"By the way, Yi Chen,"
after the three of them entered Mondstadt together, Lumine finally couldn't help pointing at his outfit—which currently looked like something a refugee picked up off the roadside, complete with torn cloth and dried blood stains.
"Are you really planning to keep looking like… um… this while showing us around Mondstadt?
Do you really not need to go home and change clothes, or at least… clean yourself up first?"
Paimon nodded like her life depended on it.
"Exactly, exactly! Even though Paimon is really looking forward to a big meal, she doesn't want to eat with someone who looks like he just crawled out of a battlefield!"
Lumine's words made Yi Chen stop in his tracks.
For once, the carefree grin on his face faded a little. He rubbed his chin, putting on a very serious thinking expression.
"Hmm… you do have a point…"
He pondered for a moment, then spread his hands naturally and said—without the slightest embarrassment—
"But my house got blown up yesterday. There isn't even a single roof tile left.
So yeah—forget changing clothes. I don't even own a clean set of clothes anymore."
Lumine: "..."
(Too many things to complain about. System overload.)
Paimon: "..."
(Stunned by how calmly someone could state something so tragic.)
"…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked,"
Lumine said, pressing her hand to her forehead. For the first time, she felt that this guy might actually be kind of pitiful.
"No worries, no worries! Not a big deal!"
Yi Chen instantly bounced back to full energy, as if he weren't homeless at all.
"Come on! I'll take you to Good Hunter! Their honey-glazed carrot steak is legendary!"
However, when the three excitedly arrived at Good Hunter's entrance, they were greeted by a small wooden sign:
"Closed Today."
"Whaaa—?! No way!!"
Paimon wailed in despair.
"Paimon's honey-glazed carrot steak!!!"
Yi Chen scratched his head.
"Looks like the aftermath of the Stormterror incident hasn't fully passed yet…
No problem! Follow me—I'll take you somewhere even better!"
He snapped his fingers, led them down another street, and stopped in front of a refined-looking tavern:
Angel's Share.
They pushed the door open. The lighting inside was dim, the atmosphere calm.
Behind the bar stood a tall man with striking crimson hair, meticulously wiping a wine glass.
Diluc lifted his gaze, sweeping it over Yi Chen's torn, blood-stained appearance.
"Yi Chen.
Are you trying to scare off all my customers with how you look?"
He gestured lightly to a well-dressed butler nearby.
"Take him to one of the upstairs guest rooms and help him clean up.
As a hero who stopped Stormterror and protected Mondstadt, you should at least maintain a basic level of decency."
Yi Chen grinned shamelessly.
"Hehe, then I'll gladly accept Master Diluc's sponsorship!"
A short while later, when Yi Chen came back downstairs, both Lumine and Paimon froze.
He was now dressed in a dark, finely tailored noble outfit provided by Diluc.
Though not the most fashionable design, it fit him perfectly—highlighting his tall posture, broad shoulders, and narrow waist.
The blood and grime on his face were gone, revealing his naturally fair and handsome features. His black hair had been neatly tidied, with a few unruly strands falling across his forehead, adding a touch of casual charm.
At first glance, he genuinely looked like a refined young noble from an old aristocratic family.
Step by step, he descended the staircase, light tracing the sharp contours of his face and upright figure.
Lumine unconsciously held her breath.
Paimon's mouth dropped open into a perfect "O."
"T-This can't be real…
The Mysterious Crash-Landing Man actually looks—"
But the moment of stunned silence lasted less than three seconds.
Yi Chen lifted his chin, curling his lips into an extremely smug, self-satisfied grin.
"Well?
Completely overwhelmed by my devastatingly handsome, elegant, charming, universally adored, flower-blooming-at-my-feet new look?
Too handsome to breathe, right? Hahaha!"
That familiar, over-the-top expression instantly shattered the elegant noble illusion.
Paimon snapped back to reality, her face collapsing in despair as she grabbed her forehead.
"Ah… it's over…
Paimon actually thought he looked kind of handsome for a split second…
It must've been an illusion!
If only the Mysterious Crash-Landing Man were mute!"
"Hey! You emergency food! What did you just say?!"
Yi Chen lunged forward in three quick steps, snatched the retreating Paimon before she could hide behind Lumine, and immediately launched into an unrestrained head-and-cheek ruffling assault!
"Waaaah—!! Let go of Paimon!!
Help, Traveler!!
Bad guy! Pervert! Demon King Mysterious Crash-Landing Man!!"
Paimon flailed helplessly in his arms, her protests completely ineffective.
Lumine watched the scene devolve into utter chaos, glanced at Yi Chen—who was dressed like a noble but acting like a menace—and couldn't help laughing softly.
Just then, Diluc walked over, his sharp gaze briefly settling on Lumine and Paimon.
"They're your friends?"
Yi Chen finally released the thoroughly disheveled Paimon and set her back into the air.
"That's right! Friends I just met!"
Diluc gave a small nod and didn't press further, turning to sit at a nearby empty table.
Yi Chen seized the chance to introduce him:
"This is Mondstadt's richest, most handsome, most generous wine tycoon—
the owner of Angel's Share, Master Diluc!"
Diluc inclined his head slightly toward Lumine and Paimon in greeting, then turned his attention back to Yi Chen.
"What are the Knights planning to do about Stormterror's attack on the city?"
At the mention of serious matters, Yi Chen toned down his antics.
"Don't worry. Things are basically settled."
"Stormterror—Terrorvalin—has regained his sanity.
In time, the Knights will explain everything to the public.
The real culprit was the Abyss Order manipulating events from the shadows."
"The Abyss Order…"
Diluc repeated softly, a cold glint flashing through his eyes.
"As expected. Those vermin again."
After a brief silence, he stood.
"In that case, I won't interrupt you further."
"If you need help, come to me anytime."
His gaze paused briefly on the clothes Yi Chen was wearing.
"Especially you, Yi Chen.
If you need a temporary place to stay, contact my butler at any time."
With that, the red-haired noble gave a slight nod and returned behind the bar, resuming the quiet task of polishing wine glasses—as if nothing else needed to be said.