main story post 1.1, makes you think that zhongli is actually really cunning and manipulative, everything literally playing in his palm, but in his eyes he didnt think its wrong thus what he did vibrates "good deed" and only to ensure his retirement+

zhongli understand human emotions, the aspects of it if you play his side story, but what makes him seem emotionally detached because he doesnt care about the small things. he is the type who wants it all, the things that interest him of course

when i said "manipulative" believe me its not something i splurt out easily. did you notice how zhongli able to get what he wants no matter how ridiculously expensive the items are, he still managed to get it which of course by making people around him spent mora for him

its not only childe who spent money on him, but the ferrylady also spent too and she still said "mr zhongli is amazing person". when you think more of it, zhongli's ability to make people around him to spent mora on him and still acknowledged as amazing person, is trully crazy

his cunning side, of course, refers to how everything playing on his palm and using everyone as the actors (traveller and childe included), and when childe asked if zhongli wanted to apologize to him, he got ignored, so basically zhongli doesnt feel any guilty, while for childe-

its like betrayal, BUT STILL BEING SO NICE TO ZHONGLI. you must be expecting in pre 1.1 that childe befriended zhongli bc he probably knew his identity, but post 1.1 said no, childe didnt know anything about it. it might be to gather informations since zhongli is+

very knowledgeable. but i think for childe, zhongli is his first friend. because so far we only know that his dear people mostly is his family but how about friend?
feeling betrayed and ignored after that, but somehow brushing it off (still asking how zl doing rn), please....

childe is the most complex character that despite his battlethirst, hes like the most kindest and sweetheart person ever . for zhongli's guaranteed retirement, he makes childe as scapegoat and being hated more by liyue ppl as if his status as fatui isnt enough already

ofc its understandable that he wants retirement, but his way is pretty ridiculous. he involved the life of the entire liyue people in his palm for it. and why is he capable of that, because he is GOD even though now leading to mortal life.

his way of thinking must be different from those who are mortals. but for some reason zhongli vibrates more "white" thus what he did seems like, not wicked but its definitely is....yeah zhongli is not ur innocent kinda chara who doesnt know anything. HE KNOWS EVERYTHING.

and these what makes him so scary, and why TSARITSA DIDNT TAKE HIS GNOSIS SWIFTLY LIKE THEY DID TO VENTI. also why traveller said childe cant beat zhongli. zhongli who is able to beat osial easily, of course childe wont be able to beat zhongli no matter what its just impossible