"Cheers."
The two clinked their glasses and finally shifted to topics that might resemble a normal conversation between young people.
Though, to be fair, one was a scholarly bookworm who nearly evolved into a young, ancient sage, and the other was a 500-year-old artificial human—neither of whom could be considered "normal."
As the conversation unfolded, the difficulty level quickly spiked. They started asking each other personal questions: Did they have someone they liked? Had they thought about what their married life might look like?
"So," Gu Sanqiu began, "you've probably met plenty of girls in Mondstadt. How is it you're still single?"
Gu Sanqiu launched his basic attack, Statement of Fact, inflicting physical damage.
Albedo sipped his wine calmly. "That still puts me ahead of you, the head of a prestigious family in Liyue Harbor who's also single. By that comparison, you're the worse off."
Albedo countered with his own Statement of Fact, dealing damage while leaving Gu Sanqiu stunned for a moment.
"That's not the same!" Gu Sanqiu tried to defend himself. "I've got responsibilities, work piling up every day. I'm so busy that there's barely any time for romance."
He attempted to justify his status by painting a picture of an overworked man with no room for dating.
Albedo raised an eyebrow and glanced at Gu Sanqiu. "Then tell me—how many days have you been in Mondstadt? And how many nights have you spent drinking at the taverns?"
"That's not being busy with work. That's just not wanting to spend your free time on someone else. If you can't even offer companionship, no wonder no one's interested in you."
...
I want to fight him. Could he at least try to be less blunt?
Gu Sanqiu sighed in defeat. "If I had the time, I'd love to balance having fun and making someone else happy. But let's face it—two independent people coming together as partners? Balancing personal space is a challenge."
Albedo set down his glass and stared at Gu Sanqiu with an unyielding gaze.
"Forgive me, but your logic is flawed. Everything you just said requires one key premise: that you actually have a girlfriend."
Gu Sanqiu's face froze.
Albedo continued, "Given your usual quick wit, I wouldn't expect such a basic mistake from you. But you made it anyway."
"When someone cares deeply about something, no matter how much they try to hide it, they can't escape the notice of someone observant."
Albedo's tone carried the air of a detective declaring their deduction.
"In conclusion, you're extremely bothered by the fact that you're still single. You're so preoccupied with it that you walked right into my little trap."
"Whether it's due to family pressure or simply jealousy from seeing couples around, I don't particularly care."
Albedo smiled faintly. "I win."
Gu Sanqiu grabbed his spear. "Let's settle this with a fight."
Albedo's smile remained. "Oh? Issuing a duel in frustration only makes you look like you've lost your composure. Are you sure you want to do that?"
"You're not my wife. Why should I care about what you think of me? Unless you're planning to come back to Liyue and swear oaths in front of the Geo Archon's statue?"
Albedo's smile froze.
Gu Sanqiu smirked in satisfaction. Counterattack successful.
---
The gentle night breeze blew through Mondstadt, carrying the blessing of the Anemo Archon. It peeled back the veil of darkness, delivering sunlight and the aroma of breakfast to the early risers.
Another day of hard work awaited!
With Barbatos' winds still swirling, no Mondstadter could justify sleeping in.
Fueled by this belief, the city's laborers rose from their beds, ready to tackle the day—buoyed, of course, by the thought of a well-earned drink after work.
At the Goth Grand Hotel, a Fatui staff member, acting like a steward, was escorting a certain Deaconess.
"We've arrived, Lady Barbara. The esteemed guest is resting in this suite."
The employee smiled warmly. "My position prevents me from disturbing such an honored individual. Whether or not you wake him is entirely up to you."
"Oh, you're too kind. Thank you for showing me the way."
Barbara bowed politely. Privately, she was stunned. The Fatui were usually insufferably haughty, acting as though Mondstadters weren't even worth speaking to.
It was like dealing with the Lawrence clan—minus Eula, of course.
Yet today, the moment she mentioned that Gu Sanqiu was her mentor, the expressions of the Fatui stationed at the hotel changed dramatically. Their address shifted from "little deaconess" to "Lady Barbara."
Clearly, in the eyes of these Snezhnayan agents, Barbara now carried the mark of the Fatui's influence.
"Teacher, are you in there? How about joining me for breakfast?"
Barbara knocked on the door energetically. As for whether Gu Sanqiu was still asleep?
Don't be ridiculous. Her older sister often stayed awake for days on end while working. Her idiot mentor, who had spent the previous night drinking with everyone, was hardly an exception.
She, the Deaconess, was thriving now that Albert's antics were no longer a problem.
The door creaked open, revealing a figure wrapped entirely in a blanket, save for a single hand and part of a face.
"What do you want? Don't you know waking someone up early can drive them mad?"
"Early?" Barbara exclaimed, her expression incredulous. "Teacher, are you sure you've checked the time? I finished most of my duties at the Church of Favonius before coming to find you, and you're still calling this early?"
"As long as the sun is overhead, it's still morning."
Gu Sanqiu nudged the door open with his head, turning back to flop down onto the bed.
"What's the matter? If one of your church's sisters needs me, tell her I'm not here—or better yet, that I've gone back to Liyue."
"Oh, it's nothing like that!"
Barbara reached out, trying to tug the blanket off him.
"Get up, Teacher! Your student has a rare favor to ask of you today."
"Should I be thanking you for making my life busier?" Gu Sanqiu grumbled, rolling over and cocooning himself even tighter. Barbara's efforts were wasted in record time.
"If there's no reward, don't expect me to lift a finger. And now you want to bother me first thing in the morning? Is the Knights of Favonius short-staffed or something?"
"If you need help, why not ask Klee? One of her bombs could probably clear the obstacles for you."
Barbara's patience wore thin. She summoned a small burst of Hydro energy, slapping it against the blanket.
"It's not that! A friend of mine wants your help—maybe even some combat training!"
Gu Sanqiu's tone turned lazy. "What kind of friend? And how does a combat-loving girl even have anything in common with you?"
Barbara pressed her lips into a tight line and huffed. "You've met her—Noelle, the maid of the Knights of Favonius. She heard you were in Mondstadt and asked me to see if you'd be willing to teach her."
"Oh, the walking fortress? Sure. Just let me sleep a few more hours."
"No!"
Barbara clenched her teeth, forming a seal with her hands, ready to test a new spell she'd learned from Lisa.
"Let the waters rage—[Tidal Surge!]"