“Takahashi Ren?”
Keqing’s eyes lit up as she pressed him for confirmation.
“That’s me.”
Ren smiled and nodded.
Here’s your pen pal, the genuine article.
“It’s really you…”
A radiant smile blossomed on Keqing’s delicate face.
Her eyes confirmed what her heart already knew: the boy standing before her was Ren, the pen pal she had longed to bring to Liyue for overtime work. Yet here he was, appearing before her as if out of a dream.
And yet…
Keqing’s beautiful eyes shimmered as she focused intently on Ren.
The boy smiled warmly, his demeanor sunny and inviting. Seeing him in person made her realize that Ren looked quite different from her imagination—far more handsome.
“?”
Nearby, the Millelith soldiers cast curious glances their way.
The usually stern and serious Yuheng Star acting like this? Their gazes quickly shifted, filled with surprise and envy as they focused on Ren.
What did this envoy from Inazuma say to get so close to Lady Yuheng?
Could it be… he volunteered for overtime?
What a bold soul.
“Ahem. What I meant was…”
Keqing turned away, her expression a little unnatural. She had just realized how overly excited she had been about their unexpected in-person meeting.
Would she leave a strange impression on Ren?
At the thought, Keqing huffed softly and, feigning calmness, said, “It’s nothing. I’ll get back to work now.”
With that, she cast a sidelong glance at Ren, flicked her twin ponytails, and prepared to leave.
“Wait a moment.”
Ren smiled, his voice stopping her in her tracks.
“Why so hurried on our first meeting?”
Your dear pen pal is standing right here—are you really going to leave me behind with so many people watching?
“…”
Keqing paused, biting her lip. Then, in a softer tone, she said, “That’s not what I meant.”
“Then why not take me along for the work?” Ren teased.
After all, Keqing had been very clear in her letters: she wanted to bring him here to share her overtime workload. And now she was planning to walk off on her own?
Keqing turned back to him at his words, only for something to catch her eye—a glint of light.
“Is that…”
In the sunlight, her beautiful eyes sparkled.
It was the hairpin she had given Ren. Though slightly worn, it was evident he had carefully maintained it.
Ren had kept it with him all this time. Was this… some sort of signal?
Keqing blinked, her lashes quivering.
Come to think of it, she had also been carrying around a doll of the Shogun. If Ren saw that…!
[Ding! Emotional Resonance from Keqing +1]
Ren’s heart stirred.
What just triggered that point increase? Could it have been because he mentioned work?
Before he could think further—
“You’ve said so much, so come along, then.”
Keqing’s lips curved into a faint smile as she spoke softly.
My pen pal, she thought.
You’re the one offering to help with the overtime. No slacking midway—I won’t allow it.
“Alright.”
Ren smiled as he joined Keqing.
Whatever they talked about along the way, one thing was certain:
The typically stern and serious girl now had a faint smile tugging at her lips.
In the sunlight, her smile was breathtakingly beautiful.
“Hah…”
The surrounding single soldiers watched the two walk off, sighing enviously.
—
“This is such a detailed nautical chart,” Keqing said as she studied it closely.
“With this, we can save so much time.”
Since arriving, Keqing had been troubled by how to salvage the area’s resources. The unfamiliarity of the surrounding waters meant slow, painstaking exploration. But now, things were different.
She raised her head to look at Ren.
“Ren, you’ve been a huge help.”
“Mm…”
Ren nodded instinctively at her words.
“…?”
Keqing glanced at him skeptically.
“What are you staring at?”
Was there something odd about her?
Her pen pal was already spacing out like this? How long had it been since they started working?
“It’s nothing.”
Ren coughed lightly and looked away.
For someone who usually avoided work, he found that working alongside a beautiful girl felt quite different. Keqing, focused and in her element, had a unique allure.
Especially those twin ponytails and cat-like ears…
It was oddly satisfying to admire her.
Just one more look—
“You’re still staring at me.”
Keqing narrowed her eyes at Ren, her tone stern.
But Ren was prepared for this moment.
“Keqing, about that Shogun doll…” he said with a knowing smile.
“Wha—!”
Keqing froze, her face flushed as she turned away in panic.
She had just realized what he was implying. Her cheeks burned as the thought hit her—she had been carrying her Raiden Shogun doll around this whole time.
And now it had been exposed.
“T-this is just…”
Keqing stammered, searching for an explanation but unable to find the words.
Even her violet cat-like ears twitched with embarrassment.
And it had to happen in front of Ren…
This is mortifying!
“I understand. It’s purely coincidental,” Ren said with a chuckle, enjoying the moment.
Keqing’s flustered reaction was so adorable he couldn’t help but want to tease her more.
“Hmph, as long as you understand,” Keqing muttered, giving Ren a sharp glare.
Her cheeks remained tinged with pink, making her look all the more enchanting.
It made Ren almost want to take a playful bite.
“Keqing, there’s no need to be so serious,” Ren said with a smile. “The surrounding waters have been mapped out—we can afford a break.”
He didn’t want to push her too far; after all, if he kept teasing, the cat might bite.
“But…”
Keqing hesitated, glancing at Ren.
With his help, the work had indeed gone much faster.
And spending a little more time getting to know Ren didn’t seem so bad…
“The rest can be handled by the others,” Ren said, shrugging casually. “Work is endless, Keqing. How about a stroll instead? Chat a little, enjoy the day…”
Finally, Keqing nodded.
“Fine, I’ll take a walk.”
Then, with a hint of her characteristic pride, she added, “If you want to follow, suit yourself.”
Ren’s lips curved into a soft smile.
“Of course.”
—
This is a fan translation of 原神：人在提瓦特，贴贴就能变强 by 萌红叶. 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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