Tianheng Mountain, Late Night
Ganyu sat alone at her desk, going through piles of recent reports. Occasionally, she frowned or shook her head, her face showing clear signs of fatigue.
Standing nearby, Yaoyao couldn’t bear to see Ganyu work so tirelessly. She walked up and gently tugged on Ganyu’s sleeve.
“Ganyu-jiejie, can we finish the work tomorrow? Let’s go to bed now, okay?”
Ganyu shook her head softly, her voice gentle. “I can’t, Yaoyao. If I don’t finish this tonight, it’ll delay tomorrow’s schedule. You go ahead and sleep, there’s no need to wait for me.”
“But…”
“Come on, Yaoyao. Once I’m done, I’ll go to sleep too, alright?”
“Okay, but you have to promise not to stay up too late. Sleep is important if you want to stay in good shape!”
“Thank you, Yaoyao. I’ll take care of myself, don’t worry.”
Ganyu gave a kind smile and returned to her work, burying herself in the paperwork. Seeing this, Yaoyao sighed softly, poured a cup of water for Ganyu, and then headed to her own room.
…
Meanwhile, at the peak of Tianheng Mountain, Zhongli stood alone, gazing down at the lights of the residences below. Slowly, he extended his right hand.
A soft golden glow appeared at his fingertips, gently flowing toward the dwellings.
He hadn’t forgotten Luo Qing’s words—to send a dream message when the time was right, and to make sure Ganyu received it as well.
For days now, Zhongli had been observing Ganyu, waiting for a time when she’d be asleep and alone, so he could convey his dream.
But to his surprise, he found that Ganyu had been staying up late every night, barely getting any sleep. She only dozed off briefly in the early morning hours or during breaks from work.
Even with the body of an Adeptus, such habits would take a toll.
So, Zhongli had no choice but to take action, just as Luo Qing had suggested, giving Ganyu a bit of “special treatment” through a dream.
…
At her desk, Ganyu remained focused on her documents, completely unaware of the soft glow passing through the roof and entering her mind.
Gradually, her eyelids began to feel heavier, and a wave of drowsiness washed over her.
“No, I can’t fall asleep yet…”
Ganyu straightened up, forming a hand seal to clear her mind and stay awake.
But how could her minor technique compete with Zhongli’s power? In just a short time, the overwhelming fatigue returned, and soon, Ganyu’s head slumped onto her desk, fast asleep. A small pool of crystal-clear drool formed on the paperwork beneath her.
In her dream, Ganyu found herself standing among the clouds, surrounded by ancient, towering trees that pierced the heavens.
Suddenly, a distant dragon’s roar echoed through the sky. Turning toward the sound, Ganyu saw a majestic half-dragon, half-kirin figure—a ruler who had governed Liyue for thousands of years—watching her closely.
“Rex… Rex Lapis, so you’re still alive…”
Overcome with emotion, Ganyu trembled. The dream felt so vivid, and as an Adeptus, she immediately realized this was no ordinary dream, but a divinely sent message.
She had always believed it—how could someone as powerful as Rex Lapis be taken down by mere treachery? This was the god who had led them through the bloodshed of the Archon War.
“Ganyu, I have several things to tell you in this dream…”
…
Morning
Ganyu shot up from her sleep with a start, startling Yaoyao who was nearby.
“Ganyu-jiejie, are you okay? Did you have a nightmare?”
“No… It’s nothing, Yaoyao. I just remembered something from work. By the way, what time is it?!”
“It’s almost noon now. Don’t worry, Ganyu-jiejie, I already asked for leave at the Yuehai Pavilion for you, so you can take the day off and rest.”
“This… Thank you, Yaoyao.”
“I’m just glad you can finally rest, Ganyu-jiejie! Well, I’m off to find my master. See you later!”
Yaoyao hopped off the bed and waved goodbye to Ganyu.
“Goodbye, Yaoyao…”
After Yaoyao left, Ganyu leaned back against the bed’s headboard, her mind still replaying the dream from last night.
So, this had all been part of Rex Lapis’ final test for Liyue…
Even the Fatui were acting under an agreement with him, which explained their actions.
Luo Qing had signed a contract with Rex Lapis himself, which is why he intervened to save Liyue during Osial’s attack.
If not for Rex Lapis’ instruction to keep this dream a secret, Ganyu would have rushed to the Yuehai Pavilion to inform Ningguang and the others of the truth behind the recent events in Liyue.
As her heart calmed down, another realization struck Ganyu.
She had misjudged Luo Qing. She had treated him so coldly, and even during their last encounter, she hadn’t managed to say a proper goodbye…
The thought of this filled Ganyu with guilt.
Luo Qing had always treated her like a friend, even saving her life, yet she…
At the very least, she owed him a farewell.
With her resolve strengthened, Ganyu got up, washed, and headed toward Liyue Harbor.
…
Later, at Northland Bank
Standing before the bank’s signboard, Ganyu gathered her courage, glanced at the guards nearby, and slowly pushed the door open.
As soon as she stepped into the lobby, before she could ask anyone for help, the manager Felix approached her once again.
Wait… Why am I saying “again”?
“Miss Ganyu, is there something you need?”
Felix asked politely. As the secretary to the Liyue Qixing, Ganyu’s name was certainly familiar to him—it was part of the crucial intel he managed.
“I heard Luo Qing went home. I was wondering… when will he be back?”
Ganyu’s voice was quiet, and coming to the bank had taken a great deal of mental preparation.
No matter when Luo Qing would return, she had made up her mind to apologize for her previous coldness toward him.
“Luo Qing again, huh…”
Felix sighed inwardly. How had Luo Qing, in less than a year in Liyue, managed to rack up so many romantic entanglements?
I swear, he’s a certified playboy.
“Miss Ganyu, I’m afraid you might be disappointed. Luo Qing was only temporarily assigned here. There’s been no word from the headquarters about him coming back, so… it’s likely that he won’t return.”
Felix explained, the words rolling off his tongue with practiced ease.
“He’s… not coming back?”
Ganyu lowered her head, the words “not coming back” echoing in her mind.
Snezhnaya was far from Liyue. A single trip would take half a year, and with her heavy workload, there was no way she could find the time to make such a long journey.
If Luo Qing wasn’t coming back to Liyue, then that brief meeting at the harbor… was their final farewell.
“I… I see. Thank you.”
Ganyu nodded politely to Felix and slowly walked out of Northland Bank.
“How did it come to this…”
Biting her lip, Ganyu’s heart felt heavy with unspoken words, but she had no one to say them to.
—
T/N: You guys think I’m sad about this but IM NOT I LOVE ANGST!!! GIVE ME MORE ANGST!
Reader discussion
0 Comments
Be the first reader to share a thought about this chapter.