Beware of Liyue Women (Genshin Impact)

I need to find Shenhe tomorrow.

After days of avoiding Shenhe, Qin Yu's guilt had reached a breaking point. She resolved to seek Shenhe out the next day, apologize sincerely, and spend the entire day with her...

I'll agree to whatever she asks. Yes.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Yu patted her cheeks.

Alright! I've made up my mind.

Just then, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Yanfei appeared beside her.

"Good morning, Qin Yu."

"Oh, Yanfei! Good morning! It's so lovely to see you. You look particularly radiant today," Qin Yu said with a practiced smile, instantly slipping into her social persona.

Yanfei's thoughts raced. Why did she specify "today"? Has she been observing my complexion all along? Has she always been paying attention to me?

Yanfei's mood instantly brightened.

Evaluation: D-

Here it comes again—the inexplicable evaluation increase.

Qin Yu felt a surge of satisfaction, a sense of everything falling back into place.

"Really? I don't feel any different. Perhaps it's because I live such a happy life every day. Work is mostly enjoyable for me, except when I encounter particularly unreasonable clients..."

Yanfei couldn't help but add, "But on the other hand, meeting familiar friends also brings me joy. And by 'friends,' I mean you, Qin Yu!"

However, Yanfei's sudden assertiveness irked Qin Yu slightly.

She should just passively accept my words.

Qin Yu grew increasingly uncomfortable. Shenhe, Ningguang, and Hu Tao always disrupted her rhythm, while only Keqing and Yanfei went along with her flow.

If Yanfei starts acting like Shenhe and the others, that simply won't do!

She had to counterattack.

Qin Yu suddenly closed the distance between them, reaching out to touch Yanfei's pink hair. Smiling, she said, "I'm so glad to see you too, Yanfei!"

Our feelings are mutual, Yanfei thought, feeling a strange sense of giddiness.

As Qin Yu's fingers brushed through her hair, Yanfei couldn't help but recall the hazy sensation of Qin Yu's lips pressing against her finger.

A surge of heat seemed to erupt from her heart, rushing to her forehead and threatening to overwhelm her.

I really can't handle her, Yanfei thought in a confused daze.

Evaluation: D+

As expected, she's still easy to handle, Qin Yu thought with satisfaction.

But Yanfei's hair is truly lovely... Her half-adeptus bloodline must make haircare a breeze. Qin Yu felt a pang of envy.

"Oh, right! Are you free? I wanted to show you something."

Oh no, I almost forgot why I came to find her! Yanfei regained her composure.

What a terrifying woman! Yanfei thought. Yet instead of disliking her, I find her increasingly endearing. She wondered if that kiss on her wound had somehow fried something in her brain.

I need to calm down.

Qin Yu withdrew her hand, her curiosity piqued. "What is it?"

Yanfei suddenly felt a pang of regret, but she forced herself to remain composed. "You'll find out later. Just trust me—it's for your own good. You do trust me, right?"

That sounds awfully suspicious, Qin Yu thought.

She didn't believe Yanfei would ever intentionally hurt her, but this explanation was far too vague to be reassuring.

I really don't want to agree.

Qin Yu inwardly pursed her lips, but she smiled sweetly and said, "Okay, I trust you, Yanfei! You'd never deceive me. Wherever you want me to go, I'll follow."

Yanfei's gaze flickered.

The guilt is overwhelming! I almost blurted out the truth.

But remembering that this was for Shenhe and Qin Yu's own good, she stopped herself just in time.

When Qin Yu finds out the truth later... will she be angry with me?

The thought made Yanfei's stomach churn, every fiber of her being resisting the possibility. Yet replaying Qin Yu's words in her mind, a faint warmth bloomed in her chest.

"Thank you... it really won't be bad for you."

Evaluation: C

I couldn't get her to spill the beans, Qin Yu thought with a hint of disappointment. She had hoped her earlier words would coax the truth out of Yanfei, but the legal expert proved surprisingly stubborn.

Since Yanfei insisted there was no harm in it, Qin Yu nodded. "Where are we going?"

"Just follow me. It won't take long. While we're walking, I'd like to hear more about your work at the Jade Chamber. We only see each other briefly, so this is a rare chance for a proper conversation."

That was true. Qin Yu owed her position as Ningguang's personal maid entirely to Yanfei's introduction and recommendation.

As they walked, Yanfei continued talking. "I never expected Ningguang to value you so highly."

Worried her words might be misunderstood, Yanfei quickly added, "Not that I doubt your abilities at all. It's just... a bit surprising, considering she's the Tianquan. But Ningguang always trusts those she employs wholeheartedly. She must see you as a worthwhile investment. And that's a wonderful thing, you know!"

Yanfei was genuinely happy for Qin Yu.

Still, a tinge of regret lingered.

If only Qin Yu could become my assistant, we'd have so much more time together, Yanfei sighed inwardly. What was I thinking before?

"Ahaha, is that so? But... it's all thanks to you, Yanfei! Thank you so much!"

Yanfei's regret deepened.

Qin Yu, meanwhile, was puzzled. Why isn't she giving me an evaluation?

She waited a moment.

Nothing? Seriously? Maybe I didn't hug her tightly enough?

Reluctantly, Qin Yu continued, "Oh, right! I have the entire month off!"

"The entire month?"

"The entire month."

Yanfei's eyes lit up. "Then we should definitely go somewhere fun together! I'll adjust my schedule accordingly."

"Sounds great! I'm really looking forward to it. It's always fun spending time with you, Yanfei."

