The sky was already growing dark, so Kael planned to walk Yanfei home.
She led him to a small house near Yujing Terrace.
Homes here weren't cheap. This was one of the wealthiest areas in all of Liyue.
But Yanfei was talented, successful, and the descendant of an Adeptus. Owning a house in the rich district wasn't surprising at all.
Kael originally intended to drop her off and head back.
But Yanfei clung tightly to his arm and insisted on dragging him inside.
"Stay for dinner first. My tofu is amazing. Eat before you go!"
She had lost face earlier while fishing. Tonight she had to prove her skills and redeem herself.
"Alright, alright, you're going to tear my sleeve off." Kael gently caught her soft hand. "I'll stay."
He followed her inside.
The place wasn't large, just a one-bedroom home.
Bookshelves lined the living room, packed with legal texts from all across Teyvat.
A wide desk sat in the center, cluttered with papers, brushes, and inkstones. Clearly her workspace.
And everything was decorated in shades of red. Red curtains, red sofa, small red ornaments.
Just like Yanfei herself—bright and lively on the outside, but with a strict, disciplined side beneath it.
She sat Kael down on the sofa, then ran off to the kitchen.
"Wow, I cut this tofu perfectly."
"Hm… do you sauté crab roe first? Do I season it…?"
"…Ah!"
Kael winced at the noise coming from the kitchen. "Need help?"
"No!" Yanfei popped her head out the door. Two streaks of black ash were smudged across her cheeks from the stove.
"We said I'm cooking tonight. You're not allowed in here!"
A few minutes later, after a series of increasingly alarming sounds, Yanfei walked out with three plates.
"Dinner's ready! Come try it!"
She had made her specialty dish—My Way.
Perfectly cut tofu arranged neatly in the center, topped with a round mound of crab roe and sprinkled with green onions.
Kael nodded. "It looks great."
Yanfei puffed up proudly. "Of course. No matter what I do, I give it everything I've got. I followed the recipe step by step, even drew a Square and Circle Array."
Kael picked up a piece of tofu and tasted it.
Yanfei watched him with bright, eager eyes. "Well?"
Honestly… it was extremely average.
After spending so long in Teyvat, he'd eaten plenty of extraordinary dishes. And with the Head Chef talent enhancing his sense of taste, he couldn't help being picky.
Compared to meals from real chefs, this dish didn't stand out at all.
But he still smiled warmly. "It's delicious."
"Right? I knew it!"
Yanfei took a bite herself, looking pleased.
"Soft tofu is perfect no matter how you cook it."
Kael quietly filed away the fact that she loved tofu. He was already planning to cook for her one day.
They finished the whole plate quickly.
Yanfei grew a little embarrassed. She had only prepared one dish, and it looked a bit sparse.
But this was the only recipe she had mastered so far.
And according to the books she'd read: If you want a man's heart, you must win his stomach first.
She silently vowed to practice her cooking. From now on, she would make more dishes for Kael.
After eating, Kael got up to wash the dishes on his own.
Watching his broad silhouette at her sink filled Yanfei with warmth.
This simple, ordinary moment… was the life she wanted.
Unable to resist, she walked over and hugged him from behind, resting her forehead on his back.
"Kael… being with you makes me so happy. Will you stay with me tonight?"
Kael froze. Then he let out a quiet sigh.
He wanted to stay. He really did.
But…
If he stayed, there were things he needed to tell her.
Yanfei had no idea what he had gone through in Mondstadt and Liyue. Kael didn't want to deceive her.
Yanfei lived by rules. To her, rules were everything. That belief was the foundation of every law she upheld.
He couldn't lie to her. And he refused to do so.
If he wanted to be with her, he had to be honest. Completely honest.
Otherwise, when the truth eventually came out, Yanfei would be hurt.
And hurting her was the last thing he ever wanted to do.
He turned around. Her face was pink with shyness, but her eyes were full of hope.
"Yanfei," he said gently, "I like you a lot. But… someone else is waiting for me."
Yanfei blinked, uncomprehending.
"I like you," Kael continued, "but I also like them."
The blush on her face vanished in an instant. All the color drained away.
She had never even considered this possibility.
She loved Kael. And Kael loved her.
But she never imagined… she wasn't the only one in his heart.
Kael saw her expression twist with pain, and his chest tightened.
He carefully lifted her hands from around his waist.
"I don't want to lie to you."
"No!"
Yanfei's voice cracked. The moment Kael removed her hands, panic clawed at her chest. It felt like she was losing him all over again.
She threw her arms around him with every ounce of strength she had.
"I know the rules. I know everything has an order, and that's how the world works. But if it's about you, none of the rules matter anymore."
"No one in this world will ever love you more than I do. My feelings for you… they won't lose to anyone."
Tears filled her green eyes as she looked up at him.
"As long as you like me… as long as you stay with me… that's enough."
She took his hand and pressed it to her heart.
Her outfit had a small opening there, so his palm rested directly against her warm skin.
Her heartbeat thumped beneath his hand, trembling with emotion.
"I'm willing to break every rule in the world… for you."