The morning after the rain was fresh and clean, the stone streets of Liyue washed to a dark, gleaming gray. The sun, finally breaking through the clouds, cast long, sharp shadows and made the damp roof tiles steam gently in its warmth. Inside the house on Feiyun Slope, a new resolve had taken root in Ren's heart. He had his Master, a divine crane-turned-scholar. He had his big sister, a gentle-hearted secretary who could hug with the force of a Geo Lawachurl, not that he knew how a Geo Lawachurl hugged, probably not the best idea. Now, he wanted to see their world.
"Big sister Ganyu," he said, finding her in the garden where she was inspecting a Glaze Lily that had bloomed overnight. "Can we go out today? Into the city?"
Ganyu, who had just arrived with a breakfast of warm millet porridge and sweet pastries, turned to him, her amethyst eyes lighting up. She had been hoping he would ask, but didn't want to push him. "Of course, Ren! I was thinking the same thing. I'll just send a message to the Yuehai Pavilion. My work can wait. Showing you the Harbor is much more important!"
Her priorities, once a carefully balanced ledger of Liyue's administrative needs, had been completely and irrevocably rewritten. At the top of the list, in bold, underlined script, was Ren.
Before they left, she pressed a small, heavy pouch into his hands. It was made of soft, dark blue silk and cinched with a golden cord. It jingled with a satisfying weight.
"What's this?" Ren asked, looking up at her.
"It's mora," Ganyu explained, her expression earnest. "For you to use. If you see something you like, a snack or a toy, you can buy it." She saw the hesitation in his eyes and quickly added, kneeling down to his level, "Please, Ren. I've been working for the Qixing for… a very long time. I've accumulated a great deal of wealth, but I never have time to spend any of it. It just sits there. It would make me so happy to see it bring you some joy. Think of it as… a gift. From your big sister. And when it's empty, you just have to tell me, and I'll give you more."
She was practically begging him to take her money. The sheer sincerity in her eyes, the desperate need to provide for him, was impossible to refuse. Ren clutched the pouch, the weight of the coins feeling substantial and real in his small hands. He nodded, a small smile on his face. "Okay, big sister. Thank you."
The relief that washed over Ganyu's face was profound. She had successfully provided for her little brother. It was a victory more satisfying than successfully negotiating a trade agreement with the Feiyun Commerce Guild.
Hand in hand, they stepped out of the secluded lane of Feiyun Slope and into the vibrant, beating heart of Liyue. The transition was immediate. The quiet elegance of the upper district gave way to the energetic bustle of Chihu Rock. And for the first time, Ren was not just an observer from a distance, but a part of the crowd.
Their presence did not go unnoticed. Ganyu was a well-known, if rarely seen, figure. People knew her as the quiet, tirelessly efficient secretary to the Tianquan herself. To see her walking through the market, holding the hand of a small, exquisitely beautiful child with glowing blue eyes, was a sight that stopped people in their tracks.
Whispers followed them like a gentle breeze.
"Is that… Lady Ganyu?" a merchant muttered to his customer, his eyes wide.
"Who is that child? A relative?" the customer whispered back. "I've never seen her with family before."
"Look at his hair… and his eyes! He's beautiful. He looks like a little star who fell from the sky."
The attention made Ganyu slightly tense. Her grip on Ren's hand tightened, not out of fear, but of a fierce, burgeoning protectiveness. She scanned the crowd, her gentle amethyst eyes now holding the sharp, assessing gaze of a guardian. If anyone stared too long or looked as though they might cause trouble, she would meet their gaze with a look so cold and laced with quiet authority that they would immediately find something fascinating to look at on the ground.
Ren, however, was blissfully unaware of the minor sensation they were causing. He was too busy being utterly enchanted. His destination was singular: Wanmin Restaurant. It was the heart of Liyue's cuisine.
They found it easily, guided by the incredible aromas that wafted from its open-air kitchen. The sound of a sizzling wok, the sharp, appetizing scent of Jueyun Chilis, and the warm, comforting smell of rice and broth filled the air. A young woman with a bright, sunny smile and twin buns in her dark blue hair was at the front, expertly plating a dish with a flick of her wrist.
"Xiangling!" Ganyu called out, her voice warm.
The girl's head popped up, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Ganyu! It's been too long! Are you finally taking a break from all that paperwork? I have a new dish, it's a little… experimental, but I think you'll—" She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes falling on the small boy standing beside Ganyu.
Her jaw dropped slightly. "Oh my goodness," she breathed. "Who is this little treasure?"
"Xiangling, this is Ren, my… little brother," Ganyu said, the title feeling more natural and right with each use.
