17 The So-Called Male Protagonist Archetype (Catching Flaws)

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Isn’t it hard not to overthink? A stranger she had just met for a day, even if they shared some acquaintance through Kong, had gone so far as to hire a doctor and show such dedication—why make such a fuss? And even call in a favor for it?

Though she didn’t know the exact status of the West Wind Cathedral or Pastor Barbara, whether “public idol” or “top physician,” these were undoubtedly figures not easily summoned at will.

This “investment” was not insignificant.

But what could she possibly want? Her beautiful appearance? Or was she trying to leverage favors through Kong? Plus, there was that hair-drying incident last night…

When someone offers unsolicited kindness, it’s either treacherous or thieving. Based on Pei Nana’s past experience, excessive enthusiasm usually hides ulterior motives.

If it were just to do a favor, fine. But she feared that beneath the surface warmth lurked deception.

Back in middle school, Pei Nana once felt very unwell; a classmate fussed over her with unusual zeal, which touched her deeply—only to later discover that classmate was the root of her troubles.

Since then, “enthusiasm” became a sensitive word.

Yet, in truth…

She had no idea that her vast physical disparity with someone from another world had genuinely startled the earnest and responsible Lu Maomao…

Pei Nana: It’s nothing, just a normal reaction. (#Calm)

Lu Maomao: She’s critically ill! She’s going to die! (#Flustered)

In a world where the average strength level is 5, a normal person seems average; but placed in a world where the average is 30—even though both are “ordinary people”—what does 5 look like from the higher standard?

It’s like a level 1 physique in the world of 5, where needing constant oxygen is normal and vibrant energy is a miracle.

Of course, this is just an analogy.

…

Hailey cheerfully hummed as she carried the tray over. Peeking in, she saw Pei Nana still washing up. Like a busy little bee, she scurried over to the wardrobe, pulled out a soft, comfortable long dress.

She shook the outfit out, smoothed it carefully on the bed, then fetched shoes and a hat, happily saying, “Miss Nana! Not knowing your preferences, Lady Adeline asked me to prepare this outfit first. It might not fit perfectly, but please make do for now—we can go shopping together later!”

“Thank you, you’re all so thoughtful,” Pei Nana replied warmly, stepping out of the washroom with a gentle smile. “But I’d rather not go out just yet. You know my health isn’t great—I just recovered from an illness, and going out might cause a relapse. I’d like to consolidate my recovery first.

If possible, I don’t want to trouble Master Diluc too much.”

“That’s nothing!” Hailey beamed. “Your high fever really scared us all, and of course we wouldn’t let you go out like that! Our master is so considerate; he prepared a Warm Pearl for you—hold it in your hands, and you’ll feel cozy all over. It’s a little invention by Miss Lisa!

Do you know Miss Lisa?

—She’s the most elegant, most indulgent woman in all of Mondstadt!”

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Hailey swallowed the rest of her sentence.

Miss Lisa also seemed a bit frail; suddenly having a sick beauty around sent everyone scrambling to take notes and prepare contingencies.

Pei Nana: “…”

Pei Nana: “…But I still feel very weak and tired. My legs hurt a lot.”

Not wanting to drag the topic further and expose more cracks, she glanced at the dress on the bed, feigned surprise, and coquettishly covered her mouth, exclaiming, “Ah! This is the outfit prepared for me? It’s so beautiful! I really like it, thank you so much.”

Hailey helped her change, tidied her chestnut curls, cupped her face with sparkling eyes, and said, “You look wonderful! Gentle—elegant—full of grace—

—You look like a learned scholar!”

The outfit was somewhat Western in style: a white puff-sleeved long dress paired with a black fitted vest, white stockings, brown ankle boots with black soles, and a small coffee-colored beret.

Pei Nana curved her eyes, a flush coloring her pale face, making her look even more delicate and charming.

Hailey couldn’t help but steal a second glance, blushed upon realizing it, averted her gaze awkwardly, and nearly tangled her tongue, “Ah, ah! The food, the food’s getting cold! Miss Nana, shall we eat quickly?”

Pei Nana twirled twice in front of the mirror, admiring herself briefly, her voice sweetened, “Alright~”

Hailey brought a very light and simple breakfast: two fried eggs, a serving of mushroom soup, a meat pie, and a cold salad.

