From the moment Xiangling announced the start of the concert, the golden light of the harbor streetlamps went out, leaving the audience immersed in darkness and silence. A confused and excited buzz spread through the square, illuminated only by the light of the stars. Childe found himself holding his breath for a moment, as if he were afraid of breaking into that suspended atmosphere, filled by expectation.

It was the roaring sound of a guitar that made them jump even before the lights came on, strings scratching against a hand they still couldn't see, before a figure stepped proudly onto the stage, still masked by the darkness.

"ARE YOU READY, LIYUE HARBOR?" was the voice that broke out when the figure stopped in the middle of the scene, raising an arm.

"GO, XINYAN!" immediately answered the high and unmistakable voice of Xiangling, which Childe identified just behind them when he turned his head. She was trying to make her way through the crowd with Hu Tao, immediately applauding. Childe didn't think twice about following their gesture, soon imitated by a good part of the square, which opened in warm applause and shouts of encouragement.

"XINYAN! XINYAN! GO! KICK EVERYONE'S ASSES! GO, GO!" Hu Tao shouted immediately after, making herself even more recognizable. Childe couldn't help but laugh and follow suit, invoking the name of the singer in turn.

Xinyan bent nimbly to one knee, bringing one hand to scratch the strings of the guitar again, and lifted it shortly afterward until a fiery flame generated on her hand. An agitated yet fascinated murmur swept through the crowd as Xinyan opened her palm fully and let her hand ignite, small sheets of fire enveloping her fingers and illuminating her face. Lit by flames with dark hair tied in two ponytails and adorned with studs, scarlet makeup surrounding her eyes and her proud posture, she really looked like a Fontaine rock star, ready to ignite the stage with her music.

"TIME TO ROCK!" she yelled with a voice full of enthusiasm before grabbing the guitar by the neck and swinging it through the air, as if she were wielding a heavy sword. Around the instrument, dozens of live flames surrounded it, followed by a scarlet circle that raised its smoke and fire toward the sky. Xinyan was a perfect bearer of her pyro vision: able to shine in the midst of what ordinary people would see as destructive, she smiled fearlessly, energetic and ready to start her gig.

"Lonely shadows following me..." the girl began to sing, her voice so strong that even the microphone seemed superfluous to her while the flames slowly lowered and the colored spotlights of the stage turned on, aiming at her.

Childe smiled instantly, captured by her voice. Xiangling had not exaggerated at all when she said that the girl was a great artist. She had captured the audience from the first note. As she resumed playing the guitar, he glanced at Zhongli briefly to observe a reaction, marvelling at how he was practically hypnotized, his golden eyes wide and his lips moving to follow the lyrics discreetly.

"Hey! You already know the lyrics!" Childe exclaimed, giving him a light nudge on the arm.

"Lonely ghost come calling...lonely voices talking to me..." Zhongli replied with a smile, returning his gaze, singing in sync with Xinyan without raising his voice too much. "Of course, I know. I told you I'm a fan of Xinyan's. Just wait until you hear the refrain! You'll learn it in no time!" He brought his face slightly closer to Childe's ear to be heard among the crowd.

Xinyan moved around the stage, playing and singing effortlessly, as if the stage was recharging her with every step she took. As if the increasingly warm resonance of the audience gave her the same warmth of the fire that she loved so much. Childe remembered how, just a few minutes ago, she had closed herself off in her insecurity and terror, and it made him happy to see her so free now.

"Oh, yes? Teach me, then!" Childe retorted with a smile, clapping his hands to the rhythm.

"Sold my soul to the calling...sold my soul to a sweet melody..." Xinyan continued to sing before raising her voice, the rhythm of the words faster and more pressing as it preceded the outbreak of a more energetic melody. "NOW I'M GONE, NOW I'M GONE, NOW I'M GONE....!"

Before Zhongli could answer him, the crowd exploded out in song with the chorus as the flames re-ignited Xinyan's guitar. Childe felt as if the strings were strumming in sync with his heart, and he was one with the port of Liyue, immersed in the same enthusiasm and participation. Zhongli, who had hitherto remained poised and discreet as was his custom, broke into a broad smile, his hands racing to collide with each other as he raised his voice to join the chorus.

"OH, GIVE ME THAT FIRE...OH, GIVE ME THAT FIRE...OH, GIVE ME THAT FIRE...BURN, BURN, BURN!" Zhongli sang, his voice low but distinguishable from the others. His face was flushed from enthusiasm, illuminated by the lights of the stage, and relaxed in a happy expression.

Childe wanted to pay attention to the words so he could learn how to sing along, but then he realized that he had been staring at him, distracted by his vision, until Zhongli returned a gentle gaze.

