Before Qin Yu even reached the meeting spot, she spotted Yanfei's silhouette in the distance.
"Have you been waiting long?" Qin Yu asked as she approached.
Yanfei, still lost in thought, snapped out of her reverie at the sound of Qin Yu's voice.
"No, no, I just got here myself," Yanfei replied.
In truth, she had arrived half an hour early, convinced Qin Yu would arrive first.
I'm the one who suggested this date, after all. I can't be late! Yanfei nodded to herself.
"Really?" Qin Yu remained skeptical.
"Really!"
"I see..."
Well, it doesn't really matter anyway, Qin Yu thought.
As she pondered this, she noticed Yanfei's gaze lingering on her, carrying a hint of wanting to be praised. She lifted her long dress slightly.
"What do you think? This is a new outfit I recently bought, imported from Fontaine."
Yanfei genuinely exclaimed, "It suits you perfectly! Though I thought you'd wear something even more extravagant, considering your usual attire is already practically formal wear. Of course, I think you look wonderful no matter what you wear!"
"Beautiful people can make anything look good. Ah, I... I didn't mean anything by that, it's just a simple observation," Yanfei stammered hastily.
Evaluation: D
Qin Yu fiddled with her bangs, feeling slightly embarrassed.
If Ningguang hadn't insisted I wear this, I never would have, she thought.
"I usually dress that way because it's practically my uniform. I still prefer simple, comfortable styles like this."
Yanfei nodded in deep agreement. "Me too! I love lightweight clothing."
Qin Yu glanced at Yanfei's outfit and thought, That much is obvious.
Enough pleasantries, Qin Yu thought, naturally taking Yanfei's hand.
"Alright, where shall we go first?"
Yanfei's cheeks flushed slightly. Qin Yu had taken her hand before she could even react!
Her mind raced.
Could it be...? Ah, no. After all, we've known each other for so long, we're both women, and we've been close friends for a while now. Holding hands isn't that strange.
But I was planning to build the atmosphere first before holding her hand, Yanfei sighed inwardly.
Her meticulously planned strategy had already gone awry at the very beginning. Could this be a bad omen? Yanfei shook her head slightly, dismissing the thought as overreaction.
Don't overthink it.
"Yanfei?" Qin Yu asked, noticing Yanfei's delayed response.
"Hmm?"
"Where should we go?"
"Ah, let's wander around over there for a bit first!"
If only this were just a casual outing, Qin Yu thought, sensing an atmosphere different from usual as she nodded in agreement.
Yanfei mentally reviewed her plan.
Step one: complete. Step two: holding hands... failed. But I can try linking arms instead!
Having made up her mind, Yanfei casually linked her arm through Qin Yu's after they'd strolled around for a while, secretly observing Qin Yu's reaction.
Evaluation: C-
Qin Yu blushed. "Yanfei..."
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Yanfei replied casually, trying to maintain her composure.
"You're touching my stomach," Qin Yu teased.
Yanfei jumped back, immediately letting go.
But as soon as she let go, regret washed over her. Why did I let go? Now it'll be even stranger to try holding her hand again!
Dating is so hard... Yanfei sighed inwardly.
I feel like I'm not even being myself anymore.
But with no experience to draw on, following the standard playbook seemed like the safest bet. Yanfei nodded to herself, convinced that a cautious approach was best.
Then, in the next moment, Qin Yu wrapped her arm around Yanfei's.
Evaluation: C+
"Whoa!?" Yanfei jumped, her thoughts spiraling into chaos.
H-how did she suddenly grab my arm?
"Yanfei, you're so easily startled today," Qin Yu remarked.
"Am I?"
"Yeah. I don't think there's any need for all this. Just be yourself, like you usually are," Qin Yu said.
Yanfei scratched her cheek and admitted, "Alright, I guess I'm being a bit too dramatic. Maybe it's just nerves. As for why I'm nervous..."
Now's the time to say something flattering.
Should I say Qin Yu looks beautiful? Would that be too obvious? But an implied compliment only matters if the other person notices it.
Thinking quickly, Yanfei began, "It's because..."
