"Sorry, I took my wife's surname."
Kaeya almost let slip a Khaenri'ahn swear word on the street.
But years of polished manners carried him through.
The Cavalry Captain maintained his elegant smile and stepped close, an arm casually draped around Ji Ming's shoulder.
"Ah, Ji Ming is quite the joker. I appreciate humor myself. Since we share such refined taste, how about we enjoy a drink together?"
Ji Ming didn't even hesitate.
"Pass. Sister Barbara from the Church asked me to buy spices for her. Maybe next time."
Kaeya blinked.
"Barbara? You two are close?"
"Not particularly. It's more of a feeding and being fed sort of relationship."
That… was definitely not the most reassuring description.
But Kaeya knew Barbara's nature — endlessly kind, endlessly trusting — so he didn't press it.
He simply shifted angles.
"Then let me accompany you back to the Cathedral. It's been a while since I greeted Barbara. It would be rude of me not to."
With Barbara used as the shield, refusing would be the suspicious move.
Ji Ming let him follow.
Kaeya's intentions were clear — investigation.
Ji Ming could feel the quiet scrutiny and pressure.
But it changed nothing.
Ji Ming's entry and movements in Mondstadt were clean.
Even if Kaeya questioned every guard at the city gate, he would get nothing.
After buying a full sack of Jueyun Chilis, Kaeya finally lobbed the direct question:
"Why did you come to Mondstadt now, of all times?"
A test.
If Ji Ming answered poorly, the entire operation could unravel.
Ji Ming exhaled, preparing the tried-and-true strategy:
"Honestly? I hate Liyue."
Kaeya: "…?"
Now that was not what he expected.
Ji Ming continued, dead serious:
"I struggled in Liyue for over a decade. Worshiped Rex Lapis. Worked myself half to death. No Vision. No Mora. Nothing.
That's when I realized—hard work is pointless there."
Kaeya narrowed his eye.
"And so you decided…?"
Ji Ming nodded sharply, voice solemn:
"So I ran to Mondstadt to wash dishes. Look—just three days here, and Barbatos Himself blessed me with a Vision.
I love Him.
Rex Lapis is blind."
Clink.
The Anemo Vision at Ji Ming's waist chimed faintly.
There was no wind.
Yet a gust slapped him across the face — lightly but clearly.
As if someone, somewhere, had just flicked his forehead.
Ji Ming had a strong suspicion:
Barbatos was very awake and definitely listening.
Kaeya silently processed all this.
A man who defects simply because a god didn't give him a miracle.
Not loyal.
Not ideological.
Pure self-interest.
A self-interested man does not destroy the table he eats from.
Which meant — so long as Ji Ming needed Mondstadt, he would not harm Mondstadt.
Reasonable.
Predictable.
Manageable.
Kaeya let the topic go.
"Then you have good taste. Freedom is valuable here — even freedom to wash dishes."
Ji Ming grinned.
Kaeya did too.
No more probing.
They walked in silence.
When they reached the Cathedral plaza, Ji Ming saw a familiar buzz-cut Liyue youth sweeping the steps.
Several nuns were supervising.
Barbara stood nearby, looking apologetic.
Ji Ming burst out laughing.
"Oh? Nephew, doing community service?"
The youth nearly cried again.
"Uncle Ji! I did exactly what you said — shouted inside the Cathedral asking Barbatos for a Vision — but instead of divine blessing, the sisters said I 'disrupted sacred order' and sentenced me to cleaning duty!"
Ji Ming placed a meaningful hand on his shoulder.
"Lesson one: do not trust everything someone tells you, even if that someone is your father's sworn brother."
Leaving the tragic apprentice to his fate, Ji Ming walked toward Barbara.
Kaeya watched the youth for two seconds.
No Vision.
No threat.
Immediately lost interest.
"Barbara, I brought the chilis."
Barbara's entire face lit up like dawn.
"Thank you, Mister Ji Ming! I can make the drink now — we'll share it later!"
Ji Ming froze.
"…Let's not. My digestive system is not as heroic as yours, Saintess Barbara. I value my life."
Kaeya, sensing opportunity, leaned in with a soft laugh:
"Ah, my mistake — I thought your name was Hu Ming. The loyal husband who takes his wife's surname."
Barbara:
"Eh??"
Ji Ming:
"…I hate you."
Barbara blinked rapidly — cheeks pink.
"Um… M-Mister Ji—Hu—Ji Ming… you're married? At eighteen?!"
Ji Ming inhaled deeply.
"I. Am not. Married. He's lying. I am Ji Ming. Not Hu Ming."
Kaeya smiled, elegant and predatory.
"Oh? My apologies. I simply adore good jokes."
Ji Ming clenched his jaw.
Next time he was giving his name as Gan Ming instead.
Advance Chapters available on P@treon
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