When Xingqiu and Chongyun told him that Zhongli was a talking encyclopedia, he didn't realize until then just how true that was. When Childe asked him about the menu, Zhongli's eyes lit up, and he began to detail the provenance of each ingredient. From a composed man like Zhongli, he had not expected so much chatter. Childe listened to him while trying to hold back an amused snort.

“The Jade Parcels. Yes, those would be a great choice, too. A soft meat filling wrapped in slightly crunchy leaves,” Zhongli began, his voice slow and relaxed. “Enhanced by the spicy note of Jueyun Chili. Great choice in my opinion.”

“The…Chili what?” Childe asked, both confused and intrigued by all the details. He had been interacting with Zhongli for only a few minutes, but he already managed to understand that when in a jovial mood he tended to speak in a more relaxed tone, unable to curb his words. No one had warned him of how talkative Zhongli could be, and that surprise did not displease him. He had expected his lunch to be ruined by an embarrassing and unbearable silence, or for Zhongli to constantly peer down at him. Instead, he discovered a new, enthusiastic side to the man.

“Jueyun Chili? Oh right, sorry. You don't know the local flora yet. There's still time to learn about it, don't worry,” Zhongli said patiently. “It’s a plant that can be found while walking in the Jueyun Karst, an area of incredible beauty. Or at the Qingce Village. Where the fields are green and yellow and full of flowers, Jueyun Chili stand out like rubies with their small red chilies. They have a pungent flavor and slightly elongated shape. I think they go very nicely with this dish.”

Initially, Childe struggled to keep up with the information Zhongli flooded him with. But when they arrived at the fifth plate, he began to follow the suggestive descriptions more easily. All the while, he found the man’s maniacal, archaic, and excessively convoluted language amusing.

“I didn't know you were a chef as well as a funeral consultant,” Childe teased before shrugging. “I’ll go for these Jade Parcels, then. I'm starving.”

Zhongli just shook his head. “Oh no, not at all. I'm a bad cook. But I enjoy walking and admiring the scenery,” he admitted, bringing his fingers up to tuck a lock of hair behind his ear. “And I love to read about plants and flowers. I hope I haven't bored you too much.”

“Far from it. Now all I’d need to do is repeat everything you’ve said to whoever will speak to me and they’ll figure me an intelligent person,” Childe replied, amused, placing the menu on the table. “As long as you don't mind. Hu Tao seemed eager for new customers at the funeral home, but I'd like to live a little longer first.”

“Hu Tao didn't give us very good publicity, did she?” Zhongli sighed with a smile and gestured to Xiangling to come over for their order.

“It must be difficult to advertise for a funeral home, though. Anything you say just sounds…well….” Childe spread his arms, stopping himself just in time from saying how morbid their work was.

Zhongli must’ve already been aware of this as he didn't seem offended. He simply tidied up the table before Xiangling arrived, placing the chopsticks in the bowl, and carefully picking up the disposable paper napkins.

“Your ceremony, however, was very moving,” Childe admitted with all sincerity. He would not easily forget the tears that had clouded his eyes at that farewell ritual.

“Thank you,” Zhongli replied with a nod of gratitude. “Hu Tao and I care a lot about our work. You know, I only completed my apprenticeship at his company one year ago.”

“Your family ran a temple, you bring the spirits to peace, and you have lunch with Liyue's Adepti,” Childe summarized, his eyebrows raised surprise. “You know a great deal and you dress like you just stepped out of a Liyue history book from a hundred years ago. What’s more, I even saw you have a geo vision. Are you also an Adeptus by any chance? Is there anything you can't do?”

Zhongli let out a short, amused snort. “You flatter me, but I'm nothing like that. I'm simply a human with special interests. To be honest, I have often felt…out of place. In fact—"

He was forced to stop when Xiangling joined them, carrying a notepad to take orders. She had to be smart, managing both the cooking and the distribution of food, aided only by a few waiters.

“I see you two are already good friends! I wanted to come by earlier but you were so busy chatting I didn't want to bother you!” the girl exclaimed cheerfully, making Childe realize that it was now ten minutes since they started talking. He had hardly noticed. Puzzled, it took him a moment to focus on the cook's next question.

“Have you decided on what to order?”

“A plate of Jade Parcels for me, thank you,” Childe replied, rocking slightly in his chair.

“For me, the White Peony Tea,” Zhongli replied then turned to look at Childe. “Would you like a cup or two? It is a delicious drink. The tea leaves are harvested just before they dry, when they are still covered with white fluff. They open in the cup like a peony bud.”

Zhongli seemed to have a deep love for plants, a bizarre trait for a peer his age. Childe could not help but wonder what other fields he was well-versed in and where his particular interests came from. He had said he often felt out of place and had grown up near a temple. Perhaps he had spent a lot of time alone and ended up finding happiness in those little things.

“Why not? With a presentation like that, I'd be foolish to refuse,” Childe agreed with a smile. There was so much more he wished to know about Zhongli, but he lacked the confidence to push further. Best he kept his questions to himself for now.

“Got it. I’ll be out with your orders soon!” Xiangling headed back to the kitchen.

A moment of silence fell between them. Zhongli seemed lost in thought, and Childe quickly intervened:

“I have never tried white tea. In Snezhnaya, we drink smoked leaves.”

Zhongli looked up at him, unmistakably intrigued.

