Early the next morning, under the escort of his fellow Knights of Favonius—especially Kaeya, whose gaze was filled with a bizarre mix of fatherly affection and anticipation for drama—Yi Chen set foot alone upon the Floating Stone Steps leading to the Jade Chamber.
The palace suspended high above Liyue Harbor shimmered brilliantly in the morning light, majestic and overwhelming.
As he climbed, Yi Chen couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
How much Mora did this thing cost to build…?
Lady Ningguang really is my role model!
The moment he stepped onto the mirror-smooth floor of the Jade Chamber, three capable-looking women in identical professional attire were already waiting.
They were Ningguang's secretaries—Baiwen, Baixiao, and Baishi.
Having long heard of this temporary assistant whose "battle record was terrifying," they now examined Yi Chen with a mix of intense curiosity and professional scrutiny.
"Good morning, Mr. Yi Chen," Baiwen said as she stepped forward gracefully.
"We are Lady Ningguang's secretaries. We were instructed to welcome you."
"Good morning! Good morning! Nice to meet you, seniors!"
Yi Chen flashed a bright, sunny smile, instantly easing the atmosphere.
"We're colleagues from now on—please take care of me! If there's any heavy lifting or dirty work, just leave it to me!"
His straightforward enthusiasm caught the three secretaries off guard.
They exchanged glances—
the initial scrutiny fading into curiosity… and a faint hint of goodwill.
After all, someone strong, humble, and eager to help was rare indeed.
Baiwen soon led Yi Chen to his workstation.
It was located diagonally beside Ningguang's grand desk—
close enough that she could see him simply by lifting her eyes.
This wasn't so much an assistant's desk as it was being placed directly under supervision.
Lady Ningguang truly treated this new assistant differently.
The three secretaries arrived at the same conclusion simultaneously.
Work began swiftly.
Sorting intelligence reports, filtering cooperation proposals, drafting basic replies.
At first, Baiwen and the others were secretly nervous—worried that this slightly airheaded-looking newcomer might turn the paperwork into chaos.
But to their surprise—
Yi Chen handled everything with remarkable ease.
He read at astonishing speed, organized files cleanly and efficiently, and drafted replies with proper formatting and clear intent.
Though his wording carried a bit of Mondstadt's blunt style, the meaning was precise and effective.
Whenever he encountered unfamiliar Liyue-specific terminology or complex contract clauses, he immediately asked questions—
and grasped the explanations instantly, often extrapolating further on his own.
Though still unfamiliar with certain unspoken rules and cultural nuances, his execution speed and efficiency were first-rate.
What delighted the secretaries even more—
Yi Chen had zero arrogance.
Seeing Baishi struggle with a stack of heavy ledgers, he immediately stood up.
"I've got it!"
Delivering documents to lower departments? He grabbed them and ran—returning with clear, accurate feedback.
Even pouring tea for Ningguang—
he did it proactively and neatly.
Strong. Efficient. Hardworking. Helpful. And handsome.
Who wouldn't like a colleague like that?
By mid-morning, Baiwen, Baixiao, and Baishi had gone from professional courtesy to genuine admiration.
The Jade Chamber's office—once efficient but tense—had somehow become smoother and even… pleasant.
Baixiao whispered,
"I feel like our efficiency is up at least ten percent today…"
Baiwen glanced at Yi Chen, who was rapidly writing at his desk, his profile glowing in the morning light.
"…Yes. He's an excellent assistant."
From her seat above, Ningguang observed everything.
She lifted her teacup, gently blew away the steam, and a barely noticeable—yet deeply satisfied—smile curved her lips.
This is only the beginning,
my assistant Yi Chen.
Hours later, golden afternoon light bathed the Jade Chamber.
Only Yi Chen and Ningguang remained.
The bustle of the day faded into curling incense smoke and the soft clink of porcelain.
Ningguang took a sip of the tea Yi Chen had prepared—
fragrant, smooth, perfectly warm.
She looked up at him.
"Assistant Yi Chen, how was today? Are you adjusting well?"
Yi Chen set down the last stack of documents and thought seriously.
"I think… it was fine."
He spoke as if he hadn't just efficiently cleared mountains of work and helped everyone repeatedly.
The only thing lingering in his mind was Ganyu's strangely complicated look earlier—but he brushed it off.
Ningguang noticed his brief hesitation but didn't comment.
"Just sitting here won't teach you Liyue's true commerce," she said, standing.
"Come. I'll show you Liyue Harbor—let you see how wealth truly flows."
Night fell.
Liyue Harbor burst into life.
Ningguang walked beside Yi Chen, with minimal attendants.
She pointed out shops, docks, stalls—her voice calm yet clear amid the noise.
"That silk shop raises prices by ten percent half an hour before sunset—foreign tourists peak then…"
"Dock three pays higher unloading wages—fragile cargo, but also higher risk of skimming…"
"That tea merchant may look idle—but he controls most of the wholesale flow here…"
Her words stitched an invisible map of commerce.
Yi Chen listened, eyes shining.
"So that's how it works!"
"You can even do that?!"
His earnest fascination made Ningguang increasingly enthusiastic.
At times, she stepped closer, sleeves brushing his arm with faint fragrance.
At key moments, she leaned in, smiling as if sharing a secret meant only for him.
To outsiders—
The Tianquan and her new assistant looked far too close.
Almost… intimate.
After an hour, they returned beneath the Jade Chamber.
Moonlight glazed the Floating Stone Steps.
Ningguang suddenly stopped.
"…I'm a bit tired."
Without hesitation, Yi Chen turned, squatted, and presented his back.
"Please make full use of me, Lady Ningguang."
Something gently struck Ningguang's heart.
She leaned onto his back.
Yi Chen rose steadily and climbed the steps.
Against his warmth, hearing his calm heartbeat, breathing in his clean, sunlit scent—
Ningguang felt an unfamiliar peace.
She didn't know why.
She, who ruled Liyue with calculation and control…
was relying so naturally on a man she'd known less than two days.
Why him?
His power?
His reliability?
The light in his eyes when speaking of honest wealth?
Or that simple line—
"My strength is meant to protect others."
She knew only this—
What she felt now went beyond business or interest.
It was personal.
And undeniable.
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