"Qin Yu, what's wrong?"
As Qin Yu was lost in thought, a soft little hand reached out in front of him, gently shaking.
Keqing, sensing something was amiss, quickly called out.
But after calling for a long time, Qin Yu still didn't respond.
"Qin Yu? Say something."
Keqing's expression changed slightly, and she reached out to push him.
She had long forgotten her previous little annoyance.
She had intended to maintain some composure and descend the mountain together.
But Qin Yu seemed to have lost his soul, sitting there with a troubled look.
The tsundere Keqing was starting to get anxious.
Just as she leaned closer to Qin Yu, preparing to check on him again.
Qin Yu's eyes flickered.
"...I'm fine."
He mumbled, his gaze gradually focusing.
In front of him was a girl with a worried expression and stunning beauty.
She was raising her small hand, about to gently touch his face.
Qin Yu's eyes widened, surprised, "Keqing?"
Was he waking up at the wrong time?
What was she about to do, and why did she stop?
"You...!"
Keqing's raised hand froze, unsure what to do.
The distance between them was extremely intimate, so close they could sense each other's heartbeats.
Under the moonlight, the girl's cheeks quietly flushed.
"It's not what you think!"
Keqing fumbled for an explanation, then said weakly.
Her pouting lips made her look like a little cat caught trying to steal food.
How, how did it turn out like this?
"Cough, I don't know anything."
Qin Yu coughed lightly, pretending to close his eyes.
With a look that said, "Do whatever you want, I won't resist."
"I didn't!"
Under the moonlight, the frustrated cry of Keqing, who wanted to bite someone, echoed for a long time.
After a period of chaos.
They sat together again, gazing at the starry sky.
"Sorry for making you worry."
Qin Yu looked at the golden core flickering at his fingertips and said apologetically.
Then, he put the core away.
It was better not to use unknown and powerful forces too readily.
"Hmph."
Keqing puffed out her cheeks and hugged herself.
She was angry, the kind that couldn't be easily appeased.
"Shall I take you down the mountain?"
Qin Yu thought for a moment and suggested to Keqing.
As a form of penance, he was willing to accept the punishment.
Yes, the punishment was to carry Keqing down the mountain.
The punishment needed to be severe.
"?"
Keqing glared at Qin Yu.
How could she not guess the other person's little thoughts?
Speaking of which, when they went up the mountain earlier.
She was still carried in a princess hold...
"I often adventure in the wilderness; I can walk myself."
Keqing snorted haughtily and stood up.
She looked at Qin Yu, her eyes full of determination.
Did he dare to compete with her to see who could descend the mountain faster?
"Alright, let's go together."
Qin Yu looked at Keqing, who wanted to compete with him, and felt a sense of regret.
After all, who wouldn't want to have a warm and clingy cat in their arms?
It would be nice to hug her occasionally to warm the bed.
"Are you thinking of something strange?"
Keqing subconsciously tugged at her skirt, her brows furrowing slightly.
The cool sensation made her a bit embarrassed.
Don't stare at her legs again!
"No."
Qin Yu stared at the pair of luminous white legs in the moonlight and said sincerely.
"You!"
...
"Here, the map of this area."
Qin Yu found something among a pile of documents and handed it to Keqing.
There were still many documents from the Doctor, enough for him to sort through.
However, one record was worth noting.
Dreams, interference from unknown forces...
Was this referring to Columbia?
However, this record was clearly older, and the timing didn't match.
"Overtime is over, Keqing."
Qin Yu thought of something and said with a smile.
With this map, the investigation work here was considered complete.
"You actually finished the work again."
Keqing took the map, her expression complicated.
Although she had always been dissatisfied with Qin Yu's slack-off attitude.
But after actually interacting with him, she realized that he could still easily complete tasks while slacking off.
Was this the good luck of a slacker?
Keqing couldn't help but puff out her cheeks.
How was she supposed to drag Qin Yu to Liyue for overtime now?
"Let's go."
Qin Yu waved from a distance, smiling.
"Mhm."
Keqing gently stroked the map, her smile relaxed.
This feeling wasn't bad either.
...
A cool sea breeze blew, and they returned to the foot of the mountain.
With Keqing's help, a warm bonfire was lit.
Along with it, a few fish, cleaned and skewered.
Qin Yu had significantly more fish than Keqing.
"How did you catch so many?"
Keqing stared at Qin Yu, her cheeks puffed out suspiciously.
