Beware of Liyue Women (Genshin Impact)

Arriving at Yuehai Pavilion, Qin Yu sought out Keqing. However, she was informed that Keqing was currently immersed in work with Ganyu and likely wouldn't be available for some time.

"Shall I inform Lady Yuheng of your arrival?" the Yuehai Pavilion secretary inquired.

"Huh? Ah... no need, thank you."

This was just her own anger boiling over. Though still furious, she couldn't disrupt Keqing's duties as the Yuheng Star.

"Can I wait here?" Qin Yu couldn't resist asking, feeling the need to voice her thoughts.

"Of course, but are you sure you don't want me to notify her?"

"Haha, it's fine."

"Then please wait in that room, Miss Qin. I'll inform Lady Yuheng as soon as she's available. After all, she specifically instructed us to treat you as an honored guest if you came to see her."

"Thank you!"

So, she still had to wait after all.

But there was no choice... she would wait.

Qin Yu placed her bag on her lap, pulled out a book, and quietly turned the pages as she waited.

Qin Yu had been waiting since morning, and by evening, her anger had largely dissipated, leaving only a lingering sense of frustration that she endlessly muttered to herself.

She pulled a cookie from her bag and took small bites.

Maybe I should have left at noon to grab lunch, or accepted the Yuehai Pavilion secretary's offer to bring food. But I was still too angry then... Ugh, I'm such an idiot.

Just then, the door swung open. Qin Yu looked up to see Keqing standing before her, her expression unreadable.

Keqing's gaze fell upon Qin Yu, who still had half a cookie in her mouth and crumbs clinging to the corners of her lips.

Qin Yu quickly chewed and swallowed the remaining cookie, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and tried to reignite her anger, but several attempts proved futile.

It's fizzled out!

Perhaps it was the long wait, or perhaps it was seeing Keqing... Whatever the reason, Qin Yu couldn't muster any anger. Instead, she felt childish, like she'd overreacted.

Keqing suddenly sighed deeply.

"Why... didn't you just have someone notify me directly? Why wait here?" she asked.

"I didn't want to bother you while you were working, Keqing," Qin Yu said with an awkward smile. "It was just a small matter."

"If it were truly a small matter, why would you wait here so long?" Keqing replied skeptically, a hint of exasperation in her voice. After a brief silence, she added, "I'm sorry. I ran into a difficult problem and tried to work as efficiently as possible, but I still kept you waiting."

Don't make it sound like I came here specifically to ask you to hang out! Qin Yu thought irritably. Even though I'm not furious anymore, I still came to confront you!

"No, it was my fault for arriving so suddenly," Qin Yu said aloud. "You did nothing wrong, Keqing. In fact, I admire how dedicated you are to your work. You must be working for the good of Liyue, right?"

How considerate of you, Keqing thought. A hint of embarrassment crept into her voice as she replied, "W-well, it's just what I should be doing."

Evaluation: D-

And what about what that letter said? Was that your duty too? Qin Yu thought sarcastically.

"Let's not dwell on this. You must be hungry after waiting so long. My work is finally winding down. How about we go grab a meal? My treat."

The moment Qin Yu heard "my treat," she reflexively blurted out, "No!"

"Huh? You're not hungry?" Keqing asked, surprised.

Qin Yu snapped out of her daze and quickly corrected herself. "No treats... that's what I meant!"

"Mm, you really should be careful about your diet," Keqing replied.

That was close.

Qin Yu sighed in relief. She hadn't expected her true nature to slip out so abruptly, but thankfully Keqing didn't seem to notice.

If she didn't even notice that, could it mean she hadn't paid much attention when writing that letter either?

If that were the case, Qin Yu felt her anger resurfacing.

Keqing led Qin Yu away from Yuehai Pavilion.

The afterglow of the sunset lingered, and the streetlights hadn't yet come on. It was dinnertime, and pedestrians hurried home.

Keqing said she needed to change, and Qin Yu waited.

Why did I say that earlier?

Qin Yu stood with her hands behind her back, staring at the ground, her toes tracing patterns on the floor.

The moment she heard Keqing mention wanting to treat her, Qin Yu had felt a surge of irritation.

"Qin Yu, I'm back. There's a really good restaurant nearby. Let's go there," Keqing said, now dressed in casual clothes.

"Okay."

Keqing walked ahead, Qin Yu following behind, their long, slanted shadows stretching parallel to each other.

"By the way, have you resigned yet?" Keqing asked curiously.

Qin Yu hesitated. She had boldly declared her intention to resign in front of Ningguang and Keqing, but now not only hadn't she quit, she was even planning to deepen her involvement.

But there was no point in hiding it.

"No..." Qin Yu murmured.

