"Your Excellency!"
Just as Aether finished greeting everyone and turned to leave with Paimon, a voice called out from behind—trembling and unusually emotional.
"Hm?"
He turned around, only to see everyone's gaze fixed on Zhu Zhuqing. It was her voice just now.
The girl stood with both hands nervously twisting at her abdomen, her lips trembling. Her face was flushed a deep red, like a ripe apple—completely unlike her usual cool, aloof demeanor.
"You need something?" Aether asked, puzzled.
He had called her by name earlier, sure—but he hadn't said anything inappropriate, had he?
Why was she standing there with that hesitant look, like he'd bullied her or something?
"I… I…"
Zhu Zhuqing opened her mouth, but no words came out.
So impulsive…
She should've waited and followed him out before saying anything. Now, under everyone's gaze, all the courage she had built up seemed to have vanished with that one shout.
What do I do…
Her mind was already in chaos.
Meanwhile, everyone else watched her with curious expressions, thoughts swirling.
"Why's that big sister calling out to my brother? Looks like she's got something important to say~" Yu Keke thought.
"What's she up to? I knew the way she looked at His Excellency was weird, just like Yue'er! Don't tell me she's also…" Shui Bing'er frowned internally.
"No way… This girl's intentions are practically written all over her face. Is she seriously about to make a move?!" Shui Yue'er gaped, her thoughts completely different from her sister's.
Shui Bing'er couldn't bring herself to face her own feelings, so she pushed them all onto her sister. Shui Yue'er, on the other hand, looked excited and expectant.
"That girl's eyes… something's definitely off—way off!" Shui Xinrou watched carefully. Could it be that she, like Bing'er and Yue'er, had developed… special feelings for His Excellency?
"What's everyone looking at? Should I be looking too?" Fire Meow Meow tilted her head, clueless, but imitated the others and stared at Zhu Zhuqing anyway…
"..."
Aether and Paimon exchanged glances, both confused.
"I… I…"
Zhu Zhuqing flushed even redder.
Just say it already!
From the look of things, it wasn't just her who was anxious—everyone else was getting pulled into it too. Why wasn't she saying anything?
That was what everyone—Aether included—was thinking at that moment.
Zhu Zhuqing opened her lips again, but still said nothing. Then she suddenly turned around and fled, not daring to look back.
"..."
"..."
Everyone stared at the corner where she'd vanished, completely dumbfounded by what just happened.
"Wait… she just ran off like that?!" Shui Yue'er twitched her lips, grumbling in frustration.
Thinking of her own secret thoughts, she'd been hoping Zhu Zhuqing would take the bold step forward. That way, she'd have a good example to follow, right?
But in the end, Zhu Zhuqing hadn't said a single word and had bolted. It left her feeling like she'd just lived through her own story again, and her emotional turbulence wasn't any less than Zhu Zhuqing's.
"What was she trying to say…" Shui Bing'er's feelings were also tangled and complicated.
"Zhu Zhuqing, Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er… and even…" Shui Xinrou, a bit older than the others, looked at them all and sighed internally.
Was His Excellency really that charming?
The question barely formed in her mind before the answer was already clear.
He looked young, but with his strength, there was no way his age matched his appearance. If she were younger, would she have had a chance too...?
A chill ran down her spine at the thought. Even her mature, elegant face flushed ever so slightly.
What am I even thinking? I've been dragged in by these little girls' nonsense…
Feeling the heat in her cheeks, she quickly suppressed the absurd thoughts and lowered her head slightly, afraid others might notice.
So what did that pangolin say, anyway?
Aether's mouth twitched as he suddenly remembered an old meme from his past life.
"Ahem—let's go."
He tugged at Paimon and headed for the academy gate.
That girl had hesitated so long and still hadn't said a word—no point overthinking it.
As a traveler, one should look at the world with a free and easy heart.
Except for one thing in Teyvat, of course.
That damn artifact system—once it starts giving the wrong set, it stays wrong, over and over and over again!!
AND THOSE DAMNED STATS— WHY DOES MY +20 ARTIFACTS LOOK LIKE +4?!
YOU HAVE CR, CD, AND ATK%/ER, BUT YOU WOULD ROLL DEF/HP?!
Mihoyo, I swear to— you absolute—!!
...
After they left, with Zhu Zhuqing nowhere to be found, Shui Xinrou decided not to bother looking for her and instead began discussing mimetic training with Yu Keke.
As for the Shui sisters, they gathered their team and plunged back into training.
The Continental Soul Master Tournament was approaching. Though Skywater Academy didn't aim for the championship, they still had to put in the work—to make a name for themselves and show off Skywater's brilliance to the world.
"Traveler, what do you think Zhu Zhuqing was really trying to say?"
Late at night, in the guest residence arranged by Shui Xinrou, Paimon suddenly sat up on the bed and asked curiously.
"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask… go to sleep!"
Aether grabbed her and pushed her back down onto the bed. Ever since they left the academy, she kept asking him the same question, and he was starting to go crazy. He hadn't realized it before, but Paimon's curiosity was relentless.
"Hmph~ fine, I'll sleep!"
Paimon huffed, shoving Aether's arm off her.
But once it was gone, her heart felt kind of… empty. That just made her even more annoyed.
"Hmph…"
"Hmph~"
"HMMPH!!!"
Paimon kept grumbling, trying to get his attention—to let him know she was angry!
But Aether didn't seem to notice. Eyes still closed, he looked like he'd already drifted into dreamland.
"Hey! Traveler! You're such a meanie!"
Paimon couldn't take it anymore and blurted it out.
"Mmm~ Little Paimon, this is really tasty. Too bad I only found one. I took a small bite—it's not poisonous. The rest is all for you…"
Aether murmured in his sleep, muttering nonsense.
"…"
"Fine. Since even in your dreams you're saving food for me, I'll forgive you this time…"
Paimon hesitated, then slowly snuggled into his arms. A warm and familiar feeling wrapped around her.
She pulled the blanket tight and dozed off comfortably.
Her little mouth moved occasionally, like she was munching on something. In her dream, maybe she really was eating the delicious food Aether had left for her. Her sleepy face radiated pure contentment.
Feeling her curled up against him, Aether's closed eyes curved ever so slightly into a smile.
This little dummy… If she ever left him, she'd definitely get tricked and cry her eyes out.
With that thought, he gently tightened his embrace around the sleepy little glutton.
_
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