"Go to the Northland Bank first and let Rosalyne know," Lin Mo said without hesitation. "Then you take me to Mt. Aozang. We need to find the Honorary Knight named Lumine."
"The blonde Honorary Knight?" Yae Miko looked puzzled. "She doesn't talk much. I don't remember her well. Why are we looking for her?"
"She possesses a miraculous power that can purify corruption," Lin Mo replied. "Once we find her, we'll head to Inazuma. We must return before the ceremony with the Great Tengu begins."
"Mm, whatever you say," Yae Miko nodded. A hint of anticipation flickered in her eyes.
She had taken human form quite late.
Yet she still missed that time—those fleeting, secret moments when they had gathered together in the mountains.
Soon, Lin Mo arrived at the Northland Bank with Yae Miko.
The moment they entered, they saw Rosalyne and Zhongli in conversation.
If nothing unexpected had happened, Zhongli was probably fulfilling their agreement and handing over the Gnosis.
"Rustan~"
Rosalyne noticed Lin Mo first and immediately returned a gentle smile.
"Go on with your discussion. I'm not in a hurry," Lin Mo said, waving his hand as he led Yae Miko to sit aside.
"The contract has been fulfilled. There's nothing left to discuss," Zhongli said calmly. As he spoke, he turned to Rosalyne. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
"Pleasure doing business," Rosalyne replied with a smile and a nod.
At that moment, Lin Mo suddenly spoke up. "Mr. Zhongli, could you wait for me a bit? We can head back to Mt. Aozang together."
Zhongli looked at Lin Mo, hesitation flashing in his eyes.
He naturally knew about the gathering on Mt. Aozang.
But if he went there as 'Zhongli'… it would feel rather out of place among everyone.
Lin Mo saw the hesitation at once. As an old friend, he couldn't bear to see Zhongli alone in the vastness of Liyue Harbor.
So he smiled, patted Zhongli on the shoulder, and said, "Come on. You're an old friend of mine—no need to worry about status. Besides, Hu Tao will be there too."
"Mm… then I'll accept the invitation in advance," Zhongli said softly.
"Great," Lin Mo nodded with a smile. "Please wait on the sofa over there for a moment. I need to discuss something with Rosalyne in her office. We'll be right back."
Zhongli nodded.
Lin Mo then headed into the office with Rosalyne and Yae Miko.
As soon as the door closed, Rosalyne seemed about to speak—
but when she noticed Yae Miko's amused gaze, she hesitated.
"You look like you have something to say," Lin Mo said with a smile, seeing through her at once. "Let me introduce you. This is Yae Miko—once, in Inazuma, I raised her as a little fox."
"So she's the pink fox spirit who appeared in that war…" Rosalyne murmured.
"Greetings~"
Yae Miko bowed gracefully to Rosalyne, perfectly poised.
That single gesture made Rosalyne's brows shoot upward in anger.
"Hm? What's wrong?" Lin Mo asked, confused.
"The etiquette of the principal wife…"
Rosalyne practically ground the words out between her teeth.
"Huh!?"
Lin Mo's eyes widened as he turned to stare at Yae Miko.
Yae Miko, for her part, chose that exact moment to toss him a flirtatious wink.
In an instant, Lin Mo realized what she had done.
In noble households, when a lawful wife accompanied her husband in public, she would sometimes bow to outsiders in a particular way—
a subtle declaration of her status.
Calling herself the principal wife.
Treating Rosalyne as an outsider.
It was blatant provocation.
"You… this is really not the time to cause trouble," Lin Mo said helplessly.
Yae Miko stuck out her tongue playfully and sauntered over to Rosalyne's sofa, reclining there at ease.
That, too, was a provocation.
That fox! I'll have to discipline her properly later.
Everyone's supposed to get along—this can't turn into a battlefield!
What else could Lin Mo do?
He could only force a wry smile and explain, "Ahem… Rosalyne, this fox can be a bit mischievous. Please don't take it to heart."
