Watching Hu Tao sob beside him, Ji An was at a complete loss.
He truly had little experience dealing with crying girls, so he frantically shot looks at Zhongli.
Hey, do something! Aren't you and Hu Tao acquainted?
Unfortunately, the other man showed no reaction.
Left with no other choice,
Ji An steeled himself, picked up the teapot and a cup from the table, poured some tea, and pushed it toward Hu Tao.
"Ahem, have some warm water."
Hu Tao wiped her tears, picked up the cup, and took a sip.
"Yah!"
"Careful… it's hot."
Before Ji An could finish, Hu Tao had already pulled the cup away, sticking her tongue out.
"..."
'I didn't mean to… I hope she doesn't hate me for this.'
But Hu Tao didn't seem particularly upset. She just held the cup a little farther away and gently blew on the hot tea to cool it.
Cupping the warm porcelain in her hands, she slowly drank it all.
Then she stood up, her eyes still red, and said to Ji An, "Want to… go for a walk outside?"
"Huh?"
Ji An was puzzled, unsure why Director Hu wanted this. He instinctively glanced at Zhongli. "Zhongli, Director Hu says we should all—"
"Zhongli's not coming!"
Hu Tao cut him off, her plum blossom eyes fixed intently on him. "I meant you."
Ji An blinked in surprise and looked toward Zhongli.
"..."
Seriously, Zhongli, you're no help at all…
Ji An could only nod. "Alright."
Full of confusion, he followed Hu Tao outside.
But once they were on the street, Hu Tao didn't speak to him. She just walked quietly ahead, her chestnut-colored twin tails bouncing lightly with each step.
Walking behind her, Ji An could occasionally catch the light, plum-like fragrance that seemed to linger around her.
Just as he was about to speak up and ask why she'd brought him out,
Hu Tao suddenly turned around. Before Ji An could react, she stepped closer, grabbed the collar of his robe, and pulled him toward her.
They were now extremely close.
Hu Tao's pretty face was right in front of his, their noses almost touching.
At this distance, he could see her skin was flawless, smooth as fine porcelain.
"Director Hu, what are you…?"
Ji An's body froze. His heart hammered so loudly in his chest he thought it might leap out.
Mom, I think I'm being flirted with!?
"Shh."
Hu Tao pressed a pale finger to her lips, then closed her eyes and leaned close to Ji An's neck.
Her small nose twitched slightly, as if she was… smelling him.
A long moment passed.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Hu Tao's eyes before she let him go.
"Baishi said you're not from around here? Where are you from?"
Hu Tao stared at his face as if trying to see through him.
"I'm from… beyond the mountains."
Ji An thought for a moment, answering hesitantly.
"Beyond the mountains?"
Hu Tao pressed.
"Beyond the sea…"
Ji An's voice grew quieter.
"Beyond the sea? Which is it?"
Hu Tao was relentless.
"Never mind. Come with me."
Hu Tao shook her head, then grabbed Ji An's sleeve and pulled him along.
She first took him to the outside of the Liyue private school.
The clear, rhythmic sound of children reciting lessons drifted over the wall.
Hu Tao let go of Ji An's hand, trotted over to a corner of the wall, and started digging into the earth with her bare hands, getting her pale little fingers all dirty.
"Look here. What do you feel?"
Hu Tao pointed at the hole she'd dug.
She dug a hole in the school wall and is asking me what I feel?
Ji An stared at the makeshift tunnel, thought for a moment, and slowly said, "Director Hu, are you trying to tell me that while school may confine a child's body, it cannot imprison a soul that yearns for freedom?"
"..."
"Come with me again!"
Hu Tao pulled him along once more, this time to the port's dock.
She pointed at the three large brass geese bobbing in the water below.
"You see these three geese. What do you feel?"
Three geese? What am I supposed to feel? Director Hu's train of thought is so unpredictable, I can't keep up.
Ji An thought for a moment, then ventured, "Goose, goose, goose… craning their necks, singing to the sky?"
"..."
Finally, she led him to Granny Shan's toy stall.
"Granny Shan, I'll take a kite—the swallow one, please!"
"Here you go, Hu Tao dear."
Hu Tao took the kite, grabbed Ji An's hand, and—her red Vision glowing faintly at her back—leapt with him onto a nearby rooftop in one swift motion.
She let out the kite string, and the swallow kite soared higher and higher.
Hu Tao watched the kite in the sky, a look of reminiscence on her face.
A little while later,
she handed the kite reel to Ji An, a small smile on her lips, her little canine teeth showing.
"Here, you play with it."
Ji An accepted it, bewildered.
He braced himself for Hu Tao's third "What do you feel?" question, but it never came.
Instead, she sat down beside him, hugging her knees, a soft smile on her face.
"Director Hu, aren't you going to ask me?" Ji An couldn't help but say.
Hu Tao gave a quiet "mm," her eyes on the few butterflies that had come to rest on Ji An's shoulders.
"I think… I might already have my answer."
Ji An nodded deeply in agreement. "Mm, having an answer is a good thing."
Hu Tao curled up slightly, her voice soft. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing to me, Director Hu? What have you done that you need to be sorry for?"
Ji An was confused.
Hu Tao shook her head, not answering his question. Instead, she asked, "I heard from Baishi that you're one of the two people in the investigation team who understands ancient machinery?"
"Yes, we set off in a couple of days to investigate the ruins."
Ji An nodded.
"That's amazing. I heard even Master Lu Ban praised you. You've really grown up."
For some reason, Hu Tao seemed very happy, her eyes crinkling into crescents as she looked at him.
"I heard this investigation mission might be dangerous. But—but it's okay. I'm one of the escorts for this mission. I'm really strong now!"
Hu Tao looked at him, her plum blossom eyes glistening with unshed tears, her voice trembling slightly.
"This time… I'll definitely protect you."
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A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
*Honkai Impact 3rd, I Can Transform into a Valkyrie!*
patreon.com/deadlygoober