Chapter 224: A Bard and a Director
As the lanterns of Liyue Harbor began to cast their warm, gentle glow against the evening sky, Hu Tao sat alone inside the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Having just finished dinner, she was now perched comfortably in her chair, one leg crossed over the other, humming a quirky tune she'd made up on the spot. She idly twirled a calligraphy brush between her fingers, her mind clearly churning with ideas for the parlor's next big promotional campaign.
Just then, the sound of familiar, steady footsteps reached her from the entrance. Her eyes darted toward the door, and a sly, knowing smile spread across her lips.
"Oh, my. What a rare and distinguished guest we have here," Hu Tao drawled, setting her brush down with a soft click. She crossed her arms, tilting her head as she watched Zhongli stroll into the room. "If it isn't our omniscient and exceedingly knowledgeable Consultant Zhongli. You've been quite the busy man lately, haven't you? Dashing off right after breakfast and only gracing us with your presence again for dinner. I don't see you all day!"
Her words came in a rapid-fire barrage, seven parts teasing and three parts genuine probing. Her gaze remained fixed on Zhongli, searching his stoic face for any hint of what he'd been up to. "Could it be… you're secretly planning to jump ship to an employer with a better 'future'?"
Zhongli, long accustomed to Director Hu's particular brand of inquiry, remained unperturbed. His expression was as placid as ever as he walked to the table and poured himself a cup of hot tea.
Only after taking a moment to appreciate its aroma did he speak. "Director Hu jests. As I am employed by the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, I naturally fulfill my duties. I was, however, recently invited by a few friends to assist with some trivial matters. I did not intentionally neglect the parlor's affairs."
"Friends? Helping out?" Hu Tao hopped down from her chair and sidled closer to Zhongli, her distinctive plum blossom pupils sparkling with unbridled curiosity. "What kind of help requires four or five days of such secretive work? Tell me, tell me! What did you gain from it? If the returns are too meager, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor doesn't do losing business, you know. This director will have to go find your 'friends' and demand justice on your behalf!"
She brandished her little fists, putting on a grand display of someone ready to go to bat for her consultant.
Zhongli's tone remained as steady as a mountain. "The gains… were indeed quite satisfactory. Director Hu, do you recall the 'Chat Group' I mentioned to you before? The one that connects many strange and distant worlds?"
Hu Tao paused, then placed her hands on her hips and let out a laugh. "I remember, I remember! It's that 'Chat Group' you mentioned where you can talk to people from other worlds and even draw prizes to learn new skills! What, is our dear consultant still preoccupied with this so-called 'Chat Group' business?"
As she spoke, she reached out and pressed the back of her hand against Zhongli's forehead. It was cool to the touch. "Strange, no fever. Consultant, are you perhaps just overtired lately? Experiencing… hallucinations?"
"Do you want this director to give you a few days off to get some proper rest?" Her tone was half-joking, half-sincere, making it clear she hadn't taken his previous claims about the Chat Group seriously in the slightest.
Zhongli gently pushed her hand away, a hint of a helpless smile touching his lips. He had anticipated this reaction. Instead of trying to explain further, he simply stated, "Director Hu, please be patient for a moment. I will now inform my friends in the group, and then I shall invite you to join. At that time, you will know whether it is real or not simply by trying it for yourself."
Just as Zhongli was about to address the group, his mind stirred. He noticed new messages popping up on the Chat Group interface. Almost at the same instant, two different applications to join the group appeared.
[Genshin Impact · Ying]: "Everyone! Paimon and I talked it over, and we want to invite Venti to the group. I know he usually seems unreliable, and he loves to drink, slack off, and have fun… but he's truly dependable when it counts and has helped us a lot. I wanted to ask for everyone's opinion."
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Exactly, exactly! That bard might be a drunken poet, but he's still a very good person! And he knows a lot of things, so Paimon thinks he'll definitely get along with everyone!"
Immediately after their messages, Zhongli's own was sent.
[Genshin Impact · Zhongli]: "Fellow group members, I also have a matter to discuss. I wish to invite Hu Tao, the seventy-seventh Director of Liyue's Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, to join our group. Although the Director is still young, she is intelligent and quick-witted, managing the affairs of the parlor in an orderly fashion. She possesses a kind heart and a warm, upright character. I have received much care from her during my time in Liyue, and I am willing to vouch for her conduct. What are your thoughts?"
The two invitations landed almost on top of each other, and the group chat instantly burst into activity.
