In the blink of an eye, six days had passed.
A biting cold wind, carrying vast sheets of snow, howled through Liyue Harbor.
The snow fell all through the night.
Only when the morning star rose at the edge of the sky did the wind and snow gradually subside.
Inside the house.
Firewood burned fiercely in the fireplace, crackling and popping.
In the warm room, Fang Qiu, dressed in panda pajamas, sat atop a Jumpy Dumpty plush, her perky bottom sinking deep into the Jumpy Dumpty, her feet clad in white stockings resting on the plush carpet.
Just like ice cream.
Beside her feet sat a pair of panda slippers.
These slippers had been a gift from Sister Ying'er a couple of days ago, when she'd gone to return a courtesy. They matched the panda pajamas she was wearing, and she loved them.
Hu Tao and Shenhe had them too.
"Mm..."
Fang Qiu set down the quill in her hand, stretched lazily, and let out a contented little sigh, then turned her gaze to the plate of molten-center pastries on the table.
A couple of days ago, Bai Qing and a few female editors had come by. At the time, Shenhe had gone to visit her senior martial sister—that is, Lady Ganyu.
So she'd given them a tour of her home.
Upon seeing Fang Qiu's luxurious villa—especially that open-air bath—they practically drooled with envy, wishing they could quit their jobs the very next day and go home to write novels themselves.
After the tour of the villa, Fang Qiu treated them all to a meal at Wanmin Restaurant.
At Wanmin Restaurant, they also ran into Xingqiu and Chongyun.
The two of them were eating together.
When Chongyun spotted her during the meal, he wasn't paying attention for a moment and once again mistook her for his aunt. Realizing his error, he hurriedly apologized, and after Fang Qiu forgave him, he sat down with a guilty look on his face. When the atmosphere turned a bit awkward, Xingqiu handed him a skewer; still flustered, he ate it without even looking—and instantly his whole face flushed crimson from the spice, tears springing to his eyes.
He was just short of breathing fire like Guoba.
In the end, it was Xiangling who brought over a drink to cut the spice, finally granting Chongyun his relief.
And these molten-center pastries were the Lantern Rite gift the Liyue editorial department had brought her.
They were made by combining the best of Liyue-style pastries with the merits of Mondstadt and Inazuma confections.
She'd been eating them for two days now, and they tasted wonderful.
Fang Qiu worked out her somewhat stiff body, then picked up one of the molten pastries at hand and took a bite. As the pastry broke apart, the filling inside oozed out and dripped onto her manuscript...
In that instant, Fang Qiu's pupils quaked.
This mishap was just like finishing writing in her past life and forgetting to save...
Thankfully, it only smudged a few characters.
After wiping the molten filling off the manuscript, Fang Qiu used her pen to rewrite the soiled section.
Looking at the now-completed manuscript of Weathering With You, she couldn't help but nod in satisfaction.
During the meal a few days back, she'd taken the chance to ask Bai Qing and the others.
The Liyue editorial department would return to work once the Lantern Rite was over.
Which was today.
Fang Qiu walked to the window and gently opened it. Frigid air immediately streamed in, almost instantly robbing the warmth from around her.
Fang Qiu shivered, hastily shut the window, then scampered back to the fireplace, sat on the sofa wrapped in a warm blanket, and scooped up Tingyu—who was curled on the sofa fast asleep—only then feeling a good deal better.
Of course, while she felt better, Tingyu certainly did not.
Its sweet slumber had been interrupted.
It struggled angrily a couple of times, but although Fang Qiu had little strength, being born a cat, it simply couldn't break free.
Any harder, and it would hurt Fang Qiu.
Left with no choice, it could only surrender, curling up in Fang Qiu's arms and going back to sleep.
"Whew."
Feeling her body warmth return, Fang Qiu finally let out a long breath.
Although the snow had stopped, it was still very cold outside...
Better to set out a little later.
In the meantime, she might as well write the replies to the three people in Inazuma.
While she was at it with this new book, she'd ask the Traveler and Paimon to lend a hand and carry them along to Inazuma.
So she set the just-drifting-off Tingyu back down onto the sofa. Feeling Tingyu's resentful gaze, Fang Qiu stuck out her tongue.
Come to think of it, she'd watched plenty of cat videos in her past life. Didn't many cats love to perch by the window and watch the snow when it fell?
The same went for when it rained.
Wasn't that surely why there was that lyric, "The Cat Who Listens to Rain Alone"?
So why did this fellow Tingyu only know how to burrow into the blankets and laze about sleeping?
Puzzled, Fang Qiu sat down in the chair, tucked away the manuscript of Weathering With You, then took out some letter paper and began to write.
The first was addressed to Naganohara Yoimiya.
According to the Traveler and Paimon, Naganohara Yoimiya was a very pretty young lady.
