Meanwhile, Yi Chen was enthusiastically guiding Shenhe around Mondstadt, chatting away until they unknowingly arrived at the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
He was just about to proudly show her his workplace—and see if Jean was around to introduce them—
When the headquarters door opened.
Kaeya stepped out, wearing the unmistakable expression of a man who had just done something wicked and felt fantastic about it.
The air froze.
Kaeya's smile stiffened.
He looked at the icy, otherworldly white-haired woman beside Yi Chen… then at Yi Chen himself, who looked completely defenseless—clearly about to introduce her.
Oh no.
Why did this kid bring her straight here?!
Doesn't that make my "urgent intelligence report" look extremely suspicious and unnecessary?!
Yi Chen, however, instantly entered maximum alert mode upon seeing the barely concealed smugness on Kaeya's face.
He knew Kaeya too well.
Every time this guy screwed someone over, he wore that exact expression.
Yi Chen narrowed his eyes, staring straight at Kaeya's guilty face. His smile was gentle—too gentle.
"Kaeya… my dear, beloved friend…"
"That expression of yours is very interesting."
"You wouldn't happen to have done something… you shouldn't have, behind my back… would you?"
As he spoke, he deliberately rolled his right elbow joint.
Crack.
His smile grew even warmer.
"Hehe… you know better than anyone how persuasive my 'methods' are, right?"
Kaeya instantly felt phantom pain ripple through his body.
"Haha… hahaha…"
He laughed nervously, cold sweat forming as he stepped back.
"N-Now now, Yi Chen! What are you saying? Do I look like that kind of person?!"
His eyes darted around frantically, searching for an escape route.
"Ah! I just remembered! Amber urgently needs me! Patrol routes! Extremely urgent! Life-or-death urgency!"
Before Yi Chen could reply, Kaeya spun around and bolted.
"WHOOSH!"
He vanished down an alley, leaving behind only a fading shout:
"Enjoy your day! Take good care of your—ah! I mean—friend! I'm out!!!"
Yi Chen snorted at Kaeya's retreating figure.
"Runs fast… at least he knows better."
Turning back to Shenhe, he explained casually,
"Don't mind him, Senior Sister. He's a good friend—just full of bad ideas."
Shenhe withdrew her gaze from the alley and nodded faintly.
"Understood. If he means harm to my junior, I will handle it."
Her voice was calm—so calm it sent a shiver down the spine of a certain fleeing Cavalry Captain somewhere far away.
Yi Chen laughed, completely unfazed.
"Come on, Senior Sister! Don't let him ruin the mood. I'll introduce you to Acting Grand Master Jean—she's really nice!"
With that, he led Shenhe straight into headquarters.
Inside the Acting Grand Master's office.
Jean maintained a perfect professional smile as Yi Chen enthusiastically introduced the white-haired woman beside him—Shenhe.
Her gaze drifted subtly toward Shenhe.
The moment she met those eyes—unblinking, unwavering, entirely fixed on Yi Chen—
A bead of cold sweat slid down Jean's temple.
That look…
That's not subtle at all!
It was the gaze of ownership.
And when Jean glanced at Yi Chen—still smiling cluelessly—it became painfully obvious.
With his level of emotional density, he probably hadn't noticed a thing.
Jean seized a brief pause in the conversation and shot Yi Chen a discreet look.
『What is going on?!』
Yi Chen blinked once, then returned a reassuring look.
『I'll explain privately later!』
Their brief, silent exchange did not escape Shenhe's notice.
She didn't understand the meaning—but the exclusion itself made her frown slightly.
Jean steadied herself, welcomed Shenhe politely, exchanged brief pleasantries, and soon Yi Chen and Shenhe took their leave.
Outside, near a quiet fountain plaza, Shenhe gently stopped Yi Chen by gripping his hand.
"The looks you exchanged with the Acting Grand Master earlier… what did they mean?"
Yi Chen waved it off easily.
"Oh, that? That's just our secret work communication! Office stuff—no need to worry, Senior Sister!"
"Secret…?"
Shenhe repeated the word softly.
Her eyes narrowed.
The surrounding air grew noticeably colder.
Yi Chen, completely oblivious, cheerfully tugged her forward.
"Come on! I'll take you to my place next! I'll buy groceries later and cook for you tonight!"
He walked off energetically toward the marketplace.
Shenhe stood still for a moment, watching his unguarded back, recalling the unspoken understanding between him and the blonde Acting Grand Master.
The cold around her nearly solidified.
Then—slowly—she followed him.