Chapter 1
“Ganyu, I need to ask you for a favor,” Ningguang said, looking at her secretary with an earnest expression.
This was strange—Ganyu rarely saw this look from the President. Well, unless it involved handling issues caused by a certain reckless captain.
“Yes, Lady Ningguang, do you need me to deal with some rumors spread by the press? I’ve already taken care of that.”
Ningguang looked pleased. She was well aware of Ganyu’s efficiency—precise, swift, and flawless to the point where she never had to worry about public relations or important business matters. But that wasn’t what she wanted to talk about today.
“I truly appreciate that, Ganyu. You’ve worked hard. But I’m afraid this favor is a little different… outside of work.”
“Outside of work?”
Ganyu tilted her head in curiosity. What could possibly make Ningguang wear such an expression? It made her a bit nervous since Ningguang’s requests often came with an unspoken rule of absolute compliance.
“Yes, and I’m afraid it’s a bit troublesome.”
Ningguang said, her face subtly tensing.
“How much do you know about the Yunlai Corporation?”
Yunlai? Oh, that was one of the few aristocratic families that had survived in Liyue to this day. They were known for their defiance against the gods thousands of years ago, yet their immense wealth and talent had contributed significantly to Liyue’s prosperity. Today, Yunlai was one of the leading corporations in Liyue, rivaling even the Qixing.
But why was Ningguang bringing them up? Did something happen between her and them?
“Don’t look so serious. It’s not like I’m in a rivalry with them.”
Ningguang chuckled. Well, at least not all of them. Just one in particular.
“I owe them a favor, and now I have to repay it. They’ve asked me to take care of someone, and you know, I’m not the best at dealing with stubborn people.”
Well, Ganyu supposed it wasn’t that Ningguang couldn’t handle them—it was just that she had reached her limit.
She nodded, absorbing the information, waiting for Ningguang to continue.
“I need you to take care of them for me.”
“Take care of them? What do you mean by that?”
Ganyu was confused. Was this a good or bad thing?
“Oh, I mean… live with them.”
The secretary almost dropped the stack of documents in her hands. That was more shocking than when Zhongli announced his retirement. Ganyu was completely frozen for a moment. She had never even considered living with someone she loved, let alone a total stranger. And on top of that, a Yunlai—one of those who disrespected the god she devoted herself to.
“I know this might be difficult for you, but I really can’t have two stubborn people in my house. Not to mention, it’s… inconvenient.”
There was no denying the inconvenience. Ganyu understood what Ningguang meant—having an extra person around would undoubtedly affect her nightly relationship. Something Ganyu had accidentally learned about thanks to a certain red-eyed show-off.
“This is quite difficult for me, Lady Ningguang. I’ve never taken care of or lived with anyone before.”
Ganyu admitted.
“Yes, but you know, I can’t trust anyone else but you. And honestly, looking after a child is not exactly my forte.”
“A child?”
“Yes, the most stubborn and difficult child I’ve ever met.”
Ningguang both laughed and sighed.
“But she’s very important to me, so I can’t let just anyone take care of her. Technically, her parents want her to be ‘managed,’ but I believe she’ll behave well. There shouldn’t be any problems… I think.”
This was by far the most complicated request Ganyu had ever received, and she was hesitant in many ways. If it were a normal work task, like spending days ensuring a project met its deadline or dealing with filthy criminals, she wouldn’t mind. But managing someone like a parent? That was impossible. She had never even been in that role before.
As if sensing her hesitation, Ningguang spoke again.
“Don’t worry, Ganyu. It’s not like I’m asking you to marry her and live together forever. Just for about a year. After that, everything will return to normal. You won’t have to deal with requests like this again.”
The Tianquan emphasized.
Honestly, Ganyu didn’t believe she wouldn’t receive more difficult requests in the future. But in Ningguang’s world, “impossible” did not exist, and “refusal” was not an option for someone working in the Qixing. She had a contract here, a duty to fulfill. There was no request that the secretary could not handle.
So, Ganyu could only nod—albeit reluctantly. At the very least, it wasn’t a man. A child couldn’t be that difficult. It would probably be just like dealing with Beidou. She could handle this.
“Thank you. I promise you won’t be at a disadvantage. If she causes any trouble, just let me know, and I’ll take care of it.”
Ningguang replied, clearly pleased with Ganyu’s acceptance.
“Understood, my lady… But may I know more about this person?”
“Oh, her name is Keqing—Yunlai Keqing. She’s in her fourth year at Teyvat University.”
Keqing? That name felt eerily familiar, bringing back memories that Ganyu wished she could bury deep beneath the earth.
It couldn’t be… could it? If she was 21 now, there was no way any bar in Liyue would have let her in. That incident had happened long ago, which only made it more unlikely.
But that name unsettled her. It made her anxious and doubtful.
Oh, Archons, please don’t let it be the same person.
She silently prayed to the gods above, hoping her plea would be heard.