The night wind gently brushed against the small lamp grasses on the balcony, and their faint glow became striking in the dark. 

If you listened closely, you could vaguely hear a rustling sound, reminiscent of wind chimes.

Though Lisa had extended an invitation, Collei didn’t dare sit on the sofa. 

She knew that her affliction could cause too much trouble for those around her.

“My apologies, I wasn't expecting esteemed guests, so I only have one set of teaware. Forgive me for the lack of hospitality,” Lisa said as she slipped a bookmark into the novel she had been reading.

Though polite, her words carried a hint of dismissal, something that Bai Luo surely noticed.

“A late-night visit is indeed an imposition on our part,” Bai Luo replied. 

He was already accustomed to such cold receptions, given that he was considered one of the "worst" people on the continent of Teyvat. 

If not, he wouldn’t have chosen to visit at night in this manner. 

During the day, it was never certain if this girl, who spent much of her time in the library, would even be around. 

And the library... was within the Knights of Favonius headquarters. 

If he entered, it would be a catastrophe for the whole order.

With a graceful flick of his fingers, a bouquet of flowers magically appeared in his hand.

“Cecilia flowers—cold-resistant and wind-loving. These flowers can only be found atop Starsnatch Cliff. The flower’s meaning...”

“The rogue’s true affection,” Lisa finished the sentence as she elegantly stretched out her arm to accept the flowers. 

Her previous discontent seemed to ease—just a little.

“I wandered all across Mondstadt with this child. Apart from that perfect bloom, this Cecilia flower was the one I thought suited you best,” Bai Luo said.

The subtle fragrance filled the room, making it impossible to tell whether the scent was from the flowers or something else. 

Only Collei was left in confusion. When did I go flower picking with him? When did he pick these? What was this ‘perfect bloom’ he’s talking about? Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing here? Am I interrupting something between the two of them?

“Oh? Am I not worthy of that ‘perfect bloom’?” Lisa asked lazily, reclining on the sofa. 

One hand held the Cecilia flower, while the other propped up her chin. 

The loose sleeves of her lavender outfit slowly slid down, revealing her smooth, fair skin.

“No, that bloom is right in front of me. You are the most beautiful rose,” Bai Luo responded smoothly.

“Even though I know it's just flattery, it still pleases me,” Lisa said with a slight smile. “Hmm… I suddenly remembered there are two extra sets of teaware in the cabinet. How about some tea?”

Mondstadt truly was a city of freedom, and also a haven for poets. 

Romanticism held great sway in this land. 

Constantly dealing with the strict Acting Grand Master Jean and numerous book borrowers who never returned their loans, Lisa found Bai Luo’s charm a pleasant surprise. 

In a good mood, she decided to hear him out.

After serving tea to both guests, Bai Luo turned to Collei, who had been quietly contemplating some philosophical quandary.

“Can you see what’s wrong with her?”

Although Collei was wrapped in bandages, Lisa, using her knowledge, quickly recognized that the disease she was suffering from shouldn't be a major problem.

“Is this the disease that spread in Sumeru a few years ago?” Lisa, who had spent time studying at the Sumeru Academia, immediately identified the origin of the illness. 

It was a highly lethal disease, which had wiped itself out due to its extreme mortality rate, spreading for only a short time.

But...

“No, this child...” Lisa’s expression became serious. 

She wasn’t concerned about the disease spreading, as it had a high mortality rate but wasn’t easily transmitted. 

As long as it was managed carefully, living together wouldn’t pose much of a problem. 

The real issue was… how had this girl survived until now?

Lisa enveloped her hand in elemental energy and took Collei’s arm. 

Collei, realizing that Lisa was trying to treat her disease, didn’t resist and let her take her arm.

“With injuries this severe... she should’ve died long ago,” Lisa said, feeling the wounds beneath the bandages. 

As she suspected, without the power of the god residue in Collei’s body, she would have perished from the illness a long time ago. 

However, the reason she contracted this disease in the first place was due to the Fatui’s deliberate release of a virus to experiment with the residue of a fallen god.

Seeing Lisa’s confused expression, Bai Luo took out some charred documents from his coat.

“What’s this?” Lisa asked, slightly furrowing her brow. 

If she wasn’t mistaken, these were likely documents that Fatui diplomats had taken with them in their carriages. 

Weren’t they already confiscated by the Knights of Favonius? 

How did they end up in Bai Luo’s hands?

“These should contain information related to her illness. Can you read them?” Bai Luo asked. 

The documents had been compiled by the Doctor and his researchers, making them difficult for most people to understand, Bai Luo included. 

He was an assassin for the Fatui, not a researcher.

“Hmm… sorry, I can’t read them either, though my teachers at the Academia might be able to. But with so few documents and in this damaged state, it might be difficult to extract useful information,” Lisa said honestly. 

While she was hailed as a once-in-200-years genius at the Sumeru Academia, even she didn’t know everything. 

Some of the diagrams she could understand, but the unique symbols would likely require the expertise of her old mentors. 

Moreover, the damage to the documents made deciphering them even more challenging.

Hearing Lisa’s words, Collei’s face changed slightly. 

She knew all too well why the documents were in such a state—it was her fault for setting them on fire in a moment of recklessness. 

Glancing nervously at Bai Luo, she found that he still wore that same gentle smile, as though nothing in the world could trouble him.

“Take a look at this as well. I’m sure there’s a way to find a solution,” Bai Luo said, producing yet another document and placing it before Lisa.

At first, Lisa didn’t pay much attention, assuming it was similar to the previously burned papers. 

However, as she began reading its contents, her previously relaxed demeanor quickly vanished, replaced by a much more serious expression.

“Is all of this true?” Lisa asked, her tone reflecting the weight of the information.

“Of course it’s true. Otherwise, what do you think the girl and I have been doing in the wilderness these past two days?” Bai Luo replied.

His disappearance from Mondstadt had already become common knowledge. 

“Weren’t you picking flowers?” Collei asked, somewhat cluelessly.

“...”

Is this girl a bit slow? Bai Luo thought. Perhaps it’s best to limit her intake of strange milk from now on.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t make a decision on this. After all, I’m just a librarian. How about I introduce you to Acting Grand Master Jean tomorrow? I’m sure she’ll provide a satisfactory answer,” Lisa said, handing the documents back to Bai Luo.

Truthfully, Lisa would have loved to keep the papers, but she also knew that if she couldn’t provide a definitive solution and tried to keep them, Bai Luo’s warm smile would quickly be replaced by the cold mask of a deadly harbinger.

“Tomorrow evening at the same time, then?” Bai Luo suggested.

“That works, but please don’t jump onto the balcony next time. My flowers are quite precious, you know.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read