Tears glistened in Shenhe's eyes as her pupils trembled wildly within their sockets, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Jean shared the same reaction, utterly frozen in place, her mind completely blank.
She remembered clearly what Elliot had said that night in the alley.
"I came to you today to ask for your help with Shenhe."
"She relies on me too much now, but I can't stay with her forever. My time is running out, so I thought I'd entrust her to you before I leave."
"I have a terminal illness—incurable. She depends on me so heavily, yet I'm dying. I don't know if she'll withdraw even further after I'm gone."
"That's why I want to entrust her to you. That way, even after I'm gone, she won't be left utterly alone and helpless."
Now that Elliot had reappeared before her eyes, could it mean...
The incurable terminal illness... had been cured!?
"Elliot... Elliot...?" Shenhe hastily rubbed her eyes, afraid she was seeing things.
"It's me." He answered.
"It really is you! You're back!!!"
Shenhe shot upright and threw her arms around Elliot, clutching him tightly, terrified he might vanish again. The tears she'd just managed to hold back surged forth once more, cascading down onto his chest.
Elliot reached out to gently stroke her head, but his hand froze. Feeling Shenhe's embrace, a faint smile touched his lips — this time, he had finally made contact. His hand no longer passed through nothingness.
"Good girl~ good girl~"
"I'm back, and I won't leave again."
Elliot let go of all his burdens, his face breaking into a relaxed smile unlike any before. He knew this time, he wouldn't break his promise. He wouldn't leave. This would be an eternal promise.
"I've always been waiting for you... waiting for your return..."
She lifted her head, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Elliot.
"I know these days have been hard on you."
"From now on, I won't let you suffer any more hardships."
Elliot smiled softly, reaching out to wipe away her tears, his gaze filled with tender affection. Shenhe's cheeks flushed, but she didn't shy away—instead, she met his gaze directly.
Elliot slowly lowered his head, and Shenhe stood on tiptoe.
Seeing this, Jean's face turned crimson. He turned his head away, unable to bear watching.
After a while, they were still locked in an embrace, their breathing slightly heavy. Unable to bear it any longer, Jean finally spoke up:
"That's enough. You've been kissing for minutes now."
Hearing this, Elliot and Shenhe paused, a shimmering thread of saliva stretching between their lips.
"Elliot, no offense, but doing this the moment you return isn't exactly appropriate."
Jean's gaze fell on Elliot's hand—firmly grasping a soft, supple breast.
Only then did Shenhe realize something was amiss. Her face flushed an unnatural crimson, though she offered no resistance.
"I swear, this hand just went there on its own. You believe me?" Elliot raised the hand in question and scratched his head.
"You don't even believe that yourself," Jean mercilessly called him out.
"I... I... I..." Shenhe's face flushed scarlet. She lowered her head, repeating the same word over and over.
"'If?'" Jean asked.
"If... if... if Elliot likes it... then... it's okay..."
After saying this, she buried her face even deeper. Extremely shy, she clasped her hands behind her back, twirling her thumbs in circles.
Hearing this, Jean felt as if struck by lightning. She rushed forward, grabbed Shenhe, and pulled her backward, away from Elliot.
"Shenhe, listen to me—you can't just fall for it so easily.
We girls have to be reserved, keep our composure, understand? We can't just fall into his trap like this."
She then shot Elliot a suspicious glare, like she were guarding against a thief.
"But..."
"You were the one who taught me to take the initiative."
"You even told me that once we did that, we'd be husband and wife."
Shenhe looked at Jean in utter bewilderment.
The words hit Jean like a sledgehammer. First the terminal illness lie, then Elliot reappearing right after she told Shenhe he was gone forever. And now this—another backstab. She was at her limit.
Yes, she had told Shenhe that.
But only because Elliot made her!
Back then he even called it a "secret code."
Now everything fell on her.
No explanation could wash the blame away; the stain was already set.
Seeing Shenhe's confused gaze, then Elliot's innocent expression, Jean simply couldn't hold back.
"These were all Elliot-m-m-m—!"
Before she could finish, Elliot clamped his hand over her mouth.
"Mmmph!! Mmmphhh!!!!"
Feeling like she was being silenced, Jean flailed wildly, eyes bulging, pointing at Elliot but unable to speak.
Shenhe's confusion only deepened.
"Captain Jean was actually saying that to celebrate my return, she's going to treat us to a feast out of her own pocket," Elliot explained warmly.
"Mmmph!!!!!! Mmm!!!!"
Jean struggled even harder, waving her arms in frantic, incomprehensible motions.
"See? Jean is so happy she could dance," Elliot interpreted with a smile.
"Really, Jean?" Shenhe asked.
"Mmmmm!!!! Mmmmmmmm!!!!"
"She says she wants to treat us to a feast tonight—she can't wait another moment."
"Jean, you're so kind!!!" Shenhe threw her arms around Jean.
Jean, who had been thrashing violently a moment ago, suddenly fell silent. Her eyes softened, tears glistening within them.
Elliot's hand loosened without him noticing.
"I'm just glad you're happy," Jean whispered, patting Shenhe's back.
Seeing Shenhe recover brought Jean immense relief. During the days Elliot was gone, she lived in constant fear. She was swamped with duties in Mondstadt, barely able to comfort Shenhe, and nothing she said ever really helped. She feared Shenhe might one day lose herself entirely and leap off the cliff.
Now, seeing her restored, Jean felt genuine gratitude.
"Jean."
Jean looked up, still emotional, as Elliot spoke.
Shenhe turned to him as well.
"I want to marry Shenhe."
Elliot gazed tenderly at her, then turned to Jean.
"Would you be willing to serve as our witness?"