Me?
11: Chapter 11: Going to Mondstadt?
Me?
The woman held a stack of documents in her hands and walked up to Chen Mo and the others with firm, decisive steps.
“Keqing?” Chen Mo paused.
Why did this famously busy woman have the free time to come looking for him today?
And judging from her tone, it seemed she had been looking for him for quite a while…
While Chen Mo was still dazed, Keqing was already chatting and exchanging greetings with Madame Ping.
By the time Yaoyao’s childish “Goodbye” pulled him back to reality, he happened to meet Madame Ping’s meaningful faint smile.
“So, what exactly were you two doing?
I heard from the people at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor that Director Hu didn’t return all night.” “Oh, I went to handle the situation at Wuwang Hill yesterday, didn’t I?” With her earlier experience, Hu Tao answered very decisively this time.
“Because it was already too late by the time everything was finished, we stayed overnight in Qingce Village.” Although she had omitted the most crucial detail, she did not think there was anything wrong with that answer.
“Is that so?” Keqing still felt as though something was missing from those words.
The way she looked at the two of them carried a hint of suspicion.
“And you?” She turned to Chen Mo, her face cold and her gaze sharp.
She was practically interrogating him like some kind of criminal suspect.
“I went to help Hu Tao, so last night—” Chen Mo suddenly felt a sharp pain shoot through his toes, and the rest of his words were forcibly stuffed back into his stomach.
He lowered his head and looked at that vengeful little foot, feeling very grateful that it was not wearing heels like the Knave’s.
“Don’t worry about such small details.” “By the way, for the esteemed Yuheng herself to personally grace us with her presence, what important matter brings you here?” Keqing’s purple pupils shrank slightly and trembled.
Seeing Hu Tao’s unfamiliar new hairstyle, so different from her usual style, and then seeing her stiff, subtle, and unnatural smile, Keqing had already concluded that these two troublemakers were hiding something from her again.
However, because she was busy with work, and because the Rite of Descension would take place in just over three months, she really did not have the leisure to pursue such trivial gossip.
“Here.
Take a look.” Keqing handed one of the documents to the two in front of her.
With just a rough glance, Chen Mo discovered that the document was filled with his name.
He rubbed his eyes.
He was not seeing things.
This was clearly a compiled complaint report.
“M-Mine?” “Who else would I be looking for?” Keqing placed one hand on her waist and narrowed her eyes at Chen Mo.
“You’ve really grown capable, haven’t you, mysterious ‘Wind-Speed Man’?
I didn’t know you could run that fast.” Chen Mo’s expression froze instantly.
He had not expected that his stunt from yesterday—letting Star Platinum possess him and then sprinting wildly through the streets—had actually been reported to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The report listed all kinds of accusations, such as: causing a child’s kite string to snap and fly high into the sky; stirring up dust that contaminated vendors’ snacks; causing more than a dozen foreign female tourists to suffer severe wardrobe malfunctions; and so on…
“Do you know what everyone is calling you now?” “W-What are they calling me…?” “The Core of Mad Winds.
Mad as in lunatic.” Hu Tao could no longer hold back her laughter.
The embarrassment and shyness from earlier were swept away in an instant.
With a pfft, she bent over and clutched her stomach.
“The Core of Mad Winds?
Hahaha!
What kind of title is that?
It’s so lame, hahaha!” The girl’s bright laughter stood in sharp contrast to Chen Mo’s bitter face, which was wrinkled like a raspberry.
He finally understood why Keqing had been looking for him.
“You spent half the day looking for me…
Don’t tell me it was to personally drag me off to the mines for forced labor?” “What?
Now you know fear?” Keqing crossed her arms, looking very much as though she were enjoying the show.
“Since I couldn’t find you, I’ve already cleaned up your mess for you.” “Really?” That was truly an unexpected surprise.
As expected of the girl whose affection score ranked just behind Hu Tao and Xiangling.
She really was reliable!
“Don’t get excited yet.
I haven’t finished speaking.” Keqing immediately poured another bucket of cold water over Chen Mo.
“I’ve exempted you from mining labor, but that doesn’t mean the matter is over.” “Huh?” “What do you mean, ‘huh’?” Her brows furrowed slightly.
The noble air of a young lady from a wealthy family and the imposing presence of a strict female superior erupted from her at the same time.
“The Ministry of Civil Affairs happens to have several cooperation documents that need to be delivered to the Knights of Favonius.” “Since you’re so good at running wild, why not take a trip to the city of wind and freedom?” “As expected of the esteemed Yuheng—” At some point, Hu Tao had flashed to Keqing’s side.
“Even toward your good friends, you’re this strict!” “It’s clearly because you’ve always indulged him too much, Hu Tao.” “Have I?” “Haven’t you?” Keqing turned around and prepared to leave.
As a famous workaholic in Liyue, she had never been the type to leave herself much idle time.
After taking only a few steps, she stopped again, paused, and looked back at Chen Mo.
“I’ve arranged a carriage for you.
It leaves three days from now, at the Hour of the Dragon.” Her tone was decisive as she added, “This is a joint decision made by Ningguang and me.
Don’t even think about shirking it.” Leaving behind a capable and efficient figure, Keqing hurried toward Ganyu, who was at the distant harbor.
“Little Hu Tao, you’re pretty bold.
You even dare to make sarcastic remarks at one of the Seven.” “Did I?” Her tone was faint, making it impossible to tell whether she meant it or not.
Liyue Harbor was crowded, and there were eyes everywhere.
No matter how Chen Mo tried to find ways to get close and stick to her, Hu Tao’s response from beginning to end could be summed up in one word— dodge.
When he walked to her right, she sped up and moved left.
When he walked to her left, she sped up and moved right.
If he wanted her to walk backward, all he had to do was overtake her and stand in front.
Their mysterious pace left the people around them utterly confused.
In the end, after circling half of Liyue Harbor, Chen Mo finally escorted Hu Tao back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
This was also the place where Chen Mo had grown up.
When he was little, he ate at Wanmin Restaurant and lived at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Later, as he grew older, he did not want idle gossip to tarnish Hu Tao’s reputation.
A few years ago, he asked Xingqiu to help him find a house and voluntarily moved out of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
“Aren’t you coming in for a cup of tea?” Chen Mo stopped where he stood and shook his head.
“Next time.
Once I’m done in Mondstadt, I’ll come keep you company.” She did not respond.
She simply stood on the threshold, one foot hanging in the air, swaying back and forth.
Leaves fell from the plum tree by the entrance of the parlor, gently touching the surface of the river and stirring layer after layer of ripples.
Hu Tao turned her back and entered the parlor.
A moment later, just as Chen Mo was about to leave, a burst of hurried footsteps came from behind him.
He looked back and saw that the girl had taken off her hat, and her hair had returned to those childish twin tails.
She gave Chen Mo no chance to react.
She ran all the way over and threw herself onto him, clamping both legs around his waist before fiercely biting the corner of his mouth.
“It’s a promise!” “If you don’t come looking for me the moment you return from Mondstadt, then just wait for this Hall Master to sneak into your house in the middle of the night dressed as a ghost and scare you to death!” Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, she quickly climbed down from Chen Mo, hurriedly fled back into Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, hung up the closed sign, and shut the door with a loud thud.
Chen Mo ran the tip of his tongue over the corner of his mouth.
A faint taste of blood pricked his taste buds.
He smiled helplessly.
“She bit me open again.”