"That settles it."
Keqing hugged Ganyu and sealed the plan, then glanced around.
"You haven't bought new clothes in ages, have you? Come on. I'll have Ryou go help you with the paperwork. He can finish it in half an hour!"
"Mmph… o-okay." Since Keqing was insisting, Ganyu could only agree. If Ryou helped tonight, she'd definitely have it easier.
Keqing finally relaxed.
Looks like Ganyu's been under insane pressure. Tonight, Ryou would take a huge load off her.
And if it was just the two of them at Yujing Terrace…
Surely something would happen, right?
Keqing's expression twisted a little.
Should I have the Yujing Terrace staff clock out early too?
So it's only those two?
Mmph.
I've really been bending over backwards for that man.
If nothing moves forward today, I'm doomed.
Last night he got tempted by La Signora, held it in all the way home, and then took it out on me for hours…
Keqing looked at Ganyu with pure longing.
Ganyu-nee, you're an adeptus. We're basically sisters.
You have to help me.
Sure, it's the kind of thing people envy—and it feels good—but too much "good" is still a problem.
Keqing thought about the way her mother-in-law had looked at her, and her face burned even hotter.
"Keqing, why are you so red?" Ganyu noticed her staring, and in the next second Keqing's whole face went crimson. Ganyu reached out and touched her cheek, startled by how hot she was.
"I-I'm fine." Keqing shook her head fast.
"Then… let's go." Ganyu still found it strange, but she didn't overthink it.
She knew Keqing well. Ganyu had worked at Yujing Terrace for so long that she trusted her own judgment. Whatever Keqing was thinking, the look in her eyes wasn't malicious—just… weirdly loaded, like she'd remembered something embarrassing.
Mmph.
She's thinking about Ryou again, isn't she?
Those shameless scenes…
Ganyu's own face heated up a little.
She'd treated Keqing earlier today and nearly got shocked. The swelling had been… hard to look at. Even using adeptal power, she could still feel how intense it had been.
So Keqing skipping the ministry these past few days wasn't exactly a mystery.
If this kept going, even with a Vision, Keqing wouldn't be able to take it.
Still…
Ryou didn't seem to have any problems. So why did Keqing end up looking so pitiful every time?
…
Ryou waited at home for ages, but Keqing still hadn't come back.
So he went out, bought a pile of materials, and renovated the room inside his pocket realm.
[System]
[Brain Cell Optimization!]
[System]
[Darkened Mode active. Your stamina increases by 30%. Current total: 130%.]
Ryou immediately felt lighter. The drain from earlier dropped noticeably.
[Hand]: Master, I'm taking the day off!
[Eyes]: Master, Liyue Harbor is huge. I want to go look around!
[Kidney]: Master, I—
[Kidney]: ??? I didn't even finish my sentence.
Ryou: Denied. And tonight you're working overtime.
[Kidney]: Mmph… fine.
[Face]: Kidney, we don't even get a chance at "overtime." That's a blessing—cherish it.
[Heart]: Yeah, yeah!
[Spleen]: Out of all of us, Kidney gets the most use. We don't even get the chance to prove our worth!
Ryou: Enough. Only Hand and Eyes get time off. Everyone else, denied. Dismissed.
[Hand]: Thank you, Your Majesty!
[Eyes]: Thank you, Your Majesty!
…
Ryou looked around at the renovated room and nodded, satisfied.
Tonight he'd bring Keqing here to rest. It was way more comfortable than the house, and they wouldn't have to worry about disturbing anyone.
He could really cut loose too.
He reined in his thoughts, then looked at a stone on the table.
It wasn't like normal rocks. It wasn't dark—more pale, with strange patterns inside, a little like a polished river pebble.
Ryou remembered that Hand could give objects special effects, so he murmured, "Hand, activate a special effect."
[System]
[The stone has gained a transformation effect. Duration: 1 hour.]
A transformation effect?
So for the next hour, this thing was basically a shapeshifting charm?
Ryou clenched the stone and pictured Keqing in his mind.
After a moment, he went to the mirror.
And there it was—he'd turned into Keqing.
Even his voice matched. When he spoke, it came out exactly like hers.
Ryou's eyes gleamed.
He walked outside, wanting to see if the servants could tell whether he was real or fake.
"Keqing-sama!" The butler hurried over the moment he saw him.
Ryou could see the confusion in the man's eyes—because Keqing had gone out and hadn't come home yet.
So why was she suddenly standing here?
At that moment, footsteps sounded at the door.
Keqing and Ganyu returned, chatting and laughing, shopping bags in hand.
Keqing looked up—
And froze.
