You sit leaning against the pillow, scratching your cheek awkwardly as three pairs of eyes stare at you with various expressions.
"You know…" Keqing crosses her arms under her chest. Her amethyst eyes stare at you sharply. "Liyue was nearly destroyed, compensation documents piled up as high as Mount Tianheng, and this prized Secretary of the Qixing…" Keqing glances at Ganyu with a crooked smile. "…instead spent three full months crying beside your bed as if the world had ended. Her work was neglected, you know?"
Hearing that honest and blunt recount, Ganyu's face instantly flushes crimson.
"L-Lady Keqing!" Ganyu squeaks in panic, her gloved hand reflexively hitting Keqing's arm. The hit is very light, completely without force, purely from unbearable embarrassment. "Don't say exaggerated things like that in front of him! I… I still did my reports at night!"
You can't hold back your laughter. A soft laugh escapes your throat, crisp and genuine, warming your chest. You feel happy and amused watching their interaction.
Meanwhile, Henri standing in the room's corner chuckles widely, showing his teeth. "Well, while you slept soundly here, moving cargo at the harbor felt twice as heavy. But thank goodness you're back. At least I don't have to attend your funeral."
You want to say What does your work have to do with me, damn it! but you swallow it and just smile.
You all continue joking, throwing light banter that sweeps away the remaining dark clouds in the room. Henri tells about how chaotic the harbor was post-Osial attack and how he almost switched professions to fishing because cargo ships took so long to resume operations.
After a while, Henri glances at the water clock in the corner. "Ah, my break time is almost up. I have to go back before the foreman deducts my pay."
He walks toward the door, then waves at you. "Get well soon, buddy. Don't let this soft bed make you lazy."
Then, right before stepping over the threshold, Henri stops. He turns, looking very serious. He stares intently at Ganyu, then bows deeply.
"Please… take good care of my friend here, Lady Ganyu. He may look tough and reckless, but he's an idiot who needs someone to remind him the way home."
Ganyu is shocked by this sudden action. Her eyes widen, her face showing immense panic. She's completely unused to receiving dramatic respect from ordinary citizens in personal matters. Awkwardly, she hurriedly bows deeply in return to Henri.
"O-Of course! I-I will definitely take care of him! Please don't bow like that to me!"
Uh… her panicked face is so cute too. Why does she have to bow to that guy? You can't help but be amused by the sight.
Looking at Henri, you raise your right hand and give a firm thumbs up. Henri smiles, returns the gesture, before finally leaving for real, his boot steps fading down the corridor.
After Henri leaves, Keqing lets out a long sigh. She looks at you, then at Ganyu who's still a bit flustered. The Yuheng realizes her presence here now is just a third wheel.
"I also have matters to handle at Yujing Terrace," Keqing stands from leaning against the wall. She walks closer, looking at you. "Recover quickly, Traveler. Liyue owes you a lot, even though you used junk items that nearly killed you."
You nod respectfully. "Thank you, Lady Keqing. For everything."
She nods briefly, turns her body, and walks out, closing the sliding door tightly behind her.
At that moment, the room's atmosphere returns to silence.
You both sit in quiet. You stare into her eyes, she stares into yours. The next second, both your faces flush red. You both turn away at the same time, staring at the room's corners as if the calligraphy on the walls is the most interesting thing in the world.
You clear your throat softly, trying to melt this ridiculous awkwardness. "Ahem… you said you wanted to take me for a walk this afternoon?"
"Ah!" Ganyu jolts, as if just snapped from a deep reverie. "Yes, right! But… are you allowed to go out yet? Your body just recovered."
Hey, did you just forget your own plan because you were too busy blushing? The corner of your lips twitches holding back an amused smile.
"Earlier, when you weren't here, I already asked the apothecary attendant," you answer casually, pulling back the blanket. "After checking my pulse flow, he said I'm fine if I want to go out for fresh air."
"Good!" Ganyu exclaims, her face instantly radiating pure and bright enthusiasm, outshining the afternoon sun.
Seeing her smile so beautiful makes your heart pound so fast it threatens to shatter your ribs. You quickly turn away, unable to take the charm attack head-on.
