Xu Zheng ducked a flying torch while checking his quest log mid-dodge.
[Daily Quest Complete. 10 Primogems have been issued.]
Objective: Communicate with a Hilichurl (Success Criteria: Loose)
Apparently, "failing to communicate" still counted as communication. Who knew?
Not that Xu Zheng cared—he tossed out an Ice Lotus that was all show, no bite.
The Hilichurls, insulted by the blatant mockery of the fake lotus, went straight for it.
"Good boys," Xu Zheng muttered, slipping away while they were busy stomping snow petals.
"Teleport."
One blink later, he was back in Liyue.
He knew the drill—sneaking into Yuehai Pavilion through a secret little tunnel. But today, as he wriggled out the exit, his forehead collided with something… soft.
"Baixiao-jie?"
Xu Zheng blinked up, stunned.
Yep. That was Baixiao standing over him, arms crossed, radiating authority like a school principal who just caught you cheating on a test.
She raised a brow. "Do you have any idea how worried Ganyu's been looking for you?"
Xu Zheng's soul almost left his body. He pictured Ganyu pacing in anxious circles, waiting, eyes wide and pitiful like a lost deer.
"I'll go to her right now!" he blurted, bolting in a half-panic.
But Baixiao reached out with practiced reflexes, snagging the back of his neck like a naughty puppy.
Unfortunately, Xu Zheng wasn't the same soft baby from before.
With all the coconut milk supplements, boosted attributes, and the occasional Strength point here and there—he was a brick wrapped in baby skin.
Baixiao underestimated him.
Her tug failed, physics kicked in, and she got yanked forward—straight into him.
Thump!
The two went down in a tangle. Xu Zheng landed on his back, and Baixiao landed…
Right on top of him.
Soft.
Warm.
Fragrant.
Definitely not the worst landing of his life.
"Ugh… got face-washed," Xu Zheng muttered under his breath, still pinned.
Baixiao shook her head, momentarily stunned she'd been outmuscled by someone who wore diapers last year.
Am I… am I really that weak? she thought. Have I truly become the fragile maiden the legends spoke of?
"Baixiao-jie, you're kinda heavy," Xu Zheng grunted politely. "Can you… get off?"
A full-body freeze overtook Baixiao.
She got up so fast she nearly dislocated a knee, then cleared her throat with an air of wounded dignity.
"Where were you?"
"Out playing," Xu Zheng replied instantly. He had no intention of saying I was chatting with Hilichurls in the wilderness because my video game system told me to.
That was a fast track to Liyue's psychiatric ward.
Baixiao narrowed her eyes, then suddenly smiled with a weird glint.
"Hehehe… Xu Zheng~ wanna teach me how to play the flute?"
Xu Zheng squinted at her.
"Wait… you tracked me down just so I'd teach you flute?"
"Yup," she nodded like it was the most normal thing in the world.
He stared harder. Something was very off about her today. Too… persistent. Too cheerful.
A ding echoed in his head.
[Choice Detected. Please Select One:]
▸ Option 1: Be a good boy and agree.
‣ Reward: Baixiao's second-hand clothes (???)
▸ Option 2: Negotiate for better benefits.
‣ Reward: ★★ Item – Emergency Pickled Mustard Greens
▸ Option 3: You are destined to betray your master and ancestors. Hold the line!
‣ Reward: 10 Primogems
Xu Zheng didn't hesitate.
Option 2 sounded like food poisoning in a pouch.
Option 1… what the hell was he supposed to do with Baixiao's old clothes? Sniff them?
Hard pass.
He chose Option 3.
"I refuse."
"…Great, so we have a deal," Baixiao said absently—then blinked. "Wait, what?"
"I said no."
Baixiao immediately switched gears. "Fine. You can wait here for Ganyu to come beat your ass then!"
She turned dramatically, ready to storm off.
Xu Zheng just stood there. Cool as a cucumber.
You have a favor to ask, you're the one in trouble here. Worst-case scenario? I beg Ganyu with puppy eyes. She's too soft to stay mad.
Two seconds later, Baixiao spun back.
"Xu Zheng~ we're such good friends, right?"
Aha. Emotional manipulation phase.
[Choice Complete. 10 Primogems awarded.]
With the mission done, Xu Zheng figured it was time to flip the script.
"I mean… I could teach you. But only if you do me a favor too."
Her eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Yeah. You have to cover for me whenever I sneak out."
Baixiao blinked.
Xu Zheng smirked.
"I need an inside ally. Someone who tells Ganyu I'm napping, when I'm actually out… doing hero stuff."
She hesitated… then nodded.
"Deal."
The two ironed out the details and went their separate ways.
Later…
Baixiao's mind wandered back to something Ningguang said that morning:
"Flute players tend to be… interesting."
She'd assumed Ningguang was talking about her, obviously.
Hence the rush to level up her flute game with Xu Zheng. After all, if she wanted to impress a goddess of commerce, she needed more than good posture and smug smirks.
In Baixiao's mind, all of Xu Zheng's flute skills came from Ganyu's training.
She just didn't know…
That yesterday, Ningguang had walked past Yuehai Pavilion and heard Xu Zheng's solo performance firsthand.
Back in the courtyard, Xu Zheng didn't practice flute that evening.
Instead, he just stood there, gazing at the sky.
Because some people died, but not completely…