Ryou took a deep breath, trying to force the "excitement" down.
It barely worked.
In the end, he could only hunch slightly and head back to his office.
The moment he walked in, he saw Keqing and Tabibito both staring at him—especially with their eyes drifting a little lower than they should've.
Ryou's face went hot. What are you two even looking at?
Keqing shot him a glare. As much as she hated to admit it, La Signora's figure really was outrageous. Even Keqing herself would've been tempted, so it wasn't strange that Ryou reacted.
Still…
Keqing's mood darkened the more she thought about what would happen once they got home. That "fire" wasn't going to vanish. It was going to land on her.
So you get tempted outside, hold it in, then come home and take it out on me? That's just bullying.
The angrier she got, the more her voice sharpened. "What are you standing there for? Come here."
"Ahem." Ryou cleared his throat and sat down beside her. He took a sip of tea. "La Signora's been stripped of her power. She's locked up for now, so we don't need to worry too much."
He paused, then added, "But tomorrow's going to be messy."
"Yeah. I noticed it too," Keqing said, glancing outside. "The sky suddenly turned bright like daytime. It was… wrong. And now—huh? It's back to normal?"
Tabibito nodded. "Cloud Retainer probably dealt with it."
"Mm." Ryou nodded as well.
Keqing didn't let him off the hook. "Wait. I have something to ask you."
She fixed her eyes on him. "La Signora brought it up earlier. Don't you think you owe me an explanation? Those things from a while back… were you involved?"
Even though Keqing hadn't been stationed at the Ministry of Civil Affairs at the time, she remembered those seven palm strikes vividly. She'd investigated, but later Ryou convinced her it was the Fatui. And when Childe—the so-called 'culprit'—showed up, the matter was quietly closed.
Only now did it click: it had something to do with Ryou.
Ryou coughed again. "That palm strike of mine is strong, but it's not on that level."
He kept his tone steady. "The reason I can do what I do is because I've been eating spiritual fruit for a long time. And besides… I did it to protect you."
"Protect… me?" Keqing's heart softened instantly.
Of course. This man really did have her on his mind at every moment. So he'd been working in the shadows for her sake.
Good.
Tabibito stayed silent.
Ryou's explanation sounded reasonable on the surface, but it still felt off. Back then, the Adventurers' Guild had commissioned her to investigate, and she'd confirmed seven different spots across Liyue Harbor with the exact same situation.
And just now at the Northland Bank, Tabibito had watched Ryou throw one palm strike—then seven people flew at the same time.
That wasn't a coincidence.
Still, she didn't say it out loud. If anything, this was useful.
Maybe… she could use it to pressure Ryou later. Under those circumstances, her chances of getting what she wanted would be a lot higher.
A secret like this?
I can hold it over him for life.
Keqing can keep blaming him all she wants. Before long, he won't be hers anymore.
Keqing noticed Tabibito's expression and frowned.
That look wasn't envy. It felt like scheming.
This woman is dangerous.
No. Ryou needs to keep his distance from her.
Tabibito caught Keqing's glare, stood up, and said casually, "It's late. Paimon and I are heading back."
And with that, she left.
Keqing watched her go, then turned back to Ryou. "You're not allowed to get any ideas about Tabibito. Do you understand me?"
"Of course not." Ryou shook his head.
Keqing still pinched him a few times, annoyed. "I don't believe you. You didn't… do anything weird down there just now, did you?"
"What could I possibly do?" Ryou snapped, then shot a glance toward the corridor and pulled the door shut.
Keqing's eyes widened. She took a half-step back. "Y-You… what are you doing?"
Ryou wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. "La Signora may have lost her power, but I'm worried the Fatui will try to rescue her."
His voice dropped. "Especially Childe."
"So tonight, we stay here and keep watch. The Millelith might not be able to hold the line if something happens. Only you and me together can guarantee we win."
Keqing rolled her eyes.
As if you're staying here to 'guard' La Signora. You just want to pull the same stunt again—right here on Yujing Terrace.
She glanced down at him and clicked her tongue. "Don't you dare. After everything that happened today, if we—mmph!"
…
High above, in the Jade Chamber.