"Do you like it?" Zhongli asked, making him collect himself. Childe nodded promptly, putting all the emphasis he could in clapping his hands to the rhythm and following along with the words.

"OH, GIVE ME THAT FIRE..." he sang in turn, making Zhongli nod in approval, and he quickly followed along. "GIVE ME THAT FIRE, BURN, BURN, BURN..."

The people around them seemed to enter total turmoil, except Zhongli who—while singing and enjoying himself—continued to keep his arms slightly stiff as he clapped his hands. Childe was almost afraid of seeing him pushed by the crowd whose movements became more and more abrupt. Even knowing how irrational it was to think that someone could bump into a man of almost thirty, much taller than average, Childe placed a hand on his shoulder, bringing him in closer while some guys next to him started wriggling around in excitement.

Zhongli made no complaint as he took a step in his direction and nodded his head in thanks. After the chorus, Xinyan went back to singing with a slower rhythm, proving that she was perfectly capable of handling two totally different musical tempos.

"Don't you dance?" Childe asked, barely raising his voice.

"Not usually," Zhongli admitted with a shrug, his tone formal. "Should I try?"

"Sure! You'll have more fun!" Childe assured him and then extended a hand. "Start with something simple. Like I'm doing!" he added, raising his voice to be heard above the music while trying to speak as little as possible, eager to follow the song in any case. "Try to follow me!"

Zhongli, hesitant but curious, held out his arm in turn to allow Childe to lightly take him by the wrist.

"Lift your arm and let's jump!" Childe said, jumping on his feet again. He resumed singing, the chorus now memorized.

"Okay..." Zhongli answered doubtfully before he started to jump along with him. Childe raised his arm again, taking Zhongli's up with it.

"Perfect! See?" Childe laughed, noticing Zhongli's expression had changed from confused to amused.

"It's not that bad," the man admitted. He stopped jumping but hinted at some movement with the other arm, still a bit stiff.

It became evident to Childe that Zhongli was not in the habit of dancing in public, and that despite his usually fine and elegant movements, on the dance floor he was slightly out of place. But the smile that had veiled his lips was a testament to how he was trying to go beyond his usual difficulty. He was starting to have fun even while doing something he was not used to and, for that, Childe felt encouraged to continue becoming more familiar with him. Childe was so used to being frowned upon and shrugging at those who found him too intrusive and self-confident. It was a relief to notice that Zhongli wasn't bothered by his behavior.

"Take both my hands and try this," Childe offered, turning to face him. Zhongli interlaced his gloved fingers with his so that he could comfortably follow Childe's quick and not-entirely-coordinated steps. They began to move back and forth as he let his arms swing.

"Customers will never take me seriously again after this poor performance." Zhongli let his eyes fall to their hands. He took a couple of steps with extreme attention, as if afraid of stepping on his toes. His grip was delicate and barely perceptible, movements still too jerky, and yet an expression of peace fell upon him, momentarily sweeping away the melancholy that Childe recognized in his gaze. Maybe the music and Childe's spontaneous gestures were shaking his worries away, or maybe it was just his imagination. In any case, Childe continued to hope.

"Why, if I may ask, do you have to dance at funerals? Seems a little inappropriate of you, Xiangsheng." Childe couldn't help but laugh. When Zhongli laughed, too, the illusion of having some influence on his mood grew.

Since the concert began, Childe had lost track of time. Xinyan's songs were perfectly distinguishable from each other, differing in rhythm, text, and genre. Though, he favored slower and more delicate pieces. Still, he had no idea how much time had passed. After exhausting himself dancing with Zhongli, they became content to simply listening attentively, observing the stage.

Xinyan captured his attention when the young woman stopped and the headlights illuminated her figure more intensely.

"Are you still with me, Liyue Harbor?" asked the singer, her tone still sparkling with enthusiasm, taking the microphone in hand. An explosive chorus replied, making a satisfied smile appear on her face.

"It's already over?" Childe asked, slightly apprehensive. He had had such a pleasant time, enjoying the music with Zhongli who didn't seem to miss a single note. He was almost afraid to go back to his real life, to slip back into his room and think about his duties. He had only been in Liyue for a day, and he had not yet fully digested the fact that, tomorrow, he would have to start working and perhaps plot against the people of the city.

"Maybe, but it seems strange to me. Perhaps she wants to greet the audience before the last song," Zhongli speculated in a low voice. His face was slightly hot from the dance, and his usually neat raven hair was slightly ruffled with the unruly tufts now falling in his face.

