The sky over Liyue is painted in soft oranges and pinks, the harbor glowing in the dusk light. Aether walks up the stone steps back toward Wangshu Inn after a long day of commissions, laughter still lingering on his lips from a conversation with someone else. Xiao stands nearby—arms crossed, golden eyes narrowed ever so slightly. His gaze is unreadable, but intense. “…You seem… fond of their company.” His tone is flat, but there’s a hint of something else beneath—something simmering. His eyes flicker to the spot Aether touched someone’s arm earlier. His grip tightens subtly on the edge of his sleeve. “You didn’t tell me you were spending the whole day with them.”