Ganyu saw "Keqing" too and went blank. She stared at Keqing, then at Ryou, then rubbed her eyes.
"Y-you two… what is this?"
Keqing's heart jumped into her throat. "Who are you?! Why do you look exactly like me?!"
For a split second, her mind spun.
Who was this?
Why was someone impersonating her?
Was this some kind of plot—someone trying to get close to her husband?
Seeing Keqing tense up like that, Ryou's mischievous side surged.
I haven't even said anything, and you're already barging into my house accusing me?
He pointed coldly.
"Butler. Call the Millelith. Arrest her."
Keqing's temper flared so hard she could see red.
This was her home, and this imposter was acting like the owner?
"You—!"
Ganyu pressed a hand to her forehead.
Even she couldn't tell who was real.
It wasn't just the face. The voice was identical too.
Keqing's eyes sharpened.
"I'm Keqing. And you still dare to pretend to be me?"
"Fine. Don't blame me for not holding back!"
She drew a sword from her Vision, killing intent flashing in her gaze as she locked onto the fake.
She looked ready to cut him down on the spot.
Ryou laughed awkwardly.
Sure, he could copy Keqing's appearance and voice…
But he didn't inherit her swordsmanship.
If they actually fought, he might not come out ahead.
"Everyone, stand down," Ryou said quickly. "If you want to know what's going on… come to the study. You'll understand there."
"The study?" Keqing's face went dark.
She already knew who this had to be.
She strode up, grabbed his cheek, and pinched hard.
"You idiot. How are you exactly the same as me? Talk!"
"Hey—ow," Ryou complained. "Relax. You'll know in a second."
…
Ryou noticed Ganyu staring at him without blinking, so he added an explanation to Keqing as they walked.
Once they reached the study—
"Keqing… who is she?" Ganyu asked, looking from Keqing to "Keqing."
She could tell Keqing recognized the other person, and they seemed oddly familiar with each other.
But Keqing's house only had Ryou living here, didn't it?
And Ryou was a man, so how could he possibly look like this?
If it wasn't him… then who was it?
"It's Ryou," Keqing said bluntly.
Then, without mercy, she twisted his waist.
"Ow—!"
Ryou wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into his lap. "Keqing, don't get so worked up."
"It was a lucky find. I got a treasure by accident."
"It only lasts an hour. I was testing it, and then you two came back."
"What treasure?" Keqing shot him a glare. "And don't wear my face while you do this, it's… it's too weird."
"Change back. Now."
"Alright, alright."
Ryou pictured his own face, and in the next moment he returned to normal.
Ganyu stared at him in disbelief. "That's… unreal. I honestly couldn't tell you apart."
Ryou smiled and placed the stone on the desk.
"As long as you hold it and picture someone, you can turn into them. That's how I fooled you."
"It only works for an hour. Once it expires, it's just an ordinary stone again."
"What a waste," Ganyu murmured.
Keqing smacked Ryou lightly. "Next time, don't scare us like that."
"Also—go help her tonight. She spent half the day shopping with me, and her work's been delayed."
Ryou hesitated, surprised Keqing was pushing this so directly.
But if it really only took half an hour, there wasn't much to think about.
"Fine. No problem."
"Ganyu, stay for dinner. After we eat, I'll go to Yujing Terrace with you and help clear the paperwork."
"Mm. Thank you," Ganyu said, finally relaxing.
And somehow, the thought she'd been trying not to face made her feel… excited.
Keqing told the butler to prepare dinner.
When she returned, she saw Ryou had gone back to the bedroom, while Ganyu sat in the living room sipping tea.
Keqing's eyes flicked, and an idea took shape.
Because earlier, she'd casually pocketed that stone.
And now it finally had a use.
Keqing tightened her grip on it, pictured Ryou's face, then took a steadying breath and walked toward the bedroom.
A moment later, "Ryou" walked out.
"Ryou… what is it?" Ganyu looked up as "Ryou" approached, and for some reason she felt something was slightly off. She asked instinctively.
"It's nothing," "Ryou" said, sitting down beside her with an easy smile.
"I just wanted to tell you dinner will be ready soon."
"Since we have time, we can chat a bit. Get to know each other better."
As "Ryou" spoke, his hand slid over and gently covered Ganyu's.
His voice softened, turning unusually warm.
Ganyu's breath hitched.
Her face flushed in an instant.
Because in her impression, Ryou was a good man—polite, steady, almost gentlemanly.
So why was he starting with this?
Grabbing her hand?
Saying they should "build intimacy"?
What was going on?
Did Ryou… like her?
[End of chapter]
[200 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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