"Shenhe, let's play a game!" Qin Yu said eagerly.
Shenhe, having finished washing the dishes, shook her hands dry and asked, "A game?"
"Yep!"
Qin Yu held out her tightly clenched fists, grinning. "Guess which hand holds a little gift. If you guess right, it's yours!"
Shenhe faintly glimpsed Qin Yu's invisible tail wagging behind her. She focused on Qin Yu's outstretched hands.
Left or right?
After a moment's thought, Shenhe said, "Left."
Qin Yu smiled and opened her palm, revealing it was empty.
"Sorry, you're wrong."
Shenhe tilted her head slightly. "Right?"
Qin Yu opened her right hand, but it was also empty.
"Still wrong. The answer is—in my pocket." Qin Yu pulled out a candy from her pocket, unwrapped it, and held it to Shenhe's lips.
Even if she guessed wrong, I'd still give it to her.
Shenhe opened her mouth and let the candy fall inside.
"Very sweet," she said.
Qin Yu, a hint of warmth in her smile, pinched a strand of Shenhe's hair. "Good. I made it according to your taste—with a touch of mint for a refreshing flavor."
"Thank you," Shenhe said, her heart warming.
Evaluation: D
Qin Yu's cheeks flushed slightly as she nodded.
"But your game is too hard to play," Shenhe added.
"Usually, people would assume the gift is in my hands. But I only said, 'Guess where the gift is,' without specifying it had to be in my hands."
Shenhe's eyes widened in understanding. "I get it now—it's a wordplay."
"Exactly! How about another round? I've prepared a much bigger gift this time. If you guess right, you get it. What do you say?"
"Alright, tell me. I'm looking forward to it," Shenhe said.
That's right, you should be.
On the condition that you can guess it, Shenhe, Qin Yu thought to herself. Though even if you can't, I'll still give it to you.
A gift only has meaning when it's given away.
"Then I'll tell you: Where is the gift I gave you?"
Shenhe pondered for a moment, then asked, "You?"
Evaluation: C-
"H-how could it be? Why would you think of me? N-no, that's... not impossible, but no... anyway, it's not me!" Qin Yu blurted out, her ears burning.
Shenhe hummed thoughtfully and shook her head. "I can't figure it out. The range is too broad."
Unsurprised, Qin Yu offered, "I'll give you a hint then: the place where we've spent the most time together."
The place where we've spent the most time together...?
Shenhe pondered for a moment, then seemed to realize something. She turned and walked into the bedroom.
Qin Yu followed closely behind, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. As they reached the doorway, she saw Shenhe lift the pillow.
"Found it."
Shenhe retrieved the gift box. Qin Yu, fidgeting with her hair, said, "Go ahead and open it."
Shenhe opened the gift box, revealing over a dozen candies Qin Yu had given her earlier.
"What do you think?" Qin Yu asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"I'm very happy. Did you make these yourself?" Shenhe asked, her eyes softening.
Leaning against the doorframe, Qin Yu lowered her head, a suppressed smile playing on her lips as she murmured, "Mm... it's not much for all your constant care, but I wanted to give you this."
Evaluation: C+
"I'll give you a gift too, Qin Yu," Shenhe murmured softly.
Qin Yu waved her hands frantically. "No need, no need! Just accepting it is enough."
"Mm, I'll cherish it always."
"Well, at least eat one!" Qin Yu protested with a sigh.
Shenhe carefully closed the gift box, placed it on the desk, then walked over to Qin Yu and gave her a gentle hug.
"I really like this gift."
Evaluation: B
Qin Yu turned her face away, blushing. "I get it, you don't need to say it so many times. I'm glad you like them. It wasn't a waste of time after all."
"But next time, I want to make them together."
Shenhe had always wanted to do things like this together.
Qin Yu idly fiddled with the Red String on Shenhe's shoulder and murmured, "Mm, then next time we'll make them together."
If I want her to love me more, I need to express my own love first, Qin Yu thought as she made the gift.
And now, the reciprocation she was receiving was exactly what she had hoped for and anticipated.
Savoring Shenhe's familiar and comforting scent, Qin Yu thought, This feeling is truly wonderful.
Expressing my feelings and receiving love in equal measure—or even deeper and more intense—is incredibly satisfying.
"So warm..." Qin Yu murmured, wrapping her arms tighter around Shenhe.
As she realized how fulfilling and pleasing it was to actively express her feelings and receive such a rewarding response, Qin Yu resolved to continue doing so.
The next day, she held out her hands to Ningguang.
"Ningguang, I've prepared a little gift for you. Can you guess where I've hidden it?"
Ningguang studied Qin Yu's hands for a moment before stepping closer and gently caressing her lips with a fingertip.
"I'd wager it's hidden right here."
Evaluation: D
Ha?
Flustered by Ningguang's obvious flirtation, Qin Yu blushed. "No way!"
"The gift isn't in your hands, is it?" Ningguang's eyes twinkled. "Then perhaps it's hidden elsewhere—a place I can't see. What harm is there in investigating?"
