Shao Yun gathered the deck neatly, then made his way back to where the others were resting.
There he saw Lumine and Paimon seated by the warm campfire—though, of course, Paimon was still floating.
When Lumine noticed Shao Yun's return, she smiled and gently patted the empty spot beside her, speaking softly. "Shao Yun, come sit here."
Shao Yun walked over and slowly sat down at her side. His gaze first swept over the two girls before him, then he asked, "I wonder… how was the stew I just made? To your taste?"
At that moment, Paimon rubbed her little round belly—now puffed up like a ball from eating—with a look of pure satisfaction and happiness on her face.
"Your stew was super delicious! And the lavender melon that Shinobu made was really tasty too!"
Hearing this, Shao Yun smiled faintly and nodded, then turned his head briefly toward where Arataki Itto and Kuki Shinobu were resting nearby.
After that, he turned back to Lumine, gazing at her intently. He seemed a little hesitant, but in the end he gathered his courage and asked, "Um… Lumine, there's something I've kept buried in my heart for a long time, something I've wanted to ask you."
Lumine blinked her golden eyes in surprise, curiosity lighting them as she asked, "What kind of question?"
Shao Yun bit his lip, hesitated a moment, then finally summoned the courage to speak.
"It's about… the first time we embraced, and the first time we kissed. What was it that made you do something so intimate in those moments?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Lumine froze, her composure shattering. A faint blush quickly spread across her cheeks.
She lowered her head, nervously fiddling with the hem of her clothes as she replied in a flustered, playful tone, "Oh, why are you suddenly bringing that up? Thinking about it now is so embarrassing!"
Shao Yun's eyes lit with urgency. "Really? Wow? Since that's the case, then I definitely need to hear the reason!"
Lumine found herself unable to resist Shao Yun's stubborn persistence. With no other choice, she shook her head helplessly, thought a moment, then slowly began to explain.
"All right, let me recall it carefully. Hmm… our first embrace—it was that night, when we successfully stole the Holy Lyre der Himmel."
"Honestly, even now when I think back on it, I can't put my feelings into words."
"In that moment, I had so much I wanted to say to you, but no matter how I tried, I couldn't find words that could truly express what I felt after hearing what you said to me then."
"So, I couldn't help but hug you. And later on…"
Her voice suddenly faltered.
Remembering what happened next brought a deeper blush to her face. She covered her cheeks with both hands, her voice muffled and awkward as she continued. "As for our first kiss… well… I guess it was because…"
"Ah, fine! Let's just say it's because you're handsome, all right? You seemed kind of distracted at that time, so I just took advantage of the chance and stole a little benefit for myself!"
Shao Yun's lips curved upward, and he let out a low whistle. With a teasing tone, he pressed her further. "There are plenty of handsome people in this world, more than I can count. Let me put it another way then. Even if you thought I looked decent, once you found out I was an outlaw, why did you still fall for me so wholeheartedly?"
Though he hated to admit it, he really had no other identity to lean on anymore.
Seeing Shao Yun pressing her relentlessly, Lumine panicked a little under his unwavering stare.
Quickly, she scrambled for a way to change the subject.
"Ah! Please, don't ask anymore, okay? If you keep going, you'll end up corrupting Paimon!"
Shao Yun glanced around. At some point, Paimon had quietly floated off to where Arataki Itto was.
He chuckled softly, then turned back to Lumine. "See how considerate Paimon is? She knew when to leave us alone. So don't think you can use her as an excuse to dodge my question."
At that, Lumine realized what had happened, her eyes widening as she spotted Paimon floating far away already. Puffing her cheeks, she muttered indignantly, "Hmph! Really now! The one time I need you as a lightbulb, you vanish in an instant!"
Shao Yun laughed, reaching out to gently pinch her soft cheek. In a tender tone, he asked, "Darling, won't you tell me? Please?"
Flustered by his touch, Lumine gave him a sidelong glance.
And in that instant, an idea lit up in her mind.
…
Lifting her chin, she wore a smug expression as she shot back playfully, "Fine, since you insist on knowing, let me ask you instead—why do you like me?"
"There are so many girls in the world far prettier than me! Just look at Inazuma's Ayaka. Whether the rumors are true or not… what do you think?"
