Dinner was shared with Cloud Retainer and Shenhe.
Although sharing a meal with an Adeptus was something Qin Yu had never dared to imagine, the entire experience turned out to be... surprisingly ordinary?
Shenhe ate quietly. Cloud Retainer, eager to avoid awkward silences, or perhaps simply because she hadn't had anyone to talk to for so long, kept trying to find conversation topics, often circling back to Shenhe's childhood stories.
If the stories were ordinary, Shenhe showed no reaction.
But whenever the conversation veered toward embarrassing memories, Shenhe would interrupt with a gentle, "Master..."
Qin Yu found this amusing and couldn't resist subtly guiding Cloud Retainer to reveal more of Shenhe's "dark past." This, however, seemed to only further distress Shenhe.
Never thought you'd have a day like this! Qin Yu thought gleefully.
Having previously been constantly pressured and thrown off balance by Shenhe, finally managing to get a little payback felt surprisingly satisfying.
It was just a shame it had to come about this way, rather than through her own efforts.
"In the past, many have offered me delicacies, and I've tasted every imaginable earthly delight. Yet your skill rivals even the finest among them. I must admit, I'm quite impressed."
"Oh, no, no—it's nothing special, really, for Shenhe and you!"
Having poured her heart into the meal, Qin Yu would have been irked even if an Adeptus had found it unappetizing. But of course, she wouldn't show it.
Cloud Retainer declared contentedly, "Do you plan to stay here tonight?"
"What do you think, Shenhe?"
"I... believe it would be best to stay the night. It's getting late. While it's no problem for me, Qin Yu needs to rest. Don't worry—with Master and me here, no one can harm you."
"Ah, hmm..." Qin Yu murmured, puzzled.
Strange. Why is Shenhe being so unusually attentive? Not that it's a bad thing... no, wait, actually it is a bad thing. I don't like being treated like this.
I don't need this kind of concern. It's excessive.
After a moment of silence, Shenhe added, "If there's anything, just tell me directly."
"...Mm."
Qin Yu felt a surge of irritation.
What's with this? You're not even my family.
Don't say things like that.
But despite her inner turmoil, Qin Yu kept her expression neutral.
Cloud Retainer glanced at the pair and said, "Then you shall stay in my Abode for the night."
"Eh? Is that allowed?" Qin Yu asked, surprised.
She wouldn't even let us in just a moment ago.
"As Shenhe's important friend, staying for one night poses no issue. However, I am fond of automatons, and my Adeptus Abode contains a multitude of mechanical materials and various devices, both large and small. Please do not mind the clutter."
"Ahahaha, we won't mind at all! Thank you so much!"
How messy could it possibly be?
Qin Yu and Shenhe followed Cloud Retainer into her Adeptus Abode.
Whoa, what a mess!
Items were piled together haphazardly, without any semblance of order. The only saving grace was that it was relatively clean—at least it appeared chaotic rather than dirty.
"Let me clarify," Cloud Retainer said. "This chaos operates according to its own rules."
Huh?
"To you, it may seem chaotic and disorganized, but this Adeptus can effortlessly find what she seeks within it. To this Adeptus, it follows its own rules."
So that's how it is, Qin Yu thought inwardly, completely unmoved.
"O-oh, I see."
Cloud Retainer nodded, concluding her explanation.
"Speaking of which, this Adeptus recalls Shenhe once falling here as a child, getting hit on the head by some materials—" She suddenly began reminiscing about Shenhe's childhood.
"Master."
"Hmm... Well, then let's talk about something else. When Shenhe was little, she accidentally triggered this Adeptus's new contraption and got trapped inside—"
"Master."
Qin Yu couldn't help but burst into laughter.
This is truly amusing... Don't look at me! I'm not the one telling these stories! Qin Yu avoided Shenhe's gaze.
"By the way, did you bring a change of clothes? If not, this Adeptus remembers having spare sets of Shenhe's attire stored in the Abode. You may wear one."
No, no, no, no! Absolutely not!
Shenhe imagined Qin Yu wearing the same clothes as her and asked, "Will you wear it? I don't mind."
I do.
"If you wish to bathe, try my mechanism. Hmm, let's call it the 'Cold-Hot Transformation Divine Mechanism.' Simply add cold water, wait a moment, and hot water will gush forth. ...Time? Ugh, roughly half an hour should suffice."
"The operating method is quite simple: first, pull down this lever, then press this button, then pull down this lever again, then step on this pedal..."
Not only would it take half an hour, but the operating method was also ridiculously complicated.
It would be far easier to just boil water.
Useful, but not entirely useful—this contraption perfectly embodied that phrase.
The image of the Adepti in Qin Yu's mind had become increasingly bizarre thanks to this "I Love Invention Retainer."
Could it be that all Adepti are a bunch of eccentric weirdos?
No, no, I mustn't think like that. It's disrespectful.
"What do you say? Want to give it a try?"
"Ah, okay..."
Refusal was impossible. Qin Yu could only brace herself and operate the mechanism according to Cloud Retainer's instructions.
By the time she finally managed to bathe, an hour had already passed.
