Knock, knock, knock!
Ryou's father stood at the front and knocked on the door, his fist clenched tight.
If he opened that door and saw something disgraceful inside, he really would beat that brat to death.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Keqing's tense face and her eyes fixed firmly on the door.
The sight filled Ryou's father with guilt.
People always said a father was responsible for failing to teach his son properly. In Ryou's father's eyes, Ryou's character, conduct, and ability were all worthy of Keqing.
After marrying her, Ryou had risen to prominence in Liyue Harbor, and his reputation had grown louder and louder.
But at the same time, he had caused plenty of trouble. Arresting people, acting forcefully, pushing matters hard.
When he dealt with Northland Bank, the incident had been suppressed.
Later, after someone reported the matter to Yuehai Pavilion, all the Liyue Qixing heard about it. But since it involved the Fatui, no one said too much.
This time, he had arrested Degui and even paraded him through the streets. That, in itself, was not a major issue.
Degui's own hands were not clean. Arresting him was one thing.
And when Ryou's father heard that Keqing had arrested one of the Liyue Qixing, he was indeed a little surprised.
But none of that truly mattered.
As long as Ryou's father stepped in and joined forces with Ningguang, the Tianquan, and the others, they could suppress the matter within a few days.
But this was different.
Fooling around with another woman here, at Yujing Terrace? If this got out, Ryou would lose all face.
What was that boy thinking?
He had married Keqing, yet he was still flirting around outside?
"You brat, open the door! It's about to give!"
Knock, knock, knock!
After several knocks, the door creaked open.
Ryou's father saw Ryou standing at the door, one hand holding it open.
Ryou's clothes were neat, and Ryou's father finally relaxed a little.
But almost immediately, he noticed Ryou's pale face and sunken eyes. He looked like he had just been crying.
"You brat, you…"
Ryou's father pointed at Ryou, then noticed Lumine and Paimon behind him. His anger flared all over again.
"Get inside. I'll deal with you in a moment!"
"Deal with me? What did I do?" Ryou asked, confused.
"Inside!" Ryou's father snapped.
Ryou stepped aside, only then noticing that Keqing had been about to come in behind him.
The next second, Keqing moved close and leaned into his chest, sniffing him.
Her brows relaxed. "I believe you."
Ryou pinched her cheek. "Believe me? Did you misunderstand something again? Tonight…"
"I didn't!" Keqing blurted out, then quickly entered the room.
The office was clean and tidy. There were no scattered clothes on the floor like they had imagined, and there was no strange scent either.
Only Lumine and Paimon were sitting in chairs, eating fruit. A few books lay beside them.
Ryou's father looked at Lumine and said, "You may leave."
"I'm not leaving," Lumine said while eating a strawberry.
"Father, she came as a guest this time. I was discussing something with her just now," Ryou explained on Lumine's behalf.
Ryou's father sat down, still furious. "Nonsense. You're already married. You stayed alone with a woman in the office for so long. How do you think people at Yujing Terrace will see you?"
"I didn't do anything," Ryou said.
"You…" Ryou's father was livid.
"Father, I believe Ryou. This may really just be a misunderstanding," Keqing said, speaking up for him.
"A misunderstanding? Look at his face. He looks completely drained!" Ryou's father pointed at Ryou. "Are you trying to anger your father to death?"
"Father, you really misunderstood. I've had a lot of work these past few days."
"Who do you think you're fooling? I've lived for this many years. I can tell what state you're in with one glance. You think I need you to lie to me?"
Ryou's father scolded him fiercely, then turned to Keqing. "Keqing, I've wronged you. This wretched boy is already married, yet he's still messing around outside. This matter…"
"This may really be a misunderstanding," Keqing said.
Keqing trusted that Ryou was not the sort of person who lost himself in lust, so she tried to explain for him.
She believed in Ryou's character. Still, when she saw his pale face, doubt crept into her heart.
What had happened to him?
Ryou rarely looked like this. Normally, he was full of energy and practically glowing with vitality.
But now…
Had he really done something with Lumine in the office?
But even if they had done something, surely she would have noticed something off, right?
Wait.
There was one problem.
As soon as Keqing thought of that, everything suddenly clicked.
The place had not been the office.
It had been the pocket world.
Keqing remembered Ryou mentioning before that time flowed differently inside the pocket world.
That meant although they had only been alone for nearly an hour outside, much more time could have passed inside the pocket world.
No wonder there were no clothes left behind in the office.
Keqing's feelings turned complicated, but she quickly reacted.
If Ryou really had done something with Lumine, Keqing would be able to tell the moment she got close to him.
Keqing made her decision. She would test Ryou later. Once she did, she would know whether anything had happened between him and Lumine.
"Father, you misunderstood us," Ryou said.
"Misunderstood? Then tell me what you were discussing. What kind of discussion takes that long?" Ryou's father slapped the table and glared at him.
He was angry because, in his mind, the matter was already obvious. There was almost no point in denying it.
If Ryou simply admitted it, then the matter could still pass.
But Ryou was still refusing to come clean. Was he trying to anger his own father to death?
