"Master, it's been three months! Can't you let me see Junior Brother Jingchen?!"
Ningguang, Keqing, and Ganyu turned to Madam Ping upon hearing Shenhe's words.
They wanted to get a definite answer from her.
"Ah... you... Sigh, Columbia still needs more rest, so you can't disturb her right now."
Ganyu lowered her head, her eyes filled with helplessness and hesitation.
She really wanted to see her Junior Brother Jingchen again.
Her junior brother's Ice Osmanthus aura, her junior brother's ice-blue hair, her junior brother's voice, her junior brother's face.
These things kept swirling in Ganyu's mind.
Even knowing that Jingchen already had Columbia by his side, even knowing that Columbia and his child were about to arrive.
Even knowing that Columbia might not be happy to see her appear before him.
But she truly wanted to be by Jingchen-daren's side, to see him just one more time.
Even seeing his back would be fine.
Ningguang stepped forward at this moment.
"Immortal, I want to go see Jingchen."
Keqing quickly pulled her back from behind, quietly trying to persuade Ningguang.
"Ningguang, it's come to this, and I witnessed Columbia's situation firsthand this afternoon.
"Sigh, maybe we should just give up. We really don't have a chance anymore."
Shenhe, however, chose to stand in front of Ningguang.
"Master, please let us see Jingchen."
"Ah?! You... why are you doing this? Columbia has already completely–"
Madam Ping closed her eyes and turned away slightly.
After the lesson of Yae Miko, why were the Tianquan Star and Shenhe still so stubborn?
Weren't they afraid of hurting themselves like Yae Miko had?
Ganyu gently walked to Madam Ping's side, then looked at Shenhe and Ningguang, whose faces were filled with determination.
She finally summoned her courage and spoke to Madam Ping.
"Master, can we at least go and see Jingchen one last time?!"
Madam Ping continued to shake her head helplessly.
"Sigh? Ganyu, even you... You should learn from Keqing, know when to let go."
Ningguang, Ganyu, and Shenhe all looked at Keqing, who was clenching her fists tightly.
Remembering Jingchen and Columbia's situation just now, her hands slowly relaxed.
That's right, the child is about to be born, should we still disturb them?!
Is this really a good idea?!
But, as Ningguang had just said, it was a night of being alone, utterly solitary.
Every time, only his figure appeared in her dreams. When the dream shattered, nothing was left.
So, these days, Keqing had Ganyu accompany her in completing various documents.
She finished all the work the Yuheng Star was responsible for over the next ten years.
She even planned over a dozen different reconstructions for the Guili Plains.
Giving up, avoiding, regretting – these words had become Keqing's main theme over the past few months.
She gritted her teeth and clenched her fist again.
"Madam Ping, please let us speak with Jingchen alone! We definitely won't bring Columbia any bad memories."
Madam Ping sighed helplessly and waved her hand.
A scroll appeared before everyone.
Columbia was fast asleep, and Jingchen was taking care of her nearby.
Jingchen was gentle and meticulous, very careful.
These scenes undoubtedly caused everyone even more pain.
Especially Ningguang and Keqing.
If they hadn't rejected Jingchen several years ago, then Columbia's present situation…
Perhaps it would be their own present.
Ningguang kept trying to calm herself, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before speaking to Madam Ping.
"Immortal, could we speak with Jingchen alone? Just this once?"
"This… Do you really want to end up like Yae Miko?"
"No. But we also don't want to become strangers. Although we know that most of the fault lies with us.
We're just pathetic, hateful, second chances. But we still want to talk to Jingchen one last time."
Madam Ping hesitated slightly, after all, Ningguang and Keqing were the Seven Stars, and Ganyu and Shenhe were her disciples.
But Keqing, Ningguang, Shenhe, and Ganyu's determined gazes…
Sigh, perhaps she should let Jingchen talk to them alone.
"Alright, follow me."
Madam Ping waved her hand, and a gust of immortal wind carried them to Mount Tianheng, outside her abode.
"Wait here for a moment. I need to have a word with Jingchen."
Everyone nodded slightly.
Madam Ping entered her abode and went to Jingchen's room, gently pushing open the door.
"Master, you're here?"
"Is Columbia alright?"
"Yes, she's doing well."
Madam Ping beamed with joy, and gentle breezes swirled around Columbia.
"My disciple, I've spent these past few days in the mortal realm, learning a great deal about how to care for newborns.
I've compiled it all into a manual, which I shall give to you first."
Jingchen took the manuscript from Madam Ping and opened it.
The neat handwriting, with annotations in various colors, showed just how much effort Madam Ping had put in.
"Thank you, Master."
Madam Ping unconsciously revealed a gentle smile, but it quickly faded.
"Ah, my good disciple, let me see…"
"Although you and Columbia are a perfect match, a match made in heaven. I fully support your relationship.
But you've left behind so many... in Liyue and Inazuma.
Why don't you take the initiative and talk to them calmly?
Help them move on, stop living in avoidance, regret, and reminiscence."
Jingchen lowered his head.
Ningguang and Keqing, setting aside the fact that they rejected me, are also perfect girls.
And they are also good colleagues, in the Jade Chamber.
Keqing will even occasionally give me some of her so-called "extra" lunches and dinners.
Back then, she would lower her head, uncharacteristically hesitant, and stammer,
"Jingchen, I… I have some leftover food here. Would you, would you like to take care of it?"
"Huh?! Okay, thank you."
But every time, the so-called leftover food was actually a perfectly prepared, steaming hot dish.
At that time, I didn't think too much about it, simply assuming Keqing was being kind because we were colleagues.
Now, looking back, it was just… a tsundere act.
It's best to part ways amicably and explain things clearly to them.
"Master, I'm willing to calm down and have a good talk with them."
Madam Ping nodded slightly.
"Go ahead, Ningguang and the others are waiting outside."
"Okay."
When Jingchen walked out of the adepti's abode, he was momentarily stunned.
Besides Ningguang and Keqing, his senior sister Shenhe and senior sister Ganyu were also there.
Huh?! Are they also... Sigh, whatever, let's just talk it out.
Everyone was silent, not a single person spoke.
Only the chirping of insects broke the stillness, a disturbance that was still just a silent, choked-up quiet.
..................
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