Lady Keqing had barged in uninvited.
And since she couldn't simply be shooed away… Ningguang could only endure it. This girl's blunt, straightforward nature was truly a headache.
"You've heard the news already?"
Ningguang thought for a moment. Keqing must have gotten wind that she planned to invite a certain someone to the Jade Chamber tonight—otherwise she wouldn't have chosen this time to show up and "interfere."
"I ran into Ganyu on my way home."
Keqing didn't even bother hiding it.
"Oh, and I also helped point her in the right direction."
Hm?
Ningguang froze, realizing the situation might not be so simple.
"No need to guess. I just parted ways with Mister Taro."
Catching Ningguang's pensive expression, Keqing bluntly gave the real answer.
"Yes, we were at Wanmin Restaurant. What, your informants didn't report that back to you?"
"They didn't," Ningguang admitted with a shake of her head. "With the Rite of Descension tomorrow, all of my focus has been on monitoring the Fatui."
Then she glanced at Keqing. "But from the sound of it, you seem to value this gentleman quite a bit?"
"Value? Hardly."
Keqing didn't even turn around as she replied:
"Mister Taro and I can't really be said to have some kind of deep bond, but I have learned much from him. I only came up here tonight to see what foolish stunt you were planning to pull."
The words were sharp, but in truth Keqing had deliberately offered Ningguang a warning. After all… they were colleagues.
"…So you're here to watch me make a fool of myself?"
Ningguang rubbed at her brow. "Still, thank you for the reminder. I'll take this first meeting quite seriously. I'll do my best not to leave a poor impression."
"Suit yourself."
Keqing acted nonchalant, not worried in the slightest that Ningguang could steal Taro away.
"Oh—and arrange a Qixing council meeting soon. I'll call it to order. There are many topics I want discussed."
"A council meeting?"
Ningguang looked up, her expression sinking as her ruby-red eyes grew serious.
"Keqing… has this Mister Taro truly influenced you so deeply?"
Her demeanor tonight was unlike the Keqing of the past. Ningguang could see that plainly. And the catalyst for this change… was that mysterious man.
"Keqing, you must realize—"
"That's enough."
Keqing cut her off with a wave of her hand, her voice firm:
"I know what I'm doing. More than ever before. I've already chosen my goal. No matter what you say, it won't change. This is my decision, not someone else's influence. As one of the Qixing, I have enough judgment and resolve to stand by it."
She knew very well whether she'd truly been swayed by Taro.
He wasn't some manipulator. If anything, he was more like a lantern—his faint light had illuminated the world just enough for her to glimpse it more clearly. He hadn't pushed her, hadn't guided her—he had simply shown her evidence and facts.
"…Very well. As long as you understand yourself, then I'm relieved."
Ningguang decided to drop it. She knew Keqing wouldn't be swayed further tonight. Still, she silently raised her guard regarding this Taro.
After only a few meetings—barely three days—Keqing's whole bearing had shifted. That was no small thing.
She couldn't possibly believe that Keqing had simply "grown up" overnight… could she?
No, impossible. Absolutely not—
And yet, Ningguang suddenly faltered. Her eyes sharpened as she looked at Keqing again.
The same girl stood there by the window, hands folded behind her back, staring calmly down at Liyue Harbor.
Her usual fierce aura remained, but now there was an added depth of composure.
This wasn't her imagination. Keqing really had changed.
"…What happened in those three days?" Ningguang thought to herself. "What could alter a person's mindset so quickly? She must have witnessed something with her own eyes."
Mister Taro was indeed far from ordinary. Not an adeptus, but clearly tied to them. And closely associated with none other than Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's guest consultant, Zhongli.
In only three days, with two meetings, he had given Keqing this steadiness.
Ningguang allowed a faint smile to play at her lips.
"Well then, Mister Taro… I look forward to our meeting."
Keqing really had grown—not in power, but in maturity.
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
"Ah, there you are, Brother Taro!"
Squatting on the steps, Tartaglia (Childe) brushed imaginary dust off his trousers and sprang up with a grin as Taro approached.
"Ever since we parted ways on the Pearl Galley, I've been searching all over. You can't keep standing me up—we agreed to spar again!"
He had nearly missed him altogether these past few days. Luckily, camping out here had finally paid off.
"Childe, huh."
Taro arched a brow at the sight of him waiting by his door.
"Funny, wasn't it you who lied to me back on the ship?"
"That's on me."
Childe scratched his head sheepishly.
"How about this—after we fight, I'll treat you to dinner at Liuli Pavilion. Consider it an apology. What do you say? I'm just itching for a match… these last few days the Qixing have been breathing down my neck so hard I can't find anyone to fight. But you don't count—we arranged this ages ago!"
Taro considered it. He was about to agree when—
A soft figure appeared on the rooftop, white hair and pale blue clothes glinting under the moonlight.
"Tch. Spoiler alert," Childe muttered, annoyed.
His half-lidded eyes rose toward the horned adeptus perched above them.
Meeting both their gazes, Ganyu bowed slightly, placing one hand to her chest.
"Good evening, Mister Taro."
Her voice was as gentle as moonlight.
"I am Ganyu, Secretary of Yuehai Pavilion. Tonight, I come as envoy of Lady Ningguang, Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, to invite you to the Jade Chamber for a private discussion. If you are free this evening, would you be willing to come?"
Then, her ruby eyes flicked to Childe, her tone still soft but carrying iron underneath:
"And as for you, Fatui Harbinger Tartaglia… refrain from causing trouble within Liyue Harbor. Do not harass or hinder our people. If you do, I will invoke Liyue's law and see you expelled."
"…"
Childe twitched.
She looked fragile, sounded sweet and delicate—
but her words were anything but.
(End of Chapter)
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