The next day.
Mist and drifting haze hung over Jueyun Karst, with thick evening clouds layered overhead.
The air was clear and cold.
As the early-morning wind blew, the mountain haze surged forward like ocean waves, sweeping mightily onward until it crashed against the cliff walls, only then rolling back the way it came.
"Adeptus, are you really not coming along with us to stroll about Liyue Harbor?"
Fang Qiu asked.
"No. This immortal still has to make some improvements to this Automaton Culinary Marvel."
Cloud Retainer said.
Speaking of this Automaton Culinary Marvel, Fang Qiu could barely keep a straight face.
At dinner the day before, Cloud Retainer had mentioned one of her signature dishes.
Wenxin Tofu.
A pity she couldn't make it for them.
When Fang Qiu asked why, Cloud Retainer told her that the dish required poultry meat, and Ganyu avoided meat and fish.
Hearing this, Fang Qiu was instantly dumbfounded.
Cloud Retainer... wasn't she a bird?
This... was that really appropriate?
That clearly wasn't quite appropriate, was it?
Just as she was mulling over this matter, Cloud Retainer cast a glance her way.
Fang Qiu instantly didn't dare let her mind wander anymore.
If Cloud Retainer were to find out what she was thinking, she didn't even dare imagine the consequences...
"I leave Shenhe in your care, then."
Cloud Retainer said.
"Don't worry, Adeptus."
Seeing that Cloud Retainer hadn't noticed her irreverent thoughts toward an immortal teacher, Fang Qiu couldn't help breathing a sigh of relief inwardly. She nodded, then smiled as she looked toward Shenhe and said, "Shenhe will surely be able to fit in at Liyue Harbor."
"Mm."
Cloud Retainer nodded.
Having bid farewell to Cloud Retainer, they set off all the way toward Liyue Harbor.
It was just that, unlike the Traveler and her companions who walked as swiftly as if on flat ground, their own pace down the mountain was a good deal slower.
Mt. Aozang was steep and hard to traverse on top of that.
The early-morning dew had dampened the stone steps, and walking upon them was a particularly nerve-racking affair.
Although Fang Qiu was already being very careful, when she reached a precarious spot she still slipped underfoot. Thankfully, Shenhe and Ganyu steadied her at the same time, or else the consequences would have been unthinkable.
After that, Shenhe simply scooped her up and dashed down the mountain together with Ganyu.
With a mountain as extraordinarily steep as Mt. Aozang, going down was far more thrilling than going up.
Watching the scenery before her recede without pause, and feeling the weightlessness that came with each descent, Fang Qiu—curled up in Shenhe's arms like Adou—couldn't help but shrink even further into Shenhe's embrace, burying her head into Shenhe's bosom, not daring to look anymore.
Scared.jpg.
This feeling...
It was about the same as those "Red Bull foots the bill, you put up your life" extreme challenges she'd seen in videos in her past life.
Without any safety measures whatsoever, plunging down the mountain at top speed.
The one-slip-and-you're-in-the-underworld series.
Every leap Shenhe made caused her heart to skip a beat.
Still, for powerhouses on the level of Shenhe and Ganyu, a trifling descent was no challenge at all.
Before long, they had made it down the mountain.
So as not to waste time, Fang Qiu remained shuttling between the arms of Shenhe and Ganyu the whole way, dashing all the way toward Liyue Harbor.
It wasn't until they had left Jueyun Karst and arrived at a way station that Fang Qiu finally set foot on the ground.
They boarded a carriage, took to the main road, and rode off toward Liyue Harbor.
By the time they returned to Liyue Harbor, it was already noon.
The clear chill of winter hadn't managed to dampen Liyue Harbor's liveliness. Lanterns and decorations lined the way, the stalls were many, and the cries of vendors rose and fell one after another.
There were people from Snezhnaya selling toys, people from Inazuma selling Dango Milk, lantern riddles to be guessed, and others selling offal stew.
On the seaside platform before Feiyun Slope, an enormous festival lantern had even been set up; it only awaited nightfall to light up with a warm glow.
Many places in Liyue Harbor were guarded by the Millelith. Besides the Millelith maintaining order, there was also a portion of the Millelith standing watch before the firework launch tubes that had been set up, to guard against anyone sabotaging them.
After eating a bowl of plain noodles at Feiyun Slope, Ganyu bade them farewell, saying she had to return to Yujing Terrace to report to Miss Ningguang.
Having parted with Ganyu, Fang Qiu and Shenhe headed toward the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
It was bustling all along the way, and many people were discussing Master Yun's new opera, as well as the soon-to-premiere Your Name film adaptation, whose popularity rivaled that of Yun Jin's new opera.
Apart from these, there was also tonight's fireworks gathering.
They made their way to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Tingyu was sprawled atop the stone railing, enjoying the coolness brought by the gentle breeze.
Sanmi, meanwhile, was on the ground beside Tingyu, batting at a ball of yarn to play.
According to the young undertaker, the director had once again gone out to eat together with Zhongli the retainer-guest.
Apparently, Mr. Zhongli was treating.
