Another day working alongside Ganyu. Qin Yu covered her mouth to stifle a yawn as she returned to Ganyu's office, only to find Ganyu slumped over her desk, seemingly asleep.
"Sister Ganyu?" Qin Yu took a few steps closer and called out softly.
The only response was Ganyu's steady breathing.
She's sleeping so soundly!
Qin Yu felt a pang of envy at the quality of Ganyu's sleep. Lately, she'd found it difficult to fall asleep unless she slept with Shenhe.
Come to think of it, it's lunchtime now.
It was the midday break after lunch, and Ganyu always fell asleep instantly at this time.
It was as if her body had an internal program: precisely at noon, she would abruptly switch into sleep mode with a snap.
Qin Yu, long accustomed to this, retrieved a clean bamboo mat and thin blanket from the closet—both had been washed and dried earlier—and spread them out on the swept floor. She then grabbed a pillow and gently lifted Ganyu to lay her head on it.
Evaluation: D
Sleeping on the sofa carried the risk of falling off with a single turn, and it wasn't very comfortable, which could strain her body. It was far better to just sleep on the floor.
Fortunately, Qin Yu regularly visited Shenhe and Ganyu, using those occasions to clean and tidy up. As a result, the room remained remarkably clean, free from dust.
Ganyu had previously protested, "You don't need to prepare bedding for me to sleep on the floor. It's too much trouble. I'm used to it."
But after trying it once, she never said such things again.
Yaoyao seemed to have had the same idea, but Qin Yu had beat her to it.
Victory is mine! Qin Yu thought smugly.
Then she felt a pang of shame.
Here it comes again—that pointless competitive streak.
Knowing she shouldn't feel this way, it still surfaced, making Qin Yu sometimes feel quite childish.
"Ugh... ha..." Qin Yu covered her mouth and yawned again.
Qin Yu had stayed up too late talking to Shenhe last night and hadn't gotten enough sleep. Now, waves of drowsiness kept washing over her.
Qin Yu glanced at Ganyu, who was sleeping soundly.
Lying down for a bit won't hurt, right? It's break time anyway, and sleeping with Ganyu... I could accept that.
With this thought, Qin Yu locked the door, retrieved a spare pillow, and lay down on the bamboo mat, intending to nap for a while.
It'll be fun to see Ganyu's surprised reaction when she wakes up.
But as she felt Ganyu's soft breathing, Qin Yu's drowsiness was overridden by another emotion. She couldn't help but turn and gaze at Ganyu's tranquil sleeping face.
So utterly defenseless... It makes me want to tease her.
Logically, I know it's wrong, but my heart always trumps reason.
As long as I don't wake her up...
With that thought, Qin Yu gently tugged on Ganyu's cheek.
Evaluation: C-
"Mmm..." Ganyu's brow furrowed slightly.
Qin Yu quickly withdrew her hand, watching carefully. When Ganyu's brow relaxed, she breathed a sigh of relief, chiding herself for overreacting.
Ganyu wouldn't wake up from something so minor.
Encouraged, Qin Yu lightly traced her fingertip across Ganyu's lips. The cool, springy sensation made her gaze linger. When she pressed down gently, her fingertip received a fleeting, butterfly-light kiss, sending ripples through Qin Yu's heart.
Startled, Qin Yu recoiled her hand as if shocked by electricity, only to find Ganyu still fast asleep. The kiss earlier seemed to have been purely unconscious.
Evaluation: C+
Almost involuntarily, Qin Yu pressed her fingertip to her own lips, then pursed them slightly.
"...This is a bit gross," she murmured belatedly, her face flushing. With a sigh, Qin Yu resigned herself.
Evaluation: B
Sister Ganyu—that's always how she'd called her.
If I called her while she's sleeping, would she react? Would she dream about me? Would she talk in her sleep?
Hesitating for a moment, Qin Yu reasoned that since Ganyu was still asleep, she might as well indulge her curiosity. She propped herself up slightly and leaned close to Ganyu's ear.
"Sister."
The warm whisper caused Ganyu to instinctively tremble slightly.
"I'm in your dream."
Evaluation: A-
Ganyu seemed to find her ear itchy and rolled over.
Wait, don't roll over like that! Qin Yu grumbled inwardly, following Ganyu's movements to continue whispering softly into her ear.
