The sea reflected the vast expanse of stars.
The outline of the island gradually became clearer.
Qin Yu silently controlled the small boat, steering towards the beach.
Beside him...
"Hmph."
Keqing hugged her doll, her cheeks puffed out.
Every now and then, she would glare fiercely at Qin Yu.
Her face was etched with little emotions.
Keqing, whose cat ears had been playfully tugged, wanted to bite someone.
"Ahem, about earlier..."
Qin Yu coughed lightly, trying to find some conversation.
Although that dangerous gaze had not dissipated.
He still honestly looked at the pair of cat ears.
In the end, they were just woven from hair.
But he hadn't expected Keqing to be so sensitive.
Although her reaction in that moment was indeed very cute.
Qin Yu was satisfied with the beautiful scenery he admired.
And he declared he'd dare to do it again next time.
"You dare say that again!"
Keqing suddenly stood up, causing the small boat to rock precariously.
Excited, she raised her doll and was about to smash it at Qin Yu.
She should have had the Millelith arrest this person earlier!
As for punishment...
They should just tie him back to Liyue first.
"Alright, alright, the boat will capsize if we're not careful."
Qin Yu helplessly raised his hands and gently soothed her.
He steadied himself and dodged Keqing's little pink fists.
A slight upturn of his lips clearly showed he was enjoying himself.
After all, who could refuse Keqing?
"Hmph, let it capsize then."
Keqing sat back down with her cheeks puffed out.
It would be best to sink the guy who only knew how to slack off.
"Then we'll be stranded here."
Qin Yu seemed to have a thought, looking thoughtfully at Keqing.
Marooned on a deserted island, a man and a woman alone.
This scenario seemed quite appealing.
Someone inexplicably began to look forward to it.
"You're not thinking of anything weird, are you?"
Keqing instinctively held her doll in front of her chest, frowning.
The cat's intuition began to activate.
"Mm."
Qin Yu nodded honestly.
"You..."
Keqing's slender eyelashes trembled slightly, and she instinctively averted her gaze.
He actually admitted it so readily.
What did he mean by that?
Could it be that he wanted to...
Under the moonlight, a faint blush remained on the young girl's cheeks.
The sea breeze blew, also disturbing her heart.
Suddenly, Keqing's eyes widened.
She recalled the scene in the tent earlier.
She had said she didn't like Qin Yu.
But much earlier, when the two of them were walking on the beach...
"I like you."
Qin Yu had said this under the sunset.
"..."
Keqing lowered her head and looked at the doll in her arms.
Did Qin Yu take her unconscious words to heart?
And that's why he was teasing her...
She didn't want Qin Yu to misunderstand forever.
If he left because of a misunderstanding, then...
Who would keep her company during overtime?
That would be too awful.
Thinking this, Keqing looked at Qin Yu again.
Finally, she mustered some courage, wanting to explain.
"Qin Yu."
"Hm?"
"Actually, I didn't mean that at the time..."
"I know."
"Eh?"
Qin Yu propped up the boat and looked at Keqing with amusement.
He wondered what she had been pondering for so long.
She was tsundere, he understood.
He wouldn't let such a cute Keqing get away.
"You know?"
The girl holding the doll hadn't quite registered what he said.
Only her fair skin, as delicate as porcelain, quietly flushed red.
After a long moment, she lowered her head silently.
She couldn't help but poke the face of the doll in her arms.
Indeed, you brought me good luck.
"We've reached the shore, let's get ready to disembark."
"Mhm..."
...
On the beach, the waves rolled in.
Two figures walked closely together, side by side.
"I miscalculated, I actually forgot to change my shoes."
Keqing lifted her shoes in her hands and followed beside Qin Yu.
Her high heels were naturally inconvenient on the sand.
There was nothing she could do but take them off and hold them.
However, this then presented a new problem...
The sticky feeling underfoot was somewhat uncomfortable.
"Do you need help?"
Qin Yu turned around, asking with a serious expression.
His gaze shifted downwards.
Keqing arched her back, her feet wrapped in black stockings, leaving a trail of footprints.
The fine fabric was already sticking with gooey sand.
Someone couldn't help but steal a few more glances.
"How would you help!"
Keqing puffed out her cheeks and retaliated by kicking Qin Yu.
Her long black-stockinged leg lifted, stirring up a spray of water.
And coincidentally, she smeared all the sand from her feet onto Qin Yu's legs.
Now they were both messy.
Let's see you laugh at me!
"For example, I could help you carry something."
Qin Yu didn't dodge, accepting the kick with a smile.
After all, Keqing wasn't really putting any strength into it.
Rather, the delicate sensation of her leg brushing against him just now...
"Carry what?"
"Of course, the doll, what else could it be..."
Someone stared at the beach, lost in thought.
"You!"
On the beach, the girl's voice, full of shame and indignation, rang out.
Keqing chased after Qin Yu, running for a long distance.
...
A faint firelight flickered to life.
Qin Yu built a bonfire and leaned against a tree trunk.
Beside him, Keqing kept her legs together, her bare skin dazzlingly white.
She had already taken off her black stockings.
They had been torn by little crabs during their run on the beach.
"Are you alright, Keqing?"
Keqing tried to appear calm and shook her head, rubbing her thighs.
The sea breeze was a bit chilly.
It was so embarrassing.
Keqing looked at Qin Yu, changing the subject:
"By the way, on your shoulder..."
"She's asleep, no need to mind her."
Qin Yu smiled and shook his head casually.
Perhaps Sandrone's true self was in trouble.
But that had nothing to do with him.
Someone declared he was not worried at all.