Lu Heng turned his head and met Yae Miko's gaze.
The sly fox priestess' eyes glimmered with playful allure, her glance like a net cast to entangle his heart.
After a moment of thought, Lu Heng said, "I think I've got a chance."
As he spoke, he reached out and held her hand.
Her fingers were soft, almost boneless, her pale-pink nails glistening under the light like polished jade.
Lu Heng squeezed her hand and asked seriously, "Got anything a little more... indecent? I like the kind that isn't exactly proper, y'know, where the curves are better than—"
Yae Miko rolled her eyes and yanked her hand free. She tapped a finger against his temple in exasperation.
Her pretty face was full of disdain as she said, "What on earth goes on in that head of yours every day?"
"Of course, all sorts of thoughts about the High Priestess." Lu Heng nodded solemnly.
"Huh?"
Miko blinked, then sneered. "I thought you were at least pretending to be a gentleman. Didn't expect you to be this filthy."
Lu Heng laughed. "When I don't know someone well, of course I have to put on an act. When we're familiar but not that close, I keep my mouth shut. But with us... what kind of relationship do we have?"
"What kind of relationship?" Miko chuckled softly.
"You tell me." Lu Heng raised a brow. "Don't tell me you're going to deny it. If that's the case, my heart will break."
"Then cry for me. I'd love a good laugh." She looked at him with an amused smirk, as if inviting him to perform.
"My heart aches." Lu Heng sighed dramatically. "So it was all one-sided. The High Priestess doesn't love me after all. I'm devastated."
"Do you actually believe that, or are you just acting?" Miko laughed uncontrollably.
"Hard to say." He shook his head.
"I'm not like those foxes outside, clinging to anyone who gives them attention." She narrowed her eyes, then her tone softened like silk. "But you're different. You're the only one I'd ever cling to."
"Knew it." Lu Heng's expression was as if he'd confirmed a truth long suspected.
"What?"
"I knew it. I'm too handsome, too charming. No way you could resist me." He said this with absolute conviction.
"Shameless." Miko laughed, rolling her eyes. "You're acting like a child."
"Childish? I'm just telling the truth. Anyway, what should we eat tonight?" Lu Heng asked.
"Eat? Hm…" She yawned, leaning against his shoulder. "I want fried tofu."
Lu Heng nodded. "Anything else?"
"No. I don't eat much."
"Alright, let's go to Uyuu Restaurant."
In Inazuma, two eateries stood out: Shimura's and Uyuu Restaurant.
And of course, fried tofu was the fox's favorite.
Lu Heng ordered that, along with some simmered Konda stew. The chef's careful cooking brought every ingredient to perfection.
As he ate, Lu Heng busied himself with messages on his phone.
Miko, already full, left one last piece of fried tofu in her bowl. She looked at him and said, "Having a smart, beautiful High Priestess at your side isn't enough for you?"
"Do jealous foxes bite?" Lu Heng mused aloud.
"They do~" Miko chuckled. "That wasn't your wife you were texting, was it?"
"No," Lu Heng shook his head. "I was just reminding Crane to eat properly."
"Then you deserve punishment." She picked up the tofu and lifted it to his lips. "Open."
"Ah—"
She fed him the last piece before nodding in satisfaction. "No wasting food."
"Not bad." Lu Heng chewed, then smiled. "As expected of your refined taste."
"Of course." She smiled back, though her tone carried a faint edge. "Since that wasn't your wife, does that mean you'll always prioritize whoever's next to you?"
Lu Heng stiffened. Careless!
"But I'll let it go this time. I'm magnanimous," Miko teased. "But you're paying."
"Love you even more, Priestess." Lu Heng grinned. "I was just worried she'd skip dinner. My heart belongs entirely to you."
"Smooth talker."
"As long as you're smiling, I've succeeded."
The two bantered their way through dinner.
Afterward, Lu Heng asked, "Where to tonight?"
"Take a guess." Miko smirked.
"Not my place, that's for sure. Back to the shrine, or the castle? I'll see you off. If you're taking your phone and gear, we should swing by the shop first so I can open a portal."
"Shrine." She nodded.
They stopped at his shop, picked up her things, then Lu Heng opened a shimmering portal to the Grand Narukami Shrine.
"I'm off." She stepped toward it, but then paused, turned, and looped her arms around his neck.
"Close your eyes~"
He obeyed.
A soft warmth brushed his lips. When he opened his eyes, Yae Miko's cheeks were flushed as she quickly stepped back.
"Not long now. Soon, it'll be your place." With that, she slipped through the portal.
"Damn." Lu Heng rubbed his chin, savoring the moment before closing the portal.
The shop was quiet. He finished up by appraising cards for waiting customers and completing a new daily mission. Then he returned to his pocket world.
At home—
Nahida was blow-drying Navia's hair.
Furina was curled on the couch playing her favorite game, Genshin Impact.
Focalors was scrolling through the web for gossip.
"Everyone looks busy," Lu Heng teased.
