Just how soft was a girl’s body?
Light and fluffy, just like cotton candy.
Hu Tao thought this as her palms, supporting Velina’s legs, subconsciously squeezed.
“What are you doing?”
A low inquiry came from behind.
Warm breath brushed against her neck, bringing a ticklish sensation.
“Hehe, nothing.
Just checking if you fell asleep.”
“How could anyone fall asleep while being carried?”
Velina muttered a small complaint.
The last time she got sick, Hu Tao had also helped.
Ah, she really couldn’t finish repaying Director Hu’s kindness.
“Huh?
I feel very steady.
You definitely won’t feel any bumps at all.”
Hu Tao’s voice was full of confidence.
No, that wasn’t the issue of bumps or not.
Velina really wanted to say that.
At such close contact, she could even clearly feel Hu Tao’s body temperature.
Between her nose lingered a cold, sharp plum blossom fragrance.
Velina raised her eyes and saw a plum blossom on Hu Tao’s hat brim.
So it was the scent of plum blossoms… probably?
“I’m not sleepy at all…”
She lifted her head and looked at the night sky filled with brilliant stars.
“The night sky tonight is really beautiful,” she sighed softly.
“Yeah, yeah.”
Xiangling, who had caught up at some point, heard Velina’s words and agreed.
“No culture.” Hu Tao shook her head.
“At a time like this, one should compose a poem.”
“Let’s hear it then,” Xiangling said, not quite convinced.
“There’s a moon in the sky, stars are blinking.
Hu Tao’s footsteps are busy, carrying Velina while running.”
Hu Tao immediately became poetic and recited an impromptu masterpiece.
“How is it?
Not bad, right?”
“Mm…”
Xiangling was silent.
“Such a good poem, such a good poem.” Velina clapped her hands and praised repeatedly.
“See?
Even Velina said so.
Xiangling, you just don’t know how to appreciate it.”
Hu Tao shook her head and sighed.
“Is that so?” Xiangling looked at Velina suspiciously.
“Yes,” Velina said without changing her expression.
“This really fits Director Hu’s character setting.”
Xiangling understood.
Time seemed to pass quickly.
Before long, the three of them had arrived beneath the giant tree where Wangshu Inn was located.
Wangshu Inn sat on a major transportation route leading to Liyue Harbor, so foot traffic was naturally considerable.
Although it was already quite late, there were still tables after tables of guests sitting under the tree, chatting about all sorts of things happening near and far.
But when Velina and the others appeared, the voices quickly died down.
“Hu Tao, put me down.”
Velina felt the gazes directed at her and couldn’t help whispering.
Although she was used to being stared at now, being in this state still made her feel somewhat ashamed.
Are you going to hop on one foot?” Hu Tao turned her head and smiled as she asked back.
Velina imagined that scene.
Mm…
It was better to keep being carried.
Pretend she never said anything.
Velina lowered her head, using Hu Tao to block herself.
You can’t see me.
The silence continued until the three of them disappeared from view in the water-powered elevator, followed by a burst of noise.
“So beautiful… Mom, I want to fall in love!”
“In one hour, I want all of that girl’s information!”
“Such beauty — could this be an adeptus of Liyue?”
“Wait, I just remembered something.
Have you all heard the rumor from Liyue Harbor before?
The peerless beauty who appears in Liyue only once every three thousand years.”
“Could it be her?
The people of Liyue truly do not deceive me…”
Velina’s ears twitched.
She looked down through the elevator window and faintly heard some discussion, but it was quickly covered by the sound of flowing water.
She didn’t need to think to know what those people were saying.
She felt a little tired.
But she was used to it.
…
Verr Goldet sat behind the counter petting a cat, letting her mind wander while occasionally yawning.
She was still thinking about Xiao’s matter.
She wondered what kind of happy event the Upper Immortal had encountered and how she should report it to Lady Ningguang.
Until her thoughts were interrupted by the noise coming from outside.
“What’s going on?”
Verr Goldet frowned.
What was all the noise about?
