The game of evasion became a daily, deeply amusing ritual in the house on Feiyun Slope. Every morning, Ganyu would prepare breakfast with the meticulous care of an adeptus, her mind already organizing the day's schedule, which invariably included a slot for "Bring Ren to the Jade Chamber."
And every morning, the moment the last drop of congee was swallowed, Ren would become a phantom.
"The reports from the Chasm mining operations are particularly dense today, Ren," Ganyu began one Tuesday, her voice carrying that gentle, persuasive tone she used when trying to coax a stubborn merchant into a fair deal. "I thought perhaps your analytical mind could—"
"Thanks for breakfast, Big Sister! Promised Chongyun I'd help him test a new popsicle recipe! Love you, bye!"
The door would click shut before she even finished her sentence, leaving Ganyu standing in the entryway with a half-raised hand and a profoundly fond, exasperated sigh. It was so transparently childish, so completely devoid of the heavy, world-altering responsibility he usually carried, that she couldn't bring herself to be truly annoyed. In fact, she loved it. He was finally acting his age. Or at least, the age he appeared to be.
His days were a kaleidoscope of Liyue life. He spent hours on Yujing Terrace with Madam Ping, listening to her weave tales of the Archon War, the stories taking on a new, poignant weight now that he understood the true nature of the gods involved. He sat in quiet teahouses with Zhongli, their conversations ranging from the proper appreciation of Noctilucous Jade to the subtle, changing currents of Liyue's political landscape (a topic Zhongli seemed to find infinitely amusing ever since he was officially 'dead').
He helped Xiangling gather Jueyun Chilis, his Cryo abilities proving surprisingly useful in preserving the heat of the peppers without burning his hands. He watched Yun Jin perform at the Heyu Tea House, mesmerized by the grace and power of her opera, snapping photos from the front row. He even managed to wrangle Xingqiu away from a new martial arts novel long enough to go on a small, uneventful "patrol" with him and Chongyun, which mostly consisted of eating cold noodles and avoiding Chongyun's attempts to find evil spirits that weren't there.
He played hide-and-seek with Qiqi and Yaoyao in the harbor, his small, agile frame and his ability to conjure localized patches of fog making him an almost unbeatable hider.
For a week, he was just Ren. Not the Azure Savior. Not the Prince of Thunder. Just a boy in Liyue.
Then, on a crisp, clear Thursday morning, the routine broke.
Breakfast was finished. The plates were cleared. Ganyu braced herself for the inevitable blur of motion towards the door. She opened her mouth to deliver her daily, futile invitation to the Jade Chamber.
Instead, Ren remained seated. He looked at her, his glowing azure eyes serious and thoughtful.
"Big Sister," he said, his voice calm. "I want to see them."
Ganyu blinked, surprised by the stillness. "See what, Ren?"
"The factories," he clarified. "The places where they build the heaters. The refrigerators. The hoverboards. I've only ever seen the prototypes. I want to see how… how my ideas are actually being made. On a large scale."
A wave of understanding and deep pride washed over Ganyu. He wasn't running away from his responsibilities; he was finally ready to face the physical manifestation of them.
"Of course, Ren," she said softly, a warm smile spreading across her face. "That is a wonderful idea. I am sure Lady Ningguang would be thrilled—"
"Actually," Ren interrupted gently, "I was hoping Keqing could take me. If she's not too busy."
Ganyu paused, then nodded slowly. It made sense. While Ningguang controlled the commerce and the grand strategy, Keqing was the Yuheng, the overseer of land, construction, and real estate. She was the one who had likely overseen the physical building of the factories and the implementation of the production lines.
"We can ask her," Ganyu agreed. "Let's go to Yujing Terrace."
They made the short walk to the Yuehai Pavilion. Ganyu, moving with the practiced efficiency of the General Secretary, navigated the bustling corridors and led Ren directly to Keqing's office.
