"Ah… K-Keqing-san!" Tabibito jumped and hurriedly stepped away from Ryou.
What had just happened flashed through her mind, and the heat in her face only got worse. It wouldn't go down at all.
Keqing, meanwhile, had just come back from talking to Ganyu—only to see Tabibito standing way too close to her husband. In Keqing's eyes, that could only mean one thing.
She stormed straight up to Tabibito, fury written all over her. "Tabibito. You'd better explain yourself."
"K-Keqing-san, you've got it wrong!" Tabibito blurted out. "I just had something to ask Ryou-san. I didn't take advantage of him, and I definitely didn't kiss him!"
She hadn't done anything. Being accused like this made her feel awful.
And the more Keqing pressed, the more Tabibito's own temper flared.
If she'd actually done it, fine—she'd own it.
But she hadn't, and Keqing was still coming at her like this.
What's your problem? If you keep pushing me, don't blame me if I really do steal your husband.
"Keqing, you misunderstood," Ryou said, pulling her into his arms before she could explode again. "Tabibito just came to ask me something."
He lowered his voice. "And Tabibito—don't tell anyone I was the one who told you. Understand?"
Tabibito nodded quickly. "I understand. Then… I'll go find him."
She glanced at Keqing one last time, decided it was safer not to say anything else, and left immediately.
Keqing watched her go, then whipped back around and glared at Ryou. "You. Explain. Now."
"I already did. It was a misunderstanding," Ryou said, completely calm. "She asked me a question, that's all. Besides, do I look like I have time to fool around with strangers?"
"Hmph. Like I'd know what kind of man you are," Keqing shot back. "If you couldn't resist—"
Realising what she was about to say made her cheeks burn. She turned her face away. "I'm not talking to you."
Ryou's arm tightened around her waist. "You felt it, didn't you? What I meant."
His tone went dangerously amused. "Looks like I'll have to prove it to you today. Come on."
He started walking, half-dragging her along.
"W-Wait, don't do anything weird!" Keqing panicked, clinging to him. "I believe you, alright? I do!"
Then her eyes narrowed. "But tell me—what did Tabibito ask you?"
"That's a secret," Ryou said with a straight face.
He could've told her and it wouldn't really matter, but he didn't want trouble. Keqing respected the Geo Archon far too much. If he blurted out that Zhongli was the Geo Archon, he'd shatter that image on the spot.
"A secret I'm not allowed to know?" Keqing snapped. She jabbed his side with two fingers. "So you really are hiding something from me. If you don't tell me, then don't even think about touching me tonight!"
"Don't worry," Ryou said, pinching her cheek. "I won't touch you tonight."
He leaned in, voice low. "I'll do it before that."
Keqing's whole body went rigid. "You—! You're awful! Daytime is not allowed!"
"Ahem." Ganyu cleared her throat loudly from the side.
Keqing spun toward her, looking both furious and embarrassed. "Ganyu-nee, look at him!"
Ganyu rolled her eyes. "Don't look at me. I can't help you with that."
Then she softened a little. "But you two really do get along. I was honestly worried something would happen just now… turns out I was overthinking it. So what was that about?"
Keqing huffed, arms flailing as she vented. "He's hiding something with Tabibito! They were practically glued together—there's no way they didn't kiss! Doing that right in front of me… Just wait. When we get home, I'm going to deal with him!"
Ganyu frowned, but in the end she trusted Ryou more than Keqing's assumptions. She turned to him instead. "Ryou… that's not right. Keqing is your wife. You should keep a bit more distance from Tabibito."
"She only asked me something," Ryou said, glancing toward the plaza. "I can't tell you what it was yet, but nothing else should happen today. Keqing and I are heading back first."
"What do you mean we are?" Keqing tried to wriggle free. "I want to go shopping with Ganyu! You go home by yourself!"
She knew exactly what would happen if he dragged her back. When he'd held her earlier, she'd felt everything. Very clearly.
Ryou didn't even loosen his hold. "Don't be silly. I'm going to visit my mother later. As her daughter-in-law, you're really going to stay behind?"
"…Fine," Keqing muttered.
If they were visiting her mother-in-law, she couldn't refuse outright—especially when she still wanted advice.
They said goodbye to Ganyu, and Ryou took Keqing home.
The moment they walked in, Keqing slowed, suspicion rising. "Ryou… weren't we going to your mother's place?"
Ryou covered his forehead like she'd said something ridiculous. "Keqing, you have to bring something. She doesn't need gifts, sure, but it's about showing you care."
"That makes sense," Keqing said, nodding along. "So what are we bringing?"
Then she froze.
"Ryou… if we're buying a gift, why did you pull this outfit out?"
Her eyes widened. "You… you lied to me!"
"Mm—! You're the worst! I'm not wearing a nun outfit!"
She grabbed at the fabric, flustered. "Hey—stop pulling—wait, why are you putting it on me?!"
"Ow…!"
Keqing regretted ever believing a word he said. He'd tricked her all the way back from Yujing Terrace, and in the end…
He didn't let her off easy.
[Ding! Keqing's strength increased by 10%!]
Ryou glanced at the notification, then ignored it and used his Level 4 medical skill to treat her.
Her physique had improved, so she recovered faster than before. By late night, she finally opened her eyes.
"You liar!" Keqing snapped, still sore and furious. She grabbed his arm and bit down hard. "I'm going to bite you to death!"
Visiting your mother, buying gifts—every word was a lie!
Ryou didn't struggle. He just let her bite him.
Keqing loosened her teeth, saw the mark, and her anger wavered into something else. "You… aren't you going to dodge? Doesn't it hurt?"