You stand from the bed, feeling your feet firmly on the floor again.
Actually, Ganyu came in the afternoon, not noon as she promised earlier. But the delay doesn't disappoint you at all. You know her situation as the Liyue Qixing Secretary. Her work must be piled up like mountains. She's probably really busy, so it's fine if she doesn't keep the promise on time.
Besides, you fell asleep this afternoon anyway. Or maybe… she actually came while you were asleep and just watched you from afar? Imagining that possibility makes you want to scold yourself for being so shameless.
You change out of your pajamas into clean casual clothes, then leave the place with Ganyu.
When you step foot outside the apothecary, your steps halt. Your eyes widen.
You're shocked seeing the view of Liyue Harbor so different from your last memory.
The streets are no longer filled with rubble but adorned with thousands of paper lanterns in various shapes—fish, lotus flowers, and dragons—beginning to be lit to welcome dusk. Red and gold ribbons stretch between buildings.
You walk around the city for a bit, side by side with Ganyu.
Ganyu's presence beside you makes your soul feel so comfortable. Sometimes, due to the crowded pedestrians, her shoulder brushes against your arm. The touch of her skin on yours, and the strong wafting Glaze Lily fragrance from her body, make your thoughts chaotic so you can't focus on observing the surroundings.
"Is… there a big festival?" you finally ask to divert your increasingly dangerous focus, looking around at stalls selling snacks and glowing trinkets.
"Tonight is the peak," Ganyu nods slowly, her eyes staring at a large crane-shaped lantern. "After the Osial attack back then… Lady Ningguang intended to cheer up Liyue's citizens with a festival more splendid than previous years. You know, even though three months have passed, the fear still lingers. Many Liyue citizens still show displeasure and insecurity. So Lady Ningguang thought, there's no harm in holding a festival to melt the city's mood."
Recalling memories from Earth now firmly implanted in your head—where you only watched this festival from behind a cold glass monitor screen—you smile. But the smile is so weak and filled with irony.
"A festival, huh…" you mutter softly. "Before… I've never seen it in person with my own eyes."
Ganyu turns to look at you. "Then, this becomes your first experience, right?"
You look into her eyes, your weak smile lingering. "Maybe also… my last." You quicken your steps slightly, walking ahead of her.
Ganyu's eyes widen. Her steps halt. "Eh?"
She stands frozen amid the crowd, staring at your receding back. The air around her seems to freeze.
Realizing she's no longer beside you, you stop, turn your body, and look at her confused. "What's wrong?"
Ganyu shakes her head slowly. She quickens her steps, approaching your side again. She looks at you. Her eyes tremble. Her mouth opens, but closes again.
You look at the sky now showing shades of purple and orange, then lower your head to look at Ganyu.
"Since tonight seems to be a very grand festival," you say, trying to divert the tense atmosphere. "I want to change the mood with new clothes. This outfit feels too reminiscent of that apocalypse."
You go with her to various places: to the ruins of your old inn being rebuilt to retrieve your secret hidden pouch of money that survived, then to the best silk clothing store at the harbor. You buy one set of elegant clothes with silver cloud embroidery that's very expensive.
You should be enjoying this afternoon so much, accompanied by Ganyu's captivating figure.
But since the conversation on the road earlier, for some reason Ganyu is just silent. She walks beside you like a soulless doll. She often daydreams, lowers her head deeply, and only answers with nods or shakes.
In the middle of a small stone bridge adorned with lanterns, Ganyu suddenly stops walking.
You also halt your steps, turn, and look at her full of questions.
She, who had been looking down, slowly lifts her face and looks into your eyes. She smiles. But somehow the smile looks so painful to pull.
She holds her chest with one hand. "Sorry… I seem to have forgotten something very important at the office. A document that needs immediate approval. I… I'll come back later. Enjoy the festival."
Before you can say anything, before you can stop her, she's already turned and walks quickly through the crowd, disappearing around the street corner.
You reach out your hand reflexively, but only grasp cold empty air.
