Once the bedroom door closed, no more sounds came from inside.
Not hearing the foolish tyrant and his consorts fooling around made Paimon feel very at ease—tonight, she could finally get a good night's sleep.
If this were the old Paimon who didn't understand anything, she might have been curious enough to sneak a peek and see what was going on.
But now, she wasn't interested anymore.
It wasn't like she hadn't seen it before!
Aside from not having used it, Paimon was way too familiar with Gu Chen.
She swayed as she flew back to her own room. Inside was a full-length mirror. Paimon rubbed her round little chin and examined herself in the reflection.
In Gu Chen's words, she was like a Barbie doll.
But she wasn't that small, okay!
She'd measured her height herself—though she wasn't a meter tall yet, she was still eighty centimeters!
"How long do I have to wait before I grow up?" Paimon scratched her head.
She was actually a bit confused about her own physical condition—she kind of understood it, but not completely.
"Come to think of it, that Sustainer of Heavenly Principles is pretty similar to me. When I grow up, will I end up like her?"
Lost in thought, Paimon closed the door and window, then lay down and pulled the blanket over herself.
Her thoughts wandered. She took another glance at the chat group, then gradually drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
…
The next day.
Going to bed early and waking up early had become Paimon's habit.
Just like usual when Gu Chen was at home, when Paimon woke up, she was the only one active in the vast Gu residence.
By her estimate, no one else would wake up until at least ten o'clock.
"Should I help Ganyu ask for leave?" Paimon pondered.
As soon as the thought arose, she felt it probably wasn't necessary.
Gu Chen had likely already asked for leave on Ganyu's behalf last night.
With that in mind, Paimon carried her little blanket into the courtyard, lay down comfortably, tucked herself in, and opened the chat group.
It was seven in the morning, and the breeze at this hour was still a bit chilly.
After privately messaging Xiangling to buy breakfast, Paimon started chatting idly in the group.
[Extraordinary Group Chat]
[Kaeya]: Honestly, as a subordinate, I really don't want an overly diligent superior. It's not even seven yet and not official working hours, and Jean has already assigned me today's tasks! (Qiqi · collapsed)
[Noelle]: Come on, Kaeya! (Sucrose · cheering)
[Kaeya]: @[Noelle]I think highly of you—and so does the Acting Grand Master—but becoming a Knight of Favonius isn't that simple. You need experience, understand?
[Noelle]: So I need to grow stronger? (393 nodding)
[Kaeya]: Of course! Every Knight of Favonius must be able to stand on their own to protect Mondstadt. So you still need a lot of training. Come to me—I'll assign you some tasks to temper you! (serious face)
[Noelle]: Really?! Thank you so much, Kaeya! I'm coming right away! (happy)
[Diluc]: Waking up early only to see a senior misleading an innocent girl—how is this something a human would do? (amused)
[Paimon]: Oh? Kaeya, are you tricking Noelle again? (Paimon · surprised)
[Kaeya]: What do you mean tricking? Noelle really does need to grow. I just want her to get more experience so she can become an elite Knight of Favonius who can stand on her own! (righteously indignant)
[Noelle]: Kaeya really is a good person! (touched)
[Jean]: Kaeya! (Jean · wry smile)
[Dvalin]: As expected of an armed force that worships Venti—their behavior is exactly like his. Leaving everything else aside, just Kaeya's talent for slacking off and misleading people alone makes him worthy of being the next Anemo Archon. (Jean · praise)
[Venti]: @[Kaeya]I think very highly of you!
[Kaeya]: Are you all trying to PUA me here? I won't fall for it. (grinning)
[Venti]: (grinning)
[Tighnari]: Good morning, everyone. A new day has begun.
[Arataki Itto]: Morning, friends! Heading to the docks today to move cargo and earn some Mora to spend. (Childe · surfing)
[Neuvillette]: Good morning. I hope everyone has a pleasant day today.
[Childe]: Another day of hard work! Early birds catch the worm—come on, brothers, let's keep at it and strive for early release! (Photo of eating breakfast delivered by a guard after early-morning labor.)
[Paimon]: Aren't only you and Signora in prison? (Paimon · surprised)
[Childe]: Huh? Where are Dottore and Scaramouche? (scratching head)
[Baizhu]: No need to worry about them—their current situation is quite good. (grinning) Also, I have some good news: I've made significant progress in surgery!
[Qiqi]: (Photos of Baizhu performing surgery on a grimacing Dottore; Baizhu attempting to reattach Scaramouche's severed finger.)
