The moment Tabibito said that, Ryou felt as if the entire world had gone quiet.
Amber and Diluc stared at her.
Dehya and Dunyarzad looked utterly lost, as if they had just watched someone kick open the door to a room no one else knew existed.
And honestly, Ryou could not blame them.
He and Keqing were married. Feeding Keqing chocolate in public was shameless, yes, but at least it made sense.
Tabibito, on the other hand, had leaned across Hu Tao and demanded the same treatment in front of everyone.
That was not bold.
That was overturning the table and asking why everyone was staring.
Before Ryou could speak, Keqing's temper flared.
"Tabibito, what exactly do you mean?"
Her voice stayed low enough not to disturb the stage, but the anger in it was impossible to miss.
"My husband feeding me is normal. What relationship do you have with him? Why should he feed you?"
She pointed at the snacks.
"Eat them yourself or don't eat them at all."
Then she turned back toward Ryou, still fuming.
"Ryou, ignore her."
That was not enough. Keqing's anger was clearly still climbing.
"And another thing, Tabibito. Last time, you said that was your final night staying at my house. After this, don't even think about following me home. If you dare, I'll let Taroumaru bite you."
Ryou could feel Keqing trembling slightly in his arms.
She really was angry.
He tightened his hold around her and stroked her back to calm her down, then took a piece of chocolate and placed it in Tabibito's hand.
"All right. Enough."
He gave both of them a look.
"This isn't my house. If you two make a scene here, what will everyone think?"
Then he tilted his head toward the stage.
"Listen. The opera is starting."
Tabibito huffed at him, but this time she did not argue.
The others quietly looked away as well, pretending very hard that they had seen nothing.
Soon, the performance began.
Ryou did not understand opera very well, but Yun Jin's appearance onstage was impossible to ignore. Her costume was bright and elegant, her spear movements sharp, and even the drawn-out singing had a strange charm once the rhythm settled in.
The more he watched, the more he liked the outfit.
Not for Yun Jin.
For Keqing.
The thought had barely crossed his mind when a sharp pinch landed on his waist.
Ryou didn't even have to look to know who it was. Keqing had caught him.
She leaned closer and whispered, "Are you staring at Yun Jin now?"
Ryou pulled her a little deeper into his arms.
"Nonsense. Yun Jin is beautiful, but she can't compare to my Keqing."
Keqing's expression eased for half a second.
Then Ryou continued, "I was only looking because that opera costume really is striking. If you wore something like that—mmph."
Keqing covered his mouth before he could finish.
Her glare was fierce enough to cut.
"Don't even think about it."
Ryou looked completely deadpan.
Keqing leaned closer, her voice soft and dangerous.
"If you dare buy those costumes behind my back, you're not sleeping in my room tonight."
Ryou kissed her palm lightly before she pulled her hand away.
"Then I'll take you into the pocket world to sleep."
Keqing rolled her eyes at him so hard that Ryou finally laughed and stopped pushing his luck.
For now.
He grabbed some popcorn instead.
It was crisp and lightly sweet, with a clean fragrance from the adeptal energy infused into it. Ryou fed Keqing a bite, then noticed Hu Tao beside them drinking juice as if she had nothing to do with the chaos.
Naturally, he reached over and stuffed a piece into her mouth too.
Hu Tao froze, then glared at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Feeding you," Ryou said, entirely shameless. "Look how nice I am."
He tilted his head. "It's good, isn't it? Why aren't you eating more?"
"Thank you so much," Hu Tao said flatly.
She swallowed, then shot him another look.
"I already ate a lot at your place. If I eat any more, I won't be in good shape for work later."
Ryou immediately held up another piece.
Hu Tao recoiled. "Are you trying to kill me?"
A laugh slipped out of Ryou before he could stop it, warm and unrestrained.
Keqing tugged at his sleeve and gave him a helpless look.
"Stop teasing Hu Tao. She really does have work later."
