To Celebrate, Let's Have Dinner Together!

The moment Venti heard he could send the bill, his eyes lit up. He reached out a hand.

"Miss, I believe you have a connection with my Wind Academy. Why don't you..."

Zhongli lifted Venti straight off the ground.

"Venti."

Zhongli's voice was quiet, but it fell like a thousand stone peaks settling into place. Everything around them went still for a moment.

"She and I have a prior contract. Once made, a contract is as steadfast as bedrock. It cannot be lightly broken, nor will I allow anyone else to interfere."

His golden eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze bearing down on Venti.

"Or would you care to taste the punishment of eating rock?"

Venti rubbed the back of his collar where Zhongli had grabbed him. He wasn't angry, but even his stray tuft of hair had wilted like a dandelion beaten down by rain.

He sighed, folded his arms, and leaned against the wall, muttering under his breath.

"I know, I know... Contracts, contracts. You old stick-in-the-mud. It's been thousands of years, and you're still this rigid."

He stole a glance at Zhongli. Seeing no change in his expression, he added, "But you have to be reasonable, don't you? Sending a bill isn't a crime. My Wind Academy welcomes talented people. What if she wants to join? Have you even asked her?"

Zhongli gave him a cool glance.

Venti immediately raised both hands. "All right, all right. I won't ask. I won't ask."

"Pfft!" Someone failed to hold back a laugh, and the whole room burst out laughing after them!

Who would have thought Venti, who had just dominated the arena, had a side like this?

Even Ronava, Death's Resolve, looked a little stunned.

She rarely paid attention to the Anemo Archon or the Geo Archon.

One was close