Shao Yun hadn't expected her to throw the question back at him. He sighed inwardly, realizing Lumine had learned to counter him fast.
After thinking briefly, he gazed into her eyes and answered with utter seriousness. "To me, no one in this world could ever compare to your charm."
"As for Ayaka, she only wanted to use us for her own ends. Too bad she chose the wrong approach—she should've used Mora instead!"
"But I remember that matter's already been settled. And look, you're still friends with Ayaka, aren't you? Trust me."
Lumine tilted her head slightly upward, replying to him with words he himself had once said.
"Then you trust me too—I like you, and that's all there is to it!"
Shao Yun was stunned for a moment, then chuckled. "Well, thank you for spending your precious time on a doomed outlaw like me."
But Lumine wasn't letting him get away with that. Furrowing her brows, she feigned annoyance, scolding in a playful tone, "Satisfied now? If so, then go to sleep already!"
She waved her hand, urging him to move.
Shao Yun sighed in resignation, nodding as he walked over to a corner near the stone wall.
He sat down casually, leaning back against the cold, hard rock. Slowly, he lowered his head, as though ready to sleep.
But just then, an abrupt system notification chimed, and a line of text popped up on the screen.
[Did you see what I said earlier?]
The unexpected message left Shao Yun irritated.
With a cold sneer, he mocked the so-called system in his mind. 'Hmph, what now, you useless piece of trash? Just a moment ago you were spitting nothing but gibberish, and now suddenly you can speak clearly again?'
But the system ignored his scorn. It only stubbornly repeated its question.
[Did you see that message?]
Shao Yun rolled his eyes impatiently, replying in his mind. 'Yeah, I saw it. But it was nothing but garbled nonsense. The only words I could barely make out were "Barbatos" and "now." What are you even trying to say?'
'And by the way, that devil said that you're no good either. Didn't you two already strike some deal?'
The system fell into a brief silence. After a long pause, it finally gave a reply.
[A deal doesn't mean we stand as equals. In truth, it is far stronger than you can imagine. I fear that aside from GOD Himself, nothing in existence could rival it.]
[In fact, if it wished, it could easily become something akin to an Archon in this world.]
[Though it calls itself an accountant, you must be extremely cautious when dealing with it.]
Staring at the text on the screen, Shao Yun felt no fear—only a growing disgust for this worthless system.
'Tch! Even that talking mushroom in the Glimmering Narrows is more useful than you! You're nothing but trash, a complete waste of space!'
'All you ever do is tell me to stay away from it, but you've never once given me any actual help!'
His chest heaved with anger as he fumed in silence.
Finally, he drew in a deep breath, forcing his rage down before hurling the one question that had long burned inside him.
'At this point, I no longer expect to completely destroy that devil. I just want to know one thing: Who am I?'
'The night I first met the devil, you dodged and evaded. But now, I demand a clear answer!'
His eyes burned as he glared at the screen.
The system, almost sheepishly, responded.
[I'm truly sorry, but… I really don't know.]
Shao Yun's face fell into despair. In disbelief, he protested. 'What? You don't know? How is that possible? Don't tell me you've lost pieces of your memory too, just like me!'
The system gave a blunt reply.
[Yes.]
Shao Yun blinked, stunned. "What?" he murmured.
Sensing his confusion, the system elaborated.
[After you encountered the devil, not only you—I was also deeply affected. I wish I could tell you, but this is how it is now. I can't give you the answer.]
[If you truly want to learn the truth of the "past," Barbatos may know something. I am sorry—I am exactly what you call me: a useless piece of trash.]
[But believe me, no matter what, I am on your side. The devil will never be your friend!]
Reading these words that felt both earnest and helpless, Shao Yun muttered bitterly, his face ashen. 'Trash! Completely worthless when it matters most!'
At that moment, the system seemed eager to make amends. A new message appeared.
[A semi-automatic shotgun has been issued to you.]
Almost immediately, another followed.
[As further compensation, I can't explain everything about how you and Lumine fell in love. But would you like to learn something else you don't know?]
Shao Yun's cold gaze skimmed over both messages, a mocking smirk tugging at his lips.
'You're really good at changing the subject, huh? Just like that, you've shifted me away from the real question.'
