While Ryou went inside with Baizhu to get treated, Keqing turned to Shenhe—and only then did she fully register how different this woman was.
Shenhe was tall and slender, strikingly beautiful, and she carried that distant, ice-calm aura that made people look twice. She was gorgeous in a way that almost felt unreal.
Even Keqing had to admit it caught her off guard.
Her clothes fit perfectly too—showing off her figure without looking messy about it. And… certain parts of her looked absurdly, unfairly blessed, like she was hiding some priceless treasure under her robes. It actually made Keqing feel a little powerless.
What really made no sense was this: Shenhe and Ganyu were both disciples of Cloud Retainer, so why was Shenhe built so much more… generously than Ganyu?
It was baffling.
"Shenhe," Keqing said sharply, "I'm letting this go because of Ganyu. What happened just now ends here."
Her eyes narrowed.
"If you bring it up again, don't blame me when I haul you to the Ministry and lock you up for a while."
Shenhe had only just arrived in Liyue Harbor, so Keqing forced herself to show a little restraint. And honestly, she was also doing it because Ganyu might end up being her sister one day, so she was giving Shenhe a thin bit of face.
But if Shenhe kept pushing?
Keqing wouldn't spare her.
So what if you're… well-endowed?
Ryou married me properly. With a full ceremony. I'm his wife. Who exactly am I supposed to be scared of?
And seriously—have you women never seen a man before?
Last time, even Tabibito showed up at the Ministry with stars in her eyes and asked right in front of Keqing whether her husband had someone he liked.
And now this?
You're an adeptus disciple and you're openly trying to steal my husband—right here, in public.
Shameless.
And it made her furious.
Her husband was completely ordinary. His looks were only "barely passable," okay? So why were all these women fixated on him?
Were they treating Keqing like an easy target?
"Keqing," Shenhe said calmly, not yielding an inch, "I came to Liyue Harbor under my master's orders. I'm meant to come down the mountain and learn how to live among the people."
She looked Keqing straight in the eye.
"My master also told me to follow my heart—and to help Ganyu-senpai."
"Ganyu-senpai's mess is her problem. I don't need to interfere."
"But if I'm following my heart, then I can't betray my own feelings."
Her voice stayed ice-cool.
"So… you should divorce."
Keqing's face darkened on the spot.
You come into Liyue Harbor as an outsider, start fighting me over my husband, and then you tell me to divorce him like it's nothing?
"Shenhe, you—" Keqing started.
"Shenhe!" Ganyu rushed up, breathless. "Didn't you say you were going to buy Qingxin? Why am I hearing that you nearly fought Keqing?"
The moment she heard the news, she'd been terrified. Shenhe hadn't spent much time in Liyue Harbor and didn't understand how things worked here.
And now, buying Qingxin somehow turned into a confrontation with Keqing.
"Keqing," Ganyu said quickly, pulling Shenhe back a step, "Shenhe is new here. She doesn't understand a lot yet. If she offended you anywhere…"
She bowed her head.
"…I apologize on her behalf."
"Ganyu, I didn't hurt her," Shenhe said.
Keqing let out a hard laugh. "If it weren't for Ganyu, I wouldn't let her off so easily. Ganyu, you'd better keep her under control."
She glared at Shenhe like she wanted to bite through her.
"She's completely lawless. She comes in swinging, tries to steal my husband, and then tells me to divorce him!"
Ganyu's face went stiff.
For a split second, her mind went in a ridiculous direction: Shenhe really is a good girl… she's willing to fight Keqing for me, even bold enough to demand Keqing divorce—
Wait.
I never told Shenhe I liked Ryou.
So why is she acting like this?
Ganyu stared at Shenhe, slowly realizing the obvious.
Don't tell me…
You too?
"Ganyu," Shenhe said softly, "back at Mt. Aocang, I told you already. If you like someone, take action. Feelings can be built over time."
"I went to buy Qingxin. When I was heading back, I saw that man…"
She briefly explained what happened.
"Shut up," Keqing snapped. "Don't call him 'that man.' That's my husband!"
Shenhe didn't flinch.
"The moment I saw him, my heart started racing. I've never experienced it before, but my master told me what it means."
She spoke like she was stating a fact.
"It's being moved. I'm certain I've fallen for him."
"People in Liyue call it love at first sight."
Then she looked at Keqing again, blunt to the point of cruelty.
"Being married doesn't matter."
"I want him."
"So, Keqing—divorce him."
Keqing pointed at her, so furious she couldn't even get the words out.
How could someone be shameless to this degree?
And she's supposed to be an adeptus disciple?
Please.
Keqing almost choked on her anger. "You're unbelievable. He's my husband! We're already married!"
"And why would I divorce him? Because you said so?"
Ganyu stood there in a daze as they argued.
What is happening?
Why do you like Ryou too?
And you're demanding Keqing divorce him—right to her face?
That's not bold. That's insane.
Inside, Ryou had already been bandaged up.
Baizhu glanced through the curtain at the chaos outside and sighed. "Ryou-san, your charm is really something. Keqing is your wife, and now someone likes you so much she's fighting Keqing over it."
He nodded toward Shenhe. "That young lady is an adeptus disciple. Last time I saw a few thugs try to harass her, she dropped them in seconds."
His tone turned faintly envious.
"Marrying Keqing is one thing, but having an adeptus disciple fall for you at first sight? That's a rare kind of luck."
Ryou cleared his throat. "I'm just an ordinary man. Being able to marry Keqing is already more than enough."
