13: Do Stones Have Hearts?

Under Yelan's constant surveillance, Saphir busied herself with the affairs of the Rockridge Teahouse—from sourcing tea leaves to arranging tables and chairs, even going so far as to redesign the layout of the main hall and the rooftop terrace on the second floor. The entire establishment had undergone a complete transformation, leaving no trace of what it once was.

When Zhongli arrived at the entrance of the Rockridge Teahouse, his eyes immediately fell upon the figure of the young girl he had met once before, diligently working away. For a moment, he was struck by déjà vu, as if he were once again gazing upon that girl who had been so deeply fascinated with mechanical constructs, always preoccupied with one task or another.

"Are you here for tea, sir?" The one greeting him was still Chu Yi. With the former owner of the teahouse now in dire straits and the establishment under new management, the new boss had issued many directives regarding customer service. Chief among them was that guests must feel entirely at home.

Chu Yi wasn't quite sure what "at home" really meant in the context of a teahouse, but she figured it probably had something to do with hospitality. In simpler terms, it meant being polite, courteous, and not judging people by appearances—enough to get the job done.

"I heard the Rockridge Teahouse has reopened, so I thought I'd drop by and take a look," Zhongli said without reservation, his demeanor projecting a sense of calm freedom.

Chu Yi blinked, thought for a moment, then cautiously tested the waters. "If you're here for tea, sir, then you're very welcome. The boss has said our guests are like honored deities. We may not have much, but we have an endless supply of tea. However, if you're here looking for... other kinds of entertainment, I must let you know we no longer offer those services."

She was worried he'd misunderstood what kind of place this was. Her boss had been adamant that it be made clear: the teahouse no longer operated as a gambling den, and anyone looking to gamble should be turned away immediately.

Zhongli chuckled and nodded. "You're overthinking it, miss. I'm only here for tea."

"Then please, come inside." Chu Yi led him in. "The main hall is spacious and lively, the rooftop terrace on the second floor is perfect for small gatherings among friends, and we also have private rooms for those who prefer a quieter atmosphere or need to discuss business matters." She gave a detailed explanation as she guided him, and Zhongli nodded in approval.

He knew of Chu Yi. She had been a hostess here even under the previous owner. The fact that she remained in the same position under new management suggested she had some competence.

"Take me to a private room," Zhongli said. "And let your boss know that someone named Zhongli has something important to discuss with her."

Chu Yi instinctively wanted to refuse. "I'm terribly sorry, sir. The boss has been very busy since the reopening and may not be able to see you in person."

"No worries. Just relay my message to her word for word. She will come."

Seeing how confident he was, Chu Yi could only nod and show him to a private room. After ensuring tea was served, she turned and left to pass on the message.

"Zhongli wants to see me?" Saphir blinked in surprise when she received the report. Then, as if by reflex, she glanced at Yelan, who was still shamelessly hanging around. Zhongli coming to visit her wasn't entirely unexpected. What mattered was the content of their conversation—content that wasn't exactly suitable for others to overhear, especially not Liyue's top intelligence officer.

Yelan, of course, had heard the report too. "Zhongli... I remember him. Returned from abroad not long ago. Currently serving as a consultant at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. I didn't expect our dear boss here to be acquainted with such a figure. Rumor has it he's incredibly knowledgeable, with unique insights into many matters. I was planning to find a chance to meet him myself."

The meaning behind her words couldn't have been more obvious. She might as well have grabbed Saphir by the collar and demanded, "You better take me with you."

Saphir sighed inwardly. She had no choice but to bring Yelan along. The woman who had once been utterly unattainable in her previous life was now clinging to her like glue—but unfortunately, that wasn't what she truly wanted.

When they arrived at the private room, Zhongli gave Yelan a subtle raise of his brow but said nothing.

