Mt. Aocang.
Ganyu stared blankly at the Bow of Love and Sorrow that suddenly appeared in her hands.
Emotions of love and grief flowed across its surface. The bow's limbs were carved with qilin patterns—blue and blood-red, each occupying one half.
The bow had no string, and also no arrows.
Yet holding it, Ganyu could feel clearly—
as long as she poured emotion into it, the bowstring and arrow would naturally form, allowing her to draw and fire.
It was unmistakably a sacred weapon.
But as the Bow of Love and Sorrow manifested, a wave of grief surged up from the depths of her heart, engulfing her entirely.
Ganyu clutched her chest as the pain intensified.
It felt like drowning—wanting to breathe desperately, yet unable to.
An indescribable suffocation wrapped around her. Unknowingly, tears streamed down her cheeks.
Memories—long sealed away—began to surface in her mind.
It wasn't like she suddenly received a memory.
It felt natural, as if she had lived it herself, only to have forgotten it.
This wasn't fusion.
It was remembrance.
Ganyu's hand trembled around the bow. Her whole body shook as she slowly crouched down.
From beneath a distant tree—
Two heads peeked out.
"Master, Senior Sister is crying so hard," Shenhe said calmly.
Cloud Retainer nodded knowingly. "Quite normal. To watch the one you love die before your eyes and be powerless… that kind of suffocating pain is enough to kill. The heart-tearing agony will consume her. But as the saying goes—'the previous life was only a prologue; the true beginning is this life.' Let her cry. She'll be fine soon."
Shenhe nodded, half-understanding.
She didn't grasp it completely…
but it all seemed simple to solve:
Just take Senior Sister to Gu Chen, right?
Ganyu's grief lasted a long time before she finally tightened her grip on the Bow of Love and Sorrow.
She looked toward the light-screen—
and saw Gu Chen chatting idly in the group.
[Kaeya]: One side of the blade shows the Adepti, the other the people—truly worthy of the name Sword of All Living Beings. Even ignoring its power, the design alone is worth 5 million Mora!
[Dori]: What?! Just the design? Five million?! Fine! I'm making replicas immediately! (Mona: Mora!!)
[Gu Chen]: @[Dori] Did you pay royalties? Trying to copy my sword? (Hu Tao: mischievous)
[Dori]: Bro, please… (Klee: begging)
[Gu Chen]: I'll warn you— even if you copy it, it's only for display. Liyue has the Tianquan Star. Your business won't make it here anyway. (LOL)
[Kaeya]: I was just joking. Even if you copy it, it might not be worth 5 million. (LOL)
[Dori]: Isn't this just hope then despair?! (Klee: aggrieved)
[Nilou]: But that sword really is beautiful—perfectly suits Mister Gu Chen's aura~ (Dehya: flowers)
[Gu Chen]: Nilou has good taste. (nod)
[Kaeya]: Our Leader outclasses me in power, looks, and shamelessness. (LOL)
[Venti]: Kid! You dare roast the Leader? Careful or he'll deal with you! (LOL)
[Furina]: Death penalty! Death penalty! (Furina: happy)
[Collei]: But Ganyu still hasn't spoken… Is she still digesting the memories? (Nahida: curious)
[Nahida]: Such a long history—it must take time. (thinking)
[Cloud Retainer]: She was crying heartbreakingly. (5-second clip of Ganyu sobbing)
[Ganyu]: True… jun…!! (Qiqi falls over)
[Kaeya]: Yo, she surfaced! Looks like she's done fusing the memories.
[Ruotuo Dragon King]: @[Gu Chen] At this point, shouldn't you call me Uncle Ruotuo? (LOL)
[Zhongli]: By universal reason… yes, @[Gu Chen] you understand.
[Venti]: Oh great, now everyone wants to raise their seniority! If that's how it is, I was friends with the old man—my seniority goes up too!
[Osial]: Heh!? I get benefits too?! (LOL)
[Gu Chen]: In that case… my sword hasn't tasted blood yet. Which senior would like to try it first? (Zhongli: dragon smirk)
[Ruotuo Dragon King]: Oh hoh—threats now? Aren't you afraid I'll kneel and beg you to spare me? (Paimon: snort)
[Kaeya]: Skilled in surrender, I see.