"If it makes my Keqing feel better," Ryou said softly, brushing her cheek, "then it doesn't hurt."
"You're awful. Just awful," Keqing grumbled. "Next time I'm not believing you."
She winced, then pointed a finger at him. "And don't you dare have any more bad ideas. Get out."
"Pfft. Like I don't know you," Ryou said, but he didn't move.
Keqing pinched him a few times anyway, still feeling awkward—then, like something was missing, she pulled him close and finally relaxed.
Her voice dropped into a small, stubborn mumble. "So what did you say to Tabibito?"
Ryou laughed. He didn't expect her to still be hanging onto that.
"Tell me," Keqing demanded, shifting restlessly. "You tricked me, you bullied me, and you still won't tell me?"
"Alright, alright." Ryou hugged her tighter, clearly enjoying himself. "I'll tell you."
Then he paused. "But you have to agree to one thing."
"You bullied me for ages and you still want to negotiate?" Keqing reached for his hair, ready to yank.
"Then I won't tell you," Ryou said, dodging easily.
Keqing froze, annoyed—and hopelessly curious. "Fine. What's the condition?"
"Next time," Ryou whispered into her ear, "I want to bully you at the Ministry of Civil Affairs."
Keqing nearly launched herself out of bed. "No! Absolutely not! That's a workplace—are you insane?!"
She glared at him, face burning. "I knew you were a bad man. How is that even allowed?!"
"Then I won't tell you," Ryou said, pinching her cheek. "Curiosity killed the cat. Maybe you should stop being curious."
"No!" Keqing snapped. "W-We'll change the condition. I'll buy you an outfit—two outfits! Anything. Just not that!"
"No." Ryou didn't budge.
"Three?" Keqing tried again, desperate.
"Nope." Ryou smiled faintly. "And Keqing, I'll give you a hint."
His brows lifted. "It involves Rex Lapis."
That hit Keqing like lightning.
Tabibito came to Liyue because her brother was taken by a god. She'd been trying to meet the Geo Archon to ask about it. If she'd shown up at Yujing Terrace today, it was probably because she was still trying to find a way to meet him.
And Ryou's "hint" made the answer painfully obvious.
Tabibito had asked who Rex Lapis really was.
Keqing wanted to know. Badly.
But the idea of being bullied at the Ministry…
Just imagining it made her whole face burn.
Still.
If she agreed, she'd finally know who the Geo Archon was.
The temptation was enormous.
He already bullied me anyway. It's just… a different location.
Maybe it's not impossible.
Just once. One time only.
…
After handling Yujing Terrace's workload, Zhongli finally headed back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Lately, there'd been far more going on at Yujing Terrace than usual. He wasn't just processing paperwork—he'd also been helping with registrations and inspections.
It paid decent Mora, but it ate up his entire day.
Normally, he'd be back resting by evening. Tonight, it was deep into the night before he could return—because those relentless workaholics at the Ministry refused to leave, which meant he couldn't either.
"Ryou's method really is effective," Zhongli murmured to himself. "Everyone improves quickly. Even today, with him absent, nothing went wrong."
He sighed. "Just… the Mora burn rate is higher. Still, in a few days I should have a decent amount coming in. My pockets will finally be less tight."
Ever since the Ministry's announcement, no one dared send him bills anymore.
So now Zhongli had to pay for everything himself, and these past few days had been… modest.
Hu Tao had given him some spending Mora, but not much. He still had to be careful.
He'd never paid attention to this kind of thing before. Now, strangely enough, he found he didn't mind it.
He stepped into Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
The moment he entered, Ferrylady greeted him. "Zhongli-san, you're back. Why are you home so late today?"
"Work piled up at the Ministry of Civil Affairs," Zhongli replied casually.
As he walked further in, he noticed Hu Tao and Tabibito sitting in the main hall, having tea.
"Consultant, you're finally back," Hu Tao said. "Tabibito's been waiting here for a while."
"Zhongli-san," Tabibito said, looking straight at him, "I want to ask you something. Can we talk somewhere quiet?"
"Alright," Zhongli said, and led her to a secluded stone table.
Tabibito sat down, hands folded tightly. "Zhongli-san… there's something I need your help with."
"Go ahead," Zhongli said, getting straight to the point. "What do you need?"
Tabibito took a slow breath. "Zhongli-san… no. I suppose it would be more appropriate to call you Rex Lapis."
Zhongli: ???
Who leaked it?
He'd been busy to the point of exhaustion lately, but he hadn't been careless. He shouldn't have exposed anything.
So how did Tabibito figure it out?
"Tabibito," Zhongli said carefully, "we mean no harm. But I need to know… how do you know this?"
"I can't tell you," Tabibito said at once.
She wasn't about to sell Ryou out.
After that, Tabibito asked Zhongli several questions—but the answers only left her disappointed.
When she left Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, she sat down on a bench by the road and stared toward the docks, lost.
"Paimon…" Tabibito murmured. "What am I supposed to do now?"
"Tabibito, don't worry," Paimon said quickly, hovering close. "Paimon will stay with you. I'm not going anywhere."
"If Liyue doesn't have the answer, then we'll go to Inazuma. Then Sumeru. Then Fontaine. You'll find your brother. Paimon knows you will."
Tabibito didn't respond right away.
Even after hearing that, she still felt unsteady. Zhongli had lived for over six thousand years. If even he didn't know…
Then—
Wait.
I can still ask Ryou.
He might know something.
Only problem is Keqing.
Those two are inseparable.
…But tomorrow, Ryou should be at the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
That might be my chance.
I'll go then. Maybe I can ask him directly—and maybe I can find out more.
[End of chapter]
[200 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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