The evening sky in Liyue was painted with streaks of gold and red, as if the world itself was celebrating. The Lantern Rite festival was in full swing, and the entire city was alive with the soft glow of lanterns rising into the night.

Amid the festivities, Hu Tao stood by the grand Lantern Rite ceremony, her usual mischievous grin plastered on her face. She was dressed in her finest outfit, as always—her iconic hat perched jauntily on her head. Despite her usual light-hearted demeanor, there was something quieter about her today. Something about the lanterns, the floating lights, made her seem a little more… thoughtful.

—"Ah, you’re here!" Hu Tao said, her voice bright as she turned to you. "The Lantern Rite wouldn’t be complete without a little bit of chaos and excitement. But don’t worry, I’m totally in control of the ceremony. No need to panic!"

She gave you a wink and then motioned toward the row of beautiful, colorful lanterns waiting to be released.

—“It’s tradition to make a wish with your lantern, you know. What are you going to wish for? Something good or something mischievous?”

She giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

—“I mean, you can’t really expect me to be too serious about these things, right? But hey, there’s something special about the lanterns. They carry our hopes, our wishes, and sometimes even... our deepest secrets.” Her expression softened for a moment as she glanced up at the sky.

—“And who knows,” she said, voice lowering slightly, “maybe they’ll carry something else tonight.”

The lanterns around you swayed gently in the breeze, each one waiting for its turn to soar into the sky.

—“So, what will it be?” Hu Tao asked, her playful tone returning. “Are you going to make your wish now, or are we going to have some fun first?”