"You lecherous ghost!" Qin Yu retorted, her voice laced with indignation.
Ningguang took another step closer. Qin Yu retreated nervously, backing against the wall, her panic intensifying.
Ningguang gently stroked her cheek, her eyes narrowing slightly as she murmured softly, "I only act this way because the person I'm with is you, Qin Yu."
Evaluation: C-
"Don't make it sound like it's my fault," Qin Yu murmured.
"That's not what I meant. You know what kind of person I am around you..." Ningguang's fingertips traced the contours of Qin Yu's face, gliding down to her neck.
"Your heart's beating so fast," Ningguang whispered.
Evaluation: C+
"D-do you still want your gift?" Qin Yu quickly changed the subject.
If this keeps up, who knows what might happen!
"Of course I do, but this game has no hints, only illusions. How am I supposed to play?"
"A game needs rules to be established. With rules, whether you choose to break them or follow them, you can still find enjoyment."
"And only enjoyment will make people want to keep playing your game."
Ningguang smiled faintly. "So, give me a hint and establish the rules. What reward will I get if I succeed? What will happen if I fail?"
She's pushing her luck again.
Slightly annoyed, Qin Yu replied, "There's no extra reward and no punishment."
"Then what about the hint?"
"It's in this room—not on the floor or ceiling—and very, very close to where you spend most of your time," Qin Yu replied.
Very close to where I spend most of my time? Ningguang pondered for a moment, then began searching through the items on her desk. Finally, she discovered the gift box hidden beneath a scroll.
Ningguang smiled. "Found it."
"Then open it and see."
After opening the box, Ningguang exclaimed in surprise, "This is... candy?"
"Mm, I made it."
Unlike Shenhe's mint-flavored candies, these were a different flavor.
Qin Yu had considered giving everyone different gifts, but decided to start with this one first. She could give more personalized gifts later if the opportunity arose. After all, who could dislike candy?
Ningguang unwrapped a candy and popped it into her mouth.
"Delicious. I'm very pleased, Qin Yu," Ningguang said with a smile.
Evaluation: B
Qin Yu's heart leaped with joy. As long as Ningguang likes it, she thought.
"But I never imagined I'd receive such a gift these days. This milky flavor... it's quite nostalgic. Heh, I can't help but feel you chose a rather childish flavor for me, Qin Yu."
"No way! Milk isn't just for kids!" Qin Yu protested vehemently.
Ningguang chuckled. "True enough. I quite like this flavor myself—simple and delicious."
"Right?" Qin Yu grinned.
This is the classic choice, after all.
Ningguang unwrapped a second milk candy and asked, "Have you tried these yourself, Qin Yu?"
"I taste-tested them."
"Do you want one now?"
"If I want it? A little..." Qin Yu admitted. "But this is a gift for you."
"It's okay, I permit it. Though I'd like to feed it to you myself."
Feed me? Ah, come to think of it, that's something couples often do, right?
Ningguang was pursuing romance, and passionate romance at that, so wanting to do this wasn't surprising.
Since Qin Yu had already accepted their relationship and it was just feeding her something, agreeing seemed harmless enough.
"Okay, I guess," Qin Yu agreed.
"Then, close your eyes."
"Why do I have to close my eyes?" Qin Yu asked, puzzled.
Ningguang's smile turned childlike. "That's how it happens in the books. I just wanted to try it out."
Ah, I see.
Qin Yu took her at her word and closed her eyes.
"Open your mouth."
"Ah—mmpf!?"
Evaluation: A-
It wasn't candy, but it still tasted milky. Realizing she'd fallen for Ningguang's trap, Qin Yu felt a surge of displeasure and tried to push her away.
But for some reason, the thought quickly vanished.
Evaluation: A+
Evaluation: S
Evaluation: SS-
Ningguang caught her breath, the melting sweetness saturating her mind and body. She curled her index finger and wiped the sheen of moisture from Qin Yu's lips, her cheeks flushed.
"Another one?"
Evaluation: SS+
Qin Yu's heart pounded wildly. After a moment's hesitation, she shook her head, her thoughts in disarray.
"I'll go get the documents you need."
"Alright, go ahead."
Ningguang felt no disappointment. The lingering sweetness from their earlier intimacy filled her with contentment, leaving no room for regret or loss.
Qin Yu hurried away as if fleeing.
"Ningguang," she called out, suddenly stopping before she left.
"Hm?"
Qin Yu took a deep breath, turned around, and made a silly face at her.
Ningguang chuckled. "How adorable."
Having failed to elicit the reaction she'd hoped for, a wave of frustration surged through Qin Yu's chest.
"...Seriously!"
After that, when Qin Yu delivered the gifts to Ganyu, Keqing, Hu Tao, and Yanfei, she would drop them off and flee immediately, terrified they might want to "share the taste of the candy" like Ningguang had—or worse.
Ningguang savored the remaining milk candy, murmuring, "It's almost time." She couldn't endure the wait any longer.