Hearing this, Yanfei's lingering frustration vanished.

Instead, she immediately pulled out her notebook, reviewing her upcoming appointments to see if she could rearrange them or find completely free days.

Evaluation: C+

That's the right reaction.

Compared to a certain childhood friend, this was a completely different response. Qin Yu couldn't help but grumble inwardly, recalling Keqing's outlandish remarks.

The two of them then left the city, heading into the wilderness.

So we're going out here? Qin Yu was slightly surprised.

Reaching a large tree, Yanfei hesitated for a moment before finally gathering her courage and calling out, "Qin Yu!"

"Ah, I'm here!" Qin Yu replied, her voice sounding a little foolish as she suddenly grew nervous.

Yanfei seemed too preoccupied to notice, simply pulling out a black cloth.

Huh?

"Qin Yu, could you put this on?"

Huh?

"You mean... wear it? Where exactly?" Qin Yu asked, thoroughly confused.

"Over your eyes."

Ha?

"My eyes?" Qin Yu repeated uneasily.

"Yes, your eyes."

Deja vu.

She remembered Shenhe doing the same thing once.

What's going on? Why does everyone want to blindfold me? No way.

If you want to wear it, why don't you put it on yourself?

Feeling deeply uneasy and resistant, Qin Yu forced a strained smile. "T-this doesn't seem like a good idea. Didn't you say you wanted to show me something? Why blindfold me?"

"This is all part of the surprise!" Yanfei insisted, desperately trying to convince Qin Yu.

More like a shock, Qin Yu thought.

Either way, absolutely not!

"Yanfei, this is just too..." Qin Yu began, attempting a tactful refusal.

Just as I expected, she finds it strange and wants to refuse. But this is a crucial part of the plan—it can't fail.

How can I persuade her to accept?

If this were a transaction, I'd need to offer something of equal value. But what could I possibly trade for such a bizarre request? Yanfei pondered deeply, when suddenly an idea flashed through her mind.

Let's try this.

"I... I'll let you touch my horns!" Yanfei blurted out, her heart pounding. "In exchange, you just need to wear this blindfold. Trust me, I'd never do anything to harm you!"

An unusual request called for an equally unusual offer.

Whether Qin Yu would accept depended on the balance of her inner scales. Would the opportunity to touch a half-adeptus's horns outweigh the discomfort of being blindfolded?

She'll let me touch her horns? Qin Yu's interest was piqued. She had always wondered what horns like Yanfei's felt like. If that's the trade...

"I can barely accept this," Yanfei thought. "As long as she doesn't do anything strange."

"Not anything strange..."

"Of course not! Let me help you put it on," Yanfei said with a relieved smile.

She had sacrificed her own comfort, but at least her goal had been achieved.

But did Qin Yu agree because she wanted to touch my horns? Yanfei wondered. Being touched by Qin Yu... that wouldn't be so bad.

Feeling the weight of her horns, Yanfei found herself secretly anticipating the moment.

She approached the nervous Qin Yu from behind, wrapped the black cloth around her eyes, and tied it securely, making sure it wasn't too tight.

"I'll be right back! It won't take long!"

I didn't know she'd be this scared!

Even though it was morning and the sun was shining brightly, Qin Yu still felt a flicker of fear being blindfolded and alone in an unfamiliar place.

"Wait," Qin Yu said, gripping Yanfei's hand. "Don't leave me..." Her voice trembled.

Yanfei's heart tightened. She had never seen Qin Yu so vulnerable before, and a wave of guilt washed over her. Was this going too far? But when she spotted Shenhe approaching, her anxiety eased.

"It's okay," Yanfei squeezed Qin Yu's hand briefly before letting go.

Then she darted behind a nearby boulder to meet Hu Tao.

Qin Yu frantically groped at the air before finally seizing a hand.

What was that all about? Why did Yanfei have to scare me like that? Qin Yu relaxed slightly, but soon realized this hand felt different from Yanfei's—colder, almost icy.

Yanfei's hands weren't covered in fabric.

Wait, could this be...?

Qin Yu barely had time to register the thought before the black cloth over her eyes was untied. As light flooded her vision, she saw Shenhe standing before her.

W-why is Shenhe here?! Qin Yu's mind raced in confusion.

"Qin Yu."

Remembering the instructions Hu Tao had written on the paper, Shenhe stepped closer to Qin Yu, one deliberate step at a time.

Qin Yu instinctively retreated until her back pressed against the tree trunk.

No escape! And Shenhe is still holding my hand! What's going on? Could this be what Yanfei wanted to show me?

Is this a trap?

Did I fall for it?

The moment Qin Yu realized she had taken the bait, Shenhe followed Hu Tao's script perfectly. With a resounding thud, she slammed her free hand against the tree trunk right next to Qin Yu's head.

Whoa!?

Qin Yu startled violently, both from the loud crash beside her ear and Shenhe's sudden action.

Perhaps Shenhe had put a little too much force into it. Not only did her entire hand embed itself in the tree trunk, but the fruits and leaves above were shaken loose, raining down on them.

The fruits pelted their heads with a ping-pong-ping.

Ouch!

The leaves settled on their hair and shoulders.

How messy!

In this bizarre, almost absurd situation, Shenhe maintained her wall-pinning posture, her expression impassive and her tone completely flat as she declared, "Now you can't escape my grasp."

"...Huh?" Qin Yu's ears began to burn.

Evaluation: D- (Shenhe)

Shenhe hesitated for a moment, then added, "Darling."

Qin Yu's blush instantly vanished.

Ha?