"Don't move. I'll help you put your shoes on."
Lu Lin's voice was gentle like a breeze.
A blush spread across Ganyu's face, but she didn't resist. She let him do as he pleased.
But she underestimated him.
Noticing her softened attitude, how could Lu Lin honestly just put her shoes on?
His fingers gently stroked the top of her foot. Then, while she wasn't paying attention, he suddenly slipped off her white sock, exposing her pale foot to the air.
"Ah—!"
She trembled lightly, her toes curling instinctively.
Her foot was delicate and elegant, her toes lined up like pearls. Smooth and cool in his hand, faintly scented—if he had stayed in Liyue longer, he would recognize it as the fragrance of Qingxin flowers.
"Don't…" Her voice grew softer.
She finally realized she had been tricked.
Who removes someone's socks just to put shoes on?
Yet she didn't truly want to resist.
At that moment, Lu Lin quietly assigned her the residency trait:
[Double Happiness]: When the holder experiences happiness, the feeling is doubled.
Ganyu received no system notification. She only felt that she had suddenly become… more sensitive.
As his fingers traced her foot, the sensation was already stirring. Now it intensified sharply.
Caught off guard by the amplified feeling, she suddenly hugged his head, her legs tensing straight. It took over ten seconds before she could exhale and relax.
The trait's effect was indeed powerful.
Lu Lin admired his handiwork for a while before finally helping her put her sock and shoe back on.
But just when she thought it was over—
He took hold of her other foot.
…
Eventually, both shoes were on.
Ganyu lay against the bed, cheeks flushed, eyes misty and tender. She looked both adorable and captivating.
Lu Lin's heart skipped.
He leaned forward, one arm around her waist, drawing her close.
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
Their gazes met, emotions flowing silently between them.
She puckered her lips and slowly closed her eyes.
Understanding the signal, Lu Lin leaned down and kissed her.
Her lips were cool with a faint sweetness. He moved gently, wanting to give her the best experience possible. And through [Double Happiness], that pleasure was amplified, returning to her in even greater intensity.
Her legs tensed again, shifting restlessly. She clung to him tighter, as if wanting to melt completely into his embrace.
After a long kiss, she felt that same strange energy from him once again, dispelling the remaining traces of black mist in her body.
She opened her eyes in surprise.
"The black mist inside you is gone, isn't it?" he asked softly.
"How did you know? Was it… because of the kiss?"
"I'm not sure why, but I'm not affected by the black mist. And I can disperse it from others."
"You knew you could disperse it from others… because of Hu Tao?" Ganyu's sharp mind connected the dots instantly.
Lu Lin froze.
Right.
He had forgotten that detail.
His face reddened as he nodded awkwardly.
"You're such a bad guy," she said, lightly pinching his waist.
But she didn't press further.
Seeing that she had tacitly accepted it, he quickly changed the topic.
"Do you know anything about this domain?"
"This domain… was once Guizhong's palace."
"The God of Dust?"
"You know of her?"
"Guili Plains used to be her territory. She fell during the Archon War. I've heard the stories. No wonder the mechanisms are so intricate."
"Guizhong's mastery of mechanisms surpassed even my master's. This was her residence. During the Battle of Guili Assembly, she fought to her death. The entrance to the domain vanished afterward—until now."
"So the Abyss Order reopened it?"
"Yes. The black mist is a fusion of abyssal power and the residue of a fallen god—the same god who once attacked this palace. The Abyss Order used that residue to locate and forcibly reopen the entrance. That's why it appeared unpredictably and drew us in."
"And their goal is the green orb at the altar?"
"Most likely. But I don't know what it contains."
"If we don't stop them soon, won't they succeed?"
"The golden barrier around the altar was left by Rex Lapis. Two Abyss Heralds cannot break it easily—even with godly residue."
Lu Lin nodded. The name alone inspired confidence.
"Now that the black mist inside me is gone, dealing with them won't be difficult," Ganyu said with quiet pride. "If I hadn't been weakened earlier, I would have handled them already."
She wasn't boasting.
She had survived the Archon War. Her true strength was formidable.
Lu Lin gently cupped her face.
"No. Even without the mist, you've fought multiple battles. You need rest. We'll go together."
She started to protest, but he continued:
"Hu Tao wasn't affected by the mist thanks to me, yet she still couldn't withstand a direct strike. That's because of accumulated exhaustion. I can dispel the mist, not instantly restore stamina. Don't underestimate it."
She paused.
"…Alright. I'll listen to you. But I'm worried."
"About Xiangling?"
"Yes. She's been missing for a long time. I suspect she may have entered this domain too. If we delay much longer…"
Her concern was genuine.
And time was ticking.