Ganyu visibly faltered. "N-no, I didn't."
"Then how come only the stem is left?"
"Well..."
Knowing she couldn't hide the truth any longer, Ganyu confessed softly, "I'm sorry... I got carried away and couldn't control myself. It was terribly inappropriate."
So it was you after all!
"Don't apologize!" Qin Yu reassured her. "This was a gift from Lady Ningguang and Keqing. It's yours now—you can do whatever you want with it. But... can you really eat Glazed Lilies raw?" Qin Yu asked, genuinely puzzled.
That was what she was most concerned about.
Ganyu still felt a pang of regret; she should have restrained herself better. But faced with Qin Yu's question, she smiled and nodded. "They can be eaten raw, and they're quite delicious. The cultivated varieties are a bit different from the wild ones, though..."
Whoa, you can really eat them raw?!
There hadn't been any news reports of anyone dying from Glaze Lily poisoning, so it must be safe to eat.
Still, who would eat such a precious variety raw?
I kind of want to try one, Qin Yu thought, her curiosity piqued. Just then, Ganyu lowered her head and sighed.
"It's edible, but I shouldn't eat it..."
"Why not?"
Ganyu hesitated. "Because... it'll make me gain weight, right? If I don't strictly control my appetite, my figure will change quickly."
"True..." Qin Yu's spirits sank.
Because of her figure, she couldn't indulge too much.
The thought of one day touching her side and feeling a roll of fat... Qin Yu didn't want to experience that kind of despair.
"Qin Yu, you can have these two boxes," Ganyu offered.
"Huh?"
"But these are Lady Ningguang and Keqing's gifts to you," Qin Yu quickly replied.
"I understand. I've received their kindness and I'm very grateful for their concern. But if I were to take both boxes, it would be... a torment for me."
But the other box was full of Qingxin! That bitter stuff—could Ganyu actually eat it raw?
"Sister Ganyu, do you like eating Qingxin raw?"
"Hmm? Yes, it's quite delicious. Qingxin can be eaten raw, you know. Didn't you know that?"
"I knew, but isn't it terribly bitter?"
Ganyu looked puzzled. "Bitter? Isn't that just its flavor?"
"Eh?"
"Hmm?"
Incomprehensible.
Ganyu actually said it was delicious? How could something so bitter taste good? Qin Yu couldn't help but doubt herself. In her memory, this stuff was unbearably bitter.
Could my memory be wrong?
Unsure, she decided to try it herself.
"Can I try one?" Qin Yu picked up a Qingxin flower.
"Ah, please do."
"Thank you."
Qin Yu plucked a petal, put it in her mouth, and slowly chewed, her heart racing with anticipation.
"?!?"
A dry, bitter taste exploded in her mouth. Qin Yu blinked hard and chewed again.
"?!?!?!"
She immediately turned away, hiding her hilariously pained expression from Ganyu.
Oh, heavens.
Try another bite.
Mmm... ugh.
"How is it?" Ganyu asked, her eyes full of anticipation.
Wow, she's actually looking at me with such eager eyes.
Don't get your hopes up. Please, don't.
Qin Yu didn't want to be the object of such expectation, but she also didn't want to disappoint Ganyu.
"Ahaha, it's absolutely delicious! Mmm, utterly divine. I never imagined I'd ever taste something so astonishing in my life. It feels like everything I thought I knew has been completely overturned in this brief yet eternal moment," Qin Yu said, forcing a smile.
What a bitter lie.
In every sense of the word.
Evaluation: C+
Ganyu let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "We're the same, then! I only didn't plant Qingxin on Yujing Terrace because I was afraid I'd give in to temptation one day..."
She glanced at the two boxes.
"These are the same. I was worried I'd lose control, so I decided to give them to you instead."
Qin Yu understood Ganyu's reasoning, but she didn't want these either.
"But..."
Ganyu said softly, "You said these already belong to me, so it's my decision what to do with them. I hope you'll accept them. Is that not possible?"
If she doesn't take them, I can't exactly return them, can I? That would be awkward, Ganyu thought.
