Ganyu truly had excellent taste. When Lu Lin stepped out wearing the black formal outfit, even Xingqiu was momentarily stunned.
The fabric was top-grade silk, embroidered with golden cloud patterns that exuded nobility. Lu Lin already had a perfect physique—after changing into this attire, he looked even more like a noble young master than Xingqiu himself.
"This outfit looks tailor-made for Mr. Lu. Absolutely perfect! Miss Ganyu truly has remarkable taste!"
Xingqiu, being a bit dense about emotional nuances, didn't notice the subtle atmosphere between them and praised enthusiastically.
"Mmm~ Let's go with this one. How much Mora? I'll pay."
Ganyu stepped forward proactively.
Lu Lin was about to speak but was interrupted.
"You saved me at Mt. Tianheng. Consider this outfit a gift…"
The real reason was surely more than that, but Lu Lin couldn't refuse her sincerity. He didn't argue further.
However, he did purchase two additional everyday outfits with his own Mora before bidding farewell to Xingqiu.
Evening in Liyue Harbor
Standing on the bustling streets of Liyue, the two faced each other in silence.
Though they had acted normal in front of Xingqiu, Ganyu clearly hadn't fully recovered from the earlier emotional moment in the fitting room.
"Um… it's getting late. Are you hungry? Want to grab a meal together?" Lu Lin broke the silence.
"Mmm~ Maybe next time. I've been out too long today. I need to report the monster disturbances to the Qixing. Let's talk when I'm on leave in a few days."
She didn't dare stay with him any longer and hastily declined.
Lu Lin understood she needed space. "Alright. Then let me walk you back to Yuehai Pavilion."
"N-No need. It's very close. I can go by myself."
"Okay. Once I've settled down, I'll come find you. Be safe."
"Mmm~ See you next time."
She nodded and disappeared into Liyue's brilliant evening lights.
The harbor was glowing with lanterns. Vendors shouted, children laughed, footsteps echoed. The city brimmed with life.
As Ganyu walked beneath the lantern glow, the red light reflected on her delicate profile, dreamlike and beautiful.
But as Lu Lin watched her departing figure, he sensed loneliness.
She was like the solitary moon in the night sky—bright and pure, illuminating the world yet distant from it.
As a longtime Ganyu admirer, he knew why.
Half-human, half-adeptus, she struggled with the loneliness of being something "not entirely human" amidst humanity. She loved and protected the mortal world—yet couldn't fully belong to it.
It's okay. From now on, I'm here. I won't let you feel alone anymore.
Perhaps the residency trait from his beginner pack could help her.
[Double Happiness]: When the holder experiences happiness, the feeling is doubled.
If her joyful emotions were amplified, perhaps it would gradually dilute that loneliness.
However, residency traits could only be granted to those who had moved into the Serenitea Pot.
He needed to speed up the process and get Ganyu to move in.
Entering the Serenitea Pot
Lu Lin found a secluded area and activated the teapot-shaped mark on his palm.
The mark was the Serenitea Pot manifested alongside the system. By triggering it, he could enter its internal space.
Although it was also called a Serenitea Pot, this clearly wasn't the one created by Madame Ping. No adeptal spirit existed inside, and its capabilities far exceeded ordinary adeptal power.
Time inside synchronized with Teyvat.
The space was vast—mountains, rivers, lakes, blooming flowers everywhere.
But the currently accessible area was small—about the size of a football field. Beyond that lay invisible barriers.
To expand the area, he simply needed to level up the system.
Within his accessible zone, he could build houses, farm, raise animals—similar to the game's Serenitea Pot.
Right now, it was just empty green land.
He already had a plan.
He would build a house first.
Not manually, of course—he could exchange one through the system.
With the 50 points from the beginner pack, he could redeem a two-story wooden building.
He spent all 50 points and placed the house onto the field.
The structure was elegant and traditional, with flying eaves and intricate woodwork. The second floor even had a balcony with a wonderful view.
Unfortunately, it came completely unfurnished. Even the bed had to be purchased separately.
With no points left, he would buy a bed in Liyue tomorrow and bring it inside. External items could be transported in, so that wasn't a concern.
After setting up the house, he checked his status panel.
[Host: Lu Lin]
[System Level: 1 (0/1000)]
[Host Trait: Critical Moment]
[Elemental Attribute: None]
[Points: 0]
He didn't have a Vision, so he couldn't use elemental powers. But since "Elemental Attribute" existed as a category, that meant it might be obtainable in the future.
Would a god grant him a Vision?
He shook his head. He'd find out eventually.
Wanmin Restaurant
After leaving the Serenitea Pot, hunger hit him hard. He hadn't eaten all day.
In Liyue Harbor, there was only one choice.
Wanmin Restaurant.
The real Liyue Harbor was much larger than in the game, but the main layout remained similar. He easily found his way to Chihu Rock.
It was past dinner time, so there weren't many customers. Chef Mao was busy cooking.
"I'll have one Stewed Three Delicacies," Lu Lin ordered.
"My apologies," Chef Mao said. "We're out of fresh bamboo shoots, so we can't make that dish."
"Wait, you said the same thing two days ago!" another customer complained.
Chef Mao sighed. "The bamboo shoots come from Qingce Village. Recently, monsters have been rampant there. Transport caravans can't get through. The entire harbor is short on bamboo shoots."
"Haven't the Millelith dealt with it?"
"I heard the monsters are unusually troublesome this time. Even the Millelith are struggling."
Monsters rampant again?
Lu Lin recalled Ganyu and Xingqiu's earlier conversation.
Liyue seemed increasingly unstable.
At that moment, a worker rushed in breathlessly.
"Chef Mao! Something terrible happened! Xiangling encountered monsters at Guili Plains—she's missing!"