As soon as Ganyu entered the office, she noticed Yaoyao sitting on Qin Yu's lap, chatting animatedly.
"Yaoyao, what are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.
"Ah, welcome back, Sister Ganyu! I came back to continue my training with Master after spending time with my parents. Since I was passing by, I thought I'd drop in to see you and brought some of your favorite flowers and herbs!"
Yaoyao rummaged through her bamboo basket and pulled out Sweet Flowers and Qingxin, handing them to Ganyu.
Ganyu hesitated to accept. It wasn't that she wasn't pleased, but rather that she was trying to maintain her figure and couldn't indulge too much.
Yet she couldn't bring herself to reject Yaoyao's kindness and accepted the gifts, patting the girl's head.
"Thank you, Yaoyao. You don't always need to bring gifts..."
Yaoyao insisted earnestly, "Of course I do! Sister Ganyu, you sometimes skip meals. How can you stay healthy if you don't eat properly?"
Ganyu blushed awkwardly. "I-I'm a half-adeptus. It's not a problem if I skip a meal now and then."
"No way! Sister Ganyu, you've gotten so thin!"
"Really?" Ganyu's eyes lit up, surprised and delighted.
Watching the harmonious interaction between Ganyu and Yaoyao, Qin Yu's long-suppressed, subtle emotions resurfaced.
I was here first.
Irritated, she deliberately interrupted their conversation, trying to steal their attention:
"I don't think anything's changed."
"Eh? Really? Nothing's changed..." Ganyu said, sounding disappointed.
Qin Yu stepped closer to Ganyu, gently touched her cheek, and smiled. "Yep, still soft and squishy—feels just as good as ever!"
Evaluation: D
Ganyu's face flushed crimson at Qin Yu's sudden touch, her embarrassment compounded by her concern over Qin Yu's words.
"Soft and squishy... How could that be? I've been so careful with my diet..." Ganyu muttered, vexed.
Touching Ganyu's familiar warmth and softness calmed Qin Yu slightly.
She glanced sideways at Yaoyao, feeling a pang of shame and awkwardness. Why did I do that? It's like I'm competing with a child. I'm not even a kid anymore.
Yaoyao, however, smiled. "You two are so close!"
"I-is that so?" Ganyu's face flushed even deeper.
"Yeah! That's wonderful, Sister Ganyu. I used to think you seemed a bit lonely, like you needed a good friend, just like me and Qiqi."
You two are nothing alike, Ganyu thought to herself.
She knew her own feelings better than anyone else. Her affection for Qin Yu wasn't mere friendship; it was something far deeper.
But for now, she could only admit, "Yes, Qin Yu is very important to me. With her by my side, these past hundred years haven't been lonely at all."
Evaluation: C-
That's right, I'm all she needs! Qin Yu thought, a surge of joy washing over her as she nodded to herself.
No, no, I've told myself before, there's no need to compete with a child.
"Oh, I see! Hehe, it feels so nice seeing you two sisters getting along so well. I'm so happy too!" Yaoyao said with a pure, innocent smile.
Qin Yu turned her face away, suddenly feeling deeply ashamed.
"Qin Yu? What's wrong?" Ganyu noticed her reaction and asked, her expression puzzled.
"Nothing."
I just feel a little inadequate. As an adult, my pettiness is so glaring. Meanwhile, Yaoyao... Qin Yu's ears burned, and she nearly covered her eyes with her hands.
Yet this only deepened her affection for Yaoyao.
To think there's a child like this in the world. Qin Yu marveled inwardly as she scooped Yaoyao into her arms, playfully poking her cheek with a smile.
"I want to be good friends with you too, Yaoyao!"
Yaoyao beamed brightly. "Of course! Sister Qin Yu is so strong and kind! I really... uh, admire you! Yes, that's the word! And I like you a lot too!"
"Such a sweet talker!" Qin Yu said, her spirits lifting.
Ganyu watched from the side, her expression warm and content.
The heartwarming scene filled her with joy, but after a while, a tightness began to form in her chest.
Could I be... jealous?
Ganyu suddenly realized with a start—could she really be jealous over this?
Yaoyao is just a child.
Seeing Qin Yu twirling Yaoyao in her arms, Ganyu couldn't help but blurt out, "Um..."
"Hmm?" Qin Yu responded.
"N-never mind."
I want Qin Yu to hold me too.
But such words could only be whispered in private. With Yaoyao present, not a single syllable would escape her lips. Ganyu sighed inwardly.
Sensing something was off, Qin Yu decided to tease Ganyu, asking with a smile, "Does Sister Ganyu want a hug too?"
Evaluation: C+
She saw through me... Ganyu blushed even harder, unsure how to respond. Her awkwardness and silence only confirmed her feelings indirectly.
Eh? She really wants a hug?
Qin Yu's heart began to race.
But they weren't alone. Hugging now might be a bit...
Wait, no. There's nothing wrong with it. They're both women. Hesitating and acting coy would be weirder and might lead to misunderstandings.