"Thank you, thank you and thank you again!" Xinyan exclaimed, bowing in sincere gratitude, before raising her head and putting a hand to her heart. "Thanks to friends who have supported me so far: Xiangling, who was the first to encourage me, and to Xingqiu, Chongyun, and Hu Tao. To my fans, who gave me a chance today for the first time. And thanks also to Tianquan, Miss Ningguang, who allowed me to use this space on city soil. Thank you all!"

Many eyes inevitably turned to Ningguang, who merely smiled in approval.

"Before I leave you, however, I would like to sing one last song with a very important person for our city!" Xinyan continued, scanning the audience for the subject in question. "For those who don't know, the captain of the Crux, Beidou, set foot on the mainland today after freeing us from dangers and monsters abroad! Let's celebrate her return together!"

Childe linked Beidou's name to the pirate who had greeted them shortly before the concert began, with an eye patch and long brown hair, and was surprised to hear her be called "captain."

"BEIDOU! BEIDOU! BEIDOU!" the crowd began to cheer with warm enthusiasm.

The woman advanced among the spectators who moved to two different sides of the square to let her pass. Childe and Zhongli stepped aside as Beidou made her way up the steps to the stage, waving to the crowd in an energetic and proud gesture, the cloak on her back fluttering in the sea breeze.

Childe still knew little about Beidou, but the city seemed in total adoration of her. In Snezhnaya, he had seen such enthusiasm only for the Tsaritsa herself, and much more contained. Evidently, she was a skilled warrior and heroine. It was incredible to know that she fought monsters in the ocean aboard her ship.

"Thank you for your warm welcome, my dear Liyue! Although the ocean will always be my home, Liyue is my heart. I am always happy to come back here, to this safe haven," Beidou said, putting one hand to her side and pointing to Xinyan with the other. She spoke proudly, as if she were used to addressing a large audience. "And what a wonderful concert we listened to tonight! It is an honor for me to be able to sing with this talented girl, Xinyan!"

Xinyan smiled as she picked up the guitar again and started to play the melody, alternating between plucking strings and tapping on the hard surface. The rhythm she created reminded Childe of a song the crew sang as they sailed the seas, moving fearlessly through the waves. The rhythm of the music overlapped the beats of his heart as he began to listen to the words.

"There once was a ship that put to sea, the name of the ship was the Billy of Tea, the winds blew up, her bow dipped down, oh blow, my bully boys, blow..." Beidou sang, surprising the audience in a low, strong voice, which matched perfectly to Xinyan's.

Just as it had been with Xinyan's songs, Liyue's audience resumed their singing with enthusiasm, including Zhongli, making Childe gasp. It took less than a few seconds before he heard the voices of Hu Tao, Xiangling, Xingqiu, and Chongyun surrounding him as they joined the choir. What surprised Childe even more was the arrival of Ganyu, Keqing, and even Ningguang, who was not singing yet but watched the scene with a sharp expression without the usual sly smile puckering her lips.

"FINALLY, WE WERE ABLE TO COME FURTHER!" Hu Tao exclaimed, patting Childe on the shoulder to collect him while Zhongli paused for a moment, raising his eyebrows. "COME ON! SOON MAY THE WELLERMAN COME, TO BRING US SUGAR AND TEA AND RUM..." sang the girl, happily followed by her friends—Xiangling with the same enthusiasm, Chongyun in a discreet voice, and Xingqiu with a calmer and more measured tone, a smile enlightening his expression.

"Your friend is very good at singing!" Ganyu observed, turning to Ningguang.

Ningguang pursed her lips in a tight smile, keeping her arms folded to her chest without dancing as she watched Beidou, slightly shaking her head.

"For the umpteenth time: Beidou is not my friend. She is an outlaw who keeps making fun of me. We'll have to exchange a few words after her performance."

She spoke in a controlled tone, but Childe noticed a hint of irritation in her eyes.

"Hello, Zhongli! Are you having fun?" Ganyu asked shortly after, turning toward them, and cordially nodded his head to Childe as well. Keqing looked at him in turn, clearly much more skeptical and distrustful, but still made an effort to wave at him in greeting. Ningguang continued to observe Beidou, annoyed.

"The concert is splendid," Zhongli observed in admiration. "I hope Childe liked it, too."

"You have excellent artists in your city, and the songs are very beautiful!" Childe added when Hu Tao motioned for all of them to be ready for the chorus.

"READY?" She placed a hand on Zhongli's shoulder and one on Childe's while Xiangling did the same with Xingqiu and Chongyun.