Then something seemed to occur to her.
"Ryou, I just remembered something. Didn't Yelan say we should see her when we came back? Should we go find her after this?"
"I wonder what she wants…"
Her voice trailed off as she noticed movement below.
"Wait. What's going on down there?"
Ryou followed her gaze.
A group of Millelith were hurrying toward Yujing Terrace, their pace urgent enough to draw attention even through the noise of the tea house.
Ryou watched them for a moment, then turned back.
"No need to rush. If the Millelith are already handling it, there's nothing for us to worry about right now."
Keqing still looked concerned.
"Tomorrow, we'll hear about it through the proper channels," Ryou said. "For now, let's just enjoy the opera and head home afterward."
Keqing nodded, though her eyes lingered below for another moment.
When Ryou turned back toward his side, Hu Tao was gone.
In her place sat Tabibito, smiling at him as if she had always belonged there.
Keqing noticed at once.
"Why did you switch seats with Hu Tao?"
"Because I wanted to," Tabibito said. "Is that not allowed?"
Keqing's eyes narrowed at once.
Tabibito simply raised her chin in response.
"Besides, Ryou and I have serious business to discuss."
"What serious business could you possibly have?"
"How can I not have serious business?"
Tabibito bristled at once.
"Keqing, what's that supposed to mean? Do you want to fight?"
The two of them kept their voices down, but the tension still reached the others. Amber looked over first. Dehya followed. Even Diluc's gaze shifted briefly from the stage.
Ryou took one look at the situation, picked up a piece of chocolate, and pushed it straight into Tabibito's mouth.
"That's enough. What are you two doing, arguing in the middle of an opera?"
He lowered his voice.
"Watch the performance properly. And—"
He stopped because Tabibito had turned toward Keqing with a smug look.
"See?"
Keqing stared at her.
Tabibito pointed at her own mouth, clearly delighted.
"So what if your husband feeds you? He feeds me too."
Keqing's face changed.
"One day, your husband will be my husband," Tabibito whispered, bold enough to be heard only around the table. "When that happens, I'll kick you out."
Her smile became even more irritating.
"Enjoy your time while it lasts, Keqing."
Keqing almost exploded.
This woman was getting worse every time she opened her mouth.
Did Ryou want to feed her?
Of course not.
He was only trying to stop them from fighting.
Ryou felt Keqing tense in his arms and knew words were no longer enough.
So he moved his hand behind her and pressed lightly.
Keqing's anger broke apart in an instant.
Her body trembled, then softened against him, the force in her shoulders melting so quickly that she had to lean into his chest.
Tabibito saw it happen.
Her eyes changed.
Ryou caught that look and reached out before she could decide whether to mock Keqing or get jealous.
Same method.
Same result.
Tabibito's face flushed hot at once. She nearly tipped backward in her chair, and Ryou had to catch her with one arm before she lost her balance completely.
For a moment, both women were quiet.
Very quiet.
Diluc, Amber, and the others looked over with open surprise, clearly not expecting Ryou to settle both of them so neatly.
There was something else in their expressions too.
Something a little strange.
After all, Ryou holding Keqing was one thing.
Ryou catching Tabibito like that was another.
Ryou chose not to explain.
He kept one hand steadying Tabibito while gently soothing Keqing with the other.
Then the system prompts rang in his mind.
[Ding! Hand entering Darkened Mode!]
[Ding! Hand Darkened Mode active. Hand has obtained Massage. Continuous massage can relax the target's mood and bring improvement. Consuming mental power can increase the target's condition by a certain degree.]
[Ding! Hand entering Darkened Frenzy. Massage has been enhanced. It can now stimulate the body more deeply and grant a certain degree of improvement. Consuming mental power will greatly shorten the required massage time and double the effect.]
[Ding! Hand entering Darkened Mania. Massage has been enhanced again. It can now improve the body at a deeper level, clear impurities within the body, and provide a certain degree of treatment. Consuming mental power can increase the intensity and shorten the time required.]
