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Chapter 89 - Volume 1: Chapter 89 - Land of Gentle Tenderness

"It's been a long time, ever since we parted back then…"

"It's already been twenty years, three months, and seven days, hasn't it?" Ningguang naturally picked up his words. Richard was momentarily stunned.

Ningguang then added with a smile: "You know, I'm sensitive with numbers. Don't mind it."

'No, no, no… this was far beyond just being sensitive.'

Richard keenly realized that this reunion was going to be troublesome. They had barely exchanged a few words, yet he already felt sweat forming on his back.

"Your memory is still as sharp as ever, Ningguang," Richard said.

"Yes, though sometimes having such a good memory isn't a blessing. I'm often reminded of things from the past. By the way, you haven't answered my question earlier, should I call you Richard, or Mister?"

"I personally think Mister rolls off the tongue better. After all, the word can mean many things depending on the context: someone older, a teacher, or even someone's husband."

"Excluding that last meaning, every other usage fits you quite well." Ningguang's voice was unhurried, her articulation crisp, and her logic clear.

It was the kind of voice that, even if delivering a long lecture, people would happily listen to.

"Y-yes, that's true…" Richard had no idea how to respond, so he could only force a smile.

"Let's go inside. The night air has grown chilly. Once someone gets used to comfort, they can no longer endure hardship. Compared to the past, this bit of cold is nothing."

Even though Ningguang hadn't directly pointed at Richard with her words, somehow every line felt like it was aimed at him.

They stepped inside the Jade Chamber, and the sight suddenly brightened.

Outside, since the sun had long set, only a few street lamps and the lantern held by Ningguang's attendant lit the way, giving everything a dim appearance.

Inside, however, the lighting was concentrated and plentiful, making the room as bright as day.

As expected of Liyue's most powerful and wealthy palace, the Jade Chamber's interior was lavish beyond compare. Treasures filled the hall, dazzling the eyes.

Yet this was not gaudy wealth. At first glance, it looked unassuming, but a closer look revealed exquisite details everywhere. To a discerning eye, the design's brilliance and the priceless nature of the decorations became clear.

Richard was discerning. Just from a rough estimation of the decorations and paintings in the front hall, the numbers he came up with left him tongue-tied.

And this was just the front hall.

Seeing all this, Richard couldn't help but wonder: 'Had Ningguang robbed the Golden House? Otherwise, how could she possibly have amassed such immense wealth in just a few decades?'

Certainly, Richard had taught her business tricks and how to deal with people, but those were only enough to ensure a prosperous life. To reach her current level, it was clearly her own effort and talent that had made it possible.

When they reached the prepared guest area, the attendants served tea and then left, even her three secretaries, Baiwen, Baishi, and Baixiao.

"How is it?" Ningguang asked first.

"How is what?"

"Our Jade Chamber. What do you think?"

"It's impressive, but… our Jade Chamber?" Richard was puzzled. 'Wasn't this hers? Why say our?'

"Of course it's ours. Back then, you invested with your skills. That was the agreement. Even though there was no written contract, the God of Contracts bore witness. For merchants, trust is the foundation; an oral promise must also be honored." Ningguang's tone was serious, not joking.

"Wait… I vaguely remember… wasn't that just a joke?" Richard gestured for her to hold on while he tried to recall.

Soon, he remembered. After he helped her sell some unsellable goods, she had insisted on giving him part of the earnings as payment and as a token of apprenticeship.

But he knew that with his method, she had only just managed to break even. Giving him a share would mean outright loss. And she wanted to give him half.

That was practically half her accumulated wealth of the past year.

For Richard, the amount itself was nothing. But he understood that those mora represented Ningguang's year of effort and determination, the crystallization of her hard work.

The meaning behind it outweighed the money itself.

So he didn't accept it. Knowing her stubbornness, he instead returned it in a roundabout way:

"If that's the case, then take this mora and the methods I'll teach you as my shareholding."

He remembered she had taken it very seriously, even swearing before a statue of Rex Lapis.

But Richard hadn't cared. With his long experience, he knew people changed with time. Perhaps she sincerely wanted to share with him then, but when the business grew, her mind might change.

After all, the human heart… was most vulnerable to the erosion of time.

"I never thought of it as a joke. This Jade Chamber beneath our feet, and the foundation I built in Liyue, half of it belongs to you."

Ningguang wasn't talking about a magnificent palace and countless assets, but about that half of the mora she once failed to give away.

"Since you were gone all these years, I couldn't find you. To avoid inflation, I reinvested your share. Don't worry, it was all sound investments. No losses, only great profits."

"However, the amount has become too vast. Withdrawing it all at once could shake not only Liyue's but all of Teyvat's economy. So for now, I can only release a portion…"

To Ningguang, even such colossal wealth was spoken of as if it were trivial.

