The afternoon sun hung low over Liyue Harbor, casting golden light across the bustling streets and the towering peaks of the Jade Chamber above as Henry walked through the familiar street, his footsteps carrying him toward Yanfei's office—a modest but well-appointed space located near the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The aroma of incense and old parchment drifted through the open door as he approached, the scent mingling with the distant sounds of merchants hawking their wares and the gentle lap of water against the harbor's stone walls.
Yanfei was seated behind her desk, her crimson hair catching the light as she studied a stack of documents with practiced focus. Her horns, elegant and distinctive, framed her face as she looked up at his entrance.
"Henry," she greeted, setting down her quill. "This is a pleasant surprise. What brings you to my humble office?"
"Business, I'm afraid." Henry stepped inside, settling into the chair across from her desk. "I need a legal expert to review a contract before I sign it."
Yanfei's eyes lit up with professional interest. "A contract? From whom?"
"Ningguang. Distribution rights for my bikes in Liyue"
She raised an eyebrow, reaching for the document he offered. "Distribution rights with the Tianquan herself? That's not a small matter." She began reading, her eyes moving quickly across the text, her expression shifting from curiosity to concentration.
Henry watched her work, noting the way her lips moved slightly as she read, the way she occasionally paused to reread a clause. She was thorough, meticulous—everything he'd hoped for.
"A supplier agreement," Yanfei murmured, more to herself than to him. "You're acting as the supplier, and Ningguang's network will handle the distributing. The revenue split is..." She paused, her eyes widening slightly. "Seventy percent for the supplier?"
"Seventy percent for me," Henry corrected with a grin. "Thirty for the distributor."
Yanfei's head snapped up, her eyes wide. "You're receiving seventy percent?"
"That's what it says."
She looked back at the document, then at him, then back at the document. She opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again.
"Henry," she said slowly, setting the contract down with deliberate care, "I've reviewed hundreds of contracts in my career. I've never seen a supplier receive a seventy-thirty split. The standard is usually twenty-eighty, thirty-seventy, and at the rarest, forty-sixty—with the distributor receiving the larger share." She trailed off, shaking her head as if trying to process what she was reading. "This is practically unheard of."
"I negotiated well," Henry said simply.
"You negotiated well?" Yanfei laughed, a bright, surprised sound. "Henry, this isn't 'well.' This is exceptional. Ningguang—the Tianquan, the most powerful woman in Liyue—agreed to give you seventy percent of the profits? She doesn't give anyone anything for free."
"Maybe she likes me."
Yanfei's lips twitched. "I'm sure she does." She returned her attention to the document, her eyes scanning the fine print. "The terms are clean. No hidden clauses, no loopholes that could be used against you. She's given you favorable terms across the board." She set the document down and looked at him with new appreciation. "Whatever you said to her, it worked."
That's strange. Knowing Ningguang from the game, I had expected there to be legal traps. Hidden clauses, carefully worded loopholes, something she could use later.
Henry leaned back, a satisfied smile on his face. "I have my ways."
"Clearly." Yanfei slid the document back across the desk. "From a legal standpoint, this is solid. You should sign it."
"Glad to hear you approve." Henry paused, then added with a playful glint in his eye, "You know, for someone who deals with contracts all day, you're surprisingly easy to impress."
Yanfei blinked, then laughed again. "I'm not easy to impress. You just brought me something genuinely impressive." She tilted her head, studying him. "You're quite the businessman, Henry. I hadn't expected that when we first met."
"I'm full of surprises."
"I'm beginning to see that." She smiled, warm and genuine. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"Not today." Henry stood, tucking the contract safely into his System space. "But I'll be sure to come back next time I need legal advice."
Yanfei rose as well, walking him to the door. "I'll hold you to that." She paused, a knowing smile playing at her lips. "And Henry—you could come and hang out sometimes. Kuki talks about you."
Henry's smirk widened. "Oh, she does, does she?"
"She does." Yanfei's eyes gleamed with amusement. "More than she'd probably admit."
"Well, I look forward to hanging out with the two of you." Henry chuckled, already picturing the dynamic between the sharp-tongued lawyer and the stoic Kuki Shinobu. "I'll make sure to drop by when I'm in Liyue."
He bid her goodbye and made his way toward the platform that would take him up to the Jade Chamber.
The Jade Chamber was breathtaking as always—a floating palace of jade and gold, suspended above Liyue Harbor like a crown upon the city's head.
Henry neared the entrance, and the guards surprisingly nodded and let him in immediately without the questioning or formalities. He made his way toward Ningguang's office, his footsteps echoing against the polished floors of the Jade Chamber, and knocked at the door.
"Come in," a commanding female voice echoed from within the room.
Ningguang was seated at her central table, a cup of tea steaming before her, her gaze fixed on a stack of reports that seemed to multiply whenever he wasn't looking. She looked up as he approached, and a slow, knowing smile spread across her lips.
"Henry." She set down her papers, giving him her full attention. "I was wondering when you'd come. I trust your legal review went well?"
"Yanfei was impressed," Henry said, taking the seat across from her. "She said she's never seen a seventy-thirty split in favor of the supplier before."
Ningguang laughed, a low, musical sound. "I'm not surprised. Most people are too intimidated to ask for such terms. You, however, have never seemed intimidated by me."
"I respect you too much to be intimidated," Henry said smoothly. "There's a difference."
Ningguang's eyes sparkled with amusement. "You're very smooth, Henry. I don't know if you realize that."
"I try."
