"I should have taken a bag with me," Childe said as he picked up his fifteenth seashell of the day, bending over the sand. It had only been a few minutes since they had come out of the cave and Childe had finished telling him about the Abyss and his past. But to Zhongli, he already seemed like a different person, happier and more carefree. It was as if, by confessing those secrets, he had freed himself from one of the heavier masks he used to wear. After shaking off a cloak of painful memories, Childe now wandered the beach with his feet in shallow water, his eyes more confident and calmer.
Zhongli was grateful for the confidence Childe had shown during his tales. He understood why he now seemed more comfortable next to him. The same thing had happened to him only a few hours ago, when he had told Childe about Guizhong and had received his attention and support. He felt less forced to pretend, less held back by the invisible chains of his past.
By now, the sun was beginning to set. The water reflected the scarlet shades of the sky and Childe was completely illuminated by some of its golden rays, his hair ruffled by the wind like waves on the ocean.

There were at least ten different types of plants and crystals around the Fatui, and yet Zhongli could not help but focus his attention only on Childe's figure, on the way his face was totally relaxed and his eyes kinder. He wished it was easier to lower his gaze, but it was difficult to force himself to give up the happiness he felt just by looking at him, a feeling of relief that he could no longer deprive himself of.

He wished Childe would remain that way forever, free from the demons that haunted him. He had been close to his heart when they embraced at the end of his story. Zhongli had moved away reluctantly, as if afraid that he could not protect him if he released from the embrace. Zhongli still couldn't believe that the Fatui had faced a dangerous place like the Abyss practically alone, for as long as three months. It was miraculous that Childe was still there, among the humans.

"Do you need a hand carrying them?" Zhongli asked.

"I think I can do it. Wait...," Childe replied, rummaging in his pockets to see how much space he still had. For a moment he had to take out the noctilucous jade, and Zhongli did not miss the thoughtfulness with which he transferred it to the other pocket, giving it an almost affectionate look. He had really taken to heart the comparison Zhongli had made between him and that stone, and the God could not help but be glad for it.

"That's it!" Childe said after arranging the shells. He stood up and walked back to Zhongli's side, looking at him. "What time did you plan to return?"

"I have no particular commitments for tonight, so you decide. Do you have to work?" Zhongli asked politely.

"I have an after-dinner meeting with Signora and the others around nine. We have to evaluate the business balance." Childe tone of voice betrayed a note of impatience. "But the teleports are fast, so...I can stay a couple of hours, even though I would like to stay longer. This place is really cool."

Zhongli nodded in agreement. He, too, could go on walking for hours with Childe, lulled by the sound of the waves and the fresh air on his face.

"We can come back here another day, don't worry," he reassured Childe, glancing in front of him to assess how far they were from the bags. Zhongli hadn't left anything precious inside, but he was starting to feel the chill of the wind on his still-uncovered skin. "If it pleases you. I don't want to kidnap you and get you in trouble," he added, hinting an amused smile.
Childe was silent while he finished putting the shells back in his pockets while walking beside him. He shook his head with a short laugh. "You can't kidnap me if I'm consenting. I like spending time with you."

Zhongli couldn't help but broaden his smile. While he thought about how to reply, he stopped, hearing familiar voices near them.
Near the shore on some rocks sat Ningguang and Beidou, engaged in a game of chess. They had set up a folding table in front of them, and Ningguang had her gaze focused on the game, elegantly seated in a folding chair. Beidou, on the other hand, was sitting on a beach towel and holding a glass in one hand, taking a few sips as she waited for the other's next move.

"Checkmate," he heard Ningguang say to Beidou in a steady and confident voice. The Tianquan gracefully placed a white piece on the board, decreeing her victory with the hint of a proud smile. She looked elegant in her white and gold beach robe, her long ivory hair pulled back into a braid, and her makeup still immaculate. Zhongli couldn't help but notice, as he and Childe approached the two women, that Ningguang was wearing the necklace Beidou had gifted her at the concert.

"She put on the necklace," Zhongli whispered to Childe before approaching them. "I guess you were right about them."