Very lively, and very fond of children.
First she thanked her for her appreciation, then praised the fireworks she'd made, saying she loved the gift and found it very romantic, and then told her about how it had snowed a few days ago when she set off those fireworks.
Very romantic.
She wrote a whole long, flowing passage.
Thankfully her handwriting could now be called elegant; otherwise it really wouldn't have been easy to write.
The second was addressed to Kamisato Ayaka.
According to the Traveler and Paimon, Kamisato Ayaka was the young mistress of the Yashiro Commission—one of Inazuma's Tri-Commission—who managed the Yashiro Commission together with her elder brother, Kamisato Ayato.
She was a most dignified and gentle young lady.
Kamisato Ayaka was different from Naganohara Yoimiya. Naganohara Yoimiya's letter mentioned only a little about the book's content, dwelling more on everyday matters, such as fireworks.
Kamisato Ayaka's letter, on the other hand, dealt far more with the book.
More like a fellow book lover.
Fang Qiu, too, gave her replies.
Both Kamisato Ayaka and Naganohara Yoimiya had brought up one thing: an invitation for her to come visit Inazuma.
Fang Qiu naturally answered that she'd definitely come if the chance arose.
As for her reply to Thoma...
Fang Qiu just jotted down some casual responses, and, while she was at it, asked whether he liked The Forest of Fireflies' Light.
By the time she finished the letters, it was already mid-morning.
Fang Qiu returned to her room, changed her clothes, tidied herself up, and prepared to head out.
But just as she'd gathered the manuscript and letters and reached the door, Shenhe's bedroom door opened.
"Shenhe, good morning."
Fang Qiu waved with a beaming smile.
"Morning."
Shenhe nodded, then said, "You'd be better off getting some more sleep."
"Don't worry, I'll come back and sleep once I've turned in the manuscript."
Fang Qiu said with a smile.
"Mm."
Shenhe nodded.
"By the way, are you heading out too?"
Fang Qiu asked, puzzled.
"Mm. If I want to fit into Liyue Harbor, it's best I find work here. My senior sister has arranged for me to work at Yujing Terrace, so I plan to go take a look."
Shenhe said.
"I see."
Fang Qiu nodded.
With Lady Ganyu looking after her, Shenhe should get along just fine at Yujing Terrace.
Though she might end up working overtime along with her...
As it happened, the Liyue Publishing House was also near Yujing Terrace, so the two of them set off together.
It was still a bit cold, but far better than before.
On the streets, many breakfast vendors were still hawking their wares, not yet packed up.
Despite the heavy snow, there were still plenty of pedestrians about.
Fang Qiu and Shenhe found a noodle shop. Since Shenhe had made up her mind to fit into Liyue Harbor, she no longer resisted mortal food.
They each ordered a bowl of beef noodles.
Business at the noodle shop was booming, with nearly every table full.
As Fang Qiu ate, she listened to the people chatting around her.
"Did you hear?"
"Hear what? Out with it. Next time you dare spout that kind of nonsense, I'll smash your stupid head in."
"The second new play that Master Yun and Old Thief Fang Qiu worked on together, premiering today, of course."
"You mean the second part of Splitting the Mountain to Save Mother?"
"Ah, yes yes yes, that's the one. You think Old Thief Fang Qiu might be at their wit's end? Wasn't Chen Xiang's story already perfectly wrapped up? Why write a second part?"
"I'm not sure either. The Heyu Tea House and the Yun-Han Opera Troupe have kept it under such tight wraps that there's been no news whatsoever."
Listening to their chatter, Fang Qiu's lips curved up slightly.
The Lantern Rite was over; it was time for Yang Jian to split the mountain.
Tonight was the main event.
At that thought, she took a sip of noodle broth—and choked on it something terrible...
By the time Fang Qiu had recovered, those few had already moved on to another topic.
"Speaking of which, I heard a rumor recently."
"What rumor? Give me the details."
"They say that a couple of days ago, someone saw three Adepti in a very secluded spot, transformed into three mortals, going to Lady Ningguang's picture studio to watch Your Name."
"Uh... that's way too far-fetched..."
"I thought it sounded fake too, but that person told it with such convincing detail... I nearly believed it."
"People like that are just desperate for fame, spreading rumors by riding on the reputations of the Adepti, Lady Ningguang, and Old Thief Fang Qiu—all three at once."
"True, how could the Adepti possibly have that much time on their hands?"
When the rumor came up, the several diners scoffed at it one after another. After a couple more remarks, they moved on to talking about how Captain Beidou of The Crux Fleet had led the crew of The Alcor to watch Your Name and Splitting the Mountain to Save Mother.
"The ones they're talking about should be Master and the others, right?"
Shenhe said.
"Probably."
Fang Qiu nodded.
That rumor... probably wasn't a rumor at all...
