Noon.
Butler Paimon had prepared a lavish spread.
While eating, Gu Chen told Ganyu that he had taken leave on her behalf with Ningguang.
Ganyu nodded lightly. "After lunch, I'll head to Yuehai Pavilion."
For Ganyu, she truly liked her current life.
She could accompany the one she loved while also realizing her own value—every day felt full and meaningful.
If in the past she had merely been a tireless overtime machine, then now Ganyu was finally someone with flesh and blood, with her own thoughts and feelings.
"The smile on Ganyu's face is showing up more and more. She doesn't look exhausted all the time like before… mm, the nourishment of love really makes a difference."
Paimon stared at Ganyu's face for quite a while before sighing with emotion.
Ganyu froze, her pretty face flushing red. "N-no it doesn't!"
"Hehe, you just haven't noticed it yourself."
Paimon waved her little hand, then looked at everyone. "All of you have changed so much compared to how you were in the videos!"
"How much?" Guizhong asked curiously.
"Hmph hmph—setting everything else aside, didn't your mentality change after getting together with Boss Gu?" Paimon countered.
Guizhong replied without hesitation, "Of course it did."
"That's exactly it~"
"Big Sis Makoto has changed a lot too. She's clearly a super gentle big sister, but lately she's showing signs of being led astray by this Lumine!"
Paimon pointed straight at Lumine.
Lumine grinned, hands on her hips. "What do you mean 'led astray'? I'm just making Big Sis Makoto more lively!"
Raiden Makoto smiled softly without saying a word.
With these two little treasures around, life was indeed quite interesting.
No—there weren't just two.
Guizhong counted as one as well; she also loved noisy, lively fun.
"The video won't update for at least two more days. Any plans?" Gu Chen interjected.
Lumine thought for two seconds, then shook her head. "Seems like nothing."
"Ganyu, want to take leave and go back to Mt. Aocang to visit Cloud Retainer?" Guizhong asked.
"Um…"
After thinking it over, Ganyu said, "Maybe later. I've taken leave quite a lot recently, and work is piling up."
"Alright then. I'll go find Granny Ping to hang out this afternoon." Guizhong chuckled.
"I'll take Buer out to stroll around Liyue Harbor," Gu Chen said.
Buer nodded lightly. "Okay~"
"I want to go too!" Lumine said immediately.
"Then let's rest a bit after eating and head out."
Afternoon
[Paimon]: Out shopping!
(Photo: Gu Chen, Lumine, Paimon, Buer, and Raiden Makoto strolling together)
[Nilou]: Yay! The happiness is visible to the naked eye. (Venti · throwing flowers)
[Collei]: Huh, why don't I see Lady Guizhong or Miss Ganyu? (Nahida · curious)
[Ganyu]: I'm at work. Guizhong went to reminisce with Streetward Rambler. (nod)
[Granny Ping]: That girl… still as noisy as ever. (facepalm)
[Guizhong]: You may look old now, but your mindset shouldn't age!
(Baizhu · concerned)
[Yanfei]: Wait for me, I'll come too!
[Kaeya]: One photo and all the single folks in the group are green with envy. (LOL)
[Azhdaha]: I'm not envious.
(Photo: drinking tea with Zhongli while watching Yun Jin perform)
[Venti]: We meant couples—what are you two supposed to be? Don't tell me you secretly long for Zhongli? (LOL)
[Azhdaha]: I'm just proving I'm not lonely, that's all. (annoyed)
[Osial]: Moments like this really show how calm you are when you have a wife. (Hu Tao · mischievous grin)
[Prince]: Sigh.
[Dainsleif]: Seeing your sister this happy—doesn't it make your teeth grind?
[Kaeya]: (LOL)
[Venti]: Buddy, it's been a while since you last roasted the Cult Leader. (LOL)
[Prince]: You people without sisters will never understand how I feel. (picking nose)
[Kaeya]: Speaking of which, I just remembered—Kamisato Ayaka danced for the Cult Leader. So @[Kamisato Ayato], how do you feel about that now? (LOL)
[Kamisato Ayato]: Quite fine, actually.
[Venti]: You'd better really mean that.
[Osial]: Internally wants to kill the Cult Leader, but since he can't beat him, he has no choice but to give up. (LOL)
[Nilou]: I hope the next episode is Miss Ayaka! (Ganyu · praying)
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: I'm looking forward to it as well. (praying)
[Shikanoin Heizou]: The famed Shirasagi Princess… though I wonder what truly happened behind that martial elegance. That dance felt very much like a confession to Mr. Gu Chen. (Heizou · perceptive)
[Kamisato Ayaka]: (Ayaka · shy)
[Yae Miko]: (Yae Miko · mischievous grin)
[Furina]: At this rate, when will it finally be Fontaine's turn?! (anxious)
[Lyney]: I'm anxious too!
