You glance toward the half-open paper window.
Outside, in the courtyard, small children are chasing each other. Their cheerful, carefree laughter rings out clearly. A morning breeze brushes your face, cool and carrying the scent of flowers. The chirping of sparrows on nearby tree branches completes the symphony of life.
You close your eyes for a moment, letting your chest—once tight with pain and nightmares—fill with fresh air. You savor this peaceful atmosphere. It feels so real. So… alive.
Your sensitive ears catch the sound of hurried footsteps, trying to be quiet, climbing the wooden stairs toward your room.
Sreeek.
Then the sliding door to your room opens slowly.
You open your eyes and slowly turn toward the door.
Ganyu stands at the threshold. Her purple-gold eyes widen. Her body freezes, and her hands holding a woven bamboo basket full of fresh fruits tremble.
A faint smile appears on your face.
"Hi," you greet her with a hoarse voice, raising your heavy hand to scratch your cheek awkwardly. "Good morning… I guess?"
Ganyu doesn't answer. Her trembling hands lose their grip.
Bruk.
Ganyu drops the basket.
Apples, pears, and Sunsettias nearly roll across the wooden floor. Your eyes widen, reflexively wanting to catch them, but your body is too weak.
At that moment, your soul connection responds to your instinct. The space beside your bed distorts slightly. The gigantic black sword, The Blade of Insatiable Ego, manifests in a semi-transparent form. It appears in an instant, sliding under the falling basket and catching it with its flat blade.
The sword, very carefully, places the fruit basket on the wooden table near the door without bruising a single piece. Then it fades away.
Your feelings are mixed seeing the weapon's behavior. But you still force a smile at it.
"Thank you," you say to the empty air.
You then look back at Ganyu. The girl still stands frozen at the threshold, both hands now covering her mouth. Her eyes glisten.
You tilt your head slightly, confused by her frozen reaction. "What's wrong? Is there something off about how I look?"
Suddenly, Ganyu rushes toward you. Her steps are half-running.
She crashes into the bed and hugs you. Very tightly.
You can hear her muffled sobs, soft but overflowing with emotion, against the crook of your neck.
"Eh?" You blink several times, your hands hanging in the air, completely unprepared for such an intense welcome.
She hugs you even tighter, burying her face in your chest. Her body shakes violently.
You don't feel pain, but somehow, feeling her embrace and hearing her sobs makes your heart pound rapidly. Thump. Thump. Thump. And deep in your heart, you feel hurt.
Slowly, your hands—stiff in the air—lower. You hug her back too. You wrap your arms around her slender back, stroking her blue hair as soft as silk.
You close your eyes.
Her scent… the distinctive cool fragrance of Glaze Lily fills your nose. So comforting. So peaceful that you feel like staying in this position for a very, very long time.
After several minutes that feel like forever, she slowly releases her hug. She pulls her face away, wipes the remaining tears at the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand, and looks at your face. The most beautiful smile, a radiant smile of relief like morning light, curves her lips.
"Welcome back," she whispers softly.
She pauses, her eyes scanning anxiously. From your face, down to your stomach covered by the blanket, then back to your face. "How do you feel? Does anything hurt? Do you feel nauseous?"
You scratch your cheek again, feeling a bit awkward being showered with this much attention. You smile stiffly. "I'm… fine, I think? I mean, my stomach is intact."
You look toward the window again, searching for the right words. "It's hard to explain how it feels… My head's a little dizzy. It feels like I just woke from a very, very long and deep sleep. Where I even forgot who I was for a moment."
Hearing your words, Ganyu suddenly clears her throat softly. Her face turns a bit more serious.
You turn to her, curious.
Ganyu pulls a small wooden chair near the table, then sits beside your bed. Without warning, she reaches out both hands and holds your cheeks gently but firmly. Her palms feel slightly cold, touching your warm cheeks.
Your heart jumps. Your face instantly flushes. You try to turn your face away in embarrassment from being stared at so closely, but her hold keeps your head facing her.
"You really did sleep for a long time, you know," she says, her eyes staring directly into yours.
Hearing her slightly scolding tone surprises you. "Long sleep? How… how long was I asleep?"
She releases her hands from your cheeks, then crosses her arms.
"Three months."
"Three… months?!" You almost choke on your own saliva. Your eyes widen.
Ganyu nods. She pouts a little, puffing her cheeks, turning her face away, pretending to sulk.
"You made me wait and worry for so long," she slowly opens one eye, peeking at you from the corner. "Isn't… isn't there anything else you want to say to me besides 'good morning'?"
Three months? She took care of me for three months? I thought our relationship… or at least our interactions before the Osial incident weren't that close?! your mind screams in panic, feeling very guilty yet flattered.
You smile stiffly, rubbing the back of your neck nervously, then lower your head.
"I'm sorry. Really, I'm sorry for troubling and worrying you for that long."
"Good that you feel regretful," Ganyu nods slowly, her sulky tone immediately vanishing, replaced by a gentle smile. She seems unable to stay mad at you for long.
