For a fleeting moment, Ningguang's memory seemed to freeze, forever suspended in that instant.
Seeing Ningguang's dazed expression and the look in her eyes was unsettling.
Jingchen, puzzled, gently prompted her.
"Ningguang, what? What's wrong?!"
Ningguang slowly came back to herself.
"My apologies, I was lost in thought, mesmerized by the silvery moonlight."
"Oh, Ningguang, you still have the leisure to appreciate the beauty of the world.
Aya also loves to observe the world with pure, unclouded eyes."
"For example, the snow under the sun, the pines in the snow, the squirrels on the pines… that's the world in her eyes."
Ningguang smiled awkwardly but politely, glaring at Jingchen with cold eyes.
My hobbies are refined and elegant, and Columbia is pure and flawless?!
Heh, if I hadn't rejected you back then, and let you stay by my side forever…
I'd make you understand the terror of the Tianquan Star, every single day…
You bastard!!
Ningguang rose slowly, suppressing the struggle within her, and prepared to bid Jingchen farewell.
"Take care of your Columbia, Jingchen. Farewell."
When Ganyu and Keqing saw Ningguang with an indignant expression, they looked at each other, unsure of what had happened.
"Ningguang, you... What's wrong?!"
Ningguang forced a smile, recalling Jingchen's words about Columbia, and a wave of bitterness washed over her.
"Heh, nothing, nothing at all."
Keqing gently said to Ningguang.
"Ningguang, if something's bothering you, just tell us. We're all in this together, and we should have a lot in common."
"Why did Jingchen mention Columbia nine out of ten times? And why did he want to talk to us alone under the full moon?!" Ganyu asked weakly.
"Huh?! Is there something wrong under the full moon?!"
"Under the new moon, Jingchen is too perfect, too dreamlike. Sigh, never mind, Ganyu, go and see for yourself.
That guy Jingchen, as long as he's under the moon, he becomes ethereal. Even I can't help but linger, forgetting everything about myself."
"Huh?!"
Ganyu cautiously, her footsteps unusually light, walked to Jingchen's side.
Jingchen took the initiative to brew tea for Ganyu.
"Sigh, I didn't expect Sister Ganyu to also～."
Ganyu lowered her head again, meekly.
"Junior Brother Jingchen, I… I'm the same as Ningguang and the others, but… but I'm the best at giving up."
"Huh?! Giving up? Senior Sister Ganyu is still so gentle."
Ganyu looked up, gazing into Jingchen's eyes.
Once upon a time, only she was by Jingchen's side.
Whenever Yae Miko bullied him, she would immediately travel to Inazuma to lecture Yae Miko.
When Ningguang and Keqing rejected him, she would comfort him as well.
For over three thousand years, only his receding back remained, etched in Ganyu's memory, causing her immense pain.
Even though she'd had many chances before Columbia, to become Columbia herself.
But she hadn't seized them, instead always remaining in the role of senior sister, quietly caring for and comforting him.
Yet, looking back, he had already become her unattainable ideal.
He had already become Columbia's husband, and would become the father of someone else's children.
There was no hesitation left in Ganyu's eyes.
"Junior Brother Jingchen, do you remember the day we first met?"
"Huh?! The Lantern Rite, right?"
"Yes, that's right. Back then, Master sent you down the mountain to have you train in the mortal world with me."
Jingchen suddenly stopped speaking. That Lantern Rite, Senior Sister Ganyu was really gentle and considerate.
She took him to Wanmin Restaurant to eat delicious food and to the harbor to guess riddles…
His first Lantern Rite was truly unforgettable.
Ganyu lowered her eyes again, stammering.
"Jingchen, I… I… if, if before you met Columbia.
I confessed to you, would you accept me?!"
Jingchen was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected Senior Sister Ganyu to ask him such a question.
Perhaps no one in all of Teyvat could refuse Ganyu's confession.
But with Columbia, he should probably discuss this directly with Senior Sister Ganyu.
"Senior Sister Ganyu, perhaps it might. But this world doesn't have many 'ifs'."
"Just like Yae Miko, Ningguang, and Keqing. If they had 'ifs', they probably wouldn't be so regretful now."
"Hmm… that's true. However, Junior Brother Jingchen, if I didn't have Columbia, I might never have known my true self.
I would have just kept telling myself that I was your Senior Sister Ganyu, that I should be a good Senior Sister and take care of you.
As for anything else, it wouldn't have happened."
"Senior Sister Ganyu, sigh. You also have a contract with the Geo Archon, you need to Follow the Moon for the future of Liyue, and you also need to…"
Ganyu suddenly cut off Jingchen, her words filled with determination and resolve.
"If it's for Jingchen!! I'm willing to abandon this contract, willing to accept the Punishment of Rock Eating!! Willing, willing~"
Ganyu didn't continue, because she realized she was being so irrational at this moment.
This contract had bound and shackled her for three thousand years.
Without the appearance of Junior Brother Jingchen, she shouldn't have any complaints.
Instead, she would have remained firm in this contract, for thousands, even tens of thousands of years.
She would have continued to work day after day, year after year.
For Liyue, or for the Geo Archon??
But now, she only wanted to do it for Jingchen.
But everything was already too late.
If, within the past few years, she had been able to step forward and confess to Jingchen.
Sigh.
There were no "ifs," no regrets.
Ganyu forced a smile, appearing so tragically beautiful under the moonlight.
"I'm sorry, Junior Brother Jingchen, for letting you see me like this."
Jingchen shook his head slightly. No matter what, he didn't want to hurt Senior Sister Ganyu.
But he couldn't do anything, and it was even less possible for him to ask her to give up everything.
"Senior Ganyu, both Liyue and you will head towards a more prosperous future."
[Everyone, please rest assured. After the Star Rail arc is finished, it will be their individual stories. I will definitely give them a perfect world.
Right, Ganyu was also the main carry during my early days of playing, so I definitely have a special…
In addition, you can guess Jingchen's Path, God.
And how many children there will be.
I haven't been in a great state recently, but I'll definitely pick up the pace during the summer break.]
....
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