At this moment, Liyue Harbor, the docks.
Onboard The Alcor of The Crux Fleet.
Beidou sat on the gunwale, dressed in tight red combat gear, her hair bound with a hairpin.
A sea breeze blew past, teasing the black hair at her temples.
"Captain, all ships are ready."
Kaedehara Kazuha leapt down from the crow's nest. With invisible Anemo power swirling, he landed steadily in front of Beidou.
"Got it."
Beidou took a swig of wine, stood up on the gunwale, and shouted, "Alright lads, let's move out!"
"Yes, Captain!"
The sailors acknowledged the order and got to work.
The ship slowly began to move.
Once the speed and sails were adjusted and the prow aligned with the map and compass bearings, the fleet set off in grand fashion.
In the past, once the fleet was on course, the crew would have already started partying.
A bit of gambling, maybe some arm wrestling, or gathering together to chat about where they'd gone to have fun during their shore leave.
But this time, they didn't.
With the wind at their backs, everyone except the crew members watching the sea pulled out a book and began reading.
This was a batch of books Beidou had bought directly from the Liyue Publishing House.
Although they were sailors, they had received a basic education in Liyue, so reading novels was not an issue for them.
"As expected of Miss Fang Qiu, her naming sense is excellent. The Eternal—it must represent never sinking, never yielding. How about we rename our ship that too?"
"Didn't the Captain say we'd be adding a new ship after we get back from Inazuma? We could name that one The Eternal."
"A ship that holds a thousand people? That would be huge. Miss Fang Qiu really is something—she's beautiful and writes so well."
"Speaking of which, what do you think of me?"
"What do you mean?"
"My looks, of course! Logically speaking, I'm pretty handsome, right? Miss Fang Qiu is just too beautiful. I think when we get back from Inazuma, I'll confess my feelings to her."
"A toad lusting after swan meat—keep dreaming. With a mug like yours, you're not even as good-looking as me. If anyone's going, it's me."
"I object!"
"We're a match made in heaven, a talented man and a beautiful woman—what gives an ugly guy like you the right to object?"
"Damn it, I challenge you to a duel!"
"Shut up, all of you. I won't accept Miss Fang Qiu being with any man, including myself! If anyone dares approach Miss Fang Qiu with impure thoughts, I'll castrate them!"
"Are you that ruthless? Speaking of that, did you guys see Miss Fang Qiu sleeping on Director Hu's shoulder from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor the other day?"
"How could we miss it? To avoid waking Miss Fang Qiu, the Captain didn't even let us speak loudly."
"That scene was just too sweet."
"If you put it that way, Miss Xiangling specially preparing grilled fish for Miss Fang Qiu later was also really sweet."
For a moment, everyone started discussing this topic.
"Captain, I didn't expect you to actually buy a copy of Miss Fang Qiu's book for everyone in The Crux Fleet."
Glancing at the gossiping sailors, Kaedehara Kazuha turned his gaze back to Beidou.
"I quite like that little girl. Besides, if I say I'll do something, I do it. That's one of my rules."
Beidou smiled and said, "And it's not just Ganyu. Earlier at Yuehai Pavilion, after listening to that woman Ningguang ramble on about trade between Inazuma and Liyue, I was wandering around and saw Keqing reading Fang Qiu's Your Lie in April during her break. And it seems Keqing has a pretty good opinion not just of Fang Qiu's books, but of Fang Qiu herself."
"Even Keqing of the Liyue Qixing praises Fang Qiu's books highly. It seems Miss Fang Qiu's writing is indeed excellent."
Kaedehara Kazuha said thoughtfully.
"Don't you like literary works, Kazuha? You should give it a read."
Beidou said.
"I flipped through a page or two. Although Miss Fang Qiu writes very well, I prefer Liyue's poetry."
Kazuha said, "I have a greater fondness for poetic stories filled with the atmosphere of Liyue."
"Then wait until we get back from Inazuma and mention it to Fang Qiu."
Beidou smiled and added, "Speaking of which, the cargo our fleet is carrying this time seems to include sample books from the Liyue Publishing House to be delivered to the Yae Publishing House in Inazuma."
After chatting for a while.
Beidou waved her hand, picked up Fang Qiu's The Eternal, opened a page, and said, "I'm going to read the little girl's book too. You go do your thing."
After a moment of silence, having read half a page, Beidou noticed that Kaedehara Kazuha was still standing there.
"Something else?"
"Nothing, just felt that reading doesn't quite suit you, Captain."
Kaedehara Kazuha shook his head and said.
...
The slightly cool sea breeze grazed the noisy, bustling harbor, passed through the rich and lively streets, and, carrying the warmth of Liyue Harbor, blew onto the top-floor terrace of Yuehai Pavilion, perched high atop Yujing Terrace.
Her platinum-blonde hair and golden sleeves drifted gently in the wind. The graceful woman, dressed in an expensive cheongsam of gold, black, and white, watched the gradually receding Crux Fleet with a profound gaze.
Silence reigned for some time.
"Things have come to a close for now. In a few days, we should be able to establish basic trade with Inazuma."
She turned to look at the blue-clad girl with black and red horns behind her and said with a faint smile, "Ganyu, thank you for your hard work these past two days."
"You are too kind, Lady Ningguang. This is simply my duty as the secretary to the Liyue Qixing."
Ganyu shook her head and spoke softly.
"Then, do you have time to play a game of chess with me?"
Ningguang asked with a faint smile.
"Lady Ningguang, I have already agreed to go to Wanwen Bookhouse with Lady Keqing to buy books."
Ganyu hesitated slightly before replying.
"That is truly a pity."
Though she said this, Ningguang's expression did not change in the slightest; she maintained her faint smile and said, "However, it is quite rare for the two of you to arrange a shopping trip for books together."
"To buy a book written by someone who... counts as a friend."
Glancing outside the terrace as the breeze brushed past, a smile unconsciously curled the corners of Ganyu's lips.
"I see."
Ningguang said.
"If there is nothing else, I will not disturb you further, Lady Ningguang."
"Go and get some rest."
After Ganyu left, Ningguang withdrew her gaze, walked slowly to a chaise lounge, and sat down gently.
Her delicate body settled onto the lounge. She gently lifted her long, fair legs, crossing one over the other in a posture that looked extraordinarily alluring and full of charm.
Slightly languid.
She picked up the slightly cool herbal tea placed beside the lounge and took a shallow sip.
The taste was slightly bitter.
"Reading? Not a bad way to pass the time. However, someone who can be friends with both Keqing and Ganyu at the same time must be no ordinary person. Interesting."
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