[The video begins playing!]
In the scene, Barbara is dressed in a summer island outfit. Beneath her sea-blue skirt, her fair, smooth thigh catches the eye.
She holds a lollipop and lies on Cao Zhong's back, her face full of bright smiles.
Cao Zhong spreads his wind glider and glides forward with the breeze.
Barbara speaks, "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, you brought me out to play… if my sister finds out, she won't be angry, right?"
As soon as those words are spoken, the chat explodes.
[Kaeya]: Careless of me… so the real female lead is the Grand Master.
[Venti]: Fake heroine Barbara, real heroine Grand Master Jean.
[Hu Tao]: Brother-in-law? Sister? Does that mean Cao Zhong married Jean? That's terrifying if you think about it!
[Barbara]: sigh…
[Albert (Barbara's #1 fan)]: Miss Barbara, why are you sighing? Tell me why you're sighing!
The chat becomes extremely lively.
Speculations and interpretations fly everywhere. The "versions" of Cao Zhong's story update so fast that he doesn't even dare look at the chat anymore.
Because right now—
he is standing next to Jean.
Cao Zhong doesn't dare look into Jean's eyes. He can only stare at the floor awkwardly, as if he could somehow see the ceiling through it.
The embarrassment is so intense he feels like he could dig out a three-bedroom apartment with his toes.
Jean, standing beside him, is also blushing deeply.
Just moments ago, she was analyzing everything seriously—how did she suddenly become part of the gossip herself?
This is ridiculous!
Jean never imagined that in the near future, she would actually marry Cao Zhong.
Doesn't that mean the "mentally underdeveloped" person she mentioned earlier… is herself?
I woke up from my dying illness, only to realize the clown was me all along!
The more Jean thinks about it, the redder her face becomes.
How could I possibly be with Cao Zhong?!
Although… he is handsome, gentle, considerate, knows how to make her happy, helps her with work, and takes good care of people…
Wait.
Jean, stop thinking! If you keep going, you'll fall for him! There's no coming back from that!
Even though she is the Acting Grand Master, deep down she has always longed for a sweet romance.
Cao Zhong fits her ideal partner almost perfectly—
if only he weren't a scumbag.
For a moment, the two in the office are completely frozen in awkward silence.
"Grand Master Jean…"
Cao Zhong tries to break the silence.
But Jean doesn't give him the chance.
Her face is as red as a ripe apple—strangely cute.
"Leave! Just leave! Why are you still here?!"
Cao Zhong feels relieved. He had wanted to escape for a long time but didn't have a good excuse.
Now he doesn't hesitate—he immediately runs out.
Even a second slower would be disrespectful to his own life.
After Cao Zhong leaves, Jean's embarrassment eases slightly, and the redness on her face fades a bit.
She turns her attention back to the video.
She really wants to know how she ended up with Cao Zhong.
[The video continues.]
In the scene, Cao Zhong looks relaxed.
"Don't worry. Your sister is at work. She won't find out that we snuck out."
Seeing this, Jean feels uneasy.
Wait… what am I thinking? Barbara is my sister! I might doubt Cao Zhong, but how can I doubt Barbara?
She forces herself to calm down and continue watching.
[The video continues.]
Barbara brings the lollipop to Cao Zhong.
"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, take a lick."
Without hesitation, Cao Zhong puts it in his mouth.
"Ah~ brother-in-law, if my sister finds out we shared the same lollipop, she won't be angry, right?"
"Brother-in-law, if she finds out you carried me with your wind glider, she won't beat me, right?"
"Brother-in-law… my sister isn't like me. I'm the only one who truly cares about you!"
[The video ends!!!]
The amount of information is so overwhelming that Jean doesn't react immediately.
But when she does—
Her anger explodes.
Betrayal.
A naked, undeniable betrayal.
Not just from the man she might love—
but from her own sister.
Now she finally understands how Amber felt.
So this is what it feels like to be betrayed by the people you love most.
"Cao Zhong, you bastard—I'll kill you!!!"
A lion-like roar echoes from the Knights of Favonius headquarters, shaking the entire night.
Jean storms out of her office, sword in hand, her presence suffocatingly cold.
Anyone who sees this has only one thought:
Someone is going to die.
The hunt has begun.
[Amber]: sob sob Grand Master Jean, I understand you!
[Eula]: ??? That's not it, Amber, listen to me!
[Barbara]: Sister, don't believe it—it's all fake!
[Albert (Barbara's #1 fan)]: Cao Zhong I *** you ****, you ****, say something you coward, I
[Ding! The system has detected excessive prohibited language. User is now muted for 360 seconds.]
[Teyvat Resident 4396]: Cao Zhong really deserves to die! I've clenched my teeth so hard they're breaking!
[Kaeya]: That was too much information… I didn't process it. Can someone explain?
[Venti]: Well, it's like this—
[Jean]: @Kaeya @Venti, if you don't want to die, shut up!