Qin Yu had considered the possibility of her secret being exposed, but this was happening far too quickly!
She hadn't even had time to mentally prepare when this situation suddenly erupted. How exactly was it exposed? No, more importantly—what should I do?
Are Keqing and Ningguang forcing me to choose between them?
She had deliberately chosen the "I want both" route to avoid choosing one of them. How could she possibly back down now? And she shouldn't back down.
But what should she do?
Lost in confusion and bewilderment, Qin Yu stammered, "It's because..."
Ah, screw it! I'm going all in!
"Because I want to continue being with Keqing and Ningguang!" Qin Yu spoke her true feelings.
But she was met with indescribably subtle expressions from Keqing and Ningguang.
"So, what you're saying is you simply want to be with both of us simultaneously?" Ningguang asked, arms crossed, her tone so calm it bordered on indifference.
Keqing closed her eyes. "Unbelievable... that you would do something like this..."
"No, that's not it...!"
Objectively speaking, that was the situation, but that wasn't the reason!
Qin Yu was frantic, about to continue explaining when Ningguang cut her off, interrupting her train of thought.
"But as far as the outcome is concerned, that's true, isn't it?" Ningguang said.
"I—"
Keqing shook her head. "Enough. The reasons don't matter anymore. What's important is what you're going to do."
What do you mean the reasons don't matter?
But... in this situation, perhaps nothing Qin Yu could say would make Ningguang and Keqing understand.
Besides, whether her true intentions could be understood by anyone other than Shenhe was questionable.
Qin Yu fell silent.
Keqing took a soft breath and said earnestly, "Qin Yu, I love you. I can promise my feelings are stronger than anyone else's. I don't want to be separated from you."
Evaluation: D (Keqing)
"I want to walk this path together with you, just the two of us," Keqing confessed.
Evaluation: C- (Keqing)
As Keqing's words conveyed her affection, Qin Yu felt a warmth spread through her chest.
At that moment, Ningguang took Qin Yu's hand, her voice gentle as she said, "Qin Yu, you know how I feel about you. I want you—I want you to spend this life with me."
Evaluation: A+ (Ningguang)
"I love you, Qin Yu," Ningguang confessed.
Evaluation: S- (Ningguang)
Ningguang's affection also reached Qin Yu, her face flushed and heart pounding.
But I can't.
The more Qin Yu felt their love, the more she resisted choosing between them.
For her, relationships were paramount—unbreakable bonds, close-knit connections, where people never parted and never grew distant. This selfish desire remained stubbornly rooted in her heart, unyielding to change.
If choosing one would fracture her relationship with the other, creating rifts and estrangement, she would rather choose neither.
But even refusing to choose wouldn't restore their tainted affections to their original state.
Only by accepting both offered a sliver of hope for realizing her deepest wish. Moreover, she loved Keqing and Ningguang, and she yearned for their love in return.
Therefore, no matter what Ningguang or Keqing said, Qin Yu would not waver from this conviction.
Qin Yu shook her head at Ningguang.
Ningguang wore an unprecedented expression of disappointment and desolation, while Keqing visibly relaxed.
"Qin Yu..." Keqing murmured, her voice thick with emotion.
Then Qin Yu shook her head at Keqing as well.
Keqing froze, blinking in surprise. "Eh?"
Ningguang was equally shocked. "Qin Yu?"
"I won't choose between you," Qin Yu declared.
Neither Ningguang alone, nor Keqing alone.
So, despite the difficulty, Qin Yu spoke the truth she couldn't avoid sharing.
"My feelings won't change. I want to be with all of you, not just one. So... I'm sorry, I can't reciprocate your feelings in that way."
Ningguang and Keqing fell silent.
"Do you think this is fair?" Keqing couldn't help but ask.
"I don't know, but it's the only way."
The only way? Ningguang sighed inwardly. "No, it's not."
"It has to be!" Qin Yu retorted.
"...I'm very disappointed in you, Qin Yu," Ningguang said.
Qin Yu's heart shuddered. Ningguang's voice pierced her heart with effortless precision, the metaphorical blood surging up her throat, making her voice come out muffled.
"I just..."
Ningguang pressed gently, "Qin Yu, I want to ask you—do you truly like us?"
This question shattered Qin Yu's heart, causing invisible blood to gush forth.
She had never imagined Ningguang would doubt her feelings. As dizziness swept over her, a chilling coldness surged through her body.
Qin Yu clutched her arm, her face drained of color.
"Wait, Ningguang..." Keqing felt these words were going too far.
"I mean in a romantic sense," Ningguang clarified.
Ningguang knew Qin Yu held considerable affection for her—that she liked her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have wanted to confess the truth behind her disguise, nor would she have shown such concern for her physical and emotional well-being.
But affection came in different forms. If it wasn't romantic love, then her actions could be somewhat justified.
Of course, it was possible that Qin Yu was simply the kind of woman who behaved that way... but Ningguang doubted it.
Keqing fell silent, her own doubts resurfacing. Did Qin Yu truly harbor romantic feelings for them?Did she accept their confessions because she shared their mutual affection?
Seeing Qin Yu's prolonged silence, Keqing couldn't help but call out:
"Qin Yu?"
Hearing her voice, Qin Yu snapped back to reality.
"Ah, ahaha, what is it?"
Ahaha?
Qin Yu only laughed like that when she was wearing her mask, protecting herself with a facade.
As Keqing and Ningguang stared in shock, Qin Yu's smile gradually twisted and shattered. She covered her face, tears streaming between her fingers.
"That's too much... really too much..."
She didn't mind being called names—scumbag, bitch—but that was too much.
"I just..."
Ningguang and Keqing moved to comfort her, but before they could take another step, Qin Yu cut them off:
"It's okay, I'm fine."
This was all her own choice. Keqing and Ningguang knew what she had done, and their reaction was merely this—it was already more than she deserved.
I thought it would be much worse.
Pull yourself together... I need to pull myself together.
As she repeated this mantra inwardly, Qin Yu turned her back and wiped away the tears on her face. Only after a moment did she turn back around.
"My answer hasn't changed," Qin Yu said, her voice hoarse.
Ningguang knew her question had wounded Qin Yu deeply, but this matter had to be resolved. Yet now, seeing Qin Yu's distress, she couldn't bring herself to speak.
At that moment, Keqing intervened. "Let's pause for now."
"Keqing..."
Keqing's expression was complex. "This doesn't mean I accept your decision. It means I think we all need time to calm down and think things through properly."
"Especially you, Qin Yu," she added.
There's nothing to think about.
As if sensing Qin Yu's thoughts, Keqing continued, "You know how we feel about you, and... we can't tolerate your choice. We want you to choose between us."
Rather, who would accept this?
"The deadline is 8 PM tonight," Ningguang finally spoke, her lips parting slightly. "Until then, Qin Yu, work with Ganyu. Don't come to my office."
"The same goes for me," Keqing nodded. "Don't come to my office either. And we won't come looking for you."
"Think carefully about who you want to choose," Ningguang said. "Qin Yu... I love you, and I never want you to leave my side."
Keqing echoed her sentiment: "Me too. I want to be with you always."
"Alright, you can go now. Think it over thoroughly, and then make your decision."
After all, it ultimately came down to what Qin Yu wanted.
With those words, Ningguang signaled for Qin Yu to leave the room.
Seeing that the two women's minds were made up and unchangeable, Qin Yu reluctantly followed Ningguang's instructions and left the Jade Chamber, heading for Yuehai Pavilion.
Ganyu was out, not in her office.
Shenhe... wasn't there either.
Qin Yu sat down, hugging her knees, and let out a deep sigh.
If only romance didn't exist.