A/n: "thinking"

"talking telepathically"

After the initial shock about the new information everyone has relatively calmed down. 

The next scene starts playing onscreen.

(This starts during that scene during the last Lantern Rite where the Traveler pretends to drown.)

Aether, Paimon and Ganyu arrive at Cloud Retainers Abode.

"I can't believe it... Cloud retainer is not here." Ganyu says in disbelief.

Paimon turns to face Ganyu "Huh? Did we miss her?" she asks.

"She doesn't like to travel, so in the past, it's always been the other Adepti who come to visit her during the festivals..." Ganyu explains.

They talk some more and then Paimon has an idea.

"Our goal here is to find the Adeptus that helped Dvorak's ancestor, right? If she's really as nice as the story suggests, she'd definitely come to help anyone who was drowning, right?"

"Yes, I think that's fair to say..." Ganyu agrees.

Aether now realizes what happened there and blushes, embarrassed. He hides his face in the palms of his hands and whispers to Paimon "Tell me when it's over." Paimon giggles but nods.

"Sooo, all we have to do is get Aether to pretend to fall into the water, and the adeptus will come to the rescue!"

"Great plan Paimon!" Klee cheers.

Xiao grins teasingly at Aether and Shenhe chuckles, her nephew looks at her, confused.

After some convincing by Paimon, Aether agrees.

Aether swims to the center of the lake.

"Help! Heeeelp! Someone is drowning!" Paimon yells "If only there was a kindhearted Adeptus here to save us... Oh no, whatever will a Paimon do?"

Someone quickly carries Aether ashore, so quickly that he can't catch who it is.

"What is going on?" Xiao asks with his arms crossed, Shenhe is standing next to him.

"How do you feel right now?" Shenhe asks.

Aether is too embarrassed to say anything.

Everyone bursts out laughing.

"Oh, how pathetic!"

"That was to be expected!"

"I remember that."

"Uh... Shenhe, and the conquerer of Demons..." Ganyu says, avoiding eye contact with the two.

Paimon explains.

Xiao turns to Ganyu "I did not expect such foolish actions from you, sister."

"I'm sorry Xiao..." Ganyu says, looking down sadly.

"Sorry for troubling you both." Aether apologizes.

Xiao sighs "I'm glad you're ok." he turns to leave.

"You're leaving already?" Aether asks, sounding a bit disappointed.

"As far as I know, the one you seek is no Yaksha. And one last thing... Your actions here caused others a great deal of worry. Do not repeat them again in the future." with that Xiao teleports away.

"That was certainly... something." Jean says.

"Yeah, something hilarious!" 

Keqing turns to her co-worker "So, Ganyu, you and Xiao are siblings?"

Ganyu nods "Father adopted me and then he and mother had Xiao when I was 1000 years old." 

"You're also then the daughter of the Geo Archon and Anemo Archon?" Ningguang asks.

Ganyu nods once again "That's right."

"You're older than the conquerer of demons, yet you act like you're the younger sibling. Why is that?" Shenhe asks. 

"Well... uh... I may be older but I am nowhere near as experienced..." Ganyu stutters nervously.

Xiao huffs angrily "Nonsense. You are strong, reliable and the best big sister I could ever wish for."

Ganyu awes and tackles him in a hug. Xiao pretends not to care, but he does.

"Oh my babies! So adorable! I wish I had a camera!" Venti cooes. Zhongli smiles gently at the sight of their children hugging.



"Lantern Rite, as beautiful as always." Xingqiu smiles. Chongyun agrees.

"I had so much fun rapping!" Hu Tao cheers and Xinyan grins.

Aether and paimon walk towards Xinyue Kiosk.

"It's time for the Banquet Hu Tao has organized!" Paimon says excitedly.

Inside the Kiosk Xiangling, Xingqiu, Chongyun and Zhongli sit around a table, talking.

"...Ohh, so that's how it is! Thanks for the suggestions, Mr. Zhongli! I have noted them all down." Xiangling says.

"I've long heard that your knowledge encompasses all things old and new, Mr. Zhongli, but i never knew that you were well-versed in the art of cooking, too." Xingqiu says surprised. "It is truly an honor to make your acquaintance."

"Now I know why he's so well-versed." Xingqiu chuckles and Zhongli smiles.

"No need for formalities. I, too, feel humbled to be in the company of such talented young people. There are many things I could learn from you." Zhongli says.

"Such an old man, block-head." Venti grins, shaking his head.

"You're the Geo Archon, what could you possibly learn from us?" Chongyun asks baffled.

They talk some more and then Hu Tao arrives, with Xiao.

"Well, this is something I'm gonna enjoy watching." Kuni grins "It's bound to become awkward with how socially awkward you are!"

"Kuni..." Ei sighs "Please be nice to your cousin." (A/n: I know, Wanderer erased himself from Irminsul but Ei remembers everything and knows who he is anyways, he is her son after all. Barbatos, Morax and Miko know as well.)

"Cousin?!" many ask shocked.

"Well, of course. Barbatos and I arranged play dates for them when they were younger." Ei explains.