Since Hu Tao had no time to spare, Fang Qiu didn't think it appropriate to disturb them much, so she took Tingyu along and went home together with Shenhe.
Once home, Fang Qiu's first thought was that she wanted to take a bath.
Although her feet had scarcely touched the ground the whole way, it could still count as the weariness of travel, couldn't it?
Given her physical sturdiness, she felt very tired and needed to soak in a bath to relax.
Fang Qiu drew the hot water, then returned to her room to fetch a change of clothes and a bath towel. Just as she had set the clothing down in the changing room, stripped off all her clothes, and was preparing to shower before entering the open-air bath, the door of the changing room was pushed open.
It was Shenhe.
Although her body had already been seen by Shenhe before, standing stark naked in front of Shenhe at this moment, she still felt incomparably bashful, and instinctively covered herself with her hands.
"Shenhe, is something the matter?"
Fang Qiu asked, her face flushing.
"I want to bathe together."
Shenhe said.
"Eh?"
Fang Qiu was stunned, her pupils quaking.
Bathe together?
"Is that not allowed?"
Shenhe asked.
"It's allowed, it's allowed."
Fang Qiu said.
And so, Shenhe walked in, and very quickly stripped herself completely bare.
It was just like looking into a mirror—gazing at a body identical to her own standing before her, Fang Qiu felt it incomparably strange.
Strange, and at the same time bashful, with a peculiar feeling besides...
Fang Qiu kept telling herself inwardly: stay composed, stay calm, it's perfectly normal for girls to bathe together.
In all those anime she'd watched in her past life, didn't all those pretty girls soak in the hot springs together?
Perfectly normal.
After rinsing off her body, she came together with Shenhe to the open-air bath.
The open-air bath was already filled with water, steam curling in the air.
All around the bath were planted quite a few plants—some that gave off floral fragrance, some that repelled insects, some that purified the air.
Fang Qiu didn't spend much time looking; instead she hurriedly stepped into the bath.
It wasn't out of shyness over being unclothed before Shenhe, but rather because the open air was too cold. Although steam swirled all around her, Fang Qiu still felt very cold.
She really didn't want to fall ill during the Lantern Rite.
Feeling her body engulfed by the warm hot water, Fang Qiu couldn't help letting out a soft, comfortable sigh.
So comfortable.
The chill all over her body was dispelled in an instant.
Shenhe followed her down into the pool as well, and the two of them soaked while chatting.
"Fang Qiu, do you think I can really fit in at Liyue Harbor?"
Shenhe said, gazing at the somewhat overcast sky.
"You can."
Fang Qiu said softly, "Liyue Harbor is an inclusive city. Whether human or immortal, everyone can find their own sense of belonging here."
"Belonging... Fang Qiu, your answer is about the same as Miss Ningguang's answer."
Shenhe said, nodding.
"Hm?"
Fang Qiu was a little puzzled.
"On the day the Jade Chamber was rebuilt, Yun Jin, the Traveler, and I each received a chance to ask Miss Ningguang a question."
Shenhe said.
"So the question you posed, Shenhe, was whether you yourself could fit in at Liyue Harbor?"
Fang Qiu asked.
"That's right."
Shenhe nodded.
"So what did she say?"
Fang Qiu asked.
As she asked, Fang Qiu was thinking that this question of Shenhe's was such a waste...
If only she could've asked about some trade secrets.
"She said that there's always a reason for liking a place—perhaps it's having met someone here, or having gone through something here; or perhaps it's simply enjoying Liyue's atmosphere, growing accustomed to living this way."
Shenhe said, "Everyone needs a reason to stay."
"Mm, that's true."
Fang Qiu nodded.
Just like herself.
After being reborn, she had appeared all alone in Liyue Harbor, but little by little, she too had found her own place to belong.
She, who had been all alone, now had friends to keep her company.
Just like the words she had said to Ganyu the day before.
She loved the Liyue Harbor where these friends of hers were—unlike her past life, a cold city with no one she knew, where apart from typing away at her writing it was nothing but sleeping and eating.
Having lived there for so long, she still hadn't developed the slightest sense of belonging.
"So, Shenhe, have you found a reason to stay?"
Fang Qiu asked, gazing at the sky.
"Mm, I think I have."
Shenhe nodded.
"Since you've already found a reason to stay, then fitting in at Liyue Harbor is only a matter of time. To speed things along, let's enjoy the Lantern Rite together properly these next few days."
Fang Qiu said with a smile.
"Mm."
Shenhe nodded.
"By the way, Shenhe, what is your reason to stay?"
Fang Qiu asked.
"It's you."
Shenhe said, gazing at the side of Fang Qiu's face.
"Ah? Ahem, is that so."
Fang Qiu's pretty face flushed red.
Still, although Shenhe's answer sounded a bit odd, on closer thought it was actually rather normal.
Shenhe had no kin or connections in Liyue Harbor; she wasn't even close with her only senior sister, and the Traveler wouldn't stay in Liyue forever.
And she herself had been sharing a bed with Shenhe all along—how could feelings not have developed from sleeping together like that?
Calling them good friends would absolutely not be an overstatement.
