The immediate aftermath of Ren's awakening was not a period of investigation, but one of intense, suffocating care. The fear that had gripped Xianyun and Ganyu for three days did not simply evaporate with his open eyes; it condensed into a smothering, ever-present cloud of overprotectiveness. Ren, who had just faced a profound existential mystery about his own nature, found himself in the midst of a far more immediate and tangible crisis: he was being treated like a priceless, impossibly fragile porcelain doll.
"Complete rest," Xianyun had declared, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Your body has undergone a significant, though poorly understood, trauma. Exertion of any kind is forbidden until I can ascertain that you are fully stabilized."
This translated into a life of luxurious, mind-numbing boredom. Ren was confined to his bed for the first two days, and then, after much pleading, was allowed to graduate to the main room's couch, provided he remained in a reclining position. Walking to the washroom was a supervised activity. Picking up a book was deemed "too strenuous."
Ganyu was the primary enforcer of this new, gentle tyranny. She did not leave his side. She took an official leave of absence from the Yuehai Pavilion, a move that sent fresh shockwaves of disbelief through the Qixing. The mountains of paperwork, the endless stream of bureaucratic minutiae—all of it was delegated to her bewildered but capable subordinates.
"Big sister, what about your work?" Ren asked one afternoon, feeling a pang of guilt as he watched her meticulously fluff his pillows for the tenth time that hour. "Lady Keqing will be swamped."
"My subordinates can work," Ganyu replied, her voice soft but with an undercurrent of steel. She tucked a blanket around his legs, despite the heater already making the room pleasantly warm. "They are competent. And if they are not, Keqing will make them competent. My priority is here. With you."
Her entire world had shrunk to the four walls of their house, and her entire focus was on the small, recuperating boy on the couch. She would read him stories, her gentle voice a soothing murmur. She would peel Sunsettias for him, cutting the fruit into tiny, perfect slices. She would simply sit with him in companionable silence, her presence a constant, unwavering vigil. If he so much as coughed, she would be at his side in an instant, a look of wide-eyed panic on her face, a cup of warm water at the ready. It was both deeply touching and utterly maddening.
Xianyun, while less hands-on, was an equally formidable warden. She would perform daily "examinations," which consisted of her gently placing a hand on his forehead and closing her eyes, using her adeptal senses to monitor his internal state. She reported that his energy levels were "stable but depleted," a diagnosis that only served to extend his sentence of forced inactivity.
After a few days of this gentle imprisonment, Xianyun brought a familiar scroll to his couch-side. It was his master blueprint for the heater.
"This one has reviewed your finalized schematics," she said, her voice holding its usual analytical tone, but with an undercurrent of warmth. "Your notes on material optimization and insulation are insightful. The design is no longer merely functional; it is competent."
She gave him a rare, soft smile. "Ningguang has sent two discreet inquiries, asking after your health. It seems your proposition made a significant impression. She is eager to move forward." Xianyun paused, looking at him meaningfully. "But this one has no intention of speaking with the Tianquan again on this matter without you. You are the chief architect of this project. It would be… illogical to proceed without your presence."
The statement was a vote of profound confidence, a clear acknowledgment of his vital role. It was also a powerful motivator.
She then shifted topics, her eyes alight with a familiar, scholarly spark. "In the interim, this one's work on the refrigeration unit has progressed. The principles of Cryo energy transference are, as predicted, fascinatingly different. The primary challenge is managing the resultant condensation without compromising the insulating properties of the housing. This one has developed a promising new ceramic composite, but it requires further testing."
She looked at the pale, slightly bored boy resting on the couch, and a decision seemed to form in her mind. "The air in the Harbor, for all its life, is heavy and humid. The air on the mountain is thin, clean, and infused with the clarity of the adeptal realm. It would be better for your recovery."
The implication was clear. It was a gentle suggestion, but it was also a strategic one.
"You should return to Mt. Aocang with me," Xianyun stated, her logic laid out like a flawless proof. "The fresh air will be restorative. And, once you have recovered your strength, you will be able to… observe the work on the new project. A change of scenery, and a new puzzle for your mind to consider, will heal you far faster than simple idleness."
It was the perfect proposition. It offered him a path out of his current state of enforced helplessness. It promised fresh air, a new project, and a return to the creative, productive partnership he had with his Master. It was a chance to stop being a fragile patient and start being an engineer again.
Ren looked at Ganyu, whose face had fallen slightly at the mention of him leaving. He gave her a reassuring smile. "It's okay, big sister. I'll come back as soon as I'm better. We can test the refrigerator together."
The promise of a future visit, a new project to share, was enough. Ganyu's expression softened, her possessive fear giving way to a supportive understanding.
The decision was made. Ren's period of convalescence in the Harbor was ending. It was time to return to the mountains, not just to heal his body, but to begin the careful, cautious process of understanding the strange, dormant power that now lay waking within him.