Venti sighs wistfully "I remember those, they were fun! While the kids played Morax and you reminisced and Miko and I gossiped."

Zhongli gets up from his chair "I see... so the important guest is the Conqueror of Demons. I've been looking forward to meeting you."

"That is just...."

"Awkward..."

"After now knowing you two are father and son and who you really are Mr. Zhongli, it makes sense why you were acting so weird."

"Uhhh..." is all Xiao can respond with.

They chat and eat, enjoying themselves and each others company.

"Whoosh.... whoosh..."

"Seeds of story, brought by the wind..."

"...and cultivated by time! Ah! Did Paimon just unconsciously complete that saying? That voice... Could it be..."

The door to the restaurant gets blown open by a gust of wind again...

"Hehe, you finally let me in!" Venti enters "Hello, hello! No matter if we've met before or not, this moment marks a brand-new encounter! Old friends and new, happy Lantern Rite!"

"Oh! It's the Tone-Deaf Bard!"

"Things have become even more interesting." Kuni smirks.

Xiaos eyes widen in surprise.

"Ooohh! He seems to carry a valiant breeze wherever he goes... It looks like we're gonna be friends!" Hu Tao says excitedly.

"Wrong!"

"Huh?"

"I'm adopting you!"

Hu Tao is baffled at first but then tells Venti to sit down. He does, between Zhongli and Xiao.

Xingqiu and Venti talk, knowing each other already from that light novel convention in Inazuma.

Zhongli clears his throat "Could this new guest be Master Xingqiu's friend?" 

Venti gives him a cocky grin.

"Looks like Xiao knows him, too." Aether says and Xiao glares at him.

"...Yes, yes. Monsters become more active than usual as we get closer to the Lantern Rite. I was patrolling Dihua Marsh a few days ago when I happened to run into mothe- into this... this..."

"Hm? You've already forgotten? I'm a Bard remember?" Venti says, emphasising on the word Bard but the look he gives his son says "If you slip there will be no Mapo tofu for you for a month and I will ground you, young man!"

"And bards go around singing wherever they like!" Venti adds.

"Oh, right, and this bard was performing in Dihua Marsh. It was a moving melody, and it made me feel relaxed and at ease. It even lifted the burden of my karmic dept a little... I couldn't help but stay and listen." Xiao finishes explaining.

"Hehe, thank you for you patronage!" Venti says happily. "I'm glad I could ease your pain, my dear.

"I understand now, too. I'm Zhongli, currently working at the Wangsheng Funeral Palor. It's a pleasure to meet you, new friend."

"It's so cringe, I can't even-!" Mailin wheezes in the back.

Kuni and many other bursts out laughing at the weirdness.

Hu Tao praises Zhongli and then "From the sophisticated way he speaks, it's hard not to suspect that he could very well be an Adeptus in disguise!" 

Xiao avoids all eye contact. Hu Tao pops up next to him.

"Xiao, you're an Adeptus! Do you think it might be possible?"

"I... Sorry, I'm only good at conquering demons. I'm afraid I don't have much knowledge in that matter." Xiao stutters nervously.

Venti changes the subject and gets the attention away from his poor flustered son.

"I've actually heard a few things about Mr. Zhongli before."

Zhongli crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow "Is that so?"

"The guests in the tavern talked about this refined and courteous man who, instead of having dandelion wine at Mondstadt's finest tavern, ordered a cup of hot tea with the most complex name!" Venti glares playfully at his mate "Next time you visit, you will drink wine with me honey!"

"Two can play this game, my love." 

"...Now that you mention it, I seem to recall that there indeed is a musician like yourself in Mondstadt. I've heard that he's elegant and amiable, his works witty and vibrant. It's no overstatement to regard him as the best bard in Mondstadt." Zhongli says, his tone loving.

Venti giggles and blushes "Now you're making me embarrassed." 

"You're making me blush, Morax."

They talk some more, Venti and Hu Tao recite Poetry. 

"By the way... I was watching as you entered Xinyue Kiosk, but no one seemed to notice me. Should I say that I'm an expert in hiding, or that a certain someone deliberately ignored the sound of the wind...?" Venti looks at Zhongli accusingly.

Xiao shakes his head, thinking "That can't be. Father would never ignore Mother."

"Did you really ignore me? How dare you ignore your own wife, Morax?!"

Zhongli chuckles "I apologize, my love. Am I in trouble now?"

"You tell me when you sleep on the couch tonight."

"Why are they just staring at each other?" Paimon asks Aether quietly. Aether shrugs.

Everyone continues to have a relaxed heart-to-heart chat all the way until nightfall. Now that everyone's had their fill of delicious food and tea, it's time to say goodbye.

After Hu Tao, Chongyun, Xiangling and Xingqiu have left it's just two retired archons, their son, Paimon and Aether.

Aether bursts out laughing "I have never seen the three of you so awkward! It was so difficult to keep my composure during this banquet!"

Venti giggles as his mate and son blush in embarrassment.

"Do have any plans now?" Paimon asks.

"Morax and I will be going for a walk around the harbor, to enjoy the scenery." Venti says, looking at his husband adoringly and taking his hand. The two say their goodbyes and leave.