Paimon looked at Columbina's height, then at his own small frame.
"You... you won."
Paimon was looking around to see if the food had arrived when his gaze suddenly fixed on Varesa and Bai You.
She moved closer, circled the two of them once, and her small eyes widened even more.
"Wait!" Paimon abruptly stopped, hovering directly in front of the two, pointing his little finger at their heads.
"What's wrong with your ears...?"
Varesa paused for a moment, then subconsciously raised her hand to touch the fin-like outline that was shimmering slightly beside her ear.
I glanced at the Bai You next to me again.
"Hmm?" Paimon floated closer, tilting his head back and forth, looking like he'd discovered a great secret.
"Your ears are completely different from ordinary people's—they're pointy! And Bai You, the back of yours is moving!"
She gasped, crossed her arms, and looked on with a look of sudden realization:
"You guys aren't... fairies, are you?!"
Varesa's eyes crinkled with amusement at Paimon's comical expression, and she helplessly flicked Paimon's forehead lightly.
"What fairy?--" she corrected with a laugh, her tone relaxed with a hint of wanting to roll her eyes.
"It's Water Nymph!"
" Water Nymph?!" Paimon's eyes lit up even more.
After some explanation, Paimon suddenly understood and said:
"Oh, I see. You're Water Nymph who came here from the Snezhnaya to play together."
Sandrone said, "I'll just sit for a little while," but his actions betrayed him by ordering a whole bottle of fruit wine.
Odette was pulled along by Amber, and the two gentle people quickly struck up a conversation.
Amber offered to introduce her to Mondstadt desserts, but Odette said she didn't eat them.
Bai You sat down next to Varesa and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
She turned her head and glanced at the person next to her.
Varesa was holding a wine glass, listening to Venti rambling on beside her.
A slight smile played on her lips, and her eyes held that familiar, gentle smile that Bai You knew so well.
Wine and dishes were served one by one.
Venti drank half a glass, then her hands started itching again.
He picked up his violin, sat down on the bar stool, and with a flick of his fingers, a light and cheerful melody flowed out.
"Hey, Varesa." He looked up, winked at Varesa in the corner, "Want to do another one?"
Bai You was sitting next to Varesa, and she had been feeling a little sleepy. But upon hearing this, she immediately perked up.
"Still... still singing?"
"Just humming a couple of lines," Venti said with an innocent smile.
Bai You glanced at Varesa.
Varesa smiled and did not refuse.
She picked up the glass of cider, took a sip, then put the glass down and began to hum softly, following Venti's lead.
This time, it wasn't the formal kind held on stage.
This is a very casual, conversational tune.
Margaret stood behind the bar, her glass slowly coming to a stop.
Amber was whispering something to Odette, but then their voices stopped.
Paimon and Columbina had their mouths stuffed with food, their cheeks puffed out.
Only Sandrone sat in the corner, drinking glass after glass.
She didn't say anything, but her eyes never left the green-hatted boy holding the zither.
As Venti finished humming the tune, her strings also went silent.
Then Margaret slammed her glass down and clapped her hands.
"Okay--"
She drawled out the sound.
"Welcome to come again next time!"
Varesa smiled and raised her glass in response.
And so, some time passed.
Bai You was so sleepy.
She didn't know when, but little by little, her head rested on Varesa's shoulder.
Varesa sensed it.
She turned her head and glanced at the Little Bai You in her arms, who was half asleep.
Bai You's eyelashes drooped, her face was slightly flushed, but the corners of her mouth were turned up.
Varesa lowered her head.
It touched her forehead very, very lightly.
The movements were very gentle.
But Venti happened to look up from behind the bar.
He saw it.
He blinked, then lowered his head, pretending to pluck the strings, but a secret, subtle smile crept onto his lips.
He thought.
Tonight, there's another tender story.
It's late at night.
As people Qiqi, Amber was called away by the Knights of Knights of Favonius. Before leaving, she waved vigorously to everyone, saying she would come again tomorrow.
The Traveler and Paimon also returned. Paimon was so tired that he was swaying in mid-air and was carried away by Ying.
Sandrone was being carried away by Columbina —she was drunk, but still trying to sound tough.
"I'm not drunk... I can still drink..."
Odette turned around at the door, glanced at the two people still sitting in the corner, smiled, and said.
"I'll head back now. Take your time. I won't bother you tonight."
Bai You was led back step by step by Varesa.
Bai You finally woke up completely when she reached the entrance of the Goth Grand Hotel.
She stopped and looked up at Varesa.
"... that..." she said.
"Hmm?"
Bai You scratched his head.
"Today," she said softly, "Did I mess it up?"
Varesa looked at her.
I looked at it for two seconds.
Then she smiled.
She reached out and tucked a stray lock of Bai You's hair, which had been ruffled by the wind, behind her ear.
"What do you think?" she said.
Bai You's face turned red again.
She lowered her head and kicked at the pebbles at her feet.
"I just..." she muttered softly, "I'm just afraid that if I suddenly push you up there, you won't like it."
Varesa didn't say anything.
She simply bent down and whispered in Bai You's ear.
The sound was very soft.
" Little Bai You."
"... Hmm?"
I like it.
I like it so much, absolutely.
Bai You's ears suddenly turned completely red.
She looked up, about to say something—
Varesa had already straightened up and pushed open the door.
"Let's go." She turned around, held out her hand to Bai You, and said, "Go wash up and go to bed."
Bai You stared at the hand stretched out in mid-air.
I looked at it for two seconds.
Then she placed her hand on it.
A warm hand enveloped her completely.
"Are you done washing?"
'... Hmm.'
Bai You dried her hair and walked to the bedside, just about to sit down...
My wrist was gripped.
With just a gentle tug, Bai You fell to the edge of the bed, very close to her.
Varesa looked up at her, her hair plastered to her forehead, but her eyes were bright.
" Little Bai You."
"What are you doing?"
"He hasn't really paid attention to me for the past few days." Varesa's hand slowly brushed against the inside of her wrist.
His voice was lazy and listless; "Shouldn't you make it up to me?"
Bai You's ears started to feel hot again.
Yesterday was not --
"What's yesterday?" Varesa interrupted her.
"Yesterday was a normal class."
"What should we call it today?"
"Today's class is called 'tutoring'."