"Wha…" Ryou's father was about to speak.
Keqing stepped forward. "Father, I still have one more piece of good news to tell you."
"What is it?" Ryou's father glanced toward the office, then turned back to Keqing.
He had served as one of the Liyue Qixing for years, and when it came to reading people, he was far better at it than Keqing.
Keqing's expression had looked natural just now, but the tension in her eyes was obvious.
He guessed Ryou was probably in the office, and that something was wrong.
As for what exactly?
He thought of the person Huixin had mentioned earlier.
Tabibito.
Tabibito was one of Ryou's friends too. She had visited Ryou's home several times, so Ryou's father still remembered her.
Didn't that mean Ryou and Lumine were both in the office?
A man and a woman alone together, staying inside for so long without coming out. It was obvious what people would assume.
Then, after seeing Keqing's reaction, Ryou's father understood.
He was furious. How had he raised a son like this? Ryou actually dared to fool around in the Ministry of Civil Affairs?
And if he got caught, the family would lose all face.
The more Ryou's father thought about it, the angrier he became. When he looked at Keqing again, there was more guilt in his eyes.
Keqing was a good girl. Even at a time like this, she was still thinking for Ryou's sake. If it had been any other woman, she would have already caused a scene.
Ryou's father asked, "What good news?"
Seeing Zhongli, Huixin, and the others all look toward her instead of the office, Keqing quietly sighed in relief.
She said, "When we were on our way back, Diluc from Dawn Winery came to us."
"He wants to develop a new wine, and he's willing to give us nearly forty percent of the profits as payment."
Keqing had just been about to continue when she suddenly let out a soft "Eh?"
Her heart nearly jumped into her throat, but when she realized Huixin had only bumped into a desk, she finally relaxed.
Out of the corner of her eye, Keqing glanced toward the office. Nothing had changed. The door was still shut.
Then she heard Huixin say, "Dawn Winery's Dandelion Wine is famous far and wide. Forty percent of the profits is no small amount!"
"Hiss, doesn't that mean Ryou-sama earned at least twenty million Mora from this trip?"
"If Ryou-sama went into business, he'd probably already be rich enough to dominate an entire region."
Ryou's father was also surprised when he heard this. He remembered that Ryou had sent some wine home a while ago.
Most of it had been Dandelion Wine, along with a few bottles of adeptal juice.
Ryou's father had not cared much for the juice, but he had loved the wine.
After one taste, he had been completely won over. The flavor was outstanding, and drinking it was an absolute pleasure.
A few of his old friends had tried it too, and afterward, they kept pestering him at home, using every excuse they could think of to take a few bottles with them.
Ryou's father had not expected Ryou to cooperate with Diluc to develop Dandelion Wine.
Then, when the time came, could he ask for a few bottles?
With that thought in mind, Ryou's father began considering a trip to Qingce Village tomorrow. He might as well bring the young couple with him and let those old friends meet them.
While he was there, he could casually mention the wine too.
On the surface, aside from the Liyue Qixing, Liyue did not seem to have many major powers. But in the shadows, there were plenty.
His family had stood firm for several hundred years, but even their connections could not compare to those groups.
For example, Ningguang had been able to shine so brightly in Liyue Harbor not only because of Ryou family's help, but also because other powers supported her from behind.
Otherwise, she never would have been able to act so boldly.
After all, Liyue Harbor was a massive market. No single family could dominate everything, and no one could afford to make enemies everywhere.
Yet Ningguang had managed it.
"Keqing, once the Dandelion Wine goes on sale, send a few bottles home. Remember, don't let your mother-in-law see them," Ryou's father whispered.
"Cough, cough. I don't drink often, but I would also like to enjoy a cup now and then. Would that be possible?" Zhongli asked, shamelessly joining in.
Keqing smiled when she heard both Zhongli and Ryou's father asking for wine. "Of course. But Diluc still needs to arrange for people to come over."
"As for the storefront, he seems to have his eye on Third-Round Knockout."
"Third-Round Knockout?" Ryou's father fell silent for a moment.
Zhongli did not say anything either.
"Keqing, Third-Round Knockout has been in Degui's hands for many years. That place is practically a money tree."
"You know how far Degui went, but he still made a fortune, and that was because of Third-Round Knockout."
"Tea, wine, storytelling, food—the place has everything a proper restaurant should have, and more."
"He would never sell such a prime location. Even if you have the money, that does not mean you can buy it," Ryou's father said.
"It's fine. I believe he can do it."
"He has never disappointed me," Keqing said seriously.
