"So, what you're saying is that you want me to ask Venti whether he's seen the god who abducted your brother?"
Cao Zhong looked at Lumine and Paimon in front of him with undisguised exasperation.
He had thought these two had finally grown a conscience and come back to check on their boss. Turns out they just needed a favour.
Right. Of course.
That little scoundrel Lumine simply wanted him to ask Venti whether he knew anything about who had taken her brother away back then.
Because of his own involvement, Lumine hadn't played much of a role in the Stormterror incident.
Which meant her relationship with Venti was pretty lukewarm at best.
Especially after the Stormterror incident — Venti had vanished off the face of Teyvat entirely.
She had gone to every spot Venti usually haunted to drink and slack off, and found nothing.
In the end, she had no choice but to come crawling back to her all-loving boss for help.
Well, it wasn't for nothing that he and Venti were the best of friends!
Cao Zhong, of course, knew all about Aether's situation.
But some things are only interesting once you've lived through them yourself.
Besides, Cao Zhong simply couldn't bring himself to tell Lumine that her brother Aether was currently the leader of the Abyss Order.
While she was out grinding commissions, doing quests, and scraping together Mora for travel, her brother was probably living it up.
And those treasure chests she'd been opening? They might just be the leftovers Aether didn't bother taking with him.
The truth was too cruel. Cao Zhong couldn't bear to tell her.
"Have you two even thought about using the group chat to look for your brother Aether?"
Cao Zhong glanced at Lumine and asked offhandedly.
"Huh?!!!"
Lumine blinked in surprise, then awkwardly rubbed her nose.
"I bet the Traveler spends every day thinking about what to eat and has completely forgotten she's supposed to be looking for her brother."
Paimon floated in the air, wagging a finger at Lumine with an expression that said I know you so well.
"No I haven't! It's always Paimon who eats everything, and you're blaming me? That's so unfair!"
Lumine looked ready to explode with embarrassment and go at Paimon right then and there.
"I'm this small — how could I possibly eat that much? That was all you!"
Paimon shot back, refusing to back down.
Cao Zhong stared at the two of them with a dark expression. How on earth had these two made it all the way to Sumeru?
He genuinely had no idea.
"Fine, fine. I'll ask around in the chat for you!"
[Cao Zhong: @Venti — Venti, you there? Venti?]
[Hu Tao: Great news, great news! Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's 50%-off mega sale is here! Limited slots, first come first served — come grab yours now!!!]
[Zhongli: ...]
[Cao Zhong: @Hu Tao — Business pressure getting to you? You've been spamming ads lately.]
[Hu Tao: @Cao Zhong — Don't even get me started. Every end of the month there are mysteriously more bills than expected and I'm running a deficit. These days I'm not only doing outreach during the day — I've got a side job at night too!]
[Cao Zhong: Huh?]
[Hu Tao: Every night there are so many people. Exhausting!]
[Cao Zhong: So many people at night?]
[Hu Tao: Yeah, Xiangling's there too.]
[Cao Zhong: Xiangling's there TOO?!!!]
[Xiangling: Yep, at Wanmin Restaurant.]
[Cao Zhong: Wanmin Restaurant does that kind of business now?]
[Hu Tao: ?]
[Yae Miko: The real Cao Zhong never changes!]
[Xingqiu: From what I know of Boss Cao, he's definitely thinking something inappropriate.]
[Cao Zhong: @Xingqiu — Qiu, you know me best!]
[Hu Tao: What are you even imagining?! I'm talking about waitressing — serving plates, serving plates!]
[Xiangling: Disgusting! (🤮)(🤮)(🤮)]
[Cao Zhong: Ah, right — I was also thinking about serving plates.]
[Kamisato Ayato: Nobody believes that. @Arataki Itto — do you believe him?]
[Arataki Itto: Absolutely not!]
"Hey, hey, HEY — you were supposed to be helping the Traveler find Venti! What are you doing?!"
Back in the All-Trades Wangsheng, Paimon stared at Cao Zhong with a deeply unimpressed look.
This man could derail any conversation at any time.
Unbelievable.
[Cao Zhong: Hahaha, right, about that… Venti? Venti…]
[Diluc: He's busy.]
