"Miss Shenhe, this is the finest inn in Liyue Harbor. You can rest here for the night. Tomorrow, I'll show you around properly."
Standing at the counter and handing over the mora, Ji Ming looked visibly pained—though the moment he remembered that Wangsheng Funeral Parlor would reimburse every last coin, his heart immediately lightened.
Only one guest room remained.
Ji Ming had no intention of shamelessly sharing a room with Shenhe. He decided he'd make do under one of Liyue Harbor's stone arch bridges for the night, then bill Wangsheng for two rooms once the job was done.
After all, this inn was on par with Wangshu Inn. Rumor on the streets had it that both establishments belonged to Lady Tianquan herself.
The Heavenly-tier room was outrageously expensive—half a month's living expenses, gone in an instant. Still, Ji Ming felt as though he'd taken another step closer to owning a house on Yujing Terrace.
Shenhe stood quietly to the side, examining the relief carvings along the walls. When she heard Ji Ming, she turned and nodded.
"I'll follow your arrangements. Where will you be resting?"
"Don't worry about me," Ji Ming waved it off. "Just get some good rest. Wait for me at the entrance tomorrow—I'll come find you."
"Mm. See you tomorrow."
Only after watching Shenhe enter her room did Ji Ming turn and leave the inn.
Night had fully fallen. Though Liyue did boast lively night markets, most residents still preferred to turn in early.
Ji Ming had long grown accustomed to living frugally. Even with Zhongli's guarantee, he couldn't bring himself to stay at an inn. To him, such places were unnecessary—give him a mat and a blanket, and any corner of Liyue Harbor would do.
Of course, that usually earned him a polite but firm escort from the Millelith, citing concerns over public order.
Which was why the stone arch bridge—far from shops and residences—had become Ji Ming's preferred sleeping spot. Millelith patrols rarely came here, and only those who enjoyed quiet solitude ever wandered by.
Years ago, the bridge hadn't belonged to Ji Ming alone. Many street drifters gathered here—some with gang affiliations—quietly collecting "maintenance fees."
And who did they think Ji Ming was?
Back then, he could barely keep himself alive—there was no way he'd pay protection money to a bunch of muscle-brained thugs.
To resist those gangs, Liyue's largest underground organization was founded on a rainy night years ago. Nine men—including Ji Ming—swore brotherhood before a wooden statue of Rex Lapis. The streets came to call them the Old Nine Gates.
Ji Ming was the youngest—ranked Ninth. He didn't mind. As long as he wasn't Eighth.
As for why the Old Nine Gates had gone quiet these past few years?
Well… after reclaiming control of the bridge's "fees," everyone except Ji Ming was arrested and thrown into prison for one reason or another.
Old Nine Gates became Prison Nine Gates. Such was life.
Ji Ming had only helped sell goods for his sworn brothers, and he'd always been extremely cautious. The authorities never realized that the boy who treated prison like a second home was part of the Nine Gates himself.
Even now, Ji Ming still waited for his brothers' return. To help shorten their sentences, he'd spent no small amount of mora.
(expressionless)
Lost in memories of the past few turbulent years, Ji Ming lay back on his mat, staring at moss-covered stone bricks.
"Time really flies… There wasn't any moss here back then."
"…Ah—who's there?"
A soft, startled voice sounded from above the bridge—gentle enough that it sounded very easy to bully.
Just kidding.
Ji Ming recognized that voice immediately. It had to be Ganyu. She often stood atop the bridge, gazing out at the distant sea.
They'd crossed paths once or twice before. Ganyu was always polite and considerate—though Ji Ming wasn't sure if someone so busy would still remember him.
Holding a paper umbrella, Ganyu leaned forward slightly from atop the bridge, peering down—just in time to meet Ji Ming's gaze.
Long blue hair tied into a ponytail, a stray ahoge atop her head, and two small qilin horns curving from either side—whether ornamental or not, he couldn't say.
In short, Ganyu was truly a beauty of this world.
And a half-adeptus, at that.
"…Mr. Ji Ming? Is that you?"
Ji Ming blinked, stunned.
"Miss Ganyu—you still remember me?"
Then again, the secretary of Yuehai Pavilion was said to have a photographic memory. Exceptional recall was practically part of the job.
Ganyu walked down the bridge slowly, umbrella in her right hand, her left resting lightly against her chest.