"Oh, you're back." Focalors came over, sniffed him, then nodded in satisfaction. "Yep, you smell like another woman. Good, means you weren't just slacking today."
"…?"
Usually, wives exploded if they smelled another woman on their husband. But Focalors? She was relieved. As if it proved Lu Heng had been productive.
He couldn't decide if that was a blessing or a curse.
"What's wrong?" she asked innocently. "You've got all of us together, and we still can't wear you down. What's wrong with a few more teammates?"
"…Fair point." Lu Heng shook his head, laughing. "You always surprise me."
"Exactly." Focalors grinned. "So I want a reward."
"Me too!" Furina piped up without looking away from her game.
Lu Heng turned to Nahida. "Hair dry?"
"All done." She patted Navia's hair with a smile.
Lu Heng smiled back. No words were needed.
Midnight – Sumeru, Rtawahist Institute
The campus was dark, most lights already out.
Layla, exhausted after a day of experiments, trudged along, half-asleep and shivering in the cool night air. She only wanted to reach her dorm and collapse into bed.
Suddenly—
The bushes rustled.
"Hello!"
"Eek!"
Layla yelped, stumbling back and crouching in fear.
"…Oh?"
"Did I scare you?"
Out of the bushes stepped a small figure wearing glasses. With a click, a light came on, revealing a petite girl.
"I'm Dori Sangemah Bay! You've heard of me, right? The most famous merchant in Sumeru?" The little girl put her hands on her hips proudly.
"Ah… it's a person…" Layla clutched her chest, nearly fainting in relief.
Dori's name was indeed notorious—no one in Sumeru hadn't heard of her.
"What do you want with me?" Layla asked timidly.
"Want you? No, just passing by." Dori shook her head.
"But tell me—have you heard of the new bans from the Akademiya?"
"Bans?"
"Yeah. No more electronics, no more smart devices. The Matras are cracking down. You know this, right?"
"A little… But the lab equipment is still allowed, isn't it?"
Dori leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Wouldn't you like better tools? Devices that answer your questions instantly? Something to make studying easier?"
Her voice was like a devil's whisper.
"I-I… I can't. That's against the rules…" Layla shook her head, terrified.
"Oh, come on!" Dori huffed. "You don't tell, I don't tell. Who's gonna know? Just hide it!"
Layla shrank back, pitiful and uncertain.
"Trust me!" Dori pulled out a sleek phone. "Worth every mora. Look—I can pull up news from all over Teyvat instantly. Don't you want to keep up with the times?"
She leaned in, eyes gleaming. "Why did the Akademiya ban this stuff? Obviously they don't want you getting smarter!"
"…Is that true?" Layla wavered, Dori's words slowly worming into her heart.
"Only 100,000 mora! You won't regret it!"
"What?!" Layla nearly fainted.
"Shh!" Dori hushed her. "Fine, I'll give you a student discount. Just 50,000. Think of it as Sangemah Bay's personal scholarship."
"You're… so kind." Layla's eyes softened, moved by what she thought was sincerity.
In truth, Dori's cost was only 20,000 per set. Bulk smuggling made it cheap—but she sold it for more than double.
Still, with no other way to get them, wasn't she doing everyone a favor?
Layla clenched her fists, then handed over her precious 50,000 mora—her scholarship money. Her heart bled at the loss, but if it truly helped her studies, maybe it was worth it.
"Pleasure doing business!" Dori happily set up the device, activated the phone, and added Layla as a friend.
"T-thank you… I should go." Layla hurried off, clutching the device.
As she glanced back, she realized with horror that several shadowy figures carrying goods were melting back into the night with Dori.
"There were that many people here the whole time?!" Her knees nearly gave out.
But she forced herself on, whispering, "Please let this be worth it…"
Back in her dorm, she tried the phone. It was fast. Smart. News from all over Teyvat appeared before her. For the first time, she truly saw how much the world was changing.
"Totally worth 50,000 mora," she sighed in relief.
"Excuse me, Master," a calm female voice chimed from the device. "Did you say you purchased this for 50,000 mora?"
"Yes!" Layla beamed.
"…I regret to inform you, the standard price for this set is 20,000 mora."
Layla froze.
Her smile stiffened, and tears welled up. "…So… Dori just scammed me out of 30,000?!"
The poor girl broke down crying.
After mourning her lost scholarship, she wiped her face, determined to move on. At least now, thanks to Dori, she had something she never could have gotten otherwise.
Elsewhere – Port Ormos
"Ugh…" Cyno stifled a yawn and took another sip of coffee.
"You don't have to push yourself this hard," Tighnari sighed.
"You don't understand." Cyno's expression was dead serious. "I've just reached the start of Sumeru's main storyline. We're so close to uncovering the Akademiya's secrets. The truth is right there."
"I get it," Tighnari replied. "But what good is the truth if you collapse before you reach it? At least rest a little."
"You're right. That's why you're going to grind for me while I sleep."
Tighnari froze. "…I bring this on myself."
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T/N:
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