Furina and Clorinde turned around and immediately saw Sam Li stepping out of the Hare's House off-road vehicle.
The moment Furina laid eyes on him, her face lit up with joy.
"It's Consultant Zhongli... Clorinde, look—it's Zhongli!"
After so much searching—running into bandits, entering a strange town—they had finally found someone familiar.
Furina waved excitedly.
"Hey, Consultant Zhongli, do you remember us? I'm Furina from Fontaine!"
As she spoke, she rushed toward him.
Beside her, Clorinde also lowered her guard the moment she recognized Sam Li and quickly followed.
He had just stepped out of the car when he heard a familiar voice call his name. Turning his head, he saw two familiar figures approaching—Furina and Clorinde, from the continent of Teyvat.
Sam Li was caught off guard.
What were they doing here too?
Before long, Furina and Clorinde were already standing in front of him.
Panting slightly, Furina said,
"Zhongli, it really is you—I thought I was imagining things. I'm so glad we ran into you here!"
Seeing "Zhongli" again, along with the Geo Statue of The Seven earlier, confirmed for Furina that this place truly was Liyue.
They hadn't ended up in the wrong country after all.
Sam Li took a steady breath and spoke calmly,
"Please, there's no need to panic."
After catching her breath, Furina added,
"Zhongli, what happened to Liyue? It's changed so much I barely recognize it…"
The last time she had visited was over six months ago.
Back then, she'd toured Liyue Harbor and wandered through much of the nation, taking in its lush landscapes and vibrant culture.
The once-verdant forests and grasslands had turned into barren hills and desert wastelands...
The once-hospitable people had become roadside bandits...
And then there were the bizarre trucks, unfamiliar towns, and the locals' strange attire...
Everything felt wrong to her.
If it weren't for seeing the Geo statue and Sam Li, she would've sworn she and Clorinde had ended up in Sumeru's desert by mistake.
As Furina spoke, Nicole, Billy, Anby, Nekomata, and the others nearby all exchanged confused looks.
It wasn't the first time they'd heard the name.
Back during the battle with Azhdaha in the Outer Ring, they'd heard him mention Liyue...
And when they encountered Itto in the Hollows, he had brought it up too...
Both Azhdaha and Itto had one thing in common: they knew Sam Li.
And now, here were two women dressed like celebrities, also calling this place Liyue and referring to Sam Li as "Zhongli."
These two were also guests from Sam Li's homeland?
Nicole was almost certain of it.
But wasn't Sam Li from the deepest part of the Outer Ring?
It was supposed to be remote and impoverished—yet these two were dressed in dazzling, high-class fashion.
In both looks and demeanor, they even outshone the city's most glamorous stars.
Nicole hesitated, then asked,
"Excuse me, who are you two?"
Furina smiled lightly.
"My name is Furina. I'm the former Hydro—"
But as she said "Hydro Archon," Furina paused, realizing it might not be the best introduction. She quickly adjusted,
"—the most beloved celebrity in all of Fontaine. I came here to enjoy the sights, but I didn't expect the environment to be so harsh…"
"I'm Clorinde. I'm… Furina's bodyguard."
Nicole, Anby, and the others exchanged knowing glances.
They were right after all—Furina was a big star, and Clorinde her guard.
After a moment of thought, Nicole asked,
"So… you two are friends of Sam Li as well?"
Furina hesitated briefly, then replied,
"Friends? Of course! A friend of the Traveler is a friend of mine. So that means Consultant Zhongli is my friend too, right, Clorinde? Zhongli..."
Billy chimed in with a correction.
"He doesn't go by Zhongli anymore—it's Sam Li. Don't get it wrong next time."
Furina blinked in surprise.
"You changed your name?"
Sam Li could only nod silently.
Truthfully, he'd always assumed the Traveler and Paimon would be the first to find their way to Zenless Zone Zero.
Instead, one familiar face after another from Teyvat kept showing up.
Azhdaha, Venti, Arataki Itto... and now Furina and Clorinde.
Just then, Furina clutched her stomach.
"Zhongli—no, Sam Li—where's Wanmin Restaurant? It's already noon. Let's go eat there. My treat!"
This time, Furina had come well-prepared.
She brought a parasol, daily supplies, and even plenty of Mora—enough to fund the entire trip.
Sam Li shook his head helplessly.
"There's no Wanmin Restaurant here."
"Then Wangshu Inn is fine, or any restaurant really. Just take us somewhere—I'm starving. Don't worry, I know your habits. This time, I'm treating."
Everyone was now fully convinced she was legit.
She even knew Sam Li's habit of letting others pay for meals—there was no doubt they were acquaintances.
Upon hearing someone offer to treat, Billy perked up instantly.
"Boss Nicole, we've been walking all day. It's lunchtime anyway. Let's go eat together."
He frantically signaled to Nicole.
But Nicole didn't need the hint. She smiled.
"Since you've sincerely invited us, of course we won't refuse. Sam Li, Anby, Billy, Nekomata, Soldier 11… And the manager, assistant manager, Caesar, Lucy—you all come too. We'll talk about the Tour de Inferno over lunch."
With that, Nicole led the group toward Carrydon Town's only restaurant.
The people from Hare's House, the Sons of Carrydon, the brother and sister from the video store, and Furina and Clorinde—over a dozen people in total.
Furina was all smiles, clearly unfazed by the expense.
"Come on, everyone. Lunch is on me!"
"Rich and generous—just like a real celebrity!"