The arms around the boy tightened. Zhongli, who had rushed over, was not very calm. He held the child with messy clothes in his arms. At this moment, his heart beat faster than ever.

If he made the slightest mistake, or walked on thin ice, he would have to watch his life shattered like an absurd dream.

Shen Qianluo is a magical existence. He is powerful and elegant, but he always walks on the road of self-destruction. Whether he died generously for all living beings in the face of justice, or chose to self-destruct for Liyue in the Demon God War, or now.

With an almost heart-wrenching feeling, Zhongli lowered his eyes and watched the child struggle in his arms. His head was submerged in the loose clothes, and he fluttered a few times to reveal his silly hair. Then he burrowed into the man's strong chest and became motionless.

…curled up into a ball and hid deep in the clothes, not knowing whether it was because of shame.

Speaking of which, Shen Qianluo was obviously very thin-skinned when he was young, and I don't know how he grew up to be such a despicable person.

"Are you hurt?"

"No…"

Tartaglia looked at the baby creature in Zhongli's arms, listened to the other party's soft and tender voice when answering, and for a moment she didn't know whether the expression on her face could be considered complicated.

What should he do if the child he originally wanted to take home and raise suddenly turns into a teenager who teases him and almost hurts him during the fight?

"...Qianluo?" Tartaglia asked tentatively, "I'm really sorry, I didn't stop in time during the fight just now, luckily I didn't hurt you. Is the way you looked just now... your true appearance?"

"Brother Ya, there's no need to apologize. I'm not hurt...it's just..." Shen Qianluo was silent for a moment, then poked his head out from the wide collar and was protected by Zhongli's shoulders.

His eyes were trembling, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. The expression on his face was complicated and confused, and his condition was visibly not good.

"Are you not feeling well? Don't force yourself." Kong was also surprised that his old acquaintance on Xueshan had grown from a child to a teenager and then back to a child. It was obvious that the teenager had intentionally approached him because he recognized this acquaintance.

Qianluo as a child and as a teenager really seemed like two different people... Unfortunately, facing the helpless boy, he just couldn't muster any sense of vigilance.

Paimon spread his hands to help out: "Yeah, after all, not everyone can do this kind of thing of becoming bigger or smaller. Go and have a rest, Qianluo. Do you want us to take you home?"

"Do you have a residence in Liyue Harbor?" Kong asked, and his eyes fell on Zhongli. "Who is this?"

"I'm his guardian. Just call me Zhongli." He exchanged glances with Kong, and Zhongli nodded. He wrapped his arms around the boy, steady and warm, and whispered in his ear in a soothing voice, "If you feel uncomfortable, just lean on me for a while."

Shen Qianluo, who seemed to be uneasy, was stunned for a moment. He opened his mouth, lowered his eyes with a complicated and stiff look, and hummed in a low voice.

Zhongli watched his reaction, the meaning in his eyes was equally gloomy and complex, and even more difficult to understand.

Naturally, no one had the heart to continue disturbing Shen Qianluo, so they said goodbye to the two of them temporarily. Zhongli, who was moving towards retirement step by step, held the boy and walked towards home.

He chose to pass away during this year's ceremony of inviting the immortal, a decision he had considered for a long time.

Firstly, the gods suddenly realized that if there were no gods in the world, Liyue would be the kingdom of humans. He might have completed his mission and should embark on the journey of leaving. Secondly, the timing was right. The Fatui, the immortals, and the Seven Stars of Liyue were all in the muddy water. It was the best time for Liyue to be tested.

Thirdly, it is also to put aside my responsibilities and take good care of the person in my arms.

Shen Qianluo is naturally not a simple person. So, now that Morax is no longer the Rock God of Liyue, will he finally have the opportunity to no longer worry about his duties as a king, and truly walk to the boy's side and rush to the battlefield that belongs to him alone?

The child came back to his senses from his trance, and seemed to suddenly realize that he was alone. He suddenly raised his eyes to look at Zhongli, and his panicked gaze fell directly into those golden pupils: "Sir!..."

The words that I wanted to blurt out were once again stuck in my throat, "I..."

He looked away again, pursed his lips, and struggled with something helplessly, with a faint redness in the corners of his eyes due to sadness.

Zhongli looked at him, without urging him or blaming him, but responded in a calm and gentle tone.

"If you are willing to talk, I am also willing to listen. Qianluo, protecting your safety and well-being is the contract between you and me, and I am also determined to fulfill it to the end. This is by no means a simple joke."

"..." Shen Qianluo stared at him blankly for a long time. He turned back to his childhood and seemed to realize something and worry about something. He wanted to talk about it countless times, but he finally pulled a faint smile on his face and said in a deep voice, "I'm tired, sir, let's go home."

They seemed to be at a loss for words again.

And a rock is not supposed to comfort anyone.

Standing at the bedroom door, Shen Qianluo turned around and looked at the person behind him at the last moment before closing the door.

Zhongli was still staring at him, their eyes intertwined tenderly in mid-air.

He suddenly withdrew his gaze, and with a light 'click' sound, the boy finally leaned against the door when he could no longer see the other person. He raised his hand to block the waves in his eyes, his breathing became a little hurried, and his body trembled slightly.

He finally understood.

After facing such a very similar situation for the second time, he finally realized the identity of the so-called unknown tenth person above the snow-capped mountains.

How did he quietly lurk beside him, and how did he perfectly disguise himself as him, and draw up a plan of action for everyone -

The unknown tenth person is himself.

The boy's memory was fragmented again, from the time he swallowed a large amount of faith in the room last night to the time he appeared in the suburbs of Liyue for no reason and engaged in an inexplicable battle with someone.

Or rather, even now he can hardly tell the difference.

Is the real Shen Qianluo the young and confused self? Or is he the boy who smiled calmly, burned the note and frivolously provoked him?

——Who among them is the fake and shoddy one?

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