"Please deliver this document to Lady Ningguang."
"Certainly."
Qin Yu accepted the file from the Yuehai Pavilion Secretary, glancing over it briefly—it was a document regarding preparations for the Lantern Rite.
After handing it to Ningguang, the Tianquan Ningguang smiled faintly. "Speaking of which, the year is finally drawing to a close."
Qin Yu sighed in agreement. "Indeed."
Ever since her Teacher passed away, she had spent every Lantern Rite alone.
The Lantern Rite isn't just a festival to commemorate past heroes and legends; it's also a time to bid farewell to the old year, welcome the new, and gather with loved ones to celebrate the start of a fresh year.
But the key is having loved ones.
In the past, the Lantern Rite had been neither particularly significant nor entirely meaningless to her—just a little more special than an ordinary day, nothing extraordinary.
But now things were different. This Lantern Rite would be her first where she wouldn't be alone!
Qin Yu's heart swelled with joy and anticipation at the thought.
"Looking back, so much has happened this year," Ningguang sighed, setting down her documents.
"But no matter what, everything comes to an end eventually," Qin Yu replied with a nod.
Ningguang smiled gently. "Indeed. If I had to name the greatest treasure I've gained this year, it would be you."
Evaluation: D
Qin Yu's heart raced, her cheeks flushing. "Why bring that up so suddenly?"
"Just stating the truth."
It's not about truth or falsehood... Never mind. Qin Yu knew she needed to express herself. Though reluctant to speak, she voiced her heartfelt feelings:
"Me too."
Ningguang purred with satisfaction. "No actions to accompany those words?"
"Pushing your luck."
Yet Qin Yu still indulged Ningguang's whim, leaning in to give her a light kiss.
Evaluation: C-
Qin Yu had expected Ningguang to retaliate in some way, but the kiss had been too sudden. When Ningguang regained her composure, her cheeks flushed crimson, and she shyly averted her gaze.
"That was so sudden," Ningguang murmured.
Qin Yu stroked Ningguang's lips with her thumb. "Isn't this what you wanted? And now you're calling me sudden..."
"I was just a little surprised," Ningguang replied, her own warmth transferring to Qin Yu's fingertips.
This natural intimacy suited Ningguang perfectly.
She longed to savor the sweetness of passionate romance, to feel Qin Yu's romantic affection for her, to fall deeper into love, and to have Qin Yu love her even more.
The more intimate their interactions became, the more fulfilled she felt.
Ningguang couldn't help but feel embarrassed by these girlish thoughts, yet she was increasingly aware of how deeply she had fallen, unable to extricate herself.
"When will I be able to touch you more intimately?"
Evaluation: C+
She's thinking about that again.
Qin Yu retorted, "Stop thinking about such things! How can the mighty Tianquan Ningguang... keep obsessing over that?"
"Before you, I'm merely someone who longs to be touched and kissed by you, regardless of age or status," Ningguang confessed softly.
Evaluation: B
Qin Yu's heart raced even faster, a surge of heat spreading through her entire body with each beat.
Ningguang was so determined to cross that line, Qin Yu knew she wouldn't be able to resist for long. Perhaps... perhaps what?!
Qin Yu was dazed by Ningguang's sweet words, but she managed to regain her composure just in time, suppressing her thoughts before they strayed too far off course.
"Not yet," Qin Yu stammered.
Undeterred, Ningguang replied, "I understand. But what if I don't touch you at all? What if I let you touch me instead?"
"What do you mean...?"
Ningguang took Qin Yu's hand and placed it on her thigh. As Qin Yu's mind instantly became a chaotic whirlwind of hesitation, Ningguang leaned in close and whispered in her ear:
"I'll give you complete control. How does that sound?"
Evaluation: A-
Complete control... Qin Yu was tempted, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Ningguang might suddenly switch tactics.
No, no, not yet. It's only been a few days!
Qin Yu shook her head. "Not yet."
"Qin Yu," Ningguang murmured, her brow furrowing slightly, her tone almost pleading.
"Don't act like that over something like this. Just bear with it."
Ningguang sighed. "Then I'll abide by your wishes."
Though Qin Yu felt a pang of sympathy, she knew they both needed to be properly prepared for this.
After all, it was uncharted territory for her. Faced with the unknown, she couldn't shake a primal sense of unease.
