The seawater was icy cold, yet it could not lower the burning temperature of Miss Luvia's face and ears at all.
Xingqiu's awkward and tentative "Good evening," followed by his attempt at small talk, was like a bolt of lightning that left her charred on the outside and tender on the inside.
Help! What kind of massive social death scene is this!
He saw it; he definitely saw everything!
The antennae, the tail, and her humanoid appearance—how could an ordinary Melusine possibly look like this!
Lovia did not respond; instead, she suddenly recoiled, moving further away from Xingqiu until she was completely submerged in the water. Beneath the surface, her emerald eyes stared at the youth on the shore with both vigilance and panic.
Those blue antennae trembled slightly as if startled.
Is it too late to play dead? Or should I say you have the wrong person? Lovia thought despairingly, but her face had already been exposed... Xingqiu took in her overreaction and immediately realized how inappropriate his greeting was in this situation, and that it might have even backfired.
The friendly smile he was trying so hard to maintain stiffened for a moment, then dissolved into deeper apology and a trace of imperceptible helplessness.
He instinctively took a step forward, wanting to explain, but immediately saw Lovia in the water shrink back again like a startled pufferfish, creating a ripple.
Xingqiu stopped in his tracks immediately, not daring to move further. He looked at her eyes submerged in the water, which were filled with the sentiment of "it's over, I've been discovered again, I'm dead for sure," and the wonder and curiosity he felt from the chance encounter were gradually replaced by apology.
Xingqiu took a deep breath. He no longer tried to approach but stood where he was, making his voice gentler and softer, filled with sincerity: "I am truly sorry for disturbing you. I did not mean to pry; I just happened to be studying a sword manual here..."
His gaze swept quickly over the slightly trembling tips of the antennae on her head before swiftly returning to her eyes, trying his best to remain respectful. However, an irrepressible curiosity still inevitably flickered in those sharp eyes.
Without the cover of splashing water, certain details became clearer: the limb lines resembling those of a human child, and the tail that occasionally swayed gently underwater to maintain balance.
Xingqiu's heart skipped a few more beats, purely out of curiosity and wonder at the form of an unknown race.
Ancient records were just words, after all; they couldn't compare to the shock of seeing it with one's own eyes.
(Lovia is a Humanoid Melusina, a type of Melusine that has never existed besides Sigewinne. Even in Fontaine, few people know of them, let alone in distant Liyue.)
Before, Lovia had been wrapped up tightly, and Xingqiu's attention had mostly been drawn by those iconic antennae and her sudden exposure and panic, so he hadn't examined her closely.
Now, under the clear light of the setting sun, the seawater was like transparent glass, outlining the underwater form with absolute clarity.
Xingqiu's heart skipped a beat.
He saw clearly that the petite body in the water had limb lines extremely similar to those of a human child, rather than the strange forms leaning toward some kind of aquatic race vaguely mentioned in ancient books.
Those were indeed humanoid limb lines, with the silhouettes of slender arms and legs.
This... Xingqiu's thoughts stalled for a moment. He was well-read and considered himself knowledgeable about the strange tales and records of Teyvat. Though that ancient travelogue was brief in its descriptions, it definitely never mentioned a Melusine possessing a form so close to a human's.
The descriptions in the records leaned more toward sea creature forms that were completely different from humans.
But this Miss Luvia before him... His gaze swept quickly and cautiously over the figure in the water as his brain worked rapidly.
A humanoid base overlaid with the distinct characteristics of a Melusine. This was definitely not the norm recorded in travelogues; it might even be... some kind of extremely special existence?
Or were the travelogue's records incomplete? Or... a bolder hypothesis crossed Xingqiu's mind: Could she be a half-breed?
But could a Melusine... interbreed with humans?
Countless questions surged in Xingqiu's heart, each more surprising than the last.
But he knew that now was definitely not the time to satisfy his curiosity. The other party's eyes, panicked like a trapped small animal, and her evasive posture as she almost merged into the water, were all silently screaming in resistance.
Any question about her form, even just a searching look, would be no different from a disturbance or an offense at this moment.
Xingqiu forcibly suppressed the astonishment and inquiry churning in his eyes, swallowing back the words "You seem different from what is recorded in books" that were almost on the tip of his tongue.
The expression on his face quickly adjusted from the momentary shock back to a regretful gentleness.
Xingqiu just looked into Lovia's eyes, trying to convey his harmlessness and apology, as if that moment of scrutiny had never happened.
However, the notebook in his heart regarding "Melusines" had already quietly turned to a brand-new page, filled with massive question marks.
This Miss Luvia was far more incredible than any record he had read.
Seeing that Xingqiu was actually still staring at her, Lovia's mind was in a mess.
She knew this humanoid form would definitely bring trouble!
Embarrassment, fear, and a hint of anger at having her secret discovered intertwined, making her almost unable to think.
Soaking in the water, she carefully poked her mouth above the surface. Her lips trembled a few times before she squeezed out a weak, shaky, and incoherent voice from her throat, clearly on the verge of tears: "You, you... don't look! Turn around! Turn around quickly!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly dove back into the sea. Her voice sounded muffled due to extreme tension, like a human toddler who had suffered a great grievance and was terrified, lacking any of the composure she had pretended to have back at the stationery shop.
Xingqiu was taken aback by her reaction, then immediately turned around to face away from the bay without a moment's hesitation.
He even raised both hands to his ears in a "hear no evil" gesture to show he had absolutely no intention of offending her.
"Alright, I've turned around. Miss Luvia, please rest assured, I will definitely not look back." His voice came from the shore, still gentle and carrying a hint of reassurance. "If you wish to leave, you can do so at any time. I promise not to disturb you."
Hearing that he had indeed turned around and given her permission to leave, Lovia's tensed nerves relaxed just a little bit, but her heart was still beating terrifyingly fast.
She watched Xingqiu's back warily, and after confirming he really had no intention of peeking, she began to swim as silently as possible in the opposite direction.
The seawater made slight splashing sounds because of her hurried movements. Every sound made her heart jump, fearing Xingqiu would suddenly change his mind and look back.
Like a startled otter, she quickly moved away from the shore.
What should I do? What do I do now? Just swim away?
Just as she was in a panic with a jumbled mess in her head, Xingqiu's voice came again from behind her, filled with even more apology: "Miss Luvia... just now, it was truly not my intention to be abrupt."
"I didn't know that was your... um, private domain." He chose his words carefully, avoiding any terms that might provoke her. "If I have startled you, I sincerely apologize once more. As an atonement..."
He paused, seemingly thinking for a moment. "...I wonder if I might have the honor of inviting you for a cup of hot tea to calm your nerves? I know a good teahouse nearby with a quiet environment, or... I could buy you some new paper and pens? Were the ones from last time suitable?"
His tone was sincere, and the suggestion seemed very natural, like a common invitation between friends after a chance encounter, attempting to ease the awkward atmosphere.
However, in Lovia's ears, every word sounded like he was testing her.
Drinking tea? Is he trying to fish for information?
Her antennae were still trembling slightly with residual panic. She shouted toward Xingqiu's back, her voice a bit louder than before but still clearly shaking: "No, no need! Thank you... I'm fine! I'm leaving now! You... you're not allowed to follow me!"
After saying that, she didn't wait for Xingqiu to respond and swam away with all her might in the opposite direction. Her extreme tension made her swimming posture look a bit strange, but her speed was incredibly fast, as if some terrifying monster were chasing her.
Xingqiu listened to the panicked voice receding behind him, mingled with the sound of water, until the sound completely vanished into the waves. Only then did he slowly lower his raised hands and helplessly turn around.
The place was already empty.
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