"You're such a gossip, Xiangsheng," Childe joked, giving him a slight nudge before squinting. "Your power of observation never disappoints me."

"Oh, but look who I see on the horizon. It's Zhongli Xiangsheng and his friend from the land of ice! Hello guys!" Beidou exclaimed, giving them a wave before returning Ningguang 's gaze.

"Yes, you won, indeed. After two matches lost, my dear lady." The pirate grinned. She had her hair tied back in a bun and was wearing a red dress embroidered with ink-black anchor designs.

"Are you already so tired that you can't face a rematch, my dear Beidou? We have to do five to decide which one is the best of us. Even though I already know," Ningguang retorted before turning her head toward Childe and Zhongli who were now two steps away from their table. "Good evening."

"Beidou, Tianquan. I hope we're not disturbing you," Zhongli greeted them politely with a courteous smile. "I see you're very busy with chess. Have you taken a day off?"

"It's an old tradition between me and Ningguang," Beidou confirmed, settling herself better on the towel to take another sip from her bottle. "The first time I visited Ningguang's Jade Chamber, I decided to challenge her to chess. And I was the first person to beat her in all of Liyue!"

"So I'm still trying to get revenge. She has no right to dent my reputation," Ningguang retorted, although the hint of an amused smile slipped onto her lips. "In any case, yes, Beidou will stay a few days in Liyue, so she insisted on giving me a few hours of rest. This place is very pleasant, I must say."

"There is nothing better than breathing the fresh sea air to let go of all negative thoughts!" Beidou exclaimed with a smile before gesturing for the two men to sit next to them. "Would you like something to drink? I can lend you a towel. Soon Ganyu and Keqing will be back."

"Of course, thank you!" Childe answered immediately, taking his place on Beidou's sheet, leaving some space for Zhongli who sat next to him.
Beidou rummaged in a bag for glasses, and then poured chilled beer for Childe and Zhongli. "There we are. Have a drink! You are two grown men and you hold alcohol well, right?"

"We will do our best. Thank you very much," Zhongli smiled, taking a sip of the drink.

"If worst comes to worst, Beidou will take responsibility," Ningguang joked before becoming more serious, scrutinizing Zhongli with a slightly raised eyebrow. "And tell me, how long have you been here? Were you taking our guest on a tour?"

"Since after lunch, we went to Qingce Village, Mingyun village, and finally here, in Yaoguang shoal," answered Zhongli in a calm tone. He couldn't help but notice a hint of suspicion in Tianquan's eyes, but he didn't blame her given the situation.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Childe had also become alert, so he took the liberty of placing a hand on his shoulder for a brief moment to reassure him. It was certainly no secret that Ningguang did not trust the Fatui, but Childe wasn't doing anything reprehensible, and she didn't seem in the mood to take it out on him anyway.

"This is one of my favorite places in all of Liyue," Zhongli added with a calm voice.

"It's one of my favorites, too, I must say. I used to come here when I was a little girl, to look for precious stones and shells to sell on the beaches," said the woman, staring for a moment at a distant point in front of her, as if lost in her memories. "It seems to me a whole life has passed since I had so little in my hands and so little food on my table."

"Ningguang," Beidou said, abandoning the usual joking and proud expression to take on a worried one. Her hand paused for a moment on Ningguang's, still resting near the board.

"Don't worry, Beidou. For me it is a matter of pride to admit that I started from the bottom and always aimed for the top. I earned it," Ningguang replied with a confident smile. Zhongli was already aware of Tianquan's past of poverty, but he was slightly astonished to hear her admit it with such pride. It was reputable to see how she made her humble origins a source of pride.
Perhaps it was precisely because she had lived among the people that Ningguang had a greater interest in the different social classes present in the city, as well as a wider knowledge in the commercial fields, mistakenly considered inferior by other previous rulers. Despite her reserved personality, disguised as a formality and self-control, Zhongli felt comfortable in her presence, and found her to be the best person to govern his beloved Liyue.

