Lumine lay on the soft bed in Amber's home, where time seemed to lose its meaning.
It was only after an unknown amount of time that she slowly opened her eyes. The room around her gradually came into focus.
A sense of confusion lingered as the events before she passed out remained a blur.
"What... happened to me?"
Her voice was raspy and filled with uncertainty.
Shao Yun, who had been sitting nearby, immediately stood up from his chair when he heard her voice. Looking down with concern, he asked, "You're awake?"
Lumine rubbed her temples, trying to piece things together. Holding her head, she murmured in slight discomfort, "Shao Yun, where am I?"
Shao Yun glanced around, pretending to assess the room, then joked,
"Unless Goth sold me his hotel, there's only one possibility—we're in Amber's house."
Lumine couldn't help but let out a faint, amused smile.
She sat up and leaned against the headboard, sighing, "Well, seems nothing too serious happened if you're still in the mood to joke."
Shao Yun walked over and handed her a cup of warm water, speaking gently, "I was going to give you this miracle remedy I whipped up, but knowing how much you hate it, I brought you back to Amber's instead."
The moment she heard "miracle remedy," Lumine recalled that unbearably bitter taste.
She shuddered. "Ugh—don't even mention that stuff. It's so bitter."
After finishing the water, she gently set the empty cup on the bedside table. The soft clink broke the silence of the room.
Lumine looked around, scanning for a familiar figure. Then, frowning slightly, she asked Shao Yun, "Where's Paimon?"
Shao Yun waved his hand with a teasing smile on his face.
Then he shrugged and joked, "Don't mention it. That little gremlin really is a handful. Got frozen solid by La Signora—I nearly broke my back thawing her out."
"She kept sneezing after that. Broke my heart to watch. I offered her my remedy, but she threatened to give me the silent treatment for a week if I made her drink it."
At this, Shao Yun snapped his fingers with a triumphant grin and said playfully, "Wanna guess how I solved it?"
Intrigued, Lumine blinked and asked, "What did you do? Tell me!"
Shao Yun chuckled at her curiosity. He rubbed his fingers together and raised two of them in front of her eyes. "Mora. That little glutton throws a fit, but the second you mention Mora, her eyes light up. I gave her a few coins, and she downed the remedy without another word."
Paying someone to take medicine—that's classic Paimon. Anyone else would've asked for a full outfit as compensation.
Lumine burst out laughing.
"Haha! Paimon really is a little money grubber."
Her laughter echoed through the room, as if all worries had melted away.
But as the laughter faded, her expression turned serious.
Looking at Shao Yun with a trace of concern, she asked, "By the way... what about Venti?"
Shao Yun's face immediately darkened. He waved dismissively like swatting a fly. "Oh, he's doing great. I've never seen someone get beat up and still act so lively!"
Lumine frowned, her expression skeptical.
He had his Vision stolen—how could he be perfectly fine?
She pressed, "But I remember Venti…"
Shao Yun cut her off, voice firm. "That guy tricked you. La Signora slapped him over a dozen times and kicked him once—and still…"
He paused, recalling how Venti had left him to handle Jean's questions alone.
He continued, more annoyed now, "Ugh, whatever. He's totally fine."
Lumine looked even more confused, but Shao Yun didn't seem willing to elaborate, so she let it go.
Though a bit late to ask, she couldn't help but voice her concern, "You seem okay, but... are you really alright?"
Shao Yun waved a hand nonchalantly, smirking. "I'm totally fine. That La Signora couldn't take a hit from me."
Rather than asking about his injuries, Lumine reacted with concern. "She's not... dead, right?"
Shao Yun shook his head. "Nope."
Surprisingly, Lumine felt a slight sense of relief. Surviving a fight with someone like Shao Yun was no small feat for a Fatui Harbinger.
Then, with a gleam in his eyes, Shao Yun pulled out a hefty sack of Mora from his coat.
"But I did rob her."
Lumine was stunned speechless by the sight of the gold. Just how bold is this man?
