The morning sun slanted through the lattice windows, promising a bright, unseasonably warm day in Liyue Harbor. Ren had barely finished his breakfast—a steaming bowl of Bamboo Shoot Soup—before he was on his feet, his energy thrumming with a newfound lightness. The invisible weight of the future was, for the first time in a very long time, entirely absent.
"Thanks for breakfast, Big Sister!" he called out, his bowl clattering softly against the table as he snatched up his satchel. "I'm heading out to the city today! Just… catching up with everyone!"
Ganyu, who was meticulously organizing a stack of Yuehai Pavilion reports near the door, looked up, her expression a mix of fond exasperation and mild surprise.
"Ren, wait," she started, raising a hand. "I was actually hoping you would accompany me to the Jade Chamber this morning. Lady Ningguang wanted to discuss—"
But Ren was already a blur of blue and black hair, his hand on the door latch. He gave her a brilliant, apologetic smile that was impossible to be angry at.
"Sorry, Ganyu! I promised myself a proper tour today! I'll see you tonight!"
Before she could utter another word, the door clicked shut, leaving her standing alone in the quiet entryway.
Ganyu sighed, a long, weary, but deeply affectionate sound. She looked at the closed door, shaking her head. The boy who faced gods and Harbingers, fleeing a meeting with the Tianquan, she thought wryly. She gathered her scrolls. Forget it. Let him play. It has been a long time since he just… ran around. She would deal with Ningguang's inevitable, amused chiding later. Some other time, perhaps.
Out in the streets, Ren took a deep breath of the harbor air. It smelled of salt, spices, and the sharp tang of hot metal from the nearby blacksmiths. It was the scent of home.
He didn't use his hoverboard or his Electro teleportation. He wanted to walk, to feel the cobblestones beneath his boots, to experience the city at the pace of a normal ten-year-old boy.
His first stop was Chihu Rock. The morning market was in full swing, a chaotic, vibrant symphony of commerce. He dodged between merchants haggling over the price of Silk Flowers and sailors hauling crates of fresh fish.
He spotted the familiar, lively awning of Wanmin Restaurant and waved.
"Xiangling!" he called out over the din.
Xiangling looked up from a sizzling wok, her face flushed with heat, a smudge of flour on her nose. Her eyes lit up instantly. "Ren! You're back!"
She practically leaped over the counter, abandoning her stir-fry to a panicked-looking sous-chef. Guoba, who had been sitting near the stove, let out a happy grunt and waddled over, nuzzling against Ren's leg.
"It's been ages!" Xiangling exclaimed, wiping her hands on her apron before giving him a quick, one-armed hug. "I heard you went to Sumeru! Did you bring back any weird spices?"
"I brought some back, yes," Ren laughed, patting Guoba's head. "Ganyu has them at the house. I'll make sure she brings them down for you."
"Perfect!" Xiangling beamed. "I'm working on a new dish—Jueyun Chili and Sumeru Rose braised pork. It's going to be… explosive! You have to come taste-test it once it's ready."
Ren's stomach gave a phantom lurch at the memory of her previous "explosive" experiments, but he nodded bravely. "I wouldn't miss it."
He left Wanmin Restaurant and continued his stroll, heading back towards the city. Near the entrance to the Yanshang Teahouse, a shadow detached itself from the wall of a nearby building.
Yelan stood there, casually rolling a strange, glowing blue die across her knuckles. She wore her signature enigmatic smile, her sharp eyes scanning the crowds with practiced ease.
"Well, if it isn't the little ambassador," she purred, her voice smooth and low. "Back from the land of scholars, I see. Did you learn any new tricks?"
"A few," Ren said, offering a polite smile. "Just… enjoying the view today."
Yelan chuckled softly, tossing the die into the air and catching it flawlessly. "A wise choice. The city is quiet today. A perfect time for a stroll." She glanced up towards the Jade Chamber, her smile turning slightly sharper. "Though I hear the Tianquan is a bit put out that her favorite advisor skipped their morning meeting."
Ren blushed faintly. "I'll make it up to her."
"See that you do," Yelan advised, stepping back into the shadows. "I have my own… errands to run. Keep your eyes open, little one. The harbor is safe, but it never hurts to be observant."
With a final, secretive wink, she vanished into the alleyway.
Ren continued his walk, feeling a deep sense of contentment. He decided to head back down towards the commercial district, perhaps browse the bookstores near the Feiyun Commerce Guild.
He was just passing a narrow alleyway when, suddenly, the world went dark.
Two hands—soft, slightly cold, and smelling faintly of plum blossoms—clamped over his eyes from behind.
"Guess who!" a cheerful, melodic voice chimed right by his ear.
Ren didn't even flinch. He recognized the energy, the playful malice, and the scent instantly. A wide grin spread across his face.
"Director Hu Tao," he said calmly.
The hands dropped away, and a theatrical pout replaced them. Hu Tao stepped around to face him, her hands on her hips, her plum-blossom eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Tee hee! You're no fun, Ren! You always guess too quickly. It ruins the suspense."