Seeing Ningguang choose to step back, Qin Yu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
But then Ningguang added, "I'll do my best to restrain myself, but—if I can't hold back any longer, who knows what I might do? Is that acceptable?"
Evaluation: A+
What kind of disclaimer is that?!
Qin Yu hurriedly retorted, "Of course not! You're older than me—how can you not even restrain yourself?!"
"Because the object of my restraint is you, Qin Yu."
"I-is that so..."
A little pleased.
Evaluation: S
Qin Yu quickly snapped back to reality. "No, wait. Let's just put that aside for now. Don't think about it anymore. Let's get to work quickly!"
Having teased her enough and feeling satisfied, Ningguang smiled faintly. "Indeed."
She picked up her pen.
"But I wasn't lying about any of that. Having you this year has been my greatest reward. Whether I'll feel that way for the rest of my life... that depends on your performance."
Qin Yu twisted a strand of her hair. "I'll do my best."
Ningguang smiled contentedly.
"Oh, just a casual question—do you have any New Year's wishes? It's still early for the Lantern Rite, but I'm curious," Ningguang asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
New Year's wishes?
Money... no worries there;
Home... already have one, and it's perfect;
Friends... she had them, though some had changed.
Lovers... she hadn't been interested at first, but she had them now.
Thinking it over casually, Qin Yu was surprised to realize—she didn't seem to need anything else.
From starting with nothing but her face to now lacking nothing, Qin Yu couldn't help but marvel at how much everything about her and around her had changed.
And all for the better.
A New Year's wish to "keep my relationships with Shenhe and the others lasting forever, never to be separated"?
No, no, no. That's something I have to work for myself, something I absolutely must achieve.
I should choose something more appropriate.
"Ah..."
Qin Yu thought of one.
"You seem to have thought of something. What is it?" Ningguang asked.
Qin Yu said awkwardly, "I can't say."
"Hmm? You can't say?"
That's right, she couldn't say.
Shenhe, Ningguang, Keqing, and Hu Tao all wanted to do those things to her, so Qin Yu's New Year's wish was:
I hope these Liyue women won't keep toying with me.
And there was no way she could ever voice that wish aloud.
Fortunately, Yanfei and Ganyu weren't like the others; they wouldn't want to do those things.
Could it be because they're both half-adepti?
Qin Yu couldn't help but let her mind wander into fanciful thoughts.
In the end, Ningguang never managed to ask Qin Yu what her New Year's wish was.
But there was no need to press further. She knew exactly what kind of person Qin Yu was.
Qin Yu's New Year's wish would undoubtedly be something like "to stay with them forever," or something along those lines.
Ningguang suddenly recalled something.
There were seven people who had rushed to rescue Qin Yu: herself, Keqing, Shenhe, Ganyu, Hu Tao, Yanfei, and Yelan.
Yelan had been brought along by Ningguang, and her bond with Qin Yu wasn't particularly deep.
Meanwhile, Ningguang, Keqing, Shenhe, and Ganyu were all in love with Qin Yu.
Ningguang mused: What about Hu Tao and Yanfei? Do they... feel the same way as I do?
If that's true...
Ningguang pondered for a moment before murmuring, "So be it."
They had all accepted Qin Yu's choice, and there was no room for regret now. If Hu Tao and Yanfei shared their feelings, so be it.
But this was limited to the six of them, including Ningguang herself.
If any additional people were added to the mix, even Ningguang, in her current state, would not accept it. She would be utterly disillusioned with Qin Yu.
Yet Ningguang was certain that Qin Yu would never do such a thing.
Qin Yu wanted to "stay with them forever," caring only for those who had truly entered her heart.
But now that she was moving forward, she no longer needed anyone else to enter her heart.
Simply put: the seats were full.
For the time being, Qin Yu seemed to have not crossed that line with anyone yet.
Then I must be the first, Ningguang thought, a hint of shyness creeping in as she wondered what it would feel like to do that with Qin Yu... No, best not to think about that for now.
Meanwhile, Yanfei, sitting in her office chair, pondered the matter again and again before finally reaching a decision.
"Alright... I'm going to confess to Qin Yu!" Yanfei declared, slamming her hand on the desk and rising with determined conviction.
Then she sat back down.
"First, I need to prepare..."