When Xingqiu and Chongyun saw Hu Tao, they smiled and waved her over. The three youngsters gathered together, chatting about the latest interesting happenings in Liyue. Zhongli naturally walked off to the side and joined the older group's conversation.
"Hm? Where are Nahida and the others?" Lora looked around but did not see Nahida or Ei. Even Scaramouche was absent, and Lumine and Paimon were nowhere in sight.
"Ei and Kunikuzushi went off to have their fight," Makoto said to Lora. "Nahida went along to referee. As for Lumine and Paimon, I think they went to Dihua Marsh to look for someone. I'm not sure whether they found him."
"Oh... so the theme really is dragging everyone down together..." After hearing where Lumine and Paimon had gone, Lora understood at once.
Xianyun came out of the kitchen. She looked at Lora in front of her, fell silent for a moment, then said, "Ahem... Lora, come here. I have something to say to you."
"Hm?" Seeing Xianyun's hesitant look, Lora's curiosity was piqued. She smiled and moved closer. "What do you want to say to me?"
Xianyun took a few breaths, then looked seriously at her and said, "I admit that what happened during the Moonchase Festival was my fault. I shouldn't have pushed you out like that! I'm apologizing to you now, so later... don't go too far!"
"Go too far?" Lora blinked. "I don't think it's going too far."
Xianyun coughed. "I found you two new targets. Don't worry, there will be plenty of fun."
After hearing that, Lora turned and glanced at Jiehu and Houzhang, who were happily chatting with Zhongli.
Oh, so that was what this was about...
Lora laughed. "I really didn't expect this from you, Miss Xianyun. Turns out you're quite an honest girl after all! Then let's do it that way!"
"Please. I've never seen anyone this wicked." Xianyun clicked her tongue.
Before long, Nahida returned from outside with Ei and Scaramouche. The two mothers looked perfectly fine, but there was something a bit off about Scaramouche's face.
"Uh... did he get beaten up?" Lora quietly asked after seeing the marks on his face.
Nahida replied, "No. He fell on his own."
"Huh?" Lora froze.
Nahida briefly described Ei and Scaramouche's fight to her.
Even so, when Lora heard that Scaramouche had tried to rush at Ei, only for Ei to dodge and send him stumbling straight off Qingyun Peak, she still burst out laughing without the slightest hint of guilt.
"No, wait... are you serious? You can actually fall off like that?" Lora looked at Scaramouche and said with a grin, "I really didn't expect that from you..."
"Shut up!" Scaramouche shouted. "Anything can happen in battle!"
"Mm, you're right." Lora nodded, holding back her laughter and saying nothing more.
Makoto came out of the kitchen. When she saw Scaramouche, she smiled and called, "Kunikuzushi, you're back? Come, come, help your auntie out a little..."
"..."
Scaramouche's mouth twitched, but he still obediently walked over to help serve the dishes.
"Heh... it really does feel a little like home now." Lora smiled when she saw this.
Nahida stood beside her and sighed. "Home, for us, is an extravagant word beyond reach. It is like a star hanging beyond this false sky. As gods, we will always chase it, yet never be able to catch it."
"It is enough to pursue it, even if it is only a fleeting light." Lora recited Makoto's timeless words, then said, "I believe that without a doubt."
For them, was this moment not a rare glimmer of light in their long lives?
Of course... for certain people, today would likely become an unforgettable shadow in their hearts...
Before long, Shenhe walked in from outside with Ganyu.
"Oh, Big Sis Ganyu!" Upon seeing Ganyu enter, Yae Miko, who had been hiding off to the side, finally poked her head out and walked toward the door with a smile.
"It's Yae Miko..." Ganyu was a little surprised.
"Long time no see, Big Sis Ganyu." Yae Miko smiled as she greeted her. "I heard from Senior Xianyun that Shenhe went to find you. You took so long to come that I thought you weren't coming."
"Although today is Lantern Rite, there were still quite a few documents to handle, so I'm a bit late." Ganyu had not yet realized how serious tonight's meal was. Behind her, Shenhe sighed and silently mourned.
Yae Miko, however, had already figured out that something was wrong with this meal. She glanced at Shenhe behind Ganyu and immediately felt that Ganyu was rather pitiful. Being tricked by her own master and junior sister at the same time was a rare treatment indeed.
The large table was already filled with many dishes, all personally prepared by Xianyun. Perhaps this could ease her guilt a little for tricking her old friends.
No... she did not seem to feel any guilt at all.
"Hurry, hurry! I can already smell the food!" Paimon's urging voice came from outside. Then she flew straight through the door, followed by Lumine, who was dragging Xiao in behind her.
The three of them were the last to arrive, and the moment they entered, they drew everyone's attention.
Makoto, Ei, Lora, Venti, Zhongli, Nahida, and Zhongyue all turned their gazes toward Xiao.
All seven of them were smiling.
Lora waved with a smile. "Welcome, Xiao."
Xiao: "..."
"Oh, don't just stand there. Hurry and sit down, or the food will get cold..." Xianyun spoke up, breaking the atmosphere before it could grow any more unbearable.
Once she said that, everyone walked over to the table and prepared to take their seats.
"Come, come, come. This is Xianyun's home, so naturally, you should take the seat of honor!" Lora immediately became enthusiastic, smiling as she urged Xianyun toward the most prestigious seat.
Xianyun: "...??"
Wait... had she said all that earlier for nothing?
"That is only proper," Zhongli nodded.
Xianyun took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "I am not the most honored person here. How could I take the seat of honor? Why not let Lora..."
"...let the graceful Miss Ganyu sit there instead!" Seeing that Xianyun was about to expose her, Lora quickly changed direction and looked toward Ganyu, who stood nearby looking somewhat half-asleep.
"Hm? Ah? Me? But..." Ganyu froze, staring blankly at everyone before her.
"That is only proper," Zhongli nodded.
Ganyu looked at the seven old-timers, fell silent for a moment, then said, "Master is an adeptus of Liyue, and this is Master's home. It is only right that Master sit in the seat of honor."
"Huh? Miss Xianyun is an adeptus?" After hearing Ganyu's words, Xingqiu and Chongyun both looked at Xianyun in surprise.
"If that's the case, then Miss Xianyun really must sit in the seat of honor!" Lora said, pretending to be surprised