Ye Xi was a little speechless. With this scummy fox's seductive tone, even if he hadn't meant to do anything strange, he was in the mood for it now.
He said solemnly, "Of course not."
"Alright, bring your face closer. I'm going to form a contract with you."
He held out his hand.
Seeing this, Yae Miko brought her face over, resting her chin in Ye Xi's hand.
In that moment, Ye Xi suddenly found the scummy fox rather adorable.
He couldn't help but pinch the scummy fox's pretty cheek.
"Aiya~"
"Don't squirm. The contract's about to begin~"
Pinching the scummy fox's little cheek, Ye Xi savored every bit of it.
At the same time, he used the [Taming] skill.
The next moment, a glowing magic-circle ring appeared on Yae Miko's forehead.
The contract was complete.
However, Ye Xi didn't tell Yae Miko, and instead kept toying with the fox's little face.
Her cheek was soft and squishy, and the feel of pinching it was truly top-notch—simply impossible to put down.
...
Meanwhile, outside the door.
Ganyu searched all around for Cloud Retainer and the others.
"Where on earth did the Adepti go? It really is like a maze down here—I'm getting dizzy!"
Keqing muttered, following behind Ganyu and glancing all around.
But everything around them looked exactly the same.
Long corridors, one cabin door and porthole after another.
The feeling was like walking into a maze filled with mirrors on every side—dazzling and disorienting.
Ganyu shook her head, a little worried. "Keqing, we're not lost, are we?"
"Eh!?"
Keqing was a bit crestfallen.
Her first time playing around inside such a big ship, and she'd actually gotten lost.
How embarrassing!
She worried a little—would Ye Xi find her too dumb?
As she was thinking, Ganyu beside her suddenly let out a gasp of amazement.
"Keqing, look! It suddenly opens up wide ahead!"
At this, Keqing's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly followed Ganyu into the spacious area.
On the door were three big characters.
[Captain's Quarters]
"What the—it's not the exit!"
The two girls instantly deflated.
But just as Keqing was trying to think of a plan, Ganyu suddenly made a shushing gesture.
"Shhh—! Keqing, listen!"
"It seems like... there's a strange sound?"
"Eh!?"
Keqing imitated Ganyu and pressed her ear to the door.
Then she heard voices coming from inside.
"Master~ aren't you done yet? I'm all worn out~"
"Almost, almost! It'll be done in a moment."
"..."
Hearing these sounds, Keqing's eyes went wide, brimming with shock.
"It's Master and that Yae Miko!"
"What are they doing in there! So sneaky about it!"
Keqing recalled Yae Miko's earlier words and conduct, and her heart instantly filled with wariness.
Ganyu shook her head, said nothing, and kept listening.
After a moment, voices came from inside again.
"Master, why don't I feel anything at all?"
"It'll appear on your forehead. Don't rush."
Keqing: ???
Ganyu suddenly pulled her neck back, retreating several steps, her face flushed crimson.
"Aaah! They're doing something awful!"
Keqing clenched her little fists, a sour pang of jealousy growing thicker.
Hearing those sounds, how could she fail to guess?
This kind of thing—she couldn't be more familiar with it!
The moment she thought of the mocking look on Yae Miko's face earlier, Keqing felt utterly indignant.
It was as if something precious of hers had been snatched away!
"Ganyu, this fox-spirit friend of yours is so detestable!"
"I knew it—she definitely had no good intentions!"
By saying this, she wasn't rejecting the idea of Ye Xi bringing Yae Miko home in the future.
Rather, she felt that letting Yae Miko succeed so quickly made it feel like she herself had lost!
Hearing this, Ganyu hurriedly waved her hands. "Calm down, Keqing—maybe we've misunderstood!"
"Misunderstood?!"
Keqing was almost in tears, pointing at the room. "Listen to the sound of that conversation—how on earth is this a misunderstanding!"
"This..."
For a moment Ganyu didn't know how to explain.
She knew Yae Miko very well.
That little fox wasn't bad at heart, but she'd never imagined she would be so quick to...
That was far too bold!
It was literally only the first day they'd met!
...
Inside the room.
Ye Xi withdrew his hand and nodded. "Alright, the contract is complete. May our cooperation be a pleasant one."
Yae Miko hurriedly checked the mirror beside her and found that, sure enough, there was a magic-circle mark left on her forehead after the contract.
Looking closely, it was actually quite conspicuous!
This couldn't help but worry her a little. "Master, will this contract mark stay on my face forever?"
If someone saw the mark, they'd surely grow suspicious.