"For its first run, it performed adequately, though the duration exceeded my expectations."
So this was its maiden voyage?!
"Amazing! Absolutely incredible!" Qin Yu exclaimed at the opportune moment.
"Naturally," Cloud Retainer replied, accepting the compliment without so much as a flicker of emotion.
The next morning, Qin Yu, who had barely managed to drag herself out of bed, joined Shenhe, who had risen early to practice, and Cloud Retainer, who hadn't slept at all and was still tinkering with her mechanisms, for breakfast. After the meal, they bid farewell.
"Well, we're heading back now. Thank you so much for everything," Qin Yu said with a warm smile.
"Goodbye, Master," Shenhe added.
Cloud Retainer nodded. "This Adeptus has also enjoyed a brief but intriguing time. If you wish to return, feel free to do so. Of course, you're welcome to bring her along as well."
"Mm," Shenhe replied.
Eh? Are we coming back again?
Well, if I get to hear more of Shenhe's embarrassing past, I guess I can tolerate it.
In the end, all they did was meet Shenhe's Master and chat about trivial matters... I was expecting something more dramatic, but a little tranquility isn't so bad either.
Watching the pair depart from the mountaintop, Cloud Retainer couldn't help but murmur to herself:
"Shenhe has brought a friend back with her. I wonder if Ganyu will do the same someday... Last time was a special case; she hadn't returned to Jueyun Karst in millennia. I wonder if she's fully integrated into human society."
Whether it was Shenhe or Ganyu, Cloud Retainer couldn't help but worry about them both.
Cloud Retainer lifted her head.
She sensed a shift in the weather. Though the sky remained clear for now, rain was likely imminent.
If Shenhe were alone, she likely wouldn't even bother seeking shelter from the rain. But with Qin Yu by her side, there was no need to worry about her getting drenched.
Around dusk, the rain began to fall.
Qin Yu, who was squatting on the ground preparing to light a fire for cooking, noticed the sunlight disappear. Glancing up, she saw thick, dark clouds gathering overhead. Moments later, the downpour began.
We haven't even eaten yet!
The only saving grace was that Shenhe had been setting up the tent while Qin Yu was preparing the meal. The waterproof tent provided shelter from the rain.
Unfortunately, Shenhe had only finished setting up one tent.
Qin Yu considered braving the rain to erect the second tent.
The rain started as a drizzle but quickly intensified.
"Qin Yu, according to mortal customs, we should... seek shelter from the rain," Shenhe said, yet she herself didn't move to enter the tent.
But since Shenhe had said this, Qin Yu worried that insisting on setting up a second tent might seem strange to her.
Because I want to sleep right after eating—that was Qin Yu's true reason.
And she didn't want Shenhe to see her sleeping posture again.
Left with no choice, Qin Yu suppressed her drowsiness, abandoned the idea of setting up a second tent, and hurriedly sheltered Shenhe with her umbrella. Then she pulled her into the small tent.
The backpack remained outside; it was too large to fit inside.
Fortunately, it was waterproof, so there was no need to worry about the contents getting wet. As for the items hanging outside... better not think about those for now.
As twilight deepened and Qin Yu began to feel uneasy, Shenhe lit the small lantern she had placed inside the tent beforehand.
The soft glow eased Qin Yu's anxiety considerably.
"Shenhe, come over here for a moment."
"Hmm?"
"Let me dry your hair."
Shenhe hadn't immediately sought shelter from the rain, so she'd gotten somewhat wet.
Without resisting, she leaned closer, and Qin Yu took out her handkerchief to dry Shenhe's hair. Shenhe glanced up at Qin Yu and said matter-of-factly, "Thank you."
Evaluation: D
Just drying hair, nothing special.
After drying Shenhe's hair, Qin Yu, like Shenhe, hugged her knees and gazed at the rain outside the tent.
The sound of rain enveloped them, the outside world shrouded in gloom, while the tent glowed with a warm light.
How long will this rain last? Qin Yu sighed inwardly.
Even setting aside the muddy roads ahead, simply being confined in such a small space with Shenhe left Qin Yu feeling utterly flustered.
Shenhe hadn't initiated conversation, leaving Qin Yu unsure what to talk about.
Her book was in her backpack, but she couldn't risk fetching it in this downpour. Qin Yu was certain that even a brief opening of the backpack would turn it into a fish tank.
Thankfully, the tent's sturdy construction justified its high price.
"The rain just keeps coming down," Qin Yu said, making conversation.
"Mm, but I don't mind the sound," Shenhe replied, turning her head. "Being here with you in the tent, watching the rain... it makes me happy too."
I, on the other hand, am not particularly happy.
Evaluation: C-
You motherfucker.
Shenhe watched as Qin Yu touched her hair and whispered, "M-me too."
That's the only response I can give. Whether it's for maintaining my character or needing the points.
Yet Shenhe's words did stir a flicker of joy in Qin Yu's heart.
Though it's only a tiny, tiny spark.
Evaluation: C+
After that brief, fleeting spark of happiness—a mere wisp, barely there at all—the sound of the rain lulled her back into drowsiness.
Qin Yu couldn't help but close her eyes. Then she snapped them open again.
