Ye Xi felt more than a little awkward when Old Zhao asked about his first meeting with Beidou.
It had been a few years since he first arrived in Inazuma. Back then, Raiden Ei had not yet issued the Sakoku Decree, and the ships traveling between Liyue and Inazuma were as numerous as the hairs on a cow. Because he could use Original Resin to obtain the rewards of the Ley Lines, he often wandered into every corner of Inazuma.
On one occasion, he was passing through Kannazuka. To collect Smoldering Pearls, he had gone to bully the Pyro Hypostasis. On his way back, he stumbled upon Beidou, who was passed out drunk by the river.
Speaking of which, there were a few short-sighted Treasure Hoarders eyeing Beidou's coin purse at the time. However, they were terrified of the massive Claymore she had thrust into the ground beside her, and they were pacing around, scratching their heads as they tried to figure out a way to get it.
He figured they were just petty thieves, so he took care of them on his way past. Who would have guessed that after Beidou found out he had saved her, she would immediately stumble over and give him a wobbling embrace? It was called a hug, but in reality, she was just leaning her weight on him.
Stinking of booze, she called him "brother." The thick scent of alcohol wafting off her nearly made him faint. And just like that, this strange friendship was born.
Beidou traveled to Inazuma almost every few weeks, and they agreed to meet up for drinks. After a few times, they became regular drinking buddies.
However, the trace of embarrassment in Ye Xi's heart actually stemmed from his past life. He hadn't been the one responsible for Beidou's character design, but one of his subordinates was. She was a female colleague a few years older than him, but once she cut loose, there was no stopping her. In fact, Beidou's persona was based exactly on that colleague's original personality.
He could never forget it! That "Big Sis" was clearly his subordinate, yet she insisted on dragging him out to drink and becoming sworn siblings! What era was this, still doing blood oaths?
From then on, he called his subordinate "Big Sis," and she called him "Director." The entire company laughed for a long time every time the story was brought up. Now, seeing Beidou, he couldn't help but see shadows of that colleague in her, which made him sigh with emotion.
Still, he got along exceptionally well with Beidou. Since he was considering leaving Inazuma at the time, he established a firm friendship with her.
Recalling those events, Ye Xi felt a bit dazed. By the time he snapped out of it, he heard Beidou talking animatedly nearby.
"...Back then, Brother Ye Xi and I used to drink by the shore all the time. We really hit it off. I didn't expect Brother Ye Xi to be doing so well in Inazuma now!"
"Even the eldest daughter of the Yashiro Commission came in person to see him off. It looks like their relationship is anything but shallow!"
Beidou shot Ye Xi a meaningful look, leaving him between laughter and tears as he repeatedly tried to deny it.
Hearing their leader's words, Sea Drake and Old Zhao both had a moment of realization and started joking along.
"That's right! Back then, the brothers were all wondering what kind of holy being could make our Big Sis head risk the danger just to wait!"
"Hahaha, don't take offense, Brother Ye Xi, but while we were waiting, some of the boys weren't happy. They said you were putting on airs! Then the people from the Yashiro Commission showed up and said they were here to give you a send-off. It scared them so much they couldn't say a word!"
At that point, a sailor who was drinking with them scratched his head and said sheepishly, "Brother Ye Xi, I was the one who was blind. I'll penalize myself with three drinks!"
"I really didn't expect that the Yashiro Commission would see Brother Ye Xi off!"
"Even the famous Shirasagi Himegimi and the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine came!"
"Even the Raiden Shogun cleared the thunderstorm for you!"
"Brother Ye Xi, you're truly amazing!"
As he spoke, the man gave Ye Xi a thumb-up, looking completely won over.
Before Ye Xi could be modest, another sailor took over the conversation. "Young man Ye Xi, don't bother denying it. The brothers on the ship saw it with their own eyes you and Shirasagi Himegimi exchanged keepsakes!"
"To think you could capture the heart of Shirasagi Himegimi! Young man Ye Xi, I'll call you 'Big Brother' from now on. Give me some pointers! I'm already twenty-eight and still single!"
These words made Ye Xi smile bitterly. Thinking about it carefully, today's display was indeed a bit exaggerated. He feared that his business with Kamisato Ayaka would soon be known to everyone.
"Alright, quit teasing Ye Xi. My brother here is handsome, elegant, and possesses extraordinary skills. Isn't it only natural for the girls in Inazuma to like him?"
Following Beidou's lead, everyone changed the subject and continued chatting enthusiastically.
"Big Sis head is right. With Brother Ye Xi's looks, he'd definitely be a top-tier heartthrob even in Liyue!"
"Sigh, it seems I lost because of my face..."
"Speaking of skills, Brother Ye Xi's leap onto the ship just now scared our new sailors half to death!"
Ye Xi smiled faintly. "Living in Inazuma all year round, one has to learn some three-legged cat skills to gain a better footing."
"Brother Ye Xi is too modest! If yours are three-legged cat skills, then no one else can claim to have skills at all."
"Brother Ye Xi, I consider myself half a martial artist. That move you made just now didn't escape my eyes! In my view, you are a top-class expert!"
"Alright, alright, Brother Ye Xi prefers to keep a low profile. Let's not put on airs in front of him!"
"Hahahaha!"
At the wine table, everyone drank and talked merrily, laughing heroically. This feeling of sitting together, drinking and chatting, had the ease and comfort of a gathering with childhood playmates from his previous life.
Just as they were chatting away happily, a terrified voice came from the deck.
"Help! The ingredients are hitting people!"
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