You try to change the topic, recalling the chaos before you passed out. "How's Liyue after… that incident? I hope there aren't any major problems left because I was unconscious."
"Everything was handled perfectly," Ganyu smiles reassuringly. She leans forward, takes a shiny red apple from the basket on the table, and starts peeling it with a small silver knife.
You lean back on the pillow, observing carefully how her slender fingers move nimbly. She cuts the apple into small, neat pieces shaped like bunnies, then hands it to you on a small plate.
You accept the plate gladly, skewer one apple piece with a toothpick, and chew it. The sweet, crisp taste explodes in your mouth.
"Mmm! This is so fresh. Where did you buy it?" you ask, enjoying the taste of real fruit after so long eating stale bread in your dream.
"At the morning market near the eastern dock, very early this morning. The fruit seller uncle gave a discount because I'm his regular customer," she pauses from cleaning the knife. She tilts her head slightly, looking at your legs covered by the blanket. "By the way… do you feel your legs can be used to walk yet?"
"Walk?" You raise an eyebrow, then pull back your blanket a little. You check your legs and try moving your toes, then bending your knees. Your muscles are a bit stiff from disuse, but otherwise normal. "Yes, it seems there shouldn't be any problem. I can move like usual."
Ganyu observes your leg movements carefully, ensuring no tremors or fatal weakness, then looks back at your face. She smiles brightly, an idea seemingly popping into her head.
"How about we go for a walk together this afternoon?" she asks, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I think this is the perfect time to change the atmosphere after you've been confined in this room for so long. You haven't really seen the peaceful Liyue Harbor atmosphere yet, have you?"
You tilt your head.
Really unusual for her to look so excited for a casual walk. The Ganyu I know is a workaholic. Did… did something big happen out there while I was asleep?
You touch your chin with your finger, pretending to consider the offer, then smile widely. "Sure. I'll join gladly."
Hearing your agreement, Ganyu looks relieved. She finishes her task of wiping the fruit knife, places the object back on the table, then slowly stands from her chair.
"Are… you leaving already?" you ask, unconsciously your tone sounding a bit disappointed.
Ganyu smiles wryly, one hand holding her own elbow. A blush returns to color her cheeks.
"Actually… right now I'm skipping work," she admits softly, as if confessing a major crime.
Your mouth opens slightly. "Skipping? Really unusual for someone as dedicated as you to skip." You look at your own hand, then back at her. "Is… is this because of me?"
Ganyu doesn't answer, just bites her lip.
You lower your head for a moment. Look at her again. "Still… your responsibility as—" you try to continue the argument, but she immediately stops you.
"I said it's not, it's not your fault!"
Ganyu suddenly leans forward, bringing her face close to yours. The distance between you now only inches apart. Her purple eyes stare at you firmly.
You reflexively turn your face toward the window, swallowing.
Really, this close-range attack is too much for my newly healed heart, you know? your mind screams overwhelmed.
You clear your throat rather loudly, trying to neutralize your voice, and put on a face you hope looks calm, though your ears still feel a bit hot and red.
"Alright, alright. I understand, Miss Secretary," you pause, turning back to her with a faint smile. "In that case, you don't need to waste more time here. Go back to your office before Lady Keqing looks for you with her sword drawn."
"I'm glad you understand my worry," Ganyu stands straight again. She straightens her clothes, observes you once more to ensure your condition, then smiles sweetly. "I'll quickly finish my most urgent work, and I'll come back here this afternoon to pick you up."
You actually want to say, No need to rush, take it easy, I'm not going anywhere. But seeing her eyes sparkling with hope, your mouth refuses to reject.
You nod slowly. "I'll be waiting."
Ganyu smiles once more, then turns and walks out of the room with steps far lighter than when she entered. The sliding door closes tightly behind her.
After her departure, silence fills the room again.
You let out a long sigh, leaning your head fully against the pillow. Your body relaxes.
You look up, staring at the wooden ceiling with cloud carvings.
Your eyes narrow sharply.
Slowly, the familiar neon blue system screen you hate so much manifests and floats in the empty air right in front of your eyes.
You don't jump in surprise. You stare at the text beginning to appear with a blank face.
"It's been a while. How do you feel?"
You shrug your shoulders covered in linen pajamas, smile cynically, then shake your head slowly.
"How do I feel? Terrible."
You stare at the screen with an accusing gaze. "You know I just experienced a very real death, the pain of torn organs, and despair, right?"
You snort softly. "And after all that, you still show up and ask about my feelings as if we're old friends reuniting?"
New text appears.
"That's basic courtesy when greeting someone who just woke from a coma."
You pause, digesting the sentence. "Really… a very bad joke."
You shift your position to sit more upright, folding your arms across your chest. Your mind sharpens again.
"I just had a very long dream during this coma," you begin interrogating. "But I think it wasn't just a dream. It was a flashback. A record. Memories from my past on Earth, which were previously vague in my head, now return very clearly."
You stare intently at the screen. "Was… was that your doing? You restored my memories when I was on the brink of death?"
The system responds briefly.
"No."