"And what do you think of Yaoguang shoal? Do you like Liyue? I often see you around," Ningguang asked Childe, turning her scrutiny onto him. Part of the severity of her gaze eased, turning into curiosity.

"I like Liyue very much. The sea here is very different from the one by my home. For us, it is rare to swim since it is always absurdly cold." Childe then turned his gaze to Zhongli without masking his gratitude. As time went by, it seemed more and more difficult for him to manage his expressions in her company. "Zhongli is a good guide. He knows practically everything. It's a miracle when he doesn't know something," Childe observed with an amused snort. "I've had the privilege of having a talking encyclopaedia with me."

"You flatter me, but I'm afraid that the real miracle here is that you didn't fall asleep during my explanations," Zhongli replied, amused and pleased at the same time.

"So who's winning?" suddenly asked a voice behind them, interrupting the conversation.

Zhongli turned his head just enough to spot the figures of Keqing and Ganyu, both in lilac and blue summer dresses. Their bare feet were covered in sand and their hair was slightly wet, a sign that they had taken advantage of the good weather to bathe in the sea. With some reassurance, Zhongli noticed that Ganyu's face was jovial and relaxed in the company of her friends. She was finally starting to make her way into Liyue's society, no longer marginalized by her half-qilin nature.
Even Keqing seemed relaxed, until she noticed the presence of Zhongli and Childe, and her eyes widened in perplexity.

"When did you arrive?" she asked, arranging the beach hat better on her head. "Did Ganyu invite you?"

"Hello, guys. How's it going?" Ganyu smiled then shook her head in response to Keqing's question. "No, I didn't even know they were around. Are you here on a trip?"

"Precisely. I took Childe to visit the most beautiful places in Liyue. This is only one of our stops. There's a lot to see," Zhongli replied, showing a certain enthusiasm at that prospect. Childe would be staying for several more weeks, and he seemed to have enjoyed the meeting so much that Zhongli doubted it would be the last.

"Hm, I understand...but do you two always stick so close like this? You are always together, whenever I see you," Keqing pointed out carelessly with a raised eyebrow. She sat beside Ningguang and Ganyu, laying a beach ball and a heavy bag on the ground.

A deathly silence took over the conversation after Keqing made her debut. She handed her glass to Beidou for more beer, as if nothing had happened. Zhongli glanced cautiously at Childe who had rushed for a more generous sip of beer to avoid answering while Beidou was grinning relentlessly. He was probably ashamed to death and was still considering what to say. He certainly couldn't blame him, after all.

"Of course. I have promised Childe many tours," Zhongli replied, trying not to get upset, and then looked for Ganyu's support with his eyes. Fortunately, the friend rushed to give him a hand, adding to the conversation.

"I went with them once. Zhongli organizes some nice trips," Ganyu said with a slightly tight smile, hoping to sound convincing.

"Ah, I don't doubt that Zhongli's trips are fun, considering that Childe doesn't miss a single one of them," Keqing replied ironically without flinching.

Zhongli couldn't help but frown. Although Keqing was known for being straightforward, he didn't think she would go so far as to make such a remark. Was that really what people thought of him and Childe? Was it so obvious that they were spending a lot of time together and having fun?

"Keqing, do you always say everything that goes through your head?" Childe finally answered, simulating a short laugh in which Zhongli easily perceived a hint of embarrassment and nervousness. "And also, how do you know about me and Zhongli? It's only the third time I've seen you!"

"Just talk to the shopkeepers in Liyue or the people on the harbor. They gossip a lot about how our serious and professional funeral consultant became inseparable from the rich Fatui with red hair. It does not take long to make connections," Keqing retorted while she better arranged her lilac hair still wet with sea water, tightening the laces with which she gathered two curly pigtails.

"In regards to my way of doing things, yes, it's true: I say everything that goes through my head, even what people don't have the courage to say. Did I say something wrong? It is not a bad thing what they say about you. I didn't mean to offend." Her expression darkened a little and she bowed her head slightly. "It's just that I'm used to living among nobles and false people, and I don't want to be someone who talks behind people's backs. But...yes, in fact, I should be more careful not to hurt someone's feelings."