[Childe]: My two colleagues really have it rough. (grinning)
[Kaeya]: From the way you're talking, you're enjoying their misery, aren't you? (grinning)
[Childe]: Even though we all serve the Tsaritsa, relationships between Harbingers… haha, some of us don't even get along as well as ordinary coworkers. Why should I care about them? (grinning)
[Tighnari]: It may look cruel, but they deserve it. And Dr. Baizhu's medical progress is a good thing—it means more people suffering from illness can be treated.
[Collei]: Everyone's up so early! (Selfie while packing gear for forest patrol)
[Alhaitham]: Morning. It's 7:30. After washing up and breakfast it'll be 8. Read for a bit, then work starts at 9. Another unpleasant day begins. (Alhaitham · too noisy)
[Kaveh]: Who complains about working at nine? Just let me be the Sage—I'll work at eight! (grinning)
[Alhaitham]: I advise you not to overwork yourself. In the end, you're the one who gets hurt. (drinking tea)
[Nahida]: A warm reminder: it's getting cold lately—everyone, please keep warm! (Baizhu · caring)
[Jean]: Mondstadt has spring all year round. Thank you, Lord Barbatos. (praying)
[Childe]: At this time of year back home, if you stand still for a bit you'll turn into an ice sculpture. Liyue's weather is pretty nice though. By the way, because of my good behavior during my sentence, I've been granted one day of freedom. Anyone want to come spar with me at the construction site? (Klee · please)
[Dori]: Anyone want to buy warm clothes? Cheap and practical, with delivery included! (Paimon · goods for sale)
[Keqing]: Just finished inspecting several projects. Morning, everyone. (Photo of a simple breakfast)
[Paimon]: As expected of a workaholic. (Paimon · surprised)
[Azhdaha]: I just woke up and you're telling me some people are already working? Are people these days really that competitive? (Azhdaha · scratching head)
[Osial]: Early in the morning, the Yuheng Star assigned me a long-term task overseeing the marine ecology near Liyue Harbor. Imprisoned gods have no human rights! (Diona · irritated)
[Childe]: I suggest coming to fight me to vent your negative emotions! (Paimon · leave it to me)
[Osial]: Kid, you're getting cocky. Even though I've been sealed for thousands of years and am a bit weak, there's no way you're my match. (picking nose)
[Childe]: One should dare to challenge the strong while alive. (Childe · smug)
[Azhdaha]: I support you challenging the Sect Master. (grinning)
[Childe]: I'm a battle maniac, not an idiot. The Sect Master could crush me with one finger. Knowing I can't win, why would I challenge him? (Nahida · pointing)
[Dvalin]: The way you put it, do you think you could beat Osial? (grinning)
[Azhdaha]: You looking down on our Brother Ao? (grinning)
[Osial]: @[Childe]Kid, what do you mean?! (angry)
[Childe]: I think I could beat one of your heads? (thinking)
[Azhdaha]: Seriously speaking, if you can't even beat one-fifth of Osial, then you really are dragging down the Harbingers' average. (nodding)
[Osial]: Noted. When the day comes that I can cultivate the Grand Profound Scripture, I'll seek each of you out for a friendly "discussion." (angry)
[Azhdaha]: How do you know I've already entered the basics of the Grand Profound Scripture? (confused)
[Dvalin]: Who the hell asked you?! (angry)
[Osial]: Bad luck!
[Paimon]: Time to eat~ (Photo of breakfast)
Paimon's breakfast was very hearty.
One reason was that she herself could eat quite a lot; another was that Gu Chen gave her a lot of pocket money.
As for Mora, Paimon had long stopped paying attention to her balance—it was impossible to spend it all anyway.
After happily finishing breakfast, Paimon ordered breakfast according to everyone else's tastes and put it in red packets without claiming them.
She lay back in her chair, idly chatting while waiting.
After ten o'clock, the master bedroom door opened, and Gu Chen walked out leisurely.
Once he was up, the others soon followed.
Lumine threw on a coat and rushed over. "Paimon, food!"
Paimon took out the breakfast and saw Lumine devouring it like she'd been reborn from starvation.
Paimon knew people got hungry after exercise and needed to replenish energy, but seeing Lumine like this, she really couldn't imagine what she'd been through.
Before long, the others got up as well.
"Good morning," Ei greeted Paimon, her voice a bit hoarse.
Paimon froze. "Did you catch a cold?"
"Hm?" Ei was startled, then shook her head. "No."
"Then why do you sound hoarse?" Paimon asked, puzzled.
"Oh!" Ei suddenly realized. "That's the Shogun's issue—it has nothing to do with me."
The Shogun was a puppet—what problem could she have?
Busy handing out breakfast, Paimon didn't have time to ask further.
