"Oh? Who's looking for me?"
Hearing Hu Tao, Zhongli rose and stepped outside.
The moment he emerged, his eyes met Ryou's.
It wasn't that Zhongli was surprised to see him.
Ryou just didn't look quite the same as before.
Something about him had changed—subtle, but hard to ignore.
Not long ago, Zhongli had been invited to that wedding as well. Back then, Ryou had been sharp and quick-witted, sure… but compared to the man in front of him now, there was an added unpredictability, like a variable that didn't belong.
"Zhongli-san," Ryou greeted with a smile. "I've heard a lot about you. Can we talk somewhere?"
Ryou already knew this wouldn't be easy.
Trying to persuade Zhongli was like trying to move a mountain. The man had lived for six thousand years—an antique in human skin. If he truly wanted to retire, that was a problem.
In Teyvat, a nation without a god didn't stay peaceful for long. It got swallowed. And without the Geo Archon, even with the adepti still around, Liyue would lose the force that held everyone together.
A god's existence mattered too much. Everything that came after had already proved it.
When Zhongli was still here, Liyue had fair weather and calm seas.
When Zhongli was "gone," Liyue got dragged into god-level wars twice.
Ryou couldn't understand it at all.
The guy practically worked one day a year—what was he even retiring from?
"Of course," Zhongli said. "Please, sit."
He noticed something odd in Ryou's eyes, but he didn't dwell on it. He led them to a stone table and sat.
"Then maybe you two—" Hu Tao started.
Before she could finish, Ryou cut in. "Director, you can stay. It won't hurt. This involves you too."
"Huh? What does it have to do with me?" Hu Tao stiffened. "And—about yesterday—wasn't that already over? You can't… you really can't…"
"That's not what I mean," Ryou said, shaking his head.
He looked back at Zhongli. "I'll be honest. I came to invite you, Zhongli-san, to take a position at the Ministry of Civil Affairs."
"What? You're poaching my consultant?!" Hu Tao snapped, instantly furious.
Zhongli frowned slightly. "Ryou-san, there's no need to continue. I have no intention of joining the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Compared to that, I prefer the environment at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. The Ministry's affairs are… complicated. I'm only an ordinary man. I doubt I could be of much help."
"Hmph." Hu Tao felt much better hearing that. She shot Ryou a triumphant glare.
Ryou wasn't surprised in the slightest.
He simply looked at Zhongli and said, "Zhongli-san, that doesn't add up. Half of Liyue Harbor says you're learned enough to fill a library. They say you know five thousand years of history like it was nothing—talent worthy of standing beside the Geo Archon. If you call yourself ordinary, what does that make the rest of us?"
"…"
Zhongli hesitated, unsure how to answer.
Ryou pressed on. "As far as I know, being Wangsheng's consultant means handling some matters—but more than anything, it's training and guidance. Without real ability, you can't do that job. Not properly."
"And Wangsheng's business isn't exactly booming," Ryou continued. "The number of times you step in to handle anything truly important? Probably close to none. Most days, you're out drinking tea, listening to storytellers, watching operas…"
He glanced aside—just slightly.
"…or buying outrageously expensive things. Director's been suffering for a while, hasn't she?"
"Exactly!" Hu Tao blurted out, nodding hard.
Then she noticed Zhongli looking at her.
She froze, forced a dry laugh… and then remembered who she was.
She was the director.
Hu Tao shot Zhongli a glare. "This director thinks Ryou's right. It's true!"
"Director…" Zhongli sighed. "Even if that's true… I still don't want to join the Ministry of Civil Affairs."
Hu Tao didn't argue this time.
Zhongli could pull her out of the Ministry when things got ugly. If he left, she'd be the one in trouble.
Ryou wasn't surprised by Zhongli's refusal either.
He said casually, "Zhongli-san, everything I mentioned just now? None of it matters. If you want to take it easy, if you're talented and still lazy—I wouldn't bother lecturing you."
Then his tone sharpened.
"But I've heard you're close with the Fatui Harbinger known as Childe."
"And while the Fatui don't openly clash with Liyue Harbor, behind the scenes they've already been planning to make a move. They want to destroy Liyue Harbor. Their Harbingers—La Signora, Childe—have already shown up."
Ryou's gaze locked onto Zhongli.
"So now I seriously suspect you're working with the Fatui. That you've been selling Liyue's intelligence to them."
He stood.
"Come with me."
[End of chapter]
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