Mingyu

Mingyu prides himself on having charisma, strength, beauty; traits he believes to be very helpful when making allies and selling goods. Though some would call him arrogant Mingyu is not one to view himself as better or more deserving than others. Quite the opposite in fact as, deep down, he seems to have some mixed feelings on himself and his roll in this world. His overconfidence has gotten him into trouble more than once however.

Mingyu is well known for being observant and shrewd, especially when it comes to people and business. This has made him a force to be reckoned with in Liyue proving him to be a very good salesman. Mingyu is also mischevious and sly, however, and buying from him can be dubious at best. Mingyu claims that he never lies, but twisting the truth also seems to be a talent of his.

Mingyu has a very cynical outlook on life. It's said that he was once a much more optomistic person, but certain incidents turned him into who he is now. He isn't unfriendly however and though he likes to mess with people he rarely means them any true harm or ill will. He'll even lend a helping hand to those who really need it. In the end he might just be a little more lonely than he lets on.

From a young age Mingyu was taught many stories of Liyue's history but, most of all, he was brought up with a respect and understanding of the importance of trade. This wasn't too surprising considering his father was a well known and respected merchant. Mingyu found himself growing up with dreams of hope and grandeur; he often told his father that, one day, he'd be able to swim in a river of gold. Though it was just the silly imagination of a child Mingyu still wanted to follow in the path of a merchant.

Mingyu would not stay an optimistic and ambitious child forever. At the age of 13 his father finally allowed him to take his first trip as an apprentice merchant. It's during this time that he would encounter an unfortunate group of people. They claimed to be treasure hoarders, though Mingyu would later discover them to be failures in the merchant trade who had a grudge against his father. Hoping to make a fortune they kidnapped Mingyu, killing the guards who had been sent to protect him, and took him to an undisclosed location.

His father would receive the ransom notice shortly after. Clearly panicked he informed the Millelith right away, but Mingyu would eventually return home on his own. He would be changed, however, beyond the recognition of his father and old friends.

Fearing a repeat of the situation Mingyu's father would give away most of their fortune leaving just enough for them to live comfortably off the rest. He would also attempt to keep a tighter grip on Mingyu but, for the boy who fought so hard to win back his freedom, it felt almost like a betrayal. Mingyu would do what he pleased regardless, eventually causing a rift between his relationship with his father.

"Even if just one more time... I'd like to go catch butterflies in guili plains."

Wrists and ankles bound Mingyu was certain he would never see the sights of Liyue again. Though his kidnappers claimed they would return him once the ransom was paid, Mingyu was no fool even so young. He'd overheard their talk and was well aware of their plan to hand him off to some Harbinger named Il Dottore.

Even so Mingyu wouldn't just sit and take it. He kept looking for a chance, for any opportunity, to make his escape. It was then that a beautiful light caught his attention; the faint glow of an anemo vision. It was with this he would manage to escapeh and vowed to never be restrained or made a fool of again. For the sake of his freedom he would become stronger and smarter so that no one could best him.

• Though Mingyu is well known as a merchant this isn't necessarily for good reason. He sells high quality goods most often, but sometimes throws counterfeits in there as well. Somehow Zhongli always figures him out though...
• Mingyu's interest in butterflies and crystal flies comes from when he was a child. He used to catch them (and fireflies) often as a child with his father.
• Though Mingyu claims to resent his father for being a coward and giving away their money, in truth Mingyu mostly resents himself for being the cause of it.
• Much of Mingyu's mischevious and snarkiness is more of a defense mechanism than anything. Deep down he's still the person he was as a child, but very very few people know of this fact.
• His hobbies include: Cooking, hunting bounties, collecting butterflies and crystal fly cores, and finding ways to make mora.
• His character title is "Wings of Discord" and his constellation is Andromeda