Misunderstandings of normal conversations aren't uncommon, but the extent of the misunderstanding and the subsequent reaction matter.
Ganyu chose to accept the misunderstanding.
What exactly did she misunderstand, and what did she accept? Qin Yu had a vague guess, but she couldn't be certain and desperately hoped it wasn't true.
It's not that I hate it...
Realizing the implication, Ganyu abruptly stood up, flustered, and explained, "It's not what you think! I just..."
"Just?" Qin Yu pressed, her attention fully focused.
With no time to think about her wording, Ganyu blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"I just... got carried away by the atmosphere!"
Recalling her earlier feelings, she realized she had indeed been swept up by the atmosphere.
Ganyu herself couldn't say how she would have reacted to a confession under normal circumstances. Besides, it hadn't even been a confession in the first place.
"And what was your reaction afterward?"
Ganyu stammered, "I was just... a little embarrassed. That's all, please don't misunderstand."
Misunderstanding? Qin Yu thought, puzzled. But Ganyu was just blaming me.
"But Sister Ganyu, you also called me 'mean-spirited.' Isn't that you misunderstanding?" Qin Yu pressed.
Why is she still asking...? Ganyu shrank back, as if she couldn't bear it anymore. "That was... uh..."
"Was?"
"...It was my misunderstanding. I'm sorry," Ganyu murmured, sounding defeated.
Exactly! How could it possibly be my misunderstanding? Qin Yu felt vindicated.
But this admission only brought them back to square one.
If Ganyu had misinterpreted the meaning, twisted it into something else entirely, and still responded that way... wouldn't that mean...?
The more Qin Yu thought, the more flustered she became. "Then what did your answer mean earlier, Sister Ganyu?"
"I just... went along with the mood..."
Huh?
She misinterpreted it as a confession and then just went along with the mood?
This just makes the problem even bigger, doesn't it?
According to her explanation, if the atmosphere was just right, Ganyu could easily be swayed.
Despite her long lifespan, Ganyu had never truly integrated into human society. Most of her time was spent buried in work, and in such an environment lacking personal social interactions, this situation was perfectly understandable.
After all, living a long time doesn't automatically guarantee maturity in all aspects of life.
Recalling the numerous clueless old-timers she had encountered, Qin Yu nodded to herself.
But this made things even more dangerous!
"Sister Ganyu, if anyone else ever says something like that to you, you absolutely mustn't just go along with the atmosphere and agree! It could end badly," Qin Yu warned anxiously.
"Ah, I understand... I mean, I understand now," Ganyu hastily corrected herself.
I have a feeling another misunderstanding has just been created, Ganyu sighed inwardly.
"Mm, I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. I didn't mean it that way. But for me, Sister Ganyu is even more important than any so-called sweetheart—though I don't have one, anyway."
Ganyu exclaimed in surprise, "Really? You don't?"
"No."
"I see... So you don't... I don't either," Ganyu murmured, nodding slightly, a strange joy blooming in her chest.
Evaluation: S+
Why is my Evaluation increasing at a time like this?
Oh well.
The warmth in Qin Yu's cheeks began to fade as she smiled and steered the conversation back on track. "I want to continue spending time with you, Sister Ganyu. It would be so lonely if you just didn't come back."
Even if it's just a little bit.
Ganyu hesitated. "But the Qixing..."
"I told you, it was a misunderstanding! If they really wanted someone to take over your position, they would have formally informed you, right? The Qixing aren't that heartless."
"That's true..."
Finally, Ganyu was listening to reason. Qin Yu decided to seize the opportunity and press her case.
"And Liyue needs you now more than ever."
"Is that so? But this is no longer the age of the Adepti; it's the age of humans. I am not one of them..." Ganyu replied.
Qin Yu asked, "Then, Sister Ganyu, are you happy staying in Jueyun Karst?"
The question struck a nerve.
Ganyu fell silent. The truth was, even if she had given up on returning to Liyue Harbor, she couldn't claim to be happy in Jueyun Karst.
The clamor of the mortal world and the warmth of its hearth fires had dissolved into ethereal mist, leaving her, who had long distanced herself from the Adeptus' way of life, struggling to adapt.
Sensing Qin Yu's genuine concern, Ganyu found herself revealing her true feelings.
"No, it's not about happiness or unhappiness. It's about adaptation. And I... I can no longer adapt to the Adeptus' way of life. Work has become a form of cultivation, and few people ever visit Jueyun Karst anymore," she said dejectedly. "I thought I could return to the Adeptus' life, but it hasn't worked out as I'd hoped."
"Then let's go back," Qin Yu suggested.
Ganyu hesitated, remaining silent for a long moment.
Even Qin Yu was growing mentally exhausted by Ganyu's stubbornness, though she understood Ganyu's thoughts and feelings.
"You're just thinking of yourself as something inhuman, Sister Ganyu, isn't that all? At least I've never thought of you that way!" Qin Yu continued trying to persuade her.
If this doesn't work, I'll have to be more forceful!
"Few know of my half-adeptus identity. It's understandable that you, being one of the few who does, would think that way," Ganyu countered, though not very firmly.
Wow, so stubborn!
Qin Yu imperceptibly raised her eyebrows and retorted, "That's precisely why I can say this to you, Sister Ganyu! Without understanding, no amount of arguing would be convincing."
Defeated, Ganyu fell silent, lowering her gaze.
"Besides, I'm actually grateful that Sister Ganyu is what you call an 'inhuman thing'."
"Huh?"
Faced with Ganyu's surprised stare, Qin Yu averted her gaze, speaking nonchalantly. "Because if you weren't, we would never have met."
"Ah..." Ganyu suddenly understood.
I never thought of looking at it from this angle before.
