When Yilan walked out of the bedroom, he saw Ganyu cooking in the kitchen.
It was obvious she had just gotten up. Her long blue hair, uncombed, hung messily over her shoulders, with a few strands sticking up, making her look completely different from her usual neat and composed appearance.
Because she was short on time, Ganyu hadn't put on any makeup and was only wearing a simple sweater for home.
However, even loose clothes couldn't hide her beautiful figure — in fact, they added a gentle, virtuous charm to her appearance.
At the moment, she was struggling with an omelette, frowning seriously as if she were facing a mighty adversary. Even the little horns on her head seemed to stand straighter with tension.
It looked less like she was dealing with a fried egg and more like she was facing down an ancient Rock Dragon Lizard.
After all, it was well known that Ganyu, being a half-qilin, adhered to a vegetarian diet and had almost no experience handling animal products like eggs.
Although her overall cooking skills were quite good, eggs remained her weak point.
Watching from the side, Yilan couldn't help finding the scene a little funny. He walked over and said,
"Let me help you."
"No!"
Ganyu's reaction was unexpectedly fierce.
She had long dreamed of cooking a meal for Yilan herself, fulfilling her wish to act as his wife.
Now that the opportunity was right in front of her, how could she let Yilan interfere?
Besides…
"Yilan, you can't even cook! You'll only mess things up if you try!"
"Please, it's been a long time since I didn't know how to cook. Actually, I'm pretty good now," Yilan said, spreading his hands helplessly.
This was the truth.
After all, in his second life simulation, Raiden Makoto had personally taught him to cook for over a month.
As is commonly known in Inazuma, Raiden Makoto and Raiden Ei (Raiden Shogun) were two extremes: Ei famously couldn't cook at all, but according to logic, Makoto's cooking was unparalleled.
Having received long-term tutelage from the greatest chef in the world — the God of Eternity herself — even if Yilan's current skills weren't quite on par with Xiangling's, they were certainly first-rate.
But naturally, Ganyu didn't believe him.
At this moment, her gentle and obedient demeanor was replaced by the firm authority of a wife. She placed her small hands firmly against Yilan's chest, pushed him onto a chair, and pressed him down.
"No means no, Yilan! Just sit there and wait — I'll have the meal ready soon."
However, just as she turned back, Ganyu cried out miserably:
"Ah! The eggs are burnt!"
Yilan rested his chin in his hand, watching the busy, clumsy Ganyu with a warm smile on his face.
Not long after, Ganyu brought out a bowl of steaming hot noodle soup.
The soup was clear and glistening, chopped green onions floated in oil atop the surface, releasing an enticing fragrance.
Two fried eggs, golden and crispy, were nestled atop the noodles, with little glistening beads of oil dancing around them.
"Try it and see if it tastes good," Ganyu said, her fingers unconsciously digging into her black-stocking-clad thighs, gazing at him with nervous anticipation.
Yilan took a mouthful of noodles, then a bite of the fried egg, and immediately gave her a thumbs-up.
"Delicious! The seasoning's just right, the noodles are perfectly soft, and the eggs are fried beautifully!"
In truth, compared to the many delicacies he had eaten since traveling through time, this bowl of noodles was fairly ordinary.
But the girl's thoughtfulness was the greatest seasoning — it made it the most delicious meal in the world.
Upon hearing his praise, Ganyu's face immediately lit up with a brilliant smile.
She rested her chin in her hands, happily watching Yilan eat every last bit.
"By the way," Yilan said suddenly, "Ganyu, aren't you going to eat breakfast?"
"I already ate something," Ganyu replied softly.
"Oh."
Yilan answered casually, but then, seeing her beautiful and gentle appearance, he couldn't resist teasing:
"Ganyu, let me ask you a question: do you know which day of the year women fear the most?"
Hearing this, Ganyu frowned and thought hard.
There were indeed many things that frightened her over her long life, but when it came to specific days, nothing particularly terrible came to mind.
After pondering for a while without an answer, she could only shake her head in frustration.
"I don't know, Yilan. What day is it?"
"December 1st," Yilan blurted out.
"Why?" Ganyu asked in confusion.
She thought back carefully but couldn't recall anything significant about that date.
"Ahem, well… I can't really explain it. You'll have to figure it out yourself."
"Hmph! Yilan, you're just teasing me on purpose!"
Seeing Yilan's mischievous grin, Ganyu grew even more curious. But no matter how she coaxed him, he refused to tell her the answer.
Finally, Ganyu raised her fists and gave Yilan a couple of playful punches on the shoulder.
Inwardly, Yilan cried out in grievance.