Ryou was a little surprised.
He had not expected the massage ability to upgrade here.
Tabibito clearly felt it too.
She opened her mouth as if to say something, but immediately covered it, biting down on her lip instead. Her body leaned more and more heavily into Ryou's arm, and when she looked at him, her eyes were full of pitiful surrender.
Keqing was not much better.
She had been ready to erupt a moment ago, but once Ryou's hand began working, her entire body softened. Her face buried itself against his chest, and the heat of her breath soaked through his clothes.
Ryou smiled.
The effect was better than expected.
A moment ago, the two of them had been ready to start a war in Heyu Tea House. Now both were nestled against him, quiet and docile, all their sharp edges temporarily smoothed away.
Ryou shifted his arm and drew Tabibito closer.
For one brief moment, he truly had one in each arm.
Keqing's fragrance was familiar and comforting.
Tabibito's was different, lighter, with a teasing sweetness that fit her far too well.
Even if this only lasted for a little while, Ryou felt deeply satisfied.
One day, he would make this real.
Fortunately, most of the others had turned back to the opera by then. No one seemed to be staring too openly at the three of them.
Ryou lowered his voice.
"Do you know what you did wrong?"
Keqing did not answer, but she nodded against his chest.
Tabibito's face was still red.
"If you two argue again," Ryou murmured, "I won't go easy next time."
He let the warning hang there.
"This was only the beginning."
Keqing tried to lift her head, but the moment she saw Tabibito blushing across from her, she seemed to realize the situation. Then Ryou's hand moved again, and whatever she had wanted to say died in her throat.
Neither of them dared start another fight.
Ryou was satisfied.
He began to let Tabibito go, intending to put her back in her own seat, but she immediately clung to him.
"No."
Ryou looked down at her.
Tabibito pressed closer, her voice low and stubborn.
"Hold me while we watch."
Keqing's head shot up.
"How come you get to be held?"
Tabibito looked at her, still flushed but unwilling to lose.
"Why does he hold you and not me? He's biased."
"So what if he is?" Keqing snapped. "He's my husband."
Ryou rubbed Tabibito's back, coaxing her to settle down before the two of them could start again.
"If Diluc and the others see this, who knows what they'll think?"
Tabibito pouted, but finally let him guide her back.
That lasted all of a few breaths.
She pulled her chair closer to his side until there was barely any space left between them.
Ryou let her have that much and focused on calming Keqing properly.
Once Keqing's mood had steadied, Tabibito leaned over again and poked him.
"Ryou."
"What now?"
"Diluc brought a lot of people this time. He probably came to prepare for opening a tavern in Liyue."
Ryou's attention shifted.
Tabibito continued, "You said last time you wanted to buy Third-Round Knockout, didn't you? You should hurry."
She lowered her voice.
"If this drags on, Diluc's side will be delayed."
After he caught Degui last time, he had intended to deal with Third-Round Knockout. He had left the matter for Zhongli partly to give Degui a warning, but then Qingce Village happened, and the whole thing slipped his mind.
Seeing Diluc had reminded him, but Tabibito had brought it up first.
Before Ryou could answer, Keqing spoke quietly from his arms.
"Ryou, that location really is good."
She knew Liyue Harbor far too well.
"Third-Round Knockout sits in a prime spot. Degui definitely won't sell easily. And after what happened, he's even less likely to sell it to you."
She hesitated.
"My family still has a few shops on Feiyun Slope. If you want…"
Ryou shook his head before she could finish.
Third-Round Knockout was almost facing the main route into Liyue Harbor. The foot traffic there was enormous. As a tavern location, it was practically built to make money.
And Diluc had offered him forty percent of the profits.
If Ryou was going to do it, he might as well do it properly.
As for Degui, Ryou was not worried.
He still had that skill.
"Give me some face."
As long as he said those words, Degui would sell.
[End of chapter]