You lower your head, staring at the bridge's paving stones. Actually, you know the reason she's silent. You know exactly why she ran. You know it, and that's why your chest feels so painful you want to tear it yourself.
With listless steps contrasting the festival's merriment, you walk to your newly rented temporary inn room.
The day has grown darker. The sun has fully set, replaced by the full moon dominating the sky.
You stay in your dark room for two full hours. Not turning on the light. Just standing near the window, looking outside.
Down there, Liyue's citizens have started bustling around stalls. They buy lots of delicious food, laugh at street performances. Some hold hands with family, hug lovers, joke with friends. Others are alone but still enjoy the atmosphere.
The atmosphere is so enjoyable, so filled with life and light, that just watching it, you can't help letting a small smile form on your lips.
But when the memory of Ganyu's expression on the bridge earlier flashes in your mind, the smile fades, making your heart feel sliced by blades again.
At that moment, standing in front of a copper mirror reflecting the street light, you put on your new clothes. The dark silk with silver embroidery fits your body perfectly, matching the grand festival atmosphere. You comb your hair, take a deep breath, and go out.
You intend to seek a new atmosphere, maybe some wine at a tavern to drown your guilt.
You turn your room door knob and open the wooden door.
Your eyes suddenly widen. Your steps halt at the threshold.
Right in front of you, standing in the inn corridor, Ganyu is raising her gloved right hand, exactly in a position as if about to knock on your door. She also shows an equally shocked face seeing you open the door suddenly.
At that moment, time seems to stop.
You stare at her. From the top of her hair, down to her toes, then slowly trace back up.
Her appearance is completely different. Very different from usual.
Your heart pounds at a speed threatening to shatter your ribs.
Before you, Ganyu stands as the personification of heavenly beauty. Her long light blue hair shines, styled neatly with small odango buns on top of her head wrapped in fine, intricate braids. The hairstyle is adorned with golden flower-motif hairpins, complete with soft hanging red silk tassels beside her ears.
She wears a high-collared leotard blending cerulean blue and dark purple that seeps into each other like night sky. The fabric surface is decorated with subtle motifs of jacquard patterns, small stars that seem to radiate their own light, and gold accents on the edges emphasizing a luxurious impression. The chest and back of the outfit have diamond-shaped openings lined with thin transparent dark fabric.
The bodice cut of the clothing extends, while at the back the fabric drapes long almost to the knees, shaped like a swallowtail coat that flows softly with every movement. On her lower back is attached a large pleated light blue ribbon that looks like a noble party dress ornament.
On her left hip side, there's a silk knot ornament shaped like a Glaze Lily flower which is where her Cryo Vision is attached and pulsing brightly. A flat golden bell tied to a black ribbon circles perfectly around her slender neck. Ganyu also wears transparent long opera gloves with layered cuff linings that delicately wrap her arms, paired with black lace garters on her thighs that beautify her long, fair leg lines.
The shoes she wears are neat closed-toe sandals with small heels, adorned with ribbons as sweeteners, maintaining a light yet elegant impression. Various silver ornaments inspired by Qingxin flower shapes also decorate the hairpins, clothing edges, garters, to her sandals.
She seems to notice your gaze stripping her from head to toe. Her face flushes crimson, very contrasting her pale skin. She feels embarrassed, and slowly turns her face toward the corridor wall, her hand wringing the end of her ribbon itself.
You swallow roughly. Your throat dry. You scratch your cheek and force a smile you hope doesn't look too stiff.
"An extraordinary appearance," you praise softly. "How about… we go see the festival together now?"
Ganyu doesn't look at you, but she nods slowly, her movement very graceful.
You both step out of the inn, walking side by side into the festival bustle.
"Your clothes…" Ganyu finally speaks, glancing at you from the corner of her eye with a held-back smile. "Look very fitting on you. You look… different."
"You too," you reply sincerely, your eyes unable to leave the lantern light reflection in her hair. "Very, very beautiful."
Hearing the direct praise, she only replies with a small smile.
And in an instant, the atmosphere becomes awkward again. Silence creeps between your steps.
