Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

The young man was well-dressed and handsome, a stark contrast to the rough and rugged sailors and porters on the dock.

When the stall owner saw who it was, his tense brows immediately relaxed, and he even added a familiar teasing tone, raising his voice to shout, "Hey! Who's been lecturing here? It's you, Zhiyi!"

The stall owner, hands on his hips, had completely shed his earlier restraint and gestured with his chin towards Famas and Wendy:

"What? You dare to lecture me now?"

The stall owner's tone lacked any of the humility one would show to a superior or junior; rather, it sounded like an elder in the neighborhood teasing a promising young man.

Upon being yelled at like that, Zhiyi's calm and composed expression instantly crumbled, revealing a hint of embarrassment and youthful awkwardness.

He raised his hand to adjust the brim of his hat, seemingly trying to hide his nervousness, and quickly begged the stall owner for forgiveness: "Uncle Wang, what are you saying? How could I dare to lecture you? I just happened to be passing by and heard everyone chatting..."

His voice was noticeably more relaxed than his previous philosophical tone, sounding more like that of an ordinary young man.

Stall owner Wang Bo grinned, turned to FAMAS and Wendy, and spoke with a hint of barely perceptible pride:

"Don't listen to his false modesty, gentlemen. The work point system you just asked about, well, the earliest draft was actually put together by Zhiyi, who stayed up all night to figure it out, and it was written in his family's heirloom account book that was almost worn out from being read so many times."

"Later, Lord Ningguang saw it and thought it was a good approach, so he convened the officials of the General Affairs Department to discuss and refine the details, and then implemented it."

The stall owner's undisguised boasting made Zhiyi quickly wave his hand, his humility appearing sincere and even a little flustered:

"It's all thanks to the kindness of the officials in the General Affairs Department. These are just some of my humble thoughts, not worth mentioning."

"It is thanks to Lord Ningguang's foresight and the tireless efforts of all my colleagues in the General Affairs Department that we have achieved the current situation. My humble contribution is merely a starting point."

Zhiyi spoke very quickly, as if he didn't want to linger on the topic, and then immediately changed the subject, turning to Uncle Wang and asking with concern, "Uncle Wang, how's your business? With the work points circulating these days, are the goods moving quickly?"

Upon hearing this, Uncle Wang's face immediately lit up with a radiant glow. He slapped the rag in his hand onto the stall and spoke in a loud voice:

"Great! Excellent!"

He pointed at Zhiyi, laughing so hard his eyes disappeared from his grin.

"You haven't seen it, but now that everyone has something in their hands, they're buying rice, flour, oil, and salt with such enthusiasm! My stall can close early every day!"

"Who would have thought that the timid boy who used to fish for a living at the docks would become so successful! How come I never realized you had such a brilliant mind hidden inside you!"

Uncle Wang patted Zhiyi's shoulder with his palm, which was slightly dusted with flour, his tone full of sincere admiration and pride for the younger generation.

But just as the other party patted Zhiyi's shoulder in approval, Famas's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and Wendy's fingers, which had been idly fiddling with the folds of the cloak in her arms, paused for a moment.

They almost simultaneously noticed a shadow passing over Zhiyi's gentle and humble expression.

It was by no means joy or embarrassment, but rather a dark emotion that touched upon deep-seated pain and even carried a hint of resentment.

He seemed disgusted by the stall owner's touch, but for some reason he held back. The gloom disappeared very quickly, so quickly that before Uncle Wang's rough hand could even be removed from his shoulder, Zhiyi's face was once again adorned with that shy, slightly embarrassed smile of a young man who had been praised by his elder.

"Uncle Wang, you really are..."

Zhiyi smiled helplessly and shook his head, seemingly unable to resist the elder's enthusiasm. He took a half step back, cleverly avoiding the stall owner's enthusiastic hand.

He raised his gaze and it fell back on Famas and Wendy, his smile becoming warmer:
"You two have come from afar, and you look travel-worn. You must have just arrived in Liyue Harbor?"

"This South Wharf looks lively, but it's quite a large place with winding roads."

"I haven't had a chance to introduce myself yet... My name is Zhiyi, and I'm practically a local from the docks. If you don't mind, I can be your guide, and we can take a walk together."

His words were sincere, with just the right amount of enthusiasm.

However, as Zhiyi spoke, his gaze, hidden behind his black-rimmed glasses, seemed to be drawn by a magnet, repeatedly and subtly sweeping over the winter-style cloak that Wendy casually held in her arms.

His gaze was extremely discreet, quickly sweeping over the ornate patterns and unique emblems of the cloak before disappearing in an instant, perfectly blending into the guide's normal examination of the guest's belongings.

FAMAS smiled slightly, a barely perceptible curve appearing at the corner of his mouth, and nodded slightly to Zhiyi.

To outsiders, this young man named Zhiyi has an impeccable resume, outstanding talent, and a friendly and approachable demeanor; he is a rising political star in Liyue.

But Famas knew very well that Zhiyi's trustworthy and perfect image was nothing more than an exquisitely crafted mask for others to see.

Beneath this glamorous facade, Zhiyi's foundation has long been deeply embedded in the dark soil cast by the executor of the Fools, the "Rich Man" Pantalone, and his fate is already inextricably linked with the shadow of winter.

Every step of his carefully planned path to advancement, those schemes that appeared to be painstakingly devised for the prosperity of Liyue, were ultimately cleverly distorted and guided, serving the deeper schemes of the Fatui in ways that were not easily noticed.

In the familiar plot to Famas, the ambitious Zhiyi, under the guise of fishing for months, carefully disguised himself and gained the trust of the elderly Tian Shu Xing. Subsequently, with the covert assistance of the Fools, he attempted to use the next Tian Shu Xing selection process to poison his mentor, who appreciated, promoted, and trusted him, in order to seize his place.

In order to completely sever ties with the Fools and erase the last stain on his reputation, he even went so far as to drink poison and kill the Fools' superior.

With his near-flawless scheme, Zhiyi almost successfully erased all evidence, waiting for the dust to settle so he could ascend to the position of Tian Shu Star that he had long coveted.

Unfortunately, just when he thought he had victory in the bag, Yelan and the traveler, who had been hiding in the shadows, had been waiting for him for a long time, and his meticulous plan failed as a result.

In the general public's perception, Zhiyi, who murdered his master in the original story, was destined to be nailed to the pillar of moral shame and become a despicable person who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. However, Famas's perspective on this young man is quite different.

For him, Zhiyi's ruthless and decisive methods, meticulous planning, political talent and shrewdness were all things that the young man greatly admired.

Without the interference of Yelan and the Traveler, Zhiyi would almost certainly have become the new Tian Shu Star.

Once he ascends to that position of power, all his past stains and unsavory deeds will be completely overshadowed by the brilliance of power and ultimately vanish into the dust of history.

After all, looking at the political landscape of Liyue and even the other nations, how many of those in high positions truly have a pure and spotless foundation? (End of Chapter)