"Ah! Yuto, I'm so sorry, I didn't know these were the medicinal herbs you and Qiqi picked in this ice cellar. I'm really, really sorry. Don't worry, I'll definitely compensate you."
Yuto looked at Ganyu, who was flustered and full of shame, and couldn't bring himself to blame her. He just took a deep breath and said, "It's fine, Senior Ganyu. They're just some Qingxin. We can go pick more. We're also at fault; we thought this place was rarely visited, so we let our guard down and just left the herbs there."
"No, no, no, it's my fault. I will make amends." Ganyu finished speaking and began fumbling around her body, as if searching for something to compensate him with.
Seeing this, Yuto thought she wanted to offer Mora as compensation and couldn't help but become curious: "Then do you have Mora?"
"Ah? Mora? I don't have that."
"It's one thing for Gods and Adepti not to have Mora, but aren't you a secretary at Yuehai Pavilion? Don't you get paid?"
"Salary? Our qilin clan drinks only sweet dew and eats only fine grains. This is my code. As for other fame, money, mansions, and so on, they are useless to me."
"So, Senior Ganyu, you've been working for Liyue Harbor for over three thousand years for free! And you don't even get holidays, always working 007. The people at the Ministry of Civil Affairs are treating you like livestock. No, even livestock get to rest sometimes. This is worse than livestock."
"No... it's not that exaggerated, is it? Also, what does 007 mean?"
"It means starting work at 0:00 every day, finishing at 0:00 the next day, and working seven days a week."
"Uh, well, it's not that bad. I can still sleep for an hour every day."
Yuto was speechless upon hearing this. The people of Liyue had truly squeezed Ganyu dry, and the most crucial thing was that she was willing. "No wonder Senior Ganyu always looks half-asleep; you're just too tired."
"It's alright, I have a half-human, half-Adepti physique, so it doesn't matter even if I don't rest for a few days..."
"No!" Yuto's tone suddenly became firm, startling Ganyu, who showed a timid expression.
"Senior Ganyu, after the Archon War ended, many Adepti and Adeptal Beasts chose to seclude themselves in the mountains and cultivate. Why did you choose to stay in Liyue Harbor? Is it just because of your contract with Lord Rex Lapis?"
"I... I have half-Adepti blood. The human side of my bloodline makes me linger in the dazzling lantern market, but my Adeptal nature often makes me miss the peaceful times in the immortal mountains and caves. I've always been conflicted, wanting to integrate into Liyue, but I always feel like I can't. People always distance themselves from me because of my identity and the horns on my head."
"Senior Ganyu, have you ever considered that your approach has always been wrong?"
"Wrong? How is that possible? This is a contract Lord Rex Lapis made with me! How could Lord Rex Lapis's words be wrong?"
"No, no, no, you've misunderstood me. Lord Rex Lapis's contract isn't wrong, but perhaps your understanding is mistaken? Does Lord Rex Lapis's contract require you to work non-stop like this every day? Does it say you can't have holidays? Does it say you must dedicate yourself to every Liyue resident without expecting any reward?"
Upon hearing this, Ganyu silently shook her head. How could the wise and mighty Lord Rex Lapis issue such a harsh contract?
"You see, there isn't, is there? The reason you've always felt unable to integrate into the city of Liyue is because you're too busy, always preoccupied with work. You need to know that even the most diligent humans don't work a fraction as hard as you do. Your working style has already gone beyond the scope of a human being.
To truly integrate into Liyue, a city of people, you need to become like a normal person, not just take on a human form. A human's life isn't just about work; it also includes delicious food, gatherings, playing, enjoying entertainment, and so on. That's what makes a complete life.
Think about it, hasn't there been a situation where colleagues invited you to a gathering, and you refused due to work? Friends invited you to play, and you refused due to work? Someone asked you to go shopping, and you refused due to work again? Over time, no one invited you anymore."
Upon hearing this, several memories immediately surfaced in Ganyu's mind. Indeed, just as Yuto said, those people slowly stopped inviting her.
"Then... what should I do?"
"It's simple: separate work from personal life, just like a normal Ministry of Civil Affairs employee who clocks in and out. During work hours, you maintain your normal routine, but during off-hours, you can put down your work and do some personal things. This personal time can be for shopping, enjoying delicious food, or even just sleeping soundly.
And during holiday time, didn't you say you longed for the immortal mountains and caves? Then you can use this time to return to those places, or chat with your master, until your holiday ends and you return to work.
Simply put, it's a 955 work system: start work at 9 AM, finish at 5 PM, and work 5 days a week. Oh, and remember to always take your salary. After all, to truly integrate into Liyue, not having Mora won't do. You might not need it, but you can't not have it."
The future scenario described by Yuto made Ganyu quite yearn for it, and an expectant expression appeared on her face. However, this expression only lasted for a moment before she immediately asked, "But what about the unfinished work?"
"Work is never-ending. In such a vast Liyue, countless things happen every day, leading to infinite work. However, everything has its priorities, and besides, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Qixing, and the Eight Doors—every department has a large number of staff members handling specialized tasks. You don't need to feel like you have to do everything yourself."
"But, Lord Rex Lapis's contract..."
"Is there anything I asked you to do that violates Lord Rex Lapis's contract? And, have you noticed something?"
"What is it?"
"In the early days of Liyue's founding, Lord Rex Lapis also did everything himself, personally overseeing and establishing various frameworks for Liyue, managing it meticulously. Liyue Harbor flourished as a result. Later, Lord Rex Lapis gradually began to delegate power, slowly allowing humans to manage things themselves. This is why the Liyue Qixing are now officially stepping onto the historical stage.
And now, Lord Rex Lapis only makes an appearance once a year at the Rite of Descension. He only works one day a year. Do you think that old man, during the rest of the days, might also transform into an ordinary person and listen to stories and taste tea in some teahouse?"
"How could that be? How could Lord Rex Lapis..."
"You can't guarantee he wouldn't, can you?"
Ganyu fell silent. To be honest, Ganyu really wanted to deny Yuto's statement, but she didn't know how to refute it. Moreover, the future he described was indeed the life she truly desired, and most importantly, it didn't violate her contract with Lord Rex Lapis.
Ganyu's originally furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and a smile slowly appeared on her usually serene face.
Seeing Ganyu's expression of having completely understood, Yuto chuckled with relief. This silly girl had finally been 'tricked' by him, but it was also a good thing. As for the reason, it was naturally because he himself was a workhorse in his previous life, and then he met an even bigger workhorse in this other world. It was simply a case of sharing the same plight.
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