"It's so rare for Ayu to take a leave of absence," Baiwen remarked.
"Right? We've all taken a few days off here and there, but this seems to be her first time voluntarily requesting time off," Baiwen added.
Baixiao chimed in, "She's been looking a bit unwell lately. Taking three days to rest is probably a good idea. But..."
"Without Qin Yu, this job suddenly feels so much more tedious!"
"Isn't it just back to how it used to be?"
The three secretaries whispered among themselves, while Ningguang, seated in her office, sighed softly as she examined the leave request in her hand. She leaned back in her chair, twirling her pipe thoughtfully.
I definitely went too far last night, she mused.
Though the lingering sweetness of the night still brought her joy, she couldn't deny the disappointment and regret she felt at Qin Yu's resistance to deeper intimacy.
This feeling of longing and denial was truly wretched.
I was too impatient. It was my fault.
She had resolved to take things slowly, to be patient, yet she was the first to be blinded by her own desires. It was perfectly reasonable for Qin Yu to want to escape under these circumstances.
"It seems we both need some time to cool down," Ningguang murmured.
Three days wasn't a long time, but it should be enough for the feverish tension between them to subside to a more manageable level.
As for the sudden pang of loneliness, Ningguang trusted she could endure it.
-
At that moment, Qin Yu was lying in bed.
After handing her leave request to Baiwen, she returned to her rented room, hoping to catch up on some sleep. But every time she closed her eyes, she couldn't stop replaying last night's kiss, which had clearly crossed a line.
"She actually went... Ah—couldn't she just... No, even a simple kiss would have been wrong! We shouldn't have done any of that!" Qin Yu clutched her head, muttering in frustration.
If it had been a simple kiss, Qin Yu would have been embarrassed, but she wouldn't have felt the need to take leave and run away.
The problem was, it hadn't been.
That lustful devil, Ningguang! Qin Yu thought resentfully.
Being around Ningguang in this state was simply too dangerous. She needed time for Ningguang to cool down; otherwise, who knew what might happen during their next private encounter?
Three days of leave... Three whole days?
Although the reason for her leave was bizarre, having so much unexpected free time felt like a rare gift. What should she do with it? Qin Yu decided to stop thinking about Ningguang for now.
What if she gets lonely? she thought. Hmph, if Ningguang comes crawling back, begging her to return, then maybe... just maybe... she'd consider it!
Though she knew Ningguang was unlikely to do such a thing.
"Oh, right."
First, she needed to pick up her medicine.
Qin Yu resolved to handle that errand first before planning the rest of her three days. She climbed out of bed, threw on a jacket, and, dressed casually, headed to Bubu Pharmacy.
On her way back from Bubu Pharmacy, Qin Yu happened to run into Keqing.
"Keqing!"
Keqing, who had been lost in thought, snapped out of her reverie. Seeing Qin Yu jogging toward her, she couldn't help but smile.
"Qin Yu! What a coincidence! I didn't expect to see you here at this hour."
Qin Yu took Keqing's hand and smiled. "Me neither. What are you up to?"
Evaluation: D
The warmth of Keqing's palm brought back memories of their last kiss, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. "I just finished a task and was planning my next move. You... I thought today wasn't your day off?"
"Mm, I took a day off."
Keqing's eyes widened in surprise. "Took a day off? Are you feeling unwell? Have you seen a doctor?"
It's not an illness, it's... Qin Yu thought, convinced that Keqing mustn't learn the truth. Yet she didn't want to worry her either.
"No, no, it's not an illness."
Keqing frowned. "Then why did you take the day off?"
Why do you have to press me so much?
"Keqing, are you really that concerned?" Qin Yu asked, skirting around the issue.
Keqing averted her gaze slightly. "E-eh? Cough... Of course I'm concerned!"
"People usually don't take days off unless they're sick. If it's not that, then did something troubling happen? Tell me about it. I'll do everything I can to help." She squeezed Qin Yu's hand, took a step closer, and spoke earnestly.
Too close!
Qin Yu's mind raced, desperately searching for a plausible excuse.
Ahaha, actually, I had a bit of a disagreement with Ningguang... Should she say that? But if Keqing asked what the disagreement was about, what could she possibly say?
Would Keqing immediately run off to confront Ningguang after hearing that?
No, no, think harder.
"Why won't you tell me? Is it something you can't mention to me?" Keqing pressed, her voice tinged with urgency.
After all, they were practically family, even closer than childhood friends.
Keqing's insistence threw Qin Yu's thoughts into utter chaos.
Ah, whatever!
"It's just... a small matter with Lady Ningguang," Qin Yu murmured.
"With Ningguang?" Keqing frowned.
Does this mean something happened between Qin Yu and Ningguang that forced her to take leave? Did they have a falling out? The more Keqing thought about it, the more confused and suspicious she became.
Given Qin Yu's personality, the chances of her causing the conflict were practically zero.
So, it must have been Ningguang's fault?