Under the glittering lantern light, you notice from the side that Ganyu looks sad again. Her eyes stare blankly at the crowd, her brows slightly furrowed.
Seeing her suffering expression makes you silent. Not long after, you nod to yourself.
You move your hand, reach, and tightly grip her palm wrapped in transparent glove.
Her hand… so small. So soft and cold, fitting perfectly in your grasp.
Ganyu is shocked. Her body jolts slightly. She looks down, staring at your intertwined hands with wide eyes.
But then, the confusion on her face melts. She slowly smiles, and she returns your grip, tightening her fingers between yours as if afraid you'll evaporate into air.
You both go strolling the streets, visiting various stalls. You buy her squid skewers, watch paper fireworks shows, and throw coins into the wishing pond.
Though the surroundings are so noisy, so crowded with thousands of people passing by bumping, somehow you feel the world tonight has shrunk. It feels as if the universe contains only you and Ganyu.
Every time someone passes too close, you tighten your hand grip more, pulling her closer to your side, as if signaling to the world that you don't want and will never let her go.
This makes Ganyu keep smiling, the red blush never leaving her cheeks.
At that moment, young Liyue men passing by see Ganyu in her beautiful dress, unusual. Their gazes initially radiate pure admiration, as if falling in love at first sight. But when their eyes lower and see her soft hand in your tight grip, the adoring gazes suddenly turn to burning hate and jealousy.
The same applies to her secret middle-aged admirers. Some male employees in official uniforms, whom you've seen occasionally passing in Yuehai Pavilion corridors, also appear in the crowd. They seem to want to approach and greet Ganyu with formality pretext, but instantly stop, their faces turning annoyed seeing you walk arrogantly beside her. Some of the less bold ones just seem to sigh sadly and turn away.
You, very clearly feeling hundreds of hostile gazes piercing your back, instead of scared, smile smugly. You even lift your chin slightly.
Those seeing your mocking smile are shocked, then growl softly, gritting teeth.
"I'll kill you with my own hands, how dare you touch our goddess!" Their eye glares seem to shout that sentence loudly.
But you completely ignore the mass killing aura. You continue walking through the sea of people with Ganyu, feeling like the winner of an invisible war. You both walk farther from the harbor center crowd, climbing a quiet stone path, toward a cliff hill overlooking the open sea.
At that moment, when you've just reached the cliff peak, a loud boom shatters the sky.
BUM! TRATATAT!
The festival's main fireworks begin exploding. You look back, shocked by the beauty of colors painting Liyue's sky, reflecting on the dark sea surface.
You're captivated only briefly before refocusing your gaze and continuing steps to the cliff edge.
At the hill's edge, with backs to the magnificent fireworks, you stop.
Since walking up the hill, Ganyu has been silent following your hand pull. She doesn't ask. Her intuition seems to realize that tonight, you want to say something that will change everything.
At the cliff's end, with your back to the stunning fireworks, you stand turning your body, staring straight at her.
The fireworks above seem to stop sounding in your ears. The world becomes silent.
"I want to say something," You stare deeply into her eyes. Take a breath.
"Actually… I'm not from this world. I come from a world called Earth. Somehow I ended up in Teyvat, waking up with lost memories, and forced by an invisible entity only I can see. That entity… it forced me to approach you, make you fall in love with me. If not, I'd be executed dead."
You swallow, letting her shocked expression sink into your heart.
"All this time… I only did what I needed to survive. I manipulated situations, tried approaching you, making you interested in me. As if you… as if your entire existence was just an objective I needed to complete. That's right, Ganyu… at first I only saw you as an object to keep me alive.
"But… as time went by and I truly got to know you, I became aware how trash I am for having such a dirty view. Being near you, receiving your kindness, it made me feel so painful. I realized that the person I considered an object is far more beautiful, far more valuable, and far more captivating than my own life. Therefore… I decided to distance myself from you. I intended to discard all goals to approach you, even if it meant I had to die. But… I never expected letting you go would feel this difficult."
You shed tears.
"It turns out… without realizing, I have feelings for you. The more I know you, the more I like you… and the more I hate myself." You wipe your tears roughly with the back of your hand.
