Early the next morning, Qin Yu packed her luggage.
She exhaled deeply and smiled at Shenhe beside her. "Alright, all packed. We can go now. Sorry for making you help me."
"It's no trouble at all," Shenhe replied, shaking her head.
Qin Yu slung her heavily stuffed backpack over her shoulder and gazed at the apartment. Stripped of its belongings, it looked brand new, as if no one had ever lived there before. She murmured softly, "Time to leave this place again."
And this time, she would be living with Shenhe in a new apartment.
Amidst her musings, Qin Yu suddenly remembered her other goal: testing Shenhe.
Living together... living side by side while gauging her reaction to my true self... The thought stirred both anticipation and anxiety within her.
Though it was just a test, Qin Yu desperately hoped Shenhe would accept her. Revealing everything at once, however, would inevitably spark conflict.
I need to proceed gradually.
So, it was best to hint at it subtly.
Qin Yu gently tugged on Shenhe's finger, drawing her attention. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "Um, I wanted to explain something to you first."
"Explain?" Shenhe asked.
"Yes. Since we're going to be living together, I thought it'd be best to clarify some things first. You see... my behavior at home and outside might be a little different..." Qin Yu trailed off, glancing at Shenhe's reaction.
Shenhe frowned, confused. "Different? I don't understand. When I stayed over before, you seemed no different than usual."
"That was just a sleepover. It was only temporary. Living together is long-term—we'll be seeing each other every day... O-of course, if there's anything about me you can't accept, you have to tell me straight away."
Wanting to be accepted for her true self was understandable, but that didn't mean stubbornly clinging to her original habits and forcing Shenhe to accept them.
If there were genuine shortcomings, it was better to acknowledge them and make an effort to improve.
That was Qin Yu's thinking.
Shenhe nodded understandingly. "I see."
"Mm."
Good, she gets it.
Before Qin Yu could fully relax, Shenhe asked, "What's different? Can you explain it to me first?"
"Eh? Ah... It's a bit hard to explain. Simply put, sometimes I might not be very polite?"
Qin Yu struggled to articulate. Even she didn't fully understand her current self. She could only offer a vague, generalized description.
"Is that so? I won't mind. There's no need for politeness between family members—Master said so. So, treat me however you like, and I'll do the same to you."
Evaluation: D
We're not family yet! Qin Yu's face flushed. "L-let's start as roommates first."
"Then we can become family later?"
Later? We probably will eventually, but I don't want to say that. Qin Yu looked away, murmuring softly, "Let's talk about that another time."
"Understood. Can we leave now?" Shenhe asked.
"Mm."
Qin Yu cast one last glance at the rental apartment.
She had already informed Keqing about her impending move. Perhaps because Qin Yu could work alongside her or because she remembered their shared past, Keqing showed no signs of displeasure.
As for what to do with the apartment, Keqing hadn't decided yet.
There was no need to rush the decision, and besides, Qin Yu had no interest in it.
Who will live here? What will become of it? She didn't care. This apartment was essentially no different from the previous rentals she had occupied.
Just a place to live.
Even though she had shared it with Shenhe several times, had countless meals here with Hu Tao and Yanfei, and even kissed Keqing within its walls, her feelings for it remained unchanged.
What about the new house I'll be living in?
As she left the rental apartment and made her way to her new home, Qin Yu pondered this question absently.
Even as she unpacked, her thoughts kept returning to it.
For some inexplicable reason, she couldn't shake this idea. She needed to find an answer.
At that moment, Shenhe asked, "Qin Yu, what kind of job do you think would suit me best?"
Huh?
Qin Yu's attention snapped to her immediately.
Shenhe... work. Two seemingly unrelated words had suddenly connected. Qin Yu was deeply surprised and couldn't help but ask:
"Why are you asking me this out of the blue?"
Shenhe glanced around the new house and said frankly, "I really like it here and want to keep living with you. But I believe I should contribute if I'm going to stay."
