The Rite of Parting marked the beginning of a hectic life.
Especially the first week.
With the Jade Chamber's explosion, many backup documents had been lost to the sea. As the "mobile archive," Qin Yu had to shoulder the burden.
"Qin Yu, please retrieve all records from forty-eight days ago."
"And these too, from about two months ago..."
It felt almost like they were prying open her mind for everyone to see.
This was the first source of exhaustion.
The second came from Ningguang's reluctance to let herself and Baiwen become overly reliant on Qin Yu. Yet, for now, they had no other way to access the contents of the documents except through Qin Yu's records.
So, for the time being, they had to impose on her, asking her to painstakingly copy the information bit by bit in her spare moments.
The Machine Companion's printing function eliminated the need for manual copying, and ordinary documents could be delegated to Baiwen and the others.
However, the sheer volume of material and the need for a Brain-Machine Connection to access databases made this far from an easy task.
The third source of fatigue stemmed from her role as Ningguang's personal maid.
During work hours, wherever Ningguang went, Qin Yu had to follow.
Recently, Ningguang had been relentlessly pursuing the Fatui in diplomatic negotiations, constantly pressing for greater concessions. Qin Yu had no choice but to accompany her on these outings, facing the Fatui diplomats directly.
With all these demands combined, Qin Yu felt physically and mentally exhausted every day.
The pay was undoubtedly generous, but maintaining this constant tension would inevitably lead to burnout.
The only saving grace was that, so far, she hadn't needed to work overtime on her days off.
The routine household chores—cooking, brewing tea, cleaning—the physical labor of which paradoxically brought Qin Yu relief.
Housework is amazing!
Compared to her work, it was downright blissful.
I'll give the place a thorough cleaning on my next day off.
But on her days off, Qin Yu just wanted to lie in bed, completely motionless.
Any anticipation she felt during the workweek vanished on her days off, becoming a mere "take it or leave it" kind of feeling. A good nap seemed far more worthwhile.
Yet she couldn't sleep.
She hadn't visited Hu Tao this week yet.
They had agreed that Qin Yu would visit her at least once a week, for at least two hours each time.
Otherwise, as punishment, Hu Tao would kiss her a hundred times. If she still didn't come, Hu Tao threatened to kiss her in public. The mere thought of it made Qin Yu cringe. What made it even worse was Hu Tao's remarkable drive.
She was entirely capable of carrying out her threat.
"Absolutely not," Qin Yu muttered.
Left with no choice, she got dressed, stuffed the unfinished novel into her bag, checked her reflection in the mirror to ensure everything was perfect, and headed out to the entrance of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Oh~ you're here! I was starting to think you weren't coming this week."
"I've been busy."
Hu Tao shrugged. "Yeah, I guess so. The new era has just begun, after all. But even with the new era, we're still getting fewer clients than I expected. Sigh."
"Right." Qin Yu replied casually, following Hu Tao into the familiar bedroom.
As always, nothing had changed. Qin Yu glanced around before settling on the floor by the bed—her usual spot.
Pulling a novel from her bag, Qin Yu thought she'd spend the next two hours reading.
There wasn't really anything else to do. Hu Tao had said she could do as she pleased, so this seemed perfectly acceptable.
Though she hadn't fully adjusted to this environment and situation, it was better than when she'd first arrived. At least now Qin Yu could focus on her book.
"Fishy Treasure, what are you reading?" Hu Tao asked, leaning in.
"A novel."
Hu Tao grinned. "A novel about girls kissing girls?"
"No way."
Why does she assume I'm reading it for that kind of thing? Qin Yu bristled at Hu Tao's remark but, wanting to end the conversation, she simply cut it short.
"What genre is it then?"
"Mystery."
"Is it good?"
Qin Yu paused. "It's alright."
Hu Tao hummed indifferently, then inexplicably pushed Qin Yu's back, squeezing out some space.
Before Qin Yu could ask what she was doing, Hu Tao pressed herself against Qin Yu's back.
Front-to-back contact? What is Hu Tao even trying to do?
"What are you doing?" Qin Yu asked, bewildered.
Hu Tao rested her chin on Qin Yu's head, her hands dangling limply over Qin Yu's shoulders.
"Just wanted to try something," Hu Tao said. "Don't make such a fuss."
What's the point of trying that? I don't understand.
Evaluation: D
Still, getting a few points was marginally acceptable.
As Qin Yu's gaze returned to her book, Hu Tao leaned in again, inhaling the faint fragrance of her hair.
"Aiya, smells so good!"
What are you even doing on my head? Qin Yu flinched at Hu Tao's words, sidestepping to create some distance between them.
Her wariness fully activated, Qin Yu demanded, "What exactly are you doing?"
"Sniffing your hair, duh."