At that thought, Keqing exclaimed indignantly, "How could Ningguang do such a thing!"
Exactly, exactly—wait, this is a misunderstanding, isn't it?
Though it wasn't technically a misunderstanding—it was Ningguang's fault—Qin Yu hastily defended her.
"You're misunderstanding! It wasn't Lady Ningguang's fault, and it's really not a big deal."
Keqing remained skeptical. "Really?"
It felt like even if Ningguang had done something to Qin Yu, she would still say the same thing.
This "protective loyalty" made Keqing even more frustrated.
"I'm going to ask her myself!" Keqing declared, about to head straight toward Yujing Terrace. Qin Yu hurriedly grabbed her.
"Keqing, don't you trust me?"
Keqing froze, her feet rooted to the ground. "It's not that I don't trust you, it's just... sigh, fine. I won't pry into what really happened."
Qin Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
But then Keqing raised an eyebrow. "But are you sure you're okay?"
"Ah, well, it's okay, it's okay. After my three days of leave are gone, so I'll just get back to work," Qin Yu replied with a forced smile.
How could I be okay? But I can't just run away completely.
Hopefully, these three days will give Ningguang time to cool down completely. As for what comes after... there's nothing I can do. I'll just have to leave it to my future self.
Good luck, future me. Qin Yu abandoned further thought.
Keqing's brow unfurrowed. "I see."
Wait a minute, if Qin Yu is free for three days, could I spend more time with her?
The thought made Keqing's heart race.
But she had been so busy lately, she could spare little time. Even this casual chat was one of her few moments of downtime.
Unless... Keqing had an idea, but she hesitated.
I wonder if Qin Yu would be willing?
"Qin Yu, you're free for the next three days, right?" Keqing asked nervously, fidgeting with her ponytail.
"Mm-hmm."
"Any plans? Anything booked?"
Why is Keqing suddenly asking this? Could it be that she wants to invite me to hang out?
With a hint of anticipation, Qin Yu smiled brightly. "Nope, nothing planned. Keqing, were you thinking...?"
"Exactly."
As expected. If you want to invite me, just say so! All the roundabout questions are pointless when a direct invitation would do the trick.
"Sure, I'll accept any invitation from you, Keqing!" Qin Yu nodded enthusiastically.
"Great! Let's go then."
Keqing smoothly took Qin Yu's hand.
"Where are we going?" Qin Yu asked curiously.
If there was one thing Keqing loved most, it was definitely shopping. But Qin Yu had no idea where they were headed.
"To my office, of course. Where else would we go?"
Ha?
Qin Yu looked puzzled. "Your office? I thought we were going out to play?"
"No, I want you to be my secretary for these three days. You said, 'I'll accept any invitation from you, Keqing!', so don't go back on your word now," Keqing said with a mischievous grin.
How can I spend more time with Qin Yu without letting work suffer?
It's simple, Keqing thought. Just have Qin Yu work with me.
We'd get to spend more time together, chat during breaks, and working together will give Qin Yu a better understanding of the real me. A win-win-win!
"..... Sigh."
Her hopes were dashed.
Hearing Qin Yu's sigh, Keqing asked, "What's wrong? Don't worry, I'm not like Ningguang. I won't make things difficult for you."
That wasn't the issue.
"I'll pay you your full three days' wages."
That wasn't it either.
Forget it, whatever!
The more Qin Yu thought about it, the angrier she became. The angrier she got, the more she realized she couldn't dwell on it, and she eventually gave up trying to make sense of it. After all, this wasn't the first time Keqing had done something like this.
But acting as Keqing's secretary for three days... Is that really okay?
I'm Lady Ningguang's personal maid, not Keqing's.
Even though they're both members of the Liyue Qixing...
And what if Keqing wants me to do... that kind of thing too, just like Lady Ningguang?
"Um, is this really okay? I am Lady Ningguang's personal maid, after all," Qin Yu said anxiously.
"Of course it's okay!" Keqing declared confidently. "I'll handle everything."
Since Keqing had assured her, Qin Yu could finally relax.
After all, she had no other plans, and being alone would only lead to anxious overthinking—never a good thing.
As for house-hunting with Shenhe, Qin Yu preferred to wait for a day off. The last thing she wanted was to accidentally end up hosting Shenhe for another two or three nights.
Even though they would be living together for many days soon enough.
"I'll go put my things away and come find you later," Qin Yu said.
"Alright, head straight to my office. If I'm not back by then, just wait a bit."
What's Keqing going to do? Qin Yu wondered, nodding.
The two temporarily parted ways.
Qin Yu returned to her room, while Keqing headed straight for Ningguang's office.
As soon as she entered, Keqing cut straight to the chase:
"Ningguang, Qin Yu will be working with me for three days. She volunteered."
Ningguang looked utterly perplexed. "Hmm?"
Qin Yu working by Keqing's side? And voluntarily?
