"Hmm... I can't think of what to write," Yanfei muttered to herself.
Hearing her, Qin Yu set down her novel and walked over to Yanfei's side.
"What are you working on?"
Yanfei smiled. "Writing a letter to a friend in Mondstadt."
"A friend?"
"Male or female?"
Either way, Qin Yu couldn't ignore it. But was she meddling too much? Women who got too jealous were often disliked.
No, this isn't really jealousy, she thought. It's just... concern.
Evaluation: D-
I already said it was just concern.
"A friend? What's she like?" Qin Yu asked casually, probing for more information.
"Hmm, how to put it... In some ways, she's a bit like you, Qin Yu?"
Ha?
"Like me?" Qin Yu asked, surprised.
Yanfei nodded. "Her name is Eula. She's a member of the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt. She's a good person, but she sometimes says... odd things, like 'This debt will be repaid' or 'This grudge will be remembered.'"
"How is that like me at all?"
I might hold grudges, but I'd never be so blunt about it.
"Well, she's a good person, but she can also be a bit... reserved. I bet you two would have plenty in common," Yanfei said with a smile.
Qin Yu remained noncommittal, but what truly concerned her was Yanfei's reaction.
Yanfei's expression brightened visibly at the mention of "Eula."
"You and Eula are close?" Qin Yu asked softly.
"Of course! She's a dear friend and my benefactor."
"I once took a job as a consultant on a merchant ship, only to discover it was carrying dangerous materials from the Abyss Order. When I sensed something was amiss, I investigated, and it nearly backfired spectacularly."
Yanfei continued to chatter animatedly, "Luckily, Eula's squad was tracking that very cargo. She rescued me in the process, and that's how we met. Since then, we've been writing letters to each other regularly, keeping in touch. I've learned so much about flexibility and adaptability from her—I guess that's what you call a beneficial friendship!"
Qin Yu felt increasingly uneasy as she listened, but she hid her discomfort, responding with a disinterested, "I see."
"I've been meaning to write back to Eula. She sent a letter recently, but when I actually picked up my pen, I realized I had no idea what to write!"
Yanfei pondered aloud, "Qin Yu, what do you think I should write?"
Who knows?
And she's asking me? Qin Yu secretly pursed her lips. Even if she had ideas, she wouldn't share them. It wasn't her letter to write.
"I don't know," Qin Yu said dismissively.
"Hmm, true enough."
Seeing Yanfei's attention drift back to her writing, Qin Yu felt a pang of irritation.
"Just write whatever comes to mind, right?" she tried to pull Yanfei's focus back to herself.
"But I just don't know what to write!"
Then just don't write anything, Qin Yu retorted silently.
If I act sulky, Yanfei might think I'm jealous. Even though I'm not, if she thinks that, she might start thinking "Qin Yu's being a bit clingy" or something.
I'm not jealous, and I don't want her to think I am.
So Qin Yu simply replied with a curt, "Oh."
Still, she couldn't shake off the irritation.
"Speaking of letters, I've been wanting to write one myself lately."
"Eh? Who are you writing to?" Yanfei asked, her curiosity piqued.
Shenhe and the others are all in Liyue. It's easy to see them—why would I need to write a letter?
Of course, some people just love writing love letters during the honeymoon phase... Could it be for me? Yanfei thought, her cheeks flushing and her heart racing.
Evaluation: C-
Yanfei's daydreaming again, I see.
But this time, Qin Yu wanted Yanfei to share her feelings.
"It's... for Yun Jin," Qin Yu stammered.
"Ah!?" Yanfei exclaimed in shock.
For Yun Jin? When did Qin Yu and Yun Jin get so close?
No, it's not like they were ever on bad terms, but they were just casual friends—nothing like the bond Qin Yu and I share now.
That's right, nothing like us.
So it must just be a casual letter, right? After all, Qin Yu is Yun Jin's biggest fan. I've even seen her in the audience during Yun Jin's performances.
Her thoughts raced like lightning, and Yanfei instantly understood everything.
"I see! In that case, let me recommend some envelopes. They're both beautiful and affordable!"
"Huh?"
Why is she reacting like this? Qin Yu wondered, completely puzzled.
"No need."
"Mm? Oh, okay. Ah, I've got it! I know what to write now! Wait for me a moment—I'll finish this letter and then we can talk!"
