After the Lantern Rite, life returned to its usual rhythm.
Qin Yu had always been sensitive to change and dreaded drastic shifts. This steady routine brought her a sense of comfort and security.
"Qin Yu, do you have some time?"
One day, while working alongside Ganyu as scheduled, Ganyu suddenly asked this.
Is she inviting me to go out and play? Qin Yu's interest piqued, and she replied eagerly, "I do. What's up? Are we going out?"
Evaluation: D
"Ah, not exactly..." Ganyu gently shook her head.
Qin Yu's enthusiasm instantly evaporated, and she responded listlessly, "Oh... then what is it?"
Could she be asking me to do something troublesome again?
"Actually, an acquaintance of mine has made a new wine and asked me to taste it," Ganyu said with a gentle smile, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "They also want me to share it with people I trust. Would you be interested in joining me?"
Wine... Qin Yu felt rather indifferent toward it. But drinking with Ganyu would undoubtedly be a different experience. After all, the atmosphere greatly influences how we enjoy food and drink.
Who you're with and where you are make all the difference.
Though it wasn't quite the outing with Ganyu that Qin Yu had hoped for, she thought this was still a good compromise. Any chance to spend more time with Ganyu was worth it, so she nodded in agreement.
"Mmm, that sounds good," Qin Yu replied.
Ganyu's smile widened. "Wonderful! Once I finish up my current tasks, shall we go to my place? The wine is stored there; I didn't bring it with me."
"To Sister Ganyu's house?" Qin Yu couldn't help but exclaim.
"Hmm, what's wrong...? Ah..."
Ganyu belatedly realized that this invitation seemed to carry a hidden meaning.
Though they were sisters in name and principle, they still kissed—and continued to do so to this day. If there was nothing else to distract them, even a brief glance could ignite a desire.
Qin Yu kept insisting they needed to "control themselves a little," but in the end, neither of them ever managed to do so. Within moments, they would become completely immersed, unable to pull away. How embarrassing, Ganyu thought, flustered.
Of course, there was nothing wrong with that.
But precisely because of their relationship, this otherwise ordinary invitation had taken on a hazy ambiguity, as if the purpose had shifted from simply tasting wine to something else...
Ganyu's face flushed as she murmured, "I-I didn't mean anything by it."
Evaluation: C-
"Ah-hmm..."
Didn't mean anything?
No, she didn't.
Qin Yu felt relieved, but a moment later, a strange sense of dissatisfaction welled up within her.
If Ganyu harbored romantic feelings for her, it would cause her distress; yet if she didn't, it would leave her feeling frustrated.
Naturally, Qin Yu would never voice such complex and troublesome thoughts.
What if Ganyu misunderstood and thought I was eager for that kind of thing? That would be terrible.
"Then let's wait until we finish our work," Qin Yu said decisively, cutting off the conversation.
The ambiguous, hazy atmosphere seemed to be sliced apart by her words.
Ganyu exhaled in relief during the momentary silence, but her thoughts continued to race.
Qin Yu's misunderstanding must be the same as what I'm thinking.
Ganyu had never done such a thing, nor had she ever been interested in it. She merely knew about it from her long years in the human world.
Yet the thought of Qin Yu misunderstanding, imagining that, with herself as the object, left Ganyu both flustered and deeply moved. Her face flushed, her ears burned, and she couldn't help but steal frequent glances at Qin Yu.
Noticing Ganyu's gaze, Qin Yu twisted a strand of hair around her finger, thinking: Stop looking.
Evaluation: C+
After work, Ganyu kept her promise and took Qin Yu to her residence.
The elegant yet simple decor reminded Qin Yu somewhat of Cloud Retainer's cave dwelling. Qin Yu surveyed the surroundings, inwardly marveling.
If I don't think like this, I'll get too nervous.
She wasn't in the mood for that kind of thing right now, but what if Ganyu was?
Lost in her thoughts, Qin Yu was startled when Ganyu returned with the wine she had mentioned earlier.
"This is the one I told you about. I haven't tried it yet, so I'm not sure how it tastes..." Ganyu said as she placed a wine glass in front of Qin Yu and sat down beside her.
