At eighteen, Ji Ming stood like a lackey.
Right in front of him, his Senior Ganyu was chatting away with Liyue's famed legal expert Yanfei. Both half-adepti settled in Liyue Harbor, both thoroughly engrossed—almost forgetting he existed.
A seasoned street rat, Ji Ming reacted to Yanfei the way a mouse does to a housecat. Not afraid, exactly… but who knew if this half-adeptus might finish her chat and march him straight to jail?
Sure, jail wasn't new. Still—freedom tasted better.
"Senior Ganyu, I'll leave the invitation and letter on the desk. I'll take my—"
"Not allowed. Come stand properly."
Busted mid-escape, Ji Ming drooped and lined up behind Ganyu. Yanfei hid a smile behind her hand.
Like Ganyu, Yanfei wore her red tasseled "judge's crown." But the white-and-gold antlers at her temples—her adeptal heritage—bobbed with her laugh, a bit like… leeks.
Yanfei tilted her head to study him, eyes bright and clear—easy to like at first sight.
"This must be Mr. Ji Ming Ganyu mentioned? Forgive me for nagging: try not to break the law, alright?"
"That's me. Just trying to eat, that's all…"
Ganyu tapped his forehead with her fingers, gentle as ever.
"Promise properly, or Miss Yanfei might dislike you."
"Pfft—"
Yanfei popped in front of him, grinning.
"Feels just like a mom scolding her kid. Don't worry, I don't dislike Mr. Ji Ming—mainly because he didn't steal my personal belongings."
She flashed her codex; her antlers swayed with it—prompting Ji Ming's eyes to slide toward Ganyu's qilin horns.
Predatory stare detected. Ganyu covered her horns in an instant, a tiny spark of pique in her gaze.
Junior Ji Ming… not entirely well-behaved, is he?
Before Ganyu could scold, Ji Ming snapped his eyes away and thumped his chest.
"Rest assured—I'd never do anything to hurt Miss Yanfei."
"Mhm, I believe you! Of course, don't hurt anyone else either. And if someone hires me, I won't go easy on you."
Content, Yanfei waved.
"Alright then! I've got a commission this afternoon. You two siblings have your talk—we'll meet again."
Ganyu smoothed her mood and nodded.
"See you next time."
Once Yanfei was gone, the courtesy melted from Ganyu's eyes. She took Ji Ming by the hand and led him into Yuehai Pavilion.
Same old office; same mountains of paperwork. Yet Ganyu showed no weariness—in fact, with Ji Ming here, she looked brighter.
Ji Ming noticed an extra cot in the corner.
"Senior Ganyu… have you been sleeping here lately?"
"Ah… don't worry about me. The Rite of Descension is in a year; there's so much to coordinate. I'm just resting in the office for now."
Catching the concern in his eyes, Ganyu rose on her toes to ruffle his hair, then let him sit while she opened Cloud Retainer's letter.
"To Ganyu—
I have taught Ji Ming the Art of Breath and Circulation. He cannot yet grasp it—perhaps his heart is impure. You must urge him to practice. If he gains longevity, you shall have a companion in Liyue."
The ink vanished there. Ganyu checked the rest—no additional notes—then looked back at Ji Ming.
His breathing was steadier than last time, albeit barely. Likely because he hadn't practiced seriously.
She recalled Master's line—if Ji Ming lives longer, she won't be so alone. Heat rose to her cheeks. If he truly gained years… perhaps the old loneliness would never return.
After all, Junior Ji Ming felt like family. He wouldn't leave her alone… would he?
Sensing her gaze, Ji Ming turned with a soft smile.
"Senior Ganyu, was there something you wanted me to do?"
"There is. Would you… keep me company at work tonight?"
A small test. If he showed reluctance or annoyance, she would never ask again. She would still care for him—but he would no longer be family in her heart.
Ji Ming answered in a heartbeat.
"No problem. It'd be an honor to work with Senior Ganyu."
Knew it. Junior Ji Ming is the best.
Then his brow creased. Yuehai Pavilion work meant state secrets. If he saw something he shouldn't, would Ganyu be blamed?
Reading his worry, Ganyu tightened her grip—warm and unwavering, like she'd hold on for ten thousand years.
"It's alright. Just help me sort and file. Even if you see something… you'll keep it secret for me, won't you?"
…Dangerous. Those eyes were too warm. A man could drown in that gentle sea.
Ji Ming raised three fingers and swore to the ceiling.
"By the Lord of Geo above, I will take secrets to the grave. If I break my word, let stone judge me."
"No need to be so formal." Ganyu smiled. "If you're ready, let's begin?"
A heap of unsorted files lay by the desk leg. Ji Ming crouched between desk and chair, tallying and sorting; Ganyu sat and processed whatever he stacked—triaging by urgency.
In short, his hands set her speed. Pressure mounted at once.
A test from Senior Ganyu? He got it. If he kept his mind still, his hands would fly. She was probing his breath-and-circulation.
Of course. Every gesture of Senior Ganyu's held meaning—sharper than even Fourth Brother Broken-Finger Chen.
To go faster, Ji Ming skimmed the first line of each page, tagged the type, and slotted it where it belonged.
After a while, a picture formed: Liyue looked calm on the surface, yet under the water it churned. In a line—the rich were richer; the poor, poorer.
Liyue Harbor gathered folk from every shore. Rich and poor living side by side… friction grew. Like the Jade Chamber high above, the poor could only look up.
Many gave up honest work and turned bandit in the wilds. Most didn't kill, but losses to citizens mounted.
Compared to such brigands, a street man like Ji Ming—at least outwardly a "five-star citizen"—kept the laws and was far less dangerous.
An imaginary heckler asked: Ji Ming, Ji Ming—Liyue is "Harbor of a Thousand Ships." Why so many poor?
Because Liyue has an invisible hand.
Thinking something scandalous? Sorry—the "invisible hand" is Morax.
Once a year the Lord of Geo descends and adjusts the market. The rich merchants and great clans move with His guidance; common folk rush in to catch the tide—and get harvested by the well-positioned merchants, who get harvested by the noble houses… who get harvested by the Tianquan.
Wealth funnels upward, tier upon tier—like a gilded Sumeru pyramid—with Ningguang at the top.
The idea is kind, the execution flawed.
"Junior Ji Ming—thanks to you, today's work is ahead of schedule."
Ganyu looked genuinely happy. She liked work—it made her forget the loneliness. Tonight, with Ji Ming working beside her, the joy doubled.
Ji Ming set the last stack down and smiled.
"Senior Ganyu, dinner's on me."
Forget the invisible hand. Right now, there was Senior Ganyu's warm, soft little hand.
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