[Keqing: "In that case, there's a dish I'd like to ask you to try making. It's from my grandfather's old recipe book. I'll show it to you when we return to Liyue Harbor."]
In the book, after the group finished their meal and returned to Liyue Harbor, Keqing stopped the Traveler and asked how to interact with Xiangling after she left.
It turned out that Keqing, who was usually very busy and held a high social status, had no experience dealing with enthusiastic girls like Xiangling, so she asked the Traveler for advice.
This was indeed the right person to ask, as the Traveler knew quite a few "enthusiastic girls."
The Traveler gave Keqing some suggestions and then went straight to find Xiangling to ask about her opinion of Keqing.
[Xiangling: "Keqing has a great personality and is easy to get along with. Everyone likes interacting with people like her, right?"]
["Just now at the inn, she even fed Guoba something delicious. Didn't you notice?"]
Guoba had snatched Keqing's favorite Golden Shrimp Balls, but not only did Keqing not get angry, she even fed Guoba something tasty. This showed that Keqing truly had a good temperament.
"Eh? Am I really that easy to get along with?" Keqing asked, unaware.
Because of her "disrespect" toward the Geo Archon, many people in Liyue actually opposed Keqing.
"Mmm, you really are easy to get along with," Ganyu replied. The two had worked overtime together many times and were naturally friends.
"Isn't that just because you're too gentle, Ganyu?" Keqing wondered.
She had always thought that the reason she got along so well with Ganyu was because Ganyu was too kind and tolerant of her.
In truth, both Keqing and Ganyu were easy to get along with, but generally, no one dared to interact with them.
One seemed too efficient and capable, while the other seemed too aloof. Combined with their high status, ordinary people wouldn't dare approach them.
In the end, these two very approachable people actually had very few friends.
Returning to the book, after the Traveler finished discussing Keqing with Xiangling, they suddenly heard some commotion outside.
When the group stepped out of Wanmin Restaurant, Xiangling exclaimed: ["Ah! Such a big bird!"]
[Paimon also gasped: "Ah! It's that woman!"]
It turned out that Cloud Retainer had landed on the rooftop.
[Cloud Retainer: "How insolent! Which woman?!"]
In reality, Cloud Retainer shot Lucian a glance, using the team voice chat: How dare you write about me like this!
Lucian gestured toward Paimon with his chin, indicating that it was her words and had nothing to do with him.
Guizhong covered her mouth with a light laugh, her long sleeves obscuring half her face, the cuffs resembling a starry sky that hid her small hands.
This time, she didn't laugh too wildly—unlike with Xiao, Cloud Retainer was right beside her.
The feeling of being "revived" was truly wonderful; otherwise, how could she enjoy these amusing moments with her old friends?
In the story, the reason Cloud Retainer appeared in Liyue was because she also wanted to participate in the "Adeptus' Cooking Showdown."
As the "I Love Inventions" Adeptus, she had specially invented a new contraption for the competition.
She came to Wanmin Restaurant to find the Traveler, who was also skilled in cooking and had sampled cuisine from various nations, hoping to invite them to taste the food she had "prepared."
After explaining her purpose, Cloud Retainer left. Guoba tilted his head as he watched her depart.
Unfortunately, Cloud Retainer didn't seem to notice him.
[Paimon: "She really comes and goes like the wind... I mean, a fairy... no, a divine bird?"]
In reality, Paimon felt Cloud Retainer's intense gaze and hid behind the Traveler.
Her small head peeked out from behind the Traveler's shoulder, like a spirit clinging to her back as they read the book together.
After Cloud Retainer left in the story, Keqing arrived, having only caught a glimpse of Cloud Retainer's departing figure.
[Keqing: "The ancient text is quite old, so parts are often missing. There are a few gaps in the recipe—I'm not sure if it matters?"]
This was why Xiangling planned to properly cook a dish to make it up to Keqing. Otherwise, she might have tried replacing the missing parts with Slime condensate.
As they were discussing this, a voice called out: ["Is everyone here?"]
[Traveler: "Yangu?"]
That's right—it was Ganyu, who had come to check on the disturbance caused by a certain large bird.
After learning that Keqing and the others had met Cloud Retainer, Ganyu grew slightly nervous.
[Ganyu to Keqing: "C-can I borrow a moment of your time? There's something I'd like to ask you."]
[Keqing, puzzled: "What is it, Ganyu? Is there urgent business to handle?"]
Truly the overtime duo—their first thought was work-related matters.
[Ganyu waved her hands: "No, it's not about work. It's a personal matter... Is that alright?"]
["Is it really okay? I'm really going to ask now, okay?"]
This made the readers curious—what personal matter could make Ganyu seem so nervous?
Keqing read each word carefully, sensing that Ganyu was about to say something important.
Ganyu, meanwhile, had already anticipated what was coming and covered her face with her hands.
[Ganyu: "I saw Cloud Retainer stayed here for a while. Did she... tell you any stories about me... from when I was little?"]
"..." Cloud Retainer fell silent.
"..." The others fell silent.
So it was about this! Thanks to Lucian's exposure, this story was already common knowledge.
Ganyu being so secretive had made them think it was something else entirely.
"Ganyu... what kind of image do you have of me in your heart?" Cloud Retainer sighed, rubbing her forehead.
"Pfft—hahahaha! Of course, the image of someone who loves to chat," Guizhong finally couldn't hold back.
"Is this one not skilled in conversation?" Cloud Retainer huffed proudly, seeing Guizhong laugh so hard.
"Master is very skilled in conversation," Shenhe nodded.
While everyone else was laughing, Keqing remained serious—she had been too busy with overtime and didn't know about Ganyu's childhood story.
Heck, she only learned today that Zhongli was the Geo Archon.
In the story, Keqing said that Cloud Retainer hadn't shared any stories about her, and she didn't press further.
[Paimon: "Keqing, aren't you curious about the story Ganyu mentioned?"]
[Keqing: "Of course not. If Ganyu has secrets she doesn't want others to know, it's only natural not to pry."]
"Keqing... you really are kind," Ganyu said with a smile.
"Eh? Why the sudden praise?" Keqing felt a little embarrassed.
She didn't think what she said was particularly kind—weren't those just basic manners?
Meanwhile, Lucian teased Paimon, "Paimon, bad!"
Paimon retorted, "It's all because of what you wrote!"
Lucian shot back, "But these are all things you would say. That's why I wrote them."
"Ugh..." Paimon was stumped, so she angrily declared, "You're the worst, Lucian! I'm gonna set the seas ablaze!"
"..." Lucian fell silent before reaching behind the Traveler to grab Paimon and pinch her cheeks.
The Traveler didn't intervene—just as she had said before, she wouldn't save Paimon.
Before leaving in the book, Ganyu added: ["Everyone, I still have work to do, so I'll take my leave now. Please take care of Keqing."]
[After Ganyu left, the Traveler remarked: "Keqing, she sounded just like your older sister."]
"Older sister?" Ganyu mused.
"What older sister?!" Keqing grew even more flustered.
She did like Ganyu a lot, and Ganyu had helped her greatly at work. Sometimes, she really did feel like an older sister—but she was too embarrassed to admit it.
In the book, Xiangling proposed a new theory: What if the Stove God was an Adeptus, just like Cloud Retainer?
If they were an Adeptus, they could just ask an Adeptus directly. Ordinary people might not be able to find one to ask, but Xiangling was an expert.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice - Ganyu: About Keqing - Older Sister
"Mmm... now that I think about it, my impression of her only changed recently. The events of the Moonchase Festival helped me understand Keqing better. If I could be her older sister, I'd be very happy to."