"Contribute? You mean with money?"
"Mm-hmm."
Qin Yu suddenly understood, never having expected Shenhe to say such a thing.
She smiled. "That's not necessary at all."
She had no expectations of Shenhe; in fact, Shenhe wanting to live with her was already more than enough. And if Shenhe knew her true nature and still wanted to stay, that would be perfect.
Even if it sounded like she was supporting Shenhe financially.
"It's very quiet here," Qin Yu said, continuing to tidy up the house. "You can continue your cultivation just like before. There's no need to force yourself to work."
Qin Yu had assumed Shenhe would naturally accept, but to her surprise, Shenhe shook her head and refused.
"Wealth is immaterial to me, so I'm not particularly familiar with the prices of worldly goods. Even so, I understand that purchasing this place would require a substantial sum of Mora."
"I don't believe I can earn as much Mora as you, but I want to contribute to our daily expenses."
Shenhe continued in her usual detached tone, "Moreover, since we're living together now... I need to become more familiar with human society. I asked Keqing for the best way to do this."
Could it be...?
"'Of course, get a job!'—that's what she said," Shenhe explained. "Work allows you to meet and talk with all sorts of people, which is ideal for understanding their society better."
And you'll also encounter all sorts of demons and monsters, Qin Yu thought uneasily, especially in the service industry.
Shenhe wants to work? Qin Yu asked anxiously, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"We'll only know by trying. But... I'm still unsure what kind of job would be best. Keqing offered to arrange something for me, but I wanted to hear your thoughts before deciding."
Qin Yu fell into deep thought.
If Shenhe truly wanted to work, she couldn't stop her.
Keqing's words weren't without merit; work could keep one from becoming too detached from society.
If Shenhe truly wished to integrate into human society, taking up some work would be a good option.
The problem was, what kind of work would suit her best?
Working with Keqing? Absolutely not. Keqing would show no mercy.
For Shenhe, the most suitable profession would probably be an adventurer. By accepting monster-slaying quests and searching for treasure, she could earn a living.
But what if there were long-term commissions? She might have to leave for extended periods.
The mere thought of this possibility filled Qin Yu with immense resistance.
Wait a minute.
"Sister Ganyu is Shenhe's senior disciple, right?"
Shenhe nodded. "In terms of seniority, yes. Why do you ask?"
"Then I think you should ask Sister Ganyu for advice. She'll probably have some good suggestions and might even arrange some small jobs for you to get started! Try it out first and see how it goes, okay?"
Shenhe hummed thoughtfully, pondering for a moment.
Going to Ganyu did seem like the best option. Ganyu must have faced similar challenges in the past, and Shenhe could seek her guidance.
"Alright, I'll ask her about it later."
Phew, Ganyu's advice is sure to be sound, Qin Yu thought, letting out a sigh of relief.
But on second thought, both these senior and junior sisters eat grass and flowers. Do they ever exchange tips on that? Qin Yu's mind started to wander.
With Shenhe's help, the house was tidied up much faster than expected.
Qin Yu sat on the sofa, lost in thought, her mind and body still adjusting to the new surroundings.
It was so quiet here. In her old rented room, she would hear the sounds of the street and sometimes catch a pleasant aroma. But here, only birdsong and the rustle of wind broke the silence.
Gazing at her familiar belongings arranged in this unfamiliar layout, Qin Yu finally realized: I've really moved out.
Shenhe descended the stairs and, noticing Qin Yu sitting with her knees drawn to her chest, sat beside her.
"Are you tired?" she asked with concern.
"Not at all! Shouldn't you be tired after walking so far, Shenhe?"
Shenhe shook her head.
"I see," Qin Yu replied casually.
A moment of silence settled between them.
Shenhe watched Qin Yu's profile as she gazed out the window, wondering what she was thinking. Is she feeling unsettled after leaving her familiar surroundings?
Just then, Qin Yu murmured, "So... this is where we'll be living now."