"So it happened naturally when my soul was almost released…" you mutter softly, pausing to think about this world's mechanics.
Then you remember the most important thing. "Then, why am I still alive? My heart is beating. My body organs are back. Is this… your doing too? Do you have an auto-healing item?"
The system stays silent for three seconds before answering.
"No. The girl named Ganyu is the one who saved you. She found and used 'The Thread of Oblivion' that fell from your pocket. She sewed your wound and triggered the item's regeneration effect."
Reading that… makes you imagine Ganyu, already extremely exhausted, crying and covered in your blood, desperately trying to save you with a strange object whose risks she didn't know… it makes your heart feel squeezed tightly.
You survived because of her selfless effort.
You hold your chest, right over your heart beating because of her.
"As additional information, the side effect of 'The Thread of Oblivion' is not imposed on you as a passive user. As redemption for that miracle, Ganyu sacrificed a small part of her memory capacity. She traded several hundred years of her memories during her 1000-year life as energy cost for the thread."
"Well, it won't cause total amnesia or loss of her core identity. But in the future, sometimes she'll feel empty and confused when trying to recall past details. It will put a little dangerous pressure on her mental health stability. But physically, it doesn't threaten her life. It should be fine."
Reading the report, your hand holding the blanket clenches tightly until your knuckles whiten.
"That doesn't make me happy reading it at all, bastard," you hiss sharply at the screen. "You think adding 'it should be' makes everything okay? Are you trying to comfort me with the fact that she's alive, or are you deliberately blaming me with the fact that she's mentally impaired because of me?!"
The system screen flickers for a moment, then displays a classic text emoticon that's extremely annoying:
" ¯(ツ)/¯ "
As if shrugging its virtual shoulders.
New text appears below the emoticon.
"Why do you have to react so emotionally? What's the big deal if she sacrifices a little stack of old memories for your life? Look at it from a probability perspective. It means your existence is now considered so valuable to her that she's willing to trade her past."
"Is that how you evaluate a relationship?" you tilt your head, staring disgusted at the logic. "Just a calculation of sacrifice and gain?"
Deep in your heart, you still feel very uncomfortable. For you, Ganyu's sacrifice is too great for a con artist like you.
The screen flickers brightly.
"Your self-righteous human nature is so annoying. Just die."
Your forehead furrows. You're slightly shocked reading the crude curse.
"Wait a minute…" you mutter, narrowing your eyes at the text. "For some reason… your speaking style just now, that curse sentence… it sounds very familiar to my ears."
It's exactly like the last sentence typed by 'Anonymous' in the PC chat before blocking you in your dream!
The system replies quickly.
"That's just your feeling."
You don't believe it, but you have no proof to press now. You put on a deeply thoughtful face, propping your chin with your hand, and stare sharply at the blue screen.
"Alright, let's leave that. Answer my other question," you demand. "Why from the start when I arrived in Teyvat, did I forget most of my past memories?"
The system stays silent. The blue screen is empty for a full ten seconds. Only a blinking cursor.
Then text appears.
"You'll know the answer later. When the time comes."
You feel a vein of patience snap in your temple. You really want to stand, grab a hammer, and smash this virtual screen that's toying with you. But you can't touch it.
You can only let out a long, rough sigh to neutralize your anger.
"If that's the case…" you conclude with your gamer logic, "Is my memory loss closely related to the last Gacha item I'll get?"
The system stays silent again for ten seconds.
"Yes."
You put on a thoughtful face. Sigh again.
Actually, deep in your heart, you've suspected this since you experienced death and saw your past dream. So you're not too shocked by the confirmation.
You turn, looking toward the window again. The sunlight is higher. The birds' chirping sounds more lively, inviting you outside.
You look back at the system.
"Last question for this morning," your voice lowers. "Why did you choose me? Why did you pull me from Earth and transfer me to this world, to Teyvat, to carry out this ridiculous mission?"
The blue screen stays silent. No blinking cursor. The system doesn't answer.
You wait for a full minute.
"Why won't you answer?" you click your tongue in annoyance, mocking it. "Such a cowardly entity that can only hide behind a screen and likes to run away when asked about its true motive."
You wait even longer, staring at the empty screen until your eyes sting.
Realizing this System has entered silent mode, you finally give up. Your body still needs recovery post-trauma. You decide to lie back and try to sleep again.
You pull your blanket up to your chest.
However, exactly at the second you close both eyes…
Above your bed, the previously empty blue screen suddenly lights up very brightly, projecting blood-red text onto the back of your closed eyelids, forcing you to "read" its message.
"Because you made me so jealous. This is revenge."
…
A/N: Actually, I intended to end at chapter 34 but it turned out to take a lot of words. I mean, for 1 chapter up to 8k words is crazy! If it were me, I wouldn't read it because it's exhausting. Therefore, I decided to split it. Besides, this still fits my initial plan to end this story at chapter 35. Anw through this chapter you must have guessed the system's identity, none other than anonymous. By the way, if you can't wait for the next chapter, feel free to check my Patreon—I write much faster there than on this platform!