Dusk slowly settled in.
The afterglow spilled across the earth, painting Liyue Harbor in full splendour—pretty enough to make anyone stop and stare.
Ryou had taken Keqing on a loop around Third-Round Knockout, and now they were heading toward a bridge in the Feiyun Slope area.
"We should go back to the Ministry of Civil Affairs," Keqing said softly, leaning into his arms. "I finished all the paperwork, but I won't feel at ease until I go back and check."
Ryou nodded. "Mm."
He'd already been out with her for an hour. The office should be mostly wrapped up by now—going back would just be tying off loose ends.
Ryou tightened his arm around her waist and lowered his voice. "Once we're done, we'll go home. There are things I need to talk to you about—properly."
"I'm not listening," Keqing said at once. "You just want to bully me again!"
She'd caught the meaning behind his words easily enough. Today, of all days, he'd gone out of his way to buy a set of "weird" clothes—clearly with plans for her to wear them tonight.
Normally, it wouldn't be a big deal… but lately, there'd been too much happening inside Liyue. She could stay in Liyue Harbor for a day or two, but long-term? That wouldn't be appropriate.
Just then, a man came hurrying over from the distance.
"Ryou-san… is that one of your household staff?" Keqing asked quietly.
Ryou looked over. It really was—Xu, the one who usually handled odd errands. What was he doing here now?
"Ryou-sama," Xu said quickly, "Your father sent me to find you. He wants you to come home tonight—said there's something important he needs to talk to you about."
Then Xu noticed Keqing and immediately lowered his head. "Keqing-sama!"
Keqing's face flushed at the address.
Ryou frowned slightly. "Go back and tell my father: tomorrow, I'll bring Keqing home. If there's anything to say, we'll talk tomorrow. That's final."
"Th-That… yes, Ryou-sama. I understand." Xu nodded and left in a hurry.
"Your father wants you to go back, so why aren't you going?" Keqing looked up at Ryou.
When she met his half-smiling, half-teasing gaze, she caught on to what he was thinking. Heat rushed up her neck; her entire face went red.
What kind of look is that…? It's just that little thing.
And besides—going to your house just means getting bullied there too.
Flushed, she said, "Stop thinking about that. You're horrible. If you don't go back, Father's going to think I'm the one keeping you from it."
"Relax," Ryou said, unconcerned. "My father's a good man. He won't blame you. And if anything happens, my mother will cover for me. Do you really think he can bully you?"
To Ryou, it was nothing. His "father" seemed terrified of his wife. He always talked like it was because he adored her… but Ryou knew the truth: he was scared she'd beat him.
And she actually could. Ryou still remembered a time his father came home late and got thrashed.
Tsk. It was brutal.
Keqing's expression turned a little strange. In her memory, Ryou's father was extremely stern—every time she'd seen him, she'd been nervous.
Ryou drew her closer and murmured by her ear, "Keqing, I heard you used to practise Yunlai Swordsmanship. What—why haven't I seen you practising these days?"
"What do you think?" Keqing rolled her eyes.
She did have that habit before.
But after marrying Ryou, she simply hadn't had the chance. It wasn't about wanting to or not—reality wouldn't allow it.
He'd bullied her until she was completely worn out… and he still wanted her to practise swordsmanship?
Yeah, right. This concubine truly can't do it!
Clinging to him tighter, Keqing lowered her voice to a whisper. "Ryou-san… about yesterday… was that a special case?"
Ryou laughed, leaned in, and kissed her once on the lips.
With a wicked grin, he said, "Do you know why I asked whether you've been practising Yunlai Swordsmanship lately?"
"Why?" Keqing tilted her head.
"Keqing," Ryou said, smiling. "I mean you should train your body more. You're too weak…"
Keqing's face darkened.
Weak? She was a Vision bearer. A swordswoman, too. In every way, she was at least two or three times stronger than an ordinary person.
Weak—my foot.
But when she met that same half-smiling gaze again, she shrank back a little.
Compared to this guy…
She really did seem weaker.
Damn it!
[End of chapter]
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