Ningguang rubbed her forehead, sipping tea until the tension finally eased a little. Then she looked at Yelan. "What did you find out?"
"The Millelith reported that Ryou and Keqing went to the Northland Bank to arrest someone," Yelan said. "They ran into La Signora, a fight broke out, and they managed to capture her in the end."
Ningguang hummed, swirling her tea. "Did they go home after that? Or are they still at the Ministry of Civil Affairs?"
"Not sure," Yelan said. "The ministry says they haven't seen Ryou or Keqing leave. They didn't go home either."
She poured herself a cup. "I've already sent people to their office to look."
Then she added, eyeing the teapot, "This tea of yours is really something. Keeps your head clear. Can you help me get some?"
She smirked. "I asked him for a little last time. It's practically adepti tea—Cloud Retainer and the other adepti love it."
"Adepti tea? That's impressive," Yelan said, taking a sip.
In her memory, "adepti tea" meant the leaves from Chenyu Vale, especially around Yilong Wharf. But Ryou's tea had been infused with spiritual energy. Calling it adepti tea wasn't an exaggeration at all—if anything, it might be even better.
Yelan thought back to that misunderstanding last time, then shook her head quietly.
"What is it?" Ningguang asked, watching her.
"I've had some dealings with Ryou," Yelan said carefully. "But… Keqing is on guard around other women. I don't want another misunderstanding."
Ningguang chuckled. "You know what Keqing's like. You'll get used to it."
Her tone turned teasing. "She finally found a husband that good. Of course she's going to be defensive."
Ningguang's smile lingered a little too long.
After all… she had her own eye on Ryou.
If Keqing stays this tense, maybe my chance will come sooner.
Just then, Baiwen rushed in.
"Ningguang-sama, we couldn't find Ryou or Keqing-sama at the Ministry of Civil Affairs," Baiwen reported. "Their office was empty as well."
Yelan set her cup down and stood immediately. "I'll go check."
Her voice sharpened. "They didn't go home. The Millelith didn't see them leave Yujing Terrace. Baiwen says they weren't in the ministry either. That means something happened."
Ningguang rose as well. "I'll go with you. Too much happened today for me to keep sitting in the Jade Chamber."
She adjusted her sleeves. "Let's go to Yujing Terrace and see what's going on."
"Alright." Yelan nodded.
When Ningguang and Yelan arrived at Yujing Terrace, they saw Ganyu issuing orders.
"Ningguang-sama—and… Yelan? Why are you here?" Ganyu asked, startled.
But then she remembered the chaos earlier and understood. Of course they'd come.
"We're here to handle some matters," Ningguang said. "And… Ganyu, have you seen Ryou and Keqing?"
"Ryou and Keqing?" Ganyu blinked. "They should've gone home after they finished, shouldn't they?"
She recalled hearing the Millelith mention them earlier. At this hour, they really should've left already.
Yelan scanned the area, then pointed at a nearby Millelith. "Did you see Ryou and Keqing leave Yujing Terrace?"
The soldier tensed under everyone's gaze. "I… I didn't see Ryou-sama or Keqing-sama leave!"
"I sent people to their home," Yelan said. "They weren't there either."
A staff member stepped forward quickly. "Ningguang-sama, I saw Keqing-sama, Ryou-sama, and the Tabibito go into their office. Not long after, Tabibito left."
He swallowed. "But Ryou-sama and Keqing-sama still haven't come out."
"They're still in the office?" Ningguang's brow furrowed.
The moment she heard the word "office," Ganyu's mind flashed with a few things she really didn't want to picture. Surely they're just talking in there, she told herself.
She glanced at Ningguang and Yelan, about to say something—
"Come on," Ningguang said decisively. "We're going to their office."
Her eyes narrowed. "People don't just vanish. Baiwen would've checked his office. If what you're saying is true, then something is definitely wrong."
Ganyu followed behind them, growing more nervous with every step.
So many people heading to that office… what if they walk in at the worst possible moment?
Ryou and Keqing, do you two really not care about time or place?
If Ningguang and Yelan find out… you're finished.
Keqing…
I can't save you. You're on your own.
[End of chapter]
[200 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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