Teacher Tribbie Is a Mature Adult, Liyue's Zhongli!

Everyone gathered around the dining table and ate together.

"Teacher Tribbie, why do you always say 'we'? Who are we?"

Klee tilted her head, a puzzled expression appearing on her face as she asked.

"We are us. Actually, there used to be a lot of us."

"Tribbie, Trianne, Tining, Tri..."

"Even though there were many of us, we were all Tribios."

"We're mature big sisters."

Tribbie explained earnestly.

"That's right! We were this tall, with legs this long!"

Trianne spread her arms wide beside her and spoke with an exaggerated expression.

"Mm."

Tining nodded.

"That's amazing!"

Klee did not understand, but she somehow felt that it sounded amazing. She thought about how wonderful it would be if there were a thousand of her.

"If there were a thousand Klees, then I wouldn't have to be afraid of Captain Jean putting me in solitary confinement!"

Klee reached out and grabbed Tribbie's hand. "Teacher Tribbie, please teach Klee how to become a thousand people."

"If Klee became a thousand people, Mondstadt would probably get blown into Mondstadt Lake."

Qin Qi could not help shaking his head. One Klee was enough to alter the terrain of Stormbearer Mountains.

If there were a thousand Klees, they might even blow up Teyvat.

"Mm."

Klee puffed out her cheeks. "Big Brother Qin Qi, last time was just an accident."

"Klee only accidentally fell down. Klee didn't mean to throw Jumpy Dumpty at the house."

"Klee is a good kid. Klee only blows up fish."

Klee felt terribly wronged. Last time really had been an accident. She had just made Jumpy Dumpty and wanted to show it to Qin Qi.

She had wanted Qin Qi to praise her, but she had unexpectedly tripped on flat ground. It had completely been an accident.

"Okay, okay, okay. I believe Klee is a good kid."

"But although there can't be a thousand Klees, Klee can become the same as Tribbie."

Qin Qi looked at the four little ones, who looked extremely alike, and suddenly came up with a very good idea.

"Doro."

"Guga."

Doro pulled out an outfit identical to Tribbie's from who knew where.

Guga took out a set of makeup tools, and the two of them immediately got busy around Klee.

"All right, Mr. Zhongli, let's turn around and not look."

Qin Qi walked over to Zhongli, then pulled him around.

"Actually, this is not my true appearance."

Zhongli turned around, but he could not help adding that remark.

"Yes, yes, Miss Zhongli. Cover your eyes."

Qin Qi remembered that the Geo Archon could take countless forms. Perhaps there really was a Liyue Zhongli.

Qin Qi and the others waited with their backs turned. Once Guga and Doro said they were done—

Only then did the two turn back around.

"Ta-da!"

"Any time!"

Tribbie stepped forward and spoke.

"Any place!"

Trianne jumped up and spoke.

"Little messenger!"

Tining drew out her words as she spoke.

"Jumpy Dumpty!"

Klee jumped up and shouted.

Klee was now dressed in the same outfit as Tribbie and the others: a little white dress and black-and-white shoes with tiny wings.

The four of them stood together, looking unbelievably adorable.

"Clap, clap, clap. So cute."

"Tribbie, Tining, Trianne, and Klee are all so cute."

"Guga and Doro are amazing too."

"Everyone did great."

Qin Qi clapped as he spoke with a smile, while also giving Zhongli an elbow jab.

"Mm, very cute."

Zhongli replied somewhat stiffly.

"Hehehe."

The little ones all looked embarrassed, scratching their heads as they giggled.

The meal ended amid the playful commotion, and Tribbie and the others prepared to set off. Just before they left, Qin Qi suddenly thought of something.

"Teacher Tribbie, about how long will it take you to come back this time?"

Qin Qi asked.

"About one or two days. What is it?"

Tribbie asked.

"It's nothing. I was thinking, if you can bring people along, could you take Klee out for a stroll?"

"It's freezing here, and there's nothing fun to do. Klee has been staying at home the whole time."

"I was thinking of asking you to take her out with you. Also, if possible, have Belle bring some videotapes over."

Qin Qi remembered that although Belle's main job was being a Proxy, she publicly ran a video store.

They sold proper videotapes, right?

"Eh? Klee can go?!"

Hearing Qin Qi's words, Klee looked delighted. She grabbed his hand and spoke.

"Of course you can. Do you think I'm like Captain Jean and won't let you go out to play?"

Qin Qi smiled and patted Klee's head. He knew Klee was a lively and active child.

She must have been bored stiff from staying home these past few days. Letting her go out and play for a few days was a good thing.

"Teacher Tribbie, can you take Klee along?"

Qin Qi asked again.

"No problem."

"Leave it to us."

"We'll take good care of Klee."

Tribbie and the others immediately hugged Klee, then opened the door and cheerfully bid Qin Qi farewell.

"Bye-bye, Big Brother Qin Qi! I'll bring you all presents."

"Bye-bye, Doro Ancestor! Bye-bye, Guga Patriarch!"

Klee waved goodbye to everyone.

"Bye-bye."

"You're only going for one or two days."

Qin Qi felt there was no need to get so excited, since they would only be gone for a day or two.

But since Klee and the others were so excited, he decided to play along.

"Guga!"

"Doro!"

Guga and Doro held little handkerchiefs, wiped away their tears, then waved the handkerchiefs with great reluctance.

"Where did you pull those handkerchiefs out from?"

By the time Qin Qi made that quip, Klee and the others had already disappeared.

Doro and Guga stuck out their tongues, then mischievously put away their little handkerchiefs.

"Doro, Doro. I want to hear a story."

"Guga wants one too."

Guga and Doro pounced into Qin Qi's arms and coquettishly made their request.

"Ah, I've really worked hard today."

"All right, Mr. Zhongli, we're going to bed. You can sit outside and entertain yourself."

Qin Qi carried Doro and Guga back to his room. The three of them would sleep together tonight.

Meanwhile, Zhongli stood in the living room, looked at the unwashed dishes, sighed, and then skillfully began washing them.

Question: Why was Zhongli so skilled? Answer: Perhaps when he could not run up a tab, he had to wash dishes to pay for his meals.

The night was quiet. Bright moonlight turned the ground snow-white.

But as time passed, the moon gradually hid behind the clouds.

White snowflakes began drifting down from the sky. Inside the house, Zhongli slept alone.

In Qin Qi's room, the three little ones felt a little cold and huddled tightly together for warmth.

Outside, Peashooter leaned against Sunflower, enjoying her gentle warmth.

Wall-nut stood alone in the distance, just like Zhongli, standing firm and unshaken!