After a long pause, she stammered, "I-I know you've done robberies before... but you actually robbed a Fatui Harbinger?!"
Shao Yun scoffed inwardly. If Venti hadn't stopped me, she'd be dead already. But he didn't say that aloud. Instead, he handed her the sack.
"Consider it her payment for your medical expenses."
Lumine took the bag. It was heavy. She could feel the weight of the Mora inside.
She tucked it away carefully, her expression complex, caught between ethics and gratitude. She gazed at Shao Yun, her eyes tinged with melancholy and helplessness.
"Don't rob people again, okay? It just... doesn't feel right."
Shao Yun shrugged like it was nothing. "Robbing the rich to help the poor—you ever heard of that? You're the 'poor' in this case."
Lumine blinked, taken aback. "But I don't feel poor…"
Shao Yun looked her up and down and said with mock sincerity, "You seem pretty poor to me."
That made Lumine glance at herself and blush, suddenly flustered.
She glared at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Shao Yun, unfazed, added, "This money's just enough to cover a meal or two for Paimon."
Then he raised an eyebrow with a teasing smirk. "What were you thinking?"
Lumine coughed awkwardly to cover her embarrassment. "Cough, nothing! That's what I meant too! Not enough for Paimon's food!"
Trying to brush the moment aside, she scratched her head. Shao Yun, sensing it, smoothly changed the subject.
"Anyway, forget that. Did you ever finish your talk with Venti?"
Lumine shook her head. "No. He said he'd tell me under the big tree at Windrise. Then he tried to run and... we ran into La Signora. After that, I don't remember anything."
Shao Yun grumbled under his breath, "Should've let La Signora slap him a couple more times."
Lumine blinked. "What?"
He waved it off. "Nothing. It's still early—just afternoon. Wanna go find him?"
Lumine was surprised. "You're coming too?"
Shao Yun nodded. "He owes you answers—and he owes me a whole list of them."
Lumine got out of bed, suddenly thinking of Paimon. "Paimon... is she okay? Still sneezing?"
Shao Yun pointed at the door, shoulders raised casually. "She's downstairs, counting the Mora I gave her."
They headed downstairs together and found Paimon sitting cross-legged on the floor, gleefully counting Mora. Her face glowed with delight.
"Hahaha! So much Mora! I can eat Sweet Madame at Good Hunter a dozen times and drink my fill at Angel's Share!"
Lumine and Shao Yun stood behind her silently, smiling as they watched her excitement.
Hands on her hips, Lumine squinted playfully and said in a sly tone, "Paimon…"
Paimon jumped in surprise, turning around with a sheepish grin. Seeing them, she stammered, "Ah! You're awake!"
Lumine gave her a knowing smile. "I was never asleep, was I?"
Her voice carried a teasing edge, hinting at her dissatisfaction with Paimon hoarding the cash.
Paimon scrambled to shield the Mora behind her. "Uh, uh, Lumine—you okay?"
Her tone betrayed her guilt.
Lumine replied, "Doesn't seem like you were too worried—you didn't even stay by my side."
She pretended to sulk, accusing Paimon of neglect.
Flustered, Paimon replied weakly, "Well... with Shao Yun here, I wasn't too worried, hehe…"
She gave Shao Yun a pleading look, silently begging him to step in.
Shao Yun sighed and played peacemaker. "Alright, alright. Paimon, pack up the Mora. Let's head to Windrise and find Venti."
Lumine let it go, no longer eyeing the Mora pile.
Relieved, Paimon hurried to stash the money.
Leaning against the couch, Shao Yun watched her organize every coin.
Once she carefully dropped the final Mora into the pouch, he waved her over.
Paimon looked up, puzzled. Then, seeing his gesture, flew over with curiosity.
She leaned close to his face, ears perked, expecting a secret.
Shao Yun leaned in and whispered, "Next time, count money in secret. Don't be so obvious."
Paimon giggled sheepishly and nodded repeatedly.
"Got it, got it!"