"Master, I think it has something to do with that extra fragrant milk I drank yesterday. I could feel the terrifying energy inside it—it's probably the reason," Xu Zheng said solemnly.
"I-I see!" Ganyu chuckled awkwardly, a blush spreading quickly across her cheeks.
"Master, what kind of milk was that? I want to drink it again." Xu Zheng pressed on, pretending innocence.
"I-It was... well, it was..."
Ganyu stammered. She had worked tirelessly for Liyue for a thousand years, but nothing had ever flustered her like this moment.
Seeing her helpless expression, cheeks red and ears steaming, Xu Zheng smiled contentedly. My Ganyu is too cute!
"Master, was it coconut milk?"
He decided to show some mercy and throw her a lifeline.
"Yes! Coconut milk! That's exactly what it was!" Ganyu latched onto the suggestion like a drowning person clutching a straw.
[Affection +10. 10 Primogems awarded.]
Xu Zheng heard the system chime and looked at Ganyu again.
Weird. Why does teasing Ganyu raise her affection?
Teasing Ganyu = Higher Affection = Primogems = Gacha Pulls.
A neat little equation formed in his mind.
I get it now.
"Time to get up. The sun is already rising," Ganyu said.
Xu Zheng glanced outside. The sun had barely peeked over the horizon. Isn't this a bit early? No wonder Ganyu's always so busy.
Just as he was about to climb out of bed, he heard a yelp.
"Wait there! I'll go find some clothes for you!" Ganyu turned around in a panic and hurried off.
Xu Zheng scratched his head. Right. I'm about five or six years old now... and totally naked.
He yanked the blanket over himself. Even if I'm small now, I won't be forever!
After a while, Ganyu returned, holding a small pile of clothes in her arms.
"Here," she said, a slight gleam of anticipation in her eyes.
Xu Zheng looked at the blue outfit she handed over… then at the one Ganyu was wearing.
They were exactly the same, just in different sizes.
"Master... isn't this the same outfit as yours?"
"Mhm! These were my clothes when I was little. I never threw them out. Didn't think I'd get the chance to pass them down to my disciple."
"..."
Xu Zheng's smile twitched. Did she forget I'm a boy? I'm not wearing girl's clothes!
This looks like some kind of twisted dress-up fantasy!
"Nope. Not wearing it. Not even if you pay me," he protested.
"Aw, come on..." Ganyu sighed softly.
Then she suddenly remembered—Wait a minute, I'm the master!
Disciples should listen to their masters!
And he'd look so cute wearing it... Wait, why am I thinking this?
"But I'm your master. You have to wear it." Ganyu puffed out her chest, trying to sound authoritative.
"No way. Pay up."
"???"
"Ten cups of coconut milk. Or I'm not wearing it."
"!!!"
Ganyu was stunned. She had lived a thousand years, had been revered for her wisdom and poise—and yet she had never met someone so shameless.
"That's way too much!" she exclaimed, her little ahoge flicking around in panic.
"Seven cups. Final offer," Xu Zheng said with mock sternness.
Ganyu looked at his adorable little face, and nearly gave in. But seven cups? That's so much!
Raising a child is exhausting…
She suddenly gained newfound respect for Cloud Retainer.
"Five cups," she said, a bit meekly.
"Deal."
Xu Zheng agreed instantly. His original goal was just three cups anyway.
Ha! All those years of haggling in my past life weren't for nothing.
You're in my grasp now, Master Ganyu.
Ganyu blinked, finally realizing she had been out-negotiated. Her little ahoge drooped in defeat.
After a moment, she noticed Xu Zheng was still sitting there, waiting.
"Aren't you going to turn around?" he asked.
"Why should I?"
Ganyu crossed her arms defiantly. I gave up five cups of coconut milk. I deserve this!
I'll reclaim my dignity as a master by watching him change!
Xu Zheng grinned mischievously. "But Master, if a girl sees a boy changing, she has to marry him."
"Eh?!"
Ganyu's ahoge shot straight up, then curled into a question mark, as she frantically searched her memory for such a rule.
Why don't I know this?
After a few seconds, she turned around, dejected. I guess I really don't know anything about boys...
"I'm done changing."
Ganyu turned around—and her ahoge began waving like crazy.
The growth hormone hadn't just increased Xu Zheng's height; his hair had grown longer too.
Wearing the miniature version of Ganyu's outfit, with long black hair and delicate features—
Xu Zheng looked exactly like a little girl.
Adorably so.
Ganyu's brain short-circuited. Without thinking, she scooped him up and began rubbing their cheeks together.
"Ah—wait!" Xu Zheng glanced at his reflection. Do I... do I actually look good in this?!
No wonder people say crossdressing only has two stages: the first time and forever.
It was a long while before Ganyu reluctantly set him down.
For the first time in her life, she thought—maybe work isn't that important... maybe I just want to cuddle instead...
Just then, she noticed something strange about the flute on the bedside table. It looked... thicker than before.
"This flute—do you know what it is?" she asked, tilting her head.
If Xu Zheng could grow and learn so quickly, maybe he knew the origin of the mysterious instrument.
Xu Zheng followed her gaze to the faintly glowing purple flute. Ganyu had told him it was found beside him when she picked him up.
He honestly had no idea what it was.
"Probably something my parents left me," he shrugged. "If I had parents."
After all, he was a baby when he showed up here. He didn't know his parents' identities—or even their species.
Maybe I'm not human at all…
Maybe I'm the child of a celestial being… or a demon…
Or maybe—gasp—I'm the secret heir of Celestia!
...Yeah, that's definitely too much.
While Xu Zheng spiraled into increasingly wild theories, Ganyu quietly picked up the flute and ran her fingers along its smooth surface.
That's when Xu Zheng suddenly shivered.