But she didn't want these things within easy reach, so giving them away seemed best. Qin Yu was the perfect recipient.
After all, Qin Yu had given her flowers as a child.
Qin Yu was still hesitating when a soft sound suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
Gurgle! Brief but unmistakable, the sound came from Ganyu's stomach.
Ganyu's face flushed red as she quickly curled in on herself.
Heh heh, so that's it... Qin Yu, seized by a mischievous impulse, immediately picked up a Qingxin flower and held it out to Ganyu.
"...Wait, please don't bring it closer."
Ganyu froze for a second before scooting backward to create some distance.
"Sister Ganyu, are you hungry?"
"No, no, that was just an external noise."
Yeah, right.
Qin Yu looked concerned. "If you're hungry, you should eat properly! Even a half-adeptus can feel uncomfortable, right? And there's delicious food right here!"
She moved the Qingxin flower closer to Ganyu again.
Ganyu waved her hands frantically, retreating further. "No, thank you! I don't need it."
Then, losing her balance, she yelped and landed on the ground. Even as she scooted back against the desk, she refused to accept the flower.
When Qin Yu brought the Qingxin flower to Ganyu's left cheek, Ganyu turned her head to the right. When Qin Yu moved it to her right cheek, Ganyu turned to the left.
This is a bit amusing, Qin Yu thought. But this can't go on.
Even if she wanted to control her figure, she still needed to maintain her health!
Neither Ningguang nor Ganyu seemed to care about their well-being.
It's time to use this trick.
Qin Yu steeled her resolve, took a deep breath, plucked a petal from the Qingxin flower, and popped it into her mouth.
When someone's hungry, you have to tempt them with a show of hearty enjoyment!
With that in mind, Qin Yu began chewing the petal.
"Mmm, delicious!"
Ugh, this is—so disgusting!
Forcing herself to appear delighted, Qin Yu plucked another petal and, with a slight tremor in her voice, gently offered it to Ganyu. "Sister Ganyu, why don't you try some too?"
Ganyu's gaze flickered to the side for a moment before returning.
Qin Yu's exaggerated display of enjoyment, her voice trembling slightly, left Ganyu unable to refuse again.
As Qin Yu brought the petal closer, Ganyu closed her eyes and parted her lips slightly.
Ha? She wants me to feed her?
Fine, just this once, Qin Yu muttered inwardly as she slipped the petal into Ganyu's mouth.
The fleeting, cool, soft sensation against her fingertips made Qin Yu's heart flutter.
Evaluation: B
At least the evaluation is decent. My efforts weren't in vain.
Qin Yu plucked another petal and fed it to Ganyu.
And another.
"So delicious... Ah!" Ganyu snapped out of her reverie, her expression shifting dramatically.
I couldn't control myself!
Every bite seemed to turn into guilt. Ganyu quickly said, "E-enough, thank you for your kindness, but I really can't eat any more."
"Just a little extra for once won't hurt, right?" Qin Yu pressed, tempting her further.
"I-it does matter... Daily accumulation turns into excess fat."
"Then just work it off later, right?"
"Work it off? I guess that makes sense?" Ganyu looked bewildered.
Anyway, I shouldn't go hungry.
Since Ganyu was worried about overeating, Qin Yu had an idea.
"If you're worried about eating too much, I'll eat half, and you can have the other half. That way, there's no problem, right?"
Ganyu pondered this. "Compared to eating the whole thing, just half would be much better... but..."
"Besides, sharing snacks privately with others is a part of socializing too!"
"Is that so?" Ganyu looked surprised.
Qin Yu continued to persuade her, "Yes, everyone does it! Chatting while sharing snacks privately—why don't you try it too, Sister Ganyu? Just this once."
Just this once. The allure of those words was irresistible.
Qin Yu's words had stirred Ganyu's interest. Well, why not try it once? she thought, nodding in agreement.
Finally persuaded her.
Qin Yu felt mentally drained, but outwardly maintained her usual energetic demeanor.
"Then I'll feed you, ah~" Qin Yu teased.
"Th-there's no need for that... it's a bit embarrassing. But I can feed you."