Ha?
"Don't do weird things," Qin Yu warned.
"I know that, I haven't lost my memory! But is sniffing hair weird? Girls do it all the time, it's fine, right? Or are you feeling left out? Fine, then you sniff my hair too, Director Hu Tao's hair!"
Hu Tao grabbed one of her pigtails and leaned closer to Qin Yu.
No way, Qin Yu thought firmly. But seeing Hu Tao's enthusiasm, she couldn't help but wonder if refusing would disappoint her.
Fine. Objectively speaking, it's not really a big deal.
Qin Yu sniffed Hu Tao's hair, detecting a delicate floral fragrance. Quite pleasant, she thought.
Evaluation: C-
What shampoo is she using? Qin Yu's attention quickly shifted to the source of the scent.
"How is it?" Hu Tao asked with a smile.
"Hmm... What shampoo do you use?"
"Excellent question! Of course, it's homemade by yours truly, the Director herself!"
Homemade?!
Qin Yu exclaimed in surprise, "Hu Tao, you even make things like that?"
"Yep! Zhongli taught me the recipe, but I meticulously selected the ingredients and conducted extensive testing to ensure it's gentle on your hair!"
Zhongli? How does he know everything?
"Order now and receive a Wangsheng Funeral Parlor exclusive funeral service discount coupon! Guaranteed satisfaction—you'll wash contentedly, rest peacefully, and depart leaving a fragrant trail!" Hu Tao added with another cheerful grin.
"No need."
"Aw, too bad~ But if you want, I'll give you a bottle to try out," Hu Tao said, pulling a bottle of shampoo from a drawer.
Qin Yu was genuinely intrigued, but felt awkward accepting it for free.
"How much?" Qin Yu asked, pulling out her wallet.
"It's free!"
Qin Yu felt uneasy. "Free... I don't feel right taking it for nothing."
"Don't worry about it. Just take it."
Hu Tao firmly pressed the bottle into Qin Yu's hand, leaving her no choice but to accept it. Just then, inspiration struck Hu Tao, and her gaze swept over Qin Yu's body as she began to muse thoughtfully.
"But if you really feel bad about it, then promise me one thing," Hu Tao added.
Qin Yu asked warily, "What is it?"
If it's another weird request, I'd rather just not take the shampoo.
Hu Tao took Qin Yu's hand, causing Qin Yu's body to tense. But Hu Tao merely exclaimed, "Oh my, such lovely hands! It would be a crime not to paint those nails!"
Qin Yu felt a flicker of delight, but then asked in confusion, "Paint my nails?"
"Exactly! Look at mine—aren't they pretty?"
Hu Tao held up her hand, showcasing her darkly painted nails, which perfectly complemented her outfit. The combination was undeniably striking.
But Qin Yu couldn't bring herself to say so directly.
"Uh-huh... so?" Qin Yu interjected casually, steering the conversation back on track.
Speaking of which, Hu Tao has quite a lot of accessories. She's even wearing multiple rings on one hand.
Surprisingly fashionable.
Hu Tao sized Qin Yu up again. "Let me paint your nails for you! I guarantee they'll look even more stunning."
Hearing this, Qin Yu felt her resolve waver.
Do I want to be prettier? Of course I do.
"But I usually have to wash vegetables and cook..."
"That sounds so housewife-y!" Hu Tao said dismissively. "Just wash it off when you're done. You can always put it back on later if you feel like it."
True, I could just put it on when I go shopping on my days off, Qin Yu thought.
After a moment's hesitation, Qin Yu nodded. "Alright, let's try it."
Qin Yu had braced herself for some outlandish request from Hu Tao, but all she wanted was to paint her nails.
Why is everyone so obsessed with my hands? she wondered.
"That's the spirit!" Hu Tao grinned and nodded.
Hu Tao had Qin Yu sit at the vanity and pulled out her tools to apply the same nail polish. As she painted, she couldn't help but wonder what others would think if they saw this. The thought only fueled her excitement.
"Once we're done, how about we go out?" Hu Tao suggested.
"No," Qin Yu replied flatly.
"Why not?"
Qin Yu sighed. "You know perfectly well why. I can only maintain my true self in private... I can't do it in public."
Besides, even now, I'm not fully revealing my true self. I still feel like I'm holding back.
But that was perfectly normal. People can't fully shed their inhibitions overnight.
Besides, this was always just an experiment. Cautious exploration was the right approach. Even if she could completely let go of her inhibitions, Qin Yu wouldn't.
Running at the slightest hint of trouble—that had been her initial plan, and it hadn't changed.
Qin Yu darted a glance at Hu Tao to gauge her reaction.
"So, Fishy Treasure, am I the most special one to you?" Hu Tao asked instead.