"Isn't it rather pretty, though?"
Ye Xi, for his part, felt this faint trace wasn't a problem at all.
Yae Miko let out a soft sigh. "What do I do? I don't want Ei to misunderstand."
Before, she had been the Electro Archon's kin, a good companion of Raiden Ei.
But now she was already Ye Xi's kin.
If this mark were noticed by Raiden Ei, that would be hard to deal with!
Raiden Ei would find out!
Once Raiden Ei discovered she'd become Ye Xi's kin, she'd surely be angry, wouldn't she?
Ye Xi's face was full of question marks.
Good grief.
What was with this intense sense of déjà vu?
The Yae Miko before him right now was just like a wicked woman who, after going out and committing some misdeed, was desperate to cover up the traces.
Terrified that, once she went back, she'd be found out by Raiden Ei.
For some reason, the more afraid Yae Miko was, the more he wanted to make the mark a little more obvious.
He just wanted to see Yae Miko frantically trying to hide it—surely it would be such a thrill!
Shaking off this silly notion, he spoke up. "Fine, fine, I'll just wipe it away for you."
As he said this, he used the [Taming] skill, and in an instant, that glowing mark suddenly vanished.
Not a single trace was left, as if it had never been there at all.
Yae Miko's heart instantly lifted with delight. "Mm, this is much easier on the eyes now!"
"So, Master, when will our ship finally arrive?"
"We'll have to wait a while."
Ye Xi took a look at his energy reserves and figured he couldn't be too hasty—he had to keep some energy in reserve.
Hearing this, Yae Miko wasn't anxious in the least, and said with a sunny smile, "Then wherever you go, Master, I'll follow~"
This scummy fox.
Ye Xi had no choice but to compromise. "Tomorrow, then—I'll go with you to Inazuma!"
He'd been terribly busy lately.
He'd also been planning to head back to Sumeru to watch Nilou dance.
It seemed that would have to be pushed back yet again.
Still, though he said he'd go to Inazuma, he could really just open a portal over there.
That way, coming and going would be extremely convenient.
Just as he was speaking, a flustered commotion suddenly came from outside the door.
Then the door abruptly swung open, and two figures, caught off guard, tumbled onto the carpet at the threshold.
"Keqing? And Ganyu too?"
Ye Xi looked astonished and couldn't help but ask, "What are you two doing?"
"Eh!?"
Keqing and Ganyu were thrown into a fluster.
They'd just been pressed against the door eavesdropping when the door seemed to sense something and abruptly unlocked.
With their balance thrown off, they'd accidentally tumbled inside.
Hearing Ye Xi's question, the two girls hurriedly covered their eyes, not daring to peek inside.
Recalling the sounds from earlier, Keqing and Ganyu were sure they'd ruined Ye Xi's "good thing"!
For all they knew, the scene right now might be dreadful!
However, the two girls' reaction left Ye Xi rather baffled.
"Did you two hurt your eyes? Why are you both covering them?"
The Yae Miko beside him wore a playful look and said with a smile, "Sister Ganyu, Yuheng Star, you two haven't misunderstood something, have you?"
"Eh!?"
Ganyu opened her eyes and looked toward Yae Miko.
However, those blush-inducing, heart-pounding scenes she'd imagined were nowhere to be found.
Keqing also opened a crack between her fingers.
She found everything in the room perfectly normal—spotlessly clean and tidy, with no smell of anything—which surprised her a little.
"H-how could it be...."
"Could I have heard wrong?"
Yae Miko lightly covered her mouth and laughed, looking thoroughly smug. "Lady Yuheng Star, Master Ye Xi has agreed to go to Inazuma—surprised?"
"Eh!?"
"Master, you're going to Inazuma!?"
Keqing's little face was instantly full of shock.
This was the very thing she worried about most!
All the engineering projects had already been finalized—just waiting to break ground!
If Ye Xi wasn't around at a time like this, everyone would have to wait!
Ye Xi really wanted to give this scummy fox a good kick.
He waved his hand. "Relax. Liyue's projects haven't broken ground yet—I'm not going anywhere."
Hearing this, Keqing finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She glanced back at Yae Miko and found the other's eyes brimming with amusement.
Now she knew she'd been played again!
This fox was simply too detestable!
____
Gift for Everyone: Once we hit 10 Powerstones, I'll release +1 bonus chapter to warm your hearts.
________________________________________
If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on (P). with 50 advanced chapters available on (P)
👻 Join the crew by searching Leanzin on (P). You know the spot! 😉