What liking, who did he like? What did this have to do with the rich, and what did it mean to be with him? For the first time, Tartaglia experienced the feeling of his brain short-circuiting.
He forced a smile and asked, "Um, I didn't quite understand what you meant. Could you explain it?"
The girl in front of him stared at him intently, afraid that he wouldn't listen to reason and still liked Dottore. She took a step forward in excitement, causing Childe to involuntarily take a step back.
As a Harbinger, being scared into retreat by an ordinary girl was something no one would believe if told.
But the fact was, not only did the girl in front of him see it, but everyone present saw the Harbinger, Childe, lose his composure and be forced to retreat by a girl a head shorter than him.
"I'm telling the truth."
The long-haired girl's face flushed with excitement, "It seems the book wasn't far off, it's actually true. I thought your identity was fake, but you're really a Harbinger! So cool, so amazing!"
Childe: "…Thank you."
"You should really consider the rich guy, he's so much better than the Doctor. I'll wish you happiness!" The girl had stars in her eyes.
"No, may I ask, what do you mean by 'being together'?" Childe felt his intelligence was being challenged, his brain almost smoking from overdrive.
"Huh?" The girl was stunned, "Weren't you heartbroken by the Doctor and came to Liyue to seek refuge?"
Tartaglia's expression turned strange. Why did this sound so uncomfortable, what did she mean by being heartbroken by Dottore, what was he heartbroken about?
"Miss, you must be mistaken. The Doctor and I don't interfere with each other, and there's no such thing as heartbreak."
"Eh?" The girl suddenly looked dejected, and Childe didn't know what she was upset about. She looked disappointed, "So it's just a novel, half true and half false. You haven't slept together?"
Childe: What sleep.
"…And you weren't pinned to the bed for three days and nights?"
Childe's eyes widened suddenly, finally understanding her meaning. She was implying that he and the Doctor… that he was pinned by the Doctor…
Tartaglia's face turned unpleasant instantly, the warm smile vanished. Anyone would be unhappy to have such rumors spread, especially with a colleague he disliked the most.
And did he really look like the one on the bottom?
Judging by the situation in Liyue Harbor, it had probably spread long ago.
Years of self-restraint kept Childe from breaking down on the spot. He struggled to maintain his precarious expression, trying not to explode, and asked the girl in front of him with a gentle tone, "Can you tell me how you know all this?"
"I read it in a novel."
"A novel?"
"Yes, it's a very popular novel recently, the CP is you and the Doctor, it's selling like crazy. My friends in Mondstadt all say it's great!"
Childe: "…"
He thanked the girl, and afterward, was blocked by more people, each excited as if seeing a celebrity.
With people holding cameras and taking various photos, Tartaglia's face was stiff from smiling. Finally squeezing out, he led two silent female Fatui to a secluded place.
By now, even if Tartaglia were foolish, he understood what had happened.
"The new type of novel you mentioned, is it this one?"
Facing away from them, the last seat's aura was icy, devoid of warmth. The two Fatui cautiously glanced up, and finally, one of them took out a book from her arms, nearly worn out from being flipped through, and handed it to him without daring to look at Childe.
Just by looking at the creases, it was clear it had passed through many hands.
"Where has this book spread to?"
"To answer Lord Childe, it's sold in bookstores across all nations."
"…Understood, you may leave."
"Yes."
After they left, Tartaglia closed his eyes, mentally prepared himself, then opened them again to look at the item in his hand.
At first glance, he saw the cover with two people embracing intimately.
"!!!"
Childe's mind went blank, his eyes glued to it, indicating he was shocked.
His fingertips turned white from gripping the book too tightly, staring straight at the cover's embracing figures, it was simply absurd.
After mentally preparing himself, he opened the first page.
In this book, Tartaglia started as a pitiful figure abandoned in the snow. The beginning was normal until the Doctor appeared.
...
What the hell?
The more Childe read, the wider his eyes grew, his hands crumpling the book's edges. Was this really about him?!
His face darkened as he skimmed through the text. If the protagonist weren't him, he would never touch such a book in his life. Who was this author, to write such nauseating sentences?
What did it mean he was crying, pitiful, with tearful eyes, and uttering broken moans?
The further he read, the more outrageous it became. Childe wanted to tear the book apart several times, but thinking it might have already spread across Teyvat, he forced himself to endure the disgust and continue reading, gritting his teeth to the point of wanting to shred the author.
After finishing, Childe laughed in anger.
His eyes, filled with coldness, swept over the publisher and author's name, and the book in his hand instantly shattered, disintegrating into the air.
Very well, this person named A Jiu had successfully caught his attention.
Tartaglia didn't even glance at Liyue Harbor again, returning to the port and setting off for Inazuma, heading straight for Yae Publishing House.
Coincidentally, he crossed paths with the other protagonist of the story.
The two met unexpectedly, their eyes meeting under the ambiguous gazes of onlookers, sparks flying.
Don't get it wrong, it wasn't passionate sparks, but the killing intent to take each other down.
The book's cover clearly depicted the two of them, exactly the same, even down to their usual attire. Once they appeared, anyone who had read the novel immediately recognized them.