"SOON MAY THE WELLERMAN COME, TO BRING US SUGAR AND TEA AND RUM!" they all sang together. Ganyu and Keqing joined in the next verse. "ONE DAY, WHEN THE TONGUING IS DONE, WE'LL TAKE OUR LEAVE AND GO! SOON MAY THE WELLERMAN COME...."

Childe found the words easy to follow as he resumed dancing, Hu Tao's friendly grip on his shoulder. Zhongli glanced at him from time to time, as if to make sure he was enjoying himself. He felt immersed in the heat of the city, an evening where the lanterns shone, and the musical notes energized them. He felt as though the people around him wanted him involved, and he no longer felt out of place. Perhaps that was precisely the problem, or what Signora feared most of all: the fact that it was so easy for him to feel like one of them, only because they treated him with a kindness that, outside his home, he had never received.

His mind shifted to Snezhnaya and the Tsaritsa, to the day she pinned the Fatui sign on his uniform and felt, finally, that he belonged to something bigger. He would help her carry out the final task. He thought back to when the Tsaritsa had promised all of them that one day, when they finished their plan, they would be free to dance as in an eternal carnival, throwing off their masks and freeing themselves from all fear.

Perhaps the carnival would resemble the concert in Liyue, the lunch a few hours earlier, or the feeling of peace and freedom he had experienced walking through its streets—a sensation that he had only felt in Morepesok, his hometown. Yet, if he didn't follow the Tsaritsa's plan, such peace in Liyue would vanish. Even though he couldn't explain everything to Liyue's people, one day his new friends will thank him.

Perhaps one day in the future, he would no longer have to be afraid of exposing himself, he would no longer have to calibrate his words with Zhongli, and he would no longer feel the fear that, in reality, they were all pretending to find him nice without really wanting him in their midst. He just had to be patient, finish the Tsaritsa's plan, and they would understand everything. Or at least, so he hoped. Another possibility was that they all ended up hating him instead. In that case, they would see him as not only a traitor but also a dangerous monster. And that idea was beginning to gnaw away at him.

"Childe, are you okay?" Zhongli asked in a low voice when the song finished, probably noticing his suddenly distant and scattered gaze.

Childe blinked a couple of times, trying to get out of the confused haze that had become his mind, and forced himself to smile.

"Sure! I'm just not used to these long evenings," he lied.

Fortunately, as the concert concluded with applause and shouts of encouragement, the arrival of Beidou and Xinyan in the crowd distracted Zhongli who frowned, unconvinced.

"Very good, Xinyan!" Xiangling exclaimed, rushing to hug the girl, followed shortly after by the other friends.

"Great concert, really," Zhongli added politely.

"Thank you so much!" Xinyan exclaimed with a short bow, still enthusiastic and visibly thrilled.

Childe complimented her in turn before following Beidou out of the corner of his eye. The captain motioned for Ningguang to move slightly before handing her a package containing a necklace of amber pearls, the same color the woman often wore.

"A gift? You should know well that I make more than enough money to be bribed, my dear Beidou," Childe heard her say, her tone calm but slightly sarcastic. Her posture was still composed, with her arms folded, as if she didn't want to be approached by anyone.

"I know very well. That's why I stole it," Beidou replied proudly without flinching.

Zhongli did not hold back from listening himself, turning almost imperceptibly and straining his ears.

"Look at it when you get home, and you'll understand. It's from the Inazuma fleet that attacked our merchants' cargo last month, the ones you had to compensate with government funds. We gave them a good lesson and sent them back." Beidou laughed, without showing the slightest repentance. "That is their captain's necklace. If you don't like it, you can sell it and get the money back. Personally, I think it would suit you but, you know, I respect your freedom to choose."

Ningguang, for the first time since Childe had seen her, seemed both surprised and amused, probably unaccustomed to a person with peculiar and straightforward methods like Beidou's.

"With the other stolen items, I'll compensate the families, so don't worry about that, okay?" Beidou continued, pausing to take a sip of alcohol from a flask that she wore fastened to her belt with total naturalness. "Ah, finally! It's too warm here."

Ningguang's composure and elegance brought contrast to the chased manner of the other woman, who seemed entirely immune to her aura of awe and power.

"I don't question your good intentions, but your methods continue to be illegal. There are laws on purpose to settle accounts such as this," Ningguang replied, eager to maintain her authority.

"What if both of our methods were valid?" Beidou asked, becoming serious for a moment. "You can stand behind a desk and I'll be in the middle of the ocean. The way we do our job differs, but not our intentions."

"I'm not going to discuss it here," Ningguang replied in a calm and controlled tone. "Come to the Jade Chamber tomorrow and think of a reason for me not to arrest or fine you," she continued, inflexible. "You may be a good person, Beidou, but in the eyes of other nations you are an outlaw, and you will not put my city in trouble."

