"Zhongli… don't you think you've been looking at me a bit strangely lately?"
Cael walked out of his room, feeling well-rested. Judging by the time, Hu Tao should be back soon.
Zhongli was busy examining an antique he'd just bought at the market. When he heard Cael's voice, he paused slightly.
Is it that obvious?
Or… has he become more perceptive? Zhongli wondered silently.
...
"Is that so?" Zhongli replied calmly.
"Perhaps you're imagining things, my young friend."
Seeing nothing unusual in Zhongli's reaction, Cael didn't think too much of it and stood there, pondering what he should do next to kill time.
Just then—
Knock knock.
The door of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was rapped from outside.
"Mr. Cael," a female voice announced, likely one of the funeral attendants,
"Lady Keqing of the Liyue Qixing and the Qixing's secretary have come to see you."
That single sentence instantly caught the attention of both Cael and Zhongli.
"The Yuheng and a secretary?" Zhongli said mildly, taking a sip of tea.
"It seems you've been involved in something rather significant lately."
With that, Zhongli stood up and headed upstairs.
"It appears I won't need to intervene."
"…Hey! He just ran off," Cael muttered helplessly, then turned to greet the visitors.
Must be about yesterday, he thought.
Didn't expect Keqing to find time so soon…
But—
Why is Ganyu here too?
...
...
"Are you sure about this, Secretary Ganyu?" Keqing asked quietly as the two stood outside.
"Who gives rewards like this?"
Ganyu smiled and nodded with confidence.
"Yes. Please trust me."
"…I still think giving Mora directly would be better," Keqing muttered.
As they spoke, the door opened.
Cael smiled warmly.
"Welcome. Please, come in."
He gestured politely.
Keqing nodded and entered.
Ganyu, however, remained where she was.
Her head was lowered, bangs hiding her expression. Her body trembled faintly.
It's him…
There's no way I could mistake that voice…
He's really back…
Cael noticed something was wrong.
"Um… Secretary Ganyu?" he asked hesitantly.
"Ah—! I'm fine!" Ganyu replied quickly, forcing herself to look up. She met his gaze deeply—just once.
"I… I'll stay outside. I only came along because our routes overlapped. I… I should be going."
Afraid she might lose control and rush toward him, Ganyu turned and left almost immediately.
Keqing stood there, stunned.
"…That's not what she said earlier."
Cael scratched his head.
"Do I look that scary? I don't think I do. I should be… decent-looking, right?"
Still, since Ganyu had left, the pressure eased a bit.
He closed the door and turned to receive Keqing.
Upstairs, Zhongli observed the scene quietly.
"Let her be willful this once," he murmured.
"Five hundred years without him… that is far too long for her."
Zhongli knew very well what kind of relationship Cael and Ganyu once had.
Among both adepti and demon gods, they were considered the most likely pair.
They had even been preparing to formalize their engagement—
Until the Khaenri'ah Calamity broke out.
Unprepared. Unexpected.
And he fell there.
For Ganyu, that was an unparalleled cruelty.
Zhongli sighed inwardly.
What even he didn't realize was—
If Cael and Ganyu were the most likely pair…
Then he himself and Guizhong had been the second.
...
Downstairs.
Cael invited Keqing to sit. He took the seat opposite her.
"You came quite suddenly, Lady Keqing," he joked lightly.
"I didn't even have time to prepare tea or snacks."
Keqing shook her head.
"No need. This visit is somewhat abrupt on my part. I came regarding the merit you rendered earlier."
Cael listened quietly.
Keqing continued solemnly:
"As the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, I formally thank you. That Fatui incident was far more complicated than it appeared. Without your help, we would not have obtained so much crucial information."
"This is a token of my gratitude."
She retrieved a large chest from her Vision space and opened it.
✨ Golden glow. ✨
Inside lay an enormous pile of Primogems, glittering softly.
"…This is one hundred thousand Primogems," Keqing began—
But she suddenly noticed Cael wasn't moving.
When she looked up—
She froze.
Cael was staring straight at the Primogems, tears streaming from his eyes… and somehow also from his mouth.
"…Eh?" Keqing blinked.
Does he… really like them that much?
In Teyvat, Primogems were mostly decorative crystals. Aside from the Adventurers' Guild, few used them as actual rewards.
"These… are all for me?!" Cael asked, trembling.
Even if Primogems weren't that useful to him now—
What Traveler would ever reject Primogems?!
And one hundred thousand of them?!
"Thank you, Lady Yuheng!!! I am your eternal fan!!!"
Cael clutched the chest and wept openly.
"Ah—! N-No need to be so formal!" Keqing said awkwardly.
"Just call me Keqing. Also… giving Primogems wasn't my idea. It was Secretary Ganyu's."
"That explains it!" Cael beamed.
"Secretary Ganyu is truly considerate! And Lady Keqing is decisive and cool—so I'm a fan of both of you!"
He happily buried his face into the pile of Primogems.
Keqing didn't know what to say anymore.
Upstairs, Zhongli watched with a faint smile.
"Even without his memories, he still adores Primogems as much as ever… Ganyu truly understands you."
Just then—
The front door burst open again.
"Cael!! I'M BACK!!"
Hu Tao stumbled in dramatically.
"I'm exhausted—can you give me a hug as compensation—"
She stopped dead.
There was a woman sitting opposite Cael.
In Hu Tao's mind, a tragic melodrama instantly played:
A hardworking wife out earning money—only to catch her husband cheating at home!
"AAAAH!! Cael!!"
"You dared bring another woman into Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?! GO DIE!!!"
She whipped out the Staff of Homa and attacked.
"Director—wait! Let me explain!" Cael panicked while blocking.
Hu Tao cut him off instantly.
"You won't even call me Hu Tao anymore—GO DIE!!!"
Keqing stared, utterly dumbfounded.
"Uh… Director," she said cautiously,
"Is there perhaps… a misunderstanding?"
Hu Tao was not holding back.
Cael blocked smoothly—but internally was screaming:
If not for my fifty-fifty ability, I'd be seriously injured!
She hits way too hard!
Keqing observed calmly.
"This is far stronger than when he fought the Fatui…"
"…It seems Mr. Cael truly favors the Director."
Deciding things had gone far enough, Keqing stood up.
"Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor," she said formally,
"I am Keqing, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Hu Tao froze mid-swing.
"…Eh?"
She looked at Keqing carefully.
"Wait—YOU'RE really the Yuheng?!"
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