"Speaking of which, what were you two talking about just now?" Ganyu asked, her voice betraying a sudden nervousness.
Cloud Retainer, uninterested in revisiting the topic, casually replied, "Oh, we were just reminiscing about your childhood."
Childhood memories? Qin Yu thought, surprised.
Does Cloud Retainer know Ganyu from her childhood?
Wait a minute—Ganyu's outfit is similar to Shenhe's style. Shenhe said Cloud Retainer gave her her clothes, which means... Ganyu must have been under Cloud Retainer's care as well?
Just how old is this Cloud Retainer anyway?
Ganyu, fearing this very line of inquiry, quickly interjected, "M-my childhood stories aren't interesting at all! Please, let's not talk about them anymore."
Seeing Ganyu's flustered reaction, Qin Yu's curiosity only grew.
"Really? I think Sister Ganyu has always been adorable, both when she was little and now," Qin Yu said, figuring it couldn't hurt to say something like that.
Evaluation: C-
As expected, Ganyu immediately waved her hands, embarrassed. "I'm glad you think so, but..."
"That's right! I remember when Ganyu was very..." Cloud Retainer began.
"Wait!" Ganyu interrupted.
Cloud Retainer looked puzzled. "What's wrong? Don't you want Qin Yu to get to know you better?"
"I... I do," Ganyu whispered.
"Then what's the problem? I find it quite endearing. I remember when you were a little chubby thing, you could roll all the way down the mountain!"
No wonder she's so focused on maintaining her figure now, Qin Yu thought. Otherwise, she wouldn't be "Ganyu" anymore, but "Gaaan-yuu."
"That sounds adorable!" Qin Yu said, settling on that.
Ganyu shook her head vigorously. "It's not adorable at all! If you have to share something, at least pick a good memory!"
"Wasn't that a good one? Fine, I'll tell another... Ganyu has always loved having her horns stroked. When I used to look after her, she couldn't sleep without me touching them."
That actually sounds pretty normal, Qin Yu thought.
Of course, it was perfectly normal for anyone to feel uncomfortable having childhood stories shared with others.
But Qin Yu, eager to see Ganyu's flustered expression, grinned and asked, "Really? Can I touch them?"
"E-eh? No! I can feel it..." Ganyu blushed, instinctively protecting the horns on her head.
The sensation would be both physical and psychological, especially given her recent feelings for Qin Yu.
Being touched would likely amplify her emotional response tenfold. Ganyu dared not imagine what that would be like, let alone try it, even if she secretly regretted it.
How unfair! Yanfei let me touch hers, Qin Yu pouted inwardly, displeased by Ganyu's refusal.
But since Ganyu had drawn the line, Qin Yu couldn't press the matter.
"Enough," Ganyu protested, "Cloud Retainer, please stop talking about this."
"But it's rare for the three of us to gather like this," Cloud Retainer countered. "Wouldn't it be more lively to chat?"
"Uhm... I-I'd rather hear about Shenhe!" Ganyu blurted out earnestly. "I know the Adeptus took her in, but I work among humans most of the time, so we're not very close."
What a clever diversion! I wonder how Shenhe would react if she were here.
Cloud Retainer shook her head. "There's no need for that. We can discuss this matter when the four of us are gathered in the future. After all, hearsay can't compare to meeting in person. By the way, Qin Yu, did you have any amusing childhood anecdotes?"
"Ahahaha, none at all!"
Qin Yu decisively cut off the topic and steered the conversation back to business.
"Sister Ganyu, has anything been troubling you lately?"
Returning to the main subject, Ganyu's demeanor became ambiguous, her words catching in her throat.
Qin Yu glanced discreetly at Cloud Retainer. Could it be that she doesn't want to speak in front of her?
Taking Ganyu's hand, Qin Yu suggested, "Let's go for a walk down the mountain, shall we?"
Ganyu didn't respond, only nodding slowly. Qin Yu smiled warmly at her, then politely excused herself from Cloud Retainer.
"We'll be back soon. Sorry for the interruption."
To her surprise, Cloud Retainer seemed pleased. "No need to apologize. It's rare for Ganyu to return to Jueyun Karst. A stroll would do her good. This Adeptus shall return to her Abode now."
"Understood."
After watching Cloud Retainer retreat into her Abode and the great doors close behind her, Qin Yu turned and placed her other hand over the back of Ganyu's hand.
"Shall we go?" she asked with a smile.
Ganyu gazed at Qin Yu for a moment, the warmth of her palm comforting. With a hint of embarrassment, she replied, "I'm sorry for troubling you."
Evaluation: C+
"If you know that, then buck up already!"
"Eh?"
As Ganyu grew confused and surprised by this uncharacteristic behavior from Qin Yu, Qin Yu chuckled. "If it were Keqing, she'd definitely say something like that!"
"That's true..." Ganyu agreed, though something felt slightly off, a nuance different from Keqing's usual tone. She dismissed it as Qin Yu's imitation still needing refinement.
This attempt at testing the waters wasn't very successful, but oh well.
Arriving at the foot of the mountain near Huaguang Stone Forest with Ganyu, Qin Yu thought, Surely there won't be any trouble here. She casually thought, "No matter how many times I come here, I still find Jueyun Karst so enchanting."
"After all, the mountains here soar into the clouds—what people often call 'the air of the Adepti,'" Ganyu said. "But to me, this place isn't fundamentally different from any other part of Liyue."
