A New Star in the Starry Sky

12. Show Time

"You want me to play as the famed Red-Haired Hero?" Cale asked again for reassurance.

Zhongli smiled softly, however, it gave Cale an unsettling feeling. "Yes. Why don't we converse about this over a meal together?"

"...Sure.." Cale agreed. 'Not like I'll accept the role, but a free meal is a free meal. There's no harm in that.'

They walked towards a nearby restaurant, getting a table for the two of them.

"The director wants the rite to be a success." Zhongli sipped on the piping hot tea that was served in a tiny glass. "So she's making me prepare the event."

'So?' Cale began to become impatient.

"You look a lot like the red-haired hero." He gazed up and down at Cale. "Like a perfect imitation of them."

Cale flinched, he got chills. 'I thought this "hero" was just a character in a fairytale, how can I look exactly like someone like that?'

"The rite is only a ritual to honor the dead, and what perfect to honor but the hero everyone praises and looks up to?" Zhongli continued. "All you have to do is lay down in the orientational coffin until the rite is over."

'That's it?' Cale wondered. 'I thought you were going to make me do a whole play. Well, I guess this is easier and I can earn easy money.' He smirked. "How much are you offering?"

"2,500 mora per hour." Zhongli offered.

'After wandering around the place yesterday, that seems reasonable.' Cale contemplated. 'Especially for just lying down.' He decided by now. "Alright, I accept."

Zhongli nodded. "The date of the rite is the XX at XX:XX, please show up three hours before the performance."

"There's no practice beforehand?" Cale asked.

"You'll only be lying down while wearing your costume."

Cale nodded. 'Right...' He sweated.

The two enjoyed their meal in silence.

"Cale! Where were you?" Traveler greeted him as Cale walked in.

"I was exploring the place." Cale answered.

"Was it fun?" Traveler asked. "Liyue has a lot of specialities getting imported daily. And during this time of the year, it's more busier than ever."

Cale nodded. "There were a lot of interesting things." 'Like getting scouted on the streets.' "Where's Paimon?"

"Oh, she's sleeping. It's been a long day."

'Indeed.' Cale sat down on the couch.

Traveler went and sat next to him. "Want to watch the Lantern Rite fireworks together?" Traveler offered. "They're quite the spectacle. I bet this year they're even prettier."

Cale shook his head, declining. "I have something planned at that time already, sorry."

Traveler nodded, understanding.

Time quickly passed by, the festival quickly approached.

"Cale Henituse, right?" His costume artist greeted him.

Cale nodded. He arrived on time, three hours before the performance. Cale was backstage where everyone else was.

"Come this way, I'll help you get dressed up." They led him to a dressing room.

After a moment...

The curtains swung open dramatically, revealing Cale in a beautiful red-white traditional hanfu (mid-late Tang dynasty style).

The room went quiet, all eyes were on him.

"He's not wearing makeup, right?"

They started whispering among themselves.

"He's so beautiful, even more in a woman's hanfu."

Cale closed his eyes, a bit embarrassed by the words going around.

——-
I am very interested in how this story'll go. Wasn't before, but now I am.

Let's see where this goes 👴