You let out a long relieving breath, becoming calmer.
"But now I've resolved." You smile. You close your eyes briefly, etching her beautiful face in your memory, and about to turn to leave. "Farewell, Ganyu. Forgive me."
You've only taken one step away.
Grep.
At that moment, your wrist is held tightly.
"Are you just going to leave after saying all that to me?"
Ganyu lowers her head, her blue bangs covering her eyes. Her voice trembles.
You look at her, trying to pull your hand gently, but her grip is so strong, it won't release.
Ganyu slowly lifts her face. Her eyes wet with tears.
"After hearing your long explanation… I understand you approached me because of a reason risking your life. Honestly, I suspected from our first meeting that you were hiding something. So I'm not too shocked hearing your origins. But… hearing that you considered me an object… doesn't mean I don't feel hurt at all."
Hearing that, your heart clenches. "That's why… that's why it's best I leave now." you answer in a pleading voice.
"Don't you dare decide that on your own!" Ganyu scolds softly. She pulls your arm a bit harder. "You have to take full responsibility for what you've started!"
"Responsibility?!" you put on a strange face, truly not understanding the girl's train of thought in front of you. "Isn't that why I'm doing this? I'm leaving so you're free from a con artist like me!"
Ganyu shakes her head strongly. Her hair ornament tassels sway wildly. Her tears flow on her flushed cheeks.
"I… I have feelings for you too, you idiot," she sobs softly, her voice now flowing very sweet and fragile.
"That's why you have to take full responsibility for my feelings that have already grown because of your presence in my life!" she continues in a demanding tone.
You're stunned. "Huh?!" you blink several times, your jaw dropping.
"Leaving after making my heart depend on you like this? Illogical! That's just your egoistic excuse to run!" she curses with teary eyes.
Without giving you even a second to process her declaration, Ganyu pulls your hand with a strong yank, making your body stagger forward. The distance between you vanishes completely.
She closes her eyes tightly, lifts her chin, and her lips get closer to yours.
Your eyes automatically close.
At that moment, your lips and Ganyu's touch.
At the exact same time, as if the universe celebrates it, you hear the sound of the main fireworks exploding again in the night sky, far louder and more magnificent than before.
The touch of her lips feels very soft, slightly cold, but sends an electric current warming your entire bloodstream. All your fears and regrets seem to evaporate swallowed in that brief time.
After several seconds that feel eternal, she releases and pulls her face away one small step. You open your eyes dazedly.
The warm feeling when your lips touched hers lingers. You touch your own lips with your fingers, unbelieving. Your face flushes as intense as the red fireworks in the sky.
Ganyu's face is no less red. The blush spreads to her ears. She slowly looks at you from under her long lashes. Her now wet lips tremble softly.
"I love you."
At that moment, another burst of fireworks appears, illuminating both your faces.
You and Ganyu reflexively turn, staring at the fireworks blooming perfectly over the sea.
You lower your head, looking back at Ganyu with a smile filled with overflowing love.
"Me too, Ganyu. I love you."
This time, you step closer, grasp her waist, and you take the initiative to kiss her lips. A deeper kiss, encompassing all unspoken promises.
…
Time passes like sand through fingers. The fireworks over the harbor have completely ended, leaving only faint merriment from the city streets below.
You sit at the cliff edge, observing the now peaceful harbor view. Ganyu also sits beside you, her body relaxed, comfortably resting her head on your shoulder. Her hand intertwined tightly with yours.
Suddenly, without sound, a neon blue system screen appears floating in the empty air right in front of your face.
✓ OBJECTIVE COMPLETED
• Conquer Ganyu's Heart
Progress: [1/1]
The screen flickers, then the next notification appears.
[ ✔ ] QUEST UPDATE
OBJECTIVE STATUS
• (COMPLETE) Build First Contact
Progress: [1/1]
• (COMPLETE) Gain Basic Trust
Progress: [3/3]
• (COMPLETE) Understand Ganyu's Burdens and Doubts
Progress: [2/2]
• (COMPLETE) Provide Actions Proving Sincerity
Progress: [1/1]
• (COMPLETE) Conquer Ganyu's Heart
Final Progress: [1/1]
────────────────────────
[ ★ ] QUEST COMPLETED
All objectives have been successfully completed.