"I heard Mr. Zhongli wished to see me?" Saphir said as she and Yelan took seats across from him. She had made up her mind: if Yelan insisted on tagging along, so be it. As for the conversation to follow, she had nothing in particular to hide—at least not from Zhongli. He knew best what could or could not be said. As long as he wasn't concerned, neither was she.

Zhongli personally poured her a cup of tea and said gently, "May I ask how I should address the lady?"

"Me? My name is Saphir—Saphir Afurola, from Snezhnaya. I assume you already know I'm the Twelfth Harbinger of the Fatui. Codename: Dark Shepherd."

Yelan noted something unusual: for the first time, she heard Saphir use the honorific "Mr." in her speech. That had never happened before. Not once.

"Does that mean this Zhongli... is of exceptionally high status?" she thought. "What kind of status could compel a Fatui Harbinger to speak with such respect?"

Zhongli nodded slightly. "In Liyue, it's customary to address people by their surnames as a sign of respect. Saphir... may I call you 'Boss Saphir'?"

"Haha, no need to be so formal, sir. You can call me 'Phil' if you like. I don't mind."

Zhongli smiled. "Then I shall call you Boss Phil—it has a nice ring to it. I came to see you today for an important matter. However, from the looks of it, you seem... not entirely at liberty to speak?"

He was, of course, referring to Yelan. Zhongli knew her well. He trusted her completely. But if Saphir didn't, he wouldn't push the subject.

"There's no problem, Mr. Zhongli," Saphir replied. "She's a... business partner of sorts. You don't need to hold back."

Zhongli nodded. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Your colleague—the one called Childe—recently sought me out to inquire about the whereabouts of the immortals. I pointed him toward the Taboo Talisman. Since you've taken over the Rockridge Teahouse, I wonder... have you found it?"

"The Taboo Talisman?" Saphir summoned her golden Vision. A glowing charm appeared in her hand. "To be honest, my approach differs from his. Acquiring this place was merely to accommodate his plans. Personally, I find the immortal path too long and roundabout. So, if you want this talisman, I'll give it to you."

Zhongli's eye twitched. This girl was clearly playing dumb—she knew full well what she was doing. But with Yelan present, he couldn't speak too openly. He replied evenly, "I am but a mortal. A blessing from the immortals would be too heavy for me to bear. Better to avoid any misfortune. Still, now that you've obtained the talisman, your contract with Childe is fulfilled. That gives me peace of mind."

Seeing his expression, Saphir couldn't help but suppress a smile. She took a sip of tea to hide it. "Then... was this the only reason you came, Mr. Zhongli?"

"Of course not," Zhongli said, setting down his cup with a serious expression. "The business with Childe was merely incidental. I came to ask something more important. Have you... ever been to Guyun Stone Forest?"

Saphir nodded. "I traveled with the captain of the Crux Fleet and spent a few days there."

Yelan perked up—now they were getting to the good part. Up until now, they'd been speaking in riddles to keep her out. But she knew about this, so there was no need to hide anything anymore.

"Only traveled together?" Zhongli asked, his tone uncharacteristically sharp. "You didn't do anything else?"

"You should know the answer to that, Mr. Zhongli," Saphir replied, her usual smirk gone. "Life and death cannot be reversed. Even reviving a common Vision bearer is the limit of what I can do. I would never dare meddle in the fate of an immortal."

Zhongli opened his mouth, then shut it again. Of course. Ningguang had no reason to lie. And Saphir was no fool—had she really done what he suspected, she would've taken the opportunity to curry favor. But she hadn't. That meant she couldn't.

And yet... ever since meeting her, the wounds he thought had long healed had begun to throb once more.

"Morpheus... do stones have hearts?"

"All things have hearts. Though I am the Geo Archon, I am not truly made of stone. Why should I be heartless?"

"But you're always so cold. Like a rock that can't be warmed..."

Memories flooded back. Zhongli worked to steady his breathing, feeling once again the burden pressing down on his shoulders. Perhaps... it really was time to let go.

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