Lu Lin couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
The little girl was getting more and more sensitive — he had barely begun, and she was already overwhelmed.
Lumine lowered her head, afraid someone would notice the abnormality in her expression. After finally regaining control, she firmly grabbed his hand and removed it.
She did enjoy the thrill — but there were too many unfamiliar people at the table. She had no confidence she could continue without exposing herself.
Better stop this villain while no one has noticed!
What she didn't know was—
She had already been noticed.
Ganyu, having experienced something similar before, immediately guessed what had happened from Lumine's subtle reactions. She gently squeezed Lu Lin's hand in warning.
She wasn't jealous.
She was reminding him not to go too far.
Cloud Retainer was still present — leaving a bad impression would be troublesome.
The Observers
Another person who noticed something was Shenhe.
Recently, Lu Lin had been teaching her various bits of common sense, which led her to develop a habit — observing him closely.
Watching what he did. Thinking about why he did it.
She felt she learned useful things that way.
So when he held Ganyu's hand, when Lumine suddenly changed expression, she saw it all.
But she didn't understand what was happening.
She was completely ignorant about relationships between men and women — Xianyun certainly never taught her that.
When Senior Sister held his hand, her mood visibly improved.
When Lumine made that expression just now, it also seemed related to his hand. He had lowered it beneath the table shortly before…
Was he pinching her?
No, that didn't seem right. Lumine didn't look pained — she looked… pleased.
So what exactly was he doing?
Curious.
Shenhe's fate was one of solitude and calamity — bound by red cords to suppress her killing intent and emotions. It had shaped her cold and distant nature.
Yet today, something was different.
The red cords remained.
But curiosity — a very human emotion — had surfaced.
She herself hadn't even noticed the change.
She decided to ask Lu Lin privately later.
He had taught her that questions should be asked in private to avoid embarrassing others.
She remembered that.
Another Witness
Xiangling also noticed.
She had experience in such matters.
Seeing Lumine's restrained expression, she immediately understood what was happening beneath the table.
Spending time with Hu Tao had rubbed off on her mischievous streak — she even considered dropping her chopsticks again to "accidentally" look under the table.
Before she could act, innocent Yaoyao spoke up:
"Sister Lumine, are you okay? Do you feel unwell?"
Yaoyao had noticed something was off — but unlike Xiangling, she was purely concerned.
Lumine didn't realize that at this table, only Xianyun — busy recounting Ganyu's childhood stories — and Paimon — fully focused on eating — hadn't noticed anything.
After Yaoyao pointed it out, Paimon finally reacted.
"What's wrong? Are you sick?"
"It's nothing! I just ate a Jueyun Chili — it's too spicy!"
It was a believable excuse. Xiangling had indeed prepared spicy dishes.
Yaoyao, Paimon, and Xianyun accepted it.
Under the table, Lu Lin casually wiped his fingers against Lumine's smooth thigh, then stood to pour her water.
"Here, drink some water."
She shot him a small glare but accepted the cup.
After Dinner
Conversation continued in the courtyard.
Xianyun even gave everyone small mechanical gifts.
Holding the Featherleaf Moon Device, Lumine exclaimed:
"These mechanisms are incredible! If I could learn this, adventuring would be so much easier!"
Lu Lin seized the opportunity.
"Why not ask Auntie Xianyun to take you as a disciple?"
"Can I?" Lumine asked eagerly.
"I can teach you," Xianyun replied, "but there's no need for formal apprenticeship."
"Oh, but ceremony shows respect," Lu Lin insisted. "Then Lumine would become Shenhe's junior sister."
After his persistent encouragement, Lumine went through a simple apprenticeship ritual and became Xianyun's registered disciple.
Ganyu watched thoughtfully.
Why did Lu Lin insist on this?
Something felt… intentional.
She couldn't pinpoint it.
Night Falls
Later that night, they sent Yaoyao home.
Xiangling informed Chef Mao she wouldn't return.
Ganyu, finally free from living under Cloud Retainer's supervision, also chose not to go home.
The three entered the Serenitea Pot.
The Jade Chamber was empty tonight.
Ningguang and Keqing had deliberately left the big bed for Lu Lin, knowing he would accompany Ganyu.
They were still too shy for group activities — unless he personally "invited" them.
Hu Tao and Xiangling, however, were a different story.
Bold and fiery, they had already prepared.
Tonight, they intended to let him experience the fusion of ice and fire.
In the Bedroom
Ganyu clearly understood what was coming and felt a little nervous.
Group intimacy had always been inevitable — she just didn't expect it so soon.
"Maybe… I'll bathe first," she suggested softly.
"Together," Lu Lin smiled, taking a hand from each girl and pushing open the bathroom door.
From inside the steamy room came a cheerful voice:
"Big Hilichurl is sick, second Hilichurl looks, third Hilichurl buys medicine, fourth Hilichurl howls~"
Hu Tao's lively head popped above the bathwater.
"Oh? You're finally back!"
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