She reached for the contract, her fingers brushing against his as she took it from his hand—a deliberate gesture, he was sure, the brief contact lingering just a moment longer than necessary. She reviewed his signature on the document with careful scrutiny, her crimson eyes tracing the lines of ink as if committing them to memory.
"Everything appears to be in order," she said, setting the contract aside with a satisfied nod. "You've become quite the regular businessman of Liyue."
"Not as good as you, though," Henry replied, and Ningguang's smile widened, a flicker of amusement dancing in her crimson eyes.
She shook her head, then paused, her gaze turning appraising as she studied him with renewed interest. "But you didn't come here just to sign a contract, did you?" She leaned back in her chair, steepling her fingers. "You want something."
Henry opened his mouth to respond professionally, to maintain the businesslike composure he'd been carefully cultivating, but Ningguang's knowing smile made the words die in his throat—she was looking at him like she already knew what he was about to say, like she found his attempts at professionalism adorable and slightly amusing.
How does she do that?
[She's the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing.]
I didn't ask you. Shut up.
"Actually," Henry said, forcing himself to meet her gaze, "I do need a favor."
Ningguang leaned back, her eyes never leaving his face. "A favor. From me. How interesting." She tilted her head, a hint of playfulness entering her voice. "And what, exactly, would I receive in return?"
"I was hoping the contract we just signed counted as good will."
"Oh, it does." She smiled. "But favors are a different currency, Henry. You know that."
She's doing it again. Henry cleared his throat, trying to stay focused. "I'm opening a café in Mondstadt. A modern one. And I need ingredients—specialty ingredients that aren't available locally. I'll also form an official contract with you and pay you as per market price for every ingredient and transport to Mondstadt. Monthly."
Ningguang raised an elegant eyebrow, a hint of genuine interest flickering in her crimson eyes. "A café? You've been busy."
Henry studied her face, catching the faint glimmer of amusement she couldn't quite hide. "You knew this, didn't you?"
"Knew what?" Ningguang asked, her voice carrying an innocent lilt that was entirely unconvincing.
"That I've built a unique building in Mondstadt."
"Well, I have heard there is a strange-looking building in Mondstadt recently constructed." She shrugged delicately, the picture of casual disinterest.
"So you knew. And there was no need for me to tell you."
Ningguang's smirk widened, a hint of mischief flickering in her crimson eyes before she smoothly changed the subject. "And what kind of ingredients are we talking about?"
Henry pulled out the list he'd prepared—carefully organized, categorized by region, detailing everything he needed from Liyue. He placed it on the table between them.
Ningguang picked it up, her eyes scanning the contents. Her expression remained impassive, but Henry caught the slight upward twitch of her lips.
"This is a comprehensive list," she said. "Teas from Liyue, matcha from Inazuma, spices from Sumeru, coffee beans from Sumeru, cocoa from Natlan..." She set the list down and looked at him with renewed interest. "You're not just opening a café. You're opening a gateway to Teyvat's flavors."
"That's exactly the idea."
Ningguang studied him for a long moment, her fingers drumming lightly against the table. Then she smiled—a slow, deliberate smile that sent a shiver down Henry's spine.
"I can arrange all of this," she said. "The Liyue teas are easy. The Inazuma matcha will take some time, but I have contacts. The Sumeru spices and coffee—my trade network covers that. The Natlan cocoa... that's more difficult, but not impossible." She paused. "But favors, Henry. You're going to owe me for this. And I intend to collect."
Here it comes. Henry kept his expression neutral, though his mind was already racing through the possibilities of what she might ask. "What did you have in mind?"
Ningguang leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table, her chin on her folded hands, her eyes glittering with something between mischief and genuine interest. "You will be planning to open a café here too, right?"
"Yes, of course. I will." Henry nodded, waiting for the catch.
"Good." She smiled, slow and deliberate, her crimson eyes holding his with an intensity that made the air between them feel charged.
"That will be part of my favour. For the other part, I'll think of something. But for now, let's just say you owe me." Her voice dropped, soft but edged with something sultry, the words curling through the space between them like smoke. "And I always collect."
Henry opened his mouth to respond professionally, to maintain some semblance of control over the conversation. But Ningguang was watching him with that knowing smile, and he could feel his carefully constructed composure cracking around the edges.
"I uhh.. suppose I can accept that," Henry said, trying to sound casual.
She smiled, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Don't worry. I'll be gentle with you." She paused, her voice dropping slightly. "At least at first."
Henry felt his cheeks warm. Damn it. She's too good at this.
"I'll have the ingredients sent to Mondstadt," Ningguang continued, her tone returning to businesslike efficiency. "It will take some time to coordinate everything, but I should have the first shipment ready within a few weeks."
"Thank you," Henry said, genuinely grateful despite the teasing. "I really appreciate this."
Ningguang smiled as she rose from her seat, walking around the table to stand beside him. She placed a hand on his shoulder—light, warm—and leaned in slightly, close enough that he caught the faint scent of silk and something floral. "Next time you visit, let me know in advance," she said, her voice carrying a note of quiet promise. "I'll have proper tea prepared."
Henry nodded, finding his voice. "I'll do that."
Ningguang stepped back, her hand falling from his shoulder as she returned to her usual composed demeanor. "We can draft a contract tomorrow. I'll have my people begin coordinating the shipments. You should have everything you need in a week—well before your café opens."
Henry stood, gathering the contract and his list. "I'll see myself out."
"Henry." Ningguang's voice stopped him at the door. He turned back to face her. "I'm looking forward to seeing what you build."
Henry smiled. "So am I."
___
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