This time, he really hadn't meant to be a riddler — but with Ganyu's innocent expression, he simply couldn't bring himself to say it aloud…
Afterward, the two chatted at length.
Ganyu spoke about all the changes in Liyue over the centuries, but she never once asked why Yilan, supposedly long dead for a thousand years, had returned to life.
Perhaps she was afraid.
Afraid that if she touched upon some taboo truth, this beautiful dream would shatter.
Even if it was a dream — even if it was all an illusion — she would rather remain immersed in it forever.
———
After breakfast, Yilan insisted on washing the dishes. Ganyu couldn't dissuade him and had to agree.
When Yilan finished, he saw Ganyu sitting at her vanity in the bedroom, carefully putting on makeup.
Because she had rushed to cook earlier, she hadn't had time to dress up. Now, with time to spare, she naturally wanted to make herself beautiful again.
Watching her delicate movements in front of the mirror, Yilan sudden walked over,
"Ganyu, let me do your makeup."
Ganyu looked at him in surprise but then nodded shyly, full of expectation.
"Okay."
Yilan picked up the eyebrow pencil and half-knelt in front of her, carefully drawing her brows.
A soft blush stained Ganyu's cheeks, and her long eyelashes fluttered slightly.
Every now and then she would open her eyes a sliver to sneak a peek at Yilan, but then quickly close them again out of bashfulness.
Although it was Yilan's first time doing such a thing, his hands were steady, his heart careful, and his aesthetic sense sharp.
Before long, he drew a pair of slender, willow-leaf-like brows for Ganyu — delicate and exquisite.
Looking at her beautiful face, shy and delicate like a painting, Yilan couldn't help but recall another poem:
"The bridal chamber shone with red candles last night; this morning, she asks shyly about the depth of her drawn brows."
"It's so beautiful. Did you write that poem yourself, Yilan?" Ganyu asked.
"No, I heard it somewhere," Yilan said thoughtfully. "Though it's a bit inappropriate, I guess. After all, I'm the one doing your makeup now."
"I think it's perfect." Ganyu smiled gently, her eyes full of affection.
"Actually, I always hoped you would do my makeup someday… because this way, I know it's exactly to your liking."
———
Over the following days, Yilan and Ganyu traveled around together.
They went to the summit of Jueyun Karst to pick Qingxin flowers, visited Guyun Stone Forest to admire the remnants of Morax's mighty battles, and even stood atop the gates of the Jianmen Pass where Yilan shamelessly bragged about his heroic deeds — earning Ganyu's playful pokes to his waist and accusations of being "shameless."
They traveled to every corner of Liyue, allowing Yilan to see with his own eyes what the land had become over the years.
Hand in hand, they even wandered through every street of Liyue Harbor.
To Yilan's surprise, Ganyu, normally so shy and reserved, openly showed affection in public.
She told him quietly that she wanted all of Liyue to know she had someone she loved — that she had a husband — to dissuade the constant unwanted attention and proposals that annoyed her so.
This made Yilan feel immensely proud.
Together, they shamelessly showed off their love in every modern way possible, making the citizens of Liyue Harbor both envious and jealous.
But seeing as they were truly a perfect match — a beautiful woman and a handsome man — no one could criticize them.
It was even said that the marriage rate across Liyue surged in those few days.
Indeed, the whole of Liyue Harbor soon knew: the Secretary of the Yuehai Pavilion was blissfully married.
Only one person seemed to stand apart from all this celebration.
That person was Keqing.
***
"The sword shines like mine, cutting away all confusion!"
At Keqing's residence,
in the martial arts arena.
With a clear shout, thunder and sword-light exploded in an instant, weaving into nimble figures that left brilliant traces in the air before converging into a dazzling arc of violet light.
Keqing let out a long breath, twirled her sword into a flower pattern, and slid Longsound back into its scabbard. Only then did the air, thick with scattered grass debris and the white ring-shaped clouds stirred by her sword energy, begin to calm.
"Miss, it seems you've made a full recovery," said the maid standing nearby, quickly stepping forward to offer a handkerchief.
"Mm."
Keqing accepted the handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Truthfully, given her decisive nature, she would have resumed working days ago as soon as her injuries had mostly healed.
But for some reason, whenever she thought of how Yilan had sat by her bedside, looking at her with such gentle eyes and telling her to take good care of herself, she abandoned the idea of rushing back to her duties and obediently stayed home to recover.
(It's not that I've been tamed or anything! It's just that what he said made sense!)
(To have the courage to face myself honestly, and to accept the advice of those beneath me when it's reasonable—that's also something a leader should do!)
(Yes! That must be it!)
Having successfully convinced herself, Keqing smiled brightly again and turned to the maid.