Keqing's sudden arrival and words were completely unexpected. Though Ningguang's heart churned with turmoil, she maintained her usual composed demeanor and asked calmly, "Oh? She volunteered to work with you?"
"Exactly," Keqing replied. "But she's still worried about her status as your maid, so I came to ask specifically—do you approve?"
Before Ningguang could answer, Keqing crossed her arms, her tone growing dissatisfied.
"Also, I don't know what happened between you two, but if you ever make Qin Yu sad, I won't tolerate it—even if you're my colleague."
"Sad? Impossible," Ningguang retorted immediately.
Qin Yu was to be her lifelong partner. Ningguang couldn't lavish enough affection on her—how could she ever make her sad?
Yet she couldn't deny that minor "disagreements" like this one were probably inevitable.
Ningguang realized with profound clarity that she couldn't maintain sufficient rationality when it came to Qin Yu.
She couldn't guarantee she could restrain herself.
But Qin Yu will get used to it and accept it... At least, I'll do my best to make her accept it.
Keqing raised an eyebrow, her expression one of disbelief at Ningguang's decisive answer.
"Then why would she take three days of leave immediately after something happened between you two?"
Keqing was intrigued, but she knew Ningguang wouldn't give a straight answer. This was merely a rebuttal to Ningguang's words.
"It was just a minor disagreement."
Keqing scoffed softly. "Is that so? Yet here you are, sitting here even after a disagreement?"
"What we need now is calm. Besides, the conversation has drifted. Rather than keep arguing with me, let's return to the main point. After all, you didn't come here to interrogate me, did you?" Ningguang said calmly.
"True enough."
Though she found it hard to accept, Keqing hadn't expected Ningguang to answer truthfully.
Keqing flipped her ponytail. "Getting back on track, you can accept it, right? I'm just here to ask, not to change my mind."
Having worked together for so long, Ningguang naturally understood Keqing's personality and merely smiled at her attitude.
"Not necessarily impossible. She's on leave, so I have no authority to dictate her actions. If she willingly chooses to assist you, then I'll accept it."
Keqing exclaimed in surprise, "So generous?"
She had expected Ningguang to refuse outright.
Ningguang smiled faintly. "It's not generosity, but simply what's natural. Besides... after three days, she'll still return to my side."
Ningguang's self-assuredness unsettled Keqing.
Just as Ningguang had said, Qin Yu would eventually return to her side, continuing to exist in places beyond Keqing's sight and hearing.
Whether they quarreled or enjoyed pleasant conversations, Keqing would remain oblivious.
But.
"That's true," Keqing conceded, "but for these three days, she's mine."
Ningguang suddenly felt a pang of irritation.
As Keqing pointed out, even if Qin Yu returned to her side afterward, the fact remained that for three days, Qin Yu would be Keqing's companion.
Yet Ningguang was powerless to intervene.
Unable to meet with Qin Yu or make decisions on her behalf... This sense of frustration was truly unfamiliar. Ningguang thought.
But she refused to welcome such feelings.
"Then I'll take my leave," Keqing said.
Ningguang nodded slightly.
As Keqing turned to open the door, she hesitated, her conscience prompting her to add, "I don't know what happened between you two, but even the smallest disagreements shouldn't be ignored or left to fester."
"Are you offering me advice?" Ningguang asked, intrigued.
"Exactly."
Keqing turned her head, huffing, "If I were you, I'd go find Qin Yu immediately! At least start talking—taking action is far better than sitting around doing nothing."
"Thank you for your concern," Ningguang replied, "but this situation... is a little different."
"Hmph, do as you please. I was just giving you a friendly reminder for Qin Yu's sake. Farewell."
Keqing left the office.
Ningguang's gaze returned to the desk, where she picked up Qin Yu's handwritten leave request. Her eyes swept across the neat, elegant script, and she couldn't help but sigh softly.
The loneliness weighed heavier than before.
Keqing, her heart fluttering with anticipation, thought, Finally, I can work with Qin Yu permanently!
Their previous collaborations had been brief, and most of their time together had been spent privately. This time, she was determined to show Qin Yu her cool and capable side.
Furthermore, she would familiarize Qin Yu with the Yuheng's work principles, ensuring she memorized over a hundred key provisions. This would deepen Qin Yu's understanding of her ideals.
Even though she's known about my aspirations since childhood, there's no harm in making her grasp even clearer.
Perfect! Keqing could barely contain her excitement.
As for whether Qin Yu would accept, it never crossed her mind.
The reason was simple: Qin Yu had always accepted and supported her, and this time would be no different. Similarly, Keqing had always accepted Qin Yu wholeheartedly, a bond that would never change.
Will nothing change...
The joy in Keqing's heart, sparked by memories of her intimate encounters with Qin Yu, silently transformed into a new feeling.
If we're going to be together for three whole days... could it be...? No, what am I even thinking? Keqing shook her head, banishing the stray thoughts that had surfaced.
"Desire is fleeting," she muttered. "What truly matters is the resonance between our souls!"