Still, the second message piqued his curiosity.
'That devil said I need Lumine to maintain my "stability." What's your explanation? And don't tell me it's because of you!'
The system responded with a long, cryptic passage.
[Since you met that devil, the boundaries have become hard to define. As I said, I've been heavily affected too. But… I can still reveal a little secret.]
Suddenly, a strange new screen popped up.
A pink heart icon slowly floated into view, and in its center, two bold words appeared—[Affection Interface].
Shao Yun's eyes widened, staring at the bizarre display as a wave of discomfort surged in his gut. For some reason, his stomach churned violently, nausea clawing up his throat as if he might vomit acid.
"What the hell is this?" he muttered, frowning in confusion.
As though anticipating his thoughts, the system began to explain.
[This "Affection Interface" was originally designed as a special function for you. Before this area collapsed, it could quantify others' feelings for you into precise numbers.]
[Of course, beyond that, it has no special purpose. I'd planned to improve it further before giving it to you…]
Listening to this, Shao Yun fiddled curiously with the interface.
He noticed that among the names listed, only Lumine's showed a full 100 points of affection.
But as he scrolled, he saw there were few others, mostly from Mondstadt. Oddly, every icon except Lumine's was grayed out.
Even hers seemed sealed by some unknown power—he could see only the number, no further details.
The system elaborated.
[Because the devil appeared, this entire area collapsed. That's why the data you see is frozen at the moment just before it all broke down.]
Shao Yun furrowed his brow, straining to recall the past. Though much was forgotten, his memories of Teyvat's present still remained.
"So, what you're saying is… in less than a month, I managed to win the heart of such a beautiful girl?" he asked skeptically.
The system confirmed.
[You must believe in your own charm. Although it shouldn't be said, without the complications of the gang, Arthur and Mary would have been together too.]
Shao Yun didn't reply. His gaze drifted downward, locking on the data beneath Lumine's name.
And what he saw made his eyes widen in shock.
"What? Noelle is in second place? With a score of 78? What's going on with that girl?"
To him, Noelle belonged in the same category as Klee!
The system promptly offered an explanation.
[It's simple. At that time, you hadn't yet encountered the devil, and this area was still working properly. You helped Noelle a great deal. Don't you remember?]
Shao Yun nodded slowly, recalling. "Yeah… I remember. But even so, she's just a child… a girl who treats a rose as a symbol of secrecy."
The system clarified further.
[You helped that little girl Noelle greatly. You even killed Fatui agents for her.]
[Not only that, you gently comforted her fragile heart, telling her she didn't need to be so sad. Though young, she deeply admired you. It's normal.]
Shao Yun murmured to himself, "I only saw her as a child. And her feelings for me… were they admiration?"
The system replied helplessly.
[With the collapse of this area, I can't provide you an explanation. Affection doesn't always mean love. It's like you prefer cigars, others prefer candy… perhaps it's just like that.]
Seeing the closing words "perhaps it's just like that," Shao Yun grumbled irritably.
'Useless as ever… Forget it. Whatever the explanation, the truth now is that I love Lumine, and Lumine loves me. That's all that matters.'
'Loyalty… much as I hate to admit it, what that devil said wasn't entirely wrong, was it?'
Just then, the system dropped another message.
[So… will you restrain yourself a little when you reach Sumeru?]
Shao Yun's face hardened as he read it. With a cold snort, he replied icily. 'I don't care what kind of dirty deal you struck with that devil. But remember this—no one can betray their own heart, just as no one can defy gravity!'
'The only thing I want now is to bring this damned journey to an end. With a ranch! Or Tahiti!'
The system seemed unsurprised by his resolve.
[Understood. A fine quote from Dutch Van der Linde.]
Shao Yun, unwilling to continue the topic, shifted the conversation. "Enough of this. From what you said earlier, it seems I really do need to pay Venti a visit."
"That night you mentioned 'I am devouring everything'… It feels like Barbatos' importance just keeps rising."
Seeing Shao Yun prepare to seek out Venti, the system sent one last cryptic prompt.
[Indeed. Perhaps he truly can persuade you.]
Shao Yun couldn't help but curse with a grin.
"Balls…"