But it's so hard to say!
Qin Yu interrupted, "No need to be nervous. And you don't have to try so hard to say or do anything special. This hesitant, stuttering act doesn't suit you at all."
"...I think you're wonderful just as you are," she added.
Evaluation: B
Yanfei's thoughts raced!
Was I really fine just being myself? She's comparing my current self to my usual self. For her to say that, it means she's been paying attention to me all along. And if she's been paying attention to me, that means she has feelings for me! So she does like me...
"I like you too!"
Evaluation: A-
"Huh?"
Another nonsensical reply.
Did Yanfei mean she likes her usual self too?
"Then don't act so weird," Qin Yu said helplessly.
Does Qin Yu want me to go back to my usual self?
"I understand. I'm sorry for making you worry. I just wanted today to be... more interesting! Yeah, I tried too hard to make it more interesting, and ended up forcing myself. Guess I'm not suited for this. Being myself is best," Yanfei said, launching into her usual lengthy explanation.
That's more like it.
Qin Yu finally relaxed a little. "Yeah, there's no need to make things overly special."
Staying as usual is best after all.
But Yanfei was still human, and human relationships were never something she could control alone. Since Yanfei wanted their relationship to evolve, Qin Yu could only adapt and respond.
Feeling much more at ease, Yanfei smiled. "You're right. But now I feel like my plan failed."
"A plan?"
"Eh? Ah—nothing, nothing! Forget about that, let's go check out the next shop!" Yanfei's face flushed, and she quickly pointed toward the next store.
Qin Yu could only nod. "Okay."
With Yanfei relaxing, Qin Yu also felt more at ease. They spent a long time exploring the shops in Liyue Harbor's bustling streets and narrow alleys before finally deciding to take a break.
Yanfei stretched languidly on a seaside bench. "Phew, that was so much fun! I've been swamped with work lately, running myself ragged. I don't mind it, but even I get tired sometimes. Today was the perfect way to finally unwind. What about you, Qin Yu?"
"Me too," Qin Yu replied.
"That's good."
A comfortable silence settled between them.
Yanfei felt the moment was perfect. They'd both had a great time earlier, and confessing now seemed like the right thing to do.
Alright! she mentally cheered herself on, leaning closer to Qin Yu.
"Qin Yu, I... I have something I want to tell you."
Qin Yu, feeling uneasy, responded somewhat stiffly, "Ah-huh, go ahead."
Yanfei, mistaking Qin Yu's nervousness for something else, didn't pay much attention to her reaction. Instead, she took a deep breath.
"I like you!"
Evaluation: A+
The emotion-laden words pierced Qin Yu's ears and resonated deep within her heart.
Her face flushed, her heart racing uncontrollably.
Beyond this instinctive reaction lay confusion and unease. Qin Yu knew she had to accept this, that she must accept it.
But what would come after?
Secrets couldn't stay buried forever; the truth would eventually surface, just as it had with Keqing and Ningguang.
How would Yanfei react once she learned Qin Yu had accepted their confessions?
...Never mind. I'll deal with that when the time comes. No matter what, she couldn't bear to part with Yanfei or any of the others.
Since they had already entered her heart and claimed every corner of her world, she couldn't bear the thought of separating from any of them.
So, if Yanfei truly felt it was wrong and chose to leave, Qin Yu wouldn't simply accept it. She would chase after her with every fiber of her being.
Relationships mattered more than status.
If they wanted her as a friend, she would be a friend; if they wanted her as a lover, she would be a lover... As long as they didn't leave her, she would do anything they asked.
Qin Yu turned to Yanfei, her lips parting slightly.
"I—"
"I like you too!"
The sudden interruption startled both of them.
Hu Tao had materialized behind them, throwing her arms around Qin Yu and Yanfei's shoulders. Lowering her head, she grinned mischievously and declared:
"You like Fishy Treasure, and so do I! We're exactly the same! From now on, we're sisters!"
Yanfei blinked repeatedly, snapping out of her daze.
Then, she gasped in shock, "Ah?! You... you like Qin Yu too?!"