"It's you!"
Qin Yu blurted out instinctively upon hearing the familiar voice.
That soft, tender voice that evoked a desire to cherish and protect.
It was none other than Nahida, the one looking for her mother!
Qin, as he was known, had already concocted a tragic tale of a mother and daughter separated by unforeseen circumstances, unable to meet.
He had no idea who her father was; what a scoundrel!
However, Qin Yu quickly regained his composure and fell silent.
"Hm?"
From afar, Keqing, sensing the disturbance, suddenly turned to look at Qin Yu, her gaze suspicious.
"Qin Yu, I thought I heard something."
Could it be another girl sneaking around again?
Wait a minute, why "again"?
Keqing's intuition kicked in once more.
She was determined to protect the prize cabbage she had set her sights on, lest it be snatched away by someone else.
"No, no, I was just talking to myself."
Qin Yu waved his hand, taking a couple of steps back with a smile.
Keqing's intuition was too sharp.
"Is that so?"
Keqing frowned slightly, her suspicion growing.
"Stop right there, where do you think you're going!"
Keqing puffed out her cheeks and walked directly to Qin Yu's side.
She suddenly reached out to touch Qin Yu's chest, her pretty face stern.
"What are you doing?"
Qin Yu covered himself with both hands, looking surprised.
In broad daylight, and with Candace and Yoimiya right here, this seemed inappropriate.
Oh right, and there was also the silent Nahida.
She was still just a child!
"Behave yourself."
Keqing snorted and began a pat-down.
That troublesome Qin Yu, had he hidden a communication device?
She had to confirm it herself.
"..."
And so, Keqing, with deliberate intent, and in front of Candace and Yoimiya.
She searched him from top to bottom, leaving no spot unchecked.
Time slowly passed, and the atmosphere grew increasingly awkward.
"Um... Keqing, are we done?"
Qin Yu raised his hands, catching the faint scent of the girl who had bowed her head before him, and reminded her subtly.
He felt as though Keqing was deliberately taking advantage of him.
She had been touching him for so long, and he couldn't resist, only able to endure it silently.
In front of Candace and Yoimiya, his heart was tickled, a strange sense of excitement he couldn't quite explain.
A young man must protect himself when out and about.
"...There's nothing."
Keqing looked up, clearing her throat lightly with a serious expression.
She glanced at Qin Yu.
His physique was quite good, rather sturdy.
She scanned her surroundings, finding no trace of anyone else.
Was it truly just a misperception?
"My dear, please don't go on secret dates with other girls."
Candace, sensing the anomaly through the screen, spoke up.
She leaned forward slightly, her gaze fixed on Qin Yu as she spoke softly.
And to that cunning cat as well.
Don't think I didn't see what you did to Qin Yu just now.
"You're overthinking it."
Qin Yu shook his head with an air of innocence, finally dispelling the suspicions of the two women.
"I'm going to get some fresh air. After you two finish talking, I have something important to discuss with Candace."
"..."
Candace seemed to have guessed something and nodded slightly.
Indeed, Qin Yu could fully harness the power of that core.
She wondered to what extent he had achieved.
"If it's something important, then alright."
Keqing snorted, not pressing the matter further.
Though Qin Yu often seemed to be slacking off,
Keqing would naturally support him when he set his mind to something important.
It wasn't because she cared about Qin Yu, of course.
"You two chat first."
Qin Yu waved his hand and naturally walked a short distance away.
Leaning against the railing and gazing out at the sea, he let out a long sigh.
Thankfully, he hadn't revealed any flaws.
He then whispered in his mind:
"Little Nahida, are you still there?"
"I'm sorry."
A soft voice filled with a hint of apology reached Qin Yu's ears.
"I've caused you trouble."
Nahida said softly, seemingly deep in thought.
"It's alright, this is hardly any trouble."
Qin Yu shook his head, not taking it to heart.
It was only a meeting of three women, after all.
He had experienced far more chaotic situations than this, and wasn't afraid.
...Or so he hoped.
"By the way, you seem to have something on your mind."
Qin Yu asked in his mind, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Tell me your troubles, and I'll help you resolve them.
"Hmm, it's very strange."
Nahida let out a soft exclamation, "Just now, your emotions became tense."
Qin Yu was taken aback. How did she know?
"Even though they are all people you care about, why do you become tense when they gather together?"
Nahida fell silent, appearing to be deep in thought.
"Little sister, you're still young. You'll understand when you grow up and fall in love."
Qin Yu shook his head, gazing at the sea with a sigh.
The adult world was always complicated.
"Grow up? I don't need to grow up."
Nahida said softly, with a hint of pride.
Growing up often meant losing dreams.
She wished for dreams to remain by everyone's side.
Just like Qin Yu, who could resonate with her and talk with her.
This resonance could even transcend vast distances.
"That won't do, if you don't grow up, you won't be able to..."
Qin Yu stopped mid-sentence and shook his head again.
Why was he saying such things to a young girl?
"Can you do more things when you grow up?"
Nahida retorted with a question.
"Of course, for example..."
Qin Yu was about to give examples, but suddenly paused.
What examples? For a moment, he couldn't think of any.
"You can eat all the desserts you want."
Someone finally thought of an answer that could convince a child.
"Desserts? I've never eaten them..."
Nahida murmured with longing upon hearing this.
She had seen desserts in children's dreams, but had never tasted them. What were they like?
Her rational intellect understood what they might taste like.
But from the moment of her birth, she had been confined to the Sumeru Academia for hundreds of years.
Never having experienced the outside world, wasn't that also a form of regret?
"Did your guardian never buy them for you?"
Qin Yu was surprised, he had never eaten desserts.
"He would probably say they are things that corrupt rationality and shouldn't exist."
Nahida said softly, recalling something.
This was, in fact, the Grand Sage of the Sumeru Academia.
"How dare they look down on desserts? Beat him up."
Qin Yu silently raised his middle finger.
If the person who disdained desserts were known to Ei,
She would probably strike him down with a single sword.
Cough cough, that was an exaggeration.
His family's great leader had been much gentler lately.
"Talking with you always gives me new ideas."
Nahida's soft voice was filled with lightness and laughter.
To actually beat someone up for such a reason?
Talking with Qin Yu was a truly novel experience.
"Right, you had something you wanted to tell me."
"Yes, something very important."
Qin Yu's heart stirred.
This little girl was truly remarkable, seeming to possess a mind-reading ability.
Speaking of which, did he not also possess a similar ability?
[Ding, the system is at your service.]
"Nahida, whatever I say next, please don't be afraid."
Qin Yu ignored the system and continued.
"Please speak, I will listen carefully."
Nahida's childish voice gained a hint of seriousness.
She sounded so cute, he wanted to pinch her cheeks.
"I met your mother."
Qin Yu took a deep breath, his expression solemn.
"...?"
Nahida fell into thought.