Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino

Chiori was still busy with her work. After all, preparing a complete, handmade uniform for Lu Li required a lot of preliminary work. However, she soon felt that something was amiss. The air seemed to heat up, and when she realized what was causing the anomaly in front of her, she bit her lip, her eyes glinting dangerously as she looked up. "You... what are you doing while I'm trying to take your measurements?"

Lu Li looked away, embarrassed. "Sorry, but... Chiori, you look very alluring like this..."

"You... all you think about is yourself," Chiori said, exasperated. She stood up, hands on her hips. Her gaze was inevitably drawn to a certain area. She pursed her lips.

"If you go out like this, Aieru will definitely see. She's a new employee I just hired, not even a month into her probation. If she sees this, it could cause a scandalous rumor, which would be even more trouble..." Chiori said after a moment, looking away from Lu Li with dissatisfaction.

"Ugh... then you go out first, Chiori. I'll stay here for a bit..." Lu Li said awkwardly.

"If I go out and you come out later after... resolving it, wouldn't that be even more suspicious?" Chiori shook her head. "So, let's use the old method."

Lu Li was stunned. He watched as Chiori turned and pushed against the wall. It flipped over, revealing a hidden passage behind it.

That's an illegal modification! Lu Li's eyes widened.

"Aieru, Lu Li and I are leaving for a bit. You watch the shop. Take any business that comes in; I'll handle it later," Chiori said to the fitting room door before leading Lu Li into the passage, which led to a deeper room.

Aieru, who was waiting outside, was startled. She rushed to the fitting room, opened the door, and stared in shock at the empty space. "Whoa... so there's a secret room here..." Though amazed, she quickly returned to the front and changed the sign back to "Open for Business," carrying out Chiori's instructions.

Meanwhile, Lu Li, led by Chiori, saw the secret room of Chioriya Boutique for the first time. "I never knew you had a secret room... How did you do this?"

"The rent here is too expensive, and I don't have a good place to store some of my clothes, so I found this alternative solution. It's also an emergency escape route. Sometimes Chevreuse and Navia sneak in here to get information from me without being seen. Chioriya Boutique... is a pretty good place for them to gather intel," Chiori explained as she pointed to a room. "Come on, let's go inside."

Lu Li followed her into a room that was surprisingly cozy and well-decorated.

"This is my temporary resting room for when I work late and don't have time to go home," Chiori said softly. "Look, there's a bed. Go lie down."

Hearing such bold words, Lu Li's eyes widened. But seeing Chiori's proud and genuine expression, he walked over and sat down with a mix of complex emotions.

Chiori watched him obey, then slowly walked over. One hand pressed gently on his chest, while the other moved down to suppress the evil.

Feeling the subtle touch of Chiori's exquisite silk gloves, Lu Li felt a strange sensation. After a long moment, enduring the slight trembling of his body, he asked with curiosity, "Actually... I could have handled it myself, Chiori. Why did you do this, both before and now?"

The proprietress of Chioriya Boutique paused, then said softly, "I don't know myself. But when I see you react to my actions, I can't seem to look away." Then, turning her head to look him in the eye, she slipped her hand under his clothes, freeing the dragon and letting it roar in her palm.

"Don't tell me you don't like this? No, I think you're enjoying it quite a bit, aren't you?" she said, observing his state with a playful look in her eyes.

Lu Li, trying to control his trembling, said helplessly, "It's true that I'm enjoying it, but... this doesn't seem very good for you..."

"How rare. I thought you were the type to only think of yourself," Chiori's eyes softened. She quickened her pace and said softly, "But, actually, I'm the same as you. When I do this to you, I also feel... 'interested'."

Lu Li's eyes widened.

Chiori moved her hand from his chest and continued her work. "You and I are both from other countries who came to Fontaine. I came to chase my dream. Although you're not the same, our situations are very similar. As your poem says, 'Strangers in a strange land, why must we have known each other before to meet?' It was the first time I had ever heard someone say something so philosophical while drunk."

"Plus, you're one of my few friends. You've seen me at my lowest and at my most successful. So, I have feelings for you." Though she tried to sound calm, her voice trembled slightly. Even for someone as direct as Chiori, expressing her feelings so openly was still embarrassing.

Lu Li finally understood. "So that's how it is."

"Of course, having feelings is just having feelings. I'm busy with my career right now and have no time for romance," Chiori said calmly. "Do you understand what I mean?"

Lu Li shook his head, confused. Chiori was silent for a moment, then said, "I have my own needs, but I don't want us to be responsible for each other right now. And I'm not interested in other men. So, you get it now, right?"

At that moment, Lu Li's eyes widened. Wait, so this is...

-------

Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!

Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA

I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (105 Chapter)

Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (200 Chapter)

Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (205 Chapter)

MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (90 Chapter)

BLEACH: Blade of Purification (80 Chapter)

Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (240 Chapter)

My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (90 Chapter)

The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (70 Chapter)

Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(60 Chapter)

Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (40 Chapter)

Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (50 Chapter)

Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (40 Chapter)

If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.