Cold sweat drenched your face, not from running a marathon through a storm, but from fleeing one smile.
Imagining Ganyu's face earlier—that genuine crescent moon smile, the blush spreading on her porcelain-white cheeks—made your face heat up again. Your blood surged.
Seriously? your mind mocked with a painful sarcastic tone. Seriously, I ran?
When you ran earlier, people stared at you while tilting their heads, puzzled seeing a young man who looked like he was being chased by a ghost in broad daylight. Maybe they thought you were a failed thief, or a madman who forgot to take his medicine.
You didn't observe them, perhaps because your head was busy in disbelief at what had just happened to you, or you really didn't care about the world laughing at you.
But you couldn't stop!
Your head was too busy replaying that scene like a broken cassette that kept repeating the most embarrassing refrain.
At that moment, you suddenly stopped. You bent over and supported your knees with both hands, your chest heaving and sweat drenching your face.
Then you sighed and stood upright, trying to gather the remnants of dignity scattered on the streets. Then you looked around and realized you were in a place you'd never set foot before.
Tall warehouses loomed around you, silent and judgmental.
You continued walking while thinking about what had just happened. Your steps no longer panicked, but heavy, dragged by choking confusion.
Are my feelings really growing because of that? you asked the mute street stones. Just because she saved me? Just because she smiled?
That doesn't make sense!
Isn't this just a quest?
Isn't this just about surviving the damn system's threat?
You tried to build a fortress of rationality, stacking brick by brick of logic: She's an Adeptus, I'm human. She's immortal, I'm mortal. She's elite, I'm a street vendor.
But the fortress was made of dry sand, and the waves of your feelings were at high tide, crashing and eroding its foundation mercilessly.
At this point, your brows furrowed and pressed your lips, putting on a thinking face, starting to feel anxious because your feelings were developing outside the scenario. Feelings that weren't in the system's guidebook, feelings that couldn't be calculated with points or progress bars.
But then, your reverie shattered.
You widened your eyes, feeling someone pat your shoulder. The touch was real, heavy, and grounding. You jolted in surprise, your heart that hadn't recovered jumped like a deer hearing a snapping twig.
You turned slowly backward, afraid it was the thugs risen from ice or ghosts from the past demanding revenge!
But it wasn't.
It was Henri.
The harbor worker with a shabby towel around his neck and street philosophy in his head. He stood there, relaxed as if the world was his living room.
"Yo. What are you doing here?" he asked, quickening his pace and walking beside you as if you had arranged to meet in this nowhere place.
You still widened your eyes, staring at him like seeing an alien, but then cleared your throat, trying to hide your shock.
"Yo," you greeted, your voice slightly cracked, trying to be calm but failing completely.
He observed your face. His sharp eyes, usually scanning the quality of cargo at the dock, now scanned your soul with frightening precision.
He narrowed his eyes for a moment, as if reading invisible writing on your forehead. Then the corner of his lips lifted slightly, smiling crookedly.
"You don't look okay," he commented flatly but accurately.
"What happened?" he continued.
You widened your eyes hearing that, but then returned to normal, putting on a mask of ignorance. Then you tilted your head, pretending to be confused. How does this guy know? Is my face as transparent as a window glass?
He, walking beside you, turned to you without stopping his steps.
"Your face. It shows a lot." He looked ahead for a few seconds, then looked at you again. "You're probably not good at hiding your feelings. Well, for certain people, that's considered a good thing. Honesty is a rare currency in this trading city."
"So, what happened?" he asked again, this time more pressing.
You opened your mouth, wanting to deny, wanting to lie, but then closed it again. Your tongue felt numb.
Should I tell him this?
Tell him that I'm starting to have feelings for Miss Ganyu? For that august Adeptus?
That's so embarrassing! It's like a frog confessing love to the moon's reflection in a mud pond.
"What is this about Miss Ganyu?" he asked.
At that moment he said that, you immediately widened your eyes, your steps faltered.
Henri observed your expression and sighed softly, as if facing a stubborn and foolish little brother. "Well, it's no use if you don't want to tell. But let me say this, what are you doubting now? Isn't it too late to hide it from me? I already know you're trying to approach Miss Ganyu, I also know you're trying to attract her attention."
"If you're trying to hide it, you don't need to tell it at the beginning of our meeting. Like I said. It's too late."
You remained silent, still hesitant. Admitting the approach strategy was one thing—it could be called ambition. But admitting feelings?
At that moment, Henri sighed, this time harder, as if frustrated with your silence. "What exactly do you want to do? Play guessing games?"
You kept walking without responding, letting the sound of your footsteps fill the void.
Henri on the other hand looked around several times, then looked up at the fading evening sky.