Didn’t they know Upper Immortal Xiao was in a good mood today?
Had Hilichurls attacked Wangshu Inn?
“Boss lady, how’s business at Wangshu Inn today?”
“I’ve said it many times — I am the owner of Wangshu Inn.”
Verr Goldet sighed helplessly.
She looked up and saw two familiar faces.
One was the current Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and the other was the chef from Wanmin Restaurant.
But at this moment, Verr Goldet’s attention was completely captured by the girl on Hu Tao’s back.
Distinctive white hair and red eyes, a face so perfect that not a single flaw could be found — a peerless beauty was nothing more than this.
She couldn’t help but recall an ancient poem she had once overheard in Liyue, said to have been written by an adeptus.
Through the ages, no absolute beauty exists; pleasing to the eye is a fine lady.
One glance topples a city, another glance topples a nation.
“Boss lady?”
Hu Tao’s voice pulled Verr Goldet out of her daze.
“Ah, sorry.”
Verr Goldet came back to her senses and looked apologetic.
“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Hu Tao didn’t mind.
“The first time I met Velina, I was also surprised for a long time.
She’s so beautiful that even this Director is slightly inferior.”
“Hu Tao…”
Velina spoke helplessly.
Under Hu Tao’s somewhat unwilling gaze, she got down.
Then she gave Verr Goldet a faint smile.
“Hello, I’m Velina.”
Velina — so that was her name?
Verr Goldet understood, but at the same time felt somewhat puzzled.
Such a beautiful girl would definitely not be unknown in Liyue, yet she had never even heard of her.
“Verr Goldet.
I’m also the owner of this Wangshu Inn, not the boss lady.”
Verr Goldet introduced herself as well, but her gaze couldn’t help falling on Velina’s foot that was only lightly touching the ground.
“Miss Velina, this is…?”
“She encountered a monster and accidentally twisted it.”
Hu Tao spoke up first to explain for Velina.
“I see.” Verr Goldet suddenly understood.
No wonder she needed to be carried.
But looking at it this way, the relationship between Director Hu and this Miss Velina seemed rather unusual.
“Are there any rooms left?
Give us a luxurious one,” Hu Tao requested.
Huh?
One room?
Velina was stunned.
She wanted to say something, but suddenly remembered that this seemed quite normal among girls.
If she refused, it would look strange instead.
“Yes, yes there are.”
While Velina was still conflicted, Verr Goldet had already quickly handled the business and handed a key to Hu Tao.
“Ah, wait a moment.”
Verr Goldet searched behind the counter again and took out a small bottle containing liquid.
“This is sprain medicine I brought from Mondstadt.
It’s a special version from the Knights of Favonius.
Ordinary people can’t buy it.”
“Thank you, boss lady.” Hu Tao thanked her with a grin.
“Thank you.” Velina also expressed her thanks.
“It’s boss,” Verr Goldet corrected helplessly.
“Ah?
Are we done?
Boss, I’d like to borrow your kitchen for a bit,” Xiangling, who had been petting the cat, said.
“…Go ask Yanxiao.” Verr Goldet decided to pass the problem along.
“Got it!”
Xiangling went to the kitchen.
Hu Tao carried Velina to the rented room.
The decor was antique with Liyue’s unique elegant style.
The space was also very large.
Standing on the balcony, one could even see the lights of Liyue Harbor in the distance.
The most striking feature was the large bed placed in the center of the room.
In any case, Velina felt that three people could sleep on it with plenty of room to spare.
“Wow, what a huge bed.
So comfortable!”
After Hu Tao placed Velina on the edge of the bed, she couldn’t help rolling around on it a few times and letting out cheers.
After celebrating, she walked up to Velina, who was curiously looking around.
Velina blinked.
When she saw the small bottle in Hu Tao’s hand, she immediately understood her intention.
“This… I can do it myself.”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Velina subconsciously pulled her legs together.
Her words also became hesitant.
Hu Tao, however, frowned.
Her tone carried a hint of something that brooked no refusal.
“Be good.
Take it off.
Let me see.”