"Hehe, you're too kind." After hearing Guizhong's words, Lora deliberately put on an embarrassed act.
Beleth: "..."
Forget it.
She no longer felt like saying anything.
Just as she was about to take a few steps back and hide herself, Lora grabbed her hand and said, "Hey, hey! Don't leave. This kite competition is going to be worth watching. Want to guess whether Tartaglia can take first place?"
Beleth clenched her fist and said, "I don't think he can!"
"Beleth, you really don't have much faith in your subordinate."
Lora looked at her and said earnestly, "That won't do! An organization can't function properly like that. As the boss, you have to encourage your subordinates and give them confidence, understand?"
Beleth looked at Lora and suddenly laughed out of sheer anger. "You... are you teaching me how to lead?"
"Yes." Lora nodded.
Beleth said, "I believe I am better suited to leadership than you are. It's not as if I'm unaware of Fontaine's situation."
"Not necessarily!" Lora shook her head and said, "Since you know Fontaine's situation, then you should understand one thing. I can get the Hydro Dragon Sovereign to work for me. Can you?"
At that, Beleth's expression went blank.
She refused to speak to this shameless Hydro Archon anymore.
If she had not cared about the reason Venti invited her here, she would have flown back to Snezhnaya long ago!
Nearby, Venti watched the contestants do their best to make their kites fly higher and farther, then said to Wynlin beside him, "Actually... I think we could—"
"No," Wynlin cut him off mercilessly before he could finish.
"I haven't even said anything yet," Venti said helplessly.
"Do you think I don't know what you were going to say? Give up on that idea. There is absolutely no way I'm letting you tie a string to me and fly me into the sky." Wynlin looked at Venti, his voice turning cold as he flatly refused.
Venti sighed helplessly. "Sigh... Dvalin, do we truly have so little understanding between us?"
"We used to," Wynlin said. "Not anymore. As far as I'm concerned, there isn't a single reliable thing about you now."
Venti put on an aggrieved expression.
Lora patted Venti on the shoulder earnestly and said, "That's why I said you have to make dragons work more. Look, it's exactly because you haven't made him work enough that he still has time to argue with you! If you worked him day and night until he had no time to think about anything else, would he still be talking back like this?"
After hearing Lora's words, Venti actually began to seriously consider whether the idea was feasible.
When Wynlin saw that, he quickly shouted, "Lora, that's dirty! I protest! I—"
"Calm down, Dvalin." Venti quickly comforted him. "I won't give you more work! That would go against freedom."
Only then did Wynlin breathe a sigh of relief. He said to Lora, "You really are wicked."
"Ehe?"
Seeing Lora imitate Venti's sound, Wynlin fell silent.
While everyone was chatting, the competition below had already reached its result.
The winner was somewhat unexpected, yet reasonable.
Sophia.
Looking at Sophia standing in the middle of the crowd with Nahida, Lora began to clap.
The two of them received the gifts prepared by the Ministry of Civil Affairs: beautifully crafted kite sculptures and some Liyue souvenirs.
Sophia gave some of the souvenirs to Lora and said, "Here, these are for you."
"Oh my! I get a share too?" Lora stared in disbelief at the souvenirs Sophia handed over.
Seeing her put on such an exaggerated act, Sophia said helplessly, "Are you still pretending? When have I ever not thought of you? Just take them already. Honestly, do you think I don't know you by now?"
"Tsk, tsk... no one knows you like family!" Lora clicked her tongue and shook her head, but her hands did not stop for a second as she accepted Sophia's gifts without the slightest hesitation.
After the kite competition ended, it was already close to midnight.
Although it was Lantern Rite, many people had gone home to rest by this hour. The bustle on the streets gradually faded, leaving only the warm yellow glow of the lights.
Hu Tao had worn herself out playing and was now draped over Zhongli's back.
"Director Hu is tired, so we will return to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor first. Let us gather again tomorrow," Zhongli said, carrying Hu Tao as he bid everyone farewell.
"Why don't you stay at my place tonight?" Ping looked at Guizhong.
Beside her, Xianyun said, "I actually have a spare room at my place as well! After some time, I'll find you a proper place to stay in Liyue!"
"Then I'll be troubling the two of you!" Guizhong smiled and gave them both a big hug.
"It's already so late, so we really should head back too. Let's all get a good night's sleep tonight!" Sophia held Nahida's hand and waved goodbye to everyone. Then she said to Lora, "Good night."
"Good night." Lora nodded and watched the two of them leave.
The Electro Archon's family also took their leave and returned to their lodging. Soon, only Lora and the others remained.
Lora looked at Venti and asked, "Where are you and Wynlin staying?"
"Oh, we—"
Before Wynlin could finish, Venti said to Lora, "Wherever we go, the world is our home!"
Lora: "..."
Furina asked a very serious question. "You're not sleeping on the streets, are you?"
Focalors quickly said, "Furina, that's a little impolite... Still, Venti, may I ask if you and Wynlin truly have nowhere to stay?"
Wynlin fell silent as he listened to Focalors and Furina.
What difference was there between what Focalors had said and what Furina had just asked?
Was it just a little more tactful?
Who needed that kind of tact?
Venti shook his head and said with a smile, "Of course not! It is merely that I am the wind, drifting without a fixed destination. Freedom is my way of life!"
Wynlin said from the side, "I'm going back to Stormterror's Lair. As for him... he can sleep wherever he likes."
After hearing that, Lora clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Venti, you're so pitiful. Even your own dragon dislikes you."
Apep added, "I would dislike him too."
Zhongyue nodded along and said, "Mm. I understand. I would dislike him too."
Hearing everyone's remarks, Venti still had a bright smile on his face. He waved to them and said, "Oh well, there's nothing to be done about that. This too is freedom!"
"Mm-hmm. Freedom." Lora smiled, nodded, and waved goodbye to him.
"That leaves just us. Let's go home! We still have a meeting tomorrow, so let's get plenty of rest~" Lora glanced back at Xianyun and said goodbye to her, then called Furina and Focalors to head back.
Only Beleth, Xianyun, and the others were left behind.