Ganyu stood frozen in place, unable to move forward for a moment.
Watching the distant scene of "senior sister gently wiping junior brother's sweat", she felt a tightness in her chest—as if something were堵塞 there—making even breathing slightly difficult.
The box of osmanthus cakes, still warm, suddenly felt hot in her hands.
And somehow… unnecessary.
The smile she had prepared stiffened on her face. She forced herself to maintain her usual gentle composure, but the slight tremble in her fingers betrayed the turmoil inside her.
No, Ganyu. You're a senior sister. Be graceful. Be proper.
She tried to reason with herself.
Shenhe was only taking care of her junior brother.
Mutual concern among fellow disciples was perfectly normal…
But… that distance… that gaze… that practiced motion…
Was it really just normal senior–junior affection?
Just as Ganyu's heart was locked in internal conflict, Yi Chen finally spotted her.
His eyes lit up instantly. He waved excitedly and ran over as if he'd seen family, completely unaware that behind him, Shenhe's hand paused mid-air—then slowly withdrew.
"Ganyu! You're here! Long time no see!"
Yi Chen stopped in front of her, smiling as brightly as the morning sun over Mt. Aocang.
Shenhe followed silently, stopping just slightly behind Yi Chen's side. She gave a small nod in greeting, saying nothing.
But her position felt… natural.
As if she had always belonged there.
Ganyu looked at the two standing together and felt the scene sting her eyes.
Suppressing the bitterness rising in her chest, she forced a gentle smile and lifted the food box.
"Mhm… work's been lighter recently, so I thought I'd come see you. I brought… the osmanthus cakes you said you liked."
"Wow! Osmanthus cakes! Ganyu, you're the best!"
Yi Chen's attention instantly shifted to food. He happily took the box and turned toward Shenhe.
"Perfect timing—I just finished training! Senior Sister, look! Ganyu brought us something tasty!"
That single word—"us"—and the instinctive glance toward Shenhe as he shared his joy…
It pricked Ganyu's heart like a thin needle.
He already includes her in 'us'… so naturally?
Ganyu's gaze drifted to Shenhe.
Shenhe merely glanced once at the food box, then returned her attention to Yi Chen.
She wasn't interested in the cakes.
She was responding to his happiness.
That unspoken synchrony—centered entirely around Yi Chen—left Ganyu feeling strangely powerless.
She took a slow breath and tried to reclaim the conversation.
"Yi Chen, how has cultivation on the mountain been? Is Master… strict? If there's anything you don't understand, perhaps… I could…"
Before she could finish, Yi Chen interrupted her mid-bite, cheeks full, tone proud.
"It's great! Super great! Master teaches really well! And I've got Senior Sister here too! She's amazing—she knows everything! Anything I don't understand, she explains it! And she takes really good care of me!"
He nudged Shenhe with his elbow, grinning.
"Right, Senior Sister?"
Shenhe shifted her gaze from the crumbs at the corner of Yi Chen's mouth to Ganyu and nodded seriously.
"As it should be."
Ganyu felt something explode in her head.
As it should be?!
Since when did taking care of him become your duty?!
She was the one who met him first.
The one who worried about him.
The one who brought him snacks.
A wave of grievance and unwillingness flooded her heart.
She looked at the pair—
One cheerfully eating the snack brought by a "former" presence while praising the "current" one,
The other calmly declaring ownership without words.
Her eyes burned.
She quickly lowered her head, hiding the redness, fingers clutching her sleeves tightly.
The mountain wind carried Shenhe's faint cool fragrance mixed with Yi Chen's warm, sunlit presence.
Instead of comfort, it made Ganyu feel suffocated.
So… while she was buried in work this past month…
The little qilin she'd carefully cared for—harboring feelings she never voiced—
Had already been… taken over by someone else.
And in such a legitimate way.
In that moment, Ganyu finally understood—
She was too late.
Or perhaps… some people, even if you meet them first, are never meant to be yours first.
Suddenly, warm hands gently cupped her cheeks, lifting her face.
"Ganyu, why are your eyes red? Is the wind too strong here? Or are you feeling unwell?"
Yi Chen leaned in close, studying her expression.
The unexpected tenderness shattered all the bitterness she had been holding back.
She could feel his warm breath brush against her face.
A surge of happiness washed over her so strongly that she momentarily forgot there was anyone else present.
"I-I'm fine… maybe the wind got into my eyes… and also…"
She lowered her gaze slightly, voice barely audible but sincere.
"…I missed you."
She truly had.
"I missed you too, Ganyu!"
Yi Chen replied instantly, smiling without hesitation.
Seeing her flushed cheeks and damp lashes, so gentle and fragile, made his heart soften completely.
He even blurted out—
"Seeing you like this makes me not even want to cultivate anymore. I just want to stay in Liyue Harbor every day and play with you and everyone!"
To Ganyu, these were the most beautiful words in the world.
Her cheeks burned hotter as all gloom vanished instantly.
However—
To Shenhe, standing behind Yi Chen—
This was nothing short of a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
Her unmarried husband—
Holding another woman's face.
Speaking gently.
Saying he didn't even want to cultivate—just wanted to be with her?!
Outrageous!
A violent surge of anger mixed with intense jealousy slammed into Shenhe's heart, shaking emotions long suppressed by red cords.
Her hands clenched at her sides, knuckles whitening. Cold aura leaked uncontrollably as her gaze nearly burned holes through Yi Chen's back.
But—
She couldn't scold him.
And she couldn't pull him away.
Because his expression held nothing but pure concern and joy—no romantic intent.
But reason meant nothing.
Jealousy still raged.
Her mind returned to that dangerous thought.
When that woman named Ganyu is alone, I must smash her head into the ground three times—no, five.
Just as Shenhe's baleful energy was about to be stirred by jealousy—
A deliberately stern cough sounded nearby.
Cloud Retainer descended slowly, wings fluttering, surveying the bizarre triangle before her.
One holding another's face.
One blushing helplessly.
One radiating killing intent.
"In an adeptal domain, such pulling and touching—what sort of behavior is this?"
Her gaze lingered pointedly on Yi Chen's hands, then flicked toward Shenhe, who looked like a murderous statue.
Disgraceful.
Yet internally, she was enjoying every second.
She almost wanted sunflower seeds.
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