**Chapter 17: Qiqi Agrees to Meet Hu Tao**
Inside the Serenitea Pot, Columbine sat beside Qiqi, observing her sleeping face.
*Will our child with Jingchen be this adorable?* she wondered. *Or perhaps even more mischievous and playful?*
*Playful?! Wait a minute! Hu Tao is also quite playful!*
*No, I'd rather our child be innocent, cute, and quiet.*
Jingchen entered the Serenitea Pot and approached Columbine from behind.
Columbine turned and gestured, whispering softly, "Shh, Qiqi's sound asleep. Don't disturb her."
Jingchen nodded gently, gazing at Qiqi's peaceful slumber. With Columbine watching over her like a mother, the scene felt incredibly heartwarming. He murmured, "Aya, when will our child arrive?"
Columbine pouted, a hint of helplessness in her voice. "Sigh, you're asking me? I wish I knew! Look at me—besides craving spicy food and occasional nausea, I haven't shown any other signs."
Jingchen studied Columbine closely, noticing she hadn't gained any weight.
*That's odd. I've been... well, let's just say I've been indulging quite a bit this past month.*
He took Columbine's hand and led her to another room.
***
The next evening, Columbine yawned, a hint of drowsiness in her eyes.
"A'Chen, I... maybe next time?"
"Huh?! But I'm still so~"
"Sigh. Fine."
Columbine eventually relented.
The following noon, Columbine was still yawning, her eyes half-closed with sleep.
When she saw Jingchen still looking as energetic as ever, she couldn't help but feel a mix of helplessness and amusement.
"A'Chen, we haven't checked on Qiqi in days!"
Jingchen froze, stopping immediately.
"Then just one last time, just one last time."
Over an hour later, Jingchen helped Columbine out of the room.
They found Qiqi alone, climbing an apple tree and skillfully picking the fruit.
"Qiqi, come down now."
Qiqi leaped down, and Columbine and Jingchen rushed to catch her.
"Jingchen, Brother, Columbine, Sister. Want to eat apple?"
Jingchen and Columbine exchanged glances, smiling at each other.
This time, Qiqi hadn't forgotten them.
Columbine took an apple from Qiqi, bit into it gently, and offered it to Jingchen's lips.
After Jingchen took a casual bite, Columbine smiled faintly.
"Is it sweet?"
"Mm-hmm. You're the sweetest."
Columbine lowered her gaze, her face radiating boundless joy.
Jingchen asked softly, "Aya, when should we take Qiqi to see Hu Tao?"
Columbine paused, only now realizing that their primary reason for finding Qiqi was to help Hu Tao resolve her inner conflict and ease the tension between them.
Upon hearing Hu Tao's name, Qiqi immediately waved her hands frantically.
"Hot, fake smile. Qiqi doesn't like Hu Tao. She wanted to bury Qiqi alive. Qiqi wants to live."
It was clear that Qiqi's resentment toward Hu Tao had long been deeply ingrained. However, as a zombie, she lacked any facial expressions to convey her feelings.
Seeing Qiqi's distress, Columbine hugged her tightly, reassuring her repeatedly.
"Good girl, Qiqi. If you don't want to see Hu Tao, you don't have to. With Columbine here, that girl won't dare try anything against you."
Qiqi's eyes widened as she nodded, then turned to look at Jingchen beside her.
"Jingchen, Brother, will you also protect Qiqi?"
Jingchen smiled awkwardly, not expecting Qiqi to ask him this.
"Ah?! Qiqi, don't worry. Brother Jingchen will always protect you."
"Then... will you and Columbine-jiejie keep Qiqi from seeing Hu Tao, like you did before?"
"Well... Qiqi, about Hu Tao... how do I put this? Hu Tao has completely changed. She would never plot against you now. All she wants is to be your friend."
Qiqi fell silent, appearing to ponder this.
Columbine gently flicked Jingchen's forehead, still sounding a bit jealous and annoyed.
"If Qiqi doesn't want to see Hu Tao, she doesn't have to. If you want to see her, go ahead. Anyway, Hu Tao's obsession seems more about her feelings for you than anything Qiqi has done."
Jingchen waved his hands helplessly.
"Ah?! Aya, you saw it too! My master showed us the exact scene of that agreement, leaving nothing out."
Columbine crossed her arms, silent.
Jingchen continued.
"A vague, uncertain agreement, half-awake and half-drunk, to which I never truly consented. Qiqi is different.
That girl Hu Tao genuinely wants to be Qiqi's dearest friend."
(For details, please refer to Hu Tao's Character Story 4)
Columbine fell silent again for a moment, lowering her head to gaze at Qiqi.
Qiqi took Columbine's hand in her left hand and Jingchen's hand in her right, bringing their hands together.
"Qiqi doesn't want you to quarrel. Qiqi is willing to see Hu Tao."
Seeing this, Columbine nodded slightly.
"Jingchen! If that girl Hu Tao still harbors ill intentions toward Qiqi, I won't hold back!"
"Ah?! What if she has ill intentions toward me?"
Columbine let out a soft hum.
"Then I'll just hold you tightly."
"Let's go out and see what's happening."
The moment Jingchen led Columbine and Qiqi out of the Serenitea Pot, two guards bowed deeply to Jingchen and Columbine.
Upon seeing Qiqi, the guards no longer instinctively recoiled as they used to.
After all, the young girl and the knight, the two executive officers, seemed to treat Qiqi very well. To curry favor with these powerful figures, every Fatui member in Liyue had to treat Qiqi with utmost respect.
Moreover, the Liyue Fatui now purchased all their medicines in bulk from Bubu Pharmacy.
"Lord Jingchen, this is a gift from an elderly woman for you."
Jingchen accepted the gift and slowly unwrapped it.
Inside were an exquisitely crafted celestial dress and an ancient red robe worn by men during weddings.
*Madam Ping gave Columbine and me wedding attire?!*
The garments radiated an otherworldly aura, absolutely stunning and unparalleled.
A peculiar light flickered in Columbine's eyes.
Seeing this, Jingchen entrusted both robes to Columbine for safekeeping.
The guards added, "Lord Jingchen, the elderly woman also instructed that if you have any questions, you can find her at the Yuehai Pavilion's teahouse tonight. She will be waiting for you."
Qiqi gently tugged at Jingchen's white robe.
"Jingchen, Brother, are you taking Qiqi to see Hu Tao today?"
"Ah?! Um, let's meet tonight."
Columbine carefully placed two robes into her spatial backpack, then kindly reminded Jingchen, "Don't upset Hu Tao too much. After all, the Rock Archon watched her grow up. Besides, that girl isn't inherently bad—just a bit mischievous and quirky."
Jingchen nodded slightly. If Columbine could be so understanding, he couldn't let her down.
He pondered briefly. His master should be with Hu Tao now, comforting and caring for her. Madam Ping also seemed deeply concerned about Hu Tao. With his master and senior sister comforting her together, perhaps everything would turn out alright.
Jingchen waved to the two guards. "Vlad, Nadia, go to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and inform Hu Tao that I've invited her to Madam Ping's teahouse outside Yuehai Pavilion tonight."
"Should we notify anyone else?"
"No need."
........
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(End of Chapter)