Hu Tao happily ate her youtiao. Noticing Paimon staring, she paused and offered it over. "Paimon, want some more?"
"Nope."
Paimon shook her head, frowning slightly as she glanced at Ei, then at Gu Chen—before suddenly understanding.
"So it really wasn't me," Ei said seriously.
"I believe you," Paimon nodded.
Ei was thin-skinned; since she wasn't blushing, it really wasn't her.
What Paimon hadn't expected was that the Raiden Shogun puppet was that capable.
As she was thinking—
"Little Paimon."
Buer beckoned to her.
After flying over, Buer said with a gentle smile, "Come try this—I knitted you a sweater."
"G! There's one for me!"
Paimon was delighted.
"Mm-hm. You're smaller, so it was finished quickly," Buer nodded.
"Try it?" she handed the sweater over.
Paimon didn't hesitate, taking off her coat and pulling the sweater on.
The white sweater matched her hair color perfectly.
As soon as she put it on, Paimon said, "It fits really well, G!"
"There's a scarf too." Makoto walked over and tied a red scarf around Paimon's neck, then chuckled softly. "It looks very nice—Paimon is even cuter now."
"Really? Really?"
Paimon looked to the others.
"Looks good," Gu Chen nodded.
"Paimon was already cute—now she's even cuter," Guizhong added.
"Hehe…"
Paimon felt a little embarrassed.
Buer looked at Gu Chen. "This style, then?"
Gu Chen nodded. "Alright."
Paimon froze for a moment. "Wait—was I just used as a mannequin?"
"You guessed it!"
Hu Tao nodded, then shook her head regretfully. "Too bad there's no reward."
"Hmph."
Paimon crossed her arms. "Since there is one for me too, I'll reluctantly forgive you!"
"Everyone in the family has one," Buer said.
"Yay!"
Paimon clapped, then added, "But once this style is scaled up, won't we look like we're wearing parent-child outfits when we walk outside?"
"Well, you're just too small," Gu Chen shrugged.
Paimon put her hands on her hips. "Doesn't matter—everyone knows I'm Paimon anyway!"
Gu Chen thought about it and realized that was true.
"Oh—almost eleven." Ganyu glanced at the time and hurriedly said, "No, I have to go to work."
"Didn't Boss Gu ask for leave for you?" Paimon scratched her head.
"He already did, but things have been especially busy lately. The Lantern Rite is getting closer, and there's more to prepare this year than in previous years," Ganyu explained.
"More than previous years?"
Paimon glanced at Gu Chen. "Could it be because of the exposure system and your Sect Master identity?"
"Mm…"
After a few seconds of thought, Gu Chen said, "That's not all. So many things happened this year—of course the Lantern Rite should be grander. Don't forget, this year also marks the Geo Archon's retirement."
"That's true!"
Paimon suddenly understood, her face full of anticipation. "I've never experienced a Lantern Rite before. Are there tons of delicious food and fun things?"
"Of course," Ganyu nodded with a smile. "The Lantern Rite will definitely be something Paimon loves."
"Yay!"
Paimon was thrilled.
"I know you're happy, but don't get too excited yet. There's still quite a while before the Lantern Rite," Gu Chen poured cold water on her.
After calming down, Paimon said unhappily, "Can't you let me be happy a bit longer?"
Gu Chen thought for a moment. "Actually, we could—like going on a picnic or something?"
"But Ganyu has to go to work. Wouldn't we be leaving her alone?" Paimon spread her hands, troubled.
"I'm fine," Ganyu said with a smile, shaking her head. "You all go have fun."
"Actually, this is really simple!" Hu Tao said seriously.
"What idea do you have?" Gu Chen looked at her.
Everyone turned to Hu Tao, waiting.
Hu Tao smiled slyly, hands on her hips. "Don't forget—we have a certain all-knowing, all-capable senior consultant at home. Just drag him over to cover Ganyu's shift!"
"Brilliant!" Gu Chen nodded repeatedly.
Guizhong looked a bit strange. "So the retired elder is being rehired?"
"Just say whether the idea works or not!" Paimon chuckled.
"Perfectly appropriate!" Guizhong nodded firmly.
Looking around, Ei and the Raiden Shogun shared a tacit understanding—after all, they were the highest authority. Skipping work for a day was no big deal.
Everyone wore smiles.
Only Zhongli was hurt.
Achievement unlocked: A world where only Zhongli is injured!
"But what if Mr. Zhongli refuses?" Ganyu asked.
"Lure him with Mora," Hu Tao said confidently.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus (GI)Chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus (GI)Chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 60 (GI)Chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/SwipeSage