Venti's plan worked perfectly.
The moment he @'d Gu Chen, the entire chat's attention shifted at once.
[Dvalin]:@[Gu Chen] Young man, I've got high hopes for you!
[Kaeya]:Oh ho, aside from our two heroines, the leading man finally makes his entrance?
[Charlotte]:Given that Ms. Lumine and Ms. Paimon have both distanced themselves from the whole "past life" business, allow me to ask—Mr. Gu Chen, what's your opinion on it?
[Kamisato Ayaka]:(curious emoji)
[Yae Miko]:My, my~ The handsome and mysterious light-novel protagonist finally appears~ Tell us, dear heroine, what do you think? @[Lumine]
[Lumine]:That was just a past life. It has nothing to do with me! (cold)
[Paimon]:I mean, I think we could still be friends! Heehee! I'm totally not just after Gu Chen's cooking!
Seeing that, Gu Chen realized he couldn't lurk any longer.
[Gu Chen]:Hello everyone~ The suave, elegant, utterly charming man you see in the video—that would truly be yours!
[Kaeya]:I'll admit, you're handsome. But I've never seen anyone so shameless!
[Zhongli]:Ah… I'm too old to understand the humor of youth. No comment.
[Hu Tao]:Oh my, Mr. Gu Chen, you're quite the character! Let's be friends! (flowers emoji)
[Gu Chen]:Pleasure's mine! (Kaeya-holding-a-rose emoji, "Heart-Thief" pose)
[Kaeya]:?
[Kaeya]:Hold on—why the heck am I the emoji?!
[Diluc]:…Strangely fitting, though.
[Kokomi]:Found it! Apparently, aside from the default emojis, you can search for character reactions. Example: (Paimon·Hmph)
[Paimon]:Eh?! They have me as an emoji?! (Paimon shocked)
[Lumine]:Guys! Shouldn't we be focusing on Gu Chen right now?! (One-Mora emoji)
[Charlotte]:@[Gu Chen] So, Mr. Gu Chen, what are your thoughts on this whole "past life" revelation?
[Gu Chen]:I'm sitting down while watching it. (sarcastic emoji)
[Gu Chen]:Honestly, it's… kind of novel! The whole "past life revealed" thing, I mean. Other than that, no big feelings.
In truth—he found it way too novel.
He'd always thought of himself as a heartless grind machine while doing quests.
Now his entire grind journey was being broadcast for everyone to see?!
If he'd known this would happen, he would've at least added some flair while playing!
Now he could only regret it.
[Lumine]:So you're saying you didn't feel anything at all? (Rabbit Baron·Go Away!)
[Prince]:@[Lumine] Careful there, Sis. The way you're asking that makes it sound like you're emotionally caught up in your past life.
Kong frowned as he read Lumine's message—
A terrible premonition rising in his heart.
Could his dear sister actually be emotionally substituting herself for her past-life self?!
No way!!
"Past-life me, what the hell were you doing?!"
Kong gritted his teeth.
He'd never hated himself more.
[Heizou]:Case closed! Ms. Lumine has fully projected herself into her past life—and now she's fallen for Mr. Gu Chen! (Kaeya·You're So Funny)
[Alhaitham]:From her reactions, I'd say it's her past-life self who had feelings for him. But since Gu Chen hasn't shown reciprocal interest, this world's Lumine feels… unbalanced.
[Zhongli]:A sound deduction.
[Lumine]:I'm not! I didn't! (defensive)
[Paimon]:Look at that face! (photo of Lumine glaring angrily at the screen under sunlight)
[Furina]:Shipping it.
[Hu Tao]:Same—shipping confirmed.
[Lumine]:I'm done with you people! (Sucrose·Sad)
[Sucrose]:From an outsider's perspective, Mr. Gu Chen really does take great care of Ms. Lumine in the video. It's almost… fatherly? (Sucrose·Innocent)
[Lumine]:I can't live like this!! (Childe·Damn It!)
[Childe]:Hey, hey, I know you're upset, but don't die yet! Come to Liyue first so we can spar! (Klee·Please!)
[Jean]:Let's all give the Honorary Knight some space, shall we? Anyway—look, in the video, Gu Chen and the others reunite with Venti. It seems like something secret is about to be revealed.
At that, everyone quieted down and turned their attention back to the screen.
In the video—
Gu Chen said seriously,
"I'm fine. My only goal is to travel to the Seven Nations. It's Lumine who needs your answers."
Venti nodded, turned toward Lumine. "Then, what do you want to know?"
After exchanging a grateful glance with Gu Chen, Lumine voiced all her doubts.
Soon, everyone—humans and gods alike—had learned many hidden truths.
[Jean]:Why does the Tsaritsa want to seize the other Archons' Gnoses?
[Yae Miko]:Hmm~ Looks like we'll need to be cautious of the Fatui.
[Raiden Ei]:The Gnosis is a useless trinket. Losing it means nothing. Why would the Cryo Archon want them?
[Venti]:@[Raiden Ei] And how exactly would you know they're useless, huh? (Hu Tao·Smirk)
In the Plane of Euthymia, Ei fell silent.
She'd known since the old gathering of the Seven that she and this windbag didn't get along.
And now—he'd exposed himself and tried to drag her down too!
Ei didn't particularly mind people knowing her identity, but given the sheer reverence Inazumans had for the Shogun, she didn't want to shatter the group's casual atmosphere.
She frowned, thinking hard.
[Raiden Ei]:I deduced it… from your past-life dialogue.
[Yae Miko]:Oh? So clever now, are we? (Yae Miko·Smirk)
Damn fox!
Ei had no desire to explain further and promptly went silent.
[Kaeya]:Wait a sec—the video's talking about the Abyss Order now. Their "Prince"… that wouldn't happen to be you, would it? @[Prince]
Kong nearly spat blood.
Admit that? Absolutely not!
He sneered.
[Prince]:How could I possibly have anything to do with the Abyss Order?
[Hu Tao]:Don't believe you! Post a selfie then!
[Prince]:…
Was everyone in this group insane?!
Why couldn't they just let it go?!
If he actually posted his real selfie, wouldn't that confirm everything?
Sure, he knew he'd probably be exposed in later videos—but he still wanted to fight fate!
His frustration matched what Venti had felt not long ago.
Then, suddenly—an idea struck him.
A moment later—
[Prince]:Behold, your Prince! (photo: a ten-year-old boy with defiant eyes and ornate noble clothes)
[Heizou]:Judging by the age, around ten or so. Constantly criticizing Mr. Gu Chen… maybe just a case of chuunibyou—jealous of Lumine's attention, perhaps?
"???"
Kong froze—then exploded.
"I'M SUING YOU FOR DEFAMATION!"
Heizou, you bastard!
You made it sound like he was some clueless kid with a crush on a girl who already had someone—and so he kept trash-talking the guy, trying to win her over like some tragic clown!
[Bennett]:Why does that pose look so familiar…?
[Fischl]:…Excuse me? 'Thinks he looks cool'? Bennett, what exactly are you implying?!
[Kuki Shinobu]:Yeah, I've got one like that at home too. (facepalm)
[Arataki Itto]:HAHAHA! Shinobu wouldn't let me talk before, but now I can finally say it—Arataki "Numero Uno" Itto is here! Join the Arataki Gang, and this boss'll protect ya all!
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