While I was in Mondstadt, I never imagined becoming a god.

"Big brother! Why are you here all alone?" The little girl ran up to him, blinking her eyes curiously.

He handed the uneaten candied hawthorn skewer to the little girl, saying, "Little girl, you are very polite. Brother will treat you to candied hawthorn skewers."

"Thank you, big brother!" The little girl took the candied hawthorn, her eyes curving into crescents.

Two boys also came over and each grabbed a skewer.

"Afei, Xiaomeng, don't just focus on eating."

Lulu, adopting a mature demeanor, reminded the two boys.

"Lulu is right." Afei nodded, his mouth full of hawthorn berries. "Thank you, big brother."

Xiao Meng was even more straightforward, looking up at him and asking, "Big brother, do you want to play with us?"

Xu Chuan rubbed his head: "You guys go play first, your big brother has some things to do."

The three little ones didn't linger, and ran off laughing and joking, leaving a bright red shadow on the candied hawthorn in the setting sun.

Soon, the alleyway quieted down again.

As Skirk watched the children disappear into the distance, she finally spoke: "You seem to be enjoying this kind of life."

Her tone was devoid of much emotion, sounding more like a pure inquiry.

Xu Chuan smiled, took another skewer of candied hawthorns and took a bite: "You have a lot of questions."

He turned his head to look at Skykirk, the setting sun casting a soft glow on his face: "But you're right, I do quite like this kind of life."

"It seems not so bad to be able to live carefree like this with the people you care about."

Silky was silent for a few seconds, holding the candied hawthorn skewer that Xu Chuan had handed her.

These words seemed to have stirred up some deep memories within her.

It seems like these unexpected things always happen around this guy.

“Speaking of which,” Xu Chuan said casually.

"You and I are complete opposites."

"You try your best to avoid contact with others, while I... seem to be actively seeking out these troubles."

"These troublesome connections will only hinder the path to becoming stronger."

Skirk's voice was calm, because this was the path to becoming stronger that she had experienced.

“Then your current actions,” Xu Chuan raised his chin, gesturing to the candied hawthorn in her hand, “are quite different from what you said.”

Just then, Lulu ran back.

The little girl ran up to Xu Chuan, looked around, and found that he was still alone. Her little face was full of confusion.

"Big brother, hasn't your friend arrived yet?"

Xu Chuan was stunned for a moment, then understood what was going on, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

He looked to his side, where Skykirk was sitting, but Lulu's gaze passed right through her, as if there was nothing there.

Silky moved her finger slightly, as a response to Xu Chuan.

There was something indescribable in her eyes when she looked at Xu Chuan.

For me, this guy is definitely an exception.

"She's here." Xu Chuan smiled at Lulu, "but she's rather introverted and shy about showing herself."

Lulu nodded as if she understood, then ran back to find her friends.

After a while, Skirk finally stood up.

She took a bite of the candied hawthorn skewer that hadn't been touched the whole time.

It has a very ordinary flavor, but for some reason, it gives off a very comforting feeling.

It's a strange feeling; the suppressed emotions inside seem to be surfacing.

Not wanting to be seen in her current state, Skirk turned and walked towards the alley entrance.

Suddenly, she stopped.

The setting sun filtered through the leaves, falling on her shoulders and bathing the girl in a golden glow.

In that instant, the sunlight seemed to soften the aloofness she possessed, a quality that set her apart from the world.

Even his usually cold words softened at this moment.

"If you notice someone following you next time, remember to stay alert."

Skirk paused, then said with concern, "That might not be me. You need to be careful."

As soon as she finished speaking, her figure seemed to blend into the twilight.

Xu Chuan sat under the tree, but before he could say anything, Silky's figure had already disappeared.

"They really left decisively and cleanly."

Chapter 140 Saying One Thing and Meaning Another (Still one update)

As night fell, Liyue Harbor remained bustling with activity.

The port was brightly lit, and merchant ships were docking one after another.

The noisy, bustling sounds came from afar, like a pot of boiling porridge.

The dock was bustling with people, and the flags on the masts fluttered in the night wind.

The calamity caused by the demon god not long ago seemed as if it had never happened.