So Qin Yu set Yaoyao down and opened her arms.
"Come here."
Evaluation: B
"Now?" Ganyu blurted out in a panic.
There's nothing strange about it, Ganyu thought. It would actually be weirder if we didn't hug. Of course, she could attribute it to shyness, but driven by longing, she stepped forward and embraced Qin Yu.
Evaluation: A-
Sensing Yaoyao's gaze, Qin Yu whispered, "Is that enough?"
Otherwise, this is getting a bit agonizing.
"J-just a little longer... It'll only be a moment," Ganyu murmured back.
Evaluation: A+
Why does she have to act so affectionate at a time like this?
Yet, being coddled by Ganyu like this didn't feel entirely unpleasant to Qin Yu.
After all, she is my older sister.
That's right! I'm the one who's Ganyu's younger sister! That pointless competitive spirit flared up in Qin Yu's heart once more.
But did Ganyu feel the same way?
Until now, Qin Yu had never directly asked Ganyu about her feelings. She'd always sensed that Ganyu's affection wasn't romantic love, but more like Shenhe's.
Yet this was merely her subjective interpretation, without any confirmation from Ganyu herself.
Without Ganyu's explicit words, she couldn't be certain.
Not that I could ask her now anyway. Her heart simply wasn't strong enough to have a heart-to-heart with Ganyu in front of others.
After a few more seconds, Ganyu, her face flushed crimson but seemingly content, released her grip and stepped back a few paces.
"How was it?" Qin Yu asked.
"Eh? How was what...?"
Qin Yu deliberately teased, "The scent of the Glaze Lily in your dream."
Evaluation: S
Ganyu stammered, flustered, "Y-you... how did you know about that—"
How could she know my dream? Ganyu couldn't fathom it.
"I overheard you mumbling in your sleep during your nap, Sister Ganyu," Qin Yu said with a gentle smile.
Besides, I couldn't stop sniffing you while we were hugging.
Yaoyao breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Qin Yu was about to expose her.
"I actually talk in my sleep..."
Ganyu crouched down, clutching her head as a maelstrom of emotions erupted within her.
A moment later, she belatedly realized Qin Yu had been deliberately teasing her. Ganyu stood up, her cheeks puffed with indignation.
"You're so mean!"
Evaluation: SS-
Qin Yu flashed a V-sign. "I win."
"No way! I didn't say anything like that in my sleep! You didn't win anything," Ganyu protested, clearly unconvinced.
"Then next time, I'll record it and keep all of Sister Ganyu's sleep-talking saved."
Ganyu panicked, "E-eh? Record them? Why would you do that...? No, you can't! If you do, I'll..."
Oh? Is she threatening me?
Curious to see how Ganyu would threaten her, Qin Yu prompted, "If I do, what?"
"I..." Ganyu hesitated, finally managing to stammer, "I won't let you act cute anymore."
E-eh?
"What about you?" Qin Yu asked, surprised.
"I won't be restricted."
Ugh, how underhanded!
"That's not fair!" Qin Yu protested.
It wasn't so much about wanting to act cute with Ganyu, but rather about having her existing rights curtailed. And the fact that Ganyu wouldn't be similarly restrained made it even worse.
"So, you can't record my sleep-talking," Ganyu said, her face flushing. After all, her dreams these past few days had been almost entirely about Qin Yu.
Sometimes, they even contained... slightly stimulating content. If she ever said something like that in her sleep and someone overheard, it would be a disaster!
The more Ganyu resisted being recorded, the more Qin Yu wanted to do it.
So, Qin Yu tried a different tactic. "What if I just want to... use Sister Ganyu's sleep-talking? Ah, no ulterior motives! I wouldn't use it for anything weird, I promise!"
"Use it?"
Qin Yu stammered, "Just for sleep... or something?"
"In that case..."
It might work, but really, she didn't need a recording of Ganyu's voice. Sleeping together would suffice, Ganyu thought. But no matter what, she couldn't bring herself to say that now.
Feeling the conversation was growing increasingly awkward, Qin Yu quickly interjected, "Forget it! I won't record anything!"
"Ah, that's good..."
Ganyu felt relieved but also a little disappointed, a complicated mix of emotions that left her feeling disoriented.
"Does Sister Ganyu want to sleep with Sister Qin Yu?" Yaoyao suddenly asked, her curiosity piqued.
I almost forgot Yaoyao was still here!
What exactly did Ganyu and I say earlier? Qin Yu patted her chest, feeling her nerves calm slightly. Good thing she's just a kid—she won't understand.
Ganyu, on the other hand, was startled. Why is everyone seeing through my thoughts today?
"No, no! I didn't mean that," Ganyu quickly replied.
"Oh, I misunderstood."
"Yes, it was a misunderstanding."
Is that really true? Qin Yu wondered, Ganyu's vehement denial only deepening her suspicions.
But sleeping together wouldn't be so bad, as long as nothing weird happened.