No, no, I can't fall asleep!
She pinched the back of her hand, the sharp pain jolting her awake.
But before long, she found herself growing drowsy again.
Reciting passages? It would put her to sleep even faster. Memorizing math formulas? Instant slumber.
Her mind seemed to have given up entirely, becoming sluggish and unresponsive. To stay even marginally awake, she needed to shift her focus.
"Shenhe, are you happy to have seen your Master again?" Qin Yu asked casually.
"Happy," Shenhe replied.
I figured as much, Qin Yu thought, realizing she'd asked a pointless question. She quickly changed the subject.
"How did you join the Adeptus?"
".....Many things happened, too many to explain quickly. I'd like to take you somewhere later and tell you the whole story properly. But if you want to hear it now, I'll tell you everything truthfully, without holding anything back."
Sounds like a long, heavy story, Qin Yu thought. And knowing it might change things... I don't really want to hear it right now.
Maybe later.
Since she's already taken me to meet her Master, where else could she possibly want to take me? Oh well, if it's a request, I'll just go along with it—after all, it's a request.
Qin Yu smiled. "Then let's talk about it later."
"Alright."
This time, Shenhe initiated the conversation.
"Do you... have anything you've forgotten?"
"Hmm? Oh... quite a lot, I suppose. Big and small things. For instance, I only recently learned that my childhood friend was actually Keqing, the Yuheng Star. And she'd been deceiving me all along!"
Thinking about it made her angry again.
But, strictly speaking, she hadn't kept her promise either. She'd forgotten Keqing too.
In their mutual failure to uphold their promise, she and Keqing truly seemed like childhood friends. Qin Yu found this ironic, and the slight resentment she felt earlier dissipated.
"Still, I'm sure she had a very important reason. She even claimed it was to prevent me from recalling painful memories—as if my life were so tragic that I had such memories to recall!"
Yet, precisely because of this, she felt an emptiness in her heart.
Knowing some of Qin Yu's past, Shenhe chose not to pursue the topic.
Just as she thought Qin Yu would continue speaking, she noticed Qin Yu had already lain down and closed her eyes.
Asleep.
Qin Yu had originally intended to stay awake, but she hadn't anticipated that chatting with Shenhe would relax her rather than stimulate her mind. Eventually, she succumbed to her body's instincts and lay down.
Shenhe felt somewhat perplexed, unsure what to do.
The last time Qin Yu had fallen asleep, she had been deeply concerned about her sleeping posture upon waking.
Should I wake her? Shenhe wondered.
Or... perhaps not. Shenhe had never found anything wrong with Qin Yu's sleeping posture. If she was sleeping like this, it was likely due to accumulated fatigue, and she deserved proper rest.
Shenhe also lay down, listening to the rain and feeling the warmth of the person beside her. Closing her eyes, she decided to rest for a while as well.
Her sleep was light, and any slight movement would rouse her.
So when Qin Yu unconsciously leaned closer, Shenhe's eyes snapped open almost instantly.
She initially thought Qin Yu had woken up, but she hadn't. Qin Yu seemed to have unconsciously moved closer.
Shenhe gently turned sideways, facing Qin Yu, who was also lying on her side. She reached out and stroked Qin Yu's black hair, prompting the younger woman to unconsciously snuggle closer.
Qin Yu was sleeping surprisingly deeply, without shedding tears as she had the last time. However, she began to move her limbs, draping a leg over Shenhe's and hooking it around her. One arm swept across Shenhe's side, gently embracing her as if she were a body pillow. Qin Yu even buried her face between Shenhe's chest and neck, her warm breath creating a faint yet comforting tickle.
"Qin Yu?" Shenhe whispered, but only received a muffled "Mmm..." in response, showing no signs of waking.
This was the first time Shenhe had ever encountered such a situation.
What should I do? I never imagined Qin Yu would do something like this in her sleep... Shenhe lowered her gaze to Qin Yu, who was nestled against her, and a strange emotion stirred in her heart.
Do friends do things like this? I don't understand.
The physical closeness seemed to shrink the distance between their hearts as well.
Would the Qin Yu of the past have done this? Shenhe couldn't say for sure, but this feeling of being relied upon was deeply comforting.
Drawn as if by an invisible force, Shenhe leaned closer and nestled against Qin Yu.
The warmth enveloping her body lulled Shenhe into a shallow dream.
It wasn't a grand or spectacular dream—just a vision of her and Qin Yu as a family, sharing meals together, and occasionally venturing out for casual outings.
Yet within this dream, Shenhe dimly realized what she truly sought from Qin Yu.
Awakening to full consciousness, Shenhe found the rain still falling outside, though the downpour had lessened. Qin Yu remained fast asleep, radiating a sense of peaceful contentment.
Recalling her dream, Shenhe now understood the unfamiliar emotion stirring in her heart was "dependence." The realization she'd glimpsed in her dream resurfaced in her mind.
"Qin Yu and I... we're family..."
So that's it. What I truly seek from her is the warmth of family. But can people without blood ties truly become family? Shenhe pondered this, her arms still wrapped around Qin Yu.