It was currently winter in Teyvat.
Even the midday sun didn't bring heat, only a gentle warmth.
After basking in the morning light, Lin Mo found himself resting his head against Alice's.
Wrapped in the warm sunlight, the two leaned against each other and slept through half the day.
As the winter sun began its descent, around two or three in the afternoon,
Lin Mo felt a gentle touch on his cheek.
Slowly lifting his tired eyelids, he looked to the side.
There was Alice, blinking her beautiful eyes at him.
She was poking his cheek with a slender finger, a look of playful curiosity on her face.
"Alice..."
Lin Mo mumbled drowsily.
"Lin Mo~ Why haven't you aged a bit after all these years?"
Alice asked curiously, "Aren't you human? Logically speaking... shouldn't you be a man in his thirties by now?"
"Well... that requires explaining the story of another one of my cycles."
As he spoke, Lin Mo looked up at the winter sun now hanging on the other side of the sky.
He estimated the time. If they set out now, they could reach the snowy mountains by dusk.
So he took Alice's hand and said with a smile, "It's getting late. Let's head out. I can tell you the story of the cycle where I became a bio-alchemist on the way."
"You were a bio-alchemist too!?"
A flash of surprise crossed Alice's eyes, her heart brimming with anticipation.
"Mhm~"
Lin Mo wore a proud expression. "I wasn't just any alchemist. I was the second greatest alchemist on the Teyvat continent at the time, you know."
"Tell me about that cycle's story quickly~"
Alice's eyes were full of eagerness.
One reason was her deep curiosity about Lin Mo's cyclical stories.
The other was that, like Lisa, she herself held a keen interest in all kinds of research.
Bio-alchemy was known as the most difficult field of study, so Alice's interest was naturally piqued.
And so, Lin Mo held Alice's hand as they walked towards the direction of the snowy mountains.
Along the way,
Lin Mo recounted the story of that cycle—how he became Rhinedottir's assistant—to Alice in detail.
Of course, he couldn't just tell half the story.
After all, he was about to take her to meet Rhinedottir.
So he also told Alice everything about this cycle's story of reviving Durin and reuniting with Rhinedottir, holding nothing back.
By the time the story was finished,
Lin Mo and Alice had arrived at the foot of the snowy mountains.
"Oh ho~"
A mischievous glint flashed in Alice's eyes. "So... you came to Starsnatch Cliff not to find me, but to collect personality materials for your daughter Xina, right?"
"Ahem... Not at all~"
How could Lin Mo dare admit he was killing two birds with one stone?
He quickly explained, "I even went specifically to Dadupa Gorge and Mondstadt city, but didn't see you anywhere."
"If I were just looking for materials and happened to be looking for you, I would have gone to challenge the Anemo Hypostasis too."
"See? Now I didn't even bother with the Anemo Hypostasis. I just slayed a Cryo Regisvine and hurried straight to Starsnatch Cliff to find you."
"Let's just say, seeing you was my true intention. Gathering materials was just a side task~"
...
Listening to Lin Mo's flustered explanation,
A look of satisfaction flashed in Alice's eyes. "That's more like it~"
"What are you two talking about? Lin Mo, explain!"
At that moment, a cold, demanding voice reached Lin Mo's ears.
Lin Mo shuddered instantly.
Rhinedottir had emerged from around a bend in the mountain path at some point.
She was now looking towards Lin Mo and Alice with a deeply resentful expression.
"I... uh..."
Lin Mo's brain short-circuited for a moment.
He had no idea if Rhinedottir had overheard his conversation with Alice.
Just then, Alice gave a sly smile. Walking towards Rhinedottir, she said cheerfully, "You must be Ms. Rhinedottir, right~?"
"An elf?"
Rhinedottir immediately noticed Alice's pointed ears. "Are you perhaps Klee's..."
"That's right~"
Alice casually linked arms with Rhinedottir, smiling. "We're the same—both mothers of his children, as far as Lin Mo is concerned~"
"My name is Alice~"
Rhinedottir's gaze instantly turned icy.
She looked coldly at Lin Mo and said flatly, "Didn't you say you were searching for materials to shape our daughter's personality? Is this the 'material' you were looking for?"
"I did search!"
Lin Mo immediately raised the Everfrost Core in his hand. "Look, this is the core left after the Cryo Regisvine died."
Seeing the Everfrost Core, Rhinedottir's gaze softened slightly.
But she still looked at Alice beside her and asked, "Then who is she..."
"Oh, it's like this."
Lin Mo explained with a smile,
"I did slay the Cryo Regisvine."
"It was already late at night. On the way to the Anemo Hypostasis's territory, I remembered Starsnatch Cliff, where Alice and I often used to take walks."
"I just wanted to go look at the stars."
Rhinedottir's wary gaze
shifted between Lin Mo
and Alice.
The emotion in her eyes perfectly embodied the word "suspicion."
Alice chose the perfect moment to fan the flames:
"Oh? So you didn't come specifically to find me?"
"Hmph~ And here I was, all pleasantly surprised for nothing~"
"But then again~"
"In this vast Teyvat continent, for us to still be able to meet again... doesn't that perfectly prove that saying?"
"Indeed, fate works in mysterious ways, doesn't it?"
"If two people love each other, they don't need to search deliberately; they will meet again."
...
Cold sweat had already soaked through Lin Mo's clothes.
Alice!
I knew it!
I told you that story so you could cause trouble for me!
After Alice finished speaking,
Rhinedottir turned a gaze that could kill towards Lin Mo.
"Lin Mo..."
"Is she implying that..."
"We lack fate? That even though I searched for you for five hundred years, we had no chance of meeting, is that it?"
"Indeed, that super-brain surgery..."
"Is! Very! Necessary!"
...
Hearing Rhinedottir's words,
The cold sweat pouring from Lin Mo's forehead became as dense as a waterfall!!
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T/N:
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