area51novel Chapter 21: In order to avoid being beaten, I had to pretend to be miserable
Chapter 21: In order to avoid being beaten, I had to pretend to be miserable
The letter was full of her ambitions.
Zhongli always regarded Chu Xia as a person who was consistent in appearance and heart, even if she had some small thoughts.
“……”Chu Xia sat on the toilet.
This was the seventeenth time she had had diarrhea.
Those laxatives are lethal doses!
She clenched her fingers.
When I returned to the room, my health bar dropped to 0. "Great!" I was refreshed on my bed.
She had the empathy of someone who had found a treasure chest.
This thing is quite effective.
Zhongli’s “black heart medicine” turned out to be a debuffing dish.
Will he read my letter?
Chu Xia took out a small stack of paper and put a concave lens on it to make a simple telescope tube.
What a failure.
But it's not just the telescope that's hard to make. Zhongli isn't hanging around the Northland Bank. It looks like he'll be disappointed in her.
Chu Xia crossed her legs and recalled the enthusiastic Mondstadt people she had met along the way, then the villain Gongzi, and now the unfathomable Zhongli.
She still has a chance to be lenient and tell the truth about herself, so she won't be beaten more severely.
Zhongli doesn't hit women.
Chu Xia left an indentation on the quilt and stopped shaking her feet. She still felt a little uneasy. No matter where you are, doing bad things is always bad. Especially under the eyes of God.
Considering Zhongli's intelligence, he was probably monitoring me, which was why he was so easy-going with me.
When he accompanied them for dinner, he didn't take much food (Zhongli: There's no portion for me at all, okay? Look how much you ate?).
It seemed that only by being frank and honest with him, and telling him that her situation did not allow her to give up the opportunity to play the villain in the plot.
How to justify my behavior?
Chu Xia thought for a long time and came to the outside of Zhongli's residence.
If you want to convince others, you must first convince yourself. Chu Xia's eyes turned red as she wept.
The best thing would be the kind that allows people to see her situation and feel sympathy for her.
It's not that she wants to play the victim.
How could she not find some support when she came to this unfamiliar place? Don't think she didn't know that Zhongli seemed to care about her and always accompanied her. In fact, it was a kind of surveillance.
He might be hoping that she would "repent and return to the right path" so he deliberately gave her some signs to observe her choice.
Since he wanted to take sides, he had to cut off his relationship with the young master first. Chu Xia did not bring any money today, but came to the Wangsheng Hall.
Standing there blankly.
It was not until Zhongli came back that he saw a distraught guy, with red eyes, squatting under the sign written by Hutao.
"Buy one get one free for funeral services."
She looked like she felt that way.
I don’t know what An’s intention is.
Zhongli pushed the door open.
Chu Xia showed a pair of eyes, three parts sad and seven parts pitiful. No one was buying it.
It seems that Zhongli doesn't like to play the victim.
She wiped her tearful eyes, pouted her lips, and followed him.
Zhongli held the unsent letter.
It seems that he is planning to confront her.
Chu Xia thought to herself that this was not good, and that she would definitely not be able to escape the divine palm next time. Then she slipped and was about to fall down the stairs.
"Be careful." Zhongli still pulled her.
Chu Xia realized that there was still room for recovery.
She followed him obediently up to the second floor.
There was another floor above. She quickly climbed up again and saw the spacious balcony planted with orchids and other plants.
Zhongli is quite elegant.
A bench was placed in front of her.
Zhongli sat on an Eight Immortals Chair, leaning against the wooden back, and took out the dull materials.
The material emits a faint scent of rock element.
The situation once fell into his dominant position.
Chu Xia took the initiative and stood up and said, "I know what you are going to say."
"It was I who was rude." Zhongli was not angry. He still had that gentle attitude and gave her enough face.
Actually, she is a girl.
He doesn't seem to have a bad heart, he just chose the wrong path.
Zhongli placed a contract next to the materials and said, "Take a look."
Chu Xia didn't look at it, but just said, "I will do whatever you want."
Zhongli tilted his head and took out another pen.
"I believe you know the consequences of violating the contract."
"Of course, of course." Chu Xia signed generously. She did not dare to look at the details on it. She believed that Zhongli would not be a bad person.
Zhongli said, "This is a contract between three people."
"The Seven Stars have agreed to my proposal and will send a capable person to help you and I complete the "commission."
Wow? I've already seen this.
Chu Xia saw that the paint on the letter was broken. This meant that Zhongli did not hide his suspicion.
"Let me see." She looked at the document carefully.
It turned out to be a contract that stated the profit-sharing instructions.
"What you have done has touched the bottom line of the Seven Stars."
"You should know that before you came, the term "Liyue Seven Stars" was much more valuable than "The Fatui"."
Zhongli crossed his arms and did nothing.
Chu Xia already felt that it was important enough.
She asked solemnly, "Do you really have to give me so much money?"
Zhongli couldn't take his next words seriously anymore. "Be more normal," he reminded her, "put away your impetuousness."
"I am serious."
"I am serious too." Chu Xia pointed at the clause above, "Since you already know that I am involved in the plan of the Fatui."
