If the first video was treated as entertainment by everyone, it was only because Cao Zhong had lived in Mondstadt for a long time and had never done anything too outrageous. Well… aside from flirting with Amber, romancing Eula, teasing Barbara in the cathedral, having an office romance with Grand Master Jean, and some "unknown secrets" with Lisa in the library. Damn! Cao Zhong, you really are a scumbag!
The following video only added fuel to the fire, instantly igniting everyone's anger.
[Kaeya]: @Cao Zhong, you really deserve to die! This hurts more than killing me! Draw your sword—today one of us must die!
[Cao Zhong]: Kaeya, even you don't believe me anymore? Back then when I bought you drinks, you even called me godfather!
[Kaeya]: Then you deserve to die even more!
[Diluc]: Birds of a feather flock together. Also, from today onward, Angel's Share has a new rule: Cao Zhong and dogs are not allowed inside.
[Cao Zhong]: Master Diluc, why go this far… why…
[Venti]: @Cao Zhong, my dear friend, I wanted to defend you—but you're clearly a scumbag. Also, before your duel with Kaeya, can you write a will?
[Cao Zhong | Kaeya]: ?
[Venti]: Since you're dueling, no matter who dies, can you leave your inheritance to me? My singing income has been bad lately—I can't even afford drinks!
[Cao Zhong | Kaeya]: Get lost!
[Bennett]: I just got out of a ruin… what happened? Why is everyone scolding Cao Zhong?
[Venti]: Short version: Cao Zhong is a scumbag.
[Bennett]: Huh? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Cao Zhong isn't like that!
Bennett… you really moved me to tears. Seeing Bennett defend him in the chat, Cao Zhong was deeply touched. After all this time, only Bennett spoke up for him. As expected of my true friend!
[Cao Zhong]: Bennett, you're my real friend! Unlike Kaeya and Venti—both are terrible!
[Venti]: @Cao Zhong, Bennett is already unlucky enough and you're still lying to him? You have no heart.
[Kaeya]: @Bennett, if you don't attack Cao Zhong, we'll attack you instead!
[Cao Zhong]: Kaeya, what nonsense are you barking? Bennett would never—
[Bennett]: Damn, I watched the video… Cao Zhong, you really deserve to die! You're such a scumbag—go die!
[Cao Zhong]: ? Give me back my emotions!
[Venti]: LOL!
[Kaeya]: LOL!
[Kamisato Ayato]: Is this Mondstadt's "freedom"? LOL!
[Thoma]: My lord, the Cecilia flowers back home are blooming… I want to go back and see them… o(╥﹏╥)o
[Kamisato Ayato]: Is that homesickness? No—you just want to mess around. Shameless.
[Kamisato Ayato]: In Inazuma, we do not allow scumbags like Mondstadt's Cao Zhong. If we find one, we punish one. Consider this your warning.
[Thoma]: My lord is wise! My lord is strong! My lord is both wise and strong!
Mondstadt, Knights of Favonius Headquarters. Jean looked at the chat messages and felt a headache coming on. At first, she thought it was just Cao Zhong's personal issue, but now it had escalated into an international matter. This behavior had seriously damaged Mondstadt's image. If not handled properly, how would other nations view Mondstadt?
[Jean]: @Cao Zhong, come to my office immediately and explain everything in detail.
[Kaeya]: Go on, explain carefully.
[Jean]: @Kaeya, shut up!!!
Sitting alone in her office, Jean's face turned slightly red. Kaeya clearly had too much free time—he needed more work.
Meanwhile, Cao Zhong looked at Jean tagging him and felt like he had survived a disaster, because Eula and Amber were already sharpening their weapons. If he didn't run now, when would he? Grand Master Jean… you are my savior! Such a life-saving grace… I can only repay it with my body!
Soon, Cao Zhong arrived at Jean's office door and knocked. "Come in!" With Jean's response, he pushed the door open. Jean was leaning over her desk handling official duties. As Mondstadt's workaholic, her style was simple—if she didn't collapse from work, she would work until she did.
When Cao Zhong walked in, Jean saw his handsome face and felt a strange emotion in her heart, though her expression remained calm. She straightened herself and asked seriously, "Explain. What exactly is going on? The video… it's not real, right?"
Jean was actually a little hopeful. To be honest, her feelings toward Cao Zhong were special. Although they hadn't known each other long, he had helped her greatly in both work and life. At work, he gave many useful suggestions. Especially recently, due to Stormterror's impact, Mondstadt lacked manpower, and Cao Zhong suggested creating the position of Honorary Knight to recruit capable people to help the Knights without needing to pay them—a win-win solution. In life, he often told her strange romance stories like "The CEO Falls in Love with Me," which made her secretly envious.
No… I can't think like this anymore. If I keep going, I'll fall for him. Jean snapped back to reality—she was interrogating him.
Cao Zhong looked at her with teary eyes. "Grand Master… you know me! Even if others don't believe me, how can you not believe me? I'm really not a scumbag! I'm sincere toward every single one of them!"
"You—!" Hearing such shameless words, Jean was truly furious. She had thought he would at least try to defend himself properly, but instead he admitted it so openly.
Infuriating! 😤