They also knew not to openly stare at them. They were Harbingers, and the onlookers were ordinary people without Visions. If their love-hate entanglement affected them, it would be bad.
Eating melons still required maintaining a distance.
The passersby on the street all pretended to be busy, but in reality, they were all ears.
"Second seat, what a refined interest, how come you suddenly have time to leave your lab and come to Inazuma?" Childe's smile didn't reach his eyes, his tone full of icy mockery.
The Doctor had his hands behind his back, and they couldn't see his expression under the mask. He said calmly, "Sometimes taking a walk is a good way to gain inspiration."
Tartaglia sneered, "Is that so."
"Why isn't the last seat staying in Liyue, why suddenly come here?"
"If you can come, why can't I?"
The atmosphere was full of gunpowder, Childe didn't give him any courtesy.
In the past, he couldn't be bothered with this lunatic. Two people with conflicting ideologies couldn't come together. Previously, he and the Doctor barely spoke, and the few times they did were due to official duties.
Now, Childe didn't even want to see him, otherwise, he couldn't help but take his water arrows to cut people.
His face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, glaring at the guy opposite, his thoughts uncontrollably swirling. The damn author had excellent writing skills, and now whenever he saw the Doctor, he thought of himself in the book being… tsk.
Seeing the hostility in Tartaglia's eyes, the Doctor knew he was aware of the novel's existence. Noticing the suppressed anger in his eyes, he smiled, "Lord Childe, don't get angry. We have the same goal, don't we?"
"I'm also curious about who he is, and this isn't the place to fight." The Doctor reminded him.
Tartaglia looked at him coldly.
This indeed wasn't a good place to fight.
Especially not on the Raiden Shogun's territory.
"The priority is to bring 'A Jiu' out, then we'll discuss the rest." The Doctor shifted his gaze from Childe to Yae Publishing House not far away, advising gently, "I'm very curious about who he is and why he knows so much about the Harbingers, even our plans, so clearly."
"Isn't it interesting?" Dottore said, and Childe keenly felt his sudden excitement, stepping forward with disgust.
As expected, he still didn't like the second seat.
The two approached Yae Publishing House one after the other.
Kuroda's face was stiff, slowly scanning the appearance of the two, then lowering his gaze to the pile of books on his stall titled "The Mad Scientist and His Runaway Harbinger."
Kuroda: …
Help, help!
Raiden Shogun, please save me!
The main characters have come to crash the party!!
Guji-sama—
Kuroda swallowed, feeling the unfriendly aura from the two in front of him. The Doctor's expression was hidden behind a mask, with a slight curve at the mouth. The orange-haired youth beside him coldly swept over the books on his stall, exuding a chilling aura.
Kuroda wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, hurriedly flattering, "What brings you two esteemed guests to my humble store?"
Internally, he was crying a river. It's over, he's doomed. It's his first time facing Harbingers, and two at that! Saying this could be bragged about.
Dottore: "Heh."
Kuroda shivered at the sound, his eyes filled with fear.
"You know why we're here, so speak, who is he?" Dottore opened his mouth.
"I—I don't understand… what you mean, my lord."
Kuroda trembled, adhering to the protection of author rights, not disclosing personal information, and recklessly refusing to answer. Only after speaking did he suddenly realize who stood before him, breaking out in a cold sweat, chilled to the bone by the breeze.
"Oh?" The Doctor's tone was gentle, yet hid a murderous intent, "Then let me make it clearer."
"Could you perhaps reveal a little about who this 'A Jiu' author is?"
"Rest assured, as long as you tell me, your family will be safe." Kuroda's eyes widened, and the Doctor continued, "I won't come to Inazuma again, it's a fair trade, isn't it?"
"Dottore." Childe frowned, disapprovingly staring at the man silently threatening others, silently warning him.
His purpose here was merely to find out the author's information, not to fight or threaten ordinary people. Indeed, he and the Doctor were on different paths, and this guy's methods were truly repulsive.
Kuroda stammered, "I… I don't know who he is either, he always comes wrapped in a black cloak, covered from head to toe."
"His face is hidden by a hood, he's very cautious, even his mouth is covered. I… I remember, once while discussing a manuscript, he slipped up and mentioned he's from Mondstadt… and, I also saw an Anemo Vision on his waist."
Kuroda nervously added, "That's all I know, really."
From Mondstadt?
Childe pondered, and an Anemo user at that. He asked, "Is the person male or female, what's their build?"
Kuroda: "Male, he's male! Not very tall, about a head shorter than Lord Childe!"
With this, the scope narrowed significantly.
Having obtained the desired information, Dottore nodded in satisfaction, knowing these details were sufficient. An Anemo user from Mondstadt, a young man… hmm.
Heh.
Dottore squinted, a pleased smile forming.
Watching them leave, Kuroda finally exhaled, wiping the cold sweat from his face. These Harbingers had such terrifying auras, he almost thought he'd die under the chilling pressure.
Fortunately, he recited his lines every night before bed, otherwise, he might have slipped up.
Too frightening.