Xu Chuan waited quietly outside the General Affairs Department.

Hu Tao and Yan Fei have been inside for almost an hour and haven't come out yet.

He wasn't in a hurry, watching the people coming and going on the street.

A father carried his son past him, the child riding on his shoulders and holding a paper kite in his hand.

Several young women walked together, their clothes fluttering in the breeze, their laughter ringing out.

An old man selling wontons pushed his cart out of the alley, the steam from the pot rising gently in the lantern light, like a thin veil.

As Xu Chuan looked at these things, another image involuntarily appeared before his eyes.

A girl in a white dress, her figure distant and frail, unable to fit into this world.

That was the scene he imagined when he put himself in Skykirk's shoes.

No matter how bustling the place, she always seemed to be separated from her surroundings by an invisible wall.

However, his recent actions are gradually shattering this stereotype.

If he hadn't used the Heart of the Wind God to control the sea breeze and help the children flying kites to fly their kites higher, he really wouldn't have been able to find her.

Even more unbelievable, she was silently observing him from the street corner.

Speaking of which, he was quite interested in those secret methods to reduce one's presence.

As the saying goes, when you're out in the world, having many skills is never a bad thing.

Unfortunately, he didn't learn anything from Silky.

In the current situation, it's not really appropriate for me to speak up.

To cooperate with the guy who was secretly watching him, Xu Chuan had no choice but to pretend he hadn't noticed.

Xu Chuan's gaze seemed to casually sweep across the street scene, occasionally taking a bite of a candied hawthorn.

His facial expression remained perfectly natural, but he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "He speaks so frankly, yet he's so hypocritical?"

On the other side, in the shadows of the street corner.

A girl in a white dress is trying her best to conceal her presence and aura.

She minimized her presence, and those around her ignored her.

"This distance is much closer than last time."

Ever since Xu Chuan discovered her, she has been trying.

I want to find a critical point where he won't easily notice me, but I can still clearly observe him.

After observing for a moment and seeing that Xu Chuan did not react, Silky couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"It seems that this distance is the limit of his perception."

She silently memorized this distance.

Next time, he won't notice so quickly.

Silky couldn't explain why she had done something so unnecessary.

They could have just taken a quick look from a more distant spot and left.

But my body just started moving involuntarily.

It was as if another version of myself was pushing her back, drawing her closer and closer.

"It's just to find a reference point to become stronger."

She glanced at Xu Chuan one last time, and made up an excuse for herself in her mind.

As for how much of this statement is true or false, perhaps only she herself knows the truth.

People come and go at the entrance of the General Affairs Department, and people pass by from time to time.

Seeing the candied hawthorn stick standing next to Xu Chuan, they stopped and asked the price.

"Boss, how much are these candied hawthorns?"

"Sorry, not for sale."

"You wouldn't sell it for any price?"

"Not for sale."

The man shook his head and left.

Not long after, another person came to ask.

Xu Chuan refused several people in a row, his expression somewhat helpless.

“Sorry, not for sale,” he said again.

After saying that, Xu Chuan suddenly paused.

Just now, Skirk's presence disappeared.

Even if he expands his perception range, the result will still be the same.

"It seems he's really gone this time."

Xu Chuan was somewhat puzzled by Silky's actions.

I can't understand why this guy did that.

Given their relationship, there's no need for them to be so secretive.

However, Xu Chuan remembered her words of advice.

In the not-too-distant future, it was precisely because he remembered this that his life was saved.

After seeing that Skirk had really left, Xu Chuan didn't think much of it.

As long as she doesn't leave Teyvat, they will eventually meet again.

Not long after, Hu Tao and Yan Fei walked out of the General Affairs Department together.

Hu Tao walked ahead with light steps and a smile on her lips, looking like she was in a good mood.

Yan Fei followed behind, carrying a stack of documents in her hand, and was looking down as she flipped through them.

Xu Chuan stood up from the stone steps, dusted off his clothes, and walked forward.

"How did things go?"

"With me in charge," Hu Tao said, hands on her hips and chin slightly raised. "Of course, everything went smoothly."