Ganyu was in deep.
"That's right, she's my wife!"
Hearing Ye Xi say those words, Ganyu's eyes widened with surprise and bashfulness.
Wife?!
But we aren't even married yet!!
Ganyu desperately wanted to blurt it out. As the secretary of the Yuehai Pavilion, she was a stickler for rules. At the very least, there had to be a formal proposal, then an engagement, and only after the wedding could she be called his wife!
Skipping three steps all at oncewasn't that a bit too fast?
Suddenly, a thought occurred to her, and an incredibly shameful idea flashed through her mind.
Could it be that Ye Xi wants to go straight to...
No wonder he didn't kiss me on the boat earlier.
He wants to skip all the formalities and then, tonight...
At that moment, Ye Xi turned back and gave Ganyu a meaningful look. He believed that Ganyu, being as understanding as she was, would surely comprehend. He needed her to cooperate and play along to trick Kujou Sara into leaving.
However, when Ganyu saw that look, she completely misinterpreted it. It felt like he was hinting that she wasn't allowed to leave tonight!
What should I do?
But it's just too fast...
Things like that should only happen after the wedding, right?
Ganyu's mind was a complete mess.
Hearing Ye Xi's claim, Kujou Sara crossed her arms, her gaze full of scrutiny. "Just because you say she's your wife, that makes it true? In that case, I could say the Raiden Shogun is my"
She stopped herself just before the second half of that sentence escaped her lips, realizing how inappropriate it was. She gave a dry cough and looked at Ganyu. "Miss, you don't need to force yourself to please him. Tell me, what is your actual relationship?"
"Eh!?"
Ganyu's eyes were filled with astonishment. Seeing Kujou Sara's stern, unsmiling gaze, it was clear the general was doubting her!
Blushing furiously, Ganyu seemed to reach a sudden decision. She stood on her tiptoes and pressed a light kiss onto Ye Xi's cheek. "I... I'll do whatever you say..."
Ye Xi was stunned. He thought a simple hug would be enough; he hadn't expected Ganyu to choose this method.
There's such a thing as a 'happy accident' after all?
Ye Xi suppressed a grin and looked at Kujou Sara. "See that? Any more questions?"
Kujou Sara was dumbfounded. She hadn't expected them to... to just kiss like that! She felt like she had just taken a massive amount of critical damage.
"Youyou two! In broad daylight! How can you do such a thing in front of people!?"
"Shameless!"
Seeing Kujou Sara's indignant and flustered face, Ye Xi really wanted to give her a good beating, just like when they first met.
[This girl is all chest and no brains. You're the one who asked for proof, and now that you have it, you're calling us shameless!]
[It was a real oversight not to slap your backside until it was swollen back then!]
"Eek!"
Hearing Ye Xi's inner voice, Kujou Sara's face flushed an even deeper shade of crimson. She would never forget that incident!
Back then, seeing Ye Xi and the Raiden Shogun getting closer and closer, she had ambushed him in a fit of rage to give him a warning. She never expected Ye Xi to be so powerful! To this day, she still had a psychological shadow over it.
As for that incident, Ye Xi had truly been scared out of his wits. About a year or two ago, just as he was leaving Tenshukaku, an arrow had suddenly whistled past his ear. He had been completely off-guard! No matter how strong his abilities were, he couldn't defend against a sudden assassination attempt.
Back then, he had nearly died! And the culprit, Kujou Sara, had actually dared to step out and talk tough. In his rage, he had caught her and given her a dozen or so good smacks. He didn't let her go until she was crying and begging for mercy.
[Come to think of it, I've almost forgotten how that felt. I need to find another chance to give her a thrashing to vent some steam!] Ye Xi plotted in his heart.
Hearing Ye Xi's thoughts again, Kujou Sara stomped her foot in fury. "Ye Xi, just you wait! I am definitely going to file a formal complaint against you before the Raiden Shogun!"
With that, she turned and fled in a panic. Every time she remembered that day, her teeth itched with resentment! She even dreamed about that scene sometimesthe pain and the shame were still vivid, as if it had happened only yesterday.
That was why she had made getting revenge on Ye Xi her goal, training relentlessly every single day. She woke up at 5:05 AM, did five sets of deep breathing in the courtyard, walked five laps, and strictly ate only five mouthfuls of rice for breakfast! She maintained her figure, her strength, and constantly pushed her potential.
One day, she would pay Ye Xi back several times over for what he did to her! She wouldn't just hit him back; she would do it in front of everyone!
...
Watching Kujou Sara flee in a sorry state, Ye Xi snorted. "She sure runs fast."
