Cao Zhong looked at the praise flooding the chat and smiled.
Too easy.
[Cao Zhong]: I was going to stay low-key… but fine, I'll admit it—I'm the Poetry Immortal.
[Kaeya]: Hello everyone, I'm his agent. Ladies, you can contact me directly.
[Fan]: Can I get his contact info?
[Kaeya]: Why do you need his? Send me yours—we'll talk privately.
[Cao Zhong]: @Kaeya Are you trying to die? Using my name to flirt?!
[Kaeya]: Wait—someone actually messaged me…
[Cao Zhong]: ???
[Venti]: Back then, Cao Zhong and I dominated the literary world.
[Cao Zhong]: I handled the domination.
[Venti]: I handled the—
[Venti]: …you—
[Hu Tao]: Your friendship is enviable. I want that kind of "best friend."
[Cao Zhong]: We can be friends too.
[Hu Tao]: Hard pass.
[Cao Zhong]: What are you afraid of? It's not like I mind—
[Hu Tao]: Say one more word and your coffin is ready.
[Cao Zhong]: See? You already planned my funeral.
[Kaeya]: @Venti When are you cosplaying the Anemo Archon?
[Bennett]: I want to see!
[Paimon]: I want to see!
[Xingqiu]: I want to see!
[Cao Zhong]: Hurry up.
[Venti]: Even if I wear it, you won't see it!
[System]: Live broadcast feature activated.
[Venti]: ??? I didn't agree to this!
[Hu Tao]: This is going to be fun.
[Kaeya]: Give him time. Let's continue the video.
[Cao Zhong]: …I have a bad feeling.
Video — Starfell Lake
[Jean]: Cao Zhong, can't you teach Klee something proper?
[Kaeya]: You blew up all the fish.
[Cao Zhong]:
The bigger the fish, the bigger the bones.
The bigger the bones, the less meat.
The less meat, the smaller the fish.
So—the bigger the fish, the smaller the fish.
[Kaeya]: Can you speak normally?
[Cao Zhong]:
The stronger you are, the more responsibility.
More responsibility → more work.
More work → worse teammates.
Worse teammates → more losses.
More losses → weaker.
So—the stronger you are, the weaker you are.
[Jean]: Wait… that sounds right… no… wait…
[Barbara]: Sister…?
[Kaeya]: Jean's about to crash.
In the video, Klee stared at the fish, clearly tempted.
Cao Zhong crouched beside her.
"Want to blast them?"
Klee nodded—then shook her head, pointing to a sign.
"Jean said it means: Kids can't blast fish."
The camera zoomed in.
Deep Water — Danger
[Hu Tao]: I'm dying—"no fish blasting"?!
[Kaeya]: Klee logic: can't read, but confident anyway.
[Klee]: It clearly says "Deep Water—Danger"… Jean, you lied again!
[Jean]: @Klee I didn't—I mean—
[Cao Zhong]: @Jean Seriously… who tricks a kid like that?
Inside her office, Jean froze.
"…Wait… did I actually say that?"