After finishing dinner, Junze and Ganyu stepped out.
Just as Ganyu was about to return and continue working overtime, her hand was suddenly tugged.
"Mm?"
She looked at Junze in confusion.
Junze gazed up at her with bright, watery eyes and asked in a pleading tone, "Does Master still have a lot of work?"
Ganyu crouched down to his level. "What's wrong, Ze?"
Junze shifted slightly, looking a little shy. "Well… Master is always working. You didn't spend time with me this afternoon either. So… can you walk around here with Ze for a while?"
He pointed toward the night market nearby, his eyes filled with hope.
"This…"
A trace of hesitation appeared on Ganyu's face.
On one hand, she still had work to finish.
On the other, she felt that a place like the night market did not quite suit her.
The worldly atmosphere there was too strong.
She felt out of place.
Even if she went in with Junze, she would only—
Before the excuses in her mind could finish forming, they were interrupted.
"I'm sorry, Master. I was being selfish. Let's go home."
Junze seemed to understand her hesitation and spoke obediently.
That only made Ganyu's heart ache.
Well behaved children were often the most heartbreaking.
All of a sudden, she felt like a failure as a master.
Such a young child had been left alone the entire afternoon.
He had not cried or complained. He had simply waited quietly.
Now he only wanted her to accompany him for a while, yet he had already given up after noticing her hesitation.
For a moment, Ganyu felt almost suffocated.
She crouched down and gently patted Junze's head.
"Why go back? Didn't Ze want to play here?"
"But Master still has a lot of work. I don't want to delay you."
Junze replied in his soft, childlike voice.
Ganyu smiled. "Work can never be finished. Master needs balance too."
In the past, such words would never have come from her mouth.
"So…"
A look of delight appeared on Junze's face.
Ganyu straightened up decisively. "Let's go to the night market."
"Yay. I like Master the most."
Junze jumped up excitedly and planted a kiss on Ganyu's cheek.
"Eh?!"
Ganyu was completely stunned by the sudden kiss.
Junze grinned. "Ze likes Master the most."
Looking at the boy's bright smile, Ganyu felt both shy and warm inside.
"Master likes Ze too."
There was laughter in her voice as she added, "But Ze must remember, you cannot casually kiss other people."
"Why?"
Junze asked innocently.
Blushing, Ganyu answered, "Because… kissing is something only husband and wife do."
She was clearly very conservative about such matters.
Junze shot back immediately, "Then can I become husband and wife with Master?"
Hearing that, Ganyu's embarrassment vanished.
Children often said things like wanting to marry someone.
She rubbed Junze's head. "Well, that depends on whether Junze behaves in the future."
She was clearly teasing and did not take it seriously at all.
"I'll behave even better from now on."
"Hehe."
Ganyu laughed happily and took Junze's hand as they entered the night market.
As he was led along, Junze secretly let out a breath.
That was terrifying.
Taking the initiative to kiss Ganyu's cheek like that was extremely thrilling for him.
He could still feel his heart pounding wildly at the time.
But at least he had successfully brought Master in.
Yes, that whole act had not truly been about wanting to stroll the night market or asking for company.
His body was that of a child, but his mind was not.
His real goal was to bring Ganyu into the night market.
Why?
Because of Ganyu's state of mind.
For thousands of years, she had worked diligently. Whether at Yuehai Pavilion or cultivating in Jueyun Karst, it made little difference.
She had never truly integrated into the mortal world.
For a millennium, she had essentially been alone.
That was why, in the future after Rex Lapis stepped down, she would doubt herself, feel unnecessary, and wish to return to Jueyun Karst.
Junze wanted to change her mindset.
At the very least, he wanted her to experience more of the mortal world, to feel the Liyue she had helped build.
A chef who worked tirelessly yet never tasted her own dishes was far too pitiful.
Junze would never stop Ganyu from returning to Jueyun Karst. Wherever she chose to go, he would accompany her.
But he wanted her to truly experience Liyue first before making that decision.
If she could not take that first step herself, then he, as her disciple, would help her take it.
As for acting cute, kissing her cheek, talking about marriage…
Those were simply going with the flow. Absolutely no ulterior motives.
Junze swore it to the Anemo Archon, Barbatos.
As for why not swear to Rex Lapis, well, he was technically a Liyue citizen now.
Thus, master and disciple entered the night market together.
The smoky, bustling atmosphere of the market clashed sharply with the immortal aura surrounding Junze and Ganyu.
Some vendors who noticed them initially kept their distance, even showing a hint of reverence.
Ganyu noticed this too, her expression turning slightly uneasy.
Sure enough, even after stepping in, there still seemed to be a barrier between her and the people of Liyue.
She lowered her gaze slightly. "I still don't quite fi—"
Before she could finish, Junze's voice interrupted her.
"Master, open your mouth."
"Ah…"
Perhaps distracted, Ganyu obediently opened her mouth.
Suddenly, something sweet was pushed between her lips.
She focused and realized Junze had stuffed a candied hawthorn into her mouth.
With her cheeks slightly puffed and a stick of candied hawthorn between her lips, Ganyu looked adorably silly.
Junze burst into laughter and clapped beside her.
Ganyu pulled the candied hawthorn out of her mouth and lightly tapped Junze's head.
"No teasing Master."
"Okaaay."
Junze dragged out the word playfully.
Ganyu shook her head helplessly and turned to ask the vendor for the price.
But she froze.
The vendor was an elderly grandmother. She was looking at Junze and Ganyu with warm, loving eyes and a gentle smile.
The previous sense of distance was gone.
"Hello, how much is it?" Ganyu asked politely.
The grandmother shook her head. "No need to pay."
"That won't do," Ganyu said quickly.
The old woman smiled. "Seeing you two reminds me of my grandchildren who were very close. Let that candied hawthorn be my thanks for the joy that child brought me."
Ganyu did not know how to describe her feelings.
Being mistaken for someone's granddaughter felt strange.
In the past, people would subconsciously move away from her on the street.
"Don't stand there. The child ran off."
The grandmother pointed elsewhere.
Junze had already been surrounded by other vendors.
"Little brother, do you like this toy?"
"Little brother, this is very tasty."
"Come, Auntie will show you something good."
In an instant, a crowd of merchants gathered around Junze, eager to attract his attention.
After all, he and Ganyu looked like they came from wealth.
Previously, their otherworldly aura had kept people at bay. But after the candied hawthorn incident, the vendors no longer hesitated.
Seeing Junze nearly swallowed by the crowd, Ganyu hurried over.
For a moment, she completely forgot about feeling out of place.
Now she looked just like an anxious older sister rushing after a mischievous younger brother.
The grandmother watched them and laughed warmly.
"It's exactly the same."
Her own grandchildren had once been just like that before they went off to the battlefield.
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