"Is everything ready?"
"It's ready, Miss," the maid said, handing her a brocade box.
Keqing took the box and opened it. Inside was a jade pendant of exquisite craftsmanship—so fine that if it were placed on the market, it would certainly fetch a sky-high price.
But to Keqing, only something so rare and beautiful could match Yilan's gentle, temperament.
(It's still too difficult to just confess directly… It's not because I'm shy!)
(It would be strange to suddenly rush up and say I like him…)
(First, I'll invite him to tour Liyue in the name of repaying him for saving my life… Take him around Liyue Harbor, too, so that everyone sees how close we are. Let them naturally get the impression that we're dating. Then, when the moment is right, I'll confess. It'll definitely work!)
With these thoughts firmly in mind, Keqing arrived at Yilan's doorstep.
Standing before the door, Keqing suddenly remembered—this place was found for Yilan by her.
In a way, she could be considered the "hostess" here.
She patted her cheeks with her hands to cool their heat, then raised a small fist and prepared to knock.
The Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing had always been a decisive person, courageous in matters of both work and heart.
—That was how it should have been.
But just as she was about to knock—
"Yilan, hurry up!"
A familiar female voice came from within the house, full of sweetness and joy.
"Master Liuyun and the others are still waiting for us! I heard even the Geo Archon will attend today's gathering!"
"I know, I know. I'm already moving as fast as I can. But the clothes you made for me are really hard to put on…"
"Let me help you!"
"…"
A bad feeling rose in Keqing's chest.
Still, Keqing was Keqing.
Bracing herself, she knocked.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Coming!"
Ganyu's voice called out from within.
The door opened, and there stood Ganyu, her smile as gentle and bright as spring water. Seeing Keqing, she asked curiously,
"Keqing, what brings you here?"
Just those light, casual words—struck Keqing's heart like an iron clamp, making it hard to breathe.
She struggled to pull her facial muscles into an expression of polite confusion.
"Isn't this the home of Mr. Yilan from Mondstadt?"
"Oh, maybe you don't know yet," Ganyu said, her face glowing with happiness.
"Yilan is actually the one who protected Liyue a thousand years ago. He's also my husband. We officially registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs a few days ago!"
"Who's at the door, Ganyu?" Yilan's voice called from inside.
"It's Miss Keqing, Yuheng of the Qixing," Ganyu responded cheerfully.
That casual conversation, so warm and filled with domestic bliss, stabbed deeper into Keqing's heart than any blade.
For a moment, she felt ice creeping through her veins.
After Yilan had drawn the sword from Yuheng Mountain and defeated the Fatui Doctor, she had briefly entertained the wild idea that he might be the same Yilan from the legends of a millennium ago.
But it was such a fantastical notion that she had dismissed it quickly.
She never imagined—never prepared herself—for the possibility that it was true.
And now he was Ganyu's husband.
Keqing had never realized that such a simple, plain fact could hurt so much… like a knife carving her heart open.
What should she say now?
For once, Keqing—who prided herself on quick thinking and clear judgment—found her mind blank.
When a colleague and friend gets married, the right thing to do is to congratulate them… right?
"…Congratulations," Keqing said, her voice halting and strained, so unlike her usual crisp clarity.
"Congratulations to you both."
The girl who usually carried herself with head held high and eyes shining sharp and proud now kept her gaze lowered, not daring to meet Ganyu's eyes.
She didn't want to see the radiant happiness there.
And she didn't want to reveal the vulnerability in her own.
But Ganyu, immersed in her joy, noticed nothing. Smiling warmly, she said,
"Thank you!
Oh right—did you come looking for Yilan? Was there something you needed?"
"…No," Keqing shook her head lightly, forcing her voice to remain steady.
"I just wanted to thank him for saving my life the other day. I prepared this jade pendant for him."
She quickly placed the brocade box into Ganyu's hands, then said hurriedly,
"Since you're his wife now, I'll trouble you to give it to him."
"I still have work at Yuehai Pavilion, so I'll be going now."
Without waiting for Ganyu's reply, Keqing turned around and walked away briskly.
"Wait—!"
Ganyu called after her, but Keqing's figure had already melted into the crowd.
"Didn't you say Keqing was here? Where is she?"
Yilan, now dressed and ready, walked out of the room.
"She said to give this jade pendant to you as thanks for saving her," Ganyu said, still puzzled.
"But since you were home, why didn't she just hand it to you herself?"
Yilan took the brocade box from her and sighed, a complicated emotion flickering across his face.
But he said nothing more.
"Let's head to the gathering prepared by the Adepti first," he said gently.
"We can deal with everything else later."
***
Longer Chapter than usual 🤫