Columbia immediately noticed the strangeness in Jingchen's eyes and understood the changes in herself over these past few months.
Her face flushed bright red as she stammered to defend herself.
"I… I didn't get fat!!"
"Still 54.8?"
Columbia hurriedly nodded, a hint of secret delight on her face.
"This time you didn't round it up. Not bad."
Jingchen smiled slightly. This girl, Columbia, was still just as concerned about her weight as ever.
As for her height — excluding her wings, she was around 154 centimeters.
But every time she insisted on including her wings, it became 163.
A girl who cared so much about her height and weight — how flawlessly adorable she was.
Columbia glanced sideways at Ganyu beside her. Her height should be about the same as her own, but in certain areas… Ganyu was indeed superior.
However… however! Ganyu's hair wasn't as thick as hers!
Columbia pouted, muttering softly, already aware of what Jingchen had been thinking just now.
"Jingchen!! I'm hungry."
"Huh? Didn't you eat so much at noon?"
"I… I'm really hungry anyway."
Ganyu stepped forward gently, taking Columbia's hand.
"The food at Xinyue Xuan is quite delicious. My treat — Jingchen shidi, Columbia, please come with me."
Jingchen froze in place. Xinyue Xuan had always been expensive — not only did it require reservations, but also all sorts of troublesome gratuities.
Back when he was in Liyue, senior sister Ganyu had always been frugal. She usually ate simple vegetarian meals at home or at Wanmin Hall.
"Xinyue Xuan? Ganyu shijie, are you sure?!"
Ganyu lowered her head, hands clasped behind her back, avoiding Jingchen's gaze.
"Ah?! I… Jingchen, you might not know, but the largest shareholder of Xinyue Xuan now is Ningguang.
Since Ningguang took charge, all those complicated rules and outrageous fees have been reduced.
Besides, as the secretary general of the Qixing, I receive a substantial discount."
"I see."
Jingchen nodded slightly. She was still that gentle, virtuous, vegetarian-loving senior sister he remembered.
Columbia took Jingchen's hand, following Ganyu to Xinyue Xuan.
When the attendant Yueshu at Xinyue Xuan saw Ganyu, she bowed respectfully. But the moment she noticed Jingchen and Columbia, she froze in astonishment and blurted out — Fatui?!
Yet, bound by her professionalism, she quickly calmed herself.
"My apologies. Please allow me to inform Deacon Zhao first."
Ganyu spoke calmly to Yueshu.
"They are my guests. And this Jingchen is my shidi, the youngest disciple under Liuyun Jie Feng Zhenjun.
We're only here for a simple meal; no need to trouble Deacon Zhao personally."
Yueshu slowly raised her head. The name "Jingchen" was well-known throughout Liyue.
Today was her first time seeing this famed silver-haired man in person.
A high silver ponytail, crimson eyes, a handsome face — he was like the dream lover of every girl in Teyvat.
Moreover, as the former acting Tianshu Xing and disciple of an adeptus, even though ten years had passed without any news of him,
In Liyue, he was still a common subject of tea-time gossip.
Some said he had gone alone to the Sea of Silence and the Dark Outer Sea to slay the remnants of demon gods.
Others said he had traveled to the isolationist Inazuma to serve as a Divine Ritual Priest.
That he had confessed to the fabled great yokai and even to the noble Raiden Shogun herself — only to be rejected by both.
Still others claimed he had wandered across Teyvat alone, until he found a girl and chose to stay with her for life.
Jingchen and Columbia exchanged glances. Why was this Xinyue Xuan attendant still frozen there?
"But… why is Lord Jingchen wearing the uniform of a Fatui Harbinger?!"
Jingchen gently patted Columbia's head as he answered Yueshu.
"Huh? I married a Harbinger — so what's the problem with that?"
"What?! Married a Harbinger?!"
Yueshu stared in shock at the once-revered figure of Liyue.
Although the Fatui still cooperated with Liyue officially, civilian tensions had only worsened.
Especially after that Childe Tartaglia had begun scheming in Liyue, the Fatui's reputation among its citizens had plummeted.
"Let them in, Yueshu."
"Ah?! Yes, Deacon Zhao."
"Secretary General Ganyu, Lord Jingchen, and Lady Jingchen — I have prepared a private room for you."
Following Deacon Zhao, they entered a luxuriously decorated private room.
Jewels glittered everywhere, some even radiating strong elemental energy.
"Lady Ganyu, shall we serve your usual dishes?"
"Mn, three servings this time."
"Understood. Please wait a moment."
Columbia nestled close to Jingchen's side. Keenly perceptive, she took in everything around her.
"Ah Chen, it seems the people of this land harbor a certain hostility toward us."
"Sigh. Perhaps."
Jingchen knew better than anyone. That Tartaglia… soon, he would unleash Osial.
Ningguang's most prized possession — the Qunyu Pavilion — would be destroyed in the process.
Though the Traveler and Shenhe would later help her rebuild it, Ningguang's hatred toward the Fatui Harbingers would never truly fade.
As for Liyue's citizens, once Tartaglia released Osial, their relationship with the Fatui would drop to absolute zero.
The Ninth Company, who had helped Liyue survey the Chasm, including Katarina, her brother, and their comrades — all would likely perish.
If possible, Jingchen wanted to prevent all of it. Both Snezhnaya and Liyue were nations he could not bear to lose.
If he could secure the Geo Archon's Heart early and send Tartaglia back to Snezhnaya with it, perhaps…
After a light, almost wordless meal, Jingchen and Columbia stood to take their leave from Ganyu.
"Ganyu shijie, I'll take Aya to the Northland Bank first. We'll visit you again another day."
Ganyu nodded slightly, watching them depart — alone, gazing at his fading silhouette.
In that moment, a faint, indescribable sense of loss welled up within her.
…
Passing through the bustling, lantern-lit streets of Feiyun Slope, Jingchen and Columbia ascended the wooden stairs together.
Before long, they arrived outside the Northland Bank.
He wanted to know — just how deeply had the Fatui infiltrated Liyue by now?
The bank's guards, Vlad and Nadia, immediately half-knelt upon seeing them.
"Lady La Signora, Lord Knight, we already dispatched people to the main avenue and harbor to welcome you.
But due to our negligence, we missed both of you."
Jingchen scratched his head awkwardly. He and Columbia had flown straight down from Mt. Tianheng.
Columbia cleared her throat, feigning calm.
"No need for a reception. The Knight and I are here on an imperial mission from Her Majesty."
They pushed open the doors of the Northland Bank and entered.
The bank's manager, Andrei, hurried out, handing Jingchen a large bag of Mora and speaking in a flattering tone.
"Lord Knight, is there anything you require today?"
Jingchen immediately handed the bag of Mora to Columbia for counting.
"We Fatui have already infiltrated every trade and industry in Liyue, haven't we?"
"This…"