"Jean. I promise you."
Jean froze slightly.
Her fingers tightened around the cup.
Sunlight outlined Yichen's upright figure.
His eyes reflected her clearly—filled with a seriousness she had never seen before.
He said—
"Jean. I promise you."
Not Grand Master.
Just Jean.
Something warm brushed her heart.
A strange, delicate flutter spread.
Jean hurriedly lowered her head, staring at the pale ripples in her milk, her ears warming.
Why did I say something like that…?
It was practically… acting cute.
"The flowers," Yichen continued,
"I'll handle them."
He paused—then, as if following an instinct deeper than habit, added the familiar words—now carrying unfamiliar weight.
"Because I like you."
(99/100)
No titles.
No conditions.
Just—
I like you.
The sounds around them blurred.
Jean's cheeks burned.
She could feel his gaze resting on her lowered head—focused… sincere?
"About the flowers…"
Her voice was almost a whisper.
"I was just… joking."
"…You don't actually need to."
Yichen looked at her—at the normally composed Grand Master now hiding behind a milk cup, golden hair falling softly, ears faintly red.
Something unfamiliar seized his heart.
It beat so loudly he wondered if she could hear it.
This feeling was hot. Chaotic. Overwhelming.
Like drinking the strongest liquor—burning through his body, yet strangely sweet.
His mind tried to analyze it like a report—
Failed completely.
Logic collapsed.
Habits failed.
All familiar "response protocols" broke down.
He pressed a hand to his chest.
Beneath the fabric, his heart hammered wildly.
What… is this?
The world narrowed.
The grill smoke, the vendors' calls, the wind over rooftops—
All faded.
There was only her—and the thunder in his chest.
Far from Mondstadt, atop a quiet mountain.
A green-clad bard lounged on the branches of Windrise's great tree.
He listened to the wind, fingers brushing his lyre.
"Hah… cliffs in Sumeru, luxury flowers in Liyue…"
"Mondstadt has plenty of beautiful flowers too, you know…"
He grinned.
"Can't let such a perfect moment end poorly."
The branch swayed.
A fresh breeze burst forth—racing toward distant lands.
That afternoon, Yichen burst into the Adventurers' Guild, grabbing Cyrus.
"Emergency commission! Critical!"
He slammed down a list.
Cyrus stared.
"…Are you trying to kill me?"
"One million Mora."
Silence.
Then—
"Deal."
And somewhere, a bard smiled.
"If you want to Access chapters early 90+ chapters available on patreon.com/UchihaAce"