[Venti]: @[Gu Chen] So how will you respond to Ganyu now?
Reading this, Ganyu's heart tightened.
Gu Chen… was her teacher.
If he held the same concepts as Cloud Retainer and the others did in the video, then—
Her hands clenched.
Her heart pounded rapidly from nervousness.
Then—
[Gu Chen]: Look carefully— in this life, Ganyu and I have no teacher-disciple relationship. I'll go straight up and say: "Hi, Ganyu wifey~" (Kaeya: rose-in-mouth thief)
[Kaeya]: Damn! That's the Leader for you! (Venti: confetti)
[Venti]: He picked the line that would hype the whole group up the fastest! (confetti)
[Nilou]: Yay!!! (Klee: yay!)
[Collei]: Yay!!! (Klee: yay!)
[Ganyu]: W-w-wife…? (Ganyu: don't pat…)
Relief washed through her.
Her previously pale, exhausted face flushed red as she lowered her head shyly.
Master… openly calling her "wifey" in the chat!!
T-too embarrassing!
[Furina]: That's it? There must be more! Next part! (Venti: sparkly eyes)
[Kokomi]: Mister Gu Chen is very straightforward. Considering Ganyu's condition, that's the right approach—approved. (Venti: confetti)
[Cloud Retainer]: Firmly approved. (photo of Ganyu blushing shyly, ahoge bouncing)
[Ganyu]: True Jun!!! (flustered anger)
[Nilou]: Hehe, Ganyu's shy face is adorable. (Hu Tao: cute pose)
[Collei]: Hehehehe— (Yunjin: anticipation)
[Yae Miko]: This life's Ganyu can finally get what she longed for. (Venti: celebration)
[Ganyu]: @[Gu Chen] I'm coming to find you right now!!!
[Gu Chen]: Okay.
[Paimon]: (photo of Gu Chen's radiant smile)
Mt. Aocang was too far from Liyue Harbor.
Even Ganyu needed travel time.
Unless—
She slowly turned toward the nearby tree.
The two heads peeking out froze.
"True Jun! Please send me to Liyue Harbor!" Ganyu pressed her hands together pleadingly.
Cloud Retainer clicked her tongue.
Seeing Ganyu's urgency, she lifted her head proudly. "This Adeptus loves helping others!"
"Thank you, True Jun!"
Liyue Harbor.
Gu Residence.
Gu Chen stood before the moon-gate, deep in thought.
Last time, he modified it to create the sea of Glaze Lilies for Guizhong's gift.
Now he wondered if he should modify it again—
forge another miniature realm as a gift for Ganyu.
He sought the opinions of Lumine and the others.
"I think you can give her a field of Qingxin Flowers. Even though she controls her weight now, she might want to reminisce and pick some for you to eat." Guizhong teased.
Gu Chen twitched his mouth.
Qingxin…
He really didn't like eating those bitter things.
He never understood how Ganyu enjoyed them.
But regardless—he'd prepare it for his wife.
A Qingxin flower field wasn't a problem. Just another beautiful spot in the house.
He also needed to prepare a feast.
"You died right in front of her. I know that heart-rending pain too well. You two definitely have a lot to talk about." Lumine said like a veteran.
Raiden Makoto quietly felt fortunate.
Gu Chen hadn't even become her lover when he went to Khaenri'ah and vanished. Compared to Ganyu and Lumine's pain, hers was lighter.
Guizhong suddenly sighed, expression mournful. "We're all pitiful women… all longing yet unable to attain… wuu…"
Thinking of the moment Gu Chen became a cold, emotionless Heavenly Principle before her eyes—her tears welled up.
Gu Chen moved to comfort her—
But Guizhong's teary eyes flashed with mischief: "If you're ever bad to us in the future, then this house will have no place for you!"
"?? You were waiting to say that?!"
Gu Chen scratched his head. "You're not usually like this… what happened today?"
"Go do your work." Lumine put on the dignified aura of the main wife, elegant and serene.
"Alright."
