"Have you resolved things with Ningguang and Keqing?"
Shenhe suddenly asked this question during their casual conversation before falling asleep.
As one of the involved parties, it was natural for Shenhe to be concerned about the aftermath.
Qin Yu nodded, cradling her White Cat plush. "Mm, it's settled. Though... my feelings are a bit complicated."
"Do you regret it?" Shenhe pressed.
"No, I don't regret it. If I were going to regret it, I wouldn't have done it in the first place."
Besides, regretting it now would just be pathetic, Qin Yu added silently.
"My desire to stay with you all forever isn't a lie," Qin Yu said, twirling a strand of hair. "So, I'll work hard to make it happen."
Evaluation: D
Shenhe asked curiously, "Work hard? Work hard at what?"
"You know, working hard to make sure you're not disappointed or regretful, working hard to maintain our relationships... things like that," Qin Yu mumbled, embarrassed.
Shenhe nodded understandingly. "I see. But for me, you don't need to try so hard. You just need to—"
"You were going to say, 'You just need to stay by my side,' right? I've heard that so many times. You don't even need to say it; I'll do it anyway," Qin Yu said, her cheeks flushing.
"Mm."
Evaluation: C-
It probably didn't matter to Shenhe, but this wasn't just about her—it also concerned Ningguang and the others.
Even if Shenhe claimed it didn't matter, Qin Yu still wanted to try harder for their sake.
Because that would make them love me even more... Qin Yu thought. For now, having Shenhe and the others was enough, but she greedily wanted more.
She wanted them to like her even more, to deepen their bond.
Just as Shenhe's longing for her seemed like a bottomless pit, Qin Yu's desire for them was boundless.
But only emotionally, she reminded herself, sighing.
"What's wrong? Is there something troubling you?" Shenhe asked, concerned.
"It's not exactly... troubling."
Calling it a "trouble" felt too simple.
But it did leave Qin Yu feeling at a loss.
Ningguang and Keqing both wanted to cross that line with her.
Just imagining it made Qin Yu's body flush and her mind race. It wasn't that she disliked the idea, but... she couldn't quite articulate it. She buried her face in a plushie, flustered.
"You can tell me," Shenhe said. "I can help you share the burden."
This burden can't be shared!
Still, it might be wise to ask Shenhe's thoughts.
Though Shenhe and I aren't exactly lovers, she's said things like "Love can't accurately express my feelings" and...
Would she want that too?
If she does, what then? I live with Shenhe every day...
After spiraling into anxious thoughts, Qin Yu tentatively asked, "By the way, Shenhe, let me ask you something."
"Mm-hmm."
"Do you want to... do... something more...?"
"More?"
Qin Yu's face flushed crimson as she finally managed to blurt out, "More... intimate acts?"
Evaluation: C+
More intimate acts? If she meant acts, then it must be something beyond kissing. Shenhe's mind struggled to fully grasp what Qin Yu was referring to.
But if it meant going just a little further... then she wanted it.
"Yes," Shenhe replied.
Evaluation: B
Bang! Qin Yu's mind went completely blank.
Waaah, she actually wants it!
How could this be? What should I do? Qin Yu's mind was in utter chaos.
If Shenhe pinned her down on the bed, she knew she couldn't possibly match her strength.
Though, before that happened, the bed would probably collapse first.
Still, Shenhe would surely be gentle. No matter what, she wouldn't make me uncomfortable.
Wait, what am I even thinking? But Shenhe had said she wanted it, and not just her—Keqing and Ningguang wanted it too. The more Qin Yu thought about it, the more she felt utterly lost.
I need to warn them first!
"Y-yes, that's... I can't quite accept it yet. Not that I don't accept you, Shenhe. It's more like I'm not mentally prepared or something..."
Fragmented words tumbled from Qin Yu's lips. Finally, she blurted out, "So, give me some time!"
Shenhe didn't quite understand. Did something like this require preparation?
But Qin Yu didn't seem to be resisting. She wasn't resisting the idea of taking things further with her. That alone was enough to make joy blossom in Shenhe's heart.
"Mm, I'll wait," Shenhe murmured softly.
Qin Yu let out a sigh of relief.
If Shenhe said she'd wait, everything would be fine.
If it were Ningguang, though, I wouldn't trust her.
Because she's a lecherous woman.
"Shall we sleep?"
"Okay."
Even without explicitly asking Shenhe to sleep together tonight, they would still end up sharing the same bed, as if it had become a habit.
Sometimes they would sleep in Qin Yu's bedroom, other times in Shenhe's.
Qin Yu had grown accustomed to having Shenhe by her side as she fell asleep.
Thinking this, Qin Yu glanced at Shenhe, who had turned off the lights and lay back down beside her.
The bedroom lights remained dimmed throughout the night, no longer flickering on and off. Whether her eyes were open or closed, Shenhe's familiar presence enveloped her.
This is wonderful.
But blindly accepting things as they were wouldn't do.
Shenhe had said she wanted "a relationship beyond all relationships." Qin Yu believed that achieving this required her own initiative.
Still, she didn't need to force anything. Just act on her feelings and do what she wanted to do for Shenhe. That's what Ningguang had advised.
"Shenhe."
"Hmm?"
Qin Yu leaned in and gently kissed Shenhe, whispering, "This is a goodnight kiss... goodnight."
Evaluation: A-
A goodnight kiss... Shenhe felt an overwhelming sense of happiness and contentment. She returned Qin Yu's gaze with soft eyes and replied, "Mm, goodnight."
Hearing Shenhe's response, Qin Yu thought, That felt pretty good.
Being more proactive in the future might not be impossible after all. But a fleeting thought means little—she still needed to put it to the test.
There was no need to rush, though.
After all, the most pressing issue had already been resolved, the curtain had fallen. What awaited her now was the mundane routine of daily life, and time was plentiful.
Yes, utterly mundane...
"Hey, Fishy Treasure," Hu Tao asked with a mischievous grin, squirming slightly, "if I wanted to do that kind of thing with you in bed... what would you think? Would you say yes?"
What part of this is mundane?