Dinner stretched on unusually long as everyone debated how the novel should be written.
Lu Chen listened earnestly at first. After all, brainstorming as a group was better than racking his brain alone.
But he had underestimated their wild imaginations...
Venti, for instance, proposed a story titled "The Wonderful Adventures of the Greatest Bard in Teyvat."
Aka "Venti's Bizarre Adventure."
Complete with tales of sneaking into the Cryo Archon's temple to steal a divine scepter, outwitting Celestia with a single drink, and waving his hand to make three thousand Archons bow in submission...
Absolutely ridiculous.
There wasn't a single shred of truth in any of it.
Then there was the beautiful and sharp-witted editor Yae Miko, who brought out trend-chasing, clickbait titles:
"Reincarnated as Raiden Shogun: Now I'm Unstoppable"
"Please, My Fox Spirit Guuji"
"Reborn as a Hilichurl: Eating Sunsettia Makes Me Stronger"
"My Junior Brother Is Actually the Geo Archon of Liyue"
...Equally absurd.
Still, Lu Chen couldn't deny that those titles were weirdly tempting to click. No wonder Yae Miko reigned supreme as trend-setting editor-in-chief.
She even muttered regretfully that if Teacher Zhenyu had shown up, Volume 6 of "Sinking Qiu: Chronicle of Blades" could've been published by now.
Lu Chen swiftly vetoed both their ideas. He had originally envisioned a serious narrative.
For some reason, he felt an obligation to present the history and culture of Teyvat faithfully—slowly unfolding its stories.
It might not match modern reading trends, but maybe that's what it meant for literature to carry values.
Raiden Ei, however, made a suggestion that caught Lu Chen's attention: since the culture here was similar to Liyue's, perhaps writing a story with Liyue natives as protagonists would create stronger resonance.
Everyone nodded thoughtfully, and Lu Chen's imagination took off...
Thousands of years ago, in the wilds of Liyue, disasters plagued the land. Endless wars brought ruin to countless lives.
A transcendent figure stood atop a stone peak, gazing down at the fractured world below.
"I do not seek power, but I see the suffering of the people."
Defeating monsters, moving mountains, calming seas... As time passed, they forged a prosperous port and an epic saga of development...
Everyone quietly watched Lu Chen as he slipped into deep thought, choosing not to interrupt.
Thus, the first brainstorming session after the reformation of Yae Publishing House came to an end.
Of everyone present, only Qiqi didn't speak. As a true native of Liyue, her existence alone was part of history.
Unfortunately, she couldn't remember any of it. In fact, if not for her diary, she might not even remember the names of everyone here.
Thanks to her forgetfulness, she'd turned the four-bedroom house into a giant freezer more than once...
Putting those thoughts aside, Lu Chen now faced a more pressing question:
Where was Yae Miko going to sleep?
His four-bedroom home was already fully occupied. Was he supposed to have her sleep on the couch or the floor?
He'd like to. He'd been wanting to teach this sassy fox a lesson for a while now. But the moment she heard the suggestion, her expression darkened.
"You want the Guuji to sleep on the floor? Is this how the Lu household treats guests? Dream on!"
"Didn't you used to sleep on the floor as a kid? Curled up into a ball, didn't even take much space—so convenient!" Lu Chen said, grinning.
"Don't bring up my childhood," she huffed, then seemed to realize something. She glanced at Lu Chen, then at Raiden Ei.
"Wait... you said the house has four rooms, but there are five of us…"
"Right," Lu Chen replied.
Yae Miko gave him a suspicious look. "But you also said the rooms were full. Don't tell me... you and Ei aren't sharing a room?"
"Uh..."
Raiden Ei's lips moved, but she quietly looked away, embarrassed. Lu Chen was at a loss for words.
Despite their relationship resembling an old married couple, their living habits hadn't changed since Inazuma. Each had their own room.
So for now, she'd been sleeping separately.
"Oh~" Yae Miko narrowed her fox-like eyes and leaned close to Ei, watching her cheeks turn pink. Her voice dripped with playful insinuation.
"Ei~ Don't tell me after centuries alone you've gone soft in the head? Lu Chen's back from the dead—this is your golden chance~"
"Dry kindling, meet raging fire."
"One night of spring is worth a thousand gold~"
"Miko..." Raiden Ei's face was now crimson. She avoided Miko's gaze, lowered her head, and didn't dare glance at Lu Chen.
"Seriously, you're acting like a little girl." Yae Miko tsked, clearly disappointed.
Then her eyes lit up again with a mischievous gleam. With a flash, she appeared next to Lu Chen.
"If you're not going to seize the moment, Ei, then I'll—"
Lu Chen felt warm breath against his cheek. Yae Miko's voice was soft and fragrant.
He turned his head and found her seductive smile just inches away. Her eyes glinted with pure mischief.
"If you're not going to make a move, then I'll just sleep in Lu Chen's room, hmm?"
"Mi! Ko!" Raiden Ei finally snapped, lifting her head.
"You little fox! Cut it out!" Lu Chen protested. She was practically pressing up against him, his heart pounding like crazy. This fox is way too tempting...
"I don't care!" she huffed, crossing her arms. "I'm not sleeping on the floor!"
Venti, en route to the fridge for some cold beer, passed through the battlefield. After taking a few gulps, he casually offered, "Lu Chen can just crash in my room. I don't mind."
"Not your call!"
Raiden Ei and Yae Miko snapped in unison.
"?"
Venti walked off, looking thoroughly wronged.
Lu Chen gave him an awkward smile and watched him leave. Then, Qiqi, still watching Animal World, turned and said:
"Lu Chen... you can sleep in my room..."
"Qiqi... doesn't need a bed..."
"Qiqi... can sleep on the floor..."
Everyone turned to Lu Chen again. He could feel their gazes shifting into something... strange.
"Don't get the wrong idea..." Lu Chen could feel things veering dangerously close to criminal offense territory. His smile started to freeze on his face.
"Qiqi, just keep watching TV. This isn't your problem..."
"Okay..." Qiqi obediently turned her head back to the TV.
To break the impasse, Lu Chen made a bold decision.
"Um... Ei, go tidy up your room. You're staying in mine tonight."
Raiden Ei froze, her face turning as red as a ripe tomato.
"Hurry up! Or I'll be stuck sleeping on the floor!" Lu Chen said helplessly.
"Oh." Ei nodded firmly.
Then she fled the living room. The moment her door shut, Lu Chen heard strange thuds coming from inside...
"Tch!" Yae Miko clicked her tongue. These two looked like nervous newlyweds. It was downright embarrassing.
"Happy now?" Lu Chen shot her a look. "You get Ei's room. No need to sleep on the floor."
"Oh? So you were going to make me sleep on the floor?" Yae Miko lunged at him with her claws.
Round three had officially begun.
"Dammit, you little fox! Just wait till I get my powers back—see if I don't pay you back tenfold..."
Lu Chen was once again pinned halfway into the sofa, fuming.
"Hehehe~" Yae Miko lifted his chin with one teasing finger, her eyes half-lidded and full of mischief.
"Actually... the three of us could just sleep together~"
At that moment, Lu Chen heard the bedroom door slam open... followed by an ominous chill.
"YAE! MIKO!"