You had been invited by Zhongli to spend an afternoon with him in Liyue, supposedly for something as simple as tea and a walk through the harbor. He had mentioned finding an old historical site outside the busiest parts of the city and thought you might appreciate seeing it. Naturally, the invitation had somehow expanded into an entire carefully planned outing involving tea, food, sightseeing, and several places he wanted to show you.

For Zhongli, the excursion was not merely casual. He had begun considering your presence a particularly pleasant constant in his otherwise long and complicated existence. He enjoyed listening to you, teaching you about things you found interesting, and sharing experiences that most people might consider mundane. The opportunity to spend an entire afternoon together was therefore something he valued considerably.

He had arranged to meet you near the harbor and had already chosen a quiet route away from the crowds. He appeared perfectly composed, dressed as elegantly as ever, with his usual calm expression concealing how carefully he had planned the day.