"Mr. Ji Ming… have you still not found work? Why are you still living under the bridge this year?"
Years ago, when Ganyu first met him, Ji Ming had been barely ten years old. He'd survived by collecting broken ore near the outskirts of the Chasm—often chased by hilichurls.
Unable to bear the sight of a homeless child in Liyue, Ganyu had quietly bought him seasonal clothing and an introductory reading book, leaving them beneath the bridge late one night.
When Ji Ming discovered them, he'd flushed bright red with embarrassment.
That had been their second meeting.
After that, there'd been no contact. Even when Ji Ming later drifted through the streets, he never deliberately sought her out.
This—today—was their third meeting.
Liyue Harbor wasn't small, but without deliberate intent, even a lifetime might rely on chance alone.
Moved by emotion, Ji Ming rose and smiled wryly.
"I'm good at nothing. Never had a proper education—only know enough characters to get by. Where would I find a decent job?"
"If you're willing," Ganyu said gently, "I could arrange a position—"
"Please don't," Ji Ming interrupted. "I can accept charity from anyone except you. Aside from my parents, you and Xiangling are the only people who've ever been kind to me. I don't want to disappoint you."
Xiangling was a childhood friend. She never looked down on him—she even knew how he made a living. Their bond endured only because of shared memories.
But Ganyu—she'd helped him the very first time they met, and in the gentlest way possible.
That was why she was the person Ji Ming respected most.
"Eh? It's really fine," Ganyu hurriedly reassured him. "It's just copying documents—nothing difficult. And… did you ever read the primer I bought you?"
"I did, but…" Ji Ming grew awkward, glancing aside. "For various reasons, it's long since been lost. I am… guilty."
Panicking, Ganyu waved her hands.
"It's alright! Please don't apologize—it wasn't anything valuable. Still… think about the job. I can introduce you."
Maybe the book wasn't worth much in mora—but to Ji Ming, it had been sacred.
As for the job… he was tempted. Truly tempted.
But he still refused.
Ganyu worked directly under the Liyue Qixing. She had no idea about his messy record—if he accepted, it would only drag her down.
Better to keep crawling through the mud alone.
Ganyu sighed, then smiled.
"What a pity. Still, I believe you'll only do better from here on. If you ever need help, please come find me. By the way—what have you been doing lately?"
Seeing she wasn't in a hurry to leave, Ji Ming smiled.
"I'm helping Mr. Zhongli from Wangsheng—guiding his friend's student while she visits her senior sister. A quiet, withdrawn white-haired woman."
The chance to chat with Ganyu filled him with an indescribable sense of contentment.
Ganyu froze.
"A quiet white-haired woman… may I ask her name? And how tall she is?"
"Shenhe. A bit shorter than me."
"W–What?!"
"…Is something wrong?"
Since the end of the Archon War, Ganyu had rarely returned to Jueyun Karst, and in recent years hadn't left Liyue Harbor at all. Naturally, she'd never met her junior sister.
But Cloud Retainer often visited Ganyu—and had mentioned taking in a disciple.
She'd planned to return someday.
She never imagined Shenhe would come to her instead.
"Mr. Ji Ming," Ganyu said softly, "Shenhe… is my junior sister."
Ji Ming was stunned.
"…Really? May I ask—who is your master, Miss Ganyu?"
"Cloud Retainer. I trained under her from childhood."
Cloud Retainer…
Ji Ming blinked. Never heard of her.
Embarrassed to ask further, he stayed silent. Survival left little room for thinking about immortals.
Just then—
"Correct. Ganyu and Shenhe are both disciples of this one."
A white crane descended from the sky, landing steadily atop the bridge's low railing. Its keen eyes fixed on Ji Ming without wavering.
Too similar… far too similar.
The brows, the eyes—clearly the image of an old friend.
So he truly is the child of that person.
Suppressing her excitement, Cloud Retainer spoke calmly.
"You are Ji Ming?"
"I am," Ji Ming replied nervously. "May I ask why you have come to Liyue Harbor, Adeptus?"
It was his first time seeing a god up close.
Even if she was a crane.
"…Your tone resembles theirs," Cloud Retainer mused. "So you took your mother's surname."
She nodded, satisfied.
"This one has been searching for the child of an old friend. It seems this journey was not in vain. Ganyu—since you met Ji Ming years ago, why did you never inform this one?"
"Eh?!"
Ganyu stood frozen, completely at a loss.