"Did I come at the wrong time?"
Keqing had arrived—dusty from travel and as brisk and decisive as ever. Seeing Koji and Ningguang practically leaning into each other, she put on an awkward smile.
At the same time, the gossip-fire in her heart instantly ignited. Ningguang, who was famously uninterested in men, was actually sitting this close to someone—so what was their relationship, exactly? She was genuinely curious!
"No. You came at exactly the right time." Koji patted the seat to his right, delivering the classic line.
"Left arm around one, right arm around another—two of the Liyue Qixing at once. Your appetite's really not small." Keqing rolled her eyes, then casually sat down on a chair and crossed her long legs clad in black stockings.
Koji sized her up once. As expected of Keqing—those black-stocking legs were famously lethal in the game.
That kind of direct, heated, completely undisguised stare made Keqing's crossed legs rub lightly against each other, her stockings giving off a soft friction sound.
Ningguang watched Keqing's reddening face, the corner of her lips lifting into a smile. So even the Yuheng Star could show this kind of girlish posture. It was… pretty cute.
"Keqing, what brings you here?" Ningguang offered her an easy out, letting the flustered Keqing shift her attention.
"I just came to discuss something with you. After the second city is completed, people will definitely have to move there to live, but we still haven't decided who." Keqing's expression turned serious.
If no one moved, it would just become an empty city.
This wasn't an easy problem. Quite a few elders wouldn't be willing to leave—Liyue Harbor was their root.
"If it's the elderly, they probably won't want to move. But young people could, especially the ones working to buy a home. In the early stage, the housing prices in the second city can be lowered a bit." Ningguang casually offered a suggestion.
Merchants had the keenest noses—some were already preparing to open branch shops. Population migration wasn't too troublesome, but it still had to be planned properly.
"For something like this, you shouldn't be consulting me. Uncle Tian and the others have more experience." Ningguang said.
"I know. I just happened to be passing by and wanted to see you… and it looks like I interrupted you two." Keqing teased.
Ningguang shot Keqing a look and said calmly, "At my age, it's perfectly normal if I decide to marry."
Keqing nodded. Still, Ningguang was so rich that even not marrying wouldn't be a problem. In all of Liyue, there probably wasn't anyone worthy of Ningguang.
The Tianquan Star—Liyue's number one, even Teyvat's number one rich lady. Those two titles alone had enough weight to scare off most suitors without effort.
"So you two…"
Keqing's gaze turned strange. When did they get together? How had she not heard anything?
"Ningguang and I are just friends right now." Koji said.
Keqing understood. "Just friends right now" meant that in the future… they'd be boyfriend and girlfriend.
"The future… who can say?" Ningguang was very open-minded about it. If it was fate, then they'd naturally walk to the same place.
"Tch."
Keqing curled her lips. She knew the two of them didn't have that kind of relationship yet, but she still smelled that sour-sweet stench of romance.
"Ningguang, did you know? Keqing once wanted the Dust God, Guizhong, to work under her." Koji said with a laugh.
"Oh?"
"That happened?" Ningguang looked at Keqing and gave her a meaningful smile. Impressive.
"Ahem… how was I supposed to know that person was Lady Guizhong? It was an accident!" Keqing's cheeks flushed.
She'd practically managed to forget that humiliating incident—but with Koji bringing it up, she remembered it all over again.
"Guizhong found out, so she's actually pretty interested in you." Koji finished, and Keqing instantly felt a chill in her heart.
She was doomed.
Back then, she'd only blurted it out in passing—how did Guizhong end up hearing about it?
Keqing was so embarrassed she almost wanted to flee Liyue. She genuinely didn't know how she was supposed to talk to that god—who would absolutely take delight in her misery—the day they met.
"Don't worry. Guizhong is very kind. She didn't take it to heart." Koji said.
Keqing nodded. She was only embarrassed, really. She was the kind of person who dared to voice opinions to Rex Lapis—she wasn't going to collapse over something like this.
"Keqing, in the future, ask clearly before you run your mouth. Not every strong person is that easygoing." Ningguang found it funny too, but she still couldn't help giving Keqing a little warning.
"Got it."
Keqing stood up to leave. Before Ningguang even had time to react, she'd already left the Jade Chamber.
"Honestly, I'm kind of curious. If Lady Guizhong actually agreed… would Keqing really use her?" Ningguang said teasingly.
…
The nerve it took to dare to employ a god as a subordinate was something most people simply didn't have.
"That's impossible—especially in Teyvat. The status of gods is far too transcendent." Koji shook his head.
Even Sumeru's insane "create-a-god" plan was only about controlling an artificial god—they never once thought about ordering Lesser Lord Kusanali around to do anything.
No one would underestimate a god. Even the weakest god, to the overwhelming majority of humans, was a level they could never hope to reach.
The Salt God could be assassinated by her own followers only because she was too soft—she had no intention of resisting and simply allowed their weapons to fall upon her.
But even so, at the moment of her death, the resentment of a fallen god erupted. Any humans within the affected range were instantly turned into salt statues—so fast they didn't even have a chance to run.
…
Ningguang nodded. Not knowing was one thing—once you knew your "subordinate" was a god, there was no way anyone would dare command them to do anything.
…
After dinner in the Jade Chamber, Koji headed down to Liyue Harbor.
Liyue's nightlife was mostly concentrated around street vendors and storytellers. Yun Jin—Mr. Yun's opera performances weren't held every day; otherwise, they'd absolutely be packed to the brim.
"Kiana, looks like you haven't gone hungry these past few days."
Koji spotted the white-haired little dumpling munching on snacks with Hu Tao. Seeing that Kiana hadn't fainted from hunger, he was genuinely relieved.
"And you still have the nerve to say that? You bring me here and don't give me any Mora. If I hadn't run into Hu Tao, I'd have had to sleep out in the wild." Kiana rolled her eyes.
What was with that "so proud of myself" expression, anyway?
"Oh? Koji-boy, you're back." Hu Tao teased. "The money Kiana's spent these days—shouldn't you settle it now?"
"I don't know this person. You can just have her work at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to pay it off." Koji said with a grin.
Kiana went speechless. You literally just called my name, and you're saying you don't know me?
"Sure." Hu Tao had no objections. "Kiana, then you can work at Wangsheng for a month."
"Fine. Thanks for taking care of me these days." Kiana nodded.
Koji chuckled, then took out some money as a "ransom" and handed it to Hu Tao. He really wasn't short on cash—no matter how much Kiana ate, he could still afford it.
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]