You didn't know what he was thinking, whether he was thinking about tomorrow's ship cargo or how stupid his friend was.
Suddenly he turned to you again, looking at you seriously. "You're not busy, right? Then accompany me for a bit."
He walked faster, changing direction decisively. You, who had no other purpose besides avoiding your own thoughts, followed him from behind like a duckling lost in a storm.
A few minutes later, he suddenly stopped at a place. You standing behind him, glanced and saw the building in front. The strong spice aroma—jueyun chili, pepper, and garlic—assaulted your nose, awakening the worms in your stomach. You saw a large sign with bold Liyue characters.
It was Wanmin Restaurant.
"Is this the place?" you asked softly, still staring at the bustling building with visitors.
Henri nodded.
"You're inviting me to eat?" you stood beside him, a bit confused with this drastic topic change.
"No problem, right? Rather than spacing out... I'm sure your stomach is noisy from thinking too long," he said pulling a wooden chair outside the restaurant and sitting casually.
You followed him and sighed resignedly. "Alright, besides, I'm indeed hungry." Your earlier escape burned a lot of calories, and the turbulent emotions apparently drained energy.
At that moment, your eyes caught a girl coming out of the kitchen carrying a large tray.
She had explosive energy like fireworks. A medium-built girl with pale skin, bright golden eyes radiating life spirit, and dark blue hair cut short like a bob in front, while the back was tied and fell longer, swaying every time she moved.
She wore a sleeveless outfit in dark brown and golden yellow tones combined with bright red details, adorned with knots, ribbons, and typical Liyue motifs. Her appearance was completed with short gloves practical for cooking, light shoes with strap accents to move quickly in the kitchen, dangling fabric ornaments, and a small bear doll accessory at her waist.
"Welcome, sir, what would you like to order?" she asked with an infectious cheerful smile, as if your arrival was the best thing that happened to her today.
Henri brought his lips close to your ear and whispered like sharing a state secret. "She's Xiangling, reportedly famous throughout Teyvat, known as a chef with unique food."
"By the way, I've tried it. Her food is really delicious. I guarantee it," he continued with a suspicious wink.
You looked at him, your eyes widening for a moment, then narrowing. Is he lying? you said in your heart. Unique? That word can mean anything in the culinary world, from very delicious to very deadly.
Then you shifted your gaze to Xiangling, deciding to trust this restaurant's reputation. "I'll order the most delicious food! Whatever the chef's recommendation today."
"Alright! So enthusiastic!" exclaimed Xiangling, noting your order in her small book. "Mr. Henri the usual, right?"
Henri nodded.
Looks like he's not lying about often eating here... you said in your heart, seeing the familiarity of their conversation.
At that moment, Henri shifted his gaze to you. He tapped the table with his finger, tap, tap, tap. "While waiting for the food, how about you tell it first?"
You widened your eyes hearing this, then immediately narrowed them. This guy doesn't know giving up. He's like a hunting dog that's smelled blood!
"No. I don't want to tell," you said, indifferent, trying to rebuild your defense wall.
Henri tilted his head, his face innocent. "Why?"
You looked at him deeply and let out a long sigh. "Earlier you said 'it's no problem if you don't want to tell', but why are you so forcing now?"
Henri closed his eyes for a moment, posing like a philosopher pondering the meaning of life, and sighed. "Humans are basically curious creatures."
"It's normal for me to want to know what makes you not want to tell," he continued.
"I'm embarrassed to tell this," you said softly.
At that moment, flashing in your head was a scene of Ganyu's smile in the Yuehai Pavilion courtyard. That smile... ah, that smile. Your face suddenly flushed again remembering that scene, then you turned your face towards the busy street. "That's why I don't want to tell."
Henri observing your action suddenly gaped. His mouth slightly open.
"Don't tell me...." he said softly, his voice tone changing from curious to incredulous. "Is this related to you? I mean... your feelings?"
Your shoulders jerked slightly, surprised because he could guess it that quickly. But you still turned your face away from him, unable to turn back. Afraid if you turned, you'd see Henri's mocking smiling face, laughing at your stupidity.
He's too perceptive!
"It's no use turning your face away from me, I know you're surprised, meaning my guess is right." You didn't see his face but you knew he was smiling victoriously. "Give up and just tell what's bothering your mind. I swear, I won't laugh."
You let out a long sigh and looked at him. Defeated. You were utterly defeated. "Looks like it's indeed futile to hide this from you."
"Like you said earlier, this is related to me." You paused, gathering courage to say that sacred sentence. "I think I'm starting to have feelings for Miss Ganyu."
At that moment hearing this, Henri nodded several times as if confirming a scientific hypothesis. But then he suddenly widened his eyes. "You're really embarrassed because of something like this?" his eyebrow twitched. "I don't understand...."