“Why do you want to give me the share?”
Zhongli wrote in the contract that he would give one third of the proceeds from the materials obtained from the joint commission to Chu Xia.
"So I have to pay a price. For example, I have to give this money to disaster victims for free. I hope to do something within my power."
“……” Zhongli swallowed the words he hadn’t said.
This guy suddenly became so smart, could it be that he received guidance from an expert?
Chu Xia continued, "As the saying goes, 'It's not that there is no retribution, it's just that the time has not come yet.' When I was young, I didn't understand the severity of it."
She wiped her eyes and sighed, "You made me realize that there is a word in life called fairness and reflection."
"These are two." Zhongli took the contract back from her hand. He didn't take her words to heart. No matter what she said, just listen to it casually and don't take it seriously.
"Eh? I'm serious." Chu Xia added to the contract that he would donate his share of the proceeds to Liyue Port free of charge.
"Consider this as my token of my love for the people of Liyue."
“…” Zhongli smelled the chili powder on her fingers.
This kid… he no longer wanted to comment.
Chu Xia handed him the contract and stamped his hand with pepper water. The ink prepared by Zhongli was not used.
But I didn't care about her formalism.
"Go back." He didn't want to pay attention to this woman anymore.
Chu Xia suddenly turned around and said, "Emperor, I am serious. Please donate the money to the victims."
"Got it." Zhongli had originally intended to do so.
When she said it out loud, it seemed to have changed its meaning.
"You don't think that everything will be fine like this, do you?" Chu Xia took two steps, and there was a white orchid next to her.
Zhongli appeared behind her, stood up from his seat, and followed her. "Where are you going? You dropped your stuff."
Zhongli put the letter in her hands.
Black gloves, white envelope, red ink.
Chu Xia didn't dare to look him in the eyes.
Today I have given her face.
"Please spare me. From now on, I will definitely turn over a new leaf and become a better person. I hope to become bigger and stronger soon."
"speak nicely."
"I mean... mend your ways!" Chu Xia raised his head.
The cold ring tapped on it.
Zhongli glanced at her with a look that said "you, you, you". The ring also hit her forehead lightly.
He didn't say whether he believed it or not, but just knocked her like this, twelve times in a row.
Chu Xia didn't know what this meant. Anyway, after the knock, Zhongli's body radiated a blue light. His favorability actually increased.
Does he like this kind of development?
Chu Xia seemed to have eaten a big melon.
Zhongli really likes the process of contracting. It seems to be a personal hobby. There is no fear in her eyes.
Zhongli used that hand to block her offense.
"Go ahead." He put his hands behind his back and walked towards the Eight Immortals Chair.
This is just one of his gardens. In the distance you can see pavilions, rockeries, and other common elements of Chinese gardens.
Zhongli's retirement life is going on happily.
……
Chu Xia covered her forehead.
I'm not sure whether I have earned Zhongli's forgiveness.
Since your favorability has increased, I must have done something right.
Alas, being a villain in a game is really more difficult than living.
She looked at the guy who was enjoying the view. Zhongli's back was as lonely as in the game.
It must be boring for the old man to be alone.
It seems that Zhongli likes to say: "It's a pity that we will never see each other again."
She should find out who the Emperor's old friend is and then try to gain some favor with him.
Chu Xia stopped the balloon near Wangshu Inn and jumped off. Today's commission is for "Young Master".
She no longer wanted to take on this insane task.
The young master himself is in the distant winter.
What is in the "Golden House"? Is it a ghost?
She came to find Xiao and wanted to ask about Zhongli's past.
In order to prevent him from being more disgusted with her, Chu Xia could not get close to Zhongli and look at the numbers from his eyes.
I guess Zhongli will kick her.
Chu Xia covered her legs.
She twisted her leg when she was getting off the balloon. She hoped Xiao must be nearby.
Whoosh whoosh—
The sound of the wind in her ears was getting louder and louder. Chu Xia was like an innocent little chicken about to be crushed by the monster behind her.
A Ruins Guardian spun with its arms outstretched, and fired two missiles from behind. Sparks ignited the fallen leaves on the ground.
Chu Xia smelled the scent of Mars and turned around.
A cry of "Jing Yao Nuo Wu!" was heard, and the tall robot fell to the ground, revealing the masked boy behind it.
“……” Xiao put away his right hand and took off his mask.
The ferocious look only existed on the beast face on the mask. He glared into Chu Xia's eyes without saying anything.
"Hello, Xiao." Instead of calling him Xiao the Immortal, he called him by his name. Xiao didn't intend to blame him.
After turning around, a blue light emanated from his body.
Chu Xia saw the number displayed on the blue light and was curious about how the favorability increased.
Is Xiao lonely too?
She remembered Xiao's character and followed him to greet him. "Wait for me!!" Chu Xia's legs twitched.
The sprain held my leg back.
"..." Xiao lent her a hand and helped her to the seat downstairs of Wangshu Inn. Chu Xia heard a slight click.
He cured her sprain.
People in Liyue are all experienced Chinese medicine practitioners.
