The surrounding ice melted.
The small boat on the sea resumed its gentle drift.
Qin Yu gazed up at the moon, sighing silently.
This doll girl, he could not keep her.
Suddenly, a streak of purple light flashed across the horizon.
Someone blinked in surprise.
Could it be the General observing him?
A majestic figure of a woman appeared in his mind.
A soft smile played on Qin Yu’s lips.
She wouldn't be that idle, surely.
"My companion, what are you thinking about?"
Santorini sat on Qin Yu's shoulder, dangling her legs.
In the sea breeze, the girl's long skirt fluttered gently, and she sat quietly and obediently.
As she spoke, she reached out a small hand and poked Qin Yu's cheek.
The warm, resilient touch made her beautiful eyes curve.
Qin Yu's abilities had captivated her.
The secrets he held made Santorini's heart flutter with excitement.
Her small hand idly traced down Qin Yu's neck.
If only she could be obediently modified...
"Say one more strange thing and I'll throw you into the sea."
Qin Yu turned his head to look at the mischievous doll girl and said coldly.
As he spoke, he steered the small boat back towards the fleet.
"Tch—so heartless."
Santorini huffed in dissatisfaction, propping herself up.
Although she knew she wouldn't be thrown into the sea.
She still felt a little unhappy.
With this thought, the girl stretched out a small foot and kicked Qin Yu.
"?"
Seeing Qin Yu's darkening expression, the girl giggled.
She looked at Qin Yu and said softly:
"It's nice, my companion."
Unknowingly, she had also grown accustomed to Qin Yu's presence.
This warmth, so different from cold machinery, gave her peace of mind.
She would keep this feeling by her side forever.
"Nice what?" Qin Yu asked subconsciously.
"I'll be relying on you next time too."
Santorini shook her head with a smile, saying no more.
On the island, there might be something interesting.
She leaned against Qin Yu and gently closed her eyes.
The doll-like exquisite girl was about to fall asleep again.
"..."
Qin Yu shook his head helplessly.
Santorini, an Executive doll, was openly slacking off.
Come to think of it, he was quite the slacker himself.
The two of them together, it seemed quite reasonable.
...
Under the moonlight, Keqing was lost in thought.
Her gaze, filled with a strange light, was fixed on Qin Yu.
Around them, the Millelith and the Tenryou Commission cheered.
Qin Yu smiled and waved.
In their shared gaze, they both saw joy.
"Such a show-off."
Keqing turned her face away somewhat unnaturally.
Inside, however, she breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
She hadn't expected Qin Yu, who usually just wanted to slack off, to be so powerful...
It made her worry for nothing just now.
No, she hadn't worried about Qin Yu at all!
"Want to work overtime together?"
Qin Yu smiled and invited the girl in the distance.
With Keqing, one sometimes needed to be more proactive.
Even if it meant suggesting overtime...
But working overtime all night with Keqing didn't seem like a bad idea?
"Together..."
Keqing's small hands clenched unconsciously, and she murmured softly.
She secretly glanced at the expectant young man.
If you insist, it's not impossible...
Under the moonlight, a faint smile appeared on the girl's pretty face.
Keqing, it seemed, was clearly tempted.
Perhaps she hadn't even realized it herself.
Unknowingly, she had already overlooked the word "overtime."
Now, a more important matter lay before her.
"This..."
The surrounding Millelith fell silent.
The sea breeze tonight was quite boisterous.
Her Excellency the Yuheng, why wasn't she issuing orders for work?
She was even exchanging glances with that envoy from Inazuma...
Something was wrong, a big problem.
"Ahem, what are you all standing around for?"
Keqing snapped back to reality and quickly turned around, frowning.
The girl put on a stern face, trying to appear more authoritative.
However, her darting eyes always made her seem a little lacking in confidence.
The Millelith exchanged glances, their expressions peculiar.
Wasn't she being a little too gentle?
"Get back to work at once!"
"Yes, Your Excellency the Yuheng!"
The Millelith breathed a sigh of relief and responded loudly.
This kind of push to work felt right.
The Millelith returned to their posts.
As for what their superior would do with the young man next,
That was not for them to know.
They could only say, those who know, know.
...
"Come down quickly."
Qin Yu raised his face and looked at Keqing, who was hesitating on the ship.
Under the moonlight, the girl's purple hair fluttered.
The cat ears she had braided seemed to be twitching.
He really wanted to catch them and pinch them.
"Cough, turn around first."
The girl covered the hem of her skirt and couldn't help but glare at Qin Yu.
This wicked fellow...
He had been staring at her intently since earlier.
Like a strange uncle waiting for a kitten to pounce into his arms.
How could her modest self possibly come down?
"But I have to protect your safety."
Qin Yu smiled slightly and said earnestly.
He really didn't want to miss Keqing's pounce.
"Hmph, I don't need you to protect me..."
"Come on."
Finally, at Qin Yu's insistence, the girl nodded.
"Plop."
After a barely audible sound.
A light silhouette landed before Qin Yu.
Qin Yu looked at the girl under the moonlight, his eyes lighting up.
What a big cat... no.
"Keqing..."
Qin Yu noticed something.
In Keqing's arms, a doll was holding a hairpin.
It was a gift they had given each other.
She had actually kept it with her all along.
"!"
Keqing hid the doll behind her and whispered:
"It just happened to be here."
Her secretive behavior was quite cute.
Qin Yu's gaze softened slightly, and he whispered:
"Let's go."
"You keep staring at me."
Keqing noticed Qin Yu's gaze and turned her face away unnaturally.
Under the moonlight, her perfect face was flushed red.
Facing this scene, Qin Yu was momentarily stunned.
He subconsciously raised his hand.
While Keqing wasn't paying attention...
He grabbed the pair of cat ears and gave them a pinch.
"Ah!"
Keqing stiffened all over.
And let out a cute little cry.