Ryou saw that Ryou's father, Zhongli, and Keqing were all looking at him, while Lumine calmly continued eating fruit as though none of this affected her.
Ryou felt wronged.
At first, he had indeed been affectionate with Lumine for a bit, but he had only tasted a little and stopped there. He had not crossed the line.
After that, he really had been discussing matters with Lumine, so why did none of them believe him?
Ryou said, "It isn't some major secret. I wanted Lumine to buy Third-Round Knockout."
"Buy Third-Round Knockout?" Ryou's father froze. "Nonsense! Do you know what kind of place Third-Round Knockout is?"
"Even if someone wants to buy it, the price will be enormous. At the very least, it would cost one hundred million Mora. Does she even have one hundred million?"
"I do," Lumine said faintly.
"You… you have one hundred million?" Ryou's father choked.
He turned to Lumine and asked, "Aren't you an adventurer with the Adventurers' Guild? Since when does the Guild give out one hundred million Mora?"
"They don't. But thanks to Ryou, he taught me a method that helped me earn money."
"After that, Yanfei helped me earn one hundred million. Making one hundred million didn't even take four days. It only took two," Lumine said.
Zhongli and Ryou's father both fell silent, unsure what to say.
"Cough, cough. That's why I wanted Lumine to buy Third-Round Knockout."
"Also, Lumine and Diluc are old friends. They agreed to move the funds through Northland Bank and use proper official channels to secure Third-Round Knockout."
"So that is what happened," Zhongli said.
Ryou's father was still half convinced. "Then what happened to your face?"
"I didn't rest well," Ryou said.
"Didn't rest well?" Ryou's father clearly did not believe him.
"Father, I went to sleep early. Keqing tucked me in herself."
"Keqing, you… You brat, if you ever do anything to wrong Keqing, you'll see how I deal with you!"
Ryou's father glared at Ryou. "Fine. Since that's the case, I won't ask further."
"Then I'll take my leave as well," Zhongli said, and left too.
Keqing seized the chance to walk over to Lumine. Looking down at her, she asked only two words.
"Did you?"
Lumine looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing." Keqing smiled.
"You're so strange. Anyway, I need to go buy some things." Lumine had no idea what Keqing meant, so she got up and left the office.
Once Lumine was gone, Keqing walked over and sat down in Ryou's arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and said, "You scared me just now."
"Scared you how? You clearly misunderstood me. If you distrust me this much, why did you marry me?"
"Oh. Sorry. But when a man and a woman are alone in the same room, it's hard not to overthink."
"Looks like I really did overthink it." Keqing touched Ryou's face with a smile, then lifted her head and kissed him on the lips.
She said, "There's still quite a while before the Ministry of Civil Affairs closes for the day."
[Ding! Keqing obtained Sword Flight (Elemental Version)!]
Ryou fell silent.
So Keqing could fly on a sword by consuming elemental energy?
That would make traveling much easier for her. Not bad at all.
Ryou gently stroked Keqing. She was still a little hazy as she hugged him, nuzzling against him in his arms.
"Keqing, Ningguang invited us to dinner at the Jade Chamber tonight," Ryou said.
"Mhm… but I invited friends over to our house for dinner too. And… I also invited Ganyu, Zhongli, and the others," Keqing said.
Ryou glanced outside and said, "If my wife wants to go home for dinner, then we'll go home for dinner."
"Mhm…" Keqing hugged Ryou and kissed him.
When Ryou left with Keqing in his arms, he suddenly remembered something.
They would probably pass by Madame Ping later. If Madame Ping gave him that item, how was he supposed to explain it to Keqing?
Keqing was smart. She would definitely guess what it was. And if that happened, how was he supposed to give the item to Lumine?
Before Ryou could think of a plan, Ningguang approached with a smile.
Keqing immediately grew wary when she saw Ningguang. This woman was no good person.
But then Keqing remembered that she wanted to help match Zhongli and Ningguang together. Wasn't this the perfect chance?
Once Ningguang became someone else's wife, Keqing's plan to send her away would be half-complete!
"Ningguang, I'm holding a gathering at home tonight, so I probably won't be able to go to your place. Why don't you come to my house instead?" Keqing asked.
"This… all right," Ningguang said after glancing at Ryou. "You two go ahead. I'll go back and prepare some gifts."
"Fine. Just don't forget the time," Keqing said with a nod.
Ryou looked at Ningguang for a moment, then looked at Keqing. Something felt very wrong.
Keqing and Ningguang did not have a good relationship, so why was Keqing suddenly speaking to her so nicely today?
Too strange.
And there was another thing. Ningguang said she needed to prepare gifts.
That made Ryou remember the last time Ningguang came to their home. She had brought quite a bit of good wine.
Those wines had not been weak either. Her intentions had clearly had nothing to do with the wine.
If Ryou had not stacked himself with buffs like crazy, everyone there would probably have gotten drunk.
And if he had gotten drunk, wouldn't that have been exactly what Ningguang wanted?
This time, Ningguang couldn't be planning to use the same trick again, could she?
[End of chapter]
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