Keqing was astonished. Qin Yu isn't coming back? Did she change her mind, or is Ningguang preventing her from leaving?

It can't be the latter, Keqing hoped fervently.

"I've decided to stay by Lady Ningguang's side," Qin Yu said.

"Why?" Keqing couldn't help but ask, her voice tinged with anxiety.

"Because Lady Ningguang said she needs me."

Needs Qin Yu? Keqing recalled Ningguang, bedridden during her visit, making similar remarks.

If I told Qin Yu I needed her, would she come to me?

Keqing casually changed the subject. "By the way, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"I saw the letter you wrote me."

Keqing's eyes lit up. She saw it? Excellent. With that house, she won't have to keep moving around anymore.

Not that she needs it while she's staying at the Jade Chamber, Keqing mused, but I'm still eager to hear her thoughts.

Originally, Keqing had intended to buy the house and, when Qin Yu eventually returned, have her staff offer her a special, heavily discounted rent with full amenities, ensuring her comfort.

But after reconnecting with Qin Yu, Keqing decided to give her the house outright, letting her live there as she pleased.

Keqing knew her past decisions had hurt Qin Yu. This was one way to make amends.

"What do you think?" Keqing asked, her voice rising slightly with anticipation.

Qin Yu hesitated.

As expected... I had to say it.

"I'm sorry, I can't accept."

Keqing stopped walking, paused for a moment, and then turned around, her face a mixture of disappointment, confusion, and bewilderment.

"You can't accept? Is there something wrong with the house?" Keqing forced a faint smile.

Now's the time to take it back, Qin Yu thought.

But she dismissed the idea. This was the one thing she couldn't tolerate.

"No, it's just..."

"Just?"

Qin Yu took a breath and said, "I don't want it."

She doesn't want it? Why would she say that?

Did I give her the wrong thing?

Does she actually want something else? What could it be? Overwhelmed by guilt, Keqing frantically searched her mind for an answer, but none came.

"Then... what do you want?" Keqing asked softly, clutching her arm.

Qin Yu felt a sharp pain in her chest, as if she'd been stabbed.

What do I want? Those words seemed to imply, I don't understand you.

And perhaps that was true. She had no memory of their shared past; Keqing alone carried those memories. Neither of them truly knew the person before them now.

Qin Yu had thought that day, Keqing had at least glimpsed a part of her—enough to understand why she couldn't accept this.

This was bound to happen sooner or later. Even if it hadn't been for this reason, something else would have triggered it. Qin Yu had foreseen this possibility that night.

So, I have to make the first move after all? Fine, I'll just do it.

Qin Yu stepped forward and took Keqing's hand. "This is what I wanted," she said.

Keqing immediately became flustered. "Y-you want my hand? I can't just give you that—"

What are you thinking? Don't make it sound so weird!

"N-no, that's not it," Qin Yu stammered, embarrassed. "I mean... I don't need you to make up for anything. This is enough."

Evaluation: D+

Keqing froze, stunned.

Feeling the warmth of Qin Yu's hand, Keqing snapped back to reality. She remembered Qin Yu doing this before—on the beach, during their meals together.

She finally understood.

Qin Yu had never asked her to compensate for anything.

Keqing exhaled and chuckled bitterly. "So that's it. I kept feeling like I had done something terribly wrong."

Exactly! Finally, she gets it!

"That's not true," Qin Yu said. "I understand how you feel, Keqing. But there are things I can't compromise on either. I'm sorry... I must have made you uncomfortable."

"No, I'm sure I made you uncomfortable too. I should be the one apologizing," Keqing replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Evaluation: C

"Exactly!" Qin Yu's mood instantly brightened. In the end, it was all Keqing's fault... No, wait, fundamentally, it was because we didn't understand each other well enough.

Neither of us were children anymore.

Not to mention the years of separation in between.

So, incidents like this were bound to happen, and they would likely recur.

Yet, perhaps because we were childhood friends, either of us could grasp the other's thoughts with just a small step.

In truth, it wasn't a big deal.

"But what about the house?" Keqing asked casually, squeezing Qin Yu's hand.

Why are you asking me?

"I can't accept it for free," Qin Yu replied. "At least, not without strings attached."

If Lady Ningguang offered it to me, maybe I could accept it? I don't know. Qin Yu mused idly.

"I don't want our relationship to be too entangled with money," Qin Yu said with a smile. "I won't accept a free house. And if Keqing treats me, I'll have to return the favor next time!"

Yes, that was it. The reason was simple.

Keqing had become the Yuheng, possessing far greater wealth than Qin Yu. But that wasn't a reason for Qin Yu to readily accept her generosity.

Even if... no, precisely because Keqing felt guilty and indebted to me, I didn't want her to do this. Qin Yu thought, even if Keqing wanted to make amends, she should do it some other way.

