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Liyue—sunlight spilled across Yujing Terrace.
In front of the doors to Yuehai Pavilion, Ganyu was fully focused on reviewing the various work assignments that needed to be completed today.
At that moment, a series of hurried and heavy footsteps approached from afar, prompting Ganyu to look up in the direction of the sound.
She saw Shao Yun charging into view, carrying a towering pile of items on his shoulder, the heap looking utterly chaotic.
Before Ganyu could even react, Shao Yun had already stridden up to her and, without ceremony, dumped everything he was carrying straight down in front of her.
"These are all your teacher's things," Shao Yun said casually, standing there panting.
Staring at the mountain of items suddenly piled in front of her, Ganyu was so startled by the unexpected situation that she nearly dropped the work sheet she had been holding.
"Huh? Mr. Shao Yun, when did you return to Liyue?" Ganyu asked as she looked at him.
Shao Yun did not answer her question immediately. Instead, he pointed at the camping equipment now scattered at their feet and said unhurriedly,
"Don't worry about when I got back. These are all the 'treasures' your master left over on Mt. Tianheng. When you're on vacation, remember to take them back to Mt. Aocang for her, alright?"
Hearing this, Ganyu's gaze swept rapidly over the pile of Adepti camping tools crafted by her master, Cloud Retainer.
All of a sudden, as if she had discovered some crucial clue, her eyes locked onto a particular detail among them.
Her expression turned to disbelief as she looked back at Shao Yun and asked in a nearly trembling voice, "The Adeptus… has the Adeptus already returned to Mt. Aocang?"
"Really? Even after I tried persuading her so many times, she wouldn't listen…"
Shao Yun nodded calmly and replied evenly with just two words, "That's right."
Standing there, Ganyu's face filled with concern as she asked anxiously, "Then… did you and my master have some kind of conflict?"
Hearing this, Shao Yun originally intended to answer honestly—but a wicked idea suddenly popped into his head, and he decided to give the innocent Ganyu a good scare.
He deliberately put on a regretful expression, let out a long sigh, and said slowly, "Oh, how could there not be a conflict? And this time, it was a big one!"
"You know what? Your master was beaten terribly by me! I broke her wings, and I even knocked all the feathers clean off—feathers everywhere, drifting down like snow…"
The moment Ganyu heard that even her beloved master's feathers had been beaten off by Shao Yun, her face drained of color.
Her beautiful eyes widened like bronze bells, and her cherry-red lips fell open in shock—wide enough to fit an entire Sunsettia.
"Ah! How could you be so cruel?! Master, she—"
Shao Yun watched Ganyu's little face on the verge of tears with great amusement, finding it secretly hilarious.
Finally unable to hold it in any longer, he burst out laughing and quickly waved his hands in explanation. "Haha, I'm kidding! I just had a brief chat with your master, that's all."
"After that, she rushed back because she was worried about Shenhe being alone on Mt. Aocang. There wasn't any conflict between us at all."
Hearing this, the weight that had been hanging over Ganyu's heart finally settled.
She gently patted her chest, let out a long breath, and murmured, "Oh… so that's what it was. That really scared me…"
Then she puffed up and said in a softly fierce tone, "Don't joke like that next time. It's really frightening!"
Seeing that the items had been successfully delivered, Shao Yun planned to head over to the Jade Chamber to inform Ningguang.
Before leaving, however, he couldn't help but offer a teasing reminder.
"Alright, got it. I'm heading out! Remember to get plenty of rest—if you work yourself into the ground, Hu Tao's business will come knocking!"
Hearing Shao Yun's familiar, teasing words, Ganyu felt a wave of helplessness.
Even so, she gently nodded and replied, "Mm, okay. I'll make sure to rest. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Shao Yun…"
Watching his retreating figure, Ganyu shook her head slightly.
…
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the Jade Chamber was completely different.
When Keqing observed that Cloud Retainer had left Mt. Tianheng, she did not dare delay even a moment and immediately came to report the matter to Ningguang.
Standing before Ningguang's broad desk, Keqing reported, "Lady Ningguang, the Adeptus Cloud Retainer has already departed from Mt. Tianheng."
Ningguang sat leisurely in her seat. Upon hearing this news, the corner of her lips lifted into a satisfied smile as she praised softly, "Just as I expected. Mr. Shao Yun is very efficient."
As she spoke, she lifted her gaze, which happened to meet Keqing's.
At that moment, the usually serious Keqing seemed suddenly struck by something, her expression turning subtly strange.
