"This last one was also accidentally left here, which is why I read it. It's quite interesting; it writes about your story," she said, handing the book to Zhongli. "Have you read this one?"
Zhongli's gaze fell upon the cover—'dragonfall: i am the dragon king,' authored by the Fictional Historian.
He truly hadn't read this one.
The contents couldn't be discerned just from the title. Zhongli slightly raised an eyebrow and took the book.
He casually flipped it open, and the first sentence that caught his eye was: "The Liyue sky has never been so gloomy, much like Director Hu's face the third time Mr. Zhongli sent the bill to the WangSheng Funeral Parlor this month."
Zhongli: "..."
He silently continued reading. However, as he read deeper, the motion of him holding his teacup would occasionally pause slightly.
[..."I am Morax's sworn enemy, the Geo Archon's primary foe, The Wicked Dragon Andrius."]
Seeing this sentence, the hand Zhongli used to hold the teacup paused almost imperceptibly.
Andrius? Isn't that God in Mondstadt?
He gently set the teacup down, but a faint, almost invisible curve lifted the corner of his lips, suggesting helplessness yet also amusement.
He had plenty of enemies, after all.
When he read Hu Tao shouting, "He still owes the WangSheng Funeral Parlor three months of salary," Zhongli actually let out a quiet laugh, shook his head, and looked up at Granny Ping: "This author seems to have grasped Director Hu's temperament quite thoroughly."
Granny Ping chuckled, looking at the rare expression on Zhongli's face: "Isn't it though? It's so lively, like listening to a storyteller, and it depicts that girl Hu Tao so vividly. But this 'Jie jie jie' laugh... in my memory, you never seem to laugh like that?"
Zhongli: "?"
Zhongli continued reading. When he saw his own phrase, "This is the Way of Heaven," being used during a collapsing cave, he pondered for a moment and commented: "The writing style is quite evocative of historical romance, full of dramatic tension. But this 'Jie jie jie'... well, even modern Gods seem to have such vintage laughter."
The version of himself in the book who would pat Hu Tao's head, and the one who would proclaim, "Welcome the return of the Dragon King," brought more amusement to Zhongli's eyes as he read. He picked up the slightly cooled tea, took a sip, and slowly said, "Based on universal reason, if I were truly to return, there would be no need for such... fanfare."
"Furthermore, I am not the Geo Dragon King. This author's imagination is quite rich."
It wasn't until he finished the last page, seeing himself softly recite, "I wish to buy osmanthus and drink wine with you," that Zhongli gently closed the book, placed it back on the table, and his expression returned to its usual composed tranquility.
"Finished?" Granny Ping asked. "What do you think? It certainly portrays you as magnificent and imposing."
Zhongli cast his gaze toward the bustling scene of Liyue Harbor in the distance. After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice still peaceful: "The writing is fluent, the imagination is rich, and it depicts a fictional story with grand scope, making it captivating. As a pastime after tea, it is undoubtedly successful."
He paused, then added: "However, Zhongli never draws an advance on salary, the WangSheng Funeral Parlor's accounts are always clear, and also..."
He recalled the lines attributed to him in the book, shaking his head with a hint of helplessness: "The words in the book are absolutely not Zhongli's style."
Hearing this, Granny Ping laughed even more heartily: "I know, I know, it's just common gossip, meant only to entertain. It seems this 'Fictional Historian' understands Mr. Zhongli quite well, and is also quite... imaginative."
Seeing his old friend so happy, a gentle smile also touched Zhongli's eyes: "However, it is a pleasure to see future generations imbue Liyue's legends with new vitality through such a lively pen. At the very least, it proves that the legends continue to be passed down."
"Oh?" Granny Ping asked with interest. "What do you think of that line in the book, 'Welcome the return of the Dragon King'?"
[Extra Chapter Progress Bar: 57%]
(It feels like fewer people are around these past two days. Is everyone saving up chapters? Sob sob o(╥﹏╥)o)
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