Withdrawing his gaze, he pulled Ganyu along. "Luckily your acting was convincing, Ganyu, otherwise that brat would have kept pestering us."
Acting?!
Ganyu's eyes widened as she remembered Ye Xi's look from earlier. It really could be interpreted as a cue to play along! She stood frozen on the spot like a statue.
Does that mean everything I was thinking was wrong?!
The skipping steps, the 'straight to the end' tonight...
It was all just my own wishful thinking!
The most shameful part was that she had actually agreed to it!
Oh heavens, why is this happening...
Seeing Ganyu dazed, Ye Xi peeled a Sea Ganoderma while saying, "I have a spatial storage area. We can take more Sea Ganoderma back, and it'll stay fresh. Let's pick a few more so we can eat fresh Sea Ganoderma every day for a while."
Ganyu nodded blankly, sighing in her heart. She felt a sense of loss. Now, even the Sea Ganoderma tasted like nothing.
After gathering more Sea Ganoderma along the shore, the sky gradually turned to dusk. The golden sunlight shifted into a deep orange-red, and their footprints left a trail on the beach, intertwining closer and closer.
While he was at it, Ye Xi caught a few fish to finish his Daily Commissions. The other three tasks were easily completed as well. Today's 160 Primogems were successfully in the bag.
It was a productive day.
Once everything was settled, Ye Xi turned back and waved to Ganyu. "Wiuh, Ganyu, it's time to go back."
The word "wife" had almost slipped out again.
Ganyu nodded as she nibbled on a Sea Ganoderma, looking incredibly cute. He led her onto the boat, leaving Tatarasuna behind. They passed through the Kujou Encampment and returned to the base of Inazuma City.
The sun was nearly dipping below the horizon.
"It's almost time for the dinner rush at Wanmin Restaurant. We need to go get Xiangling quickly!"
Before long, Ye Xi and Ganyu returned to Tenshukaku. Without waiting for the Shogun to speak, Ye Xi opened the portal to the Plane of Euthymia and stepped into that small world.
The air inside was filled with a mouth-watering aroma. Xiangling was standing by a stove, explaining something to Raiden Ei. Meanwhile, Yae Miko was flipping through a light novel while eating Stir-Fried Tomato and Egg. Judging by the several empty plates next to her, she had eaten quite a lot.
"How is it, Xiangling? How is Ei's progress?"
Seeing Ye Xi return, Xiangling thought for a moment before replying, "For someone who just started learning to cook, Sister Ei is making very fast progress."
"And her sword skills are incredible! The intricate patterns I cut with a kitchen knife, Sister Ei can easily replicate with a longsword!"
"So, in terms of knife work, Sister Ei is a natural. The main focus now is controlling the heat and adjusting the flavors."
Ye Xi nodded as he listened to Xiangling's evaluation. Though using a longsword to chop vegetables was a bit unusual, everything else seemed fine.
He offered some encouragement. "Ei, keep at it. Next time, I'm looking forward to a meal cooked by you!"
Raiden Ei nodded, her gaze full of earnestness. "Don't worry, Xi. Next time, I will definitely make the Stir-Fried Tomato and Egg taste exactly how you like it!"
"Besides, with Master Xiangling here, I've learned a great deal!"
Ye Xi felt that it wasn't just his imaginationRaiden Ei seemed to have accepted Xiangling, and the two of them appeared to be getting along very well.
[It looks like she really can make friends. I hope Ei can step out from the shadows of the past soon...]
Hearing Ye Xi's heart, Raiden Ei instantly understood his good intentions.
He wants me to make more friends...
Ei sighed. Her old friends had all left her long ago. It was because of those past tragedies that she had been running away, refusing to make new friends. After all, friends would eventually leave. No matter how good the relationship, it couldn't withstand the erosion of time.
Only Eternity was the truth!
As long as one didn't make friends, one wouldn't have to experience the pain of parting. That was her current belief. But since Ye Xi wanted to change her, she would let things take their natural course...
"Alright, it's getting late. We should head back to Liyue first."
"There are a lot of things to deal with in Liyue lately. Once I've handled them, I'll come back to see you both."
With that, Ye Xi led Ganyu and Xiangling out of the Plane of Euthymia. Yae Miko stayed behind; she had things to discuss with Raiden Ei.
...
At the foot of Mt. Yougou, in the Kamisato Estate.
Inside the kendo training hall, a graceful figure was practicing her swordplay. With a longsword in hand, the blade's glint flashed through the dim room. Kamisato Ayaka's movements were fluid, possessing a rhythmic, leaping beauty.
When she finally came to a halt, Ayaka was breathing slightly hard. Her body was slick with sweat, a few droplets trailing down her cheeks. The surrounding maidservants began to clap.
