After spending the time of a single incense stick discussing Liyue Harbor's prices, currency circulation, and the pros and cons of several common business models, Ganyu finally raised a hand to cover her lips and let out a soft laugh.
This fellow clansman from Mondstadt…
his way of thinking was simply too peculiar.
He was clearly ignorant of many basic commercial rules, yet could instantly come up with all kinds of wildly unconventional "brilliant ideas" that would, with high probability, bankrupt him completely.
"Mr. Yi Chen… you look like the type who would be tricked into losing everything by a financial product advertising a '300% annual return' and 'guaranteed profits,'" she said gently.
She had meant it as a small, well-intentioned joke—
a reminder that the business world was not always bright and sunny.
Instead, Yi Chen's eyes lit up.
"Huh?! Really?! There's something that good?! Where do you buy that kind of investment? Is it reliable? What's the entry requirement? How fast can you get your money back?"
His expression was so sincere, so completely untainted by doubt, that it looked as if he'd just encountered a god of fortune personally guiding him—one step away from pulling out his Mora pouch and investing on the spot.
Ganyu's smile froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
She… she had been speaking sarcastically.
That was a warning.
How did he take it seriously?!
And why did he look so eager to jump straight into the pit?!
Staring at Yi Chen's eyes—filled with pure anticipation and a clear "please tell me where I can get scammed" energy—Ganyu suddenly felt an unfamiliar rush of panic and… responsibility.
She couldn't let this fellow clansman, who clearly had zero understanding of financial dangers, wander straight into disaster!
"N-no! That's not what I meant!"
Ganyu waved her hands hurriedly, her cheeks flushing slightly from anxiety.
"Those are scams! Fake! You absolutely must not believe them, and definitely must not buy them!"
"Oh… they're fake…"
Yi Chen immediately deflated like a punctured balloon. His shoulders slumped, and deep disappointment filled his face.
"I thought I'd found a shortcut to getting rich…"
Ganyu looked at him—this completely unguarded, openly crestfallen expression—and felt both amused and exasperated. She quickly changed the topic, determined to pull his attention away from "how to get scammed quickly."
"By the way… Mr. Yi Chen, you look quite young. How old are you this year?"
Still mourning his shattered dreams of sudden wealth, Yi Chen answered honestly,
"Oh, I'm twenty."
Ganyu's fingers tightened slightly.
For humans, twenty years old meant adulthood—an age of independence.
But for the long-lived qilin lineage…
Twenty years old was practically a freshly weaned child.
Thinking back to his wildly reckless money-making schemes, and how excited he'd been by the idea of absurdly high returns without the slightest suspicion—
Everything suddenly made sense.
Ganyu's final trace of doubt vanished, replaced by an overwhelming wave of affection and a powerful instinct to protect.
So he was still a child.
No wonder he was so… innocent.
When Ganyu looked at Yi Chen again, her gaze had completely changed.
She no longer saw a mysterious fellow clansman who might bring unforeseen variables—
but a young one who desperately needed guidance, care, and protection from the dangers of the outside world.
"T-twenty years old… that's… a very good age."
She said it softly, her eyes overflowing with affection—and a kind of gentle, maternal warmth that made Yi Chen's scalp prickle.
"Miss Ganyu, what kind of look is that?!"
Yi Chen instinctively leaned back, deeply unsettled.
"Why does this feel… weird?"
First Xiao last night, now this beautiful secretary.
Yi Chen subconsciously rubbed his smooth chin.
Does Liyue judge people by facial hair?
Is it because I don't have a beard, so everyone automatically categorizes me as a child needing special care?
"Ah! N-no, it's nothing!"
Ganyu snapped back to herself, flustered, waving her hands as her cheeks warmed.
"I just think you're very… very full of vitality! Yes—vitality!"
The excuse was so weak even she didn't believe it—but fortunately, Yi Chen was easily distracted.
"Speaking of which, it's almost noon,"
Ganyu said quickly, regaining her composure, though the softness in her voice lingered.
"You're new to Liyue, so you may not be familiar with the food here. How about I treat you to some local specialties?"
"Food? Sure!"
Yi Chen's earlier doubts vanished instantly. His eyes lit up as he agreed enthusiastically.
"Thank you, Miss Ganyu! I'll treat you next time!"
Watching how simple and easy he was to please, the warmth in Ganyu's heart deepened further.
"Alright. I'll look forward to it."
They entered a tastefully decorated restaurant and took their seats.
While waiting for the dishes, Yi Chen's gaze was once again drawn to the pair of translucent red horns nestled in Ganyu's blue hair.
Unable to suppress his curiosity, he leaned forward slightly and asked bluntly, pointing at them:
"Miss Ganyu, are those… real horns? Or some kind of super cool accessory? They look awesome!"
Ganyu froze.
He… didn't know?
He carried such pure qilin blood, yet had no idea what those horns represented?
Then his parents must have—
A shocking thought surfaced, and she asked instinctively,
"Y-you… didn't your parents ever tell you about this? About us… I mean, about the qilin?"
The curiosity instantly faded from Yi Chen's face, replaced by a calm familiarity. He lifted his teacup and took a sip.
"They're in another world."
Ganyu felt as if an invisible hand had clenched her heart. Her breath caught sharply.
Another world.
She'd expected it—but hearing him say it so calmly struck far harder than she'd imagined.
So he truly grew up alone.
So his ignorance of his bloodline wasn't neglect—
There was simply no one left to teach him.
A tidal wave of heartache and guilt washed over her.
She'd been so careless… touching upon the pain of losing his parents.
"I-I'm sorry! Mr. Yi Chen, I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have asked!"
Ganyu apologized hurriedly, completely flustered.
"It's fine, it's fine,"
Yi Chen waved it off casually and even urged her on.
"That's nothing to apologize for. So—Miss Ganyu, tell me about it, okay? What's up with your horns? Does it have something to do with me? You seem really concerned about it."
He looked at her with clear eyes—pure curiosity, no trace of sorrow.
That only made Ganyu's heart ache more.
She took a deep breath, steadied her emotions, and spoke as gently and clearly as she could.
"If my perception isn't mistaken… Mr. Yi Chen, you also possess qilin blood, correct?"
Yi Chen nodded, not denying it.
Receiving confirmation, Ganyu sighed softly, her gaze growing even warmer.
"As I thought… these horns aren't accessories. They are a visible trait of the qilin bloodline."
She lowered her head slightly so he could see them more clearly.
"Just like my blue hair and your black hair—they're something we're born with."
"We qilin are an illuminated beast race born of auspicious forces, long-lived and precious. Twenty years old… may be adulthood for humans, but for us, it is still an extremely, extremely young stage."
She looked back at him.
"So please forgive my earlier reaction. I wasn't treating you as an ignorant child—
it's just that knowing you grew up alone, with so little understanding of your own bloodline, I couldn't help but…"
She paused, then continued softly.
"If you don't mind, while you're in Liyue—if you ever have questions about your bloodline, or need help with anything at all, you can come to me."
"After all, in a sense…"
She smiled gently.
"We are of the same clan."
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