Ganyu sighed wistfully. "The perspectives of ordinary people and mine differ greatly... Now that Liyue is in an age of human rule..."
"What's wrong with the age of human rule?"
"...As you know, I am half-human, half-adeptus. I've served as the Qixing Secretary in Liyue Harbor for many years, but I've never truly fit in. Recently, thanks to your help, I've glimpsed a glimmer of hope, feeling somewhat more integrated into human society. But ultimately, I am still a non-human being..."
Ganyu's voice drifted ethereally, making Qin Yu, her listener, want to sigh along with her.
Wait, why am I even having these thoughts now?
She's already explained this so many times! Is she just not listening?
Qin Yu inwardly scoffed, then firmly denied, "That's not true at all."
"No need to say more. I understand perfectly. In an era governed by mortals, it's only natural for humans to hold full authority. When I returned and found that Baiwen and they had already taken over my duties, I understood everything."
"Sending me to deliver a letter was just an excuse to get me out of the way. The real meaning was a subtle request for me to return to my Adeptus status."
Ha?
Qin Yu realized Ganyu had completely misunderstood. Those three were already working themselves to the grave—how could they possibly replace her?
"Sister Ganyu, you've misunderstood..."
"Moreover," Ganyu continued, "Tianquan Ningguang and Yuheng Keqing both chose you as their Secretary and sent you to work with me... It couldn't help but make me think the Qixing are grooming you as my successor, preparing for you to formally take over my position."
Such a pragmatic way of thinking!
Though Ganyu was a half-adeptus with an extraordinarily long lifespan and unchanging appearance, she was actually a veteran employee.
It was understandable that she might misinterpret the Qixing sending new employees to learn from her—especially since they were assigned by two influential figures.
Ultimately, however, these were just Ganyu's own overthinking.
Ganyu smiled sincerely. "If you were to succeed me, I wouldn't mind at all. In fact, I'd be delighted."
"No, I've already told you it's a misunderstanding..."
"I'd love to work with you longer, but since things have come to this, I must accept the situation gracefully," Ganyu said, feigning composure. "It's best to know when to step aside."
Ugh, enough already!
Faced with Ganyu's stubborn resistance, Qin Yu closed the distance between them in a flash.
"Sister Ganyu, have you forgotten? If you don't mind, I'm living proof of your integration into human society. That's how I truly feel."
"Of course I haven't forgotten, but..."
"I want to be with you, Sister Ganyu!" Qin Yu declared.
Evaluation: B
A simple sentence, yet it stirred a powerful reaction in Ganyu's heart. The blush that surged to her cheeks, her slightly widened eyes, and her wavering gaze all testified to her inner turmoil.
Be with me? Ganyu stammered, flustered. "W-what do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what it sounds like."
"Exactly what it sounds like... Ah..."
Could it be... is it possible? It must be, right? But if so, what should I do? We're both women, though that shouldn't matter, but... Ganyu's face grew hotter with each thought, as if the heat might burst forth as steam.
"Are you being serious?" she asked again, seeking confirmation.
"Yes!"
Ganyu, who had never been confessed to before, was in complete disarray.
But since Qin Yu had expressed her true feelings, she felt she should respond honestly.
Her head still buzzing with heat, Ganyu stammered, "O-okay."
Evaluation: A
Whoa, how did the evaluation jump up two whole levels?
Still, I'll take it! More is always better.
Qin Yu's spirits lifted considerably, and she beamed, "I knew Sister Ganyu and I felt the same way! To me, you're a very important friend."
"That's why I hope we can always support each other, confide in each other... Um, what's wrong?"
Ganyu froze completely.
An important friend?
Did I misunderstand? Realizing her misinterpretation, a tidal wave of emotions crashed over her, leaving catastrophic damage in every corner of her heart.
Shame.
"I actually misunderstood..."
Embarrassment.
"Aaaah..."
Resentment.
"You should have made that clear earlier..."
Relief.
"It wasn't real after all!"
A little disappointment.
"It's not real..."
Self-doubt.
"What was I thinking...?"
All sorts of emotions and inner voices intertwined, merged, and the energy that finally burst forth made Ganyu crouch down and hold her head.
"Sister Ganyu, what's wrong?" Qin Yu asked nervously and uneasily.
It was the first time she had seen Ganyu have such intense and varied rich reactions.
With a clear sigh, Ganyu lowered her arms, hugging her knees instead. She lifted her head, showing Qin Yu an angry expression.
"You have bad intentions!"
Eh? Qin Yu stopped thinking. Had she done something to make Ganyu think she had bad intentions?
The words she said were clearly normal.
If she had to say, the line "I want to be with Sister Ganyu" was a bit ambiguous.
But it wasn't said to someone of the opposite gender...
No, a misunderstanding is also normal, right?
"O-okay,"—Ganyu's reply flashed through Qin Yu's mind.
...Hm?
Qin Yu suddenly became alert.
To have confirmed it despite the misunderstanding... could Ganyu...? Wait, is this for real? Why?
Qin Yu couldn't believe it. But what if it was true?
"Um, it's my fault for not explaining properly. I'm sorry. But Sister Ganyu's answer just now was..." Qin Yu fidgeted, her hands clasped behind her back, her face flushing red.
Evaluation: S-
Ganyu's expression immediately shifted to surprise. "Ah—!"
It's over.