Late Night — Layla’s House
In all her years, Layla had never heard such an outrageous request.
What did he mean, “Can I stay at your place tonight?”
What did Luo Qing’s lack of lodging have to do with her? Did he really expect her to agree? She’d much rather see him sleep on the streets!
“Let me make this clear first…” Layla stood at her front door, gripping the key in her hand, her expression a mix of frustration and resignation.
“There’s a guest room, but once you’re in, you’re not allowed to come out. Got it?”
“Don’t worry, I promise I won’t come out.”
“…”
Why did that sound so… off?
Whatever, she didn’t have time to overthink it. Her thesis was far from finished, and she needed to focus.
Besides, as much as she disliked Luo Qing’s constant teasing, he had saved her life before. Without him, she might have ended up as a Hilichurl Berserker’s… well, victim.
And let’s be honest, if Luo Qing had truly harbored bad intentions, she would’ve been doomed the first time they met, when he had tied her up and—
No, no, don’t think about that!
—
This was Luo Qing’s second time stepping into Layla’s house in person, though he already knew its layout thanks to occasionally watching her through the Void Terminal.
He also knew she had a spare room, which was why he had politely suggested staying over. If she refused, he could always find some Eremite mercenaries to entertain himself.
But surprisingly, the girl with the sharp tongue and soft heart had caved after just a few seconds of eye contact and reluctantly let him in.
“The bathroom is over there,” Layla said curtly, pointing down the hall. “If you need to wash up, do it yourself. I’m working on my thesis—don’t bother me!”
With that, she hoisted the Dream Sphere and retreated to her room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Luo Qing glanced at her room, then at the bathroom.
—
After finishing his shower, Luo Qing emerged in a loose Inazuman yukata, its neckline slightly open to reveal his well-defined chest muscles.
He stood in the hallway, looking back and forth between the guest room and Layla’s door.
She said once I go into the guest room, I can’t come out.
Then maybe I just won’t go in?
Making up his mind, Luo Qing turned the knob on Layla’s door.
He wasn’t planning to sleep—he just wanted to help her with her thesis.
Inside Layla’s Room
Layla was deep in thought, scribbling down ideas for her thesis outline.
When the door creaked open and she saw Luo Qing standing there in his loosely draped yukata, she froze.
“You—what are you doing?!” she yelped, her voice tinged with panic as she instinctively scooted back.
“Couldn’t sleep. Thought I’d take a look at your…”
“My what?!”
“Your thesis.”
“…”
[+1 Frustration Points from Layla]
“It’s not even finished yet! What’s there to see?!”
“I’ll watch you write it, then,” Luo Qing said nonchalantly, plopping himself down on her bed. “I’m curious to see how the famous ‘Walking Calculator of the Akademiya’ works.”
“Who told you about that nickname?!” Layla asked suspiciously.
“I guessed.”
“…”
Like hell you did! Layla thought. He must’ve come prepared.
“Get out!” she snapped, pointing at the door.
Luo Qing shook his head. “Can’t. You said once I go in, I can’t come out.”
“That was for your room, not mine!”
“Details.” Luo Qing shrugged, grabbing a stool and sitting beside her desk. He glanced at the draft on her desk, already noticing its well-structured outline for the Dream Sphere’s design.
“Go ahead, keep writing. Pretend I’m not here.”
“…”
Layla gave him a skeptical look, then sighed. “Can you even understand what I’m writing?”
“?”
Luo Qing raised an eyebrow. Did she just question my intelligence?
“Just write. I’ll watch quietly,” he said firmly.
Muttering under her breath, Layla reluctantly picked up her pen and began scribbling again. Every now and then, she stole a glance at Luo Qing to make sure he wasn’t doing anything strange.
He wasn’t—he simply stared at her draft, seemingly engrossed.
Gradually, she returned her focus to the paper, her pen flying across the page.
—
A few minutes later, Luo Qing’s voice broke the silence.
“Your handwriting is beautiful.”
“Thank you. I know.”
“But you made a typo.”
“…”
“Did you come up with this thesis topic yourself?”
“Yes. Why?”
“What’s its innovative edge? What sets it apart from others?”
“?”
“By the way, I hear plagiarism’s been rampant in the Akademiya lately.”
“I know.”
“Have you ever been plagiarized?”
“?”
Layla finally snapped.
Slamming her pen down, she turned to glare at Luo Qing.
“Get. Out.”
Letting him stay the night had officially become one of her biggest regrets.
“Don’t be mad,” Luo Qing said soothingly. “I’ll stop talking.”
“You’d better!” Layla growled, her patience hanging by a thread.
Time was running out—her outer personality was already nearing the end of its active period. If she didn’t finish the thesis tonight, it would delay her progress for weeks.
“You seem really pressed for time,” Luo Qing observed casually.
“Of course I am! This thesis is due for submission next week!” Layla snapped, crossing her arms in frustration.
“You should’ve said so earlier,” Luo Qing said with a small smile.
His golden eyes gleamed faintly as an aura of energy enveloped the room.
Layla blinked as the world around her seemed to shift. Looking at the clock on the wall, she noticed something strange—the second hand had stopped moving.
“What… is this?” she asked, her voice tinged with awe.
“A minor ability of mine,” Luo Qing replied calmly. “I’ve slowed down the flow of time in this room by fifty times.
“Now, you’ll have plenty of time to finish your thesis.”
Layla stared at him in utter disbelief.
“… What?!”
—
T/N: omg it’s actually so useful
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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