Ganyu has accepted your existence and acknowledged the feelings you gave sincerely.
System confirms main mission success.
────────────────────────
REWARD OPTIONS
Return Home
Return to the original world and end all ties with this world.
Stay Forever
Stay forever in this world and build a new life with Ganyu.
────────────────────────
SYSTEM MESSAGE
Please select the available reward.
The decision made is final and cannot be changed.
Waiting for player's choice…
Seeing the writing, you only let out a long sigh and narrow your eyes. Your eyes stare at the first option with a blank gaze. After all the statements, all the tears, and the warm kiss that just happened minutes ago, how could you choose the first option and return to being a loser in a stuffy boarding room?
Without a second's doubt, your mind chooses the second option.
At that moment, the system interface shatters into light particles, and from nothingness, a black Gacha box with a golden question mark appears and falls slowly into your palm.
This is the final reward. The reward for completing the last objective.
"What is that?" Ganyu lifts her head from your shoulder, staring at the black box in your hand with wide curious eyes.
"Do you remember what I said earlier about the entity only I can see?" You turn your body to face her, showing her the box. "This is the form of the reward from that entity. By the way, I often call it the System. All the strange items I've shown you before came from boxes like this."
Ganyu is shocked. Her eyes widen in awe. "You mean… like that gigantic floating black sword? And also… the worn sewing needle that saved your life?"
You nod slowly. "Yes. That's one of them… and this is the last one."
Hearing that such a small box holds items as powerful as divine relics makes Ganyu even more curious. Her body leans forward slightly. "May… may I open it?" she asks softly.
You smile warmly. "Of course, my lady."
Hearing the 'my lady' call slip smoothly from your lips, for some reason makes Ganyu's cheeks instantly flush red, even though as Qixing secretary she's never heard that term before.
Ganyu reaches out her trembling hand from anticipation and presses the center of the gacha box.
Kring!
The box shatters into star dust, and at that moment, a material object descends from the air and falls with a soft clink into Ganyu's palm.
You both simultaneously look down. You and Ganyu blink several times, confused.
There, lying is a pair of rings.
This item looks very ordinary, boring, and completely worthless. Both look like cheap dull silver rings, surfaces scratched in many places, and covered in dust. No striking color difference between them, and the temperature as cold as dead metal.
"Rings…?" Ganyu tilts her head, looking at you with eyes full of questions.
At that moment, in the air in front of you both, a hologram screen appears. The screen displays the item's description.
The Eclipse Bands of Paradox (SSS-TIER)
Description: A pair of pitch-black and pure-white rings that permanently bind the fate and souls of both users. If one ring wearer dies, the rings will trigger a time anomaly, pulling the surviving wearer back to the past—exactly one day before their first meeting—to prevent that death. This time curse can only be broken if both wearers take their last breath at the exact same second.
Side Effect: The side effect is time looping. Time looping exacts a huge cost on the user's soul. The user leaping to the past will lose all memories of the "failed future," as well as memories of their own past before that meeting. They only retain vague feelings. The user sacrifices "Who they are" for a "Second chance" for their partner. They must rebuild the bond from zero each time time loops, often without realizing they've been trapped in this cycle hundreds of times.
SSS tier! Your eyes slowly widen.
This makes you open your mouth wide. Your jaw seems to drop touching the ground.
Ganyu stares at your face that looks like just struck by lightning and tilts her head worriedly. "What's wrong?"
You shake your head quickly, trying to swallow your dry saliva. "I… I'm just very shocked by this item's effect."
You then explain the item's detailed effect to her slowly. Explaining about the power that reverses death, and about the terrifying cost of memory erasure.
Hearing the explanation about time looping and memory sacrifice, Ganyu looks very shocked. Her eyes round perfectly.
