Keyn woke up in a daze. Everything was dark before his eyes, and he couldn't see a thing.
He tried to open his mouth to call for help, but something blocked his voice.
When he glanced down, he saw that a strip of white cloth had been stuffed between his lips. He couldn't spit it out no matter how hard he tried. His wrists and ankles were bound tight.
What is going on?
He remembered that Ganyu had invited him to share a meal at noon. After that… everything was a blur. His head still throbbed faintly, and dizziness clouded his thoughts.
At last, a faint glow pierced the darkness. The door creaked open, and someone entered carrying a candle.
Keyn let out a muffled whimper through the cloth, hoping to draw attention.
As the candlelight drew closer, his eyes widened. The one who entered was none other than Ganyu.
Desperate, he struggled against his restraints, his eyes begging for help. But Ganyu only lit the lamp in the room before setting down the candle, then sat beside him with a weary expression.
"Keyn," she asked softly, tilting her head with a strange look in her eyes, "where did you go yesterday? Why didn't you stay with me?"
"Mmff—mmph!"
She calmly removed the cloth from his mouth. Keyn spat in disgust, gasping, "Pah—Ganyu, thank goodness you're here! I don't know which bastard kidnapped me and tied me up like this!"
For just a moment, a flicker of displeasure passed across her delicate face. But she forced a smile, her voice light and almost gentle.
"Keyn… yesterday was the Lantern Rite Festival. Didn't you promise to spend the evening with me?"
Still disoriented, Keyn hurriedly tried to explain. "Uh… Keqing asked me to accompany her on a security patrol. She said that during Lantern Rite, crowds make mischief likely, and she couldn't manage it alone. So she asked me to help her."
"Really?" Ganyu's tired smile lingered, though her eyes darkened. "If that's the case, I won't press you further. But…" she leaned closer, her tone soft as silk, "will you rest with me for a while?"
Before Keyn could answer, she shoved the white cloth back between his lips.
His eyes widened in panic. "Mmph—Ganyu, what are you doing?! Didn't you come to save me? Untie me, quickly—mmph!"
Her gentle voice drifted over him. "Since you didn't accompany me last night… then you'll stay with me tonight."
She extinguished the lamp, slipped under the covers, and wrapped her arms around him tightly. Her breathing soon slowed, steady and peaceful, as she drifted into sleep.
The last ray of fading light revealed his surroundings—this was Ganyu's own room.
She tied me up?
Keyn couldn't believe it.
It had been nearly a year since he first found himself in Teyvat. When he first arrived, lost and penniless, he had even gone hungry until Ganyu shared her meal with him at the Wanmin Restaurant. Out of gratitude, he begged her for work, and she made him her assistant. From then on, he spent long nights by her side in Yuehai Pavilion, accompanying her during endless overtime.
At first, he thought it was nothing more than companionship. But over time, Ganyu seemed to grow dependent on his presence.
Yesterday, she had invited him to join her at Wanmin Restaurant for a bowl of Shengshi Taiping and to watch the fireworks together during Lantern Rite. Yet, in the end, she had waited alone—only to watch the lanterns ascend without him.
Now she had… kidnapped him.
Feeling her warm breath against his neck, Keyn's heart pounded. Isn't she afraid I'll suffocate like this? Doesn't she even want to untie me?
Fear gnawed at him. Is she trying to silence me forever?
He had to escape.
Carefully, he twisted his head, hooking the cloth with Ganyu's qilin horns until he managed to loosen it and spit it out. Then, inching forward, he pressed the ropes against the candle's flame until they finally gave way.
Only once he was free did he dare creep quietly out of her room.
But the moment he stepped into the hall, he nearly bumped into Baiwen, one of the secretaries of Yuehai Pavilion, returning from overtime.
"Ah, Keyn," Baiwen greeted politely. "Good night. Have you and Secretary Ganyu finished your work?"
Keyn hastily pressed a finger to his lips. "Shh. Ganyu has already gone to bed. You've worked hard—go and rest as well."
Baiwen nodded and walked on.
Keyn waited until the lights of the vast Yuehai Pavilion dimmed before sneaking away, his heart hammering in his chest.
He just wanted to go home.
Late that night, he collapsed into bed after hastily washing up. Exhaustion claimed him.
But the next morning, strange sounds stirred him awake—the sound of someone eating.
Is there a thief?
He sat up groggily, only to freeze. Sitting at his table, calmly enjoying breakfast, was none other than Ganyu.
She looked up at him with a sweet smile, her voice gentle. "Keyn, where did you go last night? When I woke up, you were gone. Were you out inspecting with Keqing again?"
Though her smile was soft, Keyn felt a chill crawl down his spine. Forcing a nervous laugh, he said, "Hahaha… Ganyu, what brings you here so early in the morning?"
Her head tilted slightly, her eyes never leaving his. "Where did you go last night, Keyn?"
He backed away instinctively. "Uh… that was your room. It didn't feel right for me to stay there, so I came home instead."
She placed a delicate finger against her chin, feigning thought, before calmly sitting down beside him on his bed. Her crimson eyes gleamed with a strange light.
"So… you didn't patrol with Keqing, and you didn't stay with me either. Instead, you ran home secretly?"
Keyn swallowed hard, pulling the quilt up around himself. "Is… is that such a problem?"
Her smile widened, but her tone dropped to a chilling softness. "Didn't you promise to stay with me every night? You broke your word."
"You were off duty last night," Keyn stammered, "and it was time for me to sleep. What's wrong with that?"
For a long time, she lowered her gaze in silence. Then suddenly, she looked up, her eyes sharp as blades.
"No. That's not right. You weren't with me the day before yesterday either. Or the day before that." Her voice trembled with a frightening intensity. "From now on, I'll adjust your schedule. You'll accompany me when I rest."
Keyn's eyes widened in horror. "But… that's your room. How could I—?"
"Why not?" Ganyu tilted her head, her voice light and almost playful. "Is there a problem with my room?"
"N-no," he stammered, shaking his head desperately.
"Then why not?" she pressed, her brows knitting slightly, as if the very idea were inconceivable.
Before he could respond, she seized his arm and pulled him upright.
"W-wait, Ganyu, what are you doing?"
"I have to go to work. You'll stay with me."
"But I need to accompany Keqing for patrols during the day! I can only work overtime with you at night!"
Ganyu shook her head firmly, her voice unwavering. "No. You lied to me. Today, you'll be with me all day long."
"C-can I not—?"
Her crimson eyes locked on his, her words clipped and unyielding. "No. You. Cannot."
Cold sweat poured down his back. Panicking, he quickly raised his hands. "Okay, okay, I'll go with you! Just let me eat first—I need the energy to work."
At that, she smiled again and nodded. "Yes. That's fine."
But the moment Keyn stepped outside, he bolted—running as fast as he could. He needed to find Keqing, maybe even Xiao.
Something's terribly wrong with Ganyu. She would never force me like this. During Lantern Rite, something must have happened—something possessed her!
He fled without looking back.
Meanwhile, Ganyu lingered in his home, waiting patiently for nearly half an hour.
"Keyn?" she called from the kitchen, her voice soft and almost sing-song. "Is breakfast ready? I'll be late for work…"
Her voice echoed in the empty house.
"Keyn? Keyn?"
The sweetness faded from her smile. Her eyes narrowed, and for an instant, something dark flickered within them.