Liyue Opera has a long history, and it is said that the Liyue Opera performed by the current generation of artists is already very different from its original form.
However, today's Liyue Opera still retains the intricate vocalizations and winding melodies of ancient Liyue Opera.
Although Aether was hearing it for the first time and was an outsider, he could still feel the charm of this Liyue Opera.
Especially upon hearing Yun Jin's performance, he finally understood why the Damselette on stage could become a famous performer in Liyue.
Her singing was clear and sweet, and her appearance was lively and beautiful.
She sang well and looked good, who wouldn't like her?
Moreover, Liyue Opera was different from storytelling; the performers on stage also needed to act out the story, and Yun Jin did an excellent job in this regard.
Throughout the entire opera, cheers continuously erupted in the small room, showing that the audience was very engrossed and what burst forth was genuine emotion.
"Karma and the mortal world are vast, fading like smoke~"
With the end of the last lyric, the opera finally concluded.
The story mainly tells of a young girl who, in order to save her village, willingly became a sacrifice to a demon, successfully slaying the demon in the end, and was then taken in as a disciple by an adeptus.
The lyrics might be a bit hard for foreigners unfamiliar with Liyue to understand, but for Stelle, understanding them wasn't too difficult, especially with the existence of things like the Synesthetic Beacon.
As for Shenhe, there's even less to say; since he cultivated with an adeptus, he had no trouble understanding these lyrics.
Stelle was still savoring the performance, but he wasn't as excited as the other audience members, merely clapping his hands vigorously.
Shenhe's face remained calm, but he clearly listened intently to the story.
"That was a good story, wasn't it… Shenhe?" Stelle stopped himself mid-sentence. Shenhe's expression made him feel a little strange.
He frowned slightly, as if recalling something.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I'm fine." Shenhe shook his head, bringing his attention back to Stelle.
"It was indeed a good story."
This story was very familiar to him, but only familiar; in reality, it was not the same.
Perhaps it should be said that this was the story Shenhe envisioned.
"However, perhaps the little girl in the opera… wasn't as brave as everyone says." Shenhe murmured to himself again.
"Hmm?" Stelle looked at Shenhe in confusion. His voice was a bit soft, and Stelle didn't quite catch what he was saying, only feeling that his mood seemed a little off.
"Nothing." Shenhe was unwilling to elaborate. Stelle looked at him silently for a moment, then didn't ask further.
The opera had ended, but there was still an encore segment, so everyone hadn't left yet.
"Thank you, friends, for your support, and thank you all for your love for the opera 'The Divine Damsel of Devastation'." Yun Jin's voice once again drew their attention back to the stage.
Yun Jin's voice was somewhat different when speaking compared to when singing; it must be that different vocalizations were required for singing.
"Today I saw many new friends, and as a token of my gratitude, I will perform another segment of 'The Bead of Connected Hearts'."
"Good!" A huge cheer immediately erupted from below.
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It was already dusk when Stelle and Shenhe walked out of the teahouse.
Unbeknownst to them, so much time had passed.
"Shenhe, what do you think of Liyue Harbor?" Stelle asked Shenhe beside him, curious.
"It's very good, but…" Shenhe's voice was hesitant.
"It may not suit me."
Shenhe had long been accustomed to life in the mountains, and the prosperity of Liyue Harbor made him feel somewhat unaccustomed.
"When I first arrived here, I felt a bit lost. I always thought that Liyue Harbor was so prosperous, seeming like I could go anywhere, but upon closer thought, it seemed like I couldn't go anywhere at all." Shenhe stopped his steps.
When he secretly returned to his village back then, Shenhe had similar thoughts, always feeling that there seemed to be no place for him in this vast world.
"Now, that feeling has faded quite a bit, perhaps because you are by my side." Shenhe looked into Stelle's eyes and said softly.
However, he knew that Stelle would not stay in Liyue Harbor forever; they seemed to be setting off for other places, which was why Shenhe did not hold much hope for integrating into Liyue Harbor.
If Stelle were not there, could he still stay in this city?
"Because of me…?" Stelle blinked, scratching his head a little shyly.
Shenhe feeling this way was probably due to the influence of his physique.
"Yes, being by your side, I feel very at ease. This feeling is unprecedented." Shenhe placed his hand on his chest.
"You are unique. I've felt that way since the first time I met you."
Stelle's face flushed slightly at Shenhe's somewhat blunt words.
These words sounded no different from a confession, and Shenhe's expression was unlike any other girl he had encountered before.
There was no shyness, but rather a great frankness.
"I really like you." However, he couldn't stay by his side forever.
The latter sentence was left unsaid, and Shenhe's expression was only slightly melancholic.
"L-liking and such, you shouldn't say those words casually to others, you know." Stelle cleared his throat lightly.
"…Why?" Shenhe looked at Stelle in confusion.
"Because, how should I put it, this word can easily cause misunderstandings…" Stelle realized that Shenhe might not have interacted much with ordinary people and wasn't quite clear on some word choices.
"The word 'like' has many meanings; it can be used between friends and family, but it's also used very often in love."
"Do you understand? Especially don't say it easily to the opposite sex, otherwise it might make others have inappropriate thoughts."
"I understand." Shenhe nodded.
Although he still didn't quite understand, he did like Stelle, and that was correct.
His choice of words was absolutely correct; for anyone other than Stelle, perhaps only for his master would he use that word.
However, as Stelle said, with his master, it was the love between family, while for Stelle, it was between friends.
Of course, Shenhe didn't yet know how to define a lover, and perhaps his liking for Stelle might change in the future, who knows.
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