"Milady's swordplay is truly beautiful!"
"It is an honor to witness such a sword dance!"
"Milady, please take a rest. You've been practicing for four hours already!"
As the personal maids praised the beauty of her technique, they also felt a pang of worry. Lately, Ayaka had been practicing every day, even more diligently and harder than before, though no one knew the reason.
Ayaka sheathed her sword and spoke softly. "Help me measure my waistline. How is it?"
Several maids hurried forward with measuring tools.
"Milady, your figure has always been excellent. It's the same as yesterday, no change at all!"
"That's right, these dimensions are identical to yesterday's!"
"If you ask me, you're already very thin. There's really no need to be so strict!"
Hearing this, Ayaka let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "I've been eating a lot lately. I must maintain the figure Xi likes so I can be at my best when he returns!"
Lately, she had been eating the nutritional meals sent by Yae Miko. Consuming them could extend one's lifespan, but it caused her a lot of worry. Many of the foods were delicious, but eating too much would lead to weight gain. After only two days, she had felt a subtle change in her weight.
She immediately became vigilant. She had to keep her weight under control. Thus, over the past few days, she had resumed her daily runs and training sessions. Her hard work had paid off, and she had finally managed to bring her weight back down.
Just then, a female servant entered to give a report. "Milady! One of our servants spotted Lord Ye Xi at the Narukami Shrine today!"
"They say Lord Ye Xi has returned to Inazuma!"
"Really!?"
Surprise and joy instantly flooded Ayaka's face. Although it had only been a few days since they last met, her longing for Ye Xi had grown to an overwhelming degree. To be honest, she hadn't felt confident she could last until his return. She wanted nothing more than to leave the estate immediately and find him!
The servant outside hesitated, worried that her next words would sadden her mistress. But she couldn't hide the truth. "However... it is said that Lord Ye Xi was accompanied by two extraordinarily beautiful girls..."
Hearing this, the faces of the maids in the room changed drastically. They all looked toward Ayaka.
Sure enough, the joy on Ayaka's face dimmed slightly. A flash of panic and unease flickered in her eyes. But she quickly regained her composure. After about a minute, Ayaka let out a long breath, drew her sword, and resumed her practice.
"Milady... aren't you going to look for Lord Ye Xi?" a maid asked, feeling sorry for her.
Ayaka shook her head. "When the time is right, Xi will come to find me..."
Actually, she had intended to change her clothes and head out immediately. But if Ye Xi was with others, he surely wouldn't want her showing up unannounced. If that was the case, why go and cause trouble? She only hoped there was still a place for her in Ye Xi's heart.
So she would wait! She would wait for Ye Xi to take the initiative and come to her. She believed he would. Otherwise, the Jade Flute wouldn't be glowing so often these days.
The maids lowered their heads. Lately, the sound of a flute often echoed through the estate. Everyone knew it was Ayaka expressing her longing for her husband.
...
Back in the Serenitea Pot, Ye Xi was making plans.
Tomorrow night, I'll bring Ayaka to Liyue to check out the night market... I miss her.
He had already reserved a table at Xinyue Kiosk to treat her to a wonderful meal.
"Ye Xi, could you help me bring these items to the Yuehai Pavilion?" Ganyu's gentle voice pulled him back from his thoughts.
He nodded. "Of course. We'll head to the Yuehai Pavilion in a moment!"
Returning to the small villa, he opened the lid of the pot, and he, Ganyu, and Xiangling emerged in the Qixing Mansion. After a quick tidy-up, they left the mansion and arrived at the steps of Yujing Terrace. From here, they could head down through the bustling streets and return to the Wanmin Restaurant.
It was already late, and the city lights were beginning to flicker on. Ye Xi, worried that Xiangling might encounter danger, took her hand. "Wait a moment. Ganyu and I will head to the Yuehai Pavilion first, and then I'll walk you home."
Xiangling looked at Ganyu, then shook her head. "Liyue Harbor is very safe! You should go back!"
"Besides, I have the new weapon you gave me. If anyone tries anything, I'll beat them to a pulp!"
Seeing that Ye Xi was still worried, Xiangling's amber eyes sparkled with mischief. "How about this"
Suddenly, she stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around Ye Xi's neck, and gave him a light peck on the lips. She held him for a moment longer before letting go. "Now that I have your scent on me, no one will bother me!"
"I'm off!"
With that, Xiangling skipped down the steps, looking perfectly satisfied.
"This girl..." Ye Xi chuckled, feeling a bit helpless. He wondered how many more quirky ideas she would have once they were married!
However, this scene happened to be witnessed by a nearby Millelith soldier.
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