Even though the tender flesh at his waist still throbbed faintly—reminding him of Eula's merciless "warning"—
and even though beneath that flawless ice-cold expression her emotions were surging in unutterable embarrassment and frustration—
Yichen still carried out his role as "Mondstadt's Number One Devoted Lover" with professional dedication.
He took a deep breath, suppressed the small grievance of being inexplicably pinched, and swiftly put back on the gentle smile he had practiced countless times—
the kind that made Mondstadt's girls' hearts skip a beat.
Bathed in the golden glow of the sunset, his handsome features softened. He leaned forward slightly and held out the dazzling bouquet of yellow daffodils with solemn care.
"Eula, I like you."
The moment the words fell, the air seemed to freeze.
Eula stared at the face before her—so impossibly handsome under the sunset—and listened to the line she had heard ninety-nine times already.
Her chest felt as though it had been stuffed with a damp clump of dandelions—heavy, stifling, and unbearably itchy.
Almost in resignation, she let out a long, incredibly faint sigh.
Light as a feather—yet burdened with countless unsaid words.
Inside, Eula screamed.
She poured every ounce of intent into her gaze, nailing her eyes to Yichen's face with desperate force.
Her ice-blue eyes blazed with unmistakable hints—and a trace of pleading.
Behind the windwheel asters!
In the oak tree!
On the watchtower!
People everywhere!
You blockhead!
Open your eyes and LOOK!
In a place like this… how am I supposed to… say yes?!
Find somewhere private!
Anywhere will do!
However—
In Yichen's eyes—completely occupied by task logic and his carefully worn "deep affection" mask—
those eyes brimming with unspeakable emotion had only one interpretation:
Cold.
Angry.
Glaring.
Yep. She's mad.
Yichen understood immediately.
Being publicly confessed to by someone you don't like—one hundred times—would make anyone explode.
That pinch earlier must've been the final warning.
Thus, the perfect smile on his face didn't fade.
Instead, it deepened slightly—carrying a sense of mission accomplished, relief… and his own misguided apology.
He naturally withdrew his hands and even gave Eula a casual wave, relaxed like a man from the Frozen North.
"Ahhh… as expected, I got rejected again."
"What a shame."
There was not a trace of genuine regret in his tone—
it sounded more like a comment after finishing a day's work.
Yichen inclined his head politely, his posture impeccable.
"I won't disturb Captain Eula's patrol any further. Goodbye."
And with that—
He turned away without the slightest hesitation.
His steps were light, almost buoyant, as if a thousand-pound burden had finally been lifted. He headed toward Mondstadt's streets, where lanterns were just beginning to glow.
The sunset stretched his retreating figure long and thin—
a picture of effortless departure, brushing his sleeves clean after the deed was done.
All that remained was Eula Lawrence, frozen in place—
Stiffly clutching the bouquet of yellow daffodils, still painfully bright in the deepening dusk, as though struck by a binding spell.
The evening breeze stirred her hair—but it couldn't dispel the sudden loss of color from her face, nor the shock, humiliation, and overwhelming absurdity crystallizing in her eyes.
She parted her lips—
But no sound came out.
All the frantic messages she had tried to convey with her eyes
had vanished without a ripple, like stones sinking into the sea.
The daffodils—symbols of farewell—now weighed on her arms like a block of ice.
Meanwhile, the hidden onlookers:
Behind the windwheel asters, Amber finally released her hand from Klee's mouth and buried her face in her palm, shoulders sagging in utter despair.
Up in the oak tree, Lisa closed her barely-used observation notebook and let out a soft, teasing chuckle.
In the blind corner of the watchtower, Kaeya clenched his fist and punched the air silently, his single eye blazing with ecstatic triumph.
"YES! Rejected! Perfect! Textbook ending! Hahahahaha! The betting pool is a landslide victory!
Tonight—Angel's Share! Drinks on me!!!"
He could practically see piles of Mora waving at him, and even the pain in his ribs seemed to fade.
The sun fully dipped below the horizon, twilight gently wrapping Mondstadt in shadow.
At the city gate, Eula stood alone, clutching the bouquet—her figure painfully solitary against the night.
She stared fiercely in the direction Yichen had disappeared, as if trying to burn a hole through his carefree retreating back.
Her fingers tightened unconsciously.
The delicate petals of the daffodils crumpled slightly, a trace of sweet sap seeping out and staining her gloves.
The 101st time…
I swear—absolutely swear—
I will make you, you cosmic-scale idiot of a blockhead, repay today's "debt"…
With interest.