Xiangling wiped her hands on her apron and bounded over to them, her energy infectious. She crouched down, her pigtails bouncing. "Hello, Ren! It's so nice to meet you! You are just the cutest thing I have ever seen! Are you hungry? You look hungry. A growing boy needs good food!"
Before Ren could even respond, a small, furry creature with a round belly waddled out from behind the counter. It sniffed the air, and then its beady black eyes landed on Ren. It was Guoba, the Stove God.
Ren's mind reeled for a second. He was looking at a god, a real, literal god of the kitchen, who was currently sniffing his shoes with intense curiosity. He didn't feel fear, only a sense of surreal wonder. He reached out a hesitant hand.
Guoba, seemingly sensing the pure, harmless intent, leaned forward and nuzzled his head against Ren's offered hand before letting out a happy little sigh and waddling back to his post by the stove.
Xiangling giggled. "Wow! Guoba really likes you! Please, please, sit down! I'll make you the best meal you've ever had. On the house, of course!"
They took a seat at one of the outdoor tables, and Xiangling was true to her word. Dish after dish appeared before them: savory Black-Back Perch Stew, Bamboo Shoot Soup and a big, steaming bowl of her signature Jueyun Chili Chicken.
Ren's eyes went wide. He took a bite of the chicken, and his entire world exploded in a symphony of flavor. It was spicy, but not overwhelmingly so, with a savory, complex taste that was completely different from the subtle, herbal flavors of adeptal food. It was loud, bold, and unapologetically delicious.
"This is the best thing I've ever eaten!" he declared, his mouth full, his eyes shining with pure, unadulterated bliss.
Watching him, Ganyu felt a warmth spread through her chest that had nothing to do with the chili. Seeing him so happy, so full of life, was the greatest reward she could ever ask for. She ate her own ordered veg meal with a gentle, contented smile, her gaze never straying far from her little brother.
After their incredible lunch, Ganyu decided to show Ren the wharves. As they approached the bustling harbor, the scale of Liyue's commerce became truly apparent. Massive ships with sails the size of houses were docked, their hulls displaying flags from all over Teyvat—the elegant purple of Inazuma, the stark black and red of Snezhnaya. Muscular sailors shouted to each other as they unloaded heavy crates filled with exotic goods, the air thick with the smell of saltwater, fish, and tarred rope.
They walked along the main dock, and Ganyu's presence worked like a magic key. They approached the gangplank of a newly arrived Inazuman vessel, a beautiful ship with elegant, curved lines. A stern-looking Millelith guard stepped forward, his hand raised.
"Apologies, Lady Ganyu, but this area is restricted until the cargo has been fully inspected and cataloged."
Ganyu simply gave him a calm, gentle smile. "I understand completely. My brother was just admiring the craftsmanship of the ship. We will only be a moment, and we won't touch anything."
The guard's stern expression melted. He looked from the revered Qixing secretary to the ridiculously cute child peering around her legs, his glowing eyes wide with fascination for the ship's strange, purple sails. The guard's sense of duty warred with his sudden, inexplicable urge to not disappoint the child. Duty lost.
He snapped to attention. "Of course, Lady Ganyu. Please, be my guest. Watch your step."
She led Ren up the gangplank and onto the deck. Ren ran his small hand over the smooth, dark wood of the railing, looking up at the towering mast that seemed to pierce the sky. He saw sailors with strange tattoos and different styles of clothing, and they would all stop and give Ganyu a respectful nod.
Ganyu's authority didn't just grant them access; it wrapped them in a bubble of respect and peace. No one jostled them. No one shouted near them. The chaotic, rough-and-tumble world of the wharf seemed to tame itself in their presence.
As the sun began to dip towards the horizon, painting the sky in fiery shades of orange and pink, Ren was beginning to feel the day's excitement catch up with him. A huge yawn escaped him, his small body slumping slightly against Ganyu's side.
She smiled softly, her heart aching with tenderness. "Tired, little one?"
He nodded, his azure eyes drooping.
Without a word, she scooped him up, his head immediately finding its familiar place on her shoulder. He was asleep before she had even taken ten steps, lulled by the gentle rhythm of her walking and the overwhelming sense of safety in her arms.
As Ganyu carried her sleeping brother back through the lantern-lit streets of Liyue, she felt a profound sense of rightness. The whispers still followed them, but they were different now. They were no longer whispers of confusion, but of something softer, something akin to wonder. The city was seeing a new side of their diligent, aloof secretary. They were seeing a big sister. And for Ganyu, it was the most important title she had ever held.