Only when the videos reached Fontaine would more of Fontaine's secrets be revealed.
Lyney would never forget the prophecy circulating in Fontaine—nor his own mission.
[Venti]: I know you're in a hurry, but don't be. After all, Mondstadt—the first stop of the journey—hasn't even had its turn yet!
[Dvalin]: Maybe it's because Mondstadt's god is too useless, so the Exposure System can't be bothered to show Mondstadt's story. (LOL)
[Venti]: Dvalin, I must criticize you for this—that's pure slander, you know?! (annoyed)
[Kaeya]: I've noticed something.
[Venti]: Go on!
[Kaeya]: Haven't you realized? The past-life series always needs a female lead. Do we even have someone in Mondstadt who could be one?
[Venti]: You were better off not saying that… fine, in that regard, Mondstadt really lacks depth. (Qiqi · faint)
[Paimon]: If you put it that way, doesn't Liyue have the deepest bench? Cloud Retainer, Streetward Rambler—
[Cloud Retainer]: Watch your words. Do you not know what my relationship with Ganyu is? (Paimon · shocked)
[Paimon]: Oh right! I remembered—you're basically half a mother-in-law to Boss Gu. But Streetward Rambler doesn't count, right? (shocked)
[Granny Ping]: …
[Yaoyao]: (Paimon · shocked)
[Yanfei]: Hard to comment.
(Paimon · shocked)
[Charlotte]: I'd like to ask—what does the male lead think? (Hu Tao · mischievous grin)
What did he think?
Gu Chen rubbed his chin.
"Hurry up and answer~"
Lumine nudged his shoulder, smiling teasingly.
Raiden Makoto, who knew Gu Chen well, also joked, "It's fine. We're all family—no one will laugh at you."
Buer's expression turned a bit subtle.
After some thought—
[Gu Chen]: It's… not impossible. (LOL)
[Cloud Retainer]: ?
[Granny Ping]: (Zhongli · black lines)
[Azhdaha]: Good, good—still the Cult Leader! (thumbs up)
[Zhongli]: Deeply shocked. (Paimon · stunned)
[Kaeya]: I get it. Cloud Retainer and Ganyu aren't blood-related anyway, and strictly speaking—Cloud Retainer raised Ganyu, but her identity is that of a master! So if you analyze it seriously, there's actually no problem at all! (LOL)
[Cloud Retainer]: I suddenly feel like I'm in danger. (Ganyu · distressed)
[Shikanoin Heizou]: From an analytical standpoint, there's indeed no issue. It's just a question of whether we'll ever get to see such a video.
[Collei]: Speaking of which, I'd really like to see Mr. Gu Chen with the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles. (Collei · yearning)
[Sustainer of Heavenly Principles]: ?
What kind of group is this?!
Can you people stop being so outrageous?!
They actually want to see me with Gu Chen?!
The Sustainer was at a loss.
[Zhongli]: I'd like to see it too.
[Venti]: Want to see! (LOL)
[Azhdaha]: Absolutely want to see it!
[Neuvillette]: Indeed… quite intriguing.
[Raiden Ei]: Want to see. (Qiqi · secretly observing)
[Furina]: Exciting—this is exactly how it should be! (laughing)
[Nahida]: I—I want to see it too. (thinking)
[Sustainer of Heavenly Principles]:
[Shikanoin Heizou]: Please don't be angry—this is well-founded logic. If you're the female lead, it means there will be many scenes centered on you. Combined with your identity… one video could reveal the entire history and future trajectory of Teyvat! (Heizou · proud)
[Sustainer of Heavenly Principles]: Very convincing—but I refuse! (Keqing · I refuse)
[Gu Chen]: Seems the Sustainer is someone who can withstand temptation. (Hu Tao · mischievous grin)
[Kaeya]: Cult Leader, are you trying to say that even someone as handsome as you got rejected, which proves her willpower is strong? (LOL)
[Venti]: You understand the Cult Leader too well! Careful you'll get silenced! (LOL)
[Gu Chen]: Alright, enough chatter. I'm off shopping with my wives. (Zhongli · smug dragon grin)
Leisurely time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, two days were gone.
Only half an hour remained until the new episode of the past-life series.
