They had just found a place to sit down when Paimon said, "This system is pretty user-friendly! Even without looking up at the sky, you can see the countdown right in this light screen!"
Lumine looked over at the sound of her voice, and sure enough, just as Paimon said, the glow in front of her eyes offered not only the group chat option but also a choice to watch the video.
This way, they wouldn't have to keep craning their necks up at the sky.
"Only three minutes left!"
"I'm so excited! Who knows what secrets it'll reveal?"
"Lumine, what if it plays some weird secret or something the world can't know? Could it cause total chaos?!"
Paimon looked a bit worried, her childish little face tense with anxiety.
Lumine thought for a moment, then smiled and patted Paimon's head reassuringly. "It's fine. Even if the sky falls, there'll be tall people to hold it up. Besides, from what everyone's saying in the group... the Exposure System must be backed by something even more powerful. Even if it exposes stuff, no one can touch them."
"Oh, oh."
Paimon nodded as if she half-understood, then planted her hands on her hips. "If only your brother was in the secrets too! Then it'd give us clues to find him!"
Lumine's eyes lit up at that.
Right! If the Exposure System had info on her brother, she could find him sooner!
"Time's almost up!"
Paimon suddenly said.
Lumine's gaze fixed on the light screen—the final five-second countdown!
At the same time, everyone across Teyvat was staring intently at the countdown, eager to see what secrets the Exposure System would bring to the continent!
[Previous Life Series, Episode 1]
[Stories from the Journey]
[Main Characters This Episode]: [Lumine][Paimon][Gu Chen]
[Keywords This Episode]: [Traveler from Afar][Best Travel Companion][You Can Always Entrust Your Back to Me!]
Seeing the names of the main characters this episode, Paimon cried out in shock: "Lumine! It's you—and, and me?!"
"Mm-hmm."
Lumine nodded, her expression grave. "Looks like it's about us. But who's this Gu Chen?"
"Gu Chen?"
"Never heard of him."
Paimon racked her brains, then shook her head repeatedly.
Meanwhile, the chat group was buzzing.
[Extraordinary Group Chat]
[Kaeya]: Oh? It's about the Traveler? But who's this Gu Chen?
[Jean]: Secrets about the Traveler? I hope she won't mind me watching these.
[Venti]: Hehe, the Traveler, huh? She's got tons of secrets~ But who's Gu Chen?
[Klee]: What do these keywords mean?
[Sucrose]: They seem like key points for the video!
[Kamisato Ayaka]: "Best travel companion... You can always entrust your back to me." These two keywords sound so reliable.
[Collei]: I-Is this exposing secrets? It doesn't feel quite like it...
[Amber]: The Traveler's best travel companion has gotta be Paimon, right?!
[Collei]: Amber!! How have you been?
[Amber]: Hehe, doing pretty good lately. How about you, Collei? Feeling better?
[Collei]: I'm okay!
[Tighnari]: Collei, you should chat more in the group from now on. It'll help you practice.
[Xingqiu]: The light screen's changing!
[Hu Tao]: Yo, a family portrait! Huh?! Don't tell me these three are a family of three?!
As [Hu Tao] spoke, everyone saw an image: a handsome young man with a smiling girl and a tiny little girl held in the young man's arms.
[Paimon]: ??? Who the heck is this guy?!
[Lumine]: Uh... Who is this? No memory of him at all...
[Kaeya]: Oh? Not even the Traveler or Paimon herself recognizes him?
[Venti]: I think I know who it is...
[Zhongli]: @[Venti] Elaborate!
[Venti]: He's standing right next to me...
After sending the message, Venti turned to Gu Chen, eyes wide with surprise. He couldn't help asking, "You're acquainted with the Traveler too?"
"Mm..."
"Kinda?"
"What do you mean 'kinda'?!"
Venti pouted. Who answers like that?
What did he mean by "kinda" acquainted?!
Gu Chen's expression turned odd. He had a bad feeling about this.
And it was only getting stronger.
From the keywords and cover the Exposure System showed... this seemed like footage from one of his past lives!
This was bad!
Realizing this, Gu Chen stood up at once. "I have something to do. I'm heading out..."
"Don't go! Elaborate!"
Venti grabbed Gu Chen's arm right away, his face full of curiosity.
"Sit first. Just sit for a bit. It's just us two here—you can leave after we watch, I promise!" Venti assured him earnestly.
Gu Chen's mouth twitched.
Did he not know what kind of person Venti was?
After a moment's thought, Gu Chen sighed. "Just don't blab in the group."
"Got it, got it! Starting now, I'll shut up. I might have questions later, though!"
Seeing Gu Chen agree to stay, Venti beamed.
"The video's starting! Quick, look!"
The video began playing in the sky and on the light screens.
It was a fine, sunny afternoon, with the sound of gentle waves lapping in the background.
The scene shifted to a young man in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, carrying a bucket and fishing rod, appearing on the beach. It was Gu Chen!
"Nice weather today—perfect for fishing. Hope I catch something..."
Gu Chen smiled faintly as he walked along the beach. Suddenly, something caught the corner of his eye. He paused, then hurried over.
Drawing closer, he saw a figure with short golden hair lying on the sand—a white-clad girl.
[Paimon]: Ah?! That's Lumine?!
[Lumine]: ...No memory of this at all! Really!!!
[Hu Tao]: Tsk tsk, this guy's kinda handsome. But why's she lying on the beach? Looks just like a corpse. Hmm, need Wangsheng Funeral Parlor services?!
[Lumine]: I'm alive! Alive!!
[Hu Tao]: Alive? What a shame.
[Kaeya]: Miss, what exactly are you regretting here?!
[Zhongli]: My deepest apologies...
"Hey!"
"Hey?"
Gu Chen approached the figure.
It was a golden-haired girl covered in sand and mud, her legs still being lapped by the seawater.
Seeing her paper-white face, Gu Chen sighed softly. He reached out to check her breathing and froze. "Dead?"
[Lumine]: Alive! I'm alive!!
Then, everyone saw Gu Chen lean over Lumine, pressing his ear to her chest as he muttered, "There's still a heartbeat. Not fully gone yet!"
[Lumine]: I couldn't die even if I wanted to!!
[Lumine]: Wait, what are you doing?!
In the video.
No matter how Gu Chen tried to rouse Lumine, she wouldn't wake.
"Breathing's getting weaker. Can't let this go on."
"Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. This calls for CPR, so..."
"Miss, sorry!"
Gu Chen straightened Lumine's face, looking reluctant as he leaned down.
[Lumine]: !!!
[Hu Tao]: Can I even watch this?
[Kaeya]: Can I even watch this?
[Your Highness]: Shut up! Shut the f*ck up!! You f*cking... you %$#!!
At Liyue Stone Gate.
Lumine's pretty face flushed red, her fists clenched tight. She fumed, "He took advantage of me!"
Paimon rubbed her little hands together nervously, then said weakly, "But he was saving you..."
Lumine wailed in frustration, "I know, but..."
"But what's with that reluctant look on his face?!"
"That was my first kiss! My first kiss!!"