Inside the room.
Xia Ci was chatting with Nahida on her phone.
On the other bed, Xia Zhen was busy taking selfies.
Xia Ci: My dear little sister, that's enough already.
Xia Ci: Stop rewarding yourself every night.
Nahida: I'm not! I didn't! Sis, don't just say nonsense!
Xia Ci: Heh, it's not like I can't tell.
Nahida: Then why did you deliberately do that before!
Xia Ci: Do what?
Nahida: You know what! You've made it impossible for me to read or rest at night!
Xia Ci: Pfft, I was just asking cousin for a Massage, that's all.
Nahida: You call that a proper Massage? Don't think I can't feel it!
Xia Ci: What! After all the years I worked so hard, now that I've finally stepped back, I'm not allowed to Enjoy a little?
Nahida: …Well if you're gonna do that, then I'll do this.
Xia Ci lifted her head, glanced at her best friend still snapping selfies, and sighed.
Xia Zhen shot her a look. "What's wrong?"
"My adorable little sister's already entered her rebellious phase."
"How delightful. Congratulations."
"Don't you gloat."
"I'm not."
"Don't forget, your sister's also a problem child."
"Heh, Ei may be a little dense, but she still listens to me."
"You sure about that?"
"Of course."
"And the Raiden Shogun?"
"You mean that puppet?"
"Mm. Word is she's already developed her own will. Strictly speaking, she's your little sister too, isn't she?"
"Well, if you put it like that, I guess you're not wrong."
"Triple the fun."
"We don't have your kind of weird telepathic link, though."
"Jealous?"
"…"
Xia Ci leaned against the headboard. "So? What about the Three Commissions—have you decided yet?"
One moment the two of them were talking about random personal stuff, the next she jumped straight to politics.
Xia Zhen set down her phone and leaned back against the headboard. "Still thinking."
"You've been in the Library reading tons these days."
"I have."
"No insights?"
"Plenty."
"Then you must have a preliminary plan?"
"Needs changing."
"Change how? Model it after Liyue's Qixing?"
"No. The Qixing have managed Liyue decently, but it's far from enough."
"What level are you aiming for then?"
"Plant the red flag across all of Inazuma."
"???"
"What do you think?"
"You serious?"
"Of course."
"Interesting. But Inazuma's class system is already so rigid. Even with you taking the lead, short-term change won't be easy."
"Which is why I need a lot of allies. Allies who'll always stand by me."
"I think I get it now."
"Knew you would."
"Guess it's time to bother cousin, huh."
"Yeah."
Xia Zhen nodded, her gaze turning distant.
She looked toward Inazuma, murmuring softly,
"This year's Summer Festival… Inazuma can finally bring back the glorious Kitsune Saiguu."
Xia Ci overheard and said, "Cousin might not agree to your request."
"I'll beg him."
"How? Just by asking nicely?"
"…You're impossible."
Xia Zhen scowled.
In this kind of race, she could never keep up with her best friend's pace.
Any road, no matter how ridiculous, Xia Ci could drive on.
--
Morning.
Xia Zhi woke up.
At his nose lingered a familiar fragrance, orchid-like with a hint of musk.
Such a lovely scent… it was Cloud Retainer's.
From a god's-eye view, Xia Zhi took a glance.
Cloud Retainer was lying right beside him, head pillowed on his arm, her long black hair spilling over her shoulders.
Lower down—those long, pale, slender legs of hers.
Perfect, like a figure stepped right out of a manga.
The feel and the sight were both flawless.
Xia Zhi couldn't help but smile in lingering satisfaction.
Last night he and Cloud Retainer had… gone very deep indeed.
Sure, it was a "surprise event" made possible thanks to Shenhe's pill assist, but honestly, the two of them had already been on countless dream-dates before, so it was only natural that things had flowed this way.
And as for the experience? Even as master, even on her "first time," she hadn't been outdone by her two disciples in the slightest.
Plus, Cloud Retainer had worn red-rimmed glasses.
Glasses-girls really had a flavor all their own. Much more alluring than colored contacts—Xia Zhi thought they gave her a whole new charm.
After a while, Cloud Retainer stirred awake.
Seeing Xia Zhi's face so close startled her, then she came to her senses, shrinking back a little before whispering shyly, "Good morning."
Xia Zhi nodded. "Morning, Cloud Retainer."
They chatted idly for a bit, drifting back to when they'd first met.
Cloud Retainer reached out, stroked his face, and said with a touch of nostalgia, "Back then when I saw you bathing in the river, I thought—this face really was too handsome."
Xia Zhi chuckled. "So you had your eye on me from way back then?"
"Not quite. The first time we met, I just noticed you had this odd aura that felt strangely close, like a warm, radiant light. I even wondered if you carried the bloodline of the Golden Crow."
"You're overthinking it."
"I figured as much. I only ever read about the Golden Crow in some ancient text—just made a random guess. But I wasn't that far off."
"Closer now, anyway."
Xia Zhi lifted a finger, golden flame flickering to life at his fingertip.
Cloud Retainer's eyes fixed on it.
"This is…?"
"Can you feel it?"
"It feels… like the sun?"
"Mm. This is True Sunfire."
He let the flame die, lowering his hand.
"By the way, where's your feather robe?"
"?"
"The one you made from your eggshell when you took human form."
"You saw it last night, didn't you?"
"Let me see again."
"…Fine."
Cloud Retainer brought out her feather robe.
The fabric's texture was exquisite.
"Xia Lin and Xia Le still have their eggshells too. Later, teach them how to turn their companion relics into artifacts."
"Alright."
"You know, the first time we met, I also noticed you had this wonderful scent. Not perfume, right?"
"No."
"Then it's natural."
"You really like it?"
"Back then, when you held me at night, breathing it in made me feel safe."
"So you were already pining for me then?"
"You were still in crane form. I wasn't about to lust after a little female crane."
"How did you know I was female?"
Cloud Retainer's gaze turned oddly suspicious.
Xia Zhi stayed silent, chuckling softly.
And then—well, then nothing.
Except to say—Cloud Retainer's legs were quite fun to prop up.