He blinked several times, processing your words. Then sighed. "Well, at least now I know what's bothering your mind."
He looked at you again, sharper, piercing through your outer defense layer. "But what do you mean by having feelings for Miss Ganyu?" he paused. "Didn't you have feelings at all before?"
You nodded stiffly.
Henri widened his eyes, but in an instant calm. He leaned his back against the chair. "I'm a bit surprised, I thought you already liked her from the start, that's why you tried to approach her so persistently. Turns out... there's another motive?"
"It's complicated to explain," you said briefly.
No way I can tell him about the system, right? That I'm threatened with death if I fail to conquer an Adeptus's heart? That this love was initially a suicide mission? you said in your heart.
He observed your face then with a soft voice asked, "Is that something you can't tell me?"
As I thought, he is perceptive.... You nodded. "Yes."
"Then don't," he said firmly.
He seemed to respect that boundary.
Not long after, he gestured for you to continue the part that could be told. You opened your lips.
"The trigger is trivial," you began, lowering your voice so the next table wouldn't hear. "She saved me from two thugs. At that time, it happened in the middle of the night and I was going home from the food stall, on the way I was blocked by two tattooed thugs—you know the type—seeing them with my own eyes already made me feel uncomfortable, so I hurriedly escaped. However, before I could do that, they caught and hit me several times. Because each punch was quite hard, I closed my eyes hoping for a miracle to save me. Unexpectedly, the miracle really came.
"They suddenly froze!" you shouted a bit because too excited, but tried to lower your voice again when some people turned.
"I didn't understand at first, so I looked around. Unexpectedly, my eyes caught a silhouette of someone on the roof, I couldn't see it clearly. When I tried to see her appearance, she was already gone. But I'm very sure it was her...."
Henri was surprised to hear that. His eyes rounded. "Like a princess and her knight... of course, you're the princess in this story." He chuckled softly, then paused and cleared his throat, his face becoming serious. "I think... it was indeed Miss Ganyu... in Liyue, the only person who can freeze living beings is her alone... maybe there are others like Mr. Chongyun, but that style... freezing without incantation... hmm, besides that, I don't know someone who has a Cryo Vision as strong as Miss Ganyu."
Vision? Cryo? Is that the ice element I meant before? So in this world, there's a term vision as a substitute for element? You listened and nodded, storing that information.
"Have you reported it to the Millelith?" he asked calmly, his two fingers holding his chin, analyzing the situation.
You shook your head slowly, and muttered. What's the point? In this world, it's hard to get evidence without CCTV or credible eyewitnesses! I'm just a foreigner.
"I don't know their names. Honestly, their faces are blurry," you lied partially. The needle's effect made you forget the emotional details, but you remembered their faces. You just didn't want to deal with the law.
Henri was silent for a moment. "What about their characteristics?"
You recalled, and your lips opened. "Muscular, big body, and tattooed maybe?" you paused, trying to give hints without being too specific. "I think both their faces are from Liyue... and I think... they work at the same place as you. As cargo carriers."
Henri was surprised. His eyebrow rose on one side. "You said you don't remember their faces."
"I didn't say I don't remember the others," you said, sighing, trying to cover the gap in your lie.
"I can't believe with details like that you still didn't report it immediately. I don't know if you're stupid or what. And I can't say your action is right, but it's not necessarily wrong either." He paused, looking at the table. "Oh well, this problem must have been solved somehow, the proof is you're here chatting with me with a smooth face."
"Let me know if you see them." you looked at him in silence, your voice tone turning serious. "I'm worried they didn't survive that freezing."
"You even worry about them... really, what are you actually thinking?" he sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. "But alright, later I'll let you know if there are ice statues found at the harbor."
At that moment, Xiangling approached Henri's table while carrying Henri's ordered food, she placed it on the table gracefully. Simple stir-fried noodles with a strong wok hei aroma.
The food seemed quite delicious and its aroma was very strong until you drooled. Your stomach growled again.
You looked at Henri who was ready to eat it. He took spoon and fork.
Before he could eat it, you asked, holding that moment. "What do you think I should do?" You paused. "About my feelings for Miss Ganyu."
He lowered his spoon and fork again, not eating his food and looked at you in silence. There was depth in his eyes that you rarely saw in a rough worker. Before then he said, "For me, that's a good thing... starting to realize your feelings for her." He paused. "Maintaining a relationship without feelings of like is a disease."
He turned back to the food, but only stared at it without taking action.
"Therefore, you just have to accept those feelings."
He raised his fork again. "If you've accepted it, then you've entered the first stage, next is trying to approach her in your own way like I said before."