Gu Residence.
Gu Chen sat in the middle, with his wives seated around him.
Lumine smiled faintly, her expression subtle. "Sisters, if nothing unexpected happens, this episode will add another sister to our family."
"Mhm."
Guizhong nodded, stretching lazily, her perfect curves on full display. She smiled sweetly. "Another person to share the firepower—not bad~"
Raiden Makoto smiled gently without speaking.
Buer also made no comment.
If there was anything that concerned her, it was probably her ranking in the Gu Residence going up by one.
After all, before the next arrival, she had been the last to enter. Once the next one came, she'd count as a senior.
It was a novel feeling—one Buer found rather interesting.
[Nilou]: Ten minutes left—open the door already! (slams table)
[Collei]: I can't wait anymore ahhhhh!! (催促 voice message · 5s)
[Tighnari]: Ever since Eleazar was cured, Collei really seems to be letting herself go… (Tighnari · startled)
[Cyno]: That's a good thing. (Cyno · duel)
[Dehya]: Hahaha—after Dunyarzad recovered, she dragged me around shopping nonstop. My legs were about to give out while she was still full of energy. If I weren't worried about her just having recovered and needing rest, I swear she could've gone all night. (Jean · wry smile)
[Raiden Ei]: @[Kamisato Ayato] @[Sangonomiya Kokomi] You can both take a break now. Watch the video together later. (soft chuckle)
[Kamisato Ayato]: Finally able to relax for a while. (good mood)
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: I wonder who Mr. Gu Chen will be paired with this time?
Time flew by.
The countdown finally ended.
As usual, the cover appeared on the luminous screen.
Whether one looked up at the sky or down at their personal interface, everyone could see it.
It was an interior scene.
Through the window, pink cherry blossom petals drifted down outside, and a figure in shrine maiden robes could be seen walking past.
The room was brightly lit.
On the bed lay a man, sickly pale and weakened to the extreme.
His eyes held resignation and apology, the vitality within them slowly fading.
Kneeling beside him was a much younger Yae Miko, dressed in shrine maiden robes, fox ears nestled among her pink hair, sobbing softly.
At the edge of the bed, Raiden Ei knelt on one knee, both hands clutching the man's hand.
Her tear-filled eyes pleaded desperately.
[Past-Life Series · Episode Six]
[Obsessive Eternity]
[Main Characters of This Episode]:
[Gu Chen] × [Beelzebul]
[Keywords]:
[An Unbearable Loss]
[A God Who Will Never Move Forward]
[Raiden Makoto]: !!! It's Ei!!
(Paimon · shocked)
[Hu Tao]: My god—both big sister and little sister… (Hu Tao · 666)
[Kaeya]: Holy crap—awesome! As expected of the Cult Leader! (Venti · shocked)
[Venti]: Nice, nice—bagging the Inazuma twin gods in one go! (LOL)
[Yae Miko]: Oh my~ who would've thought this episode would be Ei? (Yae Miko · mischievous grin)
Tenshukaku, Grand Hall.
When Raiden Ei saw the cover, she already sensed something was wrong.
When she realized she was the protagonist of this episode, she froze.
She pointed at herself blankly. "M-me?"
"That's right—it's you~"
Yae Miko smiled with a subtle expression. "Once this video finishes, you won't be calling him 'brother-in-law' anymore. Remember—you'll need to call him husband~"
"N-no…"
Raiden Ei was completely flustered. "Why me?!"
"Why not you?" Yae Miko shot back.
Raiden Ei was stunned into silence.
Anyone could have been the female lead.
It was just that realizing it was herself left her too shocked to process.
"Oh dear, how heartbreaking~"
Yae Miko suddenly clutched her chest, her face filled with melodramatic sorrow. "Big Sis Makoto went to brother-in-law's place, and now you're about to go too… leaving Inazuma with only little old me. Boo-hoo~ thinking about it makes this Guuji so pitiful~"
Raiden Ei rubbed her temples. "That does sound pitiful. How about you come along too?"
"Pfft—"
Yae Miko burst out laughing. "You don't actually think you can just leave, do you? You're a god currently in office, you know."
Raiden Ei froze, then muttered, "We could just declare human rule."
"Tsk, tsk."
Yae Miko shook her head helplessly. "I really don't know why this episode picked you. With how dense you are… how did brother-in-law even fall for you?"
Raiden Ei bristled, standing tall. "Why couldn't he?!"
Yae Miko glanced down once and nodded. "Mm~ true enough. After all… the capital is quite substantial."
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