As Columbina and Jingchen strolled past Yae Publishing House, chatting amiably, Kuroda, who was recommending Lady Guuji Yae's light novels to a customer, suddenly recognized the legendary Sword Sovereign-sama.
Ignoring the stunned gazes of the crowd, Kuroda vaulted over the railing (I'm not sure what it was, let's just call it a railing for now) and knelt beside Jingchen.
"Brother Jingchen! Brother Jingchen! You're finally back!"
Jingchen froze, and all the Inazumans nearby stared at him with curious eyes.
Columbina covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
"Kuroda, get up already!"
"No! Brother Jingchen, I can't get up! You'll just run away again!"
"I... I... *sigh*. Just get up."
The surrounding Inazumans buzzed with speculation.
"Who is this guy? Kuroda the editor is kneeling before him?!"
"I don't know, but he's even more handsome than the head of the Yashiro Commission!"
"He looks familiar... wait, isn't that Jingchen-sama, the former deputy priest of Grand Narukami Shrine from ten years ago?!"
"Oh! I remember now! The deputy priest who was always being teased by Lady Yae Miko!"
***
Kuroda turned and roared at the Inazumans behind him.
"He's none other than Cloudrider Swordmaster, the author who published the two volumes of *Eiri's Paradise of Bygone Days* ten years ago!"
In an instant, the surrounding Inazumans erupted into a frenzy.
*The author who vanished at the most thrilling part, leaving us hanging for a decade?!*
For ten years, there had been no news of him. Everyone had assumed he had gone to meet the former Raiden Shogun.
And now, he was brazenly appearing here in broad daylight?!
The Inazumans surged forward, all devoted readers of *Eiri's Paradise of Bygone Days*.
Before them stood the author they had yearned for, the one who had abandoned the story for decades, leaving no trace.
"Sword Sovereign-sama! When will you update *Eiri's Paradise of Bygone Days* with Volume 3?!"
"Yes! Yes! I want to know what happens to Eiri next!"
"Sword Sovereign-sama, the female lead Eiri you created is truly flawless and pure!"
***
Faced with a barrage of questions from the crowd, Jingchen couldn't help but feel a little awkward.
*Eiri's Paradise of Bygone Days* had already published eight volumes, but the last six were written exclusively for Columbina.
"Um, they'll be released eventually, they'll be released. Everyone, I have other matters to attend to. Please excuse me."
Jingchen swiftly scooped up Columbina, leaped onto the rooftop in a flash, and vanished from sight within a few bounds.
The Inazumans stood dumbfounded. The author had fled again, without answering a single question.
"Is he still the deputy editor at Yae Publishing House and the deputy priest at Grand Narukami Shrine?! I'm going to file a complaint at the shrine!"
"Yes! Let Lady Yae punish this serial hiatus-taker!"
"Sigh, look at his white robes and the Fatui's distinctive emblem. He's probably a Harbinger."
The Inazumans' earlier bravado instantly evaporated. To these common folk, the Fatui remained a terrifying force.
Better to keep their distance.
Still, they couldn't let go of their resentment.
How dare someone who had abandoned his story at its climax for a decade even show his face?!
"Quick, summon Lady Guuji Yae!"
Amidst the crowd, a short-haired girl with sunset-colored hair gazed joyfully at Jingchen's retreating figure.
"Brother Jingchen, you're finally back! I've been saving fireworks just for you. This time, I'm definitely setting them off with you from the Tenshukaku!"
***
Kamisato Ayaka locked herself in her room, alone.
Her earlier outburst of rudeness and impotent rage had been so unlike her.
*Are there truly good people among the Fatui Harbingers?*
Ayaka shook her head slowly.
*But Jingchen is undeniably a good person, the only one I've ever wanted to entrust my life to.*
*If... if Jingchen really has nothing to do with the Harbinger who harmed the Raiden Gokuden, what should I do?*
*Give him a chance to prove himself?*
*No! Jingchen would never be involved with the Raiden Gokuden's attacker!*
Ayaka's thoughts turned to Columbina, and she clenched her teeth, shaking her head again.
*Why?! Why can't he stay here in Inazuma, waiting for my hair to grow long enough to reach my waist?!*
*Bless them both?! I... I can't do it.*
*Then... then should I become #?!*
*No! Absolutely not! Even if Jingchen agreed, would Columbina ever allow it?!*
***
Kamisato Ayaka had mentally replayed every detail about Jingchen, filling in the gaps with her own imagination.
The final conclusion was that she could indeed trust Jingchen.
But the moment she thought of Columbina by his side, tears welled up in Ayaka's eyes, and she began to sob quietly.
Outside her door, Toma reported Ayaka's unusual behavior to Kamisato Ayato.
Ayato set down the brush he had been using to review documents, pausing to consider.
"Toma, Ayaka has been locked in her room crying all afternoon, hasn't she?"
"Yes. Hyakudai said she went to see Jingchen alone."
"Jingchen?!"
Ayato was momentarily taken aback. So this was the "white moonlight" of Ayaka's childhood.
In his memories, Jingchen had been a kind older brother who had always looked after Ayato, Ayaka, and Naganohara Yoimiya.
Over the years, Ayato had noticed Ayaka occasionally taking out the talisman Jingchen had given her.
Whether it was spring, summer, autumn, or winter, rain, shine, snow, or thunder, she would often stand alone beneath the Statue of the Seven in Ritou during her free time.
Kamisato Ayato gazed westward toward Liyue, his eyes filled with longing.
"Ah, I understand. Toma, prepare some tea-soaked rice and sakura mochi for Ayaka—her favorites."
"Yes, sir."
Ayato went alone to Ayaka's room and gently knocked on the door.
Ayaka hurriedly wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, striving to keep her voice steady as she asked, "Who's there?!"
"It's me, Ayato."
"Brother?"
"Ayaka, you've seen Brother Jingchen, haven't you?"
Ayaka paused briefly.
"Yes. He's still the same as before, but there's a girl by his side now—one even I envy."
Upon hearing this, Ayato was momentarily taken aback. He had witnessed firsthand his sister's decade-long wait. Learning that Jingchen now had someone else by his side filled him with regret and helplessness.
"Ah, Ayaka... perhaps it's time to forget him."
"Never!! Brother, I could never forget Jingchen! Not for a lifetime, not for eternity!!"
..........
Completed Uncensored Eng PDF of this fan-fic on my Patreon shop if you want to support and own the full fan-fic in one go. Just grab the PDF and binge the entire story from start to finish!
New My Brothers YOOOOO!!!!!!!High Quality english Translated Genshin Impact fanfic on my Patreon shop! Feel free to check it out—if you're interested, you can grab a copy and support me there.
Here are a few titles of recently uploaded fanficson my patreon shop:
" I'm Popularizing Genshin Impact in Douluo "
" Genshin Impact: After Marrying All the Female Characters, I Started Living a Blissful (18+) "
" Genshin: Married Into Fontaine, and Navia Overhears My Inner Thoughts "
" Genshin Impact: This Teyvat Is Not Right "
" Genshin Impact: Save You? It Was Just a System Task "
" Just Arrived in Genshin, and I'm Already Blind "
" Genshin Impact: My Confession Was Rejected, So So I Traveled to the Seven Nations "
" Genshin Impact: The Fatui Harbingers Are Pregnant… and Now They Regret It "
" Genshin Impact: Reincarnation Exposed, the Heroines Break Down Crying as They Chase Their Husband " many more are available for you, Your support means a lot—thanks in advance, legends!
Patreon.com/UIShahbaz
(End of Chapter)