Pei Nana sat down, smiled at Hailey, who was overjoyed, as if encouraged immensely, her enthusiasm rising.

She quickly served Pei Nana a small bowl of mushroom soup. “Miss Nana, try this wild mushroom soup just made by the chef. It’s savory and perfectly appetizing!”

Pei Nana felt honored and hurriedly accepted the spoon. “Thank you. You eat too!”

“We never know when you’ll wake up, so our master keeps the food warm!” Hailey then brought over the meat pie and enthusiastically recommended, “Try this pie! The wheat is top-quality local flour, the crust baked to a perfect crisp, and the filling is wild boar meat specially supplied by Springvale!

Do you know Springvale? It’s a hunter’s town. Their wild boar meat is fatty but not greasy, leaving a fragrant aftertaste. It’s even famous overseas!

You must try it!”

She drew a shiny short silver knife, swiftly slicing a cross on the pie, cutting it into four even pieces.

Then she placed one piece on Pei Nana’s plate.

Pei Nana: “Ah! Th-thank you!”

She bit into the pie, eyes lighting up instantly, nodding repeatedly and giving Hailey a thumbs-up.

Hailey was even more delighted and quickly brought another piece. “And this is our cold Dodo Lotus salad—also very flavorful! Try it! It’s sweet, crisp, and makes a ‘crackle’ sound when you chew—this is a specialty of Mondstadt, you won’t find it anywhere else! You haven’t had it in Liyue, right?”

“Our master said since you just recovered, your appetite might be weak, so you should eat something refreshing and appetizing! He’s really such a thoughtful and kind person!”

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“Wow, that’s rare!”

Thus, as one fed and the other ate, one praised and the other beamed, though they had just met, their atmosphere was extremely harmonious. Halfway through the meal, when the mood was just right, Pei Nana casually asked, as if it were nothing, “By the way, Master Diluc has indeed treated me very well, and I should thank him properly. It’s just that… I’m new here and know nothing about him. I don’t want to offend him. Hailey, could you tell me about Master Diluc?”

“No problem!” Hailey said without hesitation, like a fangirl enthusiastically recommending her idol to an ignorant stranger, freely revealing everything about her lord. “Miss Nana, let me tell you, our master isn’t just the richest tycoon in Mondstadt, he’s also a rare handsome man! Fluent in seven languages, he took over the family business at a young age and became the world’s leading figure in the wine industry, blablabla… blablabla…”

Blablabla…

“Um… uh… is that so?… I see… no wonder… wow… amazing!… Really?…”

With so much information suddenly dumped on her, Pei Nana’s eyes showed confusion. She summoned the patience she used for her thirteen-year-old cousin, trying to extract key information from the endless praises. Finally, after an unknown length of time, Hailey sighed with a downcast expression, “It’s a pity, since Master Diluc became an adult, he hardly smiles anymore.”

Pei Nana, trying to pick out keywords from the flowery compliments: “…”

…This character setup… doesn’t it sound a bit familiar?

(Is that you? Xiao Ajiang’s “wealthy older man”? Should I assign a butler to say: “The master hasn’t smiled in a long time”?)

With no one to vent to, Pei Nana bit into her fried egg without much appetite and half-heartedly comforted, “Maybe it’s because he grew up. You said it yourself, he took over the family business so young, the pressure must be huge—so it’s normal he doesn’t smile much.”

“Sigh.” Hailey sighed too. “Maybe.”

She turned to Pei Nana with a strange mix of passion and expectation in her eyes. “But! Although our master doesn’t smile much and seems serious, he’s actually a very good man! Miss Nana, you’ll see after spending more time with him! He’s polite and gentlemanly, gentle and steady, loyal and brave! Definitely a rare good man in this world!”

Pei Nana: “…”

Choked.jpg

With you talking like this, I only suspect your master’s intentions more…

After finishing, Hailey picked up the tray and smiled, reminding, “Master Diluc is at the shop now. Would you like to go greet him?”

“Of course, I should.”

Regardless of other motives, since he had arranged doctors and nurses and helped so much, waking up meant she owed him gratitude. It was only right to go thank him in person.

Since it was a thank-you visit, it wouldn’t be proper to come empty-handed. But thinking about herself, she had nothing at all. Feeling her pockets, not a single coin…

Pei Nana was stumped.

Could it be that she had to borrow money to buy a gift?!