"As I said earlier, if Sister Ganyu agrees, I'll be your proof of belonging in the human world. And for me, Sister Ganyu is also a kind of proof."
"Me?" Ganyu looked slightly bewildered.
Qin Yu nodded with a smile. "Yes. Even if I try my best to live, there might come a day when I have to part ways with you, Sister Ganyu. When that time comes, I hope someone will still remember me, no matter what."
"Simply put—Sister Ganyu is the proof of my life!"
Even though my body has Skill enhancements, how can I be certain that we'll never be separated in the future?
Even Rex Lapis, the God of Contracts, was forever parted from many of his friends.
"That's why I want you to continue witnessing everything I do, Sister Ganyu. For that, I'll take you back with me no matter what. After all, I don't live here."
Ganyu murmured, "Am I really that important to you?"
"Of course!"
Seizing the moment, Qin Yu hugged Ganyu and pleaded sweetly, "Please, Sister Ganyu, say yes."
Evaluation: SS-
Ugh, I'm going to throw up. This is so nauseating.
But Ganyu seemed to relish this, her fair cheeks flushing crimson as she returned the embrace, drawing Qin Yu closer to feel the warmth more deeply. In a gentle voice, she murmured, "Alright, I promise."
Finally!
Since Ganyu couldn't see her face, Qin Yu seized the opportunity to let her weariness show, letting out a silent sigh of relief.
Ganyu's blush deepened as Qin Yu's breath brushed her neck.
Yet at that moment, Ganyu felt mostly a sense of ease, release, and contentment.
Perhaps, Ganyu mused, I've always longed for someone to say these words to me, to depend on me.
But another thought surfaced: Maybe the truth is simpler than that.
"Maybe..."
"Maybe what?" Qin Yu tensed up inwardly. Is she going to overthink this again?
Ganyu hesitated, then stammered, "Don't laugh at me, okay? Maybe... maybe I'd run back to Jueyun Karst, just hoping you'd say these words to me, and then... hug me like this."
"Huh?"
"I-Is that so?" Qin Yu asked, shocked.
"I'm not entirely sure either," Ganyu murmured.
Good. If it's true, I'll have to teach her a lesson.
If you cause trouble, you'd better be prepared to face the consequences. As Qin Yu pondered this, she caught the faint, sweet fragrance emanating from Ganyu, tinged with the scent of sweat.
That's a familiar scent. The thought sprang unbidden to her mind.
Simultaneously, a long-dormant memory stirred deep within her mind, surfacing as a vague impression. She recalled having smelled this scent before, long ago.
How long ago was that?
Qin Yu was utterly captivated by this sensation—both familiar and alien.
"Okay, I'm fine now... Qin Yu?"
"Wait a moment."
Qin Yu continued to sniff, using the scent as a thread to unravel the memories.
From Ganyu's perspective, Qin Yu looked like some small animal, pressing herself completely against her and burying her face in the hollow of her neck, sniffing intently.
W-What's going on? Ganyu didn't know how to react and could only passively accept the situation.
At the same time, she caught a faint, fresh fragrance emanating from Qin Yu.
Like a Glaze Lily, but even fainter.
As Ganyu pondered this, she wondered why Qin Yu was sniffing her. If she's allowed to smell me, then... can I smell her too?
Once the thought entered her mind, Ganyu couldn't resist it. She hugged Qin Yu tightly, closed her eyes, and savored the moment. The faint, refreshing fragrance brought her comfort and tranquility.
But over time, a different kind of feeling began to stir within her.
Indeed, it's very much like a Glaze Lily.
Coincidentally, Ganyu hadn't eaten anything all day.
The moment she inhaled the vaguely familiar scent, her mind conjured a vivid hallucination of being in a sea of flowers, with countless blossoms offered as sustenance.
She plucked a flower and licked it to savor its flavor.
"Uwaah?!"
Evaluation: SS
Then she gently bit down.
Evaluation: SS+
"Wait, wait, wait!"
The sudden voice snapped Ganyu back to reality. She felt herself being gently pushed away.
Still dazed, she looked up to see Qin Yu clutching her neck, her face flushed crimson. Ganyu froze for a moment before the truth dawned on her.
"Ah, did I just—?" Ganyu stammered, panic rising within her.
Only just realizing now?!
"I'm sorry... I lost myself for a moment..."
Since when does getting carried away mean biting people? Wait, she's a half-adeptus. And before biting, she had... Ah, forget it, whatever. It's best not to dwell on it.
Well, it wasn't intentional anyway.
Perhaps because she had experienced so many strange things, Qin Yu surprisingly didn't react too strongly. But fearing Ganyu might blame herself, she didn't dare put too much distance between them.
"I don't mind," Qin Yu lied through her teeth.
I do mind. Very much. So don't do it again.
Never again.
Ganyu breathed a sigh of relief. If Qin Yu doesn't mind, that's all that matters.
But... if she doesn't mind, does that mean I could do it again sometime? She couldn't help but ponder the possibility before quickly shaking her head.
No, how could I even think that?
Ganyu felt she was acting strangely lately. She longed for Qin Yu to dote on her, yet occasionally wanted to dote on her in return. Previously, she would sometimes yearn to see Qin Yu. After returning to Jueyun Karst, she even more often thought of her.
Earlier, she had not only misunderstood Qin Yu's meaning but even agreed to it.
Could it be that I...?
Before Ganyu could delve deeper into her thoughts, Qin Yu exclaimed, "Ah!" inadvertently interrupting her.
"I think I remember something!"
"Eh? Remember what?"
Having forgotten what just happened, Qin Yu drew closer to Ganyu, studying her intently.
"Indeed, did I also meet you again after giving flowers to you?"
Ganyu's expression stiffened.