"Don't turn every little thing into some romantic affair, like I'm obsessed with that sort of stuff."
"Oh? But didn't Keqing tell me you're always up to mischief, even during the day, and you love making her, well, you know, while she's bathing?"
"Ahem! Ahem!"
Keqing's face flushed as she quickly cut off Ying's nonsense, her eyes darting toward the white-haired little spirit who had stopped in the middle of a bite, ears perked up and listening intently.
(Paimon's still here, you know, don't say everything out loud!)
That was what Keqing's lips seemed to be mouthing.
(Oh, come on! Who was it bragging last night about how full and satisfied they always feel afterward, wishing someone would share the load?)
(Keqing! You actually told her that? Don't you know Ying's moral compass is in the negatives?)
(Mm-hmm~ Sorry, I'm the villain here, little fishy.)
(Waaah, I know, I know, I won't say anything else like that in front of Ying, promise!)
"??"
Paimon, who couldn't read lips at all, put her hands on her hips and huffed. "Are you ignoring me on purpose, whispering away like I'm invisible?"
"Two drumsticks!"
"Deal!"
Paimon was like a child, quick to anger but even quicker to forget. After being handed two drumsticks by Gongku, she let the matter drop entirely.
Breakfast ended on a lively note, and they soon found themselves in front of the Teyvat Gate, nestled inside the Serenitea Pot, where Gongku had prepared everything.
"Keqing, you sure you don't want to come with me to Teyvat to recruit more members?"
"No. I arrived here before Ying, so I'll be around to help her out with things on her journey. Besides, she can't unlock the map on her own without at least one of us."
That was true, but… didn't she know that outside these walls, plenty of level-ten friendship girls were eyeing her husband like a prized trophy?
Gongku wondered how to phrase that delicately in the common tongue of Teyvat.
Ying cut in, "Alright, alright. Keqing's way more tolerant than you give her credit for. Besides, all those flings and debts you've racked up in Teyvat? You made most of them, plus half of mine, of course it's your mess to clean up."
If anyone knew Gongku inside and out, it was Ying. She could tell what nonsense he was about to spout just by the way he pulled up his trousers.
Keqing stepped forward, carefully smoothing out the front of Gongku's shirt.
"I'm already grateful we met early, thanks to a stroke of luck that pulled me from the summoning pool. All this time, I've wondered… if it hadn't been me, but someone else you summoned first, like Kamisato Ayaka, would I have been the one standing on the sidelines, watching her with envy?"
Just hearing her hypothetical scenario, Gongku could sense the twinge of fear and bitterness behind her words.
It was hard to imagine the courage it must have taken for her to share her beloved so freely.
He gently pulled her into a hug, burying his face in her soft, violet hair.
"I'm sorry, Keqing. I've been a pretty poor partner, haven't I? I didn't give you enough of a sense of security."
"It's alright, Gongku. You know me, I'm not one for rigid rules. Honestly, after that chat with Ying yesterday, I feel like our home's been a little too quiet."
"But don't you think it's unfair to you?"
"Are you saying I'm allowed to find another man too, then?"
"No! I won't let that happen!"
"You're as possessive as ever, my dear Creator… But don't worry. My world is small, and with a god like you in it, there's no room for anyone else."
Their eyes met with a gentle affection, and they naturally leaned in for a kiss.
Click!
A soft shutter snapped.
Not far away, Ying held up her camera, carefully capturing the moment the two shared. She thought back to Keqing's words from earlier.
Yes, there was always someone on the sidelines, watching with envy.
That person was her.
Three people, two worlds, one photograph, countless feelings.
Only Paimon could see the fractured tapestry of it all.
She tilted her head, puzzled.
"How odd… Why are the three of them crying again? No one's even leaving."
…
"She's already gone. What are you still staring at?"
"…Ying."
"Don't look at me with that pitying face. I'm not that fragile, and I don't need your sympathy."
"Got it."
Gongku took a deep breath and gathered himself, his gaze settling on the girl who had been at his side for two and a half years, now captured in the screen of his device.
"This is a long-overdue greeting, but… it's truly good to see you again."
"That's better, Gongku. Please take care of me for the rest of our days."
"Heh, you suddenly going all serious is a little weird."
Gongku raised his fist.
Ying, with a smile as pure as a gardenia in bloom, lifted hers too, pressing it against his.
"You know, I wasn't joking back at breakfast. I've been to modern worlds too—I know all sorts of poses you can try, like splits and backbends, if you're interested."
The girl's tone was light and teasing, her wink full of challenge.
"Ahem! Let's talk about that later. I need to find a certain bard to ask him a few questions first."
Ying's gaze was too intense, like she'd stayed behind just to drop that bombshell.
It was… quite an image.
Gongku's mind had already begun conjuring up vivid scenarios.
A beam of light flashed, and Gongku stepped out of the Serenitea Pot.
…
Inside an inn in Mondstadt.
Gongku's fingers flew as he used elemental energy to weave an immortal spell, shrinking the Serenitea Pot back down, a technique Granny Ping taught Ying, who in turn passed it to him.
"I came here to ask Venti about my Vision's strange mutations… but finding him is the tricky part."
He stepped out onto the street, scanning his surroundings.
Though work hours had long since started, the streets were practically deserted.
Mondstadt, city of Barbatos, the Anemo Archon.
A place that raised the banner of freedom high and took human nature's tests to the extreme.
It was a paradise for those who'd given up, and a living hell for those with a sense of duty.
"No wonder Diluc can't stand the Knights of Favonius. If not for the presence of the gods, this city's survival would be nothing short of a miracle."
"Still, if we're talking about freedom, dandelions, and wine…"
The rich aroma of alcohol drifting on the wind drew his attention.
Selling wine first thing in the morning? That was so Mondstadt.
Gongku's lips curved upward as a promising idea formed in his mind.
…
An hour later.
Gongku stood beneath the Wind God Statue in the North District, holding a bottle of vintage dandelion wine.
The place was quiet, only a few sisters from the cathedral were sweeping up.
"Hello, Sister. Is it alright if I go up there?" he asked politely, pointing at the outstretched hand of the Wind God Statue.
The sister eyed the forged dual-colored Vision at his waist warily.
"In Mondstadt, climbing up to the statue's hand isn't forbidden… but with all due respect, even with a fake Vision, you won't have the power to do it safely. It's dangerous."
"Thank you for your concern."
Gongku smiled, then crouched and leapt, bounding up the folds of the statue's robes with ease until he stood upon the broad hand.
The sister was left rooted to the spot, caught in the wind's quiet confusion.
Once there, he found no sign of the green haired bard he sought.
Instead, he pulled out the fine wine he'd bought, uncorking it and pouring two cups, one for himself, one to be offered to the breeze.
Just then~
A bright, lilting voice spoke from behind him.
"My, my… drinking alone is such a lonely affair, dear traveler. Would you care for a drinking companion?"
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