"And with this… the proposal should be basically complete."
After writing the final character on the page, Bai Ge spoke as he looked toward the beauty beside him.
"Yes… it really is," Ganyu said softly as she set down her brush as well.
"Just like that, a whole month passed."
A trace of wistfulness flickered across her exquisite face.
Over the past month, in order to properly establish this social security and welfare system, the two of them naturally couldn't just shut themselves inside Yuehai Pavilion and theorize. They had gone out repeatedly, conducting on-site visits and investigations.
For example—who exactly needed each type of protection, and what they truly needed in practice, before translating those needs into written policy.
Normally, investigations like this would consume an enormous amount of time.
Fortunately, Ganyu was both a long-lived being and the coordinator of Liyue's vast information network. She understood Liyue far better than most.
Under her guidance, their investigations often went straight to the core of the issue, finishing in a single trip and greatly improving efficiency.
"Yes… you've finally finished, Lady Ganyu…"
Nearby, hearing Ganyu's words, the Yuehai Pavilion secretary Huixin let out a complicated sigh.
At this moment, Huixin had completely lost the demure, refined image she had when Bai Ge first arrived at Yuehai Pavilion.
Her hair was messy, dark circles hung heavily under her eyes like thick layers of smoky makeup, and her whole appearance was disheveled beyond recognition.
And all of this—
Was the result of Ganyu, the head of Yuehai Pavilion, effectively putting her regular duties on hold.
The workload that Ganyu used to shoulder alone had been distributed across everyone in Yuehai Pavilion, and they had nearly collapsed under it overnight.
It could only be said that it was fortunate Ganyu had still been sitting in Yuehai Pavilion instead of disappearing entirely.
Otherwise, if this vital institution of Liyue had truly ground to a halt, the people affected would have been nothing less than all of Liyue's citizens.
"Eh… hehe…"
Facing her subordinate's resentful gaze, even Ganyu felt a little embarrassed and stuck out her tongue slightly, unintentionally acting cute.
Ganyu was genuinely happy.
Although Bai Ge had said before that Yuehai Pavilion couldn't function without her, this past month—during which she had almost let go completely—had truly proven that point to her.
Being needed, while also participating in something so great—
The feeling of having her self-worth fulfilled twice over made Ganyu's heart feel alive.
"..."
Watching Ganyu show such a rare, girlish expression, Huixin froze for a moment.
Really… she's completely different now, Lady Ganyu.
She couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
To the people of Yuehai Pavilion, Ganyu was a living legend.
Think about it—when you entered Yuehai Pavilion at twenty, Ganyu was there.
When you left at forty, she was still there.
Twenty years passed, then another twenty, then another—and she would still be there.
To the people of Yuehai Pavilion, Ganyu's presence was nearly equivalent to Rex Lapis himself: unchanging for millennia, eternally reliable.
But for those who worked closest to her—those mortals who stood nearest to Ganyu—
The secretaries of Yuehai Pavilion had once wondered:
For someone who had lived for thousands of years… wasn't Lady Ganyu perhaps too lonely? Too cold?
Even though everyone knew Ganyu's character well, and knew her heart was firmer than anyone else's—
Still, at times, they wanted to bring her some measure of human warmth.
They wanted to tell this divine being how they felt.
But…
As one of Huixin's seniors once said to Ganyu upon leaving:
"Lady Ganyu, the next twenty years are in your care as well."
Such words were far too restrained.
And the emotions of a half-adeptus beast were far too slow.
The people of Yuehai Pavilion simply couldn't deliver human warmth to Ganyu.
Then—
Bai Ge appeared.
Huixin had never seen Ganyu so eager to accomplish something, or so close to any single person.
She didn't know the full details of what he was doing, but merely by hearing bits and pieces, she understood:
This was a great undertaking—one that would benefit the people and leave its mark for generations.
Once this was accomplished, Lady Ganyu would be forever remembered in the hearts of Liyue's people.
And so, Huixin felt sincere gratitude toward Bai Ge.
Even more so, she was grateful that he had allowed Lady Ganyu to display emotions and expressions like those of a normal human girl.
This—
Was a long-held wish of Yuehai Pavilion, one passed down from thousands of years ago.
Even though Bai Ge technically belonged to Keqing's side and only worked at Yuehai Pavilion by position, Huixin still believed he had fulfilled Yuehai Pavilion's deepest wish.
Yuehai Pavilion, from top to bottom, acknowledged Bai Ge.
Thus, during her rare moments of rest, Huixin had already joined others from Yuehai Pavilion to quietly investigate Bai Ge.
The conclusion:
Clean background.
Gentle personality.
Cares for family.
No bad habits.
A good match.
As for the divide between adeptus and mortal…
Huixin believed that if one refused to grasp happiness in the present simply because of fear of parting in the future—
That was no different from an ostrich burying its head in the sand when danger approached.
What's more—
Sometimes, ten short years of happiness
could outweigh countless years of suffering.
And so…