If it was Cloud Retainer, then it was indeed possible she'd come to watch a film...
After all, Cloud Retainer was quite fond of humans. Otherwise, back during the Moonchase Festival, she wouldn't have thought to build a mechanical culinary marvel to enter the cooking competition.
Mm...
Even if she did end up missing the competition in the end...
Thank goodness it was Your Name. Had it been some other film, Cloud Retainer would probably have shown up at her door that very day, bringing along the other two—Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper...
And then tested their blades on her.
After finishing their noodles, they made their way to Yujing Terrace.
A caravan was parked in front of Yujing Terrace, and porters were busy unloading cargo—all of it the same Jumpy Dumpty plushies as hers.
Fang Qiu couldn't help feeling a little astonished.
Last time she'd merely mentioned to Miss Ningguang that these helped protect the user's lower back, and yet Miss Ningguang had been so efficient, churning out such a huge batch of goods this quickly.
Just then, Ganyu happened to come out of Yuehai Pavilion. Seeing them approach, Ganyu immediately came over to greet them. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ganyu departed together with Shenhe.
Fang Qiu, meanwhile, turned and headed for the office of the Liyue editorial department.
The Lantern Rite had only just ended, yet the Liyue editorial department was already bustling.
The moment she stepped inside, she saw a female editor scolding an author.
It seemed the author had dragged out his manuscript for three months, and what he'd finally turned in was covered in sloppy handwriting from start to finish, riddled with typos and broken sentences—practically worthless, nowhere near his usual standard, more like something he'd pulled an all-nighter to write from scratch the previous night...
And the author, shameless as could be, told the female editor to go have some sugar water—which nearly made her slam the table in fury.
Seeing this scene, Fang Qiu couldn't help but sigh once more at how hard an editor's job was...
Running into an author like that would give anyone a splitting headache.
After greeting a few editors she was acquainted with, Fang Qiu made her way over to Bai Qing's desk.
At that moment, Bai Qing was holding a manuscript, one hand pressed to her forehead as she read.
"Sister Bai, good morning."
As she greeted her, Fang Qiu happened to glance at the manuscript Bai Qing was reading.
The very first line.
"In the morning, the red red sun rose from the east. Lulu reached out his white white hand and picked up the red red apple..."
After a few glances, Fang Qiu understood exactly why Bai Qing had a headache.
This... was really...
"Good morning."
Seeing Fang Qiu, Bai Qing's eyes lit up.
"I've come to turn in my manuscript."
With a beaming smile, Fang Qiu handed over the manuscript in her hands, along with the several letters.
"And these are?"
After taking the manuscript and letters, Bai Qing instinctively glanced at the recipients written on the envelopes, a bit puzzled.
"When the Traveler and the others come to pick up the books, would you mind handing them these letters, Sister Bai? Ask them to pass the letters along—she'll know exactly who to give them to."
Fang Qiu said with a smile.
Even though they'd probably watch Splitting the Mountain to Save Mother together tonight, if she handed the letters to the Traveler and Paimon this evening, she worried they might set off for Inazuma tomorrow to deliver them...
That wouldn't be ideal...
Better safe than sorry.
Even if the Traveler and Paimon didn't deliver them right away, they'd only send the letters on the day they delivered the books.
So it would make no difference at all.
And the impact would be minimal.
These counted as replies to readers, after all, so there was no problem entrusting them to an editor.
"Mm, no problem."
Bai Qing nodded and readily agreed. Then, changing the subject, she said, "But speaking of letters, the publishing house has recently received quite a few more letters from readers addressed to you. Want to take a look?"
As she spoke, she bent down and hoisted up a cardboard box brimming with envelopes from beside her feet.
"These are all of them."
Bai Qing said with a smile.
"Uh... that won't be necessary, will it?"
Feeling Bai Qing's teasing gaze, Fang Qiu felt a bit helpless.
"All right, all right, I won't put you on the spot."
Seeing Fang Qiu's slightly flustered expression, Bai Qing couldn't help but chuckle. She then took out the sales figures for The Forest of Fireflies' Light and handed them over. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she asked, "By the way, is this book of yours a tragedy or a happy ending? Tell me in advance so I can be a little mentally prepared."
"Sister Bai, take a guess."
Fang Qiu blinked and said, "A story is only good when it's brimming with the unknown."
"Oh, you little rascal."
Bai Qing shot Fang Qiu an exasperated look and said, "Fine, you've got a point. A story loses its appeal once you know the ending in advance, and it can lead to some misjudgments during review—though your books hardly ever need any editing anyway."
At that, she cast a somewhat despairing glance at the manuscript she'd been reading earlier, set off to one side.
On that manuscript, the words "the red red sun, the white white hand, and the red red apple" were like ink stains splattered into the snow.
An eyesore.
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