Keqing was, as always, buried in work. She stood over a large drafting table, her amethyst eyes narrowed in concentration as she reviewed a series of complex architectural blueprints. She looked up as they entered, her expression shifting from intense focus to mild surprise.
"Ganyu. Ren," she greeted, setting her pen down. "To what do I owe the pleasure? I thought you were avoiding anything that looked like official business, Ren."
Ren smiled sheepishly. "Only the boring meetings. I was wondering… if you have time today… could you show me the factories? Where they make the machines?"
Keqing's eyebrows rose. She looked at the boy, then at the blueprints on her desk, and a slow, genuine smile touched her lips.
"As it happens," Keqing said, her voice taking on a brisk, professional, yet clearly pleased tone, "I have a scheduled inspection of the primary R&D labs and the main assembly plant on the outskirts of the harbor this afternoon. You are more than welcome to accompany me. In fact, having the chief architect present would be highly beneficial."
"That would be great!" Ren beamed.
"Excellent," Keqing said, already turning back to her desk. "The inspection is at fourteen hundred hours. You may wait here while I conclude these immediate tasks. Ganyu, I trust you have matters to attend to?"
"I do," Ganyu said, giving Ren a quick, affectionate hug. "Be good. And listen to Keqing."
With Ganyu gone to her own duties, Ren settled into a comfortable chair in the corner of Keqing's office. The room was a testament to the Yuheng's relentless work ethic—organized chaos, filled with maps, ledgers, and half-finished cups of tea.
For the next few hours, Ren became a quiet, amused observer. He watched Keqing work. She was a force of nature, her mind moving with the speed and precision of the Electro element she wielded. She dictated letters, signed approvals, and ruthlessly dissected flawed proposals with a sharp, uncompromising logic.
But occasionally, amidst the flurry of bureaucracy, he would catch her pausing. She would look up from her paperwork, her gaze drifting over to his corner.
Ren, to pass the time, was practicing his fine motor control. He held his hand out, a soft, turquoise light glowing in his palm. With delicate, precise movements, he was sculpting a miniature, incredibly detailed ice replica of the Jade Chamber, complete with tiny, frosted pavilions and floating islands.
Keqing watched him, her amethyst eyes wide with a mixture of fascination and profound respect. She watched the way he manipulated the element not as a weapon, but as an art form, a tool of pure creation. It was a stark contrast to the destructive, high-speed combat drills they had shared, and it revealed a depth to his power that she found deeply compelling.
When the clock chimed noon, the relentless pace of the office finally halted. A junior secretary hurried in, bearing a large, tiered wooden box, which she set respectfully on Keqing's desk before bowing and retreating.
"Lunch," Keqing announced, clearing away a space on her drafting table. "Come, Ren. I had them bring something special."
She opened the box, revealing a beautifully arranged spread of Golden Shrimp Balls, perfectly steamed Lotus Seed and Bird Egg Soup, and delicate Crystal Shrimp dumplings. It was a feast, clearly ordered with his (and her own) tastes in mind.
They ate in comfortable companionship, discussing the intricacies of Liyue's expanding infrastructure. Keqing explained the logistical challenges of securing enough raw materials—iron, silver, and the crucial Electro crystals—to meet the soaring demand for his inventions.
"The supply chains are strained, but holding," she reported, popping a shrimp ball into her mouth. "Ningguang's foresight in securing contracts with the Chasm miners before the announcement was… characteristically ruthless, and entirely necessary."
When the last dumpling was gone and the tea was finished, Keqing stood up, smoothing her skirt, the sharp, authoritative aura of the Yuheng returning in full force.
"Well," she said, looking down at him, her eyes gleaming with a proud, almost fierce, anticipation. "Are you ready, Ren? Are you ready to see your ideas… brought to life on a scale you cannot possibly imagine?"
Ren stood up, his heart pounding a fast, excited rhythm. He nodded. "I'm ready."
They left the office, stepping out into the bright Liyue afternoon, heading towards the outskirts of the city, towards the roaring, mechanical heart of the future he had designed.