No. Don't think about it. Don't do it.
"Then I'll just eat Sister Ganyu's fingers too, hmph~" Qin Yu joked.
Ganyu chuckled. "I wouldn't taste very good, you know."
Evaluation: B+
Ganyu showed no intention of getting up, so Qin Yu remained seated on the floor as well. Fortunately, Ganyu seemed to regularly clean her office, which was quite tidy.
Qin Yu glanced at Ganyu daintily eating her Qingxin, then lowered her gaze to the flower in her own hand.
I have no choice but to eat it...
The taste and texture were exactly as expected, unchanged.
It tastes like life. Damn, so bitter.
Qin Yu mechanically swallowed the Qingxin. Ganyu slowly spoke, "I'm truly grateful you came to see me. To be honest, I never expected this."
Qin Yu hadn't expected she'd be eating flowers with someone either.
Ganyu lifted her head to gaze at the closed window.
"Ever since the Geo Archon passed away, gazing upon the scenery from Yujing Terrace always fills me with loneliness," she said. "So I've kept the windows closed to avoid seeing it..."
Qin Yu replied, "Keqing told me you deeply trust Rex Lapis."
"Yes, and it's not just me. All the Adepti who forged Contracts with the Geo Archon feel the same. I have absolute trust in him. Three thousand years ago, I decided to become his aide, following him in battle across the land during the Archon War."
"Without his leadership and protection, Liyue wouldn't be what it is today..."
Three thousand years ago... So Ganyu must be over three thousand years old.
After once again sensing the vast difference between humans and Adepti, Qin Yu felt a pang of sympathy seeing the loneliness in Ganyu's expression.
"I always strove to keep pace with the Geo Archon, but I never imagined..."
Qin Yu couldn't help but recall the feeling of losing her own Teacher—a similar ache. Even after so much time had passed, and despite having met her again once, the occasional memory still brought a pang of loneliness.
In such a state, Qin Yu naturally yearned for something.
Ganyu likely desired the same.
With this thought, Qin Yu reached out and embraced Ganyu.
Evaluation: A
Ganyu exclaimed in a fluster, "Qin Yu? Wh-what's with the sudden hug?"
"I think this is better."
"Better, huh..."
Ganyu felt the warmth from Qin Yu's body and the kindness she offered. Gradually, the misty warmth enveloped her lonely heart.
Qin Yu is truly remarkable, she thought. She understands the other's feelings and acts to approach and accept them.
Closing her eyes, Ganyu gently wrapped her arms around Qin Yu, savoring this tender companionship.
"Yes, it's definitely better," she murmured softly.
Evaluation: S-
Right? When you're lonely, having someone by your side is all that matters.
Qin Yu understood this feeling perfectly, so she knew exactly what to do.
But there was nothing special about it; it was perfectly ordinary. Qin Yu hoped Ganyu would see it that way too—no need for Shenhe's nonsensical remarks, or any thought of repayment.
Just accept it.
After a long moment, Qin Yu pulled back slightly, taking Ganyu's hand.
"Feeling a bit better now?"
"Mhm..."
Ganyu blushed inexplicably. "Tha—"
I don't want to hear it.
Qin Yu promptly stuffed a Qingxin petal into Ganyu's mouth.
"Mmph... That was sudden."
Qin Yu grinned. "Surprise attack! Scared you?"
"Mhm, scared me."
Who told you to start spouting nonsense? You're not Shenhe, after all. Though even if you were Shenhe, Qin Yu would still stuff something in your mouth to shut you up.
Because she'd definitely say something like this...
"Qin Yu, you're truly so kind," Ganyu murmured softly, her cheeks flushing even deeper.
Evaluation: S+
Exactly like that.
"It's nothing, anyone would do the same."
It's really nothing. Don't make it sound like something it isn't. And Qin Yu fundamentally disagreed with Ganyu's assessment.
Afterward, they split the two boxes of edible flowers evenly.
"I hope my figure doesn't change because of this..." Ganyu muttered.
Don't say it, Qin Yu thought, sighing deeply to herself.