[Cao Zhong: Huh? What have you done to my dear friend?! You didn't… (sob)(sob)(sob)]
[Diluc: ?]
[Diluc: He's working at the tavern to pay off a debt. I genuinely cannot with you.]
[Cao Zhong: Ahahahaha, I knew it!]
[Hu Tao: No way, no way. The Anemo Archon has no money?]
[Cao Zhong: Completely normal. The Four Archons combined couldn't scrape together a single Mora.]
[Xingqiu: Oh? And which four Archons would those be?]
[Cao Zhong: Do I even have to say? Anemo, Geo, Electro, and Dendro!]
[Zhongli: I… nevermind.]
[Xiao: ...]
[Yae Miko: Dying of laughter! Boss Cao really does know my dear friend well — her pockets really are emptier than her face is pretty! Hahahaha!]
[Raiden Shogun: #]
[Yae Miko: Ei… what are you going to do… wait, don't — stop! I said stop! She's going feral!]
[Kujou Sara: ...]
[Kamisato Ayaka: ...]
[Cao Zhong: Let us bow our heads in a moment of solemn silence for the Grand Narukami Shrine's Head Priest.]
[Xingqiu: Amen.]
[Bennett: Amen.]
...
[Diluc: Just tell me what you want with Venti.]
[Cao Zhong: So here's the thing…]
Cao Zhong typed out a full explanation and finally laid out the whole story from beginning to end.
In the Abyss,
Aether read through Cao Zhong's account, and something quietly settled in his chest.
His little sister — she really had been thinking about him all along.
What a shame that she woke up so much later than him.
If they had woken up together, perhaps they wouldn't be worlds apart right now.
[Amber: Wait?]
[Amber: @Lumine — I remember you said you were looking for your brother from the moment you arrived in Mondstadt. Don't tell me you're only just starting to look now?]
[Lumine: It's… it's… there's a reason for that, okay.]
[Paimon: It's because she's greedy! Nyeh nyeh nyeh!]
[Lumine: That is NOT true, Aether please don't believe her!]
Aether read the chat and had nothing but contempt for Paimon's accusation.
This was his sister. Did anyone know her better than him?
She would never forget to look for him just because of food.
She must have gotten caught up in other things!
[Amber: @Lumine — So you asked Miss Sara at the Hunters' Guild? The Cat's Tail always has the best information.]
[Lumine: Of course I did!]
[Hu Tao: Did you find anything?]
[Lumine: Hmm, let me think…]
[Cao Zhong: The Venison Stew from the restaurant there is really good!]
[Lumine: Oh right!!]
[Cao Zhong: The Flaming Red Bolognese is amazing too.]
[Lumine: I was thinking the exact same thing!]
[Cao Zhong: I love the Satisfying Salad!]
[Lumine: Ahhhh~~~ SO good!]
[Cao Zhong: Almond Tofu is fine, but I prefer savory food!]
[Lumine: Savory? You heretic — Team Sweet forever!]
[Lumine: Oh, and the Mushroom Pizza, Butter Shroom, Jade Parcels, Crab, Ham and Veggie Bake… all absolutely incredible!]
Deep within the Abyss,
Aether watched helplessly as his sister launched into an enthusiastic food discussion in the chat, having completely forgotten he even existed.
A single tear rolled down his cheek.
Lumine… you have no heart.
Beside him, an Abyss Herald looked over with concern. "My Lord, are you unwell?"
Aether waved a hand dismissively. "I'm just deeply moved. Even while eating, Lumine still manages to think about finding me. Do you have any idea what kind of dedication that takes?!"
Abyss Herald: ...
In the group chat,
[Amber: @Lumine — So… that's a no on finding him, then?]
[Lumine: Huh?!!!]
[Lumine: Wait — what did I just say?? That wasn't what I meant at ALL!!]
[Lumine: Aether, don't believe any of that — I really am looking for you!]
[Lumine: Aether, where on earth are you??]
[Cao Zhong: LOL]
[Hu Tao: LOL]
Aether looked at Lumine's frantic messages and let out a long, long sigh.
She's my little sister. What can I do?
Forgive her, of course.