It was late at night when Luo Qing finally logged out of the Void Network.
Wriothesley had spent the entire day giving Lumine a grand tour of Meropide Fortress, leaving Luo Qing stuck in his dorm. With nothing else to do, he’d spent the day doting on his precious daughter in the Void Network to pass the time.
By now, the lights in the dormitory area had been switched off, signaling the nightly curfew. Luo Qing figured Lumine was likely back in her assigned quarters resting.
Feeling the need to stretch his legs, he decided to go for a walk and get some fresh air.
Just as he reached for the door, there was a soft knock.
Opening it, he was greeted by a familiar figure—Lynette, standing nervously with her head bowed.
“Well, well, Lynette,” Luo Qing greeted her with a light chuckle. “What brings you here at this hour?”
“Lord Brighella…” Lynette murmured, her voice timid. “I… I’ve come to report today’s findings, as you instructed…”
Previously, Luo Qing had ordered her to report any intelligence about Lumine directly to him, no matter the time or circumstances.
Unable to break away earlier, Lynette had no choice but to come now, even though it was during the curfew—a timing that made her uneasy.
“Oh?” Luo Qing raised an eyebrow. “You’re not planning on letting that brother of yours barge in again uninvited, are you?”
“N-No, of course not!” Lynette quickly assured him, her voice rising a little. “I’ve already explained everything to my brother. I told him that Lord Luo Qing wouldn’t… wouldn’t do anything to me, so there’s no need to worry…”
“Is that so?” Luo Qing smiled gently and stepped aside. “Come in, then. Let’s get this over with so we can both get some rest.”
“Uh…”
For a moment, Lynette hesitated, her heart pounding.
“I meant you can get some rest,” Luo Qing clarified with a smirk. “Don’t get the wrong idea.”
“…Right.”
Taking a deep breath, Lynette stepped cautiously into the room, her movements akin to a skittish kitten exploring unfamiliar territory.
“Go ahead,” Luo Qing said casually, sitting back on his bed. “What did you and your brother learn from Lumine today?”
“W-We happened to run into her,” Lynette began softly, standing in front of him with her hands clasped nervously. “She mentioned that she and her companion are here on Lord Neuvillette’s orders, tasked with finding Lord Tartaglia.”
Lynette hesitated before continuing. “My brother and I… we agreed to work with her. We’ll exchange information and search for Tartaglia together.”
“That’s it?”
Luo Qing couldn’t help but marvel at Lumine’s nature. Ever the diligent do-gooder, she was always willing to put in the effort as long as there was a reward.
He stifled a chuckle as his mind briefly wandered to more frivolous thoughts. Somehow, the words “hot springs festival” suddenly popped into my head.
Clearing his throat, he brought his focus back.
“Understood,” he said with a nod. “Keep interacting with her as usual. If anything urgent comes up, report to me immediately. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.” Lynette nodded, then glanced at him nervously. “Um… Lord Luo Qing… may I… leave now?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Lynette’s heart raced, her anxiety mounting. She feared he might order her to stay the night.
“You may.”
“Th-Thank you, sir!” Lynette’s voice was filled with relief as she turned toward the door, eager to escape this precarious situation.
But before she could take another step, Luo Qing’s voice called out again.
“Wait.”
“…?”
Her heart sank.
“What… what is it, my lord?”
“Relax,” Luo Qing said, walking toward her. He extended a hand.
“…Huh?”
Seeing him reach for her, Lynette instinctively shut her eyes, her body trembling. With his power over the mind, she knew she couldn’t resist him if he gave an order.
But to her surprise, instead of something sinister, a gentle hand ruffled her hair.
“Stop imagining the worst,” Luo Qing said softly. “I’m not interested in you like that. Got it?”
For reasons he couldn’t explain, Luo Qing found himself unmoved by anyone lacking a Cryo Vision. There was something about the icy blue aura of Cryo that captivated him completely.
If Cryo Visions were already so alluring, he mused, what kind of pull would the Cryo Archon’s Gnosis have?
“…Understood,” Lynette murmured after a moment. Then, blushing faintly, she added, “But… um… my lord… why are you… touching my ears?”
“Cough.”
Luo Qing cleared his throat awkwardly.
Her soft, furry ears had been twitching ever so adorably, and he couldn’t resist the temptation. If not for the sensitivity of her tail, he might have tried playing with that too.
“Well, didn’t I used to do this all the time?” he said, feigning innocence. “Back at the Hearth, you didn’t mind when I ruffled your ears. Has our bond faded since then?”
“N-No, that’s not what I meant,” Lynette stammered, flustered. “It’s just…”
The disparity in their statuses now made it hard for her to view him the same way she had back then.
“Alright.” Luo Qing gave her a gentle pat on the cheek, his tone playful. “Don’t stay in ‘power-saving mode’ all the time. Smile once in a while. You’re way too cute to stay so serious.”
“…I-I’ll try.”
“Good. Now go on. It’s late—you should get some rest.”
With that, Luo Qing stretched and lay down on his bed, dismissing her with a yawn.
“Close the door on your way out.”
“Yes, sir.”
Lynette bowed slightly as she left, pausing briefly at the door to glance back at him. Her feelings were complicated, but she said nothing.
She quietly shut the door behind her.
—
Meanwhile, at Luo Qing’s House
It was late into the night. Aside from Makoto and Rosalyne, everyone else had already retired to their rooms.
Makoto sat quietly in the living room, knitting a black sweater, while Rosalyne stood behind her, eyes closed in silent watchfulness. The only sound was the occasional crackle of the fireplace.
“First Madam,” Rosalyne said after a glance toward the door. “Perhaps you should rest as well. It’s very late… and I doubt she’ll come tonight.”
“Don’t be so sure,” Makoto replied with a knowing smile, her voice light. “The middle of the night is when emotions run high, don’t you think?”
As if on cue, there was a soft knock at the door.
“See?” Makoto said, grinning. “She’s here now.”
—
This is a fan translation of 原神：这个见习执行官太屑了 by 何一乐. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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