It was only natural that Shenhe would stay because of her.
Just like back when she herself had first arrived as a newcomer in this world, and Hu Tao and Xiangling had warmed her heart.
She still remembered to this day the surprise Hu Tao and Xiangling had so carefully arranged for her birthday—even if a fair number of mishaps had cropped up.
Such as the cake with alcohol in it, and the incredibly revealing cheongsam Sister Ying'er had made.
Speaking of that cheongsam, it had been dug out again by Hu Tao during the recent move, and Hu Tao had even insisted that she find a time to pair it with black lace undergarments and stockings and wear it to show her...
And she still hadn't managed to turn her down...
So as it were.
Once Shenhe grew familiar with everyone else, or rather grew accustomed to life in Liyue Harbor, her reasons to stay would grow more numerous as well.
And she would gradually fit in at Liyue Harbor.
As they soaked and continued chatting, before long Fang Qiu felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her.
Her steam-dampened lashes drooped, and over her pretty face, her fair, delicate skin had flushed an alluring rosy hue.
Very soon, Fang Qiu closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Shenhe, beside her, quickly noticed something was off about Fang Qiu. She checked over Fang Qiu's body and found that Fang Qiu was simply too physically weak and had gotten dizzy from soaking too long. Only then did Shenhe breathe a sigh of relief.
She scooped Fang Qiu up in one motion, not even bothering to put on clothes, and carried her like a princess to the long bench in the changing room, then wiped down Fang Qiu's body with a dry bath towel.
It was just that, in the midst of wiping her down, Shenhe couldn't help recalling the plot of Junior Sister, Go Easy, Senior Sister Hurts. A blush couldn't help rising over her pretty face, and she didn't know why, but her body felt somewhat feverish and her thoughts grew restless and flustered, with a particular urge to do certain things to Fang Qiu, just like in the book.
She gazed at Fang Qiu's enticing body, a flicker of heat rising in her eyes.
Still, that flicker of heat appeared for only an instant; a gust of wind blew in from outside, and Shenhe immediately suppressed the restlessness within her heart.
If Fang Qiu kept lying there like this, she'd catch a chill.
After swiftly drying off Fang Qiu's body, she then carried Fang Qiu all the way back to her room, laid her down on the bed, and pulled the covers over her.
Shenhe sat at the head of Fang Qiu's bed, gazing at Fang Qiu's pretty face as its furrowed brow gradually relaxed, her expression gentle.
After a long while, Fang Qiu finally stirred awake. Seeing that she had somehow gone from the bath straight to the bed, Fang Qiu couldn't help being stunned.
Seeing Shenhe keeping watch by her side, Fang Qiu finally realized—had she passed out from soaking in the bath?
For a moment, Fang Qiu was at a loss for words.
Although she had already griped about it many times, Fang Qiu still couldn't help wanting to gripe about this glass-person constitution of hers...
No, this didn't even count as a glass-person constitution anymore.
A glass person is at least solid; it has to be touched before it shatters.
Hers didn't need to be touched at all...
Thank goodness Shenhe was here this time, or else it could've been dangerous.
After all, passing out from soaking in the bath came with a risk of sudden death...
It seemed she'd have to be careful from now on—either bring someone along when bathing, or get out of the water right away the moment she started feeling dizzy.
Otherwise, if she kicked the bucket, no one would even know...
"Shenhe, thank you."
Fang Qiu propped herself on her side with her elbow against the bed, then forcefully pushed herself up and sat upright as she spoke.
But the moment she sat up, the covers over her slid down. Fang Qiu instinctively looked down, and what met her eyes was a stretch of pale fairness.
For a moment, Fang Qiu suddenly thought of the Foolish Old Man.
The Foolish Old Man must have wanted to move the mountains precisely because the two mountains at his front door were too tall and too steep, blocking his line of sight.
After this nonsensical thought crossed her mind, Fang Qiu looked at Shenhe, who had turned around and was pouring water for her, and suddenly realized a serious problem.
She had fainted in the bath, which meant her body should have been wet, yet the covers over her were only slightly damp...
In other words, she had been wiped dry before being carried to the bed...
And the only one who could have done all that was Shenhe...
Even though there had been a towel in between, still...
And what's more...
At the thought of this, Fang Qiu's face flushed red in a flash.
This was just too mortifying...
"Here, drink some water, warm yourself up."
Shenhe handed the cup in her hand to Fang Qiu, saying with an utterly composed look.
"Mm, thank you."
Fang Qiu tugged at the covers to hide her body, then, putting on an air of perfect nonchalance, took the cup and gently took a sip.
A warm current instantly flowed through her whole body.
Much more comfortable.
After a few sips, Fang Qiu thanked Shenhe again while she was at it.
After resting on the bed for a little while, Fang Qiu got dressed, walked out of the room, and made her way to the courtyard, where she found Tingyu sprawled on the corridor of the courtyard, quietly watching the fish.
Fang Qiu sat down beside it, gazing at the sky, looking forward to the evening's fireworks gathering.
Liyue's Lantern Rite fireworks gathering.
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