"Well, let's take a sip and see," Qin Yu suggested.
"Mm-hmm," Ganyu agreed.
After pouring a glass, Qin Yu took a small sip.
"It's fruit wine," she concluded.
Surprisingly refreshing and mild, it tasted more like a beverage, perhaps even suitable for mixing cocktails.
"It's not very strong at all," Ganyu said, somewhat surprised. "Yet she usually drinks much stronger wine."
But when Ganyu took another sip, she suddenly coughed. Qin Yu leaned in anxiously, asking, "Are you alright?"
Ganyu's cheeks flushed slightly as she said awkwardly, "I accidentally choked."
Then she let out a soft "Ah."
Qin Yu glanced down and noticed a faint wine-red stain dripping from the corner of Ganyu's lips down to her collar.
"I should wipe that off..." Ganyu raised her hand to wipe it away with her fingers.
But just as she lifted her hand, Qin Yu gently pressed it down.
Ganyu turned her head and realized Qin Yu was very close, the perfect distance—the one she knew best and cherished most—just a little closer, and they would touch.
"Let me help you, Sister Ganyu," Qin Yu murmured softly.
"Eh? Ah, hmm... Thank you for your help."
Ganyu thought Qin Yu was going to offer her a handkerchief, but instead, Qin Yu leaned in close, her breath ghosting across the corner of Ganyu's lips before trailing downward.
Evaluation: B
She's going to do it like this? Ganyu thought in a panic.
Qin Yu's actions reminded her of cats and dogs—only those close enough would do such a thing. But if she voiced this aloud, Qin Yu would undoubtedly protest vehemently.
"I'm not a cat!" she would certainly retort.
Ganyu didn't care why Qin Yu was doing this, nor did she have time to dwell on it. An indescribable emotion was gradually taking hold of her heart.
Tears shimmered in Ganyu's eyes as she took Qin Yu's hand and guided it to her horn, urging her to touch it.
Evaluation: A-
Being so clingy again, Qin Yu muttered to herself, yet she secretly craved Ganyu's affection.
There's nothing wrong with being clingy. A little more would be fine.
With this thought, Qin Yu gently stroked Ganyu's horn. The closer she felt Ganyu's presence, the more intensely the emotions churning within her grew.
Cradling Ganyu's face, her cheeks flushed crimson, Qin Yu murmured in a daze, "My Sister Ganyu..."
Evaluation: A+
Ganyu's heart melted with joy, like honey dissolving. Pressing Qin Yu's hand against her cheek, she responded softly:
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
The gentle voice made Qin Yu shyly lower her head and lean against Ganyu's chest.
"N-nothing, I'm just really happy."
Evaluation: S
Perhaps she had grown more comfortable expressing herself. Since the Lantern Rite, Qin Yu had occasionally voiced her feelings directly and honestly.
Ganyu found this wonderful, for both of them.
It allowed her to better understand Qin Yu's heart.
But it was also one reason why they both found it increasingly difficult to control themselves.
The desire to express the feelings that arose upon receiving such affection, the longing to reciprocate that love, could only be realized through words or actions.
"Qin Yu."
"Hmm?" Qin Yu looked up.
Ganyu closed her eyes.
Realizing Ganyu was seeking something, Qin Yu's chest grew warmer.
A mischievous idea popped into her head—something that would definitely startle Ganyu, and... might be quite nice too.
With that thought, Qin Yu took a sip of wine before responding.
Evaluation: SS-
The familiar warmth and sweetness of the wine made Ganyu's eyes snap open in surprise. But she was quickly captivated by the sensation, immersing herself in it.
Evaluation: SS
Evaluation: SS+
Evaluation: SSS-
"What do you think, Sister Ganyu?" Qin Yu asked softly, gently stroking Ganyu's cheek.
Her reaction was perfect—the prank had worked!
Ganyu's face flushed crimson. "That was too sudden! Feeding me wine like that... Ah, are you teasing me again?"
"I don't know," Qin Yu replied, looking away.
Ganyu puffed out her cheeks slightly. "You always do this."
