After hearing Zhong Baiye's explanation, Zhang Yi eyed him and Lumine suspiciously.
Seeing that Zhang Yi still had his doubts, Lumine grabbed Zhong Baiye's arm before he could speak. They even did a few things that would get this page hit with a 404 if written out.
Even Paimon was too embarrassed to keep watching and covered her eyes. The little girl beside her did the same, though both of them left gaps between their fingers.
Watching Lumine and Zhong Baiye's bold movements, everyone present swallowed involuntarily.
Except for Ying'er, who was critiquing their moves, and the old man who couldn't care less about any of it-Zhongli.
When Lumine released Zhong Baiye from her embrace, her face glowed. She looked as though she had thoroughly enjoyed what had just happened.
Zhong Baiye, meanwhile, sobbed like a virtuous woman whose innocence had been violated, muttering things like, "It actually went in," and, "So hot." Who knew what he was describing.
After witnessing all that, Zhang Yi finally believed Zhong Baiye's explanation. He looked at Zhong Baiye with envy, as though saying:
"Brother, got any tricks you can teach me? I want to be just like you."
Ying'er spoke up. "I told you they were customers here to buy something, but you wouldn't believe me."
Hearing her words, Zhang Yi immediately bowed to Zhong Baiye and the others in apology.
"I'm sorry. That was my fault. I should have realized you came here to buy perfume for the young lady beside you."
At Zhang Yi's apology, Zhong Baiye wiped the tears off his face in one swift motion.
"It's fine, as long as we've cleared up the misunderstanding."
Zhang Yi felt awkward staying there. What Lumine and Zhong Baiye had just done had completely shattered his worldview. Once Zhong Baiye accepted his apology, he left with his underlings.
As he left, Zhang Yi said to Zhong Baiye:
"Brother, you've got to teach me some of your secrets next time you get the chance."
Zhong Baiye had never seen such a thirst for knowledge in anyone's eyes. But Zhang Yi was destined to be disappointed, because Zhong Baiye himself had no idea what had just happened.
Zhong Baiye stole a glance at Lumine. As though sensing his gaze, she answered it with a burning look of her own.
Zhong Baiye had never seen Lumine like this and hurriedly turned away. He hadn't yet realized that his face had gone bright red.
"Achoo!"
Elsewhere, Keqing suddenly sneezed while out on a mission to clear out monsters.
"I really wish I could wrap this up soon and go see him."
Only after Zhang Yi had left did Ying'er come over to speak to Zhong Baiye and the others.
"I'm so sorry about what happened."
Seeing Zhang Yi leave, the little girl immediately ran up and hugged Ying'er.
Ying'er patted the little girl's head and introduced her. "A good friend of mine entrusted this girl to my care. Her name is Xiuer."
The little girl thanked them politely. "Thank you for helping me, big brother and big sister."
Seeing Ying'er and the little girl like this left Zhong Baiye, Lumine, and the others feeling a little embarrassed.
Ying'er then explained to them what was going on with Zhang Yi.
As it turned out, Zhang Yi was the leader of an organization of workers who managed Liyue Harbor's docks. He had happened to spot Ying'er when she went there to pick up supplies.
And he had fallen in love with her at first sight.
As Ying'er reached this part of the story, regret showed on her face. She wished she had never gone to the docks for supplies that day.
"Ever since Zhang Yi fell for me at first sight, he's been pulling all sorts of nonsense..."
Zhang Yi had actually questioned every customer who entered or left the Spring Fragrance Kiln. Some of the handsome male customers had even been beaten up.
He also stationed people outside the Spring Fragrance Kiln every day to watch the entrance. At the slightest sign of anything happening, he would know immediately.
Naturally, as soon as Ying'er learned what Zhang Yi had been doing, she rejected his confession.
But Zhang Yi thought this was her way of testing his love. Instead of backing off, he only grew worse.
Now, not a single customer dared enter Ying'er's Spring Fragrance Kiln. The reason she had immediately tried to shoo Zhong Baiye and the others out when they arrived today was that she didn't want to drag them into this.
After hearing the whole story, Paimon blustered:
"Why don't we go beat Zhang Yi up? That'll make him give up, right? I might be small, but if Zhang Yi dares fight me head-on, I'll beat him so badly he won't be able to take care of himself!"
As she spoke, Paimon threw punches and kicks in midair.
"Looks like Zhang Yi's coming back!"
At Zhong Baiye's words, Paimon immediately hid behind Zhongli in fright.
After a moment, she noticed everyone struggling not to laugh and finally realized Zhong Baiye had tricked her.
Zhong Baiye rejected her suggestion. "Zhang Yi doesn't seem like a bad person. He's doing all this to pursue Miss Ying'er, so let's think of another way."
Lumine added, "That's right! This is Liyue Harbor. The Millelith will arrest you if you beat someone up."
They then discussed how to deal with Zhang Yi, but all they came up with were rather dubious ideas.
Suggestions like "have someone pretend to be Ying'er's boyfriend" and "have Ying'er find a girlfriend" were all rejected as too unreliable.
Unable to think of a better solution, Zhong Baiye asked Ying'er:
"Ying'er, how well do you know Zhang Yi? Do you know any of his interests or hobbies?"
Ying'er lowered her head and thought for a moment.
"I've only met him a few times. Whenever he sees me, he's just like he was earlier-all he does is ask who the people interacting with me are. Now that you mention it, I really don't know what kind of person he is."
Feeling that her words weren't quite right, Ying'er added:
"No matter what kind of person he is, I'll never accept him."
Zhong Baiye didn't know whether to laugh or cry at her answer. He had never intended to make her accept Zhang Yi.
"I was asking because I thought we could use his interests and hobbies to get him to give up on you."
Ying'er continued, "But we don't have any information right now. What can we do?"
Zhong Baiye suddenly remembered Ying'er saying that Zhang Yi led an organization that managed the docks.
"Right, doesn't he manage the docks? Then there must be plenty of people there who know him. We can go ask them."
With no other ideas to work with, Zhong Baiye and the others could only try that. After saying goodbye to Ying'er and Xiuer, they soon arrived at the docks.
The docks of Liyue Harbor.
There, Zhong Baiye and the others picked a random passerby to ask about Zhang Yi. What they learned left them rather surprised.
Before you continue