Starfell Lake lies to the northeast of Mondstadt.
Some poets once wrote that fallen stars created this lake.
Others claimed even the stars themselves were captivated by its clarity—like the bright eyes of the Anemo Archon—and fell into its waters.
However it was formed—
Today, it had become the hunting ground of Cao Zhong and Klee.
"Jumpy Dumpty!"
"Thunder Bomb!"
Klee unleashed explosions like a tiny artillery commander, continuously bombarding the lake.
Cao Zhong even began to suspect—
Had Klee been traumatized or something?
Why else would she have such… overwhelming firepower tendencies?
He hurriedly put on a helmet.
After all—
The last person who didn't wear one had probably already been turned into fish food.
He had no intention of dying young.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The explosions echoed endlessly.
Soon, the surface of the lake was filled with floating fish.
Klee happily picked one up and handed it to Cao Zhong.
"Big Brother Cao Zhong, the fish from Starfell Lake are super tasty!"
Cao Zhong stared at the charred remains in his hand.
…Fish?
This wasn't fish.
This was two pounds of explosives with a hint of fish garnish.
Brutal.
Meanwhile, in the group chat—
[Jean]: @Klee Someone reported explosions near Starfell Lake. Were you blasting fish again?
[Klee]: Waaah~ What do I do?! Jean found out!
[Jean]: I knew it. I shouldn't have let you out. Return to confinement immediately.
[Klee]: It's not like that! Please let me explain!
[Amber]: That tone sounds familiar…
[Eula]: Very familiar.
[Barbara]: @Klee Who are you with?
[Klee]: I'm with Big Brother Cao Zhong! Why?
Inside Jean's office—
Jean had just returned from dealing with the Stormterror crisis, visibly exhausted.
Before she could even rest, reports came in about explosions near Starfell Lake.
Her first thought—
Klee.
And sure enough…
It was Klee.
She sighed.
"Klee really does take after Alice… in all the worst ways."
Klee, daughter of the famed witch Alice, was practically the Knights' mascot.
Adorable—but dangerously explosive.
Which was why Jean often had no choice but to lock her in confinement.
She had only let her out for half a day—
And this happened.
Worse—
She was with Cao Zhong.
That was even more dangerous.
Back in the chat—
[Jean]: @Klee Why are you with him? That's far too dangerous!
[Cao Zhong]: Jean, that really hurts my feelings.
[Kaeya]: Cao Zhong = bad person ✗
Cao Zhong > bad person ✓
[Cao Zhong]: @Kaeya Can you just disappear?!
Suddenly—
[Alice]: @Klee Klee, are you okay? Klee, answer me!
[Cao Zhong]: @Alice She's fine. Currently eating snacks.
[Alice]: @Cao Zhong What did you take my Klee to do?! She's still a child!
[Cao Zhong]: ???
At Starfell Lake—
Cao Zhong nearly choked.
What kind of wild accusations are these?!
[Cao Zhong]: @Alice I think there's been a misunderstanding. Perhaps we should… discuss this in detail sometime.
[Venti]: "Discuss in detail"?
[Cao Zhong]: Get lost!
Then—
[Klee]: @Alice Mommy! Big Brother Cao Zhong gave me a present! It's even stronger than Jumpy Dumpty—one blast and all the fish in Starfell Lake were gone! Klee loves it!
Silence.
Then—
[Amber]: ?
[Eula]: ??
[Alice]: ???
[Jean]: CAO ZHONG!!!!!!!!!!!
[Cao Zhong]: Wait! It's not like that! Jean, please listen—I didn't corrupt Klee!
Before he could explain—
A new message appeared:
[A new video is playing…]
[Kaeya]: And you still say you didn't influence her? Care to explain this?
[Barbara]: Please… just act like a decent human.
[Jean]: Cao Zhong. You and Klee—report to confinement immediately.
[Hu Tao]: Oh? This is getting interesting~
In the video—
Cao Zhong and Klee walked side by side, each carrying a shovel, humming cheerfully.
Their steps were exaggerated, carefree, and utterly shameless.
[Jean]: @Klee Girls should walk with grace. Don't imitate that.
[Barbara]: Yes, yes—gentle and composed!
[Klee]: But… Klee thinks it looks really cool!
[Alice]: Hahaha! That's my girl—so bold! Just like her mother!
[Jean]: ???
The video continued—
They arrived at Whispering Woods.
"Big Brother Cao Zhong, this place is perfect! Let's hide the treasure here!"
"Agreed. Remote, wild, and quiet. Perfect hiding spot."
They began digging.
And while digging—
They sang.
"In what kind of forest—dig, dig, dig~
Plant what kind of bombs—watch them bloom~
In a tiny forest—dig, dig, dig~
Plant tiny bombs—tiny booms~
In a big big forest—dig, dig, dig~
Plant big big bombs—big big booms~
In a huge huge forest—dig, dig, dig~
Plant massive bombs—massive blooms~"
The chat erupted again—
[Barbara]: @Cao Zhong This is too much! How can you teach a child such violent songs?!
[Jean]: @Cao Zhong I should never have trusted you.
[Venti]: @Cao Zhong Can you teach something normal? Klee is Mondstadt's future!
[Cao Zhong]: Wait, wait! That's not how it goes! It should be—
"In a little garden—dig, dig, dig~
Plant little seeds—watch them bloom~"
[Klee]: But… Klee thinks the first one sounds better!
[Alice]: You know… she's not wrong~
[Hu Tao]: Why is this kinda catchy…?
Then—
[Scaramouche]: Surely no one actually likes such childish songs.
"In what kind of garden—"
[Tartaglia]: Dig, dig, dig~
[Hu Tao]: Plant what kind of seeds—
[Keqing]: Watch them bloom—
And then—
It spread.
[Amber]: In a tiny forest
[Eula]: Dig, dig, dig
[Kamisato Ayaka]: Plant tiny seeds
[Kamisato Ayato]: Tiny blooms
Soon
Mondstadt residents: Dig, dig, dig
Liyue residents: Dig, dig, dig
Inazuma residents: Dig, dig, dig