Evaluation: A+
"Mmm, Qin Yu..."
Qin Yu startled, her eyes widening. Ganyu's eyes remained closed; she had only spoken in her sleep.
Success! I actually appeared in Ganyu's dream!
I wonder what kind of dream it is?
A prank... can this even be considered a prank? The target doesn't even know it's happening. But whatever, I pulled it off.
Qin Yu felt deeply satisfied, but then she suddenly remembered—cats seemed to enjoy playing pranks on people.
But I'm not a cat, Qin Yu thought dismissively.
She settled back down obediently, sleepiness washing over her once more. This time, Qin Yu resolved to take a proper nap; otherwise, she wouldn't have the energy for later.
Sensing Ganyu's presence, the comforting feeling quickly lulled Qin Yu into a deep sleep.
As soon as she drifted off, she instinctively wrapped her arms around Ganyu, no longer caring about how she looked while sleeping. All she wanted was to be closer to the soothing aura that brought her such peace.
About three hours later, Ganyu slowly opened her eyes.
"Hmm?" she murmured sleepily, noticing someone lying beside her.
After a moment of confusion, she recognized the face beside her, and her heart fluttered.
"Qin Yu?"
How...? Why is she sleeping with me? Ganyu's face flushed crimson, her mind in turmoil, yet a surge of joy bloomed within her.
She had wanted to sleep with Qin Yu for a long time, but shyness had prevented her from bringing it up.
Now, unexpectedly, her wish had come true.
And she was even being held.
Did Qin Yu prepare this makeshift bed for me? Ganyu realized this and her gaze returned to Qin Yu's face.
The scene before her overlapped with the one in her dream, differing only in the details.
The clothes... they're still on.
"Why would I have such a dream...?" Ganyu murmured in frustration.
Originally, she had merely dreamed of planting crops and tending flowers with Qin Yu. But then, when Qin Yu's voice had faintly reached her ears, everything had seemed to fall under a veil, becoming hazy and indistinct. Only the honey-sweet voice, the mingled body warmth, and the incomparably flushed skin remained vividly clear.
Even recalling it now made her heart race and her ears burn.
Could it be that I...? No, it's just a dream, a pure dream with no meaning at all! Ganyu covered her face, exhaled deeply, and calmed herself slightly.
But reality was more important than dreams.
Qin Yu lay beside her, fast asleep.
Ganyu's expression softened, gentle as water. She cradled Qin Yu's head and stroked her hair. "You can sleep a little longer. There's still plenty of time... Hmm, at least half an hour."
The tasks she needed to handle today were fewer than usual.
Ganyu had expected Qin Yu to mumble in her sleep, but she remained silent. A hint of disappointment flickered across Ganyu's face—she had heard Qin Yu's own murmurs, yet Qin Yu hadn't spoken. Releasing her hold, she quietly studied Qin Yu's sleeping face.
Her heartbeat gradually quickened, matching the rhythm of Qin Yu's breathing.
Ganyu knew her affection for Qin Yu wasn't romantic, at least not in the way most people described it.
All she wanted was to nestle close, to share their innermost thoughts and warmth. To feel each other's hearts, to hear each other's souls... the only things that truly mattered were herself and the other.
I probably think this way because of my Adeptus bloodline, Ganyu mused.
Yet at this moment, she yearned to kiss Qin Yu.
Is it because I also have human blood? Ganyu wondered, perplexed.
However, Ganyu knew that spiritual connection couldn't exist independently of the physical realm.
It was precisely through the "medium" of their bodies that they could perceive each other's hearts through words and beyond.
While it would be ideal if they could achieve this without needing physical forms, the reality was that they possessed bodies and needed this medium to exist in the world.
Only through sound, touch, and the exchange between physical forms could they truly share their souls.
The soul's yearning to connect with another would naturally manifest as desire.
The urge to embrace each other stemmed from this fundamental need.
So, my feelings for Qin Yu... are normal, right? Ganyu pondered, then found herself irresistibly leaning closer to Qin Yu's lips.
But just as they were about to touch, she stopped herself.
N-no, I shouldn't. Qin Yu is still sleeping.
This isn't right, Ganyu thought, gently pressing her fingertip against Qin Yu's lips, then brought that same finger to her own.
I'll settle for this for now.
I wish you were dreaming of me too, Qin Yu, Ganyu murmured.