Zhongli's outing and what she had been up to were, at this point, self-explanatory.
For some reason, Hu Tao suddenly felt a bit moved. It was as if their dear Zhongli had finally grown up.
Huh?
All of a sudden, Hu Tao, with her keen eyes, noticed a tiny line of text printed on the packaging of the small condom—"Not for sale—Yuehai Pavilion Exclusive Supply."
As one of Liyue's most important political institutions, Yuehai Pavilion naturally provided top-tier employee benefits, regularly distributing daily necessities—including contraception.
It was said that these exclusive small condoms were of the highest quality, available only to senior personnel. Not only was the material exceptional, but they were also incredibly thin, making it feel almost as if nothing was there. And since they weren't for sale, they were particularly rare.
So… did this mean Zhongli's lover was a senior official at Yuehai Pavilion?
But from what Hu Tao could recall, Yuehai Pavilion was mostly staffed by women, with its senior ranks led by Ganyu and a veritable army of ladies. Yet, the coat she was holding was unmistakably men's clothing.
Hu Tao stroked her chin, her little brain spinning rapidly. Soon, she reached a shocking conclusion.
Zhongli's lover was likely the male spouse of a senior Yuehai Pavilion official. Perhaps… even someone's husband.
With Zhongli's character, she would never be entangled with a married person. It was highly possible that she was being deceived—fooled by some cheating scumbag who had not only toyed with her feelings but also… her body!
"Hu Tao, did you find it?" At that moment, Zhongli's voice came from the bathroom again.
"Found it!" Hu Tao quickly and carefully arranged the clothes. To avoid arousing suspicion, she also grabbed a book at random before running out. Her little face was flushed red, her emotions a mix of anger and resentment as she inwardly swore, "Damn scumbag, no matter who you are, I will absolutely… hunt you down!"
Inside the room, Zhongli emerged in a bathrobe, her gaze sweeping across the bookshelf. A puzzled expression flickered across her face as she murmured, "'Inazuma's Forty-Eight Techniques'? So it seems… Hu Tao has already reached that age."
The Next Morning
Yujing Terrace.
"Good morning, everyone."
The elegant and poised Ningguang stood at the entrance of Yujing Terrace. Before her, the candidates preparing to compete in the second round of the Tianshu Election had gathered.
"Today marks the second round of the Tianshu Election. I trust you have all made your preparations?"
The "preparations" she referred to naturally meant Genius Invokation TCG. To accommodate contestants unfamiliar with the game's mechanics, the competition organizers had even provided a three-day period for them to learn and practice.
"Hey, hey!"
Suddenly, Shenhe raised a hand expressionlessly and stated, "Three days is only enough to grasp the basics. Facing off against seasoned players like this is hardly fair."
"Honestly, I kind of agree," Beidou, adjusting the eyepatch on her shoulder, shrugged. "Wouldn't a straight-up fight be a lot less painful?"
Everyone knew that Beidou, captain of the Crux Fleet, had a good personal relationship with Ningguang. If even she was voicing concerns, there might indeed be some issues with the tournament's structure.
With someone taking the lead in expressing dissatisfaction, several other participants also started laughing and grumbling.
Although Genius Invokation TCG had a broad audience, widespread popularity didn't necessarily mean everyone was skilled at it. Some played just for fun, but if they were suddenly forced into a competition, they'd probably be at a complete loss.
"I actually think this setup works in your favor as humans," a red-haired individual scoffed. "Otherwise, this competition would be far too easy."
The speaker was Bi Yan, a descendant of the immortal beast Bifang. She carried the bloodline of a divine beast, though it had been significantly diluted over generations. Compared to Ganyu, who was at least half-Qilin, her lineage was much weaker, but she was still far superior to ordinary humans.
Her words immediately drew many side glances. The veiled contempt in her statement was practically unmasked.
Liyue had a long history of immortal beasts, and many had once intermingled with humans. Their descendants, gifted with superior natural abilities, often developed a condescending attitude toward pure-blooded humans.
Liyue Harbor was home to figures like Ganyu and Yanfei, who worked tirelessly to maintain harmony between humans and half-immortals. But there were also individuals like Bi Yan and Bai Ye, who looked down on humans entirely. Though this division had never escalated into full-blown conflict, minor disputes were frequent.
Many among the crowd clenched their fists in anger, but knowing that Bi Yan was not someone to be trifled with, they chose to swallow their indignation.
"Miss Bi certainly makes a fair point," a voice suddenly sounded from the crowd, carrying a hint of playful mockery. "If only my ancestors had been immortal beasts too… then even if I were completely useless, I'd still get to look down on others."