Lin Mo said, waving him off.
"Very well—enjoy your meal."
The server bowed respectfully and slipped away.
"Old friend, it's been ages. Come in—let's catch up."
Zhongli gazed at Lin Mo, his tone even.
"Whoa~! We literally saw him this morning! Zhongli, you're too polite!"
As Hu Tao chimed in, she clapped Lin Mo on the shoulder by way of intro. "This here's Zhongli, our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor consultant. One of the family."
"Uh... Mr. Zhongli was talking to me," Lin Mo said with a awkward laugh.
"Wait—what!? You two know each other!?" Hu Tao whipped her head back to Zhongli, eyes wide with shock.
This quiet, lone-wolf type...
Aside from that Childe guy, he actually had friends?
"Let's talk inside."
Lin Mo skipped the details.
He led Hu Tao to the guest seats and settled in.
Once seated, he noticed Zhongli's gaze fixed on him.
The man looked like he'd started to speak a few times already.
But each time, the words caught in his throat.
Lin Mo read the hesitation in his face.
He figured Zhongli was holding back—afraid to pry too deep and risk blowing their covers.
After all, a former human turning god...
Only to reincarnate like some demon lord?
It was the stuff of wild tales, way beyond even Zhongli's ken.
"Mr. Zhongli, I'm Mondstadt's Jean Gunnhildr this time—here as a diplomatic envoy."
"To study Liyue Harbor's cutting-edge port management," Lin Mo began, laying out his cover for this life.
The real agenda...
Well, that stayed under wraps.
"I see..."
Zhongli's eyes drifted down.
Lost, perhaps, in a sea of old memories.
Words he wanted to say.
But in the end, he met Lin Mo's gaze and voiced the one that mattered most: "My old comrades... they all miss you dearly."
"I know."
Lin Mo gave a bittersweet nod. "Once this is sorted, we'll rally Morax and the Tianquan for a proper gathering."
"You two chat like you've got some secret code or something."
Hu Tao couldn't help but cut in from the side. "Gunnhildr! Back in Mondstadt, do you talk this cryptic with everyone? I thought you were smoother than this!"
"Mr. Zhongli's not like the others."
Lin Mo kept a straight face as he explained. "I hold him in such high regard—I wouldn't dream of being too casual."
"No matter. I'm no longer the man who shakes mountains."
Zhongli's voice was soft, unhurried. "You and I... we're both just specks of dust in this vast world now. No need for formalities."
Clearly, even if he hadn't yet handed over his Gnosis to La Signora...
In his eyes, the moment his mortal form had tumbled from the adepti ceremony atop Mt. Aocang...
Liyue's god had perished.
He was no longer the Geo Archon safeguarding the harbor.
Just a wandering soul in the mortal coil.
Lin Mo didn't want to linger on the heavy air.
He pivoted instead. "Mr. Zhongli, were you waiting for someone? Did they stand you up?"
Truth was, this was burning a hole in Lin Mo's curiosity.
By all rights, the plot where Childe invites Lumine and Zhongli to dine shouldn't kick off for at least a day or two.
Childe was still off with Lumine right now.
So who else did Zhongli have as a friend?
And one bold enough to ghost him?
"Ah... something urgent must've come up."
Zhongli kept it brief. "She left in a rush—her thoughts all jumbled."
"Anything I can help with?" Lin Mo offered, earnest.
Zhongli didn't answer right away.
He studied Lin Mo with that unflappable calm.
Trying, maybe, to gauge the man before him.
Even he couldn't quite pin down Lin Mo's strength these days.
After a thoughtful pause, Zhongli asked, "Old friend... did you catch sight of that dragon soaring over Liyue today?"
"I did, I did~!"
Hu Tao jumped in first, beaming. "Such a gorgeous beast! All shiny and majestic—bet those scales fetch a fortune!"
Lin Mo's face went rigid.
He held back his reply.
How the hell was he supposed to explain...
That he was the one who'd ridden Dvalin into Liyue?
But Zhongli didn't press, simply regarding Lin Mo as he continued:
"The one who invited me here goes by Rosalyne—loyal to Snezhnaya."
"She hoped I'd call in favors from my old comrades."
"To join her in bringing down that dragon."
"Wait—what!?"
Lin Mo's brain short-circuited.
His wife?
From that "Rustam" lifetime...
Asking his old employer...
To rope in his brothers...
All to slay his son?
Was there drama this twisted anywhere in the world?
Click-clack-click!
Just then...
The sharp staccato of high heels echoed outside the room.
Knock knock knock~!
"Mr. Zhongli, apologies—I'm running late."
The feminine voice filtering through the door...
Belonged to Rosalyne, Lin Mo's wife from his "Rustam" days.
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T/N:
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