"How do you like this story?"
Columbina tilted her head, looking obedient and elegant.
As if her previous dark mood was just an illusion.
"Heh... it is indeed an interesting story..."
Qin Yu smiled and nodded in agreement.
But his hands were honest as he took the drawings.
Hugging is the proper etiquette.
Such dangerous drawings are not to be encouraged.
Columbina, please stop your yandere thoughts!
"I'm glad you like it."
Columbina's lips curved slightly, with no intention of taking back the drawings.
After all, it was just a small prank.
Of course, she could also make the content of the drawings a reality...
"That's good then."
Qin Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
It was just a false alarm.
How could such an elegant and serene girl be...
"These drawings were completed before you arrived."
"As time passed..."
"Each one represents a different mood of mine."
Columbina watched Qin Yu's slightly unnatural expression with a kind smile.
"So, my traveling companion who was dawdling outside,"
"Can you explain why you're only coming in now?"
The air turned chilling.
Danger!
"Ahem, I'll be quicker then."
Qin Yu sincerely admitted his mistake and promised to satisfy Columbina.
He absolutely couldn't reveal the identities of the fox and the cat.
If they were exposed, he'd be in deep trouble.
"That depends on your performance."
Columbina's lips curled, and she temporarily let Qin Yu off the hook.
Saying this, she elegantly raised her hand.
The joking was over; it was time to get down to business.
Before replenishing her energy, a check of his physical condition was also important.
"Mhm."
Qin Yu nodded and took the soft, tender hand in front of him.
It was cool to the touch, and the feel was still wonderful.
But soon, Qin Yu noticed something different.
"On your wrist earlier..."
"You said it was Signora's communication device?"
Columbina heard this and seemed a little helpless.
Her dear sister had been sending messages non-stop.
But if this continued, it would interfere with her closeness with Qin Yu.
So, Columbina decisively turned off the communication device.
Truly a sister with deep affection.
"Mhm."
Qin Yu's heart stirred.
There seemed to be something going on with Signora.
What could it be?
Never mind, it wouldn't affect him for now.
"I've already turned off the device and handed it over to someone else."
Columbina said softly, holding Qin Yu's hand.
No more Signora for now.
This was their time.
She wouldn't let a third person interrupt.
Not even her good friends or sisters.
"Okay."
Qin Yu didn't think much of it, taking the elegant girl's hand and smiling.
...
Accompanied by the beautiful maiden, he seemed to have overlooked something.
Whose hands would the communication device be in at this moment?
Meanwhile, on the other side.
In a small grove.
"Why isn't he here yet?"
Lumine sat on a rock, fiddling with the communication device in her hand.
Yes, the one Columbina had given her.
Perhaps it could unlock the secrets of the Fatui Harbingers.
"I know, Qin Yu was attracted by something delicious."
Paimon yawned, swaying unsteadily.
She didn't understand why Lumine chose to meet Qin Yu so late at night.
Didn't she always want to be close to girls?
Qin Yu wasn't a beautiful maiden, though...
"There, there, you should go back to the camp and sleep."
Lumine gently patted Paimon's little head and spoke softly.
Her caring gaze and gentle words moved Paimon.
"Okay, come back soon."
She waved goodbye and left first.
Hmph, as expected, Paimon was the one Lumine cared about the most!
...
"Was Qin Yu really attracted by something?"
Lumine didn't look at Paimon but mused to herself.
What attracted Qin Yu...
Wasn't it being close to girls?
"This scoundrel!"
Thinking of this, Lumine stood up, her small hands clenched.
He's actually doing this behind her back...!
But soon, she slowly relaxed her grip.
Those who are close to Qin Yu are all his confidantes, right?
She was just working, she had no right to say anything.
Thinking this, Lumine's eyes drooped slightly.
But soon, she reacted.
No, she was the vanguard against Qin Yu's closeness!
"Hmph, don't let me catch any evidence and tell Ayaka and the others."
Lumine snorted, but felt indignant inside.
Was she really as Paimon said, unattractive?
"Qin Yu actually quite likes..."
Lumine subconsciously touched the cat ears on her head.
She was getting more and more used to them.
And they were well-maintained, very comfortable to touch.
So, where was the problem?
Suddenly, Lumine the cat had an idea.
Just cat ears might not be enough.
Don't forget, the maid cat had other "equipment."
- A cat tail.
"But... do I really have to wear that?"
Thinking this, Lumine bit her lip.
Why did such embarrassing things exist!
Silence, a long, profound silence.
The girl was engaged in an intense internal struggle.
But clearly, once some thoughts begin, there's no turning back.
"..."
In the end, Lumine made a decision.
She tentatively rummaged through her backpack, and finally grasped her future.
The fluffy cat tail.
But soon, Lumine discovered something was wrong.
"There's no place to tie it?!"
Lumine the cat had stumbled into uncharted territory.
How should this be secured?
"It must be Sandrone's doing."
It was too late to seek advice from Keqing now.
Lumine bit her lip and placed the communication device on the rock.
Then, she faced the communication device.
Holding the cat tail, she tentatively tried to position it behind her back.
There was simply nowhere to put it.
"..."
Just as Lumine was curiously figuring out how to fix it.
A sudden change occurred—
The communication device lit up.
In the dead of night, its glow was blinding.
Lumine, who was trying to find a place for it, froze.
She slowly widened her eyes.
"Beep—"
A sharp notification sound pierced the silence.
Someone was initiating a video call.
"Sister Columbina...!"
A hollow voice, tinged with coldness, rang out, the speaker clearly hostile.
At the same time, a screen appeared in front of Lumine.
"It's Signora's voice!"
Lumine the cat began to bristle.
She reacted quickly and hurriedly took off her cat ears.
She couldn't let Signora see her cat form at this moment!
Right, and the cat tail...
"Lumine?"
Before Lumine could deal with her accessories, an image appeared on the screen.
Signora looked surprised.
Where was Sister Columbina?
"...Good evening."
Lumine's body stiffened, maintaining an awkward posture with her hands protecting her rear.
The cat tail couldn't be seen!
"What are you doing, Traveler?"
A gentle voice sounded, as pleasant as a spring breeze.
Beside Signora...
An elegant girl holding a paper fan leaned in, her smile kind.
Kamisato Ayaka.
She had just learned that Lumine was Qin Yu's exclusive maid.
Truly a grave sin, Master.
"Ayaka? I... I'm just taking a stroll."
Under the suspicious gazes of the two women, Lumine slowly withdrew her hands.
There was no cat tail.
Because...
She had clamped it between her thighs.
"Where is Qin Yu, what is he doing?"
Signora and Kamisato Ayaka didn't suspect anything and got straight to the point.
"He..."
Lumine was momentarily speechless.
Qin Yu was supposed to be chatting with her.
But if she exposed this now...!
"I don't know."
Lumine shook her head. She genuinely didn't know.
"Alright, you go find Sister Columbina now."
In the screen, Signora smiled confidently.
But that smile held a hint of danger.
"Could my partner be with Sister?"
If she catches him...
The spanking machine Arlecchino left behind might be put to use early.
Qin Yu, in danger!