English
Indonesia
Chinese (Simp)
Japanese
Korean
Spanish
Portuguese
French
German
ArabicGenshin Impact: A Guide to the Unofficial History of Teyvat — Chapter 34
Chapter 34: No Matter What Happens, She Definitely Won’t Burn Her Bridges!
However, this time, the agonizing wait stretched on until every passing second felt like an eternity.
Shadows stretched longer across the sunbaked stones of the alleyway, and yet, the clever little errand boy was nowhere to be seen. Lovia’s initial relaxed posture against the brick wall gradually stiffened into doubt, which quickly curdled into a creeping sense of otaku paranoia.
‘What’s going on? Did he get caught? Could the bookstore be swarmed by the Millelith today?’ She poked her head out from the shadows, her sapphire-blue eyes scanning the bustling Liyue Harbor street leading toward Sanyu Bookstore, but there was no sign of her pint-sized courier.
Just as Lovia began seriously debating whether she should risk breaking her cover to investigate, a familiar small figure finally rounded the corner!
The boy was practically jogging, though his steps were weighed down by a heavy cloth bag clutched to his chest. The pouch was noticeably more bulging than usual, practically bursting at the seams. His face was a comical mixture of sheer excitement at completing a high-stakes mission and the nervous tension of someone entrusted with a state secret.
“Big Sister! Big Sister!” The little boy skidded into the alley, panting heavily. He whipped his head back and forth to ensure the coast was completely clear before shoving the heavy cloth bag into Lovia’s hands. “Here! Shopkeeper Sun said this is exactly what Mr. Li Xin deserves. Please make sure to hold onto it tightly!”
Lovia hurriedly accepted the bag. The sheer, obvious weight of the Mora inside sent a jolt of pure joy straight to her heart, but her celebration paused when she noticed the boy’s lingering, hesitant expression.
“What is it? Did Shopkeeper Sun say anything else?” she asked, keeping her voice low and conspiratorial.
The little boy scratched his cheek, his brow furrowing as he tried hard to recall the exact phrasing. “Shopkeeper Sun… he looked especially happy, but also a bit anxious. He gave me this bag and made me swear to repeat his exact words to the person who sent me.”
He cleared his throat. “He said, ‘This old man means no offense! I just want to ask you, little friend, if you could convey a few heartfelt words to the gentleman for me?'”
Lovia thought for a moment, her mind spinning to maintain her cover story. “I see,” she replied smoothly. “Actually, I’m also just helping the gentleman deliver his letters!”
“Is that so? Then, Big Sister, will you see the gentleman soon? The Shopkeeper asked me to make absolutely sure the message is delivered. Because he was in such a rush, he didn’t even have a chance to write a proper letter.” The little boy looked genuinely conflicted; after all, he had accepted a rather generous errand fee from the Shopkeeper to act as a messenger.
Lovia gave a vague, mysterious nod. “…You could say that.”
Relieved, the little boy nodded repeatedly. He puffed out his chest, cleared his throat again, and flawlessly imitated Shopkeeper Sun’s overly excited, earnest tone: “‘Please be sure to tell him that everyone at Sanyu Bookstore admires the gentleman’s talent to the point of utmost prostration! The gentleman’s literary genius is truly world-shaking! Every time this old man reads the gentleman’s great work, I am left in absolute awe! Our humble bookstore is made infinitely more glorious because of the gentleman! I fervently hope the gentleman takes good care of his health and continues to bestow his precious manuscripts upon us in his leisure time. The bookstore waits with bated breath and would never dare to rush him. The remuneration has been adjusted to the highest possible rate; if the gentleman has any other requirements, please do not hesitate to let us know!'”
The boy’s imitation was so vivid that Lovia could practically see the old shopkeeper bowing in front of her. After finishing his dramatic recitation, the kid suddenly looked a bit embarrassed, his shoulders slumping. “Um… that’s about it. Shopkeeper Sun repeated ‘be sure to tell him’ several times and even gave me extra Mora to make sure the message was delivered word-for-word.”
Lovia stood completely stunned for a few seconds, absorbing the sheer magnitude of the praise. Then, a potent mix of surprise and deep pride bubbled up from the bottom of her heart like warm, carbonated sugar water.
It turned out her paranoia was completely unfounded. There wasn’t a mistake or a sting operation; rather, her secret identity as ‘Mr. Li Xin’ had become so overwhelmingly popular that Shopkeeper Sun was treating her like a VIP deity. The man was terrified of losing contact with his golden goose!
It seemed she had officially become Sanyu Bookstore’s star attraction.
The lingering tension of her ‘safety first’ mindset quietly melted away, instantly replaced by a deep, intoxicating sense of satisfaction. She was recognized. She was valued. Beneath the heavy fabric of her cloak, her little tail couldn’t help but wag in a happy, rhythmic circle.
The level of respect and importance she had just been given—something she had never truly experienced in her past life—made Lovia’s nose twitch. A sudden, stinging warmth pricked at the corners of her eyes. But she quickly remembered she had an audience. Sniffing quietly, she wiped her nose and fished out some extra Mora, pressing it into the boy’s hand.
“Thank you. The message has been delivered perfectly. You did a great job today.”
The little boy beamed at the generous tip, pocketed the coins, and happily trotted off down the alley.
Left alone with her heavy payment, Lovia leaned back against the cool brick wall. Her heart was still racing slightly from the earlier false alarm, but the corners of her mouth were already curling upward in an uncontrollable, triumphant grin.
“Hmm… it seems Mr. Li Xin’s charm is even greater than I imagined,” she whispered to the empty air, her sapphire-blue eyes curving into delighted crescent moons. “Is Shopkeeper Sun afraid I’ll stop updating? Or is he terrified I’ll take my talents to Wanwen Bookhouse?”
Either way, it gave her a tangible, grounding sense of being fiercely needed as a creator.
As for what Shopkeeper Sun might be worried about? Switching publishers? That was impossible!
Shopkeeper Sun and Sanyu Bookstore had taken a chance on her at the very beginning. They had given her a platform, recognized her worth, and rewarded her handsomely. No matter what happened, she definitely wouldn’t burn her bridges! She was a loyal author, through and through.
In high spirits, Lovia decided to immediately carry out her grand plans for the afternoon. She was going to buy a massive haul of fresh marine plants to simmer into a rich, comforting stew, hunt down a few of the brightest, most beautiful ores the market had to offer, and give herself—the great, world-shaking author—a proper, well-deserved reward!
She pulled her hood tight to obscure her face, carefully tucked the bulging cloth bag of Mora against her chest, and stepped out of the alley. With a light, practically skipping step, she blended smoothly into the bustling, sunlit crowds of Liyue Harbor, her little tail still wagging an excited circle beneath her cloak.