Everyone Was Just Innocent Friends

"We really were completely innocent! Just ordinary friends!"

Hu Tao and Bai Ye said in unison.

"Mm."

Zhongli remained expressionless.

"I believe you were completely innocent." Fei came over carrying dishes just then. Hearing them say that, she immediately chimed in.

"See?"

Hu Tao was delighted that the Wangshu Inn owner understood her so well.

"Completely innocent, despite sleeping in the same bed."

Fei added.

Hu Tao and Bai Ye both looked rather awkward upon hearing that.

"How could ordinary friends not sleep in the same bed?"

"If sleeping in the same bed means we're not innocent, then your minds are the filthy ones."

Hu Tao and Bai Ye lowered their heads, staring at their toes as they spoke.

After saying that,

Hu Tao quickly grabbed Bai Ye's hand.

"Bai Ye, let's go. We need to hurry back to Liyue Harbor."

"Right, right."

Hu Tao and Bai Ye fled in a panic.

Fei watched them go with a cheerful smile.

Behind them, Zhongli also headed downstairs.

"Director, wait a moment."

"What is it?" Hu Tao turned to ask Zhongli.

"I'll return with you."

He needed to keep an eye on them, lest things truly went too far.

Although Bai Ye felt quite familiar to him, Bai Ye had concealed things from him, and even his identity and origins remained a mystery.

Zhongli could not fully trust him yet.

Hu Tao had been staying with Bai Ye the whole time, so he still had his concerns.

Only once he figured out the secrets surrounding Bai Ye could he determine what to do next.

At the very least, he needed to learn who Bai Ye's true master was and which school he truly came from before deciding how to regard him.

For now, he still needed to stay on guard.

Besides,

Hu Tao was fifteen, and Bai Ye was only fourteen or fifteen. They were both still far too young.

Wangsheng Funeral Parlor had no need to find a successor so early.

Bai Ye realized that he was even more nervous than yesterday.

Clearly, after yesterday's test, Zhongli should not have been able to see through him while his teacher was hiding with all his might.

So why did hearing Zhongli say he would be coming along make Bai Ye even more nervous?

When they reached the foot of Wangshu Inn, the three of them boarded the Spirit Vehicle.

Zhongli sat in the driver's seat.

Bai Ye and Hu Tao sat in the back.

"We're completely innocent."

After sitting down,

Bai Ye and Hu Tao still emphasized this.

"Yes, I believe you, Director."

Zhongli was nearly speechless.

After saying that, he silently started the vehicle.

Aside from Hu Tao, Zhongli also knew how to drive Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's vehicle.

Seated in the vehicle, Hu Tao asked Bai Ye for the robot he had made with the Art of Automata so she could play with it.

Bai Ye sat rigidly in the middle, staring straight ahead with a solemn expression.

He did not dare make any rash movements.

Seeing Bai Ye's serious expression, Hu Tao covered her mouth and snickered.

She secretly lowered her hand and poked Bai Ye's stomach over and over with her finger.

Bai Ye shot Hu Tao a glance.

Hu Tao immediately turned her head away.

The corners of her lips kept curling upward.

Proud. Extremely proud.

Zhongli drove the Spirit Vehicle quickly, and the three soon returned to Liyue Harbor.

Seeing that they were nearly at Liyue Harbor, Bai Ye immediately said to Hu Tao, "Stop the vehicle here first. I'll get off here. I still need to go to Yujing Terrace, then head up to the Jade Chamber to see Lady Ningguang."

"Alright."

Hu Tao was somewhat reluctant.

She had spent two days smelling that pleasant scent. It was such a shame that she would not have it now.

After thinking for a moment, Hu Tao said to Bai Ye,

"Remember to come to Wanmin Restaurant tonight. You treated me to a meal at Wangshu Inn yesterday, so today I'll return the favor at Wanmin Restaurant."

"Alright."

Bai Ye did not hesitate in the slightest at Hu Tao's invitation.

The two bid each other farewell.

After parting with him, Hu Tao stroked her chin and said to Zhongli,

"Zhongli, how do you think we could get Bai Ye to join Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"

He was an ordinary friend who was good-looking, smelled nice, and had all kinds of novel inventions in his hands. Aside from being a little shameless at times, he was excellent in every way. How could she not think of a way to bring him to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?

Zhongli decided to pretend he had not heard her.

He still intended to figure out Bai Ye's identity first.

After bidding Hu Tao and Zhongli farewell, Bai Ye headed toward Yujing Terrace.

Wanting to get away from Zhongli was real.

But coming to report to Ningguang was real too.

When he arrived at Buyun's place,

Buyun took him up to the Jade Chamber.

Upon arriving at the Jade Chamber,

A Millelith guard immediately came over.

"I'm here to see Lady Ningguang."

Bai Ye immediately stated his purpose.

"Yes."

The guard nodded, then turned and entered the Jade Chamber to notify Ningguang.

Before long,

Ningguang's secretary, Baiwen, came out.

Upon seeing Bai Ye, Baiwen gave a slight bow.

"Young Master Bai Ye, Lady Ningguang will see you."

"Mm."

Bai Ye nodded.

He then followed Baiwen into the Jade Chamber.

Inside the Jade Chamber,

When Bai Ye entered, Ningguang was reclining on a couch.

She held a smoking pipe in her hand, her eyes half-lidded. The smooth hem of her cheongsam draped down, revealing a pair of plump, jade-like legs and feet white as jade, giving her a languidly alluring air.

Bai Ye could not help turning his gaze aside.

Hu Tao possessed the charming liveliness of a young girl, while this woman had the seductive allure of a mature woman.

Ningguang maintained that pose. She found teasing the little boy quite amusing. If she had such an adorable younger brother, she would definitely tease him like this all the time.

"How did the investigation go this time?"

"It went well enough. There was only one remnant of a god along the route, and it has already been dealt with. We also encountered a Fatui base and successfully destroyed it. As for those roads, my suggestion is to rebuild all of them."

Hearing Ningguang ask about business, Bai Ye quickly explained the situation.

"Mm. Ganyu already had someone send word ahead that she'll be returning with a group of Fatui prisoners. Hmph, those Fatui cooperate with us openly, yet do this sort of thing behind our backs."

Ningguang sneered.

After devising a plan for how to deal with the Fatui, Ningguang looked at Bai Ye again, and the urge to tease him rose once more.

How could she not tease such an adorable white-haired boy with the same platinum hair as hers?

"Other than that, how did you feel?"

"Huh? What do you mean, how did I feel?"

Bai Ye did not understand what Ningguang meant.

"How did it feel to travel with a beautiful young woman?"

"Huh?!"

Hearing Ningguang's question, Bai Ye was instantly at a loss.

"We're completely innocent friends!"

He still said it firmly.

"Really?"

Ningguang saw at once that Bai Ye lacked confidence.

"Mm, ah, yes..."

Bai Ye nodded.

Seeing how flustered he was truly delighted her.

"It seems you got along well with Ganyu! In that case, I have another commission. Once Ganyu returns, I'll need the two of you to handle it together. So, will you accept it or not? I'll still pay you in floating stones."

"Mm?"

Bai Ye was somewhat stunned.

It seemed that something had gone wrong.

No,

Nothing had gone wrong.

Everyone was just innocent friends.