Richard was speechless. "No need. My salary and savings are more than enough to support me. I don't want to change anything…"

"I see. Then, just as before, I'll keep reinvesting it." She seemed unsurprised.

If others knew Ningguang offered this kind of financial management, they would sell everything to hand her their assets. Unfortunately, this service seemed to be available only to Richard.

For the first time, Richard truly understood the meaning of the phrase: "the hardest favor to repay is a beauty's kindness."

"If you need funds, use this checkbook." Ningguang handed him an exquisitely crafted book. Just touching it radiated the aura of wealth.

The anti-counterfeiting measures were top-notch. In theory, only the Fatui could forge such a thing, and they wouldn't bother. So the risk was essentially zero.

But Richard didn't take it. He knew: accepting this checkbook would mean, in some sense, being kept by the most famous rich woman in Liyue, and perhaps all of Teyvat.

Many would dream of it. But for him, it was a burden. No, that word wasn't right.

It was a responsibility.

"Ningguang, you don't have to…"

"A contract is a contract. For merchants, trust is the foundation. These were your words to me back then. Are you going to contradict your past self?" Her gentle demeanor hardened. She grabbed his hand and forced the checkbook into it.

"This…" Richard could only swallow the boomerang of his own forgotten words.

"Take it. Whether you use it is up to you. But whether I give it, that's my choice." Gently folding his fingers over the book, she lowered her gaze. "Just… don't disappear without a word again."

"I… will try."

Ningguang wasn't bothered by his hesitation. She already knew his address. What was a little more waiting, after all these years?

And she also understood the problem between a long-lived one and a mortal: lifespan. Until she had a way to deal with it, she would wait, like evaluating an investment. The only question was when to commit.

Even if the lifespan problem couldn't be solved, she would still choose to commit, out of stubbornness, or perhaps as revenge for his sudden disappearance years ago.

"Well then, that concludes the matter of business. Now, it's time for proper catching up." She clapped lightly. Attendants entered, replaced the cold tea with fresh hot ones, and even prepared coffee and sparkling water for Fontaine's tastes.

"How have you been all these years?" Ningguang asked. Then, seeing Richard stumble over his words, she smiled. "Back then, you weren't this quiet. The marketplace called you 'Golden Tongue', meaning once you spoke, mora would flow to you."

"That's… what kind of strange nickname? Did people really say that?" Richard couldn't help but retort.

He was pretty sure no one had said that. Was she making it up to test his memory?

"Is that so? Perhaps I remembered wrong." She let it go, realizing he still remembered enough of the past.

They reminisced about old times, their perspectives sometimes differing, but it made for pleasant conversation. Slowly, the distance years had created between them shrank. A faint barrier still lingered, but it was far better than at the start.

Satisfied, Ningguang decided not to overdo it.

"It's getting late. The Jade Chamber isn't convenient to travel at night. Why not stay here? Your room has always been kept ready. Bedding, sheets, everything is prepared. I'll show you later."

"If anything's missing, tell me. I'll have Baiwen and the others fetch it."

Her proposal was logical and considerate. Richard really had no reason to refuse. And with no lodgings in Liyue, his alternatives were troublesome. Staying here was easiest.

"Then I'll trouble you."

"There's no need for politeness between us. After all, you're my 'Mister'…"

Richard opened his mouth, but before he could speak, she added:

"Respecting one's teacher is a natural law. Even Rex Lapis couldn't object."

Well, Rex Lapis couldn't object indeed, he was currently still a corpse in the Golden House. As for Zhongli… what did he have to do with this?

But looking at her expression, Richard wasn't sure if she meant "teacher" or the other meaning of "Mister."

If she meant "teacher," that was even worse, it was practically heresy.

Of course, Richard wouldn't say that out loud. If he guessed wrong, the awkwardness would be unbearable.

But based on his experience, the chance of being wrong was very slim.

Especially when Ningguang herself was personally preparing his bed, like a dutiful wife.

"I'll do it myself, I'll do it myself." Richard hurriedly grabbed the bedding from her.

Ningguang didn't press further. She smiled. "The wardrobe has spare clothes. I don't know your current size, so I prepared all sizes. Choose what fits."

She then excused herself. "Rest early. I still have official matters to handle. Once I finish, I'll also rest. Tomorrow morning, shall we share breakfast?"

"…Alright." Richard realized that ever since he stepped into the Jade Chamber, Ningguang had been steering everything, the topics, the pace, even his actions.

In simple words: he had been thoroughly arranged.

"Then… good night?"

"Good night."

.....

If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.

[email protected]/DaoistJinzu

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