Returning to the small house, the door closed gently behind her.
The familiar silence of the house instantly enveloped her; Lovia took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
The tension accumulated earlier at the Feiyun Commerce Guild and Wanmin Restaurant slowly drained from her limbs, leaving behind a hollow feeling mixed with joy and mental exhaustion.
Her heart was still beating a bit too fast from the continuous social interaction, and her palms seemed to retain the Warmth of Xiangling's hug and the slight heat of the cup of tea in front of Xingqiu.
She needed a little time alone to properly settle these surging emotions.
It was worth mentioning that recently she had discovered a slight, special connection to the hydro element. Especially at this moment, she felt the surrounding hydro element become exceptionally docile and tranquil, her surging emotions being soothed and gradually calmed by a more powerful force of the same origin.
She attributed it to an illusion caused by her relaxed mood after returning home.
What Little Lovia didn't know was that, out of her sight, an elegant figure stood quietly.
Lovia skipped to the window. Instead of opening it, she merely pulled the curtain aside a crack to let in some of the sinking evening light. Then, she took off her Hood cloak, carefully smoothed out non-existent wrinkles, and hung it back on the hook behind the door.
Those translucent blue antennae also relaxed now, drooping softly among her hair and swaying gently with her movements.
Then, Lovia walked to the table and laid out the "Jianghu Dry Rations" package from Xiangling and the peace talisman from Chongyun.
Looking at these gifts, Lovia's fingers unconsciously stroked the white jade hanging around her neck, as scenes from the farewell became clear in her mind once more.
Xingqiu's momentary stiffness and helplessness, and that final knowing, somewhat indulgent smile... At the time, she was only focused on carrying out her "tease a friend" plan, but now, reflecting on it alone, her cheeks felt a bit hot. She actually dared to play a prank on someone? And even read a story to them... The scene was truly a bit awkward (in her own opinion), but her attention had been entirely on reciting the story, and coupled with her excitement, it had suppressed that hint of embarrassment. Thinking back... she didn't know how well she had read, after all, it had been a long time since she had read something so formally.
Also, was she being a bit... too much? Would Xingqiu be angry at such a joke? Would he feel offended?
But... he accepted the book in the end and said he would "treasure" it. And he didn't seem truly angry, right? Probably?
Lovia poked the peace talisman from Chongyun with her little finger, falling into a daze.
The cinnabar patterns of the Ping'an Kou appeared somewhat deep in the fading light. Perhaps because Lovia was a Melusine, she could feel a trace of pure and peaceful aura attached to it, just like the talisman she received when they first met.
It was Chongyun's straightforward reluctance to part and his blessings—simple and sincere, just like the person he was.
Next, her gaze fell on the oil-paper package. She carefully untied the string, and an aroma immediately filled the small room.
She broke off a small piece of the "dry rations" with slightly charred edges and put it in her mouth. The texture was solid, and the savory flavor had a hint of just-right spiciness—warm and comforting, perfectly suited to her taste, as if it had brought the lively atmosphere of Wanmin Restaurant back with it.
She ate in small bites, thinking silently to herself, "Xiangling is right, I must eat well."
Social anxiety is like a tide; it comes and goes. And the real connections with friends, like these gifts in the room, are the treasures left on the beach after the tide recedes.
As she chewed slowly, she unconsciously drew circles on the tabletop with her fingertip. The tension in her body gradually disappeared, and her heartbeat returned to a steady rhythm. Outside, the lights of Liyue Harbor lit up one by one, reflecting as tiny glimmers in her eyes through the crack in the curtains.
Today, she had taken the initiative to see her friends, said her goodbyes, and even... played a little joke.
Though her heartstrings were taut throughout the process, looking back now, it seemed... it wasn't all difficult.
She gave a soft "mm," as if confirming her thoughts, or as if finally soothing the last trace of unease. Then, she carefully wrapped the remaining dry rations, tucked the Ping'an Kou close to her body, and put the book back into her luggage.
After doing all this, she felt much lighter.
With her emotions settled, it was time to write!
She laid out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the table. Her gaze inadvertently swept across the window, and a thought surfaced without warning: If she went to Fontaine, what should happen to this house?
The tip of her brush paused in mid-air as Lovia began to think seriously.
Selling? Renting? Neither seemed quite right.
Everything here was saturated with the effort she had put into settling down. The height of the bookshelf in the corner was what she found most convenient after repeated adjustments; the wall paint, the carpet, and everything else were carefully chosen by her. Even the slight creak of the door hinge and the faint whistling of the wind through the gaps in the house felt familiar and dear now that she was used to them.
Moreover, this was her only home in Liyue, the place where she could completely relax and be herself after escaping from the bustling crowds.
After a moment's thought, Lovia made her decision: let it stay exactly as it is.
She put down her brush and took out the carefully kept title deed from a hidden layer of her small bag. The edges of the paper were slightly eroded, but it was well-preserved. As her fingertips brushed over the vermilion seal of the Liyue General Affairs Department, a sense of stability arose. She tucked the deed away again and touched the bunch of keys she carried with her.
Let it wait here quietly.
No matter what hardships she might face in Fontaine in the future, she would always know that by the seaside of Liyue Harbor, there was a little house that belonged solely to her.
She was merely leaving herself a way back.
Besides, after returning to Fontaine, was it impossible to come back to Liyue to visit? Certainly not! She would return to Liyue in the future; she still had her precious friends here!
This decision allowed the last trace of unsettled, floating uncertainty in her heart to land. She let out a soft sigh, a faint smile appearing at the corners of her lips.
Then, she picked up her brush again, turning thoughts of stories that could blow Liyue Harbor wide open into words flowing from the tip of her brush, laying them out.
She wondered what expression Zhongli would have when he found out. And what would other Liyue people think?
It's a pity she's about to run away soon, so she won't be able to see it~
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