The weather was very sunny today. Although Fu Ning didn't like sunny days, at Furina's strong request, he still went out holding an umbrella, hand in hand with her.
However… after the pedestrians on the road greeted Furina, they all froze when they saw Fu Ning's head, their faces full of confusion. Then, they burst into muffled laughter and quickly walked away, stifling giggles.
Not a single one greeted Fu Ning.
Fu Ning had a blank expression. He felt like nothing was wrong with him.
He thought so…
***
"Fu Fu! Fu Fu! Get up, get up!" Fu Ning knocked on the door.
"Mmm… good morning, Fu Ning… do we really have to get up so early? Can't we sleep a bit longer…" Furina's sleepy voice drifted out.
"ZZZ…"
The room fell into sudden silence.
Fu Ning looked at his watch and sighed. There wasn't much to do today anyway, so he let Furina sleep a little longer.
As for why he'd been so eager to wake her…
Of course, it was because he had learned how to braid cat-ear hairstyles from Keqing back in Liyue!
He'd been dying to try it on his Fu Fu!
Just kidding—well, not really. Even Keqing's cat ears had stunned him. If the most beautiful cat ears in the world were to appear on his Furina… Fu Ning couldn't even imagine how adorable she'd be!
But… it looked like he'd have to wait.
After a while, Furina walked out of the room with sleepy eyes. After washing up, she sat on the sofa, blinking slowly, clearly still drowsy.
"Hehe, Fu Fu, you look really sleepy. Why don't you rest a bit while I braid your hair?" Fu Ning coaxed sweetly, hiding his mischievous intentions.
Furina nodded trustingly and leaned back on the sofa, eyes closed, ready to doze off.
Fu Ning chuckled devilishly, stretched out his sinful hands, and gently played with Furina's snowy white hair. He began braiding the cat ears he had learned from Keqing, hands trembling slightly from nervous excitement.
Finally—it was done!
Fu Ning popped in front of Furina to admire her from up close. Her serene face paired with cat ears and twin ponytails was simply too much.
Ahh… Fu Fu, who was already impossibly cute, had now become divinely adorable…
Fu Ning laughed like a fool.
"Knowledge talent: Sequence Nine!"
His eyes sparkled wildly as he took mental snapshots of Cat-Eared Furina, capturing every precious frame.
Truly! Absolutely beautiful! It's beyond beautiful!
From little jellyfish head to little cat head…!
"…What did you do to me?" Furina sat in front of the vanity, squinting at her reflection and questioning Fu Ning in a slightly irritated tone.
Fu Ning had a blank look: "I just… did your hair, Fu Fu." His eyes flickered as he sneakily took more mental pictures of the angry cat ears.
"I know you did my hair. I'm asking what kind of hairstyle you gave me." Furina's mouth twitched.
Cat ears?
Fu Ning: "…"
Oh no. Fu Fu might be about to do something crazy.
"I… uh… gave you cat ears and twin ponytails."
Furina was speechless.
Well, looks like Fu Ning had gotten too comfortable.
He's reliable in a crisis… but in peace, he turns into a disaster.
Always up to trouble when he gets the chance.
"Alright, alright. You said cat ears and twin ponytails look good, right?" Furina asked, her smile turning suspiciously sweet.
Fu Ning had a sinking feeling but still answered through clenched teeth, "Uh… yes… Fu Fu, cat ears and twin ponytails look perfect on you."
Furina shook her head: "I don't think so."
Her twin ponytails swayed as she turned her head, Fu Ning's eyes following the movement.
"I think cat ears and twin ponytails would look best on your head, Fu Ning," she said with a mischievous grin.
Fu Ning: "…No."
"Oh yes, they would."
"Don't want to."
***
Furina looked at Fu Ning's pouty face, complete with cat ears and ponytails, and burst into laughter.
Then she made a bold request: "Fu Ning, how about going out with me like this?"
"No." Fu Ning shut his eyes and turned away, refusing to acknowledge her.
"Hey, hey, don't be so stingy, Fu Ning, come on~" Furina teleported to his side, looking up at him expectantly.
Fu Ning turned his head the other way again, ignoring her.
"Ohh, Fu Ning, I was wrong! Don't be mad~!" Furina quickly admitted defeat and teleported to the other side, trying to meet his gaze.
Fu Ning's twin ponytails swayed as he shook his head in defiance.
"Come on, Fu Ning! Don't be like this!" She popped behind him, hugged him from behind, arms around his neck, and peeked into his eyes. "Boo~"
"Alright? Let's go out and have some fun! I'll treat you to something yummy!"
Fu Ning had no choice but to open one eye: "…Hmm."
"Hehe! Fu Ning, you're the best!" Furina cheered. "Now let's go out just like this! I want everyone to see how cute you are in cat ears!"
She grabbed Fu Ning's arm and dragged him downstairs.
Fu Ning: "…"
Fu Ning had no choice but to be pulled along by her.
Forget it. Since it's Fu Fu's request… he'd go along. After all, she's his.
At the bottom of the Palais Mermonia, they ran into Neuvillette, who was returning with two glasses of water.
He could still hear Neuvillette muttering to himself: "Hmm… water from the Mondemasque Reef—rare indeed. Worth savoring."
Then, Neuvillette looked up—and saw Fu Ning.
With cat ears and twin ponytails.
Neuvillette: "…"
"Good day, Mr. Fu Ning," he greeted politely, maintaining his usual calm expression.
Fu Ning had the strong feeling Neuvillette was laughing at him on the inside: "Good day, Neuvillette." He stared hard, silently willing him to leave.
Neuvillette glanced between Furina and Fu Ning.
He decided this scene was not one he needed to be part of.
"Mr. Fu Ning, I've completed the tasks you requested for Baisong Town."
Fu Ning nodded, still watching Neuvillette like a hawk.
So, Neuvillette turned and walked back to his office in silence, opting to ignore the couple entirely.
Fu Ning suddenly felt… socially annihilated.
As they walked through the streets, Furina suddenly asked, "Huh? By the way, Fu Ning, why do you always carry an umbrella on sunny days?"
"Holding an umbrella? Is that weird? I'm the Dark Devil. I don't like the light," Fu Ning replied.
During his time trapped in the shadowy realm, Fu Ning had grown used to the darkness. When he returned to Teyvat, even the light felt uncomfortable.
So, he developed the habit of always carrying an umbrella in the sun.
He kept this habit even now.
Furina sighed, snatched the umbrella from him, and closed it. "Fu Ning, you're really something. Even if you're the Dark Devil, you shouldn't avoid sunlight like that—it's bad for your health."
"Just like the Anemo Archon doesn't have to blow wind all the time, the Geo Archon doesn't have to eat rocks, and the Hydro Archon doesn't only drink water, the Dark Devil doesn't have to live in shadows."
Although… with Fu Ning's current strength, it was unlikely his health was ever in danger.
Still…
Fu Ning tilted his head up, gazing at the sun. From his angle, the light seemed to shine down from where Furina stood.
It was as if her presence illuminated him.
Fu Ning nodded and looked directly at Furina. "You're right, Fu Fu."
He should get some sun.