She asked with a hint of urgency, "Lady Ningguang, did you just say that Mr. Shao Yun has returned to Liyue?"
Ningguang paused briefly, then nodded. A trace of slyness flashed through her eyes as she deliberately teased, "Yes. Why? Could it be that the Yuheng wishes to reminisce with him?"
Keqing's expression instantly became awkward. Unease flickered through her beautiful eyes as she quickly averted her gaze, avoiding Ningguang's stare.
Her voice trembled slightly as she said with a touch of guilt, "The relationship between him and me hasn't reached the point where we could sit down and reminisce…"
Ningguang watched Keqing's shy, almost girlish demeanor with keen interest, the corners of her lips curling into a mischievous smile as she teased,
"Oh? Really? During the Beisht incident, he saved your life, did he not?"
"And afterward, he even spoke up for you (LIE). Aren't those experiences enough to let the two of you look back on the past together?"
"You know, Liyue has a saying—saving one's life should be repaid with one's body…"
Seeing Ningguang actually use this matter to tease her, Keqing felt deeply embarrassed.
She coughed twice to cover her flustered feelings, then put on a stern face and reminded her seriously, "Lady Ningguang, please stop joking like this."
"Mr. Shao Yun is already married. Such topics are truly inappropriate."
Ningguang pretended to know nothing and replied with a smile, "I was just speaking casually. There's no need for the Yuheng to take it so seriously."
As she spoke, she muttered inwardly, "If such a perfect opportunity really existed, how could it possibly be your turn, Keqing?"
At that moment, Shao Yun appeared before Ningguang and Keqing.
He gave Keqing a slight nod in greeting before turning to Ningguang and saying, "I'm done. Cloud Retainer went home to take care of Shenhe."
In truth, Ningguang had already learned from Keqing that Cloud Retainer had left Mt. Tianheng.
Hearing Shao Yun's words, she nodded slightly and replied with gratitude, "Thank you very much. The agreed-upon Mora will be transferred to Lumine's name as soon as possible. Please rest assured."
At this point, Keqing—who had been listening from the side—instantly understood when she heard the word "Mora."
She finally realized why Shao Yun had been willing to step in and help Liyue send Cloud Retainer away.
Thoughtfully, she asked, "Lady Ningguang, so Mora was used as the reward…" Her words carried a complicated, hard-to-define emotion.
Seeing this, Ningguang raised her brows and teased her.
"What? Could it be that the Yuheng has a more brilliant idea?"
Startled by the question, Keqing hurriedly waved her hands and shook her head, quickly explaining, "No, no. I was just surprised. I didn't expect such a troublesome issue to be resolved so easily."
Hearing this, Ningguang maintained her faint smile and said calmly, "Keqing, with your intelligence, you should understand one thing."
"As long as a problem can be solved with Mora, it's not really a problem at all."
…
Seeing that there was nothing left for him to handle, Shao Yun prepared to take his leave.
He waved at Ningguang and Keqing and said, "Since there's nothing more for me here, I'll be taking my leave."
Seeing him about to go, Ningguang quickly spoke up. "Hm? You're not staying for a meal? Keqing's here as well—how about breakfast together?"
Hearing this, Shao Yun waved his hands repeatedly in refusal. "I'm really sorry. Thank you for your kindness, Miss Ningguang, but I need to hurry back to see Lumine."
Seeing that Shao Yun's heart was set on returning to Lumine, Ningguang understood that there was likely no chance this time to deepen their relationship further.
With no other choice, she offered her blessings with a smile.
"I see. In that case, I won't keep you any longer. Please give our regards to Lumine and Paimon."
Without turning back, Shao Yun said, "Mm. Goodbye, Miss Ningguang—and Miss Keqing."
Keqing quietly watched Shao Yun's disappearing figure, slowly raising her hand and giving a small wave as she whispered in a complicated, indescribable tone, "Good… bye…"
Ningguang took it all in. Seeing Keqing like this, a hint of curiosity arose in her heart, and she asked with interest, "What is it, Yuheng? Were you hoping to keep Mr. Shao Yun for breakfast?"
"If that's truly the case, it's not too late to chase after him now."
Hearing this, Keqing looked as though her thoughts had been laid bare. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she shook her head vigorously and replied with forced seriousness,
"N-no, nothing like that! The most important thing right now is to focus on the work at hand. There's no need to think about anything else."
With that, she quickly turned away, concealing the turmoil in her heart.
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