Ganyu remained unaware that Qin Yu had already mentally agreed to share a bed. She abruptly changed the subject:
"Oh, Yaoyao, isn't it almost time for you to go to school? It's getting late."
Yaoyao looked a little reluctant. "That's right... Hmm... Alright. I wanted to chat with you sisters longer, but since it's time, I'll go find Master!"
"Mm, we need to get back to work too. See you next time," Ganyu said with a gentle smile.
"Before I go, can Sister Qin Yu pat my head? Please?" Yaoyao asked eagerly.
So adorable.
Snapping out of her reverie, Qin Yu chuckled. "Of course. Work hard, okay?"
As she spoke, she reached out and patted Yaoyao's head.
"Mm-hmm!" Yaoyao beamed.
Seeing this, a familiar longing resurfaced in Ganyu's heart.
We've already hugged in front of Yaoyao. A little head pat wouldn't hurt, right? Suppressing her embarrassment, Ganyu leaned forward and lowered her head.
This "please pat me too" gesture left Qin Yu speechless.
You're supposed to be the older sister, yet you're acting like this?
Oh well, Qin Yu thought, brushing the matter aside. She reached out and began stroking Ganyu's head as well.
Ganyu's longing was instantly satisfied, a warm current surging through her entire body.
Evaluation: SS
The warmth brought her such comfort that drowsiness soon washed over her.
As Qin Yu continued patting her head, Ganyu nearly drifted off to sleep, swaying forward until Qin Yu hurriedly steadied her.
Ganyu snapped back to awareness.
"S-sorry... It felt so nice I almost... slipped up," she murmured apologetically, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Sister Ganyu, if you're tired, you should rest," Qin Yu said with concern. "I'll take care of the rest."
"Sister Qin Yu is right! If you're sleepy, you should sleep, and if you're hungry, you should eat. That's how you stay healthy!" Yaoyao chimed in.
Ganyu shook her head. "I'll just take a nap later."
"So stubborn," Qin Yu said.
"So stubborn!" Yaoyao echoed with a laugh.
"That's not true," Ganyu immediately retorted.
Yaoyao then reminded Ganyu to take good care of herself before turning to Qin Yu and urging her to rest as well, preferably with Ganyu. She left the office, still wearing an expression of lingering concern.
Qin Yu couldn't help but sigh. "Yaoyao really is... well, she's so caring."
"Just like you, Qin Yu," Ganyu replied.
"Me? Not really," Qin Yu mumbled, looking away. "Besides, caring is only natural, because... you're my Sister Ganyu," she added in a small voice.
Evaluation: SS+
A mix of warmth and embarrassment flooded Ganyu's face. "Ah... thank you," she murmured.
Don't make things weird like this! There's nothing between us! Qin Yu thought, quickly changing the subject. "Let's get to work, shall we?"
"Ah, yes! Thank you for helping me out today too. With the Lantern Rite approaching, there's been a backlog of tasks to handle. It might be a bit busy."
"It's alright, I'm used to it by now," Qin Yu said.
Come to think of it, she hadn't asked Ganyu about her plans for the Lantern Rite.
"Sister Ganyu, are you planning to work overtime during the Lantern Rite?" Qin Yu asked curiously, handing Ganyu the documents.
"The Lantern Rite? Hmm, it depends. If there's nothing urgent to handle, I don't plan to work overtime because..." Ganyu tugged on Qin Yu's sleeve. "I want to spend it with you."
A warmth spread through Qin Yu's chest, but if it were just the two of them, she probably couldn't manage.
"Of course, the Lantern Rite is a lively festival meant to be celebrated together. As long as I can spend it with you, I'll be happy," Ganyu added.
Celebrating together...
Qin Yu's eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. "Mm-hmm!"
That was exactly what she wanted.
"But..."
Ganyu took Qin Yu's hand and pressed it to her cheek, whispering, "If we could occasionally go out and play together alone, I would be very happy."
Qin Yu's heart raced, her gaze drifting involuntarily to Ganyu's lips. She wanted to lean in, but she quickly dismissed the thought.
What are you thinking?
Ganyu was like an elder sister to her. How could she even entertain such a notion?
The mere thought was already inappropriate. Qin Yu, Qin Yu, how have you become this kind of person? Qin Yu sighed inwardly.
"Hmm, I want to play with Sister Ganyu too," Qin Yu said.
"But we need to finish our work first," Ganyu replied.
Qin Yu glanced at the documents piled high on the desk, her lips twitching. "Will we ever get through all of this?"
"Probably... yes."
Qin Yu wanted to ask more questions, such as whether Ganyu saw her as a sister—a matter that weighed heavily on her mind. She also wanted to confess the truth about her disguise, which she had yet to reveal.
But seeing the mountain of tasks awaiting them, Qin Yu decided to wait until a later time when they were less busy. After all, these were personal matters that might require a long conversation, and she couldn't afford to delay their work.
Besides, there was no rush. The most important thing was being with Ganyu, being able to stay by her side.