"If I have the chance, I'd like to visit Fontaine," Xingqiu said to Furina after thinking for a moment.
He had his own reasons for not refusing her invitation.
As the second young master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, he knew the guild's business in Liyue had more or less reached its limit. The next step was expanding beyond Liyue's borders.
He had also heard from Hu Tao that Miss Lora held a high position in Fontaine. This would be a good opportunity to scout things out and discuss whether the guild could do business there.
Furina patted him on the shoulder. "Very good! As long as you come to Fontaine, I guarantee you'll... what's that phrase again? Right, feel right at home! I used that idiom correctly, didn't I?"
"Of course," Xingqiu said with a smile.
Lora and the others had already walked a fair distance. She looked back and saw Furina still talking to him, so she called out, "Furina, what are you still doing? If you don't come now, we're leaving without you!"
"I know, I know!" Furina called back. After waving goodbye to Xingqiu, she jogged after them.
Under Xianyun's lead, everyone headed to Wangshu Inn.
"Wow! So this is Wangshu Inn!" Furina looked at the inn built around the huge tree ahead and exclaimed, "What a unique building! It's actually built on a tree?"
"That isn't even the biggest one. The great tree supporting Sumeru City is even larger. I'll take you to see it next time there's a chance," Lora said with a smile when she saw how excited Furina was.
Right now, her daughter's happiness mattered most.
Focalors looked at Wangshu Inn and sighed. "Liyue's architecture truly is eye-opening. It has been a very long time since I traveled like this."
"Should we tear down the Palais Mermonia and build something like this?" Lora asked from the side.
Furina immediately said, "If we did, Neuvillette would probably chase all three of us down."
Lora: "..."
"Don't take his side before we've even done anything!"
Walking ahead, Xianyun listened to the conversation behind her, clicked her tongue, and shook her head. "Looks like you don't have much authority at home either."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Lora immediately retorted.
Amid the noise, everyone arrived at Wangshu Inn.
The top floor was especially lively at the moment. When they went up, Zhongli, Xiao, Houzhang, Jiehu, and several others were all there.
"Oh? Why is everyone here?" Lora was a little surprised to see them.
When Xianyun saw Houzhang and Jiehu, she also laughed. "I was just wondering whether I should go into the mountains to find you. Since you're already here, that saves me the trouble."
Everyone greeted Lora and Xianyun. Then Houzhang and Jiehu's gazes fell on Yuandai.
As Xianyun's close friends, they naturally knew about her.
"Xianyun, this is..."
Houzhang looked at Xianyun, but the moment he noticed her gaze, he quickly shut his mouth.
"It is truly fortunate to meet all of you here," Zhongli said slowly.
Xianyun was silent for a moment before saying, "You really do know how to make anything sound pleasant."
"What are you all doing here?" Lora asked curiously.
Xiao answered, "Mr. Zhongli came to find us. He said he wanted to hold a banquet during Lantern Rite, so he hopes we can help with the arrangements."
"If I may ask, will Miss Lora also be spending this Lantern Rite in Liyue?" Houzhang suddenly asked.
Lora nodded. "Of course. Why else would I come to Liyue?"
Hearing her answer, Houzhang and Jiehu exchanged a glance. Both were already considering whether they should ask Zhongli for leave and avoid the storm for now.
Xiao said from the side, "You two should stop thinking about unrealistic things. Do you think you can escape?"
The moment he said that, both of them froze in place.
At that moment, Zhongli stepped forward and asked, "What brings everyone here?"
Furina quickly answered, "We're helping this heroine recover her memories! Have you heard of her? According to Xingqiu, the second young... uh, second young master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, she was the heroine who saved many people during Liyue's drought fifty years ago!"
She then introduced Yuandai and Shuyu to everyone.
"Ah... fifty years ago. That is quite long ago. Perhaps the adepti would know," Zhongli said with emotion. His gaze swept over Houzhang and Jiehu before finally landing on Xiao.
Xiao noticed his gaze and silently stepped back.
Furina looked at Zhongli strangely, then quietly said to Lora, "Mom, what's going on with Mr. Zhongli? Isn't he an adeptus? Why would he act like fifty years is too long ago for him to know?"
This was the first time the little girl had seen this side of Zhongli.
During that earlier banquet, Lora and Zhongli had exposed each other's pasts and revealed his identity as an adeptus, but they had not told her anything else. It was no wonder she would ask now.
Lora said, "Go ask Focalors. She'll tell you."
Hearing that, Furina walked over to Focalors and asked her question.
Focalors was silent for a moment. She looked at Zhongli, then considered whether she should tell Furina about Chaya. In the end, she pulled Furina aside and began explaining things quietly.
Then Furina's expression grew more and more shocked.
Zhongli remained calm. He saw what the two were doing but said nothing. Instead, he turned to Lora and the others.
"Since this is for the sake of helping this heroine recover her memories, we naturally ought to support you."
Xiao also nodded, which was rare, and echoed his words. "Mr. Zhongli is right. If there is anything you need, please tell us. The staff at Wangshu Inn will also provide assistance."
"There's no need to make such a fuss. Let Yuandai search on her own." Xianyun shook her head, silently grateful for the consideration of her old friends.
After stepping into Wangshu Inn, Yuandai seemed to remember a few things in a daze. She looked around the inn and murmured, "I remember... I think I really did stay here before... It seemed to be for recovery..."
"It may be hard to see clearly from outside. Why not go in and take a look?" Xianyun suggested.