Special? Yes, you're definitely special. But the most special? Special inherently means "different from the ordinary," so ranking levels of "specialness" against an ordinary baseline seemed a bit absurd.
When Qin Yu voiced this to Hu Tao, she exclaimed, "Wow, that's actually quite philosophical! But it sounds like you're just brushing me off."
"I'm not."
"Mhm, mhm, mhm."
You're the one brushing me off, Qin Yu thought to herself.
"But we can't just stay cooped up in this room forever, right?"
"I'm fine with it," Qin Yu said.
Not really, but I have to say it.
Hu Tao remained unconvinced. "Really? Ugh, I can't stand it. You just sit here reading the whole time. I have to tease you just to get your attention."
Qin Yu felt awkward. Without a book, she didn't know what else to do.
And what does "tease" even mean? Are you treating me like a cat again? I'm nothing like one!
"You said you'd go along with whatever I wanted," she countered.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I can't express my feelings! Teasing you is fun, but going out together occasionally would be nice too!"
"Then..."
Hu Tao lifted her face, grinning mischievously. "Of course, we'd have to go out looking like this!"
Forget it then.
Qin Yu shook her head in refusal.
"You're so stubborn," Hu Tao pouted, puffing out her cheeks.
Qin Yu suddenly felt uneasy. Should I not have refused?
"All done!"
Hu Tao drew her attention back. Raising her hands, Qin Yu noticed that all her fingernails were painted with the same nail polish as Hu Tao's.
Not bad.
"Thank you," Qin Yu said.
"You're welcome, you're welcome! Though, you're free to thank me more formally if you like."
Huh?
Qin Yu didn't understand what Hu Tao meant, but Hu Tao had already leaned in, her cheeks flushed red.
"Since we're not going out and staying in the room is so boring, why don't we do something... interesting? Don't you think so, Fishy Treasure?" Hu Tao's tone carried a warmth different from her usual playful banter.
"I don't think so."
"I don't believe you."
"Weren't we supposed to avoid doing anything weird?"
"This isn't weird!"
As Hu Tao drew closer, Qin Yu's tension mounted. But instead of kissing her, Hu Tao pressed her hand against Qin Yu's chest.
Evaluation: C+
"I'm touching."
"Ha?"
Qin Yu's voice unconsciously deepened and turned icy, instantly causing Hu Tao to break out in a cold sweat.
"Eep! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I just wanted to tease you a little... You can touch me too! Go ahead, I don't mind!"
"I'm leaving," Qin Yu said flatly, rising to her feet.
"It was my fault!"
Hearing Hu Tao's repeated apologies, Qin Yu's anger lingered, but she didn't want to ruin their relationship. She grudgingly stayed, crossing her arms in silence.
Feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles, Hu Tao cautiously asked, "Are you mad?"
"No."
Whenever someone says that, they're definitely mad.
In truth, Qin Yu was sulking.
Suddenly touching like that! Even if it wasn't sudden, it's still wrong! Face, hands, whatever—I'm used to that. But that place... Tch.
Qin Yu's embarrassment and indignation mingled, fueling her displeasure.
"It was my fault, okay? As an apology, I'll do anything you want!" Hu Tao offered.
I don't need anything—Qin Yu wanted to say, but Hu Tao had already admitted her mistake... probably. It wouldn't hurt to accept the olive branch.
But Qin Yu didn't want Hu Tao to do anything.
"I don't want you to do anything," Qin Yu said, her tone softening slightly.
Hearing this, Hu Tao still sensed Qin Yu's lingering anger and pressed, "Just tell me. Don't hold back."
I already said I don't want anything... Qin Yu thought, when an idea flashed through her mind.
"Anything at all?"
"Yes, anything at all! This Director never breaks her word!"
Never breaks her word... Hmm, but should she really go through with this?
Reason: Absolutely not.
Emotion: After all that groping, not punishing her would be absurd!
Fair point. We can't let her off. Last time it was a surprise kiss, this time a surprise grope—what will it be next time? I can't even imagine.
Hu Tao needs to understand the consequences.
Having made up her mind, Qin Yu pointed. "Lie down on the bed."
"Eh? Fishy Treasure, are you... are you going to do that to me?"
"Do what?"
Hu Tao squirmed, her face flushing. "Do I have to say it? You know... that thing."
After a few seconds, Qin Yu finally realized what Hu Tao meant.
"That's not it!" she said, her face flushing red.
"Really? I thought so too, though I'm curious about what it feels like. Still, it's not good, hmm, not good at all... So, what exactly do you want me to do in bed?"
Qin Yu didn't answer, only asking, "Lie down, or not?"
"Fine, fine, I'll lie down."
Hu Tao lay down on the bed, her expression three parts nervous and seven parts expectant. Qin Yu slipped off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and knelt beside Hu Tao.