"Anxiety?" Shenhe asked gently.
Evaluation: C-
Sensing Shenhe's concern, Qin Yu smiled faintly. "It's not exactly anxiety."
"Is that so? I'm actually quite happy about it."
Of course you are, you're the one who wanted us to live together in the first place, Qin Yu thought wryly. But she felt deeply reassured by Shenhe's feelings.
As long as Shenhe is happy, my own anxieties will fade away too.
"If I could tell my past self, 'You'll be living with someone someday,' I doubt my former self would believe it," Shenhe murmured.
"Me neither."
If I told my past self: "You'll be living with a woman who's always pushing her luck!" my past self would probably scoff: "Ha! As if I'd ever fall in love with a woman. That's impossible."
As Qin Yu once again marveled at life's unpredictability, Shenhe continued, "Just as I couldn't imagine the future then, I still can't now."
When Qin Yu looked at her, Shenhe pressed her forehead against Qin Yu's.
Their eyes locked, their faces nearly touching. Shenhe whispered softly:
"But with you here, it'll be alright—that's what I believe. I'll always stay by your side, and I hope you feel the same way."
Evaluation: C+
Who thinks like that? We're just roommates now. Don't push your luck.
Qin Yu's chest warmed, her heart pounding wildly. "Mm..." she managed to reply.
Will I have to hear Shenhe say things like this every day? Qin Yu thought, feeling increasingly embarrassed.
I really wish the Red String restrained Shenhe a little more, so she could understand what she's actually saying.
"And..."
More?
Shenhe closed her eyes, letting her feelings flow freely: "Living in this house with you makes me very happy."
Evaluation: B+
Home. Qin Yu's eyes widened slightly, her mind and words going blank.
Every place she had ever lived before, without exception, had been merely a residence, not a home.
Except for the place she shared with her Teacher.
Hearing that word from Shenhe's lips left Qin Yu speechless.
This house is already home to Shenhe. But what about me? Qin Yu wondered. Before she could dwell on it further, a thought surged through her mind and seized her consciousness.
If that's the case, then there's nothing I could want more.
Realizing her true feelings, Qin Yu closed her eyes to maintain composure.
"Shenhe, I'm so glad you feel that way. It makes me happy too."
Evaluation: A
"But... I'm sorry," Qin Yu whispered.
Shenhe's heart clenched, her eyes snapping open. "Why are you apologizing?"
"Shenhe and I don't think alike. For me, this place isn't yet home. Of course, I want to keep living here with you, but I can't feel about it the way you do."
Qin Yu couldn't yet feel about this place the way Shenhe did. To her, this house wasn't quite home yet.
"Still, if it could truly become one, that wouldn't be bad," Qin Yu murmured, opening her eyes and smiling.
Evaluation: S+
Shenhe nodded in agreement, relieved. "So you feel that way too... Yes, if it could become home, that would be wonderful."
Just like that.
Qin Yu knew she couldn't accept it all at once, couldn't immediately embrace this place as her home like Shenhe had.
But from now on, they would live together, see each other daily, talk, share meals... The unchanging routine of their lives would be disrupted by Shenhe's unpredictable presence.
Perhaps one day, she would feel it too.
This was a place that might become her home.
But was it a good thing to grow so accustomed to Shenhe's presence? Qin Yu couldn't help but ponder this. Once you grow too used to someone's life, what if that connection were severed?
Before these negative thoughts could spiral further, Qin Yu felt a weight settle on her shoulder, the familiar scent of Shenhe brushing past her nose.
Shenhe had inexplicably leaned her head against Qin Yu's shoulder.
Evaluation: SS
Qin Yu grew flustered. "Shenhe? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No."
"Then why... Ah, never mind. You don't need to answer."
Was there really any point in asking? Or in overthinking everything?
Hmm, whatever.
As long as Shenhe's slightly pointed headdress wasn't here, everything would be fine.