Keqing nodded deeply. "So that's how you feel. Not bad. If the free option won't work, what about a paid one?"

"I... I don't think I can afford it yet," Qin Yu said awkwardly.

"Then I'll rent it to you. What price do you suggest?"

"Just a fair price."

Keqing murmured, "Fair... How about this?" She named a standard market rate.

"Okay, I can accept that!"

"Then pay that amount," Keqing smiled.

"Thank you, Keqing," Qin Yu said with a genuine smile.

Keqing's eyes widened slightly in response.

What a strange reaction.

"Is something wrong?" Qin Yu asked curiously.

For some reason, Keqing seemed flustered. "N-nothing at all!"

Evaluation: B-

Have you turned into Yanfei too? Why is my evaluation suddenly skyrocketing for no reason? Qin Yu wondered, perplexed but pleased. She gladly accepted the change.

More points were always welcome.

With this matter settled, Qin Yu felt much lighter.

"Let's go."

"S-Should we hold hands?" Keqing glanced down at their clasped hands, her gaze suddenly evasive.

Her words seemed to snap Qin Yu out of her daze, and she too became aware of the odd tension between them. What had seemed innocuous moments ago now felt awkward.

I should pull away...

Evaluation: B

...Impossible.

Qin Yu's blush was barely discernible in the setting sun. Forcing a casual tone, she replied, "Sure, let's hold hands."

It's just holding hands. No big deal.

Now Keqing couldn't say anything more. If she pressed the issue, Qin Yu might start to see her as strange.

Besides, she desperately wanted to keep holding Qin Yu's hand. The feeling was intense.

"Then let's go," Keqing nodded.

"Mm."

Evaluation: B+

They walked side by side, their steps slightly out of sync, yet their shadows clung even closer together than before.

Gazing at the sunset-drenched street and feeling the familiar warmth of Qin Yu's hand in hers, Keqing suddenly felt like she had drifted back to her childhood.

Little Qin Yu holding her hand, walking along the roadside.

"Keqing, this candy is so yummy!"

"Don't eat too much, or you'll get cavities."

"Why don't you just get a cavity too?"

"No way!"

Young Qin Yu turned to Keqing with a mischievous grin, offering her the candied hawthorn skewer she held. "Keqing, here~"

"Keqing?"

Their voices overlapped. Keqing snapped out of her daze, realizing she had been staring at Qin Yu's face for no apparent reason. Qin Yu looked back, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing... I just remembered something from when we were little."

Qin Yu's gaze flickered away briefly. "Oh, is that it?"

Then her eyes returned to Keqing's.

"Was it a good memory?" she asked.

"Yes, it was."

"That's good then."

Qin Yu's smile made Keqing's chest tighten inexplicably, just as it always did. Whenever she saw Qin Yu smile like that, she felt this strange sensation.

It wasn't exactly unpleasant.

It was more like... a strange kind of joy, accompanied by a faint quickening of her heartbeat.

This peculiar feeling left Keqing deeply perplexed.

Why did she harbor such strange emotions toward Qin Yu, her childhood friend?

Evaluation: A

"Oh, right, Keqing."

"Huh? Oh, yes, I'm listening. What's up?"

Is she really listening? Qin Yu doubted it. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "I'm taking the month off."

"The whole month?"

"Yep."

Keqing suddenly understood why Qin Yu had so much free time today. A whole month? Lady Ningguang must be treating her well. This reassured Keqing, but she completely missed the hidden meaning in Qin Yu's words.

"That's good. You should rest properly," Keqing said with a gentle smile.

Qin Yu looked like she wanted to say something more but stopped herself.

Is she really this oblivious, or is she deliberately playing coy? Either way, it's frustrating.

"A whole month," Qin Yu emphasized.

"Hmm? Yes, I heard you clearly."

Ugh, she's completely clueless. Does she need me to spell it out for her to understand?

"I'll have plenty of free time this month."

Even Keqing, usually slow on the uptake, vaguely sensed there was more to Qin Yu's words. But what exactly was she trying to convey?

Plenty of free time = I'm bored?

I'm bored = Find me something to do?

Ah, I see, Keqing realized.

"Then I can find you some things to do. I could arrange for you to participate in some charitable activities. You might find them rewarding," Keqing suggested.

Forget it. It was my mistake to expect her to understand.

Qin Yuman casually replied, "Ah, no need."

"But weren't you bored?"

"I suddenly remembered I actually have things to do," Qin Yu said with a smile.

"Is that so? That's good then."

And that was the end of the conversation.

This is infuriating! She doesn't even understand what I'm trying to say. What kind of childhood friend is she?! Qin Yu grumbled inwardly, venting her frustration.

Should I just come out and say it? No. I'm not in the mood.