Ever since they'd grown closer, Qin Yu had taken to teasing her occasionally. Though these were mostly harmless pranks, their frequency had still prompted Ganyu to murmur her complaints.
"Because I know Sister Ganyu will accept it," Qin Yu said, intertwining their fingers.
"Even so..."
Ganyu savored the lingering sensation, glancing at Qin Yu.
"Then... could we do it again?"
After a long pause, Ganyu finally managed to voice her desire.
"After all... there's still plenty of wine left."
Surprised by Ganyu's suggestion, Qin Yu's heart raced. Her own craving hadn't been satisfied either.
She nodded gently. "Mm-hmm."
"Then let me take the lead this time."
Ganyu took a sip of wine, drew Qin Yu closer, and allowed the taste to flow between them, seeping deep into their bodies and souls.
Snapping back to reality, Qin Yu realized she was pressing Ganyu's shoulders, pinning her against the sofa.
Startled by this realization, Qin Yu felt flustered.
"Qin Yu, has your hair grown a bit longer?" Ganyu asked curiously, her fingertips weaving through Qin Yu's strands.
Completely content with Ganyu stroking her hair, Qin Yu casually leaned against Ganyu's chest, her voice lazy:
"I guess so. I haven't gotten it cut."
"I see... I think you look great like this, Qin Yu. It's like when you were a little girl with long hair," Ganyu murmured, pulling Qin Yu into a gentle embrace.
Qin Yu felt a strange, subtle unease.
Why is she bringing up how I looked as a child at a time like this? We were just feeding each other wine! Qin Yu thought to herself, but couldn't help asking, her voice tinged with concern:
"Sister Ganyu, do you prefer my hair long?"
"Not really. I like it either way," Ganyu replied.
Qin Yu touched her hair. "But you clearly like it longer a little better, right?"
"Mmm... just a bit."
Twirling a strand of hair around her finger, Qin Yu suppressed her elation and whispered, "Then I'll keep it this length. It's hard to manage when it's too long."
Especially not as long as Ningguang's hair—that's impossible.
"Hmm? Why isn't Ganyu responding?" Qin Yu tilted her head in confusion, only to be met with a slightly troubled expression on Ganyu's face.
"Sister Ganyu? What's wrong?" she asked, startled.
"Eh? Oh..."
Ganyu snapped out of her daze, her gaze darting around, flickering uncertainly.
I'm thinking about it again.
There's no need to dwell on this. I should be used to it by now. But realizing Qin Yu has grown up and will continue to grow, I can't help but think about...
The day we'll inevitably part ways.
"If there's something on your mind, just tell me," Qin Yu said.
Ganyu's evasive, hesitant demeanor piqued her curiosity while also stirring a hint of dissatisfaction.
What's there to hesitate about now?
Finally, Ganyu nodded softly and said in a quiet voice, "Do you remember during the Lantern Rite, when we heard the story of Ping and Guizhong from Cloud Retainer?"
"I remember," Qin Yu replied.
What does this have to do with that? Qin Yu wondered, puzzled.
Ganyu sighed softly.
"Even Adepti and Gods cannot escape the inevitability of parting, let alone humans. I... that's what I thought back then, and I still think about it now."
Qin Yu looked utterly surprised.
Ganyu held Qin Yu tightly, continuing, "Even though I understand this and should have grown used to it, just the thought of one day having to part with you makes me..."
Only then did Qin Yu understand Ganyu's true feelings.
It was true that Qin Yu's body, enhanced by her Skill, would likely outlive ordinary people. But she could never match the longevity of a half-adeptus like Ganyu. One day, they would inevitably face the pain of separation, whether through life or death.
Ganyu had already experienced countless such partings and should have grown accustomed to them, yet these thoughts still plagued her.
The reason was simple: the target was me.
Realizing this, Qin Yu felt a surge of joy mixed with a pang of empathy.
There must be a way around this, she thought.
She sat up, moved closer to Ganyu, and declared, "There has to be a way!"
"Eh? Why do you say that?" Ganyu asked, puzzled.
"Because... I have some other connections," Qin Yu said, unsure how to explain.