"You really do trust him," Ryou's father said, glancing at Keqing. She truly was a good girl. Unfortunately, his son…
Ryou's father looked toward the office again, and anger flared in his chest.
That little brat was going to be the death of him.
"Degui is a petty man. We arrested him and even paraded him through the streets."
"Getting him to sell Third-Round Knockout now will probably be very difficult. Even if he agrees, he'll demand an outrageous price," Zhongli said.
"That's true," Ryou's father said with a nod.
"After what happened last time, Yuehai Pavilion issued a new notice."
"The Ministry of Civil Affairs is now under Keqing's management. He is no longer in charge, and on the surface, everything has to go through the proper offices."
Ryou's father reminded Keqing, "You need to keep a close eye on things. If some matters get out of hand, the impact won't be good."
"Keqing, you've worked hard."
"I… I'm fine," Keqing said.
She could tell that Ryou's father had probably noticed something and had said that deliberately.
Zhongli looked at Ryou's father and Keqing. "Shouldn't this be something you tell Ryou? Ryou is in the office right now."
Keqing tensed and glanced at Ryou's father, only to find his expression calm and natural. Almost nothing showed on his face.
That was something she really should learn from him.
She found it difficult to control her emotions, especially when the matter involved Ryou.
Keqing said, "Ryou is probably handling something important. We shouldn't disturb him."
She was just about to say more when Huixin spoke up. "Wait, didn't Tabibito go into the office with him?"
Keqing looked at Huixin, almost suspecting she had said it on purpose.
After all, Ryou was in the office with a woman, and they had not come out for so long. It was obvious what people would think.
Keqing and Ryou's father had both been trying not to mention it. Even when sounds came from the office earlier, they had shifted everyone's attention away.
So what was Huixin doing, suddenly bringing it up again?
Keqing watched the others from the corner of her eye and saw many Ministry staff whispering among themselves.
Ryou's father's face did not change much. He remained silent.
He seemed to be thinking about what to say.
She also saw Zhongli looking at her and Ryou's father with confusion in his eyes.
Just as Zhongli seemed about to speak, Ryou's father said, "Enough!"
"You should all know what kind of person Ryou is. When has he ever been involved in anything improper with another woman?"
"If this were before, I might not have said anything. I might even have wished that more women liked my son."
"But now… my son is married. Are you all doubting him?"
Ryou's father said, "Keqing, Zhongli, come. We'll go into the office and take a look."
"Once we go in, everything will be clear."
"Father, I believe my husband is not that kind of man. They should be discussing something," Keqing said.
She glanced at Zhongli but did not say anything else, because she knew Zhongli had not meant anything by it. He had only mentioned it casually.
Still, when Keqing thought about what she might see in a moment, panic rose in her heart.
If they really saw something unbearable inside, there would be no way to smooth things over.
As a woman and as a wife, Keqing did not think she could simply let something like that go.
But Ryou was far too strong.
Even after bullying her, he never seemed to calm down, so… Keqing could not stop her thoughts from drifting in that direction.
"I truly did not mean anything else. It's just… perhaps you two should go instead," Zhongli said.
"No," Keqing said.
"My father and I are family, but you are an outsider. You have your own perspective, and so will everyone else."
"Otherwise, if rumors spread later, it won't be good for any of us," Keqing said to Zhongli.
"That makes sense," Ryou's father said, glancing at Keqing and Zhongli.
In truth, Ryou's father felt very helpless, because he had a faint guess about what had happened inside.
A man and a woman alone in a room. If nothing had happened, who would believe it?
Ryou's father had advised Ryou several times before. Once a man had a family and a career, he needed to settle down. He had never been entirely sure whether Ryou had a wandering eye.
But now, even as Ryou's father, he found it hard not to overthink.
Especially after seeing Keqing's expression. He had already guessed quite a lot.
He could only steel himself and walk to the office door. Before he even pushed it open, strange sounds came from inside.
Among them, one heavy bang sounded especially clear.
Ryou's father's face darkened when he heard it. They had already reached the door, and their footsteps had been so obvious.
Had Ryou not heard them at all?
It was over.
The family's reputation was about to be ruined by that brat.
Keqing was one of the Liyue Qixing, and she was so beautiful that countless people dreamed of marrying her.
Yet with such a beautiful wife at home, Ryou still couldn't behave himself?
Had he lost his mind?
Were those women outside prettier than Keqing?
Tabibito was not bad either, but could she compare to Keqing in appearance, background, or figure?
What was that boy thinking?
Ryou's father clenched his fists. If he opened the door and saw something disgraceful, he really would have to drag Ryou outside and slap him.
[End of chapter]
[200 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/BellAshelia]
[Thanks for your support!]