He smoothed his clothes and spoke with exaggerated seriousness. "Who knew an adeptus disciple would like me too? What a sin."
Then he sighed. "But I'm a married man. I can't entertain ideas like that."
With that, he strode out.
Baizhu stayed where he was for a moment, silent.
"Ordinary?" he muttered. "With that face, there are probably only a handful of people in all of Liyue who can compare."
He paused, then added quietly, almost impressed.
"And still… he marries Keqing and doesn't waver toward other women. That alone is something most men can't do."
It made sense, really. His family had always taken only one wife—his grandfather did, his father did, and Ryou wouldn't be the one to break it.
And judging by what Baizhu just heard, Ryou meant every word.
A genuinely good man.
Even with Keqing and Shenhe arguing like the world was ending, anyone would be jealous.
Then the system chimed.
[Ding! Face entering Darkened Mode!]
[Ding! Face: Darkened Mode active. Charm increased by 15%! (Total increase: 40%)]
Ryou's head throbbed.
I'm the kind of person who gets things done. Why do you keep boosting my charm?
Do you want even more trouble?
My wife is already about to fight someone. That's one woman. If there were more, Keqing would probably start swinging her sword for real.
He could practically feel his organs "talking," but this was not the time. He needed to end the mess first.
Another chime.
[Ding! Kidney entering Darkened Mode!]
[Ding! Kidney: Darkened Mode active. When your girlfriend receives your affection, she will gain a random reward!]
[Ryou]: Kidney bro, that's what I'm talking about!
[Kidney]: Thank you, Your Majesty. I'll keep working hard!
[Ryou]: Good. I'll let you take a break when there's a chance.
[Kidney]: Tonight?
[Ryou]: No. Tonight we're working overtime. Anyone who wants leave, submit it early.
[Eyes]: Your Majesty, I request leave!
[Ryou]: Approved.
[Ears]: Your Majesty, I heard Eyes say there's a treasure in Liyue Harbor. I'd like leave too—Hand and I will go steal it back!
[Ryou]: Nonsense. What do you mean "steal"? It's clearly ownerless. Maybe I dropped it. Go retrieve it.
[Eyes]: Thank you, Your Majesty. I'll depart tonight!
[Ryou]: Approved. All ministers, dismissed.
Ryou pulled out of his inner world, still mildly curious about the "treasure" Eyes mentioned.
Liyue Harbor had stood for centuries. If Eyes, Ears, and Hand could actually sniff out something valuable, it wouldn't be impossible.
"Ryou…" Keqing finally saw him and visibly relaxed. She rushed up and hugged his arm, grievance spilling out immediately. "They're bullying me."
"Keqing, don't be afraid." Ryou rubbed her head gently, then looked at Shenhe. "Miss, this is our first time meeting. Calling it 'love at first sight' is a bit much."
He kept his voice even.
"Most love at first sight is just lust with a prettier name."
"I won't deny it—being liked feels good. I'm grateful. And you are beautiful."
He gave a small, apologetic smile.
"If I weren't married, I might genuinely consider you."
"But I already have Keqing."
"Our marriage may not be long yet, but I won't abandon her. We still have a long road ahead."
"I believe that ten years from now, twenty years from now, we'll still be together."
"So… I'm sorry."
"No," Shenhe said immediately. "That's not possible."
Ryou stared.
Keqing stared.
Ganyu stared.
Keqing was literally imagining growing old together, and you just cut in with "not possible"?
Shenhe looked at Ryou, completely serious. "Keqing has a Vision, and she trains with the sword, but she can't live long."
"One day, she'll still leave you behind."
"But I'm different."
"I can ask my master to teach us adeptus arts. If we cultivate, living a thousand years is not difficult."
"And even if we reached the end of our lifespan, I can ask my master to extend it."
Her tone was calm, like she was offering a practical solution.
"If you follow me, you can live at least three thousand years."
Everyone went quiet.
Ganyu didn't even know what to say.
Yes, there are adeptus arts that can extend life. But a normal human living a thousand years was already absurd.
Three thousand?
Even Cloud Retainer probably wouldn't live that long.
Shenhe, you're really just saying things.
Keqing fell silent too, because Shenhe was Cloud Retainer's disciple. If Shenhe claimed she could cultivate, then it wasn't empty boasting.
A hundred years versus three thousand.
Anyone would be tempted by that gap. Keqing could admit that even she would be tempted—so how could she expect anyone else not to be?
Her arms tightened around Ryou.
Against Shenhe, she had no leverage.
Shenhe had Cloud Retainer behind her. Keqing had a noble family, sure, but compared to an adeptus disciple, it didn't even feel like the same world.
Ryou felt the tension in Keqing's grip and spoke softly.
"No."
"I'm a person of Liyue. My father taught me from childhood to honor contracts."
"I married Keqing. That makes her my wife."
"I won't abandon her."
"Even if it's only a few decades… even if it's only a few years… I'll stay by her side."
He held Keqing closer.
"She married me. So I should cherish her and love her."
"Abandoning her over something like this is not something I can do."
"That's the end of it." Ryou guided Keqing forward. "We're going home."
Keqing walked with him, held under his arm, so moved she couldn't speak.
She'd been terrified just now—terrified Ryou would choose Shenhe and leave.
Keqing couldn't compete.
But in the end, he stood with her.
She'd chosen the right man.
Keqing hugged his arm tightly. "Ryou… thank you."
"Silly Keqing," Ryou said, patting her back. "If I'm not good to you, who would I be good to?"
And together, they headed home.
[End of chapter]
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