Hu Tao Side Story: One Year Since His Passing

"What should I do, Mr. Zhongli? Business has been so slow lately." Hu Tao paced anxiously back and forth.

"Generally speaking, poor business also signifies peace and happiness in Liyue."

Zhongli seemed entirely untroubled and merely took an unhurried sip of mild tea.

"I guess that's true." Hu Tao looked thoughtful.

"Since things have been so dull lately, why haven't you gone out to have some fun and relax with your old friends?"

Zhongli remembered how Hu Tao used to have a whole crowd of children trailing after her, singing silly rhymes with her.

Ever since Xiu Yuan passed away, Hu Tao had never played with them again.

"They've already graduated. They don't need me to teach them anymore. Besides, I'm the director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor now. I'm busy! I don't have time to play with them."

Hu Tao planted both hands on her hips and spoke with great pride.

Zhongli only smiled at her words and slowly picked up the little wooden cube.

Of course he knew that this child had been trying hard to suppress her own nature.

Whenever night fell, if there was no business, Hu Tao would sit alone on the edge of a tall building in Liyue, feeling the breeze and swinging her little feet.

Her gaze usually rested on the children playing below.

The look in her eyes was unmistakably one of envy.

But beyond that envy, there was even more determination.

A child in her teens should have been at the age when she most wanted to play, yet she already bore a heavy responsibility.

After all, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor handled almost all the funerals in Liyue.

Such a heavy burden had fallen on the shoulders of a little girl barely into her teens.

Though Zhongli helped share the load, he was ultimately only a consultant. He had never found his way into Hu Tao's heart the way Xiu Yuan had.

So most of the pressure still rested on Hu Tao.

Usually, Hu Tao bounced about, laughing and joking like a happy little girl who had never known what sadness was.

But after every funeral, she would stand motionless, staring into space.

The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor remained quiet and deserted that day, without a single customer even by closing time.

Night fell.

At the stroke of midnight.

Hu Tao came alone to Xiu Yuan's grave.

"Grandpa, I've come to see you. Today marks one year since you passed away."

"So much has happened this past year, and I've grown up a lot, too."

"Not long after you passed away, Rex Lapis fell during the annual Rite of Descension. At first, everyone thought he'd been assassinated, and all of Liyue was thrown into a panic."

"Only later did we learn that he hadn't been assassinated. Rex Lapis had fallen during a heavenly tribulation."

"And I was the one who held the Rite of Parting for him!"

"Oh, right! I also found someone named Zhongli, who knows all about the past and present, to serve as the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's consultant. He helped me hold the Rite of Parting for Rex Lapis."

"I made the Rite of Parting for Rex Lapis a grand affair. Lots of people praised me!"

"Hehe, I didn't embarrass you, did I, Grandpa? I'm pretty amazing!"

Hu Tao excitedly shared everything that had happened over the past year with Xiu Yuan.

She seemed so happy.

But...

As she kept smiling, tears began streaming down her face, and she could no longer stop them.

"But..."

"Grandpa..."

"I wish so much... that you could have seen it..."

"Seen how I've grown... seen how I can handle things on my own..."

"This whole year... I haven't gotten into trouble even once..."

"I can bathe by myself now... and I've listened to you... I haven't slept in a coffin again..."

"Grandpa... I've been a good girl, haven't I...?"

"Everyone says they can trust me to get things done..."

"Grandpa... I miss you so much, Grandpa..."

At that moment, Hu Tao could no longer keep up her false smile.

Tears streamed endlessly down her cheeks.

She could put on a brave face in front of anyone.

Anyone except her grandpa.

In that moment, Hu Tao was no longer the director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, but her grandpa's little granddaughter.

"I'm so tired, Grandpa... I miss you so much..."

"I want to sleep beside you again... I want you to hold me..."

"Your arms... were so warm..."

"Grandpa... only after you were gone did I realize... how much trouble it is to dry my hair..."

"I wish I could take a bath with you one more time... I want you to dry my hair for me..."

"Grandpa... I'm really so tired... even with Mr. Zhongli helping... I'm still so tired..."

"I really want to sing silly rhymes with my friends again..."

By then, Hu Tao was utterly drenched in tears.

She kept pouring her heart out to her grandpa. Only in front of him could she reveal her true self.

"I really can't compare to you..."

Zhongli stood in a large tree not far away, silently watching it all.

He waited until the sky began to pale and the morning sun gilded the fish-scale clouds with a layer of gold.

Only then did Zhongli slowly climb down from the tree and walk over.

He took off his coat and draped it over Hu Tao, who had cried all night.

"My friend, the child you raised is far too mature for her age..."

"I've never heard her say these things to anyone. Not even me."

"I'll take good care of her. Please rest assured."

With that, Zhongli gently picked up Hu Tao, who had already cried herself to sleep, carried her back to bed, and tucked her beneath the covers.

Today's a side story~ I hope you all enjoyed it. There's more coming in a little while.