She stays silent for quite a while. The night wind sweeps her hair, but she doesn't budge. Her eyes lower, staring deeply at the pair of dull metals that hold power to imprison souls in an eternal cycle.
A curse that steals memories, but ensures death will never separate them… Slowly, Ganyu lifts her face. "Why don't we wear them now?" asks Ganyu.
Her gaze so deep, piercing straight to the bottom of your soul, seeking the same certainty.
You silent, staring at the rings, then at her. Slowly, a smile spreads on your lips.
"Why not?"
You sit cross-legged on the hill grass, facing each other. Your distance so close your knees touch.
You both stare at the two dull rings. But a question suddenly arises in your mind. How to activate them? Before you can voice the question, your head suddenly throbs strongly.
Both users must stand or sit facing each other. The first user puts the white ring on the second user's ring finger, and vice versa with the black ring. After fitted, both must drip one drop of their own blood onto their partner's ring. The rings will absorb the blood as an eternal time-reversing contract seal.
Ganyu also looks shocked, her body jolts slightly while holding her head. She seems to have just received the information too.
At that moment, You take one of the dull rings from her palm. Your larger hand holds her gloved fingers. With a very slow and full of tenderness movement, you slip the metal ring onto her left ring finger.
Ganyu swallows, her face flushing. She takes the remaining ring, reaches for your left hand, and carefully fits the ring onto your ring finger.
After the rings are on, you bite your index finger and drip a fresh red blood drop, letting it fall right onto the dull ring circling Ganyu's finger.
Ganyu does the same, scratching her finger with ice she manifests, and drips her blood onto the ring on your finger.
At that moment, after the blood drop touches and is absorbed into the metal pores, the dull ring on your finger changes. Its surface hisses, and instantly the metal material transforms molecularly. It condenses into a material like obsidian stone that's very dark, absorbing all surrounding glow like a miniature starless night.
Meanwhile, the ring on Ganyu's finger reacts differently. Its dull metal peels off, transforming into pure platinum metal radiating a very soft and sacred white glow, resembling daylight piercing mist.
At that moment, when your two ring-adorned hands are close together, the two paradox rings begin pulsing warmly. The rhythmic wave spreads through your veins, beating exactly with the partner's heartbeat across. You can feel Ganyu's heart rhythm in your wrist.
"It seems…" Ganyu smiles in awe staring at the glowing ring on her finger, her smile so brilliant. "We'll become a pair that can never be separated by anything. Even by death."
She leans forward and hugs your neck with full joy.
However, amid that peaceful embrace, Ganyu's body suddenly tenses. Her eyes widen.
She quickly pulls herself from your hug, her hands pressing your shoulders, and she stares at you with blazing eyes.
"Wait a minute…!" Ganyu's breath pants, her eyes trembling staring at the obsidian ring on your finger. "This ring's side effect… losing past memories and leaving vague feelings when time loops…"
Ganyu swallows, her voice breaking with overflowing emotion.
"Maybe… maybe the reason you woke up in this world in a state forgetting all your past memories… is because of this ring's effect!"
Hearing this, you can't help staring at the black ring on your finger, shocked.
Not long after, a very wide smile appears on your face.
"If that's true…" you whisper in a hoarse voice, stroking her soft cheek with your thumb. "Then I'm the luckiest person in the entire universe. Because no matter how many times my world is erased… I always fall in love with you again."
Ganyu's eyes glisten. A teardrop falls as she closes her eyes.
At that moment, under the sky filled with billions of stars, you approach, pull her nape, and kiss her lips for the third time.
(THE END)
…
A/N: Such a long journey… I have to admit there were so many obstacles I faced while writing this story from romance experience (hopeless romantic) and IRL busyness. Strangely I could finish this story somehow. If it were the old me, I'd have abandoned this story when my mood was bad. Is this what's called character development? I think so. But I have to admit I'm very happy to finish this story. I wouldn't have finished without help from you all, because the only reason I continue a story is because someone is waiting for it. So I'm very grateful. Alright, maybe enough yapping session here. If you have questions, feel free to ask in the comments. I'll reply soon if I see the notification. See you in the next story!