Watching the expectant version of herself in the video, Lumine was momentarily stunned.
Lumine, oh Lumine, what's wrong with you?!
"Lumine, you're not going full lovebrain on us, are you?" Paimon whispered.
"?"
Lumine shot Paimon a glance and shook her head repeatedly. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
What a joke!
She might look a bit silly on the surface, but she wasn't some naive little girl!
[Extraordinary Group Chat]
[Yae Miko]: Oh my, the innocent girl is about to fall for a lifesaving favor and a skewer of grilled fish~ Has she already thought up names for their kids?
[Lumine]: I'm not! I didn't!
[Yae Miko]: I'm talking about your past self, dear. You didn't experience it personally this time, so how do you know it didn't happen?
[Kaeya]: Hahaha, Yae Miko's got a sharp angle there—makes perfect sense!
[Furina]: Interesting, so interesting! None of the other shows at the Opera House are as fun as this!
In the video.
After a moment's thought, Gu Chen nodded. "Traveling together is definitely better than going alone. Having someone by your side means you can watch out for each other."
"Hehe, Lumine, welcome to the team!" Paimon happily extended her hand.
"Why is it joining *you* guys?"
Lumine shook her hand and asked curiously.
Gu Chen looked at Paimon, puzzled as well.
"Hmph hmph, because Gu Chen is *my* lifesaver! He's traveling the Seven Nations, so of course I'm gonna be his guide~ Plus, his cooking is so good, hehe!" Paimon grinned guiltily, hands behind her back.
"I see."
Gu Chen and Lumine both nodded in realization.
"Then we're travel companions now."
Gu Chen smiled, then glanced at the sky. "It's not dark yet, so let's find a safe spot to rest. Teyvat's wilderness at night isn't safe."
"Mm-hmm." Lumine nodded.
And so, the trio set off on their journey.
[Amber]: Friendly tip: The Teyvat Continent's wilderness is full of dangers—try not to stay out after dark!
[Kaeya]: Haha, the Outrider's so helpful—worthy of praise!
[Amber]: Hehe, everyone's in the Extraordinary Group here, so I've forwarded this to the Ordinary Group!
[Jean]: Well done. Hope everyone in the Ordinary Group takes it seriously!
[Hu Tao]: Hold up! Why'd the video jump straight to the next morning?! What happened at night? I didn't get to see!
[Kaeya]: Good grief, it really skipped a whole night?
[Zhongli]: If every moment was shown in the video, we'd be watching this for years.
[Yae Miko]: Just like 'the next day' in those light novels~
[Alhaitham]: If I'm right, non-essential parts won't be shown. It's to keep viewers from getting bored and to save time.
[Lyney]: That's perfect! If the videos were too long and captivating, it'd mess up my shows!
In the video.
Gu Chen, Lumine, and Paimon had clearly freshened up.
They walked along the road.
The audience could feel the passage of time in the video.
In just a few minutes, it was already three days later in the footage.
[Lisa]: Gu Chen's such a sweetheart, taking such good care of the two girls~
[Yae Miko]: Keyword: best travel companion. That's gotta be Gu Chen. The little guy's full of surprises sometimes, but he handles every detail perfectly. The heroine in the video's getting closer to falling for him~
[Lumine]: ...Nothing to say.
Lumine really had nothing to say right now.
The Gu Chen in the video had taken great care of her past self.
"Clothes handed to her, meals served on a platter" was an exaggeration.
But whether shielding her from hilichurls or meticulously setting up camp, the man seemed to glow.
Both the Ordinary Group and Extraordinary Group were showering Gu Chen with praise.
But there seemed to be one Gu Chen hater in the Extraordinary Group.
[Your Highness]: Heh, any guy could do that!
[Your Highness]: That's it? That's it? He stands watch the first half of the night, then needs Lumine to take the second? What kind of man is that? Can't rely on him!
[Your Highness]: Heh, deliberately leaving hilichurls for the girl to fight, calling it 'training.' If you're out of stamina, stop pretending!
[Your Highness]: Raining hard and cold? Leaning on the girl? Cold my ass—he just wanted to take advantage!
[Kaeya]: Bro, why are you getting worked up over a video?
[Paimon]: Yeah! It was the Lumine in the video who was cold and wanted to lean on Gu Chen—he only agreed!
[Lumine]: First off, past me has nothing to do with current me. Second, Paimon's right!
[Hu Tao]: Tsk tsk tsk, is this Your Highness one of Lumine小姐's suitors?
[Barbara]: Ah, this might actually be...
[Jean]: With people like this, you have to crush their delusions. Gu Chen's clearly such a great guy, but in his mouth, he's some irredeemable villain. Don't twist the facts!
[Alhaitham]: Fair point: total clown.
[Venti]: Clown? Hahaha, spot on!
[Your Highness]: Hmph, do you get it or do I?!
Abyss Order.
Aether's face was ashen.
He couldn't stand Gu Chen no matter how he looked at him.
It felt like his little cabbage was about to be devoured by a pig.
Lumine, don't fall for his trap!
[Kaeya]: So you think you get it?
[Your Highness]: Heh, you have no idea the angle I'm seeing this from!
[Lisa]: Angle that sharp—you her brother?
[Lumine]: @[Your Highness]?
Aether's pupils shrank.
After a moment's silence, he typed furiously.
[Ayato]: Intriguing. Could he really be Lumine小姐's brother?
[Your Highness]: I'm her brother? Joke's on you! If I were, we'd have reunited ages ago!
[Heizou]: Judging by that, he's got a hard-shell denial. Seventy percent chance he's Lumine's brother!
[Your Highness]: ?
[Your Highness]: If I were Aether, I'd lick Gu Chen's shoes clean!
Gu Chen, reading the chat, froze.
He knew this was Aether himself, based on his posts.
Brother-in-law coming to lick his shoes?
For real? O.o?
[Yae Miko]: Hmm? So he's not Lumine's brother after all?
[Heizou]: Case closed! He's Lumine小姐's rabid suitor!
[Hu Tao]: Master detective!
[Navia]: Master detective!
Abyss Order.
Bang bang bang!
Aether slammed his fists on the throne, knuckles bruised.
His face twisted in fury.
"Damn it! Past me... are you useless or what!?"
"Are you really gonna watch your own sister fall into enemy hands!?"
Aether burned with rage.
His sister was falling into a honey trap, and what was past him doing?!
The Abyss Apostles and Abyss Mages in the Order trembled.
Your Highness was on the verge of a heart attack, blurting out whatever came to mind.
The apostles worried for His Highness's mental state.