“To travel in Snezhnaya, we often take the train. We pass through the snow and the mountains, and it is very cold,” he began, as if he wanted to reciprocate the exchange of information on their respected homelands. “To keep from freezing, we often fill our cups from a barrel of boiling water, and tea leaf vendors pass between the wagons.”

As he spoke, the snow-covered landscape of Snezhnaya flowed out before him. He remembered his trips home during breaks from training. They were good memories.

“You must miss Snezhnaya a lot. You are a long way from home now. Did any of your friends join you on your trip across the sea?” Zhongli asked, scrutinizing him with a note of concern.

Childe winced slightly, shrugging, as if to avoid answering. It was kind of Zhongli to consider Childe’s homeland a place he could feel nostalgic about, not just a cold and dangerous kingdom of cryo.

Childe missed feeling the ice crumble underfoot, the warmth of the fireplace after a blizzard, the adrenaline as he walked through a forest regardless of danger. He missed skating the streets to the big blue-and-scarlet-domed mansions, his country home, and his family.

“You have to go around covered in a hundred layers. In winter, it gets so cold your fingers turn purple. And the woods can be frightening," Childe said. Now that he started speaking of home, he couldn’t stop. “But when the roads freeze, you can skate around as fast as the wind. The streets are full of snowmen, and when someone invites you to their house, their table is always set. It's a nice place. I mean, it is my home. I was born and raised there, and I really do like it. But here, unfortunately, I came only with the Harbingers and the Fatui who are constantly breaking my balls. My family, on the other hand, are far from me even in Snezhnaya.”

“The white-haired lady, Signora, is not a friend of yours?”

Childe immediately shook his head. His dislike for Signora was entirely mutual. He had always had a hard time bonding with people, ever since he had entered the Fatui and had little free time to meet someone new in his kingdom. Not to mention the distrust he encountered in foreign realms.

At least Scaramouche, despite his tough temper, was a good friend and probably the person he was most fond of among the Fatui. But sadly, he had been sent on a mission to Mondstadt, and he doubted he would see him again anytime soon. Sometimes he wondered what it would have been like if he hadn't enlisted, if the fact that he had few friends would remain the same. He had always been undisciplined, perhaps even more so now. A loose cannon, like himself, thirsty for action and adventure only brought danger to those around him.

“But the people here in Liyue have been welcoming. As nice and smart as I am, I will surely make friends,” he joked, making Zhongli smile despite the strange wrinkle of concern that had furrowed his forehead.

“Here are your Jade Parcels!” Xiangling interrupted. She brought a steaming dish to Childe, who deeply inhaled the delicious aroma.

“Thanks so much!” Childe exclaimed, realizing he was quite hungry.

“My pleasure. Your tea will arrive in a couple of minutes,” Xiangling added with a smile before taking her leave.

Childe was so hungry that he immediately rushed for the wooden sticks without knowing how they worked. He had traveled for hours without food and cared little for etiquette. Unceremoniously, he stabbed one of the Jade Parcels and tried to bring it to his lips, only for it to slip off the end and drop onto his pants. As he looked down irritably at the stain on his clothes, Zhongli began to laugh softly, covering his mouth with the palm of his hand.

“Don't you dare to mock me!” Childe glared at him, trying not to laugh himself. He attempted a second bite of food, holding the chopsticks as if they were swords. The food fell back onto the plate with a thud, splashing his shirt in sauce.

“Do you need a hand? I could teach you the local customs and traditions if you like. I’m sorry. I hadn’t considered how uncomfortable you might be with our ways, being from abroad and all.”

Zhongli offered himself by standing up and moving his chair closer, gaze fixed on the plate. Childe turned his head just enough to realize how close Zhongli's face was to his, to the point where he had to turn back immediately to concentrate on the chopsticks. Zhongli probably hadn't realized that they exceeded the minimum distance they should have kept, considering the cautious way he reached his gloved hands close to his, not daring to touch them without asking permission.

It seems he is as well-versed in theoretical arguments as he is completely devoid of malice toward others, Childe thought, trying not to let a grin escape. An onlooker might have misinterpreted Zhongli’s gestures, the way he leaned toward Childe, close enough to brush his cheek with the tip of his nose. It was impossible not to notice that Zhongli was exceptionally good-looking. After observing his peculiar manner, Childe highly doubted that he had ever used that trait to his advantage.

“Can I show you how to use them? It will only take a moment,” Zhongli asked in a completely calm and attentive way, confirming Childe’s supposition. He simply wanted to help him and be kind, the same reason he had invited him to sit at his table.

“Isn't it enough to just stab it?” Childe smiled, slightly nervous. Zhongli was so close that he could easily observe how dark his lashes were, framing his golden eyes, how precise his makeup and how defined his jawline was. When he put his hand on Childe's to arrange the chopsticks properly, Childe tried to be as attentive as possible to his detailed explanations, seeing how to open them and grasp the food. Following his advice and guided movements, he finally managed to grab a Jade Parcel with satisfaction.

“I think I’ve got the hang of it now,” Childe said, bringing the food to his lips. But before he could enjoy his first taste of food, he froze.

Over Zhongli’s shoulder, Childe saw Signora standing in the middle of the road, only a few meters away from where they sat. She had a grim look that immediately set him on edge. He knew that look meant nothing good. Eating his bite quickly, Childe tensed before getting up.

“Childe, is everything alright?” Zhongli asked but Childe was already on his feet.

“I will be right back. Excuse me,” he said with a serious tone to mask his concern as he headed toward Signora.