"Hm, you can work well with Keqing, she certainly never lies," Ningguang observed, avoiding the beer but intent on heating tobacco up in her thin white smoking pipe.

"Exactly. At least I feel safe with Keqing around," added Ganyu.

"Well, thank you. I guess?" replied Keqing in surprise, trying to hide a smile.

"Don't worry, I wasn't offended!" Childe said quickly. He shrugged and nervously scratched the back of his neck, adding, "But I'm not as rich as they say, to begin with."

"No? All those gifts I heard you gave Zhongli...," Keqing began to say, raising her eyebrows. "You paid for them even though you're not rich? That's even more surprising."

"Keqing, sorry, how many rackets did you bring with you?" Ganyu intervened, probably to distract her and change the subject out of fear that Keqing could put them in tremendous embarrassment again.

"Ah...eight, I guess," replied Keqing, indicating to the beach bag. "Would you like to play a little?"

"Which game?" Zhongli asked, partly intrigued and partly eager to change the subject, given how much Childe looked like he was about to bury himself in the sand.

"It is a game that comes from Mondstadt! They have only recently set up this area for tourists, those from the nearby village. Basically, there are wooden tablets resting on the rocks and you must bounce the ball against them with the racket," explained Beidou.

"The team that makes the ball go back several times wins. There is a mechanism on the tablet keeping score, sensing the touch of the ball," added Ningguang before nodding. "I am open to the challenge. I could take a break from chess. I will team up with Beidou."

"Too afraid you'll be defeated once again if we don't pair up?" Beidou laughed before standing up and taking a racket for Ningguang and one for herself.

"Absolutely not, and certainly not by you," Ningguang retorted, taking the racket from Beidou.

"I'll team up with Keqing, then," Ganyu proposed, followed by a nod from the lilac-haired girl.

"It seems that we don't have many other options left then. Zhongli, we're a team," Childe said with a defiant smile, handing a racket to Zhongli and walking toward the playing area.
Zhongli followed the rest of the group for a moment on the sidelines with racket in hand. He watched as the others walked away, standing side-by-side with Childe as though they had finally ceased to fear him.

Who knows how those girls would behave if they knew he was their god? Would they still invite him to play, would they offer him a cold glass of beer, or make those overly confidential comments about him and Childe? Would they have joked with him or invited him to sit in the sand next to them?

Zhongli already knew in his heart that the answer was no. Yet he couldn't help but think that perhaps that was what his old friend, the god of Mondstadt, Barbatos, had told him, about how much he loved to mix with humans. Maybe that was what Guizhong had meant when he told him to try to understand them. Walking among them, being treated as their equal, and being invited to have fun with them was a completely new experience for him, but he was happy to finally have it.

"Zhongli, are you alright?" Childe asked, turning to check on him before giving him a playful smile. "You don't want me to tell Hu Tao that you're too old to keep up with us, do you?"

"And you don't want me to change teams, hm?" Zhongli quickened his pace, making him laugh.

"Look, now that I think about it, does Xiao ever go out with you?" Childe asked the girls.

"With me, yes, sometimes. With them, almost never. Maybe a couple of times in a group. Why?" Ganyu answered, surprised by his question.

"Last time I saw him, we had a little...discussion. I was wondering if we could, I don't know, have a friendlier confrontation," Childe said, leaving Zhongli inevitably confused. He knew that Childe was sorry for giving Xiao a bad impression, but he didn't know he had been brooding on it so much. One part of him was perplexed, but the other was nevertheless happy that Childe wanted to commit to improving that situation.

"You would like to talk to him?" Zhongli asked.

"Yes, you know...I am starting to meet a few people in Liyue, and I would like to have a chat. Where does he usually go? Do you think he would listen to me?"
"At Wangshu Inn, an area close to the sea and well connected by teleport," replied Ganyu, smiling. "You can always try. It'll seem like a nice gesture if nothing else."

"Okay, thanks. So in the meantime, let's start playing. Come on." Childe approached the platform with an eager smile, trying to let it dissipate the thoughtful expression from a moment before. "Who starts?"