Carrying the bag of clothes for Kamisato Ayaka, Luo Qing accompanied her back to the Komore Teahouse.
Just as Ayaka had mentioned, the teahouse was closed for the day, with only Taroumaru left inside.
Neither Kozue nor Thoma was present.
With no attendants around, Ayaka took it upon herself to host Luo Qing. She ushered him to the tea room at the end of the corridor before heading to the kitchen to prepare tea and snacks.
Raised with the impeccable etiquette of the Kamisato Clan, Ayaka was well-versed in both cooking and tea ceremony.
—
Meanwhile, Luo Qing sat in the tea room, listening to the sounds of movement from the kitchen.
His gaze drifted to the bag of clothes they had brought back from Ogura Textiles.
The large bag was packed to the brim with neatly folded outfits, each stacked with care.
He recalled the designs he had included in the clothing catalog he’d given Ayaka before.
Most of the outfits were ordinary enough to be worn in public, but…
Some were different—minimalist designs with daring cuts that could only be appreciated in private settings behind closed doors.
Luo Qing glanced at the bag, wondering if Ayaka had gone ahead and ordered those outfits as well.
A moment later, he heard footsteps approaching. The door slid open, and Ayaka entered, carrying a tray of tea and snacks she had made herself.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Luo Qing,” she said softly.
“No worries at all… I wasn’t in a hurry.”
Luo Qing stood up to take the tray from her and set it on the table.
In truth, he was in a hurry—anxious, even—but he hid it well.
The two of them sat down together, a brief silence settling over the room.
After a moment, Ayaka glanced at the red string around Luo Qing’s wrist and spoke hesitantly.
“Luo Qing, are you leaving Inazuma soon?”
“Yes,” he replied. “Now that my work here is done, I need to return to report to Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa.”
“I see…” Ayaka lowered her gaze.
“Will you… come back someday?”
“Of course.” Luo Qing smiled, his tone light.
“After all, you’re still here, aren’t you, Ayaka?”
“Ah…”
Caught off guard by his words, Ayaka’s face flushed.
After a moment of silence, she raised her head and asked in a small voice, “Luo Qing, do you… have someone you like?”
“Hm?”
Luo Qing leaned back slightly.
Oh no.
This was the question—the kind that could lead straight to disaster if answered wrong.
“Of course,” he replied, maintaining a calm expression. “I like my subordinates, my superior, and all the friends I’ve made. I treasure them all.”
“No, that’s not what I meant,” Ayaka said softly.
“Then what kind of liking do you mean?” Luo Qing teased. “Care to explain it to me in detail, Ayaka?”
“I mean…”
Ayaka’s blush deepened, and she struggled to find the words.
How could she say it?
Was she supposed to admit that she meant romantic feelings?
There was no way she could say that aloud.
“Ayaka?” Luo Qing prompted gently when she remained silent. “What’s wrong?”
Of course, he already knew what she wanted to say.
But unfortunately for her, Luo Qing was a scoundrel.
And a scoundrel’s playbook didn’t include making the first move.
“It’s nothing…” Ayaka murmured, pointing to the red string on Luo Qing’s wrist.
“I heard from Lumine that two girls gave you that bracelet.”
“That’s right,” Luo Qing said, nodding. There was no point in denying the truth.
“And Paimon said that, in Liyue, a girl would only make a red string for someone she likes…”
Ayaka’s voice grew even quieter.
“Ah, this…”
Luo Qing finally understood.
So today is the day of confessions, huh?
“Don’t listen to Paimon,” he said with a laugh. “She’s not exactly the most reliable source of information.”
“Huh?” Ayaka blinked, taken aback.
“Then why did they make it for you?”
“Maybe because I saved them before?” Luo Qing suggested.
“I… I see,” Ayaka said, breathing a small sigh of relief.
After a pause, she tilted her head and asked again, “Luo Qing, do you like them?”
“…”
Luo Qing was silent for a moment.
Seriously? We’re still on this?
“Yes, I like them,” he admitted.
Because, honestly, who wouldn’t like Ganyu and Shenhe?
“Oh…” Ayaka’s expression fell slightly.
“But!”
“Eh?”
“I also like you, Ayaka,” Luo Qing said with a grin, reaching out to gently ruffle her hair.
If he wanted everything, then he had to take responsibility for it.
Ayaka had already laid her feelings bare to this extent. If he avoided the subject now, it would be too cowardly.
Unfortunately, without a favorability card, he couldn’t check Ayaka’s feelings toward him. Otherwise, he would have been curious to see where he stood.
“Mm…”
Ayaka let out a soft hum, allowing Luo Qing to pat her head.
As the second daughter of the Kamisato Clan, she had grown up seeing high-ranking officials with multiple spouses. The idea wasn’t unfamiliar to her.
But if it were to happen to her…
After a while, Ayaka lifted her head and looked at the bag of clothes.
“Luo Qing, you’ve always wanted to see me wear the outfits from that catalog, haven’t you?”
“Uh…? Well… kind of, I guess,” Luo Qing said awkwardly.
“So, would you like to see?” Ayaka asked, leaning forward slightly, her head tilted inquisitively.
“…”
“I would.”
“Then,” Ayaka said with a determined expression, “Let it be my farewell gift to you. Please… wait here for a moment.”
She picked up the bag of clothes and walked toward the door. Halfway through, she turned back, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Luo Qing, you… you’re not allowed to peek.”
The teahouse was empty save for Taroumaru, who was napping behind the counter. Ayaka decided to change in the adjacent room for convenience.
“Of course not. Do I look like that kind of person?” Luo Qing replied, feigning indignation.
“Mm…”
Ayaka couldn’t find a reason to argue, so she hugged the bag to her chest and disappeared into the room across the hallway.
At first, Luo Qing planned to wait patiently.
But hearing the faint sounds of Ayaka changing…
He couldn’t resist cracking the door open to peek across the hall.
And what he saw left him stunned.
The sliding doors in Inazuma were often made with hollow frames covered by paper or fabric for lightness.
With the room’s light on and Ayaka standing close to the door, her shadow was perfectly silhouetted against the paper panel.
Her graceful figure and delicate curves were clearly visible—even down to the smallest details.
This is a crime… Luo Qing thought, quickly averting his eyes.
A moment later, the door slid open.
Ayaka stepped out, wearing a white blouse tied with a bow and a sky-blue pleated skirt that reached just above her knees.
“Luo Qing, what’s wrong?”
“Lately, the air feels dry… and I’m feeling a bit heated,” Luo Qing replied, clearing his throat.
“Mm…”
Ayaka let out a soft hum, her fingers tugging nervously at her skirt as she turned her head to the side.
“Luo Qing, do you think… I look good?” she asked shyly.
Luo Qing swallowed hard.
“You look… amazing.”
—
T/N: friggin scumbag, anyway I replaced it with KOZUE but before it was Kujou Sara… LIKE THAT’S THE 6TH NAME??? HOW DID IT GO FROM KAZUHA TO KUJOU SARA? any K name works apparently…
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