Gu Chen nodded, then called: "Paimon! Help me!"
"Okay!"
After they left, Lumine, Raiden Makoto, and Guizhong began discussing a… very serious matter.
"At this rate, our bed is going to be too small." Lumine said helplessly.
Raiden Makoto's expression tightened. If unaddressed, this problem could have catastrophic consequences…
"What do we do?" Guizhong was confused.
"That's what we're discussing." Lumine sighed.
"Let's just dismantle the bed. It's impractical anyway. After removing it, we can lay carpets on the floor." Raiden Makoto suggested.
Guizhong brightened. "That makes sense!"
Lumine stared at the two of them.
"Aren't you both supposed to be gods known for your wisdom? That's all you came up with?"
"I can't think of anything else," Makoto admitted.
Guizhong raised both hands. "My mind is blank."
"…Fine."
Maybe the saying was true—
A woman in love is an idiot.
Even Lumine felt she wasn't as sharp as she used to be.
Whoosh—
A strong wind blew.
They turned—
Cloud Retainer descended into the courtyard, and Ganyu leaped off her back.
"Yo, Cloud Retainer." Guizhong greeted cheerfully.
"Hmph."
Cloud Retainer lifted her head proudly.
Her relationship with Guizhong was complicated—
always comparing research results.
But seeing her old friend living happily, Cloud Retainer felt satisfied.
She spoke: "Now that I've delivered Ganyu to your residence—do not mistreat my disciple!"
Ganyu blushed, not denying it.
"Ganyu, come sit." Lumine beckoned, smiling warmly.
Ganyu nodded.
Lumine studied her.
This-life Ganyu felt softer, more timid—easy to bully.
Lumine immediately started fussing over her.
Ganyu knew Lumine was the main wife of the Gu household, the official mistress.
And she seemed so kind—
Ganyu felt at ease.
"Where's Gu Chen?" Cloud Retainer asked.
Guizhong replied, "Busy. He just made a Qingxin field for Ganyu. Lots of other plants too—she can pick whatever she wants."
Ganyu waved her hands quickly. "N-no, that's too much!"
Lumine grinned faintly. "Trying to control your weight?"
"Yes!"
Since her embarrassing habits had been exposed, Ganyu admitted it plainly.
Lumine laughed softly. "Don't be too hard on yourself. No matter what you look like, Gu Chen will like you."
"R-really?"
Her little ahoge bounced as she perked up.
"Really."
Lumine nodded solemnly. As the wife who had known Gu Chen for seven days longer than Makoto, she knew exactly what her husband liked.
"Come, let me show you around." Guizhong stood.
"O-okay." Ganyu followed.
Aside from when she killed a god, Ganyu always looked easy to bully.
This gentle, quiet girl deeply appealed to Guizhong.
After visiting two miniature realms and most of the residence, they returned to the courtyard—
to see Gu Chen holding Paimon and talking about something.
"Master!!"
Ganyu's eyes reddened and she rushed into his arms.
Gu Chen tossed Paimon aside and opened his arms, letting the qilin girl bury herself against him, clinging to his scent.
Paimon sighed and floated aside.
"Shouldn't we change that 'Master' title?" Gu Chen teased.
Ganyu peeked up at his playful expression, then buried her face again, whispering, "Th-then… what should I call you…"
"I think 'husband' sounds lovely." Gu Chen said solemnly.
"Hus… husband!"
Ganyu hugged him even tighter.
The title she longed for in her unreachable dream of a past life—
finally realized in this moment.
Joy flooded her heart like fluttering sparrows.
"Ahem!"
Cloud Retainer lifted her head, coughing twice. "Gu Chen."
"Hm?" Gu Chen looked at her, puzzled.
"This Adeptus is half a mother to Ganyu. You must treat her well." Cloud Retainer smiled—and cast a sidelong glance at Guizhong.
Guizhong bit her lip, amused and exasperated.
Indeed—
by seniority, Ganyu was her disciple.
Cloud Retainer had gained a whole generation in status!
"I know." Gu Chen smiled warmly.
"Good. Live well together. This Adeptus has business and will take her leave."
Cloud Retainer took flight and departed.
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