"Wow, what a pretty girl—where are you from?" Hu Tao leaned in, studying Aether's face up close.
So close that Aether could almost smell the faint plum-blossom scent on her.
It was the first time anyone had pressed right up to her on first meeting.
"We're just Travelers newly arrived in Liyue." Aether took half a step back and answered calmly.
The girl's looks were superb; a pity in certain departments, perhaps, yet Aether paid that no special mind.
"Distance and angle change the view; every landscape has its own charm…"—ahem.
Aether shook the odd notions from her head and refocused on Hu Tao.
"I see. No wonder you came here—most folk give Wangsheng Funeral Parlor a wide berth." Hu Tao nodded, then turned to Lumine and Paimon.
"Hello! I'm Hu Tao, the 77th parlor master. I handle… well, life-and-death trifles."
"I'm Paimon; these two are Aether and Lumine." Paimon piped up, ever the self-appointed introducer.
Somehow introductions always fell to Paimon—habit formed before they knew it.
"You're the parlor master?" Lumine blinked, surprised.
A funeral house run by a sprightly young girl—how extraordinary.
"Exactly! 77th generation. Grandpa was 75th; we pass it down." Hu Tao beamed.
Aether wondered why the 76th was skipped but didn't pry—likely a private tale.
"Still, why come here? You all look hale and hearty—hardly my usual clientele…" Hu Tao stroked her chin, eyes pausing on Aether.
Her gaze lingered.
"Well… maybe not." Hu Tao murmured.
She sensed something odd in Aether—an inexplicable warmth and pull—like a calm Pyro Slime nestled within.
"Clients?" Paimon hadn't caught on.
"Right, clients! Say, care to pre-book Wangsheng's services? We've got you covered. Group discount—second headstone half-price for Miss Aether here!"
"E-eh? H-how should Paimon answer…?" Realization dawned, but words failed.
This girl's train of thought leaps too fast.
"Uh, no thanks—we're not quite at the age to plan the afterlife…" Lumine managed.
"Oh, life and death come to all; sooner planned, sooner peace of mind!" Hu Tao pressed cheerily.
"I guarantee—no one in Liyue's more professional than Wangsheng."
"Ahem, Miss Hu Tao, rather than that—were you waiting in front of this house? Is something wrong with it?" Aether coughed, changing topic.
"Just Hu Tao's fine." She waved, then glanced at the cottage beside the parlor.
"Nothing wrong—it's just unrentable. Empty anyway; I'm thinking of buying it to store coffin boards."
—
Chatting in the street wouldn't do; Hu Tao hospitably invited them inside for tea.
And, of course, to pitch Wangsheng's services some more.
The parlor was dim and a bit chilly—nothing to the twins, and Paimon didn't mind either.
Like stepping into an air-conditioned room in summer—quite pleasant.
Still, fearing newcomers might feel out of place, Hu Tao ordered hot tea at once.
Across the tea table she learned why they'd come.
"So you want to rent that house…" Hu Tao mused.
"Yes, we're new to Liyue and short on funds—no place cheaper around," Lumine said, nudging Aether.
"So… if it's not urgent, could you let us have it? Two months at most," Aether added hastily.
"Mmm, storing coffin boards isn't urgent. All right, it's yours." Hu Tao finally agreed.
Truth be told, a coffin lid can be stored anywhere; she only thought the house had been empty for too long and, since it adjoined Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, buying it could count as an expansion.
"But I've already closed the deal; I'll pick up the deed in a couple of days."
"Eh? You mean…"
"Mhm, if you want to rent that house, I'll be your landlady." Hu Tao's small face broke into a mischievous grin.
Xiangling's intel was out of date; she didn't know Hu Tao had already secured the place, or she wouldn't have recommended it.
"Relax, the rent won't be a single mora higher than what you heard, and…" Hu Tao looked at Xing. "Work as my aides at Wangsheng for two months and I'll waive the rent—deal?"
Her offer made both Xing and Lumine's hearts skip; in land-starved Liyue, even cheap rent piles up fast over two months—waiving it sounded wonderful.
"But we don't know the first thing about funerals, and we planned to take lots of Adventurers' Guild commissions these two months…" Lumine fretted.
"Don't worry, I handle the professional stuff myself, dear director here." Hu Tao beamed.
"As for commissions—no problem; Adventurers have always been Wangsheng's top-grade 'Peach-tier' clients. Just treat it as a side job… or, since there're two of you, one can stay."
While saying it she kept her gaze on Xing; though unspoken, it was clear she preferred Xing to be the one who stayed.
"Mm… sure, no problem!" Before Xing could answer, Lumine agreed in a flash.
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