"It's the smell of plum blossoms," Ren reasoned gently. "And you're the only person in Liyue who sneaks up on people in broad daylight."
Hu Tao laughed, a bright, bubbly sound that echoed off the stone walls. "Guilty as charged! And since you guessed correctly, you win a prize!"
She leaned in, her grin turning wicked. "Your reward… is that you get to join me in playing with Qiqi today!"
Ren blinked. "Wait, don't you have work? The parlor is usually busy this time of day."
Hu Tao waved a dismissive hand, her posture exuding absolute, unbothered confidence. "Nope! Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is flourishing! Business is booming! And my esteemed consultant is handling things beautifully."
She placed a hand over her heart, a look of profound, dramatic pride on her face. "Truly, Zhongli has learned everything I could have possibly taught him about the delicate art of client relations and the solemnity of our sacred duties. He's practically running the place himself now. Which means," she added, her eyes gleaming with sudden, terrifying energy, "I have free time. And you," she poked him in the chest, "have been disappearing for months at a time on your little world-saving vacations. It is officially playtime."
Before Ren could protest that Zhongli was likely just drinking tea and ignoring the paperwork, Hu Tao grabbed his wrist with surprising strength.
"Come on! To Bubu Pharmacy!"
She dragged him through the streets, a blur of dark coats and manic energy, completely ignoring the startled looks of the passing merchants. They arrived at the pharmacy, breathless and laughing.
Inside, behind the counter, a small, pale zombie girl with light purple hair and a talisman on her forehead was meticulously sorting herbs.
"Qiqi!" Hu Tao announced loudly, striking a pose in the doorway.
Qiqi froze. Her blank, violet eyes slowly moved to the door. The moment she registered Hu Tao, a look of profound, instinctual terror crossed her small face.
Without a word, she dropped a handful of Qingxin flowers and scrambled backward, diving behind the long legs of Baizhu, who was currently reviewing a ledger. She peeked out from behind his knee, shivering slightly.
"H-Hu Tao… scary," she mumbled in her flat, monotone voice.
Hu Tao sighed dramatically, dropping her pose. "Oh, come on, Qiqi! I told you I wasn't going to bury you anymore! We had a whole agreement about that! I brought a friend today!"
She pulled Ren forward.
Ren looked at the terrified little zombie, then at the exasperated pharmacist. He offered Qiqi a gentle, reassuring smile.
"Hi, Qiqi," he said softly. "It's me, Ren. Come on out. I promise Hu Tao won't do anything weird. I'll make sure."
Qiqi stared at him for a long moment, her unblinking gaze assessing him. She remembered the boy who had played with her before. He was nice. He was safe.
Slowly, hesitantly, she stepped out from behind Baizhu, her small hands clutching her dress.
"Ren… is safe," she murmured. "Hu Tao… is still scary."
Hu Tao pouted again, but quickly recovered her cheer. "Close enough! Come on, let's go!"
She grabbed Ren's hand with one hand and, surprisingly gently, took Qiqi's cold hand with the other. They marched out of the pharmacy, Baizhu calling a tired warning to "be back before sundown" after them.
The rest of the afternoon was a strange, wonderful, and chaotic blur. They played near the city gates, Hu Tao inventing elaborate, slightly morbid games of tag that involved pretending to be ghosts chasing mortals. Ren used his Cryo to create small, intricate ice sculptures for Qiqi to look at, marveling at how the zombie girl didn't seem bothered by the cold.
They bought tanghulu and candied fruits from street vendors. Qiqi, as she had noted before, couldn't taste the sweetness, but she seemed to enjoy the crunchy texture of the sugar shell. Hu Tao, on the other hand, devoured three skewers in record time, chatting loudly the entire time.
It was exactly what Ren had needed. No talk of patents, or Harbingers, or the impending doom of Teyvat. Just three kids playing in the sun.
As the sun began to dip, painting the harbor in its fiery evening colors, they walked back towards the upper terraces. Ren walked Qiqi all the way to the base of the Bubu Pharmacy stairs, making sure she was safe before saying his goodbyes.
"Bye, Ren," Qiqi mumbled, offering a small, stiff wave. "Bye… Hu Tao."
"See you later, Qiqi!" Hu Tao chirped, waving enthusiastically.
Ren watched the little zombie ascend the stairs, then turned to the eccentric funeral director.
"Thanks for today, Hu Tao," he said, a genuine smile on his face. "It was fun."
Hu Tao grinned, her eyes sparkling. "Anytime, little inventor. Just don't disappear on me again. Or I might have to pre-book a coffin for you just to make sure you stay in one place."
She winked, turned on her heel, and skipped away down the street, humming a cheerful, slightly unsettling tune about hilichurls getting sick.
Ren watched her go, shaking his head with a fond chuckle. He turned towards his own home on Feiyun Slope, his heart light, his mind clear, and the heavy burden of the world finally, wonderfully, lifted from his small shoulders.