[Honkai Star Rail · Stelle]: "Wow! Welcome, welcome! A warm welcome to them both!"
[Honkai Star Rail · March 7th]: "Friends that Lumine and Mr. Zhongli know are definitely good people! The more, the merrier!"
[Zenless Zone Zero · Ling]: "They both sound like very impressive people. I'm looking forward to meeting them!"
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Hahaha, Paimon knew you wanted to bring Hu Tao in, Zhongli! With her and Venti joining… Paimon has a feeling the group is about to get super lively."
At that moment, Stelle remembered the invitation letter she'd received as a reward from the Amphoreus mission. She quickly typed out a message of her own.
[Honkai Star Rail · Stelle]: "Oh, right! I'll invite the elders of our Astral Express crew later—Uncle Yang and Himeko. They're not only incredibly knowledgeable but also super reliable!"
[Honkai Star Rail · March 7th]: "Exactly! It's just Himeko's coffee… uh, anyway, Mr. Yang and Himeko are both very, very good people!"
Zhongli observed the group's enthusiastic reaction. He turned to Hu Tao, who was peering at him with a face full of curiosity, trying to decipher his expression. "Director Hu, it seems everyone welcomes your joining. I will send the invitation now."
Though still half-skeptical, Hu Tao saw the utter seriousness in Zhongli's demeanor and reined in some of her playful attitude. She watched with wide, blinking eyes as he focused his attention inward.
At that very same moment, on a rooftop somewhere in Mondstadt, Venti was leisurely enjoying the moonlight. He and Hu Tao, miles apart in the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, felt a slight tremor in their consciousness. A faintly glowing, virtual interface quietly unfolded before their eyes.
Immediately after, two crisp notification chimes echoed through the Chat Group.
[System: [Genshin Impact · Ying] has invited [Doesn't Do Proper Work] to the group. Come welcome the new member!]
[System: [Genshin Impact · Zhongli] has invited [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Director Hu] to the group. Come welcome the new member!]
[Doesn't Do Proper Work]: "Yo-ho~! Hello everyone, friends from other worlds! I'm Venti, Mondstadt's most popular bard! May the free winds carry my blessings to each and every one of you! Please guide me in the future, and if there's a chance, let's drink together… ah, no, let's exchange poetry and music together!"
Venti's self-introduction was like a fresh breeze, carrying a familiar warmth that instantly dissolved any potential awkwardness. It was as if he were an old friend who had been part of the group all along.
Meanwhile, after her initial shock, Hu Tao quickly scanned the names in the group member list. She saw not only Zhongli, but also the familiar names of "Ying" and "Paimon," and even this Venti fellow.
Her plum blossom pupils widened in astonishment. But soon, the sharp wit and adaptability of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's director took over.
[Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Director Hu]: "Ahem! This Director, Hu Tao, has come here at the invitation of my consultant to investigate! I never thought there could truly be such a wondrous place, capable of gathering friends from so many different worlds!"
[Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Director Hu]: "From now on, we are all friends. If you need any help, especially with… hmm, various 'business consultations,' feel free to come to this Director! I will certainly give everyone… ah, no, sorry! The business promotion just slipped out!"
Hu Tao's introduction was stamped with her distinct personal style. Though some of her phrasing nearly went off the rails into a sales pitch, her infectious enthusiasm and vitality were impossible to miss.
[Honkai Star Rail · Stelle]: "Welcome, Venti! Welcome, Director Hu!"
[Honkai Star Rail · March 7th]: "Wow! Both new friends are so interesting! Welcome, welcome!"
[Zenless Zone Zero · Ling]: "Welcome~!"
[Genshin Impact · Ying]: "Welcome, Venti. Welcome, Hu Tao."
For a moment, the Chat Group was flooded with a cascade of welcome messages, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement.
Inside the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao stared at the scrolling information on the translucent screen before her. She then looked up at Zhongli, who was calmly sipping his tea as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. At last, she was a true believer. The reality of this "inter-dimensional Chat Group" had fully sunk in.
A huge smile, brimming with curiosity and excitement, bloomed on her face. Her mind was already racing, calculating all the new "opportunities" this incredible "platform" could bring to her—and to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
And under the moonlit sky of Mondstadt, Venti strummed a single, cheerful chord on his lyre and chuckled softly to himself. "Oh dear, it seems the days ahead won't be boring, will they? I wonder what kind of stories the winds from other worlds will bring?"
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