The simple, declarative statement hung in the opulent air of the Jade Chamber, as clear and profound as the view of the heavens outside the window. "I just want every house in Liyue to have one, so no one has to be cold at night."
For a long, silent moment, the only sound was the faint whisper of wind outside the glazed panes.
Ganyu's heart swelled with an emotion so powerful it almost brought tears to her eyes. She stared at the small boy beside her, this impossible child who was her little brother, and was filled with a blinding, fierce pride. In this room, the very epicenter of Liyue's commerce and ambition, a place where fortunes were made and lost on the turn of a phrase, he had just dismissed the concept of personal wealth as if it were an irrelevance. He had offered up a world-changing invention not for mora, not for fame, but for the simple, compassionate desire to bring comfort to others. He was the purest soul she had ever known.
Ningguang's reaction was far more complex. Her mind, a finely tuned instrument of calculation and strategy, faltered for a fraction of a second. She had been prepared for negotiation. She had been ready to haggle, to leverage, to draft a contract that was both generous and advantageous to the Qixing. She was a master of the game of profit and power.
But Ren had just refused to play.
He hadn't made a counteroffer; he had transcended the game entirely. She looked at him, truly looked at him, and for the first time, her analytical gaze was tinged with something akin to wonder. She saw the sincerity in his glowing azure eyes, the absolute lack of guile. He wasn't being naive. He wasn't posturing. He simply… meant it.
His motive was not profit. His motive was philanthropy.
The realization was both disarming and deeply, profoundly impressive. In her world, altruism was often a mask for ambition. But this… this was genuine. And in its own way, it was a display of power far greater than any demand for mora. He had seized the ultimate moral high ground, making it impossible for her to treat this as a mere transaction. He had elevated his invention from a product to a public trust.
A slow, genuine, and deeply respectful smile spread across Ningguang's face. She had met countless merchants, diplomats, and power brokers. None had ever impressed her so thoroughly, so quickly.
"An admirable goal, Little Ren," she said, her voice softer than before, laced with a new respect. "A truly admirable goal."
She leaned forward, her elbows on the table, her sharp business acumen re-engaging but now colored by this new understanding. "To achieve such a goal—to equip every home in Liyue—would require a massive undertaking. Manufacturing, distribution, ensuring a steady supply of electro crystals… The Qixing is uniquely positioned to handle such logistics, but it would require our full and formal involvement."
Ren nodded, showing he understood. "That's why I came to you, Lady Ningguang." He then carefully, respectfully, rolled the blueprint back up. "This is just my first clean draft. I am still working on a more detailed version, with precise measurements and material specifications to make mass production easier. I think… it would be best if my Master, Xianyun, brings the final version to you herself. They can discuss the… the formal details then."
He had deftly, respectfully, placed the ball back in Xianyun's court, reinforcing that the ultimate authority lay with the adeptus, while still having successfully planted the seed of the idea directly with the Tianquan. It was a masterful display of diplomacy.
He then looked at her, his expression shifting from that of a serious inventor back to a friendly, open child. "But you don't have to wait to see it work," he said casually, his tone light and inviting. "We have the first one, the prototype, at our house on Feiyun Slope. It's in the living room."
A brilliant, innocent smile lit up his face. "Big sister Ganyu and I love it. We just sit on the couch in the evening and enjoy the warmth. You should come and see it sometime, if you're not too busy. You can feel for yourself how nice it is."
The invitation was so disarmingly normal, so completely devoid of formality, that it took Ningguang by surprise yet again. He wasn't just a brilliant inventor and a skilled diplomat; he was also a child inviting a guest into his home. He had seamlessly transitioned from a high-stakes business proposition to a casual, friendly offer. He was, she concluded, a complete and utter enigma.
The thought of the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing dropping by a private residence for a casual viewing of a prototype was unprecedented. And yet… the idea was undeniably appealing. To see the device in a natural setting, to speak with them in a less formal environment… it was an opportunity for intelligence gathering that her board could never provide.
Ningguang's smile widened into a genuinely amused grin. "Perhaps I will take you up on that offer, Little Ren. A demonstration is always more persuasive than a diagram."
She stood up, signaling the end of the meeting. The hour she had allotted was not even half over, but everything that needed to be said had been said. He had presented an idea, gauged her character, stated his terms (or lack thereof), and opened the door for a formal partnership, all before finishing a single cup of tea.
"Ganyu," Ningguang said, her gaze shifting to her secretary, who quickly stood and bowed. "Your little brother is… a remarkable individual. Liyue is fortunate to have him."
It was the highest praise Ganyu had ever heard her give anyone. It filled her with a warmth that rivaled the heater itself.
As they took their leave, Ren looked down at the city sprawling beneath him. He had planted a seed in the most fertile ground in Liyue. Now, all he had to do was wait for it to grow.