Chapter 3: Chapter 3 - Confrontation
"Explain," Zhongli demanded, his gaze fixed on Lynx.
"Well..." Kaiserin hesitated, searching for the right words.
"Hey! You're scaring Rin!" Lynx said, positioning himself in front of me with arms held straight.
"Rin...?" Zhongli muttered.
"Yes! Only I get to call Rin that!" Lynx declared proudly, puffing out his chest.
Kaiserin took a deep breath, mustering the courage to explain.
"Mr. Zhongli, Lynx is just a friend. He's been with me since I arrived," speaking cautiously.
"A friend?" Zhongli skeptically raised an eyebrow and asked, "In this position?"
Kaiserin noticed his position and tried to get up but...
Lynx eagerly interjected, "That's right! I want to feel Rin's warmth too! I want to stick with Rin wherever he goes! You can't get rid of me!"
Kaiserin winced, realizing that Lynx's interruption only worsened things.
Hurriedly, he clarified, "No, no, not literally everywhere! I mean, Lynx just stayed in my body sometimes, no, I mean he's been around, assisting me," stumbling over his words.
Zhongli maintained a serious expression as he shifted his gaze between Kaiserin and Lynx.
"I see," Zhongli's voice carried a hint of suspicion. "But why does your 'friend' feel the need to always stay with you?"
"He's just worried about me, that's all," Kaiserin faltered, his explanation sounding weak even to himself.
"That's indeed the truth! I'm very concerned about Rin! I need his body (to exist) after all!" Lynx chimed in a little too eagerly.
Zhongli scrutinized them, his expression resembling a wife catching her unfaithful husband.
"Is that so? Such unwavering friendship is indeed quite rare," Zhongli said calmly, but doubt tinged his voice.
His composed demeanor concealed the slight jealousy and skepticism he harbored toward this supposed 'friendship.'
Feeling a surge of anxiety, Kaiserin realized the misunderstanding was escalating quickly.
"Mr. Zhongli, it's not what you think," Kaiserin tried to explain, but his voice betrayed his nervousness.
"He is just... somewhat clingy and concerned about my whereabouts," Kaiserin struggled to find the right words.
"That's correct! I genuinely care about Rin!" Lynx interjected, trying to reinforce Kaiserin's explanation.
Zhongli's eyes narrowed slightly, conveying his suspicions to those perceptive enough.
"Of course," Zhongli replied calmly. However, a flicker of concern or possessiveness flashed in his eyes for a brief moment before he concealed it behind his usual composed demeanor.
"I've done what I needed to," Zhongli said politely, concealing any underlying emotions. Just as he was about to say more, a messenger burst into the room with an urgent matter.
"I see, I'll be there soon. You two should stay and rest," Zhongli addressed Kaiserin and Lynx, his attention momentarily diverted.
Kaiserin felt a mixture of relief and unease as the tension eased slightly. However, before Zhongli left, he glanced at Lynx.
"It's better to let Rin rest alone," Zhongli calmly suggested, eyes meeting Lynx's in a silent yet tense exchange.
Lynx, caught off guard, shot a challenging look back at Zhongli, but sensing Zhongli's determination, reluctantly backed down.
With a final nod, Zhongli left, leaving behind an atmosphere charged with unspoken tension.
Kaiserin sighed, acknowledging that despite Zhongli's departure, there were still lingering tensions between them, creating an atmosphere of unresolved conflict in the room.
After Zhongli left, Kaiserin turned to Lynx with a troubled expression. "You do understand that what you did was wrong, don't you? I'm not sure how I'll face Zhongli or Xiao after this."
Lynx tilted its head in confusion. "I simply spoke the truth, what's the problem? Besides, he provoked me first," Lynx stubbornly defended its actions.
Kaiserin sighed in resignation. "All right, I apologize. But please refrain from interrupting me in the future, okay?"
They ended up eating the now-cold bamboo shoots in silence before retiring for the night. Initially, they slept in separate beds. However, as Kaiserin fell into a deep slumber, Lynx quietly climbed onto the bed and nestled beside them.
Unbeknownst to them, Zhongli watched from a distance, his deep and mysterious eyes observing their sleeping figures. Standing beside Zhongli was a familiar figure that Kaiserin recognized—the 11th harbinger, a man with ginger hair.
"Fascinating, Zhongli-sensei's current behavior," the harbinger murmured to himself, intrigue gleaming in his eyes.
The night passed with tension and mystery, leaving an unanswered question hanging in the silence, and a sense of impending consequences.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone