Kamisato Ayato immediately felt a bit gloomy.
Normally speaking, when an older brother sees the person his younger sister is interested in, his gaze is scrutinizing.
No matter how amazing you are, Lu Heng, in Kamisato Ayato's eyes, too many of your halos have already been stripped away. You just look like a generic rival character.
The difference between Lu Heng and a generic rival was this: Lu Heng was a more amazing generic rival.
The more Kamisato Ayato thought about it, the more upset he became.
Their parents passed away early; the older brother is like a father. His heart was in turmoil.
The key point was that at this dinner table, his say wasn't even that high, which made him feel even worse!
Compared to his gloomy older brother, Kamisato Ayaka was currently a bit dazed.
She had heard Yae Miko's words clearly.
Lu Heng had said: I'll take them all!
As everyone knew, Lu Heng was very familiar with the characters of Genshin Impact. He had even mentioned her, Ayaka, before they had formally met.
Since he could say those words, that meant...
Eh...
Kamisato Ayaka only felt her cheeks grow hot.
Her whole head felt a little dizzy.
Really? Fake?
She couldn't tell at all if Yae Miko was joking or telling the truth, and she couldn't discern the attitude Lu Heng had when he said those words either.
Yae Miko, looking at the expressions of the siblings, immediately understood the situation.
Teasing others really was more fun.
She got her amusement, achieved some of her goals, and had Lu Heng firmly in her grasp.
Yae Miko blinked at Lu Heng, the meaning in her eyes obvious: Want me to add some more fuel to the fire?
Lu Heng: "..."
His current mood was somewhat complicated.
This matter was strange. Following normal logic, these women should be helping him reject others.
But Yae Miko didn't! Furina didn't either!
The former did it to satisfy her own amusement, while also helping his... progress.
As for the latter, she was the one fighting Furina for a share, directly coming from behind, and even actively playing wingman when Lu Heng and Navia were getting ambiguous.
Lu Heng fell into thought.
He suddenly felt he was excessively fortunate.
Honestly, even that guy next door wasn't having it this good, right?
But even so, this was just the author's daily dig at him.
Back to the main topic.
Ei coughed lightly, shot Yae Miko a look telling her to tone it down, and said softly, "Everyone knows today's happy news. Sara, Ayato, and Ayaka are all pillars of Inazuma. Now that they have an even brighter future and potential ahead, it's worth us all gathering here to celebrate for them."
Kujou Sara and Kamisato Ayato immediately looked serious.
"Alright," Ei said with a smile, waving her hand. "Let's not talk about work tonight. Everyone, don't be so formal. In official settings, we are ruler and subjects, but now, in private, we are all friends. You can say whatever comes to mind, and any questions can be asked directly."
Servants brought up the dishes.
Ei was very considerate; the dishes were tailored to everyone's tastes.
Like Yae Miko's favorite fried tofu, the Kamisato siblings' usual preferences, and so on.
Yae Miko knew well enough to quit while she was ahead and didn't continue teasing the Kamisato siblings, instead bringing up some amusing anecdotes.
At the table, while eating and chatting, Lu Heng ended up talking more with Ayato.
This guy was looking at him with a strange expression, like a wary father guarding his daughter from a smooth-talking charmer.
To be honest, Lu Heng felt a little guilty. But logically speaking, he hadn't even started anything yet, right?
Lu Heng somewhat understood Kamisato Ayato's feelings. Putting himself in the other's shoes, he'd probably be picky too.
Even if the other person seemed perfect, he'd still try to find some flaws.
After chatting with Lu Heng for a while, Kamisato Ayato did gain a better understanding of him.
Whether in public or in private, Lu Heng's personality was largely the same because he didn't need to maintain a public persona.
Upon interacting with him, one would find that the public's evaluation of Lu Heng was accurate.
To be fair, having a friend like Lu Heng would indeed be very nice.
But, my friend, why are you eyeing my sister?
To be your friend, I've done countless mental gymnastics, trying hard to ignore all those women around you.
And now you, this guy...
Kamisato Ayato didn't know what to say.
It was just like a good buddy having designs on your sister or older sister.
If Kamisato Ayato weren't physically no match for Lu Heng, he'd probably be dragging him outside for a fight right now.
Everyone else felt the atmosphere was pleasant, only Lu Heng and Kamisato Ayato found it a bit torturous.
Finally, after everyone had their fill of food and drink.
Kamisato Ayato immediately stood up. "It's getting late. Ayaka and I should return to process today's gains. With the large number of merchant convoys arriving soon, for the sake of Inazuma's development, we must take our leave. We hope you'll understand!"
He had put it that way; no one could reasonably ask them to stay.
"Alright," Ei said, sensing that both he and Ayaka had things on their minds. She nodded slightly. "Don't work too late. Remember to rest."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
Kamisato Ayato led the unusually 'quiet' Kamisato Ayaka away.
Just after they walked a short distance, they could hear Yae Miko's uncontrollable laughter from behind.
Kamisato Ayato quickened his pace.
Once they were outside Tenshukaku, the night breeze blew, refreshing both Kamisato Ayato and Kamisato Ayaka.
As they walked, Ayato glanced at his sister, who kept her head down. He hesitated, wanting to speak.
When they were nearly at Komore Teahouse, Kamisato Ayato finally couldn't hold back. He asked softly, "Ayaka, what are you thinking?"
"Ah? Eh?" Kamisato Ayaka snapped out of her daze.
Facing her brother's unusually serious expression, she hesitated, stammering, "I... I don't really know either?"
Sigh.
Kamisato Ayato sighed inwardly.
He could understand a teenage girl having beautiful fantasies about love.
Frankly, if it were any other girl having such thoughts, Kamisato Ayato could remain impartial—it was a normal thing, after all.
But when it was his own sister, Kamisato Ayato wished he could station a team of guards around Kamisato Ayaka 24/7.
"Don't tell me you..." Kamisato Ayato felt a toothache, asking helplessly, "...actually believe what Lady Guuji Yae said?"
Kamisato Ayaka hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I'm willing to believe it. Lady Guuji probably wouldn't joke about something like this with me, right?"
Yae Miko did indeed like Kamisato Ayaka very much.
She might mess with Kamisato Ayato, but she was less likely to tease Kamisato Ayak just for fun.
So Ayaka didn't think Yae Miko was merely amusing herself at her expense.
"You're willing to believe it...?" Kamisato Ayato's heart sank.
The meaning of these words was that, even if Yae Miko's words were false, Kamisato Ayaka was still willing to believe them.
She had that inclination!
"Why?" Kamisato Ayato clenched his fist.
What's so good about him? I don't get it!
Why is everyone talking about how great Lu Heng is, how perfect he is everywhere?
He's clearly just a greedy charmer!
"Mr. Lu, he..." Kamisato Ayaka cautiously rebutted her brother's words, "...is really quite good, you know? Brother, perhaps you just don't understand him?"
Recalling their first meeting at the Kamisato Estate, Kamisato Ayaka had been very nervous then.
But Lu Heng was unexpectedly gentle.
Speaking with him felt like a warm spring breeze. Gradually relaxing, she felt as comfortable as chatting with an old friend.
That feeling of not having to worry about saying the wrong thing and upsetting the other person, of being able to speak freely, made her mind and body unconsciously relax.
He really was very good!
Kamisato Ayaka's impression of Lu Heng had always been exceptionally positive.
Just as Kamisato Ayato thought, Ayaka, at her youthful age, also harbored beautiful fantasies about love.
However, Kamisato Ayaka clearly knew that compared to the bright moon, she was merely an insignificant speck of light.
Since there was a vast gap between them, she should be more rational and not hold any fantasies.
Kamisato Ayaka had always acted this way—until today, when that resolve was directly shattered.
Those four words, "I'll take them all," were too shocking.
Their appearance was like a beam of hope.
It made Kamisato Ayaka's heart pound wildly.
Lady Guuji's words definitely weren't spoken without purpose. Thinking about it more deeply, Ayaka understood her motive.
Lu Heng hadn't refuted Yae Miko at the time either, and the look in Ei's eyes towards Yae had grown even more gentle.
Eh?
It seemed no one was opposed?
Kamisato Ayaka spotted the key point.
"Ayaka, why aren't you saying anything?" Kamisato Ayato grew somewhat worried.
He watched as Ayaka remained silent for a long time, her eyes growing brighter and brighter.
You're not acting right!
Don't scare your brother, okay?
Kamisato Ayaka snapped back to reality and looked at her brother.
Oh.
It wasn't that no one was opposed. Here was one right here.
A trace of conflict flashed in Kamisato Ayaka's eyes. After a moment's thought, she shook her head and said, "Brother, let's go back and rest early. There really is a lot of business to attend to lately."
"?!"
Wasn't that the excuse I used to get us out of Tenshukaku?
Kamisato Ayato fell silent for a moment.
His heart was already filled with sorrow.
His little sister had grown up. She had her own thoughts.
He, as her older brother, no longer needed to arrange this and that for her.
But why did it feel so melancholy!
The siblings returned to Komore Teahouse in silence.
Thoma, who was at the counter checking the accounts while playing with Taroumaru, was just about to greet them when he keenly noticed their strange expressions!
"Master, Young Lady, are you two...?"
Thoma very much wanted to ask if you two had a disagreement?
But that couldn't be it. Kamisato Ayaka had been well-behaved and obedient since childhood, and Kamisato Ayato wasn't a bad-tempered older brother. The siblings always discussed things calmly. They had never had a conflict in all these years!
"I'm fine," Kamisato Ayaka shook her head. "Brother, Thoma, I'm going to rest first." Watching her lift the hem of her skirt and hurry away, Kamisato Ayato sat down heavily on a nearby chair.
"Master, what on earth happened?" Thoma was utterly confused.
"Sigh!" Kamisato Ayato let out a heavy sigh and glanced at Thoma.
Thoma had been with the Kamisato family for a long time. Although he was technically a servant, he was practically family.
After pouring out his grievances to Thoma, Thoma's expression also became complicated.
To say something perhaps unbecoming of a servant, Thoma also somewhat saw Ayaka as a younger sister.
Now, this matter...
Thoma scratched his head. "It seems... we can only try to accept it?"
Not mentioning it was fine, but saying it out loud made Kamisato Ayato feel even worse.
"That brat Kamisato Ayato is probably cursing me in his heart right now." Even after some time had passed, Yae Miko was still laughing happily.
A simple little trick, enough to make Kamisato Ayato lose a good night's sleep!
"'I'll take them all'—you really said that?" Ei looked at Lu Heng.
"I did say that," Lu Heng admitted.
Ei shot him a glance. "Greedy guy."
"I told you long ago, Sister, you shouldn't..." the Raiden Shogun began to loudly condemn, but then she heard Ei say, "It's a good thing you're greedy enough, otherwise I probably wouldn't have had a chance."
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Ei turned to look at the Shogun, tilting her head slightly as if asking, What were you saying, Ei?
The Raiden Shogun: "..."
No!
Shouldn't we be condemning Lu Heng right now?
Sister, why are you feeling庆幸 about it instead?
That line of thinking is wrong! Who twisted you up like this?!
"Sister is clearly teasing you, dummy," Yae Miko said, unable to watch.
"Ah?"
So once the Kamisato siblings left, you're having fun at my expense?
The Raiden Shogun sat down sullenly to the side, her expression seeming to say, I'm angry!
"I still have a piece of cake here," Lu Heng said, offering the untouched dessert in front of him to the Shogun.
"You're still the best." The Shogun happily accepted it.
Lu Heng's mouth twitched.
Just moments ago, she was condemning him, but a piece of cake made her change her tune instantly.
Lu Heng looked at Ei. "Any plans for what's next?"
"There is!" Yae Miko stretched lazily. "Let's go soak in the hot springs at the Autumn Sand Money Bathhouse."
"Soak in the hot springs?" Lu Heng pondered, then nodded. "Good idea!"
"Is the idea good, or is meeting Yuura Hotsprings good?" Yae Miko asked with a mischievous smile.
"Yuura..."
To be honest, Lu Heng really didn't know her, okay?
But after a quick mental search... ah, another old friend he hadn't met yet.
"That old friend of mine... sigh." Yae Miko seemed to want to say something but shook her head and stood up. "Shall we head out now?"
Lu Heng also stood up slowly.
He could guess what Yae Miko wanted to say.
Yae Miko and Yuura were youkai of the same generation.
They were inseparable since childhood, very close friends. Yuura even looked up to Yae Miko a great deal.
Unfortunately, people's experiences differ, and the same goes for youkai.
Status didn't become a barrier between their close friendship, but their respective life experiences, and especially the period after the catastrophe... by the time they grew up, the two could no longer return to the intimacy of their past.
Each had their own concerns, and when they tried to confide in each other again, they could no longer be as open as before.
Lu Heng sighed inwardly. "Wanting to become inseparable best friends again is a bit difficult. If there's a chance, I'll think of a way to help you."
"I have a good idea too," Yae Miko said with a sly smile.
"Let's hear it?" Ei seemed interested.
She didn't have much impression of Yuura, as both Yuura and Yae were too young back then.
"As long as Yuura and I become family, won't that solve it?" Yae Miko chuckled mischievously.
"Eh—" Lu Heng, who had been listening seriously, immediately changed his expression and gave a thumbs up upon hearing this. "Now that's a great idea!"
Well played!
You actually came up with such a novel approach!
"I should have known," Ei said, somewhat amused.
The Shogun scoffed coldly. "Yae, you really aren't afraid that with so many people in the future, you won't even get a turn in line!"
"Oh my~" Yae Miko put on a pitiful expression and looked at Lu Heng. "You wouldn't do that to me, would you~?"
"Definitely not," Lu Heng immediately shook his head.
"At least he's not like some people who hid away for hundreds of years, impossible to meet~" Yae Miko chuckled lightly, her tone laced with a hint of playful sarcasm.
The Shogun's expression soured.
"This matter... Yae can hold it over you for a lifetime," Ei said with a laugh.
"It was my mistake," the Shogun admitted with a bitter smile. She wasn't the type to refuse to admit her errors.
This wasn't the first time Yae Miko had brought this up. The Shogun felt quite helpless and deeply understood why Yae acted this way.
With such a 'price' attached, the Shogun's understanding of this mistake became even more profound.
"Let's go!" Lu Heng said cheerfully. "Yae, you lead the way."
The group set off towards the Autumn Sand Money Bathhouse.
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T/N:
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