"Barbara, you have to believe me. I really didn't mean it like that."
Along the banks of Cider Lake, Ji Ming followed closely behind Barbara.
The small nun — barely one meter fifty-eight — said nothing. She just kept walking ahead, lightly kicking pebbles along the path.
Every now and then one plunked into the lake, sending ripples across the water.
The scene was… unmistakable.
A girl, a little upset, unable to put it into words — so she kicked stones instead.
Honestly.
Was that really the best way to deal with passionate fans?
Mondstadt might revere freedom, sure — but even freedom-loving Mondstadters had boundaries. If someone actually believed Ji Ming's earlier speech… yes, that would be grounds for being run out of the city as a degenerate.
Barbara admitted that she had been terrified for a moment.
She was sixteen — hearing someone shout a confession like that in public would be frightening.
But after thinking about it, she understood.
Ji Ming wasn't like that.
Barbatos wouldn't bless a creep.
His crazy declaration had been deliberate — an extreme counter to extreme fanaticism — using self-degradation to disperse the crowd.
But Barbara didn't want that.
Hurting oneself to protect others — that didn't make her happy.
As a nun of the Church, she wanted the faithful of Barbatos to remain happy and healthy.
She finally spoke.
"Ji Ming… next time, don't do something like that."
"Alright, I won't say things like that again."
Barbara puffed up her cheeks in frustration.
"That's not what I meant. I mean — solve problems normally. Don't hurt yourself."
Ji Ming blinked.
"Hurt myself? Not at all. I'm a refined and efficient self-interested person."
Barbara stopped walking.
Ji Ming nearly walked straight into her.
She turned, her eyes firm and bright beneath her veil. The ribbon at her chest swayed with her movement.
She planted her fist on her hip and pointed straight at him.
"If you're such a self-interested person, then why throw away your reputation?"
Mondstadt values freedom — yes.
But Mondstadt also values honor.
Someone who gives up their honor to preserve freedom becomes a tragic hero — remembered in song.
Someone who gives up freedom to preserve honor becomes a martyr — respected for sacrifice.
But someone who throws away both just to be reckless?
Mondstadt rejects them.
Freedom and honor — both matter.
Ji Ming claimed to be a spiritual Mondstadter.
Then he should value his honor, too.
For a long moment, Ji Ming simply stared into her determined eyes.
Then he sighed.
"Barbara… even in Liyue, my reputation isn't great."
He scratched the back of his neck.
"I'm only here for a while. When things settle, I'll go back to Liyue."
"…Huh?"
Barbara's hand lowered.
Her voice softened.
He wasn't planning to stay?
But—he said he was a spiritual Mondstadter.
Why not live here?
And more importantly—
He was… leaving.
To Barbara — who had already begun seeing him as her person — the realization stung.
He wasn't just a friend.
If it were only friendship, she wouldn't feel this disappointed.
Ji Ming was like… a small, stray creature she'd taken in and begun caring for — feeding, guiding, watching.
When he left — there would be no one to give water to, to remind to eat, to drag away from trouble.
She wouldn't say it aloud — but that was how it felt.
Ji Ming flicked her forehead lightly.
"Barbara, bad thoughts again?"
Barbara deflated like a wilted flower.
"…Do you actually have mind-reading?"
Ji Ming grinned.
"Yes. Whatever you're thinking, I can see it."
Barbara narrowed her eyes.
"Then guess what I'm thinking now."
"You've forgiven me."
"That's what you want me to think."
Fair.
She exhaled.
"Then next time — don't climb through the Cathedral window."
Ji Ming coughed.
"That was because I was afraid you'd misunderstand and cry."
"…So you were worried about me being upset?"
"No. I was afraid your sister would bring the Knights to arrest me."
Barbara stared.
Ji Ming raised both hands.
"I ate with Jean. And you two look way too alike. Anyone would figure it out."
"I thought…" Barbara murmured, "…you were a spy."
Ji Ming bent down, picked up a flat skipping stone, and tossed it across the lake.
It bounced across the water — one, two, three… twelve ripples.
Barbara stepped closer and poked his side.
"…Say it plainly. Don't make me interpret metaphors. I'm not from Liyue."
Ji Ming looked at her and finally spoke softly.
"For people like me to live however we want, we need leverage. I don't stand with Liyue's Qixing. I don't stand with the Fatui. I stand with myself. They are tools. And I—"
He let the lake breeze finish the sentence.
"In the grand game of the world, I'm a pawn. Pawns don't expect glory. If crushed—then I'm simply crushed."
He smiled — not bitter, not proud.
Just… honest.
"But if I win — the people beside me will be free to live however they want."
His dream wasn't grand.
Just a small house in Yujing Terrace.
A wife and children nearby.
Brothers around the table.
Friends laughing loudly.
Everything else — was just means.
Barbara poked him again.
"So… you are a spy."
Ji Ming sidestepped — she really was ticklish with that poking.
"…Yes."
"And you can stop?"
Ji Ming looked at her.
At her eyes full of genuine concern.
At a girl who thought love and kindness could change the world.
"…Yeah. I can stop."
Barbara smiled like the sun over Cider Lake.
"I believe you."
She wouldn't tell anyone.
And Ji Ming — who never betrayed the people who treated him sincerely — now had to figure out a new excuse for the Fatui.
He could still expose the Darknight Hero.
That wouldn't harm Barbara.
As for the Fatui?
No one cared if they took a loss.
After all—
A con-man never cons those he cares about.
And the Fatui?
They were never "his people" to begin with.
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