She showed a happy smiling expression, and Xiao also stood up and sat aside.
The boss who was waiting for someone said, "This is your friend. The immortal. Or..." The boss was about to say that it was the first time he met him.
His quick mind then remembered that this person was Xiangling's friend: "It turns out to be you. Come on, here's the menu."
"You must be hungry. I haven't seen you here for a long time."
“……” Chu Xia went out without bringing any money today.
He also generously donated all the proceeds from the future. It would be too bad to let Xiao treat us. "Can you keep an account?"
She whispered, "I didn't bring it today."
"Of course."
Xiao looked up with a puzzled expression: "Put it on my account."
His tone was calm, but the boss was not polite.
"That won't do. You are our honored guest. Let me treat you to a meal."
"It's my treat!" Yan Xiao said as he got off the elevator. "Xiao Shangxian's friends are my friends. Miss Chu Xia is my VIP guest."
"Okay. Then you go cook." The boss smiled, "Ms. Chu Xia is really popular."
Chu Xia found comfort here and made up for the confidence she had lost from Zhongli.
To be honest, she didn't want to harm the people of Liyue. She just made a slight move and changed the fate of the young master.
"Thank you both." Chu Xia praised Xiao, "And the generous "Demon Slayer".
The title would remind her of a handsome monkey.
But Xiao is also good, and his heroic look of saving the beauty is in line with girls' aesthetic tastes.
Xiao was distracted the whole time, staring at the waterwheel on the opposite side.
Chu Xia asked him, "What are you thinking about?" Xiao didn't answer.
This is probably his character setting. Chu Xia poured a glass of water for Xiao and imitated Zhongli's movements, rubbing the lid back and forth on it.
"..." Xiao closed the lid with his hand, "Give it to me."
He opened his pocket, put some things in it and said, "The Emperor said you like to drink tea, but you don't like to make it."
"It turns out it's true."
Chu Xia blushed, "Nothing."
But why would Zhongli talk to Xiao about her?
She recalled their conversation on the mountain. Could it be her that he was talking about? Zhongli didn't want me to lead him astray?
Chu Xia looked at Xiao's kind appearance and thought about herself.
Since today's mission is to deal with the "Young Master", we might as well take the opportunity to show our best.
"Xiao Shangxian, do you want to fight?"
"...I don't want to." Xiao paused for a moment. What did she mean by that?
He looked at Chu Xia's thin arms and legs. Could it be that she wanted to practice her skills, so she came to him?
Xiao stood up from his seat and said, "If you want, I can try it with you." He seemed very shy.
Chu Xia saw that the usually mysterious guy actually looked cute. It would be unreasonable not to tease him.
"Which moves do you want me to use?" Chu Xia drew a square with his left foot and a circle with his right foot. He then assumed the starting position of Tai Chi.
She didn't really know how to fight, she was just pretending.
Xiao became serious, and seeing that she was doing it well, he thought Chu Xia would attack to his left.
It would be better to let her hit it.
Xiao deliberately let him win, so Chu Xia naturally couldn't be too harsh, so he gently poked his waist.
Xiao yelled and looked at her in surprise.
Someone actually dared to poke his body. Xiao even wanted to laugh. It was so itchy when that spot was touched.
"Laugh if you want to." Chu Xia said, "I may have to trouble you to take me back later. I can't fly this balloon properly."
She pointed to the slime balloon over there.
It doesn't matter whether this thing can be driven back or not. She also hopes that Xiao and she can take Zhongli with them to the Golden House to fight "Young Master" two against one.
Can't laugh!
Xiao pursed his lips, and his eyes couldn't help but turn into an arc.
“Here we go! Hot tofu! Make way!”
Coincidentally, Yan Xiao also brought the prepared dishes.
Xiao walked over and sat next to her. Chu Xia waved her right hand and smelled the fragrance, "What a nice smell!"
This is probably the "almond tofu" that Xiao likes.
Chu Xia asked, "This dish should be what Xiao ordered. Here you go. Where's my dish?"
"Here we go. 'Hot Braised Noodles with Wild Delicacies' and 'Wild Mushroom Chicken Skewers'."
Among them, the wild mushroom chicken skewers were made by Chu Xia herself. They were foods that could restore blood. She ate them often.
"thanks for treatment."
"Then I'll get busy." Yan Xiao walked back to the elevator.
The stairs in the inn are made of wood, as is the elevator, and are painted with a special paint.
Xiao picked up the spoon. It looked like her portion was a large one.
She can eat so much.
Xiao's eyes were so hot that Chu Xia felt embarrassed. I had eaten the food here before.
Yan Xiao remembered that she had a big appetite, so he made more. Chu Xia was very touched. She said to Xiao, "Would you like to try it?"
She got a small bowl and scooped some for Xiao.
Then he slowly ate the two piles of food. "This amount is only 4000 Mora."
“It’s really a good deal.”
The way Chu Xia spoke made Xiao pick up the handkerchief and hand it over.
He doesn't hate people like this.
Chu Xia wiped his mouth and stuffed mouthful of food into his mouth.
……