Time passed. Clouds gathered and dispersed around Mt. Aocang. In the blink of an eye, a month had gone by.
With Cloud Retainer's guidance and his absurd talent, Yi Chen's cultivation advanced rapidly. He mastered all basic adeptal arts and talismans, even touching on deeper applications.
And due to the "eat together, live together, cultivate together" mandate, his relationship with Shenhe grew increasingly subtle and close.
Of course—this closeness was mostly the result of Shenhe's unilateral effort.
She fully implemented her vow of "taking responsibility" into every aspect of daily life—and became increasingly proficient and unquestioning about it.
At night, the tentative closeness was long gone.
Once Yi Chen fell asleep, Shenhe would naturally pull him into her arms, letting him rest against her arm or chest—as though this were simply the proper way to sleep.
Yi Chen seemed to have adapted too. He'd even nuzzle closer in his sleep, seeking comfort.
Shenhe, in turn, slept peacefully each night—baleful energy stilled, mind calm.
Mornings belonged entirely to Shenhe.
Yi Chen's face-washing rights had been completely monopolized.
Her technique was still firm—but far gentler than before. Her seriousness never wavered.
Yi Chen went from struggling… to reluctant acceptance… to eventually lifting his chin obediently and closing his eyes.
This, apparently, was now part of waking up.
Clothes tidying. Picking up his scattered trinkets. Offering water during training. Wiping sweat.
All of it became routine.
She did it quietly, naturally—as though it were destiny.
In her heart and actions, Shenhe had already gone far beyond "senior sister," fulfilling—clumsily yet unwaveringly—the role she believed a wife should.
She might not fully understand worldly marriage—but she understood this:
If she had "ruined" him, then caring for him completely was her duty.
And also… the most direct way to claim him as her own.
Yi Chen, after initial confusion, grew used to having a cool, meticulous caretaker beside him.
Sometimes it felt excessive—but comforting.
He never connected it to marriage or responsibility—only thinking it was Shenhe's unique way of caring.
Life on Mt. Aocang remained tranquil—yet undercurrents stirred.
Shenhe's plans sharpened.
Yi Chen remained blissfully unaware.
One day, Ganyu finally escaped her mountain of paperwork.
Thinking of the little qilin she worried about, she bought his favorite osmanthus cakes and climbed Mt. Aocang.
A month had passed.
Was he eating well?
Behaving?
Did he… miss her?
She smiled unconsciously.
Soon, she spotted him on a training platform—sweaty, smiling, lively as ever.
Beside him stood a tall, silver-haired woman.
So this must be Shenhe…
But then—
Ganyu's smile froze.
Shenhe stood very close.
Too close.
And she was wiping sweat from Yi Chen's forehead—smooth, practiced, intimate.
Yi Chen leaned down naturally, smiling like this was routine.
Their distance… was far too close.
Ganyu's heart skipped.
Why… are her movements so practiced?!
That ease. That familiarity. That unspoken bond.
This wasn't how two people who'd known each other for one month should look.
It was more like—
She didn't finish the thought.
Her fingers tightened around the box of cakes.
Her steps slowed.
The cakes felt heavy.
Something… was wrong.
And she felt it—deeply.
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