"You said in my own way, but what does that mean?" you asked, watching him take the food and eat it with big bites.
"Hmm, hard to explain in words," he said while chewing. He swallowed, then continued. "Do what you think is right, maybe?"
"For example... understanding who Miss Ganyu is as an individual," he continued. "I don't know what made you want to approach Miss Ganyu before, but I'm sure one thing that it wasn't romantic feelings. Therefore, you must not have been interested in her as an individual, you only saw her as an object, a goal, a trophy... but with the growth of feelings of like, you no longer see her the same way."
He paused, looking at you and continued, "If so, just do it from the initial stage. Forget her status as an Adeptus. Forget she's the Qixing Secretary. Start from how a relationship first grows; meet, get to know each other, and finally build a relationship. Depending on her response to you, you have two different endings, first she will consider you only as a friend, and second...."
He smiled crookedly. "She will accept you as her life partner."
"You've entered the meeting stage, so you just need to get to know each other. Let her know you, but you also have to know her. That way you can evaluate each other so you can proceed to the next stage."
"Remember, building a relationship means understanding each other." He stopped, continuing to eat again voraciously.
"Do you know how people can understand each other?" he asked between chews. "Communication."
He pointed at you with the fork. "By talking you can know someone's nature; what they think; and what kind of person they are. For me, you can judge people by talking to them. Not by admiring them from afar."
"Have you ever heard a story of a man who liked a girl without ever talking to her?" he continued, his voice changing to a storyteller's tone.
You shook your head slowly. What story is that from?
He put down his eating utensils again and put on a serious face. "Then this is the first time you've heard a story about a figure who only lives in the imagination he created. He knows someone from their appearance, without knowing their nature. Then how can he like them?
"People say love is blind... appearance may be attractive, but humans are creatures who are never satisfied, they are greedy, wanting to have more, again and again. How can he be satisfied with just an appearance?
"Of course he needs personality to complete it. But he doesn't even know the girl's nature because he doesn't try to know her, never invites her to talk....
"Therefore he fills that empty part with an imagination he creates himself. He imagines the girl is perfect, gentle, funny, and always agrees with him. Then he starts to feel what is called love at first sight. Even though he falls in love with a mirror.
"Even so he doesn't stop there, he continues to pursue the girl, trying to approach her until finally he talks to her. But reality doesn't match his expectations, the nature he filled in the girl turns out to contradict the truth. The girl might be chatty, might be fierce, or might be boring.
"So, in the end he is disappointed, disappointed and blames the girl for not meeting expectations, not matching the imagination he created. Even though he himself caused that disappointment."
He ended the story and continued eating, letting the moral of the story settle in the air.
You were silent for quite a while, bowing your head, imagining that scene in your head. You felt slapped. All this time, did you see Ganyu as Ganyu, or as a "perfect mission target"?
Then you looked back at him with a new gaze.
"Honestly with me. You're actually a writer, right? Or a poet in disguise?"
Henri smiled mysteriously. "Heh, life has taught me many things."
"But unfortunately I'm forgetful." He paused. "Talking is one way so I keep remembering those lessons. And advising others is the best way to advise myself."
At that moment, light footsteps approached. Xiangling arrived with your order in her hands. Steam rose from the large bowl.
She placed it on the table proudly and said, "This is noodles with special topping! A new recipe I'm testing. Enjoy!"
You observed Xiangling leave cheerfully, then turned to the food on the table.
Your eyes widened. Your mouth gaped. It was noodles. But on top... no beef, no chicken, no mushrooms.
Instead, there was a sticky and soft liquid on it, looking like light blue slime with a transparent body that shimmered softly under the restaurant lights. It looked chewy, as if composed of elastic liquid that vibrated every time the table shook.
And the most horrifying... there was a pair of oval white eyes floating inside it. Staring at you.
What the hell is this... clearly that's not sauce! That's a monster!
You didn't know what monster this was but you were sure it was a monster!
You twitched for a moment, your face pale ashen. You felt nauseous and amazed at the same time. You then approached Henri's ear, whispering with a horror voice.
"Seriously, can this be eaten...?"
From any angle, this is very suspicious!
...
A/N: Bruh, I really forgot to update 3 chapters this week 💀 anime and manga this year are quite interesting until making me forget about this.... By the way, I won't add more OCs in the future, at most one or two more, too many OCs will confuse me, moreover it feels annoying remembering how people's responses to previous Genshin Impact fanfics haha (nightmare). So I decided not to add them again, for now. I will build relationships between them somehow. Next on Patreon I will update 2 more chapters! (I have updated 13 chapters after this one there!)
You can see the next chapter sooner on my patreon whose link is below:
https://www.pâtreon.com/Junxt
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