"Su, suicide?"
Amber covered her mouth, her wide eyes fixed on the lifeless black water before them.
"Mm, that's just like the Abyss Order, inhuman to the core," Kaeya added coolly.
"Everyone! Take a half-hour to rest and regroup. Once that's done, we'll purge the lingering traces of the Abyss Order!"
"Yes, Acting Grand Master!"
"Apologies, Traveler. We've dragged you into yet another dangerous mess," Jean said, her brow furrowed.
Gongqu waved her concern away. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure you've already guessed, this has something to do with Ying. If anyone should be apologizing, it's us."
"Please don't say that," Jean replied earnestly. "You and Ying are our Honorary Knights. If the Abyss Order intends to corrupt her, we have every reason, both moral and practical, to stand by your side!"
"You live up to your name, Dandelion Knight," Gongqu said with a wry smile. "I'm honored by your sense of duty."
Seeing the amicable exchange, Eula, who had been quietly watching, gave a polite cough.
"By the way, Traveler, how did you end up here with Amber in the first place?"
Gongqu opened his mouth to reply.
But Amber tugged at his sleeve, a pleading look in her eyes, silently begging him not to reveal that Klee had run off.
Gongqu caught on and shot her a quick wink.
Amber immediately blushed and ducked her head.
"It's like this," Gongqu said smoothly. "I'd planned to stop by the Knights to discuss some things. On the way, I ran into Amber, who was out playing with Klee. During our chat, I learned you all were out here cleaning up the Abyss Order's mess. So, I suggested to Amber that we leave Klee in the Serenitea Pot for safety and come help."
"Amber, is that true?" Jean asked, a trace of skepticism in her eyes. Her gut told her there was a piece missing.
"Yes! Exactly what the Traveler said!" Amber blurted out quickly, worried Jean would start probing for more details.
Jean nodded slowly, though her gaze drifted to how Amber was still clinging to Gongqu's arm. Her eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of Amber's chest squished against his arm.
"Amber, how long are you planning to hold onto the Traveler?" Jean said, a faint smile on her lips. "He must be exhausted after supporting us all. Let him rest a while."
Eula, standing off to the side, nodded in solemn agreement, as if Amber had committed some grave social faux pas.
"Eh?!" Amber squeaked, her face flushing bright red as she immediately let go, bowing repeatedly in apology.
"Sorry, Traveler, I didn't even realize..."
"It's fine, really. Actually, it was kind of comfort" Gongqu almost blurted out the truth but froze as he felt the cold, sharp gazes of the two women boring into him. He quickly threw an arm around Kaeya's shoulders to change the subject.
"Ahem! Beautiful weather today, don't you think, Kaeya? Perfect for fishing!"
"Ah… yes…" Kaeya let out a snort of laughter he tried (and failed) to hide, but he nodded along anyway, the very picture of professional composure.
The other Knights exchanged glances but kept their mouths shut.
Only a few brave souls dared to glare at Gongqu with the kind of look usually reserved for someone who'd stolen their beloved: You bastard! Courting disaster with three at once, are you trying to get yourself killed?!
With the mastermind of the Abyss Order's latest plot dealt with, the high-spirited Kaeya volunteered to lead the remaining Knights in clearing out the last of the Abyss Order's presence in Whispering Woods.
As for Gongqu, who had serious business to discuss with the Order, he was accompanied back to Mondstadt by the Acting Grand Master and two trusted Knights.
Before parting ways, Kaeya gave Gongqu a knowing, encouraging look.
He even teased, "Don't forget, Mondstadt's a free city. Back in the old days, it wasn't unusual for nobles to have a dozen wives. Make the most of it."
Gongqu was sorely tempted to bash him over the head with the Dragonspine Spear.
Around three in the afternoon, the group of four returned to Mondstadt, a strange and palpable tension crackling between them.
As they passed by the Adventurers' Guild, Amber, always the enthusiastic host, suggested they stop for a meal at Good Hunter.
Yet another problem arose almost immediately.
Who would sit beside Gongqu?
Returning from the bar after placing their orders, Gongqu saw the three women still standing, as if frozen.
"What are you waiting for? Sit down already," he urged.
They didn't budge, their gazes locked on him.
One icy and imperious, Eula.
One warm and sunny, Amber.
One graceful and refined, Jean.
And then there was another, Lisa, who radiated a mature, bewitching charm.
"Mind if I join you, little cutie?" Lisa asked sweetly.
She'd just gotten up from the next table over, slid onto the bench beside Gongqu, and practically melted into the seat.
"Sara, could you bring my afternoon tea here instead?" she added with a lazy wave.
"Of course, Lisa," Sara replied cheerfully.
Lisa? But she never wakes up before ten! Oh, right. It's already afternoon.
Jean hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering to the only empty seat left beside Gongqu. She was about to claim it when a blue blur darted forward.
Eula sat down elegantly, as if she hadn't just sprinted across the restaurant.
Though her expression was calm, the tips of her ears were burning red.
Jean and Amber, outmaneuvered, could only sigh and take the seats farthest from Gongqu.
Jean happened to lift her eyes and met Gongqu's gaze. In that brief moment, it felt like one of those fated encounters from a romance novel, their eyes speaking volumes.
Sitting across from him… maybe that's not so bad, Jean thought with a small smile.
"Well, well," Lisa drawled, stretching languidly. "I didn't expect our noble Acting Grand Master to be daydreaming too. What's this? You've got your eye on our little cutie too?"
That one teasing comment was all it took.
Three pairs of eyes turned on her at once.
"Too?" Amber squeaked, her voice trembling.
Lisa's lips curled in a secretive smile as she stretched again, her movements emphasizing every alluring curve.
"He's given me a legendary weapon, rare artifacts, and even bought me new clothes. With that level of… attention, how many women in Teyvat could possibly resist?"
As she spoke, she lifted a gleaming Tulaytullah's Remembrance from her lap, the sapphire inlaid bell at its tip chiming softly. Its value was obvious at a glance.
Eula gave a soft snort of disapproval. She'd been about to mention that she, too, wielded a legendary weapon, her Song of Broken Pines, when she noticed Amber's expression, on the verge of tears.
A realization dawned: of everyone at this table, only Amber didn't have a legendary weapon.
Eula shot Gongqu a sharp look that said, Fix this.
Gongqu took a sip of water, trying to look casual as cold sweat trickled down his back.
He wanted to tell Lisa to quit fanning the flames.
But Lisa, the archetypal witch, was in her element.
Her lips moved silently, forming the words: This is a witch's revenge, dear~
Seeing the suffocating tension at the table, Gongqu finally spoke up.
"Lisa, I'm flattered that you'd even consider me, but I already have someone in my heart. Those weapons and artifacts, I gave them as a comrade, for your safety. Nothing more."
His words were calm, direct: My intentions and my actions are as clear as polished glass.
After all, if he treated female friends with the same closeness as his male ones, then no messy feelings would need to be sorted out.
"Are you saying men and women can be just friends?" Lisa asked, tilting her head, her voice soft but full of amused challenge. "Or are you hiding something from us?"
"Well… there are such things as male best friends, right?" he said lamely.
"Oh? Then how about this~?"
Suddenly, Lisa pressed her hand firmly over Gongqu's, her face leaning in until their noses were practically touching.
A scent like blooming roses filled his senses, and Gongqu felt his heart skip a beat as every alarm bell in his head went off.
Oh no. My poor little heart, don't betray me now!
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