Lunch had been a nerve-wracking experience for Eula.
Throughout the meal, her thoughts kept circling back to what Theresa had said earlier. Her mind swirled with anxiety and doubt, and every now and then, she found herself sneaking glances at Luo Qing.
He was seated at the head of the table, surrounded by his wives. He didn’t even have to lift a finger—plates of perfectly cut food appeared in front of him as if by magic, lovingly prepared and served by the women around him.
He really does look like the pampered lord of the house, Eula thought, watching the scene with a mix of embarrassment and disbelief.
Just then, Luo Qing’s gaze met hers across the long dining table.
Their eyes locked for two seconds.
Her face flushed crimson, and she quickly lowered her head, staring intently at her plate.
Seated next to her, Theresa tilted her head and leaned in curiously.
“Huh? Big sis, why is your face red?”
Before Eula could respond, the other women at the table turned to look at her, their expressions ranging from curiosity to mild amusement.
“I… I…”
Eula stammered, her face burning as she desperately avoided their gazes.
What can I even say?
There was no way she could admit she’d blushed because she and Luo Qing had made eye contact!
Her voice barely a whisper, she murmured, “I-It’s nothing…”
“Maybe the house is too stuffy?”
On the other side of the table, Ganyu looked at her with concern. “Miss Eula, how about joining us for a walk after lunch? The fresh air might help.”
“Ah?”
Eula blinked, taken aback by the offer.
Why are these women so friendly? Aren’t I technically their ‘competition’ if I’m staying in this house?
Before she could stop herself, a ridiculous thought popped into her mind.
What if I actually tried to pursue Luo Qing? Would they really still be this welcoming?
She immediately shook her head, trying to banish the idea.
What am I even thinking?! Forget it, just forget it!
“N-No, I’m fine,” she said hurriedly, forcing a smile. “Thank you, Miss Ganyu, but I don’t want to impose.”
With that, she lowered her head and focused on her food, determined to stay out of trouble.
By the time lunch ended, most of the women excused themselves, heading off to their various responsibilities.
Eula watched as they all bid Luo Qing affectionate farewells before disappearing upstairs or leaving the mansion entirely. Even the two white-haired sisters she’d seen earlier said they had to head to the opera house.
In no time, the once lively house grew quiet again. Only Zhen, Theresa, and the aloof maid Rosalyn remained.
As for Luo Qing, he had announced his plans to go fishing. After finishing his meal, he grabbed a fishing rod and headed out the door.
Now seated in the living room, Eula found herself next to Zhen, who was calmly knitting a sweater while making small talk.
Eula felt an oppressive weight in the air.
Every time she thought about excusing herself and returning to Mondstadt, the thought of Zhen’s overwhelming presence made her hesitate. Though Zhen’s tone was warm and friendly, there was an undeniable sense of authority behind her words that made it hard to refuse her.
So Eula could only sit there quietly, responding politely to Zhen’s occasional comments.
“Miss Eula, are you feeling tense?”
Zhen’s voice broke the silence.
“I can hear it in your breathing—it sounds a little uneven.”
“N-No, not at all!”
Eula panicked, unsure how to respond.
“Hmm… maybe it’s just my imagination,” Zhen said with a soft smile. She glanced out the window toward the beach.
“How about this? Since you’re already here to recover, why not take a little stroll and join Luo Qing while he’s fishing? It might help you relax.”
“Huh? Go with him?”
Eula froze.
Alone with Luo Qing on a quiet beach? What if… what if something happens?
“No pressure,” Zhen added, her smile never faltering. “If you’re uncomfortable, you don’t have to go.”
“I…”
Eula hesitated, feeling the weight of Zhen’s unspoken authority pressing down on her again.
Though Zhen didn’t seem to mind whether she went or not, Eula couldn’t shake the feeling that refusing wasn’t really an option.
Besides, Luo Qing had saved her life the night before. Thanking him properly was only polite, right?
“No, it’s fine, Miss Zhen,” Eula said quietly. “I wanted to thank Luo Qing again for last night anyway. I’ll head over now.”
“That’s wonderful,” Zhen said with a nod, her smile deepening as she watched Eula stand up and head toward the door.
The moment Eula was out of sight, Zhen’s expression turned faintly amused.
“Another fish on the hook, it seems…” she murmured to herself.
From the corner of the room, Theresa suddenly popped out and threw herself into Zhen’s arms like a child begging for attention.
“Big sis, is she part of the plan too?”
“Theresa,” Zhen said with a chuckle, gently stroking her hair. “Where did you hear about this ‘plan’?”
“Shadow-sis told me!” Theresa said, scratching her head in confusion. “How many sisters does Big Bro Qing have hidden away? At this rate, won’t we run out of rooms in the house?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
Zhen shook her head, smiling warmly. “But it doesn’t really matter, does it? As long as Luo Qing is happy, that’s all that counts.”
“Hmm… I guess you’re right!”
—
Meanwhile, on Eagle Shore.
After returning home, Luo Qing’s main hobbies were spending time with his wives and fishing.
Today’s sunny weather made it the perfect day for fishing. The lively fish practically leaped out of the water, eager to be caught.
Usually, Theresa would join him, but today she complained about the heat and stayed inside. Luo Qing didn’t mind; sometimes fishing alone was just as relaxing.
He set up his fishing spot, baited the hook, cast his line, and summoned a recliner. With his sunglasses on, he leaned back and enjoyed the peaceful breeze.
The rhythmic sound of the waves lapping against the shore almost lulled him to sleep.
Then he heard approaching footsteps.
Turning his head, he saw Eula walking toward him, her expression a mix of shyness and nervousness.
“Yo, Miss Eula,” Luo Qing greeted with a smile, tipping his sunglasses down. “What brings you here? Is the house too stuffy for you? Or did Theresa say something weird again? Don’t take her too seriously.”
“No, nothing like that,” Eula replied, shaking her head. She bowed slightly before continuing, “I just wanted to thank you properly for saving me last night. If it weren’t for you…”
Her words trailed off. She didn’t want to dwell on how close she had been to death at the hands of those corrosive monsters.
“It was nothing,” Luo Qing said, waving a hand dismissively.
“But it does seem like we’re destined to cross paths at critical moments, doesn’t it?”
“Destined…”
Eula looked down, her face growing warm again as she mulled over the word.
Just then, she noticed movement in the water and pointed at his fishing line.
“Your float is moving.”
“Oh?”
Luo Qing adjusted his grip on the fishing rod, his lips curving into a relaxed smile.
“Looks like the fish took the bait…”
—
T/N: MAKOTO WHY AER YOU SUCH A GOAT??? this is also the last chapter :((( ill put this on hiatus until I have access to new raws! however i dont know if the author is still updating…
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!
Reader discussion
0 Comments
Be the first reader to share a thought about this chapter.