This time, her steps toward the Feiyun Commerce Guild were no longer as hesitant and sluggish as before; instead, they carried a hint of lightheartedness and anticipation.
Arriving before the grand gates of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, she took a deep breath and said to the guard at the entrance, "Hello, I'm looking for Young Master Xingqiu, could I..."
Coincidentally, the guard had met her once before (it was him last time as well), so he nodded and went inside to announce her without asking further questions.
The wait wasn't long. Soon, she was led inside, where she met Xingqiu in an elegant side hall, who seemed to have just come out of his study.
"Good morning, Lovia." Xingqiu smiled upon seeing her. "Please, have a seat."
Today, Xingqiu wore a water-blue long robe with subtle cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs, which complemented his jade-like complexion and refined temperament. He led Lovia to sit by the tea table and personally poured her a cup of hot tea.
"I didn't expect you'd visit so suddenly." Xingqiu smiled slightly, his tone gentle. "Is there something urgent?"
Lovia held the slightly hot teacup; Xingqiu's friendliness relaxed her a bit, somewhat soothing her racing heart. She took a deep breath, ran through her prepared words in her mind once more, and then looked up at Xingqiu.
"I... do have something."
"Brother Xingqiu, I've come to say goodbye. My journey in Liyue is coming to an end, and I'll be leaving Liyue soon."
Hearing this, a look of genuine surprise and regret crossed Xingqiu's face. "So soon? There are surely many sights and customs in Liyue Harbor that you haven't had the chance to appreciate in detail yet. What a shame."
He paused, recalling the previous letter and Lovia's earlier reaction to the word 'Fontaine,' and asked with concern, "Have you encountered some difficulty? If there's anywhere the Feiyun Commerce Guild or... I personally can help, please don't hesitate to speak up."
"No, it's not a difficulty." Lovia shook her head gently. "It's just that... my itinerary is set. Thank you for taking care of me during this time; I came specifically to say goodbye to you."
"It was just a small effort, nothing worth mentioning." Xingqiu waved his hand, his smile remaining.
Although he was curious about Lovia's change, he didn't pry too much because of her farewell.
Lovia nodded, her hands on her lap quietly tightening as she felt the hard edges of the copy of 'the lonely cry of the remnant night' hidden under her cloak.
She changed the subject with a sense of 'naturalness' that even she found novel. "Actually, besides saying goodbye, I have one more thing... consider it a small token of my personal gratitude."
"Oh?" Xingqiu raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued.
Lovia steadied herself, pushed forward the little 'mischievous' version of herself in her mind, and then slowly took out 'the lonely cry of the remnant night' from under her cloak, gently placing it on the tea table.
Xingqiu's gaze fell upon the carefully wrapped book in Lovia's hand with some curiosity. However, when he clearly saw the four characters for 'the lonely cry of the remnant night' on the deep blue cover, along with the small characters for 'Zhenyu' next to them, the composed expression on his face stiffened slightly.
He blinked, his long eyelashes fluttering a few times as his gaze darted back and forth between the book and Lovia's face, which was obscured by her Hood.
"...This is?" Xingqiu's voice was still gentle, but to Lovia's attentive ears, the end of his sentence was just a tiny bit unnatural.
Seeing his reaction, the mischievous impulse in Lovia's heart spread rapidly like a nourished vine, almost washing away all her tension. She even felt that the corners of her mouth might have curled up slightly, though fortunately, they were hidden by her Hood.
"This is Mr. Zhenyu's new work, 'the lonely cry of the remnant night'." She said in a tone as calm as possible, yet tinged with the admiration of a'simple reader.' "I just bought it today at the Wenyensuite. After reading it, I was deeply moved and filled with admiration! I thought you would like it, so I wanted to give you a copy."
Xingqiu: "..."
He coughed lightly and picked up the teacup in front of him. "I didn't expect you would read this kind of novel, Lovia."
"I didn't originally, but Mr. Zhenyu's books are an exception." Lovia continued "sincerely," pushing the book another inch toward Xingqiu. "Especially this one; the exploration of heroes, stigma, history, and truth within it is truly thought-provoking. I think it's fantastic!"
She deliberately paused there, anticipating Xingqiu's reaction.
Xingqiu's hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air for a moment, and a very faint red tint appeared on the tips of his ears. However, his expression management remained intact; only his gaze grew more complex, as if he were rapidly thinking of a response.
"Then thank you. I do indeed love reading, so naturally, I'll read any book." He set down the teacup, his tone returning to its usual composure. "If Mr. Zhenyu knew his humble work received such high praise from you, he would surely be... very gratified."
"Is that so? Hehe!" Lovia tilted her head slightly, the shadow of her Hood shifting with the movement.
"Xingqiu, do you know? Mr. Zhenyu's writing is truly... exquisite. I never thought that the duels of moves in a martial arts novel could be written so vividly, as if one could see the flash of the blade and hear the wind whistling through the sleeves." Her words were even more sincere.
"What's even rarer is that the protagonist in this book bears a stigma yet holds onto his true heart in the most desperate situations. That loneliness and resilience are written so poignantly that several times it made me... well, very moved, and I couldn't help but secretly shed some tears!"
Xingqiu coughed softly and took a sip from his teacup, seemingly trying to use the tea to calm his state of mind.
Lovia's tone was earnest: "Brother Xingqiu, you are well-read, so you should be able to better appreciate the nuances within. Take the protagonist's monologue, for instance: 'Though this body is mired in the mud, this heart can turn toward the bright moon.'"
"How profound and yet how helpless those words are! If Mr. Zhenyu didn't have deep insight into such a mindset, he could never have written such a sentence."
She noticed Xingqiu's fingers tightening slightly on the teacup. Suppressing her tail, which was wagging slightly, she continued to "add fuel to the fire": "Furthermore, I heard that Mr. Zhenyu keeps a low profile and is mysterious. All his works are published through booksellers, and he never shows his face. This indifference to fame and fortune is even more admirable. He must be a true refined gentleman who pours his heart into ink and brush, transcending worldly matters, right?"
Xingqiu: "..."
He was silent for a moment, a trace of a helpless smile appearing in his eyes. "You seem to... hold Mr. Zhenyu in very high esteem."
"Because his work deserves it." Lovia's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled. Although most of her face was still hidden under her Hood, her joyous aura couldn't be concealed. "That's why I thought of giving this book, which I consider his best, to the friend I've met in Liyue who understands books best and is most likely to appreciate it."
"Brother Xingqiu, you won't look down on this gift for being too... ordinary, will you?"
She tossed the question back lightly, with a hint of innocence.
Looking at the copy of 'the lonely cry of the remnant night' that had been praised to the heavens, and hearing her call him the "friend who understands books best and is most likely to appreciate it," Xingqiu finally chuckled and shook his head, his smile carrying a hint of helplessness along with Warmth.
Xingqiu: "How could I look down on it?"
Little did he know, Lovia had laid all that groundwork just for this sentence!
And so... "Then could I... read a part I find particularly wonderful aloud to Brother Xingqiu? I really love this book and would very much like to hear your insights."
"After all, you are one of the most knowledgeable friends I've made in Liyue."
This request was clearly beyond Xingqiu's expectations.
In those eyes that were always filled with smiles, Lovia could now clearly read the words "Please don't."
"This... reciting passages is a bit..." Xingqiu tried to politely decline.
While Xingqiu's refusal was still on his lips, he saw Lovia raise her hand and gently take off her Hood.
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