"Mmm... So, how exactly did 'Yangu' come about...?"
Ganyu looked utterly innocent. Though the two were already good friends, she still couldn't quite grasp Lumine's sense of humor.
"Good morning, Ganyu," Keqing greeted her.
Ganyu approached, slightly embarrassed.
"Sorry for interrupting your conversation... I just happened to be shopping nearby and noticed the commotion, so I couldn't help but take a look..."
——————
Meanwhile, in the livestream chat...
Players who had already completed Ganyu's story quest naturally weren't buying it.
Guinaifen led the charge: "Ganyu's probably worried the Adeptus will start talking about her childhood again."
"No way she just 'happened' to be shopping nearby. She definitely rushed over the moment she sensed that woman's presence."
"Who's she trying to fool?"
[How dare you! Which 'woman' are you referring to?]
[Buying osmanthus wine to share with an old friend, only to laugh as that friend has grown round as a ball.]
[Ganyu, you wouldn't want everyone to know about you tumbling down the mountain, would you?]
[What kind of Inazuman talk is that from the comment above?]
[I've married into the Kamisato Clan, so it's only natural I'd speak like this.]
[I'm more interested in when the Adeptus bird will finish spilling Mu Yang's blackmail-worthy secrets.]
Guinaifen's eyes lit up.
If not for the chat's reminder, she would've nearly forgotten.
"Last time, the main story got interrupted by Mu Yang, right? I'm looking forward to it too, folks!"
[Host, what are you planning? Using blackmail material against Mu Yang? I don't even dare imagine it.]
[I dare! Hehehe (drooling emoji).]
——————
At the scene, Keqing assumed Ganyu had only appeared because of the disturbance.
She straightforwardly told her that the one who had arrived was Cloud Retainer.
"To appear so openly on the streets—what a decisive Adeptus."
Hearing this, Ganyu grew even more flustered. Keqing had actually met Cloud Retainer too?
If her colleagues heard those embarrassing childhood stories, it'd be over for her!
She tried to probe indirectly, wanting to ask what Cloud Retainer had said.
"U-um, could I borrow a moment of your time? There's something I'd like to ask you..."
Keqing didn't understand and asked if it was urgent work-related business.
"No, it's not about work. I wanted to ask... something personal... Would that be alright?"
Keqing rested her chin on her hand, trying to recall if she'd done anything recently to offend Ganyu.
Nothing came to mind.
She agreed. "Go ahead."
Ganyu fidgeted before finally asking—because she was just too worried.
"I noticed Cloud Retainer seemed to have stayed here for quite a while... Did she... talk to you about... my childhood?"
[Hahaha, called it!]
[Exactly as I predicted.]
[Look how scared she is—that big bird Adeptus is downright evil.]
"Your childhood? Not at all."
With Keqing's confirmation, Ganyu let out a sigh of relief.
Phew... Thank goodness...
Cloud Retainer had a habit of veering off into unrelated topics, and the thought alone made Ganyu shudder.
Last time, Lumine and Paimon had already heard plenty. But since those two traveled all over Teyvat and weren't the type to gossip, Ganyu didn't mind.
But Keqing and Xiangling? One was a colleague she saw daily, and the other was the chef at her favorite restaurant.
If they found out, it'd be beyond humiliating...
Fortunately, Keqing wasn't the type to pry into what Ganyu's so-called "childhood stories" entailed.
Instead, she reassured her that Cloud Retainer hadn't mentioned a thing.
Lumine felt she understood Keqing a little better now.
Even though Ganyu was her colleague and friend, Keqing knew better than to pry into matters she shouldn't.
She was always polite and proper.
It seemed Xiangling's impression of Keqing wasn't wrong.
Ganyu smiled warmly.
"Thank you, Keqing. You really are as gentle and considerate as I thought."
Keqing, who had been perfectly composed earlier, was suddenly flustered by this remark.
"W-what's with the sudden sweet talk...? You should get back to work."
[I'm hoisting the Ganqing ship high!]
[Just pure sweetness, folks!]
[The overtime duo is diabetes-inducing!]
Before leaving, Ganyu asked the others to take good care of Keqing, which only made Keqing even more bashful.
"Ahem, everyone, don't listen to her..."
Just then, Xiangling suddenly smacked her forehead.
She'd met so many Adepti recently—how could she have forgotten the one she knew best, her master?
If Mu Yang said the God of the Stove was someone he knew, then it was highly likely to be an Adeptus.
Her master's memories were intact—why not just ask her directly?
Keqing frowned. "Your master... Meaning, your teacher is an Adeptus?"
Xiangling, your connections to the Adepti would make so many people envious.
After all, how many in Liyue would kill just to exchange a single word with an Adeptus?
Yet Xiangling not only had an Adeptus as her master but also a companion who might be one.
And Adeptus Mu Yang was a regular at Wanmin Restaurant...
Xiangling nodded. "Yep, she's at Yujing Terrace right now. I'll take you to her!"
——————
Meanwhile, with Mu Yang...
Truth be told, this man had no morning training regimen.
He was just dodging Cloud Retainer to avoid being dragged back as free labor.
At the same time, it gave him a perfect excuse to take Lumine to Mt. Aocang for a visit. A win-win.
This two-birds-one-stone trick? Mu Yang played it well.
As for Ganyu, since Cloud Retainer hadn't spilled her embarrassing stories and Keqing had been so understanding, her steps were light as she walked away.
Along the way, Mu Yang called out to her.
"Ganyu."
Hearing his voice, Ganyu looked up in delight.
"Mu Yang?! What are you doing here...?"
It seemed today was her lucky day. (You're a blessed beast—of course your luck's good!)
Mu Yang replied, "Just passing by to check on you. How's your rest these past two days?"
"Thank you, Shifu..."
The shy Ganyu hadn't called him that in a long time.
But this time, Mu Yang had really taken care of her—even getting Ningguang to give her two full days off!
Knowing how easily Ganyu got flustered, Mu Yang didn't tease her about the long-unused title.
Otherwise, she might never dare say it again.
As usual, Mu Yang reminded her not to overwork herself or stay up late.
"If you run out of mooncakes, just let me know. Your shimei and I made plenty."
Ganyu hurriedly waved her hands. "No need, Shifu! The ones at home will last me a long time..."
Mu Yang hadn't forgotten his eldest disciple, of course—he'd given her extra.
Though mooncakes were delicious and Ganyu loved them, how could she dare eat too many?
Once you started, it was hard to stop—and they were extremely calorie-dense.
Wouldn't that make her just like what Cloud Retainer always said...?
So no matter how much she liked them, she couldn't let Mu Yang give her more.
Mu Yang seemed to understand Ganyu's worries.
"In that case, go ahead with your work. I won't keep you."
Ganyu bid Mu Yang farewell and happily headed off to work.