They had descended the mountain at roughly the same time.
Coincidentally, Qin Yu was hungry and said he wanted to eat something.
Keqing, who wanted to continue the competition, chose to catch fish.
With her black stockings removed, she was sure she could beat Qin Yu.
The girl was full of confidence.
Unfortunately, reality was cruel, and she lost again.
Thinking of this, Keqing let out a fierce "hmph."
"There are many things I'm good at."
Qin Yu chuckled inwardly.
To think she wanted to compete in catching animals, Keqing, you still don't understand.
[Innate Talent: Ughu Style - Secret Art of Breath Holding]
[When approaching creatures like Crystal Butterflies, you will not startle them.]
With this talent, the competition was over before it even began.
"I don't believe you; you cheated!"
Keqing poked at the grilled fish, sensing the scent of a lie.
"You're thinking too much."
Qin Yu coughed lightly, looking upright.
What, using his ability is considered cheating?
"I clearly secretly used Electro to stun them..."
Keqing thought about it more and more angrily, and finally blurted it out.
She covered her mouth mid-sentence.
How could she have said that!
"Wait a minute, you secretly..."
"You, you misheard!"
In front of the bonfire, they playfully bickered with grilled fish.
...
"Hoo... so tired."
Qin Yu placed his hands on his hips and let out a long sigh.
When he descended the mountain, he was already carrying a pile of equipment that Sandrone had specifically asked him to keep.
Plus, Keqing had chased him all the way down just now.
He really should rest for a bit.
"..."
Keqing took a small sip of the boiled fresh water Qin Yu had prepared for her, her pretty face still slightly flushed.
Keqing was embarrassed that her cheating had been discovered.
More importantly, she hadn't won even after cheating!
"Keqing?"
"I'm not listening!"
Qin Yu was helpless; it was best to let Keqing have some alone time.
Coincidentally, he also had something to do.
"Gulu."
On his shoulder, the littlePaimon rolled over and brushed Qin Yu's cheek.
"You want to take me to dig for treasure chests?"
Qin Yu was slightly taken aback, his interest piqued.
The littlePaimon nodded.
Qin Yu let out a "huh."
It could be said that this littlePaimon left by Columbia was indeed smart.
A certain emergency food would be very envious of this ability to dig for treasure chests.
Speaking of which, he wondered where Lumine was now.
She should come once the national seclusion policy truly ended.
"Let's dig for treasure chests later."
Qin Yu shook his head and leaned against a dead tree trunk.
Under the light of the bright bonfire, he took out the mysterious package left by Sandrone.
She said to open it after going down the mountain...
After opening it, an iron cube fell out.
"What is this?"
Qin Yu picked up the iron cube and weighed it.
What was this thing, it was quite heavy.
He began to read the letter left by Sandrone.
"Remember to communicate with your partner on time..."
Qin Yu murmured, then smiled helplessly.
So, it turned out she wanted him to "call" back.
He picked up the communication device and then looked at the littlePaimon on his shoulder.
Well, and then he looked at the General doll.
He felt like he wouldn't be able to handle it all.
"It seems that even when sailing, one cannot relax."
This trip should not bring any more people.
Absolutely not.
Qin Yu packed it up and picked up the communication device as he did so.
He would "call" Sandrone first.
"Gulu."
The littlePaimon circled around.
"Okay, I'll go with you."
Qin Yu said softly and followed thePaimon towards the sea.
He also dialed the communication device.
"Beep beep beep... Beep beep beep..."
The waiting time was always long.
The communication had not yet connected, and thePaimon was also searching for something.
Qin Yu squatted down and aimlessly poked a seashell.
"Click."
Finally, the communication connected.
"Sandrone, can you hear me..."
Qin Yu's eyes lit up as he was about to say something.
But the next moment, his expression changed.
"Hello, stranger I've never met."
A strange voice sounded from the other end of the communication.
It was a young, yet very gentle girl's voice.
One listen made one feel very intelligent.
Qin Yu was stunned and moved the communication device away.
What was this sudden voice?
Did he dial the wrong number?
Before he could ask,
The other end of the communication spoke first.
The slightly immature voice, as if cautious, but more so in joy and earnestness:
"Um, excuse me."
"Are you using the restroom?"
The air fell silent for a moment.
Qin Yu: ...
"Huh??"
"No, who are you?"
"My name is Nahida."
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
The young and gentle voice said happily.