Inside the Acting Grand Master's office of the Knights of Favonius, the air was filled with the faint aroma of tea and a peaceful, tranquil atmosphere.
Jean sat upright behind her desk—but instead of the usual mountain of documents, she was holding a beautifully bound book with slightly curled pages…
A romance novel.
Thanks to Yi Chen's aggressively promoted "outsourcing plan" and streamlined administrative workflow, combined with the resolution of the Stormterror crisis and the complete planning of Dvalin's return ceremony, the burden on her shoulders had lightened more than ever before.
For once, she had stolen herself half a day of leisure.
Her slender fingers gently turned a page as she focused on the story. Her expression subtly shifted with the characters' joys and sorrows.
At touching moments, the corners of her lips lifted unconsciously.
At painful separations, her brows knit slightly.
And when the male and female leads finally confessed their feelings after countless trials—
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
Her gaze drifted toward the window, her thoughts involuntarily sketching vague yet beautiful images…
Perhaps of a certain black-haired assistant who always brought "surprises," standing beneath a sunset, wearing that sunlight-bright smile, saying something for the first—and maybe not first—time…
Knock. Knock.
A measured knock, slow and unmistakably teasing, abruptly shattered Jean's reverie.
Like a startled cat, she snapped out of her thoughts, hurriedly closing the book and stuffing it beneath a pile of pending documents, then hastily placing another report on top as camouflage.
She straightened her expression, attempting to regain her usual composure—though the faint redness at her ears betrayed her.
"P-Please come in!"
The door opened, and Kaeya strolled in wearing his signature grin—the kind that clearly announced I live for chaos.
"Good afternoon, my dear Acting Grand Master~"
His tone was light, but his eyes were razor-sharp, instantly catching the unnatural bulge in the documents, the lingering blush on Jean's face, and her subtle stiffness.
Jean cleared her throat, forcing calm into her voice.
"What is it? Has something gone wrong with Dvalin's return ceremony?"
"Oh? Not at all~ Everything's proceeding perfectly. Your planning is flawless, as expected."
Kaeya casually walked up to the desk, fingers tracing its surface.
"I'm only here in my capacity as Cavalry Captain to report a… hmm… minor security concern."
"A security concern?"
Jean frowned slightly, her demeanor turning serious.
"What exactly?"
Kaeya sighed dramatically, spreading his hands.
"Well, it's nothing major… just that today, Mondstadt received a rather… special visitor. A white-haired woman, extremely cold in temperament, and unmistakably not an ordinary traveler."
Jean nodded. Mondstadt welcomed all travelers, but special cases warranted attention.
"Normally, that wouldn't be an issue," Kaeya continued, a mischievous curve forming at his lips.
"But the problem is… our ever-popular Assistant Yi Chen seems to have a rather… extraordinary relationship with this lady."
Jean's heart skipped—just once.
"Oh?"
Kaeya seized the moment and began narrating vividly.
"I saw it with my own eyes! The instant Yi Chen spotted her, he rushed over with unbelievable enthusiasm! And then—broad daylight! In full view of everyone!"
"He very naturally… took her hand."
"And just like that, the two of them walked off together, chatting and laughing like it was the most natural thing in the world!"
As he spoke, Kaeya watched closely.
Jean's expression stiffened ever so slightly. Her grip on the pen tightened unconsciously.
"I… see…"
Her voice remained steady, but her speech slowed.
"Perhaps she's a friend he met in Liyue. That would be… normal."
Kaeya raised an eyebrow dramatically.
"My dear Acting Grand Master, you're far too innocent~ Based on my extensive life experience, the way that white-haired beauty looks at Yi Chen…"
He leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"…That's definitely not a 'friend' look. It's more like—"
He paused deliberately.
"…the kind of gaze that wants to swallow our adorable assistant whole~"
Crack.
Jean's pen pierced straight through the report beneath it.
Silence fell over the office.
Kaeya gazed at the torn paper and Jean's tense profile with immense satisfaction.
The betting odds… were about to skyrocket.
Such delight.
"Captain… are you alright?"
Kaeya asked with feigned concern, his grin barely restrained.
Jean inhaled deeply, forcibly suppressing the sour, restless emotions churning inside her.
She pushed the damaged report aside and spoke evenly.
"…I'm fine. Thank you for the report, Kaeya. I understand. I will… keep an eye on it."
"As long as you're aware~"
Kaeya bowed lightly, his mission accomplished.
"Then I won't disturb your… work any further."
He deliberately emphasized the word work, casting a pointed glance at the half-hidden novel before cheerfully exiting and closing the door behind him.
The office fell silent once more.
But Jean could no longer focus on documents—or novels.
Her gaze drifted toward the window as Kaeya's words echoed endlessly in her mind.
White hair… cold… beautiful…
Holding hands in public…
And that ever-sunny smile of Yi Chen's—so close to everyone…
The crack in the paper slowly spread beneath her pen.