[Since I'll be writing about other nations later, I'm adding a headcanon here (not sure if the original game has it). For little Lovia's sake, the people of Teyvat have only one language, called Teyvat Common Tongue (Chinese). As for the script, it's Teyvat Common Script (Simplified Chinese), and then each nation has its own national script.] (In short, it's assumed that others can understand Lovia's writing to avoid language barrier issues.)
Just as Lovia was lost in thought, a rhythmic storytelling voice drifted over with the wind.
"...It is said that Rex Lapis, with the title of Morax, swept through the four directions and protected this corner of the mortal world! When His Excellency cast down his Jueyun Chili Spears, Guyun was formed, and the Gods were defeated..."
It was the voice of the Storyteller from Wanmin Restaurant!
Lovia felt a jolt, struggled to sit up, and peeked out from behind the corner of the wall. She saw many tea drinkers gathered around the Storyteller, listening in rapt fascination.
Rex Lapis... Morax... These familiar names were like a key, instantly opening the floodgates of her memory.
Every detail of her obsession with 'allogene' in her past life—those characters, those stories, and those memes that made her and her fellow internet friends laugh until they cried—came rushing back like a tide.
Zhongli! That'socially inept person' who never brought Mora when he went out, who would say 'I'll take them all' and then naturally send the bill to the WangSheng Funeral Parlor or give it to the unlucky Tartaglia!
A brilliant (and potentially suicidal) idea struck the starving Lovia like a bolt of lightning.
That's right! Most people in this world hold Rex Lapis, those high-and-mighty Adepti, and heroes in awe and worship. Who would dare to make fun of them? At most, someone like the Storyteller would tell their legendary stories in a serious manner.
But she was different! Her head was filled with countless 'dark histories' and 'parody memes' about these characters!
What if... what if she wrote those things down?
For example... writing a book called 'Record of the Lord's Wanderings — Morax Didn't Bring Any Money Today'?
Just thinking about this title made Lovia feel an inexplicable power (perhaps the Power of Roasting) well up from the bottom of her heart, temporarily suppressing her hunger.
What is this world missing? The spirit of entertainment! Down-to-earth gossip! A humanized interpretation (nonsense) of the Gods! And those interesting memes!
And she, Lovia, the Meme King and Fanfic writer who dominated various forums in her past life, could fill this gap!
Although she might be arrested by the Millelith on charges of 'blaspheming the Lord,' it was better than starving to death, right?
Take a chance, and a Slime might turn into Ningguang!
At this thought, the light of hope (death-seeking) reignited in Lovia's large, gem-like eyes.
She felt her pockets, but they were empty. The only valuable things were the seemingly exquisite quill pen that appeared along with her dress and a blank notebook.
"It's decided!" She stood up abruptly. Although she wobbled from low blood sugar, her gaze was incredibly firm. "Knowledge is power, and memes are wealth! I relied on a keyboard in my past life; in this life, I'll use a quill pen to make my comeback!"
The moment she stood steady, Lovia subconsciously raised her hand to ensure her hood was pulled tight. "Hmm, I also need to use a pen name. I absolutely cannot expose my identity as a Melusine!"
She needed to find a place to write down her inspiration. It didn't need to be fancy, just somewhere sheltered from the wind and rain... Right, she heard there's a 'Sanyu Bookstore' in Liyue Harbor that often accepts manuscripts?
Lovia gripped her quill pen and notebook, tightened her hood, and made sure she looked like a lost child in slightly strange clothes. She took a deep breath and left the spot with steps that were a bit floaty but full of determination.
She had to find an empty alley first to write her draft.
The sunlight fell on her but was blocked by her hood, casting only a small shadow at her feet.
The peaceful daily life of Liyue Harbor was about to be stirred into great waves by a Melusine trying her best to hide her identity.
And her first target was that consultant of the WangSheng Funeral Parlor, the retired God of Liyue — Mr. Zhongli.
————————————————————————————
Carrying her pitifully small 'belongings,' Lovia wound through the intricate alleys of Liyue Harbor. Finally, she found an ideal spot in a quiet corner where several old wooden crates were piled up.
The sunlight could barely reach here, it was hidden enough, and most importantly, there was no one around.
She sat down carefully, making sure her cloak wrapped her tail and small wings tightly. Then, she solemnly opened the blank notebook, took a deep breath, and gripped the quill pen.
"Record of the Lord's Wanderings: Morax Didn't Bring Any Money Today..." she muttered, the tip of her pen hovering over the paper. "No, that's too direct. What if I'm arrested on the spot? It has to be subtle but funny enough to grab attention..."
Her sapphire-blue eyes darted around, and a flash of cunning crossed them.
"Got it!"
The tip of the quill pen finally touched the paper, making a faint rustling sound.
Her hunger seemed temporarily suppressed by the passion of creation. She wrote quickly, occasionally pausing to bite the pen barrel (unfortunately, the quill's barrel wasn't edible), and sometimes letting out a suppressed low chuckle. Her tail wagged quickly but subtly under her cloak, fully expressing its owner's excitement.
Before long, a short, punchy, and earth-shattering piece of 'unofficial history' was freshly completed.
Lovia checked it carefully to ensure the handwriting was reasonably neat (she was still a bit unaccustomed to using a Melusine's body) and that the content was sufficiently abstract and eye-catching.
She nodded with satisfaction, carefully tore the page from the notebook, and folded it.
Then she took out another piece of paper and wrote: 'To the Bookstore Owner of Sanyu Bookstore: Entrusted by a certain gentleman who wishes to remain anonymous, I am submitting one of his great works for your review. If it is acceptable, please keep the manuscript fee at the bookstore for now; the client will come to collect it in the future.'
Next step, the key to the plan's success — disguise!
Lovia took a deep breath, tightened her hood again, confirmed that no non-human features were exposed, and walked toward the direction of 'Sanyu Bookstore' in her memory with a feigned calm, like a child running an errand for an adult. Just as planned!
————————————————————————————
The storefront of 'Sanyu Bookstore' wasn't large, filled with a scholarly air mixed with the scent of old paper and ink.
The Bookstore Owner was leisurely using an abacus to settle this month's accounts. Business was neither good nor bad; the bestsellers were still traditional chivalric novels and legends of the Lord, which readers never seemed to tire of.
Just then, a small child in a hooded cloak slipped in, short in stature and light on their feet.
"Owner... Uncle." a clearly childish, tender voice spoke. "Someone asked me to give this to you."
A small hand reached out from under the cloak, placed two folded pieces of paper on the counter, and then, before the owner could react, the child turned and ran away like a startled Finch, disappearing into the crowd outside in the blink of an eye.
"Eh? Little one? Who told you to deliver this?" The owner's question met thin air, so he could only pick up the two papers in confusion.
He first read the 'commission letter' and smiled. "Which adult would send such a small child to deliver a manuscript instead of coming themselves?"
Shaking his head, he unfolded the other manuscript paper.
At first, his expression was casual, carrying the usual flatness of someone who had reviewed countless submissions.
His gaze fell on the title, and he read it aloud: "'The Travels of Shi Po Chen · Part One'? Shi Po? That name is quite interesting, like the pseudonym of some high-minded hermit..."
However, as he continued reading, his eyes gradually widened.
The leisurely smile on his lips froze and then began to twitch.
His fingers began to tremble slightly, and the abacus beads were accidentally rattled into a clatter.