"Stars connected together—that becomes the constellation unique to me." Jun Bai looked toward the night sky.
The starry sky is false; fate is predetermined.
But so what? The brilliance the starry sky brings to Teyvat is real. All the comfort gained under the night sky is genuine.
That will never change.
Jun Bai knows this starry sky is false, foretelling Teyvat's fate—but until the truth is revealed, this starry sky has meaning in its existence.
"A constellation unique to myself..."
Hearing this, Lumine suddenly remembered—she too has a constellation in this starry sky called "The Traveler."
Yet she herself has not connected her own unique constellation in Teyvat.
Jun Bai's words were speaking of himself—and also of Lumine, who had arrived alone in this Teyvat just like him.
"You understand?" Jun Bai saw Lumine's enlightened expression and knew she had grasped his meaning.
"Huh? Understand?" Paimon looked confused.
"You're not my family—but you're the same as I was back then. So I chose to let you sit with us."
"Lumine, Liyue welcomes all who have no home to return to—including you."
"You can try treating Liyue as home, treating everyone on Ziwei Star Palace tonight as family—from now on, no longer alone. We will be with you."
As he spoke, Jun Bai drew Lumine into his arms.
(This place would hug even if it were Aether. Also, no Otto memes here—don't ruin the atmosphere.)
"Try building bonds with Teyvat, outline your own unique constellation in this world."
With that, Jun Bai released Lumine.
This embrace carried no romantic undertones—it was not a distant light hug, but comfort for someone of the same kind.
Phenex came into the world alone; how was Lumine any different, searching for blood kin in this unfamiliar world?
Both had successively met the person who made them no longer lonely.
Phenex met Morax; Lumine met Paimon.
So Jun Bai wanted Lumine to do the same as him—build deeper bonds in Teyvat, even if she would one day leave Teyvat.
But fearing the connection might break, choosing from the start never to build bonds with others—is that really right?
No matter the ending, at least don't let the present choice disappoint yourself—that's what Jun Bai believes is correct.
Lumine finally realized why everyone who knows Jun Bai treats him as a friend—even an important person.
Because Jun Bai is like a sun, warming everyone, dispelling the gloom in their hearts.
(Second burst of inspiration—writing this reminded me of my male god Wang Dongcheng. The Wang Dongcheng he played is still the person I admire!)
"Thank you—I'll give it a try."
Lumine felt deeply moved.
Perhaps only those who have truly experienced loneliness can understand how lethal Jun Bai's words "you can try treating Liyue as home" truly are.
"Brother Jun Bai!"
Yaoyao ran over at that moment, Ganyu following behind with a smile.
"Hey, Brother's here." Jun Bai smiled in response.
"Brother Jun Bai, Yaoyao wants clothes like the ones on Yiya too." Yaoyao acted spoiled toward Jun Bai.
"Yaoyao wants some too? Of course—but you'll probably have to wait until next year's Lantern Rite to get new clothes like these."
Jun Bai agreed to Yaoyao's request and extended an invitation for next year's Lantern Rite.
"Yay! Yaoyao gets pretty new clothes!"
But Yaoyao clearly didn't catch the "next year" part and expressed excitement for new clothes.
"Senior, could you also make a set for Shenhe?" Ganyu asked. "Though her emotions are suppressed, I can still sense she really wants new clothes too."
"No problem—just need you to provide Shenhe's measurements." Jun Bai agreed.
"Then thank you in advance, Senior."
Ganyu smiled.
Better not tell Shenhe yet—give her a surprise next Lantern Rite.
Jun Bai smiled: "Alright—next year's matters can wait until next year."
"Now the fireworks show is about to end—get ready for the grand finale. Guizhong!"
Guizhong responded amid the exploding fireworks: "Got it! Let these fireworks put a period on this year!"
Yesterday on Ziwei Star Palace, she wasn't just watching the Xiao Lantern Festival—she had prepared a little surprise up there, or she wouldn't be Guizhong.
The second hand moved across the dial, about to overlap with the minute and hour hands. The people of Guili Assembly began counting down:
"Ten, nine, eight, seven..."
Even on Ziwei Star Palace, the countdown was clearly audible—it was the voice of ten thousand people.
Guizhong listened to the sound and waved her small hand.
Streams of fireworks rose from Ziwei Star Palace, blooming in the night sky in all kinds of patterns.
Immortal cranes, immortal deer, azure luan, Yakshas, qin-playing fairies... one after another, images of Adepti appeared in the night sky.
(For the crane—since both Xianyun and Mountain Shaper are cranes, azure luan specifically refers to Xianyun's image.)
"One!"
As the final number echoed through the clouds, three fireworks rose simultaneously from Ziwei Star Palace.
The fireworks bloomed—the images of Liyue's three gods occupied the sky above Guili Assembly.
Rex Lapis's dragon, Dust Lord Guizhong's Chibi version smile, and Sky Phoenix Marshal's true phoenix.
The Adepti and gods on Ziwei Star Palace shouted the same blessing together with the people of Guili Assembly:
"Happy Lantern Rite!"
—Real World
"Perfect timing! Happy Lantern Rite! Families in the stream—Happy New Year!" Watching the Lantern Rite story conclude, March 7th smiled and raised both hands high.
The stream was filled with barrage covering the entire screen.
All in unison: [Happy Lantern Rite! Happy New Year!]
Suddenly, March 7th's phone chimed with a notification.
She picked it up—red envelopes from Himeko and Welt, plus Dan Heng's New Year greeting.
Kafka's house.
"Mom, Happy New Year!"
Stelle dug out a beautifully wrapped gift box from her trash-bin luggage and handed it to Kafka.
"Mm? Thank you, baby."
Kafka opened the gift box—inside was the new coat she had spotted some time ago.
"Thank you, baby—Mom has a gift for you too."
Kafka kept her elegant, mysterious smile and operated her phone briefly.
Then Stelle received a transfer notification.
"Mom!" Stelle immediately pounced into Kafka's arms, acting spoiled like when she was little.
Silver Wolf's apartment.
Firefly looked at Silver Wolf who had set down her phone and asked: "Ending the round already? This isn't your level."
"Just feels like even the heavens want me to stop gaming at this moment." Silver Wolf smiled and showed Firefly her game score on her phone.
It was exactly midnight on this year's Lunar New Year's date.
The score perfectly timed with the moment.
"You're sure you didn't do that on purpose?" Firefly laughed.
"I'm not that boring."
Silver Wolf crossed her arms, denying Firefly's claim.