Then she placed her hand on Hu Tao's abdomen.
Evaluation: B
"Whoa!? What are you doing?"
"Punishment."
Hu Tao asked, embarrassed, "Punishment?"
"Yes. To stop you from pushing your luck," Qin Yu murmured.
After a pause, she added, "But if you hate it, just say so."
Though it was meant as punishment, there was a cautious tenderness in Qin Yu's actions. Hu Tao found the situation oddly amusing and silently nodded in agreement.
Qin Yu took a soft breath and began.
She gently patted Hu Tao's stomach.
"Bark a few times," Qin Yu instructed.
"Me?"
"Yes."
Hu Tao asked incredulously, "Do you have some kind of... fetish for this?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
How could I possibly have a fetish like that? This is purely for punishment. If Hu Tao knows she'll have to do something this embarrassing if she misbehaves again, she'll definitely think twice next time.
Perfect.
Qin Yu gently patted Hu Tao's stomach, urging her, "Hurry up."
"Then you meow a few times too."
Huh? Qin Yu raised an eyebrow. "I-will-not. Hurry up, or I'm leaving."
"Fine."
Knowing she was in the wrong, Hu Tao raised her arms and legs and barked, "Woof!"
Why is she so into this?
Evaluation: A-
Why is there an evaluation?
Qin Yu couldn't help but doubt whether this punishment was actually working. Hu Tao seemed to be completely enjoying herself. If she wasn't feeling ashamed, then the whole thing was pointless.
Moreover, from an objective standpoint, making a young girl pose like this probably wasn't right.
Wait a minute, if I back down now, wouldn't that mean I'm the one giving up?!
Maybe Hu Tao would even laugh at me for it.
No, I have to keep going... Qin Yu thought, and patted Hu Tao's head.
"Good girl," she murmured.
Wow, this feels so new! Hu Tao thought, but she still wasn't satisfied. She wanted to make things more interesting, so she grabbed Qin Yu's hand.
The warm, damp touch slid across Qin Yu's palm, and her face flushed crimson. "W-what are you doing?!"
Evaluation: A+
"Woof?"
"Don't play dumb."
Hu Tao suddenly sat up.
Wah!? Qin Yu recoiled in fright, only for Hu Tao to playfully pounce on her, nipping her cheek and leaving a faint mark.
Evaluation: S
"Wait, Hu Tao!"
"Hmm? What is it?"
Qin Yu retorted irritably, "You're asking me what's wrong? I should be asking you! What was that sudden stunt?"
"As you can see, this Director has suddenly been possessed by a dog! Seeing how much my Fishy Treasure cares for me, I couldn't help but express my feelings, woof!"
"Nonsense," Qin Yu muttered, turning her face away.
"Hehe, that was really fun earlier!" Hu Tao beamed.
So she does think it's fun.
But this is supposed to be a punishment! If the one being punished is enjoying it, what kind of punishment is that? Qin Yu felt a mix of annoyance and relief.
At least she doesn't hate it.
"If you're trying to punish me, that won't work! It'll only make things more interesting," Hu Tao teased, poking Qin Yu's cheek.
Qin Yu gently brushed her hand away and whispered, "I know."
"To punish someone, you have to do something they hate!"
"I know that too."
"Really? Then just try a different approach! For me, nothing's worse than boredom—so just make me bored. Like ignoring me completely—that would be excruciatingly dull," Hu Tao suggested.
I see.
But I can't.
No matter what, Qin Yu didn't want Hu Tao to hate her. She couldn't bring herself to do anything that would upset Hu Tao, so she couldn't use that method to punish her.
"I... I can't do that."
Hu Tao paused, then smiled gently. "I figured as much. After all, that's just the kind of person you are, Fishy Treasure."
"Don't act like you know me so well," Qin Yu retorted, testing the waters as she watched Hu Tao's expression. She had never said anything like this to Hu Tao before, but it was one of her true feelings.
If Hu Tao showed any displeasure, Qin Yu would immediately retreat from this half-step.
Hu Tao chuckled. "I don't know you completely yet, but you have to let me get closer."
"Ah..."
"So don't worry about holding back here in the future. It's okay to be a little reckless."
Hu Tao's words put her at ease.
Be more daring? Qin Yu pondered, trying to figure out what Hu Tao meant. Like what just happened...? That wasn't good. She realized Hu Tao had a point: she needed to give the other woman a chance to understand.
I'll try again then.
But still, if I sense any trouble, I'll retreat. Qin Yu resolved.
Hu Tao watched Qin Yu deep in thought, her heart racing inexplicably. She longed to feel the warmth of Qin Yu's lips again.
But knowing it would likely anger Qin Yu, she could only lie beside her, staring blankly at the ceiling.