Keyn spent the entire day accompanying Keqing as she toured Liyue Harbor.
Afterward, they had dinner together at Wanmin Restaurant. Keyn even personally prepared a dish of Prosperous Peace—intending to gift it to Ganyu as an apology.
Just before leaving, Keqing suddenly straightened up, clasping her hands behind her back.
"I hope to see you on time tomorrow. Goodbye." She gave him a side glance before continuing, "Keyn, I hope you'll continue accompanying me in my future work. That way, things will be much more efficient."
Her gaze flicked to the dish in Keyn's hand, and she added with a light smile, "Also, I like Golden Shrimp Balls."
With that, Keqing turned, her twin ponytails swaying in the evening breeze. She skipped away lightly, humming a tune that Keyn found vaguely familiar.
He waved goodbye with a smile.
"…Why does it feel like Keqing suddenly became a bit childish today? Or maybe I'm just still rattled from earlier with Ganyu—acting dull and old-fashioned."
Shaking his head, Keyn looked at the still-warm Prosperous Peace in his hand. He could only hope Ganyu would accept his apology.
Climbing the steps to the Jade Chamber, Keyn rehearsed over and over in his head how he would apologize. Each step made his heart feel heavier.
Finally, he pushed open the door. His nerves spiked—only to immediately run into Baiwen, Baixiao, and Baishi, the Qixing's secretaries, who were just heading out for dinner.
Spotting the food container in Keyn's hands, the two secretaries chuckled.
"Hey, Keyn. You came at the right time."
"Secretary Ganyu's state seems a little off today. We thought of packing her some rice dumplings, but…" Baixiao smirked, "…looks like you beat us to it. Hurry along—she seems to be waiting for you."
Keyn froze, a bead of cold sweat forming. "…She's waiting for me?"
Baixiao stifled a laugh behind his hand. "No, no—she's waiting for the food in your hands."
Relieved, Keyn exhaled slowly. Of course. Ganyu was half-adeptus; she could tirelessly work through day and night, surviving on nothing more than Qingxin blossoms if she wished. There was no way she was truly "waiting for him."
Still, the scent of the Prosperous Peace carried through the air as he approached her desk.
From several meters away, Ganyu's keen adeptal senses caught the aroma. When she looked up and saw it was Keyn, she instinctively straightened, closing the case file before her. Her thoughts wandered only briefly—toward both the dish and the man carrying it.
She pulled out the chair beside her, quietly motioning for Keyn to sit.
He did so carefully, then placed the Prosperous Peace on the desk.
"Ganyu, I was wrong to stand you up the other day. I came to apologize. I heard that after the Lantern Rite, case files piled up again—you must have been exhausted. So I prepared your favorite, Prosperous Peace, as an apology. Please… forgive me."
But Ganyu shook her head.
"I didn't take it to heart. And work isn't as tiring as you think. It's just… I truly can't handle all this alone. I still need your help. So, Keyn, could you—"
She stopped when she noticed he had even brought an extra pair of bowls and chopsticks.
Ganyu herself wasn't hungry. But constant paperwork left her restless, even irritable at times. Having someone to talk to—someone to simply sit with her—was often more comforting than food.
So, for once, she considered splitting the meal with him. Otherwise, every time Keyn claimed he was there to "accompany" her, he would simply sit silently while she buried herself in work.
But… there was only one pair of chopsticks.
For Ganyu, who had always maintained a strict line between work and personal matters, eating at her desk during working hours was unthinkable. And yet, today, she almost wanted to bend her own rule—just so Keyn might stay a little longer and talk.
She hesitated, then said softly, "Keyn, you should eat. I'm not hungry."
Keyn blinked. "But… Baiwen and Baixiao said you were hungry and losing efficiency."
"I… I'm really not hungry," Ganyu insisted, shaking her head.
Keyn rubbed his own full stomach. He had just eaten with Keqing—there was no way he could finish such a large portion alone.
"I can't eat anymore. But if you keep working late, you'll get hungry eventually. I'll just heat it up for you later—make it a midnight snack."
She saw his yawn and, surprisingly, didn't feel annoyed. Instead, she muttered, almost stubbornly,
"…No. I'm not in the mood to work overtime tonight. I'm… tired. I want to rest."
Turning away, she started toward her private chamber—but not before sneaking a glance at him as she passed.
Keyn perked up at the idea. "Really? If you're not working overtime, then I'll go rest too."
The moment he said it, Ganyu's mood soured sharply. Her eyes flicked back toward the mountain of paperwork on her desk—blueprints and petitions stacked higher than a person's head. All waiting for her.
Yet what stung her most was his response.
Her tone turned firm. "No. Your duty is to accompany me at night. Even if I'm not working overtime, you cannot leave."
Before Keyn could react, she picked up a pile of case files with one hand, grabbed the container of Prosperous Peace with the other, and all but dragged him into her room.
"W–wait, Ganyu! Where are you taking me? If you're not working, why can't I leave?"
Her voice was unyielding. "No means no. I already let go of you standing me up, but this is your working hour. You must stay with me."
Keyn barely had time to protest before he was pushed into her room.
"Ganyu, why here? Shouldn't we just stay at your desk? Why bring me to your… room?"
She gave him no chance to retreat. With gentle but unrelenting force, Ganyu pushed him onto her bed, placing the files on the nearby table so she could keep him within sight. She set the dish of Prosperous Peace beside him.
"If you're tired, then sleep here. My bed is soft and large enough. I can work more comfortably in here too. Anyway… you're staying tonight. You're not allowed to leave."
With a quiet click, she locked the door.
Keyn sat frozen, his heart pounding. This was Ganyu's boudoir. Didn't she have any sense of caution?
His gaze accidentally caught on her wardrobe. Stuffed inside was a white cloth—the same one she had used before…
His blood ran cold. Beads of sweat gathered on his forehead.
"…She kidnapped me?! What is Ganyu planning…?"
At that moment, the locked door confirmed it—there was no escaping from under her watchful eyes.
***
Kidnap me instead 😮💨