"Mm~ You're right, my dear," Rosalyne replied sweetly.
But her icy gaze slid toward Yae Miko, and her voice regained its familiar arrogance.
"A pet should know its place. Don't entertain delusions."
"Oh?"
Yae Miko looked back with interest, a trace of hostility flashing in her eyes.
That hostility came mostly from Rosalyne's figure.
It was… simply too unfair.
"Enough, both of you," Lin Mo said quickly, stepping between them to block their line of sight. "Let's change the subject. Rosalyne, didn't you have something you wanted to tell me earlier?"
"Hmph. A certain someone thinks her gift is priceless," Rosalyne said haughtily.
As she spoke, she took out a crystal vial glowing with dark golden light and handed it to Lin Mo.
"Wait—what does this mean?" Lin Mo was completely stunned.
Rosalyne turned back to him, her eyes full of tenderness. "Last night, when you tore open my clothes and left your mark on my heart, I made my decision. I will abandon my position as a Harbinger and stay by your side forever. This Gnosis is my gift to you."
Wait—what!?
Tore open your clothes!?
Why would you phrase it like that!?
I performed a perfectly proper cardiac modification surgery, nothing more, okay!?
And this Gnosis—I went through so much trouble persuading Zhongli to hand it over, all so he could fulfill the contract and you could bring it back to the Tsaritsa.
Now you're giving the very thing I handed over back to me!?
This is absurd!
"Ahem… Rosalyne, listen," Lin Mo said quickly. "You can't give up your role as a Harbinger. And this Gnosis must still be delivered to the Tsaritsa as planned."
"Hm? Why?" Rosalyne asked, puzzled.
"Heh~ Some people really think their gift is that precious," Yae Miko chimed in mockingly.
"Miko, be good. Don't stir things up," Lin Mo interrupted her at once.
Now was not the time for jealousy.
That single word—"good"—seemed to flip some hidden switch in Yae Miko. She immediately quieted down.
Lin Mo then looked at Rosalyne seriously. "You probably already know this. I've lived many lives. I know many secrets."
"How far we can ultimately go together depends on whether our lifespans can truly overlap."
"It all hinges on whether the Tsaritsa's plan succeeds. You understand what I'm saying, don't you?"
"You mean… the side of the Heavenly Principles…"
Rosalyne immediately thought of the Tsaritsa's plan—to collect the Gnoses and rebel against the heavens.
"Yes. This concerns the future of all life on Teyvat, including you and me," Lin Mo said solemnly.
His seriousness made Rosalyne uneasy.
But since he said that helping the Tsaritsa would allow them to be together for a long time, she nodded without hesitation.
"I understand. Then everything will proceed as before."
"Lord Sasayuri~"
"No time~ left~"
At that moment, Yae Miko drawled lazily.
Lin Mo knew why he had come here—to bid farewell to Rosalyne, then head to Mt. Aozang to find Lumine.
But just as he was about to speak—
Knock, knock.
There was a knock at the office door.
"Hello~ Is anyone in there?"
Paimon's voice came from outside.
"Mr. Diplomatic Envoy, are you in there?"
"There's a child named Qiqi~
She says she was asked to bring you a gift from someone you once knew."
"We brought her here~"
"Qiqi?" Lin Mo froze.
By all logic, with that child's memory, she shouldn't remember him at all.
What's more, in this life, he hadn't even met Qiqi yet.
And a gift from an old acquaintance?
What could it be?
A flood of questions filled his mind as he nodded toward the door. "It's not locked. Come in."
Click.
The door opened.
"Mr. Diplomatic Envoy!"
Paimon waved her arms enthusiastically.
Behind her stood the traveler Lumine—and Qiqi.
Qiqi stepped into the office and asked blankly, "Um… which one of you… is Mr. Lin Mo?"
"Someone asked me… to bring Mr. Lin Mo… a gift… from his first love…"
"A gift from my first love!?"
Lin Mo was stunned.
In Teyvat… who exactly was his first love?
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T/N:
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