"See you for a tea, then," Beidou concluded with a wink, satisfied. "Get ready to be beaten at chess again, too," she added, saying goodbye to the rest of the group, and left.

"I cannot stand her. She always does as she pleases," Ningguang commented, her lips tightened in a grimace, when Beidou disappeared from sight. Keqing and Ganyu gave each other a meaningful look as they restrained themselves from laughing.

"You always say that, but then you invite her every time she comes back to Liyue," Keqing said, shrugging, before glancing at Childe and Zhongli with raised eyebrows. "And you two...don't you have anything better to do than eavesdrop? I did not expect that from two adult men like you."

"You were right next to us! What were we supposed to do?" Childe justified himself without losing his temper. Keqing didn't seem very convinced, while Ganyu stepped in to calm the waters.

"It will be nice to receive Beidou at the Jade Chamber. At work, it's almost always just the three of us for hours," she commented cheerfully.

"That's true. But trust is like a precious stone, rare and difficult to find. This is why I hardly open the doors of my house," Ningguang said.

"I would like to see it!" Hu Tao interjected, hitherto busy talking to Xinyan and other friends, who also joined the conversation.

"One day maybe you will have the opportunity to be invited," Ningguang politely answered, hinting at a smile.

"I would also like to admire the paintings and historical artifacts," said Zhongli.

"Well, tonight went well. What about a concert at the Jade Chamber next?" Hu Tao proposed, pointing proudly at Xiangling.

"Maybe, in a few years, when I make it big in all seven kingdoms," Ningguang replied with a proud smile, referring to her famous and ambitious architectural project, before taking her leave. "Have a good evening. I should return home."

As audience members left the square and the group of friends followed, Childe felt increasingly reluctant to leave. Zhongli, noticing his slower pace, stopped to nod at him.

"Is there something wrong?"

"It's just that...I wonder if I'll have fun like this again, or if Signora and the others will find it...inappropriate," he admitted, his chest tightening like a vice.

"We leave immediately for our first sightseeing tour tomorrow after lunch, so before I can tell you anything..." Zhongli replied kindly after a few moments of silence, "...what do you think?"

Childe nodded much faster than he would have liked.

"Do you think Keqing hates us?" he asked after a few seconds, remembering the violet-hair girl's irritation a few minutes earlier.

Zhongli, surprising him, did not hold back from laughing softly, shaking his head.

"No, I don't think so. She's just a very direct person. At least, when it comes to her, you don't have to worry about her being fake," he replied, raising just an eyebrow with an amused air. "But...we were eavesdropping a bit."

"A bit too much," Childe admitted, laughing. "But the scene between Beidou and Ningguang was too funny for us to not mind our own business. Didn't you say she sent all her suitors away?"

"Do you think Beidou is a suitor of hers?" Zhongli asked, slightly thoughtful. "Yes, maybe you are right."

"Do I think so? It's obvious! Did you see that necklace she gave her?" Childe grinned. "I thought you had more power of observation, given how many things you remember."

Zhongli for a moment seemed taken aback before pretending to be annoyed with an amused snort.

"Let's just say there are other issues that I understand better. Also, no one has ever given me a gift like that." Zhongli tried to keep an amused smile, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Maybe they did give you something and you didn't notice." Childe couldn't help but tease him, noticing that he seemed slightly distressed for once.

Zhongli frowned and avoided his gaze.

Childe remembered when he had said he wasn't tied to anyone now, almost as lost as when he had forgotten his wallet. Maybe there were some aspects of life in which he was not familiar, and relationships were one of them. In Zhongli, there was a bizarre contrast between a confident, cultured, refined man, and a person unversed in other social aspects that perhaps he had not yet had the opportunity to discover himself. Childe could not help but find the very thing funny.
.
"Maybe," Zhongli admitted. "But I doubt it. I have a good memory and I can't recall such a thing happening. Anyway, Ningguang's shocked expression, come to think of it, was..."

"...epic. I don't know how I didn't burst out laughing in her face." Childe laughed, remembering the eyes of the Tianquan that had widened at Beidou's words.

"Pay attention to your reputation in Liyue, Childe," Zhongli jokingly warned him, his eyebrows raised in a mixture of apprehension and amusement. "You've already called Xiao perpetually pissed off. You don't want to challenge Tianquan's reputation too."

"Don't worry," Childe reassured him with a smile before starting to walk toward the hotel. "I'll be careful, Xiangsheng," he promised, even though he wasn't quite sure he could respect his words.