Chapter 158

Heyu Tea House!

Because Yunjin, the head of the Yunhanshe, had a new play today, the tea house had been packed since after noon, bustling with activity.

"So many people!"

Paimon felt extremely excited by the sea of people below the stage, the little one following behind Luo Li, constantly looking around.

Lumine was also curious about this; she had never listened to a play before.

On the other side, Ganyu was whispering the meaning of the play to her junior sister Shenhe.

After having the good fortune to listen to it last time, she had also developed a strong interest in plays and had fallen in love with this form of entertainment.

Unfortunately, there had always been endless work, not to mention the various matters that had piled up these past few days; where would she find the time?

Entering the tea house, Master Fan spotted the group immediately. Knowing they were distinguished guests, he hurriedly took him and the group of young ladies to a private room on the second floor.

Yunjin, who was warming up on stage, also saw Luo Li and the others, revealing a sweet smile that made many people's hearts flutter for a moment.

Arriving at the private room, Luo Li found that everyone had arrived.

"Why did you only just get here? It's almost starting." Resting her long, bright legs on the armrest of a rocking chair, Eula, who was half-reclining, propped up her chin with a somewhat arrogant air.

Luo Li raised an eyebrow slightly: "It seems you've rested completely these past few days. Do you want to try drinking the rest of the Devil's Essence?"

Eula pouted her lips slightly and refused: "Uh... that won't be necessary."

"Move over a bit."

Sitting down right next to her without ceremony, Luo Li felt the young lady's soft skin under the reproachful gaze of Raiden Makoto.

Noelle delivered tea right on time, perfectly fulfilling what a maid should do.

Raiden Makoto greeted Shenhe and Ganyu to come to her side.

Lumine and Paimon looked left and right, and ultimately came to sit cross-legged on the independent cushions nearby.

"These guys look just like a family." Paimon muttered in a low voice.

Lumine couldn't help but agree; the atmosphere was indeed harmonious.

She could see Ganyu whispering with Shenhe, the two sisters who could barely be called fellow disciples exchanging their respective insights.

Pretending not to see Eula's small action of carefully resting her long legs on Luo Li's knees, while the play hadn't started yet.

Raiden Makoto asked softly: "Are you truly prepared?"

Luo Li naturally knew what she meant; it was nothing more than heading to Inazuma.

He hadn't felt it in Mondstadt or Liyue, but when it was truly time to return to Inazuma, he felt a bit of homesickness.

"I'm fine with it, but what about you? Are you prepared to have a showdown with your sister?"

The teasing tone made Raiden Makoto roll her eyes at him, and she asked in return: "Whose fault do you think it is?"

"Fine, fine, my fault."

Not only can you not reason with women, but you can't reason with goddesses either.

Gently pressing Eula's proud long legs, Luo Li sighed softly: "I wonder how many old friends I'll still be able to see now."

Mentioning this topic, even Raiden Makoto fell silent.

Scene after scene flooded her mind: under the Sacred Sakura, Saiguu and the Oni girl performing a dance before the throne, Ei practicing the card game with all her might, and the smile that bloomed after she achieved victory.

Gazing into the unknown distance, Raiden Makoto's eyes were somewhat dazed.

Five hundred years have passed, and time has worn away everything.

Fortunately, the sad memories lasted only a moment and were soon diluted by the lively atmosphere in the room.

Sweeping her gaze over the girls whispering and laughing, Raiden Makoto also let out a faint smile.

She was not a person who mourned the spring and grieved the autumn; the past was all a dream bubble. Unlike Ei, Makoto focused more on the present, enjoying everything brought by the "momentary" instant.

"Everyone from the past should be waiting for us to return."

Comforting Luo Li in turn, Raiden Makoto gently held his hand, speaking warmly.

After you go over and settle everything, I will return with you.

Thinking about it, after Ei is coaxed by him, she shouldn't blame her sister for stealing her man, right?

Makoto had her own little calculations in her heart, but her face remained unchanged.

Truly, women are born actors.

Luo Li never expected that Raiden Makoto would also have a time when she calculated against him, letting him find a way to extinguish Raiden Ei's grievances and anger while she hid behind.

No wonder she could pull pranks on her sister; essentially, this person was also quite mischievous.

Of course, in Raiden Makoto's words, she was influenced and contaminated by Luo Li.

"Look, everyone, it's starting!"

At this moment, Paimon suddenly pointed at the stage and shouted.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, only to see the old actors had already left the stage, leaving only Yunjin in her crown and ornate robes.

The young lady wore light makeup, her brows and eyes carrying a natural charm.

First, she glanced at the private room where Luo Li was, and only then did Yunjin pinch her fingers and clear her throat, preparing to begin.

The next moment, the sound of the old actors playing long, lingering instruments rang out from backstage.

The crisp sound like jade beads falling onto a plate opened the prelude.

"Alas—"

The moment the operatic singing began, the stunningly soft and sweet voice went straight to the bottom of one's heart.

The audience closed their eyes slightly, enjoying the new play from Master Yun.

Every word was articulated with lingering echoes that didn't fade for a long time.

Paimon couldn't help but exclaim: "This is too good to listen to!"

Luo Li nodded slightly, immersed in it.

Compared to the previous plays, perhaps because it was a story about humans themselves, one could clearly feel the deeper emotions Yunjin had poured into it.

It could also be that she had heard Shenhe's story in person and, substituting herself into the tragedy, the emotions that burst forth were even more intense.

And Shenhe, who was whispering with Ganyu, couldn't help but freeze; from the figure on the stage, she seemed to see her own past.

Witnessing others perform her own life with her own eyes, Shenhe didn't dislike it; in fact, she quite liked this form.

In this way, she wouldn't have to go through all the hardships to experience everything, and she could understand the deeds of others without having to face them herself.

I don't know how much time passed, but when the song ended, Yunjin's final long, lingering note faded away.

The audience below the stage didn't come back to their senses for a long time, still immersed in the life within the play, unable to extricate themselves.

Gently exhaling to steady her long breath, Yunjin smiled and thanked them.

"Today's song, 'Divine Damsel Devastates,' is my carefully crafted work; I hope everyone likes it."

Leaving that sentence behind, she couldn't wait to leave the stage.

The audience didn't know why she had left so hurriedly this time.

In the past, she would always chat with everyone on stage for a while, but now she had disappeared as soon as she finished speaking.

Only those with sharp eyes noticed Master Yun, who hadn't even bothered to remove her makeup, walking lightly toward the private room on the second floor.

Looking at her, it was as if she were going to see someone she was extremely attached to.