"This Jade Chamber… really is flying a bit too low."
Ever since returning from the space station beyond the sky, Ningguang couldn't help feeling that her proud creation—the magnificent floating palace of Liyue—
looked… rather shabby.
What did it matter if it could hover above all seven nations?
It was still beneath the sky.
But Su Ran's space station?
That floated above the sky above Celestia itself.
She hadn't felt inferior before.
But now… one comparison and she couldn't bear to look at her Jade Chamber anymore.
Especially because Su Ran practically built his space station for free no cost, only brains.
At that moment, Ningguang deeply understood the value of knowledge.
She finally understood the obsession of Sumeru's scholars.
"Do you need me to raise the Jade Chamber's altitude a bit?"
Baiwen, seeing Ningguang's expression, thought she was unhappy with its current height.
The floating stones were powerful—
they could make the Jade Chamber go higher, maybe even reach the level of Mt. Qingyun's summit.
Ningguang laughed.
"Could it fly out of the sky?
Could it float alongside Celestia?"
"…Probably not."
Baiwen knew the limits of the floating stone.
It could lift the Jade Chamber—
but flying too high was… unrealistic, given how enormous the structure was.
"What do you think of working in outer space in the future?"
"Eh??"
Baiwen was completely lost.
Outer space?
That was somewhere humans weren't meant to reach!
Even the Archons she'd never heard of any of them leaving Teyvat.
Did Ningguang really plan to go into outer space… with Su Ran?
"B-but wouldn't that be… inconvenient?"
She didn't understand alien technology.
Though she was Ningguang's secretary, she wasn't yet qualified to visit Su Ran's space station.
"That's only because Liyue's technology is far too primitive.
If we had long-distance communication devices… would you still think it's inconvenient?"
Like the projection Su Ran used earlier calling her in Liyue while standing in Inazuma.
That was practically divine power.
And yet to Su Ran, such technology was something he made casually because he needed it.
The difference in capability was overwhelming.
Thinking back to how Su Ran personally designated her as the station master…
Ningguang suddenly found herself disliking her once-beloved Jade Chamber.
But dislike or not a treasure was still a treasure.
It just might not be used much anymore.
"Ningguang-mam… is there anything about the Jade Chamber you want to modify?"
Baiwen finally asked cautiously.
As Ningguang's secretary, she knew her mistress well.
There was something different about Ningguang today— far less confident than usual.
"Modify?
This isn't even our house anymore.
At most we can redecorate our rooms."
Ningguang gestured around.
The Jade Chamber was still beautiful, but it no longer felt like her pride because Su Ran had taken ownership of it.
Baiwen:
"…So what exactly is your attitude toward the Jade Chamber now?"
Why did one trip outside turn Ningguang into a completely different person?
Had she been defeated by something?
"Baiwen… what do you think of the continent of Teyvat?"
"Huge. Rich. Bountiful."
Teyvat was massive.
Most people couldn't explore even a fraction of it in their lifetime.
Even with seven nations, resources had never reached their limit.
There was always more to develop.
"And what about my wealth?"
"You are certainly one of the richest people in Teyvat.
In fact—you can probably remove 'one of.'"
As Liyue's Tianquan, Ningguang was undoubtedly the wealthiest mortal in the seven nations.
If anyone wanted to surpass her in wealth, they'd need an entire nation backing them.
"Then am I not a 'rich lady'?"
"Of course you are!
Though the term 'rich lady' is far too vulgar to describe someone of your stature—"
Unlike sycophants who flattered out of self-interest, Baiwen's admiration for Ningguang was genuine.
Ningguang's three secretaries were chosen because they were sincerely loyal, sincerely respectful, and sincerely devoted.
Hearing the praise, Ningguang accepted it warmly— but her heart was elsewhere.
"'Rich lady' simply means a wealthy woman.
Why would that be vulgar?"
If she were still the Ningguang of the past, she might have felt the term was beneath her.
But now?
"Actually… I quite like the title.
And it would be even better if I could become a proper rich lady."
After being thoroughly humbled by Herta, Ningguang realized something painful:
She was poor.
Not metaphorically "poor" truly poor.
When Su Ran said he wanted to "cultivate a rich lady," instead of "find one,"
that hit her like a meteor.
"But Ningguang-mam… with your wealth, you already are a rich lady!"
Baiwen was confused.
What happened to Ningguang on that trip?
Why did her confidence evaporate?
"That only applies in Teyvat,"
Ningguang said quietly.
"In the outside world… I'm not."
At that, Baiwen finally understood.
The realization dawned on her like a thunderbolt.
The outside universe was infinite vaster than the sands of the desert.
And compared to that…
Meeting Su Ran—
a true cosmic genius—
"…We're… really punching above our weight, aren't we?"
Baiwen was stunned.
Why was Ningguang suddenly praising that Fatui executive so much?
Unless…
Unless that man was even stronger than the Geo Archon!?
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