Ever since Qin Yu kissed her, Yanfei found it hard to stay calm whenever they were together. Deep down, she felt a confusing, inexplicable sensation.
Even at night, she struggled to fall asleep, tossing and turning, her mind replaying the kiss endlessly.
Could it be... that I've fallen for Qin Yu?
The moment that thought unexpectedly crossed her mind, a feeling blossomed in her heart, making her body flush with a mix of shyness and overwhelming joy.
This confirmed her conviction: she had truly fallen for Qin Yu.
She never imagined she would one day find her life partner, let alone a woman!
But it didn't matter. As long as they could be together and live happily, whether it was a man or a woman was irrelevant.
Yanfei paused to ponder further.
Does Qin Yu feel the same way about me?
After all, she had kissed me directly last time... While she couldn't deny the possibility of a simple misunderstanding, even if it was a misunderstanding, Qin Yu's actions showed considerable affection.
If that were the case, her chances of a successful confession should be high.
But should I really confess? Or should I wait a little longer, see how things develop first? Yanfei wrestled with her thoughts, unable to reach a decision.
And so, she had procrastinated until today, when she finally resolved to confess.
This was Yanfei's first time facing such a situation. Overwhelmed by nervousness, she spent every spare moment frantically flipping through relevant books, hoping to glean some insight from their pages.
[Step-by-Step Guide to Closing the Distance Between Same-Sex Individuals: Volume 6!]
Yanfei had heard from a friend that this book was mostly fluff—99% useless filler and only 1% useful information.
But as the saying goes, "Desperate times call for desperate measures." Having absolutely no experience in romance, Yanfei felt compelled to read it cover to cover in order to be fully prepared.
As expected, the book was overwhelmingly filled with useless filler.
Moreover, it seemed this series was about to end.
"No matter how long they drag it out, it'll have to end eventually," Yanfei sighed, closing the book and setting it aside.
Alright, time to organize my thoughts!
"First, I need to ask Qin Yu out. I should hint that today will be different from our usual outings. I should probably dress up a bit too."
"Then, while we're on the date, I'll gauge her reactions—holding hands, linking arms, things like that..."
"If things go well, I'll confess when the moment feels right. Should I prepare a gift? If so, what kind? And how exactly should I confess? What if she rejects me...?"
The more Yanfei pondered, the more her head ached.
But it's impossible to plan for every eventuality. For now, I'll just take things one step at a time, she finally decided.
First, she needed to invite Qin Yu out.
To do this, she specifically went to Yuehai Pavilion and found Qin Yu.
"Qin Yu, wanna hang out on your day off?" Yanfei asked, forcing a smile while suppressing her nervousness.
"Hmm? Sure! I'd love to bring Shenhe and Hu Tao along too. Oh, and if Sister Ganyu's free—"
Ganyu was about to reply when Yanfei hastily interrupted, "J-just the two of us!"
As soon as the words left her lips, she regretted them.
Qin Yu looked genuinely puzzled. "Just the two of us? Is there something you want to talk about?"
Oh no, this is bad! Yanfei thought, inwardly panicking. Emphasizing their being alone had naturally raised suspicion, and it wasn't fair to Ganyu and the others.
Going out as a group would be fun, but it wouldn't count as a date!
And she wouldn't be able to confess her feelings as planned.
So, gritting her teeth, Yanfei forced herself to continue, "S-sort of... I mean, uh... how do I put this..."
Yanfei was mortified, unsure how to explain.
Yanfei's stammering only deepened Qin Yu's confusion, and a vague suspicion began to form in her mind.
Could Yanfei be trying to spend time alone with me? But if that's the case, why not just say so directly? Why all the stammering? Or could it be...?
Before Qin Yu could finish her thought, Ganyu spoke up from beside them.
"You two go ahead. I still have work to do on my day off. I need to work overtime, and... there are some other matters I need to attend to as well."
Ganyu paused, then added, "Ah, I'd like Shenhe to join me later. Could you let her know and ask what she thinks? It won't take long, I promise."
As long as it doesn't take long, that's fine.
Qin Yu nodded. "Understood."
Ganyu's request had certainly come out of the blue.
Ganyu smiled. "Thank you."
She stole a glance at Yanfei.
Ganyu could guess the reason Yanfei wanted to be alone with Qin Yu.
After all, I feel the same way... Ganyu murmured to herself.
At that time, seven people had rushed to Qin Yu's aid without hesitation.
Apart from Yelan, whom Ningguang had brought along, all the others harbored feelings for Qin Yu that went beyond friendship.
Ganyu wasn't surprised by this development.
Since Qin Yu's wish was to maintain her relationships with them all, Ganyu felt compelled to offer her assistance.
However, she could only help to this extent for now.
With just a few words from Ganyu, the situation had taken a dramatic turn. Yanfei blinked, unsure whether this was a coincidence or Ganyu's deliberate intention.
Regardless, she was immensely grateful to Ganyu.
"Thank you, Senior Ganyu! I won't forget this kindness!" This isn't the right time to express my thanks outwardly, Yanfei thought, her heart brimming with joy. I'll find an opportunity and an excuse to return the favor later.
At that moment, Qin Yu leaned closer to Yanfei and whispered in her ear, "Yanfei, do you want to go out with me alone?"
Yanfei's face flushed hot, her heart racing. She tried to hide her fluster, replying, "Mhm, it's been so long since we last went out just the two of us."
"Has it really been that long? Didn't we just last week—"
"Is that so? Maybe I misremembered. But I really do want to go out and have some fun with you! Of course, there's no ulterior motive!" Yanfei said nervously.
Wouldn't emphasizing that only make people think there is an ulterior motive?
Qin Yu's mind raced, utterly flustered. Could it be that Yanfei also wants...? If that were true, she would likely react the same way Ningguang and Keqing did—with resistance and disbelief.
What should I do then?
"Is that... a no?" Yanfei asked again.
There's no choice but to accept.
There will be a way, probably.
Qin Yu replied, "I'm free. Let's go have fun together."
Evaluation: D (Yanfei)
Relieved by Qin Yu's affirmative answer, Yanfei let out a deep sigh of relief.
Good! The first step is complete! That was a close call, but the real challenge lies ahead.
With that thought, Yanfei arranged the time and meeting place with Qin Yu and immediately hurried back to prepare.
What should I do? I can't always rely on Ganyu and Shenhe. After all, it's up to me to maintain this relationship. Qin Yu couldn't help but sink into deep contemplation.
Even on the day of the date, she couldn't come up with a good plan.
Love, huh...? Qin Yu thought with a sigh as she put on her newly purchased outfit. After a quick touch-up, she headed to meet her date.
"Well, I guess I'll just have to see how it goes," Qin Yu muttered.
Meanwhile, her figure caught the attention of a pair of watchful eyes.
Hu Tao stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Is Fishy Treasure going to meet someone? She's dressed so nicely."
After a moment's contemplation, she declared, "I'll follow her and find out!" Without hesitation, she stealthily trailed after Qin Yu.