Lumine and Paimon were feeling extremely conflicted.
The two of them exchanged looks, then occasionally glanced a few meters ahead at the cold, elegant woman walking in front of them.
After that, they fell silent again.
How had things ended up like this?
Weren't they supposed to be enemies?
Why did it suddenly feel like they were allies, calmly standing side by side?
"What exactly is going on here…?" Paimon muttered softly.
She found it just as strange. She had been fully prepared to scold La Signora for playing dirty, yet now the situation felt… hard to criticize.
Lumine lowered her voice. "Let's wait and see for now."
If her guess was correct, La Signora was probably taking them to meet Childe.
Sure enough, the three of them headed toward Feiyun Slope.
The journey was eerily quiet, with no conversation at all, until they finally arrived at a lavish and imposing restaurant.
"Glaze Pavilion?"
Lumine read the signboard word by word.
Paimon gasped in amazement.
"Wow! This is one of the best restaurants in all of Liyue! Could it be that Childe is treating us to a feast here?! If that's the case, maybe he's not such a bad guy after all!"
"..."
Just because someone treats you to a meal, they're suddenly a good person?
You're way too easy to buy off!
After mentally scolding Paimon for her lack of principles, Lumine knocked her lightly on the head and followed La Signora inside.
Upon seeing the Fatui Harbinger, the hostess at the entrance—Licai—immediately stepped forward respectfully.
"Honored guest, your friend is already waiting inside. Table No. 1."
La Signora gave no response and walked straight in.
Paimon whispered in awe, "I heard that if you want to dine here, you have to reserve at least three months in advance! They only serve a few tables each day, at fixed times. Even nobles can't cut the line!"
Lumine said nothing, but her understanding of the Fatui's influence deepened once more.
Even on someone else's territory, they could casually exert power far beyond ordinary officials.
Seeing La Signora already entering, Paimon hurriedly urged, "Let's go too! I've never eaten high-end cuisine before—today I might finally get to stuff myself!"
The two quickly followed behind, afraid they might be stopped.
Fortunately, nothing of the sort happened.
Under the guidance of an attendant named Hongru, they were led straight to a private room—No. 1.
Moments later, the person waiting inside finally revealed himself.
Stepping past the screen, Lumine froze in shock.
Someone familiar was already sitting there.
"Luo Li?!"
Before Lumine could even speak, Paimon shouted first.
"Luo Li! Why are you here?!"
The little creature was so surprised that she completely ignored the beautifully arranged dishes on the table.
"How is it strange that I'm here?" Luo Li asked calmly.
Lumine and Paimon looked over and saw that their landlord, Luo Li, was seated beside Tartaglia, along with another unfamiliar man.
Seeing their stunned expressions, Luo Li gestured for them to sit.
They sat down dazedly, unable to understand how he had ended up mixed up with the Fatui.
However, just as Lumine tried to sit beside him, she was rudely shooed away by La Signora, who looked utterly disgusted.
In an unfamiliar environment, instinctively wanting to sit near someone you know was only natural.
But then—
Lumine saw something that completely shattered her worldview.
Just moments ago, La Signora had been cold, proud, and aloof.
Yet the instant she sat down next to Luo Li, her icy expression softened, a faint smile appearing as she personally poured tea for him.
Lumine's mind went blank.
Was this really the same La Signora she knew?!
When the words reached her ears, her sense of reality cracked even further.
"You waited long? Sorry, I'm late."
At that moment, Lumine genuinely began to suspect she had fallen under some kind of illusion.
After sitting down, La Signora seemed to lose awareness of everyone else entirely, as if Luo Li was the only person in the room.
Even Lumine could see the overflowing affection—mixed with a faint, unsettling obsession.
"It's fine. I'm the one at fault—I didn't have time to look for you these past few days."
"That's okay. I can come find you instead."
Not only was La Signora not angry—she actually looked happy.
Even Tartaglia, her colleague, wore an expression like he'd seen a ghost.
He coughed lightly, finally pulling himself together, then looked toward Lumine, who was just as stunned, and decided to get back to business.
"Traveler, regarding the matter of the Adeptus' corpse… the gentleman beside me, Mr. Zhongli, should be able to provide some useful information."
Lumine followed his gaze.
"He is a consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and someone well-versed in the Rite of Descension."
The man named Zhongli nodded at her politely.
Luo Li paid no attention to their discussion.
He already knew exactly how this would go.
Zhongli only cared about whether Liyue could properly carry out the Rite of Parting.
Meanwhile, Lumine and Tartaglia wanted to see Rex Lapis's body.
Their goals differed—but the path to reach them was the same.
Thus, temporary cooperation was possible.
Since the Qixing had hidden the Adeptus' remains, the only way to see Rex Lapis was to hold the Rite of Parting.
With interests aligned, it was no surprise Zhongli agreed to help the Fatui.
While the three discussed serious matters, Rosalyne paid no attention at all, instead fussing over Luo Li.
Upon learning that he had spent five hundred years in the Abyss, her heart filled with indescribable sorrow and pain.
After learning about each other's circumstances, she took the initiative and suggested:
"There's a fireworks festival at Yaoguang Shoal tonight. Would you like to go for a walk?"
Completely immersed in their own world, Rosalyne ignored the other three entirely.
After some thought, Luo Li agreed—it would be a good opportunity to deepen their relationship while he remained hidden.
This cold, elegant woman was undeniably charming.
Her entire heart belonged to him.
Toward outsiders, she was arrogant and disdainful.
Yet toward him, she was gentle, affectionate, and obedient.
The contrast—and the sense of conquest—was intoxicating.
"Alright. I'll follow your lead."
When their quiet exchange ended, Lumine, Zhongli, and Tartaglia had also finished their discussion.
Throughout the meal, Lumine and Paimon couldn't help but steal glances in that direction.
The banquet barely qualified as "pleasant," yet it left them with an inexplicable sense of harmony with the Fatui.
The more they thought about it—
The stranger it felt.