Ji An took the object Zhongli handed him and found it to be a pale golden, rough scale.
Curious, he asked, "What is this, Zhongli?"
Zhongli took a sip of tea and set his cup down. "It is a memento from an old acquaintance of mine. When you reach the rocky area southwest of Tianqiu Valley, find a suitable spot to bury it. Consider it a small act of remembrance on my behalf."
"Sure, it's just a small favor," Ji An nodded, tucking the pale golden scale away.
He didn't ask why Zhongli couldn't do it himself—there must have been a reason Zhongli chose not to elaborate on.
Just as he was about to place the scale inside his robe,
the system suddenly chimed with a notification.
[Acquired a 'River of Time' simulation item. Corresponding geographical conditions not yet met. Relevant data not loaded…]
"This is…?"
Ji An was inwardly surprised. He hadn't expected that something given by Zhongli would trigger the 'River of Time' mode.
But outwardly, he remained composed and simply stored the scale away.
At that moment, a wave of excited murmurs rose from below the stage.
"What's going on?" Ji An asked curiously.
Zhongli glanced toward the stage and explained, "It's Yun Jin, the star of the Yun-Han Opera Troupe. You're quite lucky—today happens to be one of her rare performances."
Ji An looked over and saw that although Yun Jin was petite in stature, the moment she stepped onto the stage, she radiated an innate grace and presence. As soon as she began to sing, the audience erupted in cheers. Clearly, she already had a devoted following.
"Hm? Zhongli, I had a feeling I'd find you here."
Just as Ji An was getting absorbed in the performance, a voice from behind nearly made his heart stop.
A light, fragrant breeze drifted past as a girl casually took a seat at their table.
Zhongli set down his teacup, a subtle, almost imperceptible shift crossing his otherwise unreadable expression.
"Is there something you need, Director Hu?"
Ji An had already recognized the twin-tailed girl as the one he'd seen at the Jade Chamber earlier.
Now that she was sitting so close, he found himself growing slightly tense.
Compared to a few days ago, the weary look on Hu Tao's face had faded. Her expression appeared calm, but a faint, lingering sorrow still hung between her brows.
"Oh, it's nothing urgent," Hu Tao said offhandedly. "I'll be away for a couple of days starting soon. If anything comes up at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, could you keep an eye out? I trust you to handle things."
She definitely wouldn't admit that as she passed by the entrance, she had caught sight of Ji An's profile from behind and, for reasons she couldn't explain, felt drawn to come inside.
After speaking to Zhongli, Hu Tao turned her attention to Ji An, her tone deliberately casual. "Well, isn't this a surprise. I didn't think someone as old-fashioned as you would make new friends."
"When conversation flows naturally, friendship often follows," Zhongli replied calmly, taking another sip of tea.
"Hey, haven't I seen you before? At the Jade Chamber, right?"
Hu Tao's uniquely beautiful plum blossom eyes fixed on Ji An.
"I… think so," Ji An answered with an awkward smile, feeling his cheeks heat up again.
Darn it, what's going on? Why am I so nervous?
Hu Tao gave a light "hmph" and asked, "What's your name?"
"I'm Ji An," he answered politely, then asked in return, "And you?"
"Hu Tao."
"Ah."
An awkward silence fell between them.
Ji An smiled stiffly and took a tactical sip of water.
Hu Tao began idly twisting the ends of her hair.
Zhongli, completely unfazed by the strangely tense atmosphere, continued listening to the opera with an air of serene contentment.
Onstage,
Yun Jin had just finished a piece about a scholar from humble origins and a renowned courtesan, and was beginning her next performance.
She opened with a poetic verse:
Red beans grow in the southern land,
How many sprout when spring breezes blow?
I hope you will gather a gentle handful—
For they awaken the deepest longing.
…
Yun Jin's mastery was so compelling that even Ji An, who knew little about opera, found himself thoroughly engrossed.
This story revolved around a Millelith soldier and a young lady from a noble family.
The young lady, born into an esteemed household, was both talented and beautiful. She and the boy next door grew up together, childhood friends inseparable in their youth.
As the years passed, both reached adulthood.
The boy trained diligently, aiming to join the Millelith.
But the young lady's parents looked down on his family's modest means and forbade the two from meeting. Eventually, they arranged her marriage to a wealthy local merchant, driving a wedge between the pair.
Heartbroken, the boy poured all his energy into martial training. He practiced relentlessly, attempted the Millelith entrance exams multiple times, and finally succeeded in becoming a soldier.
Seeking to distinguish himself, he volunteered when the call went out for elite troops to be deployed to the Chasm.
Before leaving, he took a red bean—a token of their childhood affection—and sewed it into an amulet, a quiet vessel for his unspoken longing.
Years later,
the soldier returned having earned merit and recognition, and had since started a family of his own. Yet, thoughts of the young lady still lingered in his heart.
By then, the young lady's husband had proven reckless and dissolute, squandering the family fortune through extravagance and vice.
To survive, she had no choice but to seek work in a pleasure house. Only after years of enduring hardship did she save enough to finally leave that world behind.
Then, one day, by chance,
the two met again in the bustling market.
They shared their stories, learned of each other's struggles, and could not help but sigh over the twists of fate.
But the possibility of being together as husband and wife had long since passed. From then on, they could only refer to each other as brother and sister.
…
"I've heard enough!"
The opera wasn't even over.
"This story is so pointless!"
For some reason, Hu Tao suddenly slammed her hand on the table.
Her outburst was practically a public disruption, drawing angry glares from the surrounding audience.
But the moment they saw who had spoken, they all quietly turned away, pretending nothing had happened.
Obviously—who in their right mind would pick a fight with the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? You'd be lucky if Hu Tao didn't come looking for trouble with you.
Ji An broke into a slight sweat and offered an apologetic look to the nearby patrons.
After all, it was his companion who had caused the scene.
He turned to Hu Tao, bewildered. "What's wrong? I thought the story was quite moving—Yun Jin performed it beautifully."
"Those two in the story clearly loved each other, but they just let their parents decide their futures. They didn't even have the courage to stand up for themselves."
For some reason, Hu Tao's eyes were growing red.
"And when they met again years later, they could have made things right, but they were still bound by what society thought… too afraid to be together."
"They were both still alive and well… It wasn't like they were separated by life and death…"
By the end, her voice was trembling.
"?"
Ji An was completely baffled.
Was Hu Tao always this sentimental? I remember Uncle Mao saying the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was a mischievous and unpredictable handful…
Beside them, Zhongli continued sipping his tea, utterly unperturbed.
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A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
*Honkai Impact 3rd, I Can Transform into a Valkyrie!*
patreon.com/deadlygoober