Yanfei thought that the sooner she finished the letter, the more time she could spend with Qin Yu. She turned back and began writing.
But to Qin Yu, it felt more like—"I'm writing a letter now, so just stay put."
Is that Eula more important than me?
Evaluation: C+
Ha? Qin Yu's dissatisfaction grew even stronger at this evaluation.
After watching Yanfei focus intently on her writing for a while, the pent-up frustration in Qin Yu's heart stirred another, more primal feeling.
Unable to restrain herself any longer, she finally acted.
Qin Yu walked up behind Yanfei, casually wrapped her arms around her, and casually pressed her face very close.
Evaluation: B
"What are you writing?"
Her face is so close! Our horns are touching!
As Yanfei felt the warmth of Qin Yu's skin and inhaled her sweet scent, she was thrown into a state of utter confusion. The sentences she had been about to write vanished entirely, replaced by the overwhelming sensation.
Evaluation: A-
"Just to briefly mention the Lantern Rite," Yanfei said.
"Oh, I see."
Yanfei, her mind wandering, couldn't help but remark, "Qin Yu, are you standing a little too close?"
"Is that a problem?"
"Of course not," Yanfei replied, her face flushing red.
Then there's no issue, right?
Just when Qin Yu thought Yanfei would put aside her writing for the moment, she noticed Yanfei actually picking up her brush again, though she was writing very slowly.
Is this still not enough?
As the thought crossed Qin Yu's mind, her gaze fell on Yanfei's lap. She moved around to her side, squeezing into her lap and forcefully claiming her lap as her seat, settling sideways onto it.
Evaluation: A+
Yanfei's vision was almost entirely blocked by Qin Yu. "Qin Yu?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
Even she realized Qin Yu's behavior was becoming increasingly strange.
Even though she was busy with her own work, she kept bothering her, even directly squeezing into her line of sight, just like a friend's pet cat: When writing, it would lie on the paper; when sleeping, it would sleep on the quilt; and it would demand to be petted every now and then.
Has Qin Yu been possessed by a cat? Yanfei couldn't help but let her imagination run wild.
"You're making it hard for me to write," Yanfei said, her ears flushing.
Qin Yu's brow furrowed, her displeasure deepening.
"Then—"
Then don't write at all.
Nursing this silent complaint, Qin Yu tilted Yanfei's chin and pressed her lips against hers. The sudden kiss disoriented Yanfei momentarily, before she closed her eyes and returned the embrace.
Evaluation: S
Evaluation: SS-
Evaluation: SS+
"Are you saying, Qin Yu, that you... don't want me to write?" Yanfei asked.
"Not exactly."
That would be going too far.
Qin Yu averted her gaze. "But with me here, which is more important—the letter or me?"
This was the first time Yanfei had ever faced such a life-or-death question.
"This is the first time anyone's ever asked me that in my life! Of course it's you, Qin Yu!" Yanfei declared earnestly.
Qin Yu's mood finally began to improve.
That's more like it.
She turned, casually covered the letter with a book, then turned back to Yanfei and leaned close.
"You can write it after we're done, right? As a trade, you can make a request of me, and I'll do my best to fulfill it. What do you say?" Qin Yu whispered.
Yanfei's face flushed crimson.
"Any request at all?"
"Depends on the request," Qin Yu replied. What if Yanfei asks for something outrageous?
Depends on the request? Yanfei hesitated, unsure if Qin Yu would approve of what she wanted to do.
But how will I know if I don't try?
This was also a good opportunity to gauge Qin Yu's attitude toward such matters.
Steeling her resolve, Yanfei suppressed her nervousness and whispered, "I want to with you..."
After hearing her request, Qin Yu blushed and fell silent for a moment.
"Just as I thought..."
"Just as you thought?"
They're all the same when it comes to this, Qin Yu thought to herself, cradling Yanfei's face in her hands. Softly, she said, "I have one condition."
"What condition?" Yanfei asked anxiously.
"I'll take the lead."
Yanfei stared blankly at her. Qin Yu wants to take the lead? Does that mean she actually prefers being the dominant one? And that I'll have to be the submissive one most of the time from now on?
...Actually, that doesn't sound so bad.
"Mm..." Yanfei murmured softly, closing her eyes.
Evaluation: SSS
Evaluation: SSS+