Lovia was sprawled half-flat on the ground, her elbows throbbing with pain from the impact, but she couldn't care less about that. She lifted her head in terror, only to meet two pairs of eyes that were instantly filled with shock.
Chongyun gasped sharply and instinctively took half a step back. His hand was already pressed against the talismans at his waist, his face filled with an unbelievable wariness: "You... you're a... monster?!"
The instinctive reaction of the Pure Yang Constitution toward non-human entities had sent him into an immediate state of high alert.
In contrast, although Xingqiu's eyes were also full of shock, he quickly raised his hand and gently pressed down on Chongyun's wrist just as he was about to pull out a talisman.
His gaze was fixed on Lovia's slightly trembling antennae, as well as the small section of folded wings and the restlessly twitching tip of a tail visible through the gaps in her disarrayed cloak.
After a brief, deathly silence, the shock in Xingqiu's eyes receded like a tide, replaced by an incredulity that followed the initial surprise.
A smile reappeared on his face—still that polite smile that was hard to take offense at.
"...A Melusine?" Xingqiu's voice carried a hint of uncertainty. "A Melusine from Fontaine?"
Lovia's mind went completely blank, with only one thought echoing frantically.
Exposed! Completely exposed! Her writing career! Her life in seclusion! It's all over!
It's over, it's over, it's over! What kind of Liyue urban legend opening is this?
Is the next scene going to be 'Xenobiological Encyclopedia Collection' or 'Rare Creature Capture Project'?
She had even thought of the title for them: "That Time I Found a Melusine in a Stationery Store"!
She scrambled to pull up her hood to cover herself, but in her panic, she failed several times. Those antennae, which were usually held high, drooped pitifully due to her anxiety and fear, making her look incredibly distressed and helpless.
Seeing this, a trace of apology appeared in Xingqiu's eyes. He released Chongyun's wrist and took a step forward, yet maintained a polite distance as he bowed slightly: "Please do not be alarmed, we mean no harm. Chongyun was just... well, professional habit."
Chongyun also realized his reaction had been excessive. Looking at the creature before him who seemed even 'younger' than himself and was shaking all over from fright, his face turned red. He quickly let go of his talismans, looking somewhat at a loss: "S-Sorry! I thought you were... that... I didn't mean it! You... you're not hurt from the fall, are you?"
Lovia's inner monologue was screaming: Professional habit? Isn't he a ghost hunter? How did he turn into a rare creature investigator? What's with this reaction that's even more exaggerated than seeing a Hilichurl! Does she look like she needs to be exorcised by a talisman?!
Lovia, wrapped in her readjusted hood, looked at them with lingering fear, especially at Xingqiu.
He actually knew about Melusines? How would someone in Liyue Harbor know about a race from far-off Fontaine? Oh right, the Feiyun Commerce Guild must have international business... Xingqiu seemed to see through her confusion and explained with a smile: "I once read about the Melusines of Fontaine in an extremely ancient foreign travelogue. Seeing one today, it is indeed as described, perhaps even more wondrous than the records suggest."
His tone was full of sincere admiration, and his eyes were startlingly bright, as if he found Melusines particularly fascinating.
But hearing his words, Lovia's heart began to drum frantically in her chest.
To her, the way Xingqiu's eyes looked at her was even more scorching than the blazing sun of Liyue; she was very uncomfortable with being stared at.
Fortunately, it wasn't long before Xingqiu noticed this. He quickly averted his gaze and offered an apology.
Dissection research? Being made into a specimen? What was it that humans did to unusual creatures?
The terrifying plots from the adventure novels she had read came rushing to her mind all at once!
Was the "Teyvat Unusual Creature Records" about to add a chapter titled 'The Humanoid Melusine of Liyue Harbor'?
Would the headline of the next issue of Steam Bird Daily be'Shocking! Humanoid Melusine Lurks in Liyue Harbor, the Reason Behind It Is Heartwarming'?
This is so heartwarming—NOT!
"I-I'm not... I'm just..." Lovia was incoherent, and as she got nervous, her voice took on a distinct sob.
Her small body tried to shrink back, but she only bumped into the display rack she had knocked over, causing another slight noise that made her flinch violently.
Seeing her looking so frightened she was almost curling into a ball, Chongyun's face instantly turned bright red, overwhelmed by guilt. He hurriedly stuffed the talismans back into his belt, waving his hands frantically as he explained urgently: "I'm sorry! Truly sorry! I didn't mean to scare you! My constitution... it just reacts easily to... uh, non-human entities, and I did that instinctively..."
His voice grew quieter and quieter. Looking at the other party's form, which was even smaller than a human child, and her terrified expression, he felt like his act of drawing a talisman just now was practically bullying a kid.
Xingqiu quickly took a step back, maintaining enough distance to ease the pressure on her and avoid startling her again.
He bowed slightly, his tone gentle and sincere: "Do not be afraid. Whether human or another intelligent being, as long as one follows the laws of Liyue, they will not come to any harm. My companion was reckless just now; I apologize on his behalf."
His gaze fell on Lovia's small hands, which were gripping her hood so tightly her knuckles were white, and his voice softened further: "Moreover, regarding Melusines, I did not learn of them from any dangerous records. The author of that travelogue called them 'Spirits of the Limpid Lake,' a race that loves peace and lives in harmony with nature. The book was full of praise and curiosity for your kind."
"Spirits of the Limpid Lake"? What kind of embarrassingly cringey title is that?
However... Xingqiu's words slightly dampened the panic in Lovia's heart. She looked up, carefully observing the two of them through the gap in her hood.
Chongyun looked full of regret and awkwardness, his hands far from his talismans, seemingly not even knowing where to put them. As for Xingqiu... his eyes were bright, filled with concern and apology rather than malice.
It seems... they really don't intend to catch her?
She's a Humanoid Melusine!
Lovia's tense tail tip relaxed just a tiny bit, but her voice was still a little shaky: "...Really? You won't tell anyone?"
"Never," Xingqiu answered decisively with a gentle smile, trying to convey goodwill. "We can make a contract. Besides, what happened today was purely an accident; we will keep our lips sealed."
He glanced at Chongyun, who immediately nodded vigorously, his expression as solemn as if he were taking an oath.
Xingqiu added, his tone carrying a well-placed hint of surprise: "It was simply unexpected to meet a Melusine who has traveled across the ocean to Liyue Harbor. This is truly a wondrous twist of fate."
His gaze inadvertently swept over the paper section Lovia had wanted to go to, and the small pouch of manuscript fees she was clutching tightly in her hand, not letting go even in her panic.
A Melusine from Fontaine, appearing alone in a Liyue stationery store, nervously wanting to buy paper and pens, and appearing very afraid of being discovered... Could she be a little author?
Xingqiu asked tentatively: "Miss...? Were you looking to purchase paper and pens for writing just now?"
Lovia blanked for a moment, then instinctively nodded.