Since it's the Affectionate Touch System, it wouldn't be strange if I had a Skill or something that allows us to keep touching forever, right? she thought, though she hadn't fully explored the System yet.
But even if there isn't one, I'll find it.
"If Sister Ganyu doesn't mind... I'll find a way to make it happen," Qin Yu murmured.
"Mind? How could I ever mind?"
To spend eternity with Qin Yu—that's the future I yearn for, Ganyu thought.
Qin Yu felt reassured, but then added, "Because... well, spending decades or centuries together might get boring... for some people, of course. Not for me."
Wait, wasn't that implying Ganyu might get tired of me? Uwaah! Qin Yu belatedly realized, feeling a twinge of regret.
"I wouldn't either! How could I ever get tired of you? If we could truly stay together forever, wouldn't that be wonderful?" Ganyu said wistfully.
It's perfect that Ganyu feels this way, Qin Yu thought.
Ganyu's longing expression likely stemmed from... Qin Yu thought, her chest tightening slightly as she spoke:
"So, I want to stay with you forever, Sister Ganyu. I don't want you to be lonely."
Ganyu's face flushed crimson.
She doesn't want me to be lonely. Ganyu chewed on the words, a torrent of emotions surging deep within her heart and soul.
Qin Yu had effortlessly discerned her feelings and boldly reached out to acknowledge them, to reciprocate. The more Ganyu thought about it, the faster her heart raced.
"With Qin Yu by my side, I'll never be lonely," Ganyu murmured.
Warmth bloomed in Qin Yu's chest. That's exactly what I wanted to hear.
Ganyu cupped Qin Yu's face and drew her closer.
The lingering warmth and softness, their mingled breaths, and the comforting scent left her dazed. She couldn't suppress the desire rising from her core, and following this burgeoning longing and longing, Ganyu, her cheeks deepening with color, whispered:
"Qin Yu... can you...?"
She grasped Qin Yu's hand, her voice barely audible. "Touch me... more?"
I want Qin Yu.
The familiar restlessness stirred within her once more. Qin Yu's eyes glistened as she softly replied, "Mm."
I want Sister Ganyu.
Evaluation: SSS
Evaluation: SSS+
Qin Yu brushed aside Ganyu's damp bangs, murmuring uncontrollably, "My Sister Ganyu... I want to stay with you forever."
Ganyu responded joyfully, "Then it's a promise!"
"Mm-hmm."
Receiving Qin Yu's direct confirmation filled Ganyu with even greater satisfaction.
As she replayed the moment in her mind, Ganyu's eyes flickered slightly. So this is what doing something like that feels like...
But it must be because it was with Qin Yu.
Ganyu took Qin Yu's hand and pressed it against her chest, the rhythmic thumping of her heart vibrating through Qin Yu's palm. Qin Yu's slightly calmed mind veered onto a new course.
"Could... we do it again?" Ganyu asked shyly.
Afterward, Qin Yu meticulously reviewed her System, scrolling down to the very bottom of the Skill Tree.
"Hm? What's this...?"
[Penglai Wine - A one-time special skill. Using it summons a bottle of wine brewed from the legendary Penglai Adeptus elixir. Drinking this wine grants eternal youth and longevity. Once used, the skill reverts to an unacquired state, requiring the corresponding Points to be spent again for reactivation. This wine can be consumed by anyone.]
That's it! Qin Yu's eyes lit up.
With this, both she and Shenhe could live forever.
As for the Points required...
One hundred million!
"Ha?!"
One hundred million Points per use?! That's outrageous! Her current Points balance was...
Fifty million.
...It doesn't seem like that much, does it? Qin Yu's tightly furrowed brows relaxed.
In the past, she would never have been able to save up this much, but things were different now.
After all, obtaining SSS+ Evaluations was no longer difficult.
As long as she could consistently achieve SSS+ Evaluations, she could acquire this Skill faster and fulfill Sister Ganyu's wish sooner.
Just go and talk to Shenhe and the others... Ah, no, no, I can't think like that!
"Such things depend on the atmosphere!"
Beside her, Shenhe tilted her head slightly. "Hm?"