[ at first he's a little confused, but then it dawns on him that Zhongli probably already has his fate laid out before him. if Rex Lapis died, Zhongli would have to assume his position. keeping it in the family or something.

if Childe took Zhongli back with him to Snezhnaya... then what? he really isn't thinking this through.

all this for some grade-A ass. ]

I knew you were lying to me. [ is what he eventually settles with, with the barest intimation of a smile. ] I won't go home to the Tsaritsa without fulfilling my mission, however. So we're at something of a stalemate.