Kapitel 33: Chapter 33
Faced with the equally expectant gazes from both sides, Nathan was caught in a dilemma.
No matter who he chose, the other would undoubtedly be upset.
This predicament highlighted a universal truth: children make choices, but adults want it all!
However, if Nathan were to choose both, wouldn't it just bring everything back to square one?
In the end, he would still find himself caught between the two women, stuck in a stalemate.
Clearly, this wasn't the right solution either.
"I… Can I choose neither?"
Women… only slow down the speed at which I draw my sword.
The correct answer, at least in Nathan's heart, was to reject them both.
After all, in reality, he didn't have the kind of close relationship with the two women that he did in the simulation.
Getting too close now would only make him increasingly passive.
"No!"
"No!"
To his surprise, this suggestion was met with a simultaneous rejection from both women.
"Nathan, rejecting a lady's invitation is very ungentlemanly!"
"Nathan, I forbid you to say no to me!"
Whether it was Ningguang or Keqing, both tightened their grip on his arms.
This was bad... their reactions were worse than if he had chosen just one of them.
Nathan felt like he was playing a text-based adventure game, where choosing the wrong option immediately led to a bad ending.
If life were a game, this would be the time to reload the save.
Unfortunately, despite having been transported to the world of Genshin Impact, Nathan's life wasn't a game.
"No avoiding this. You have to choose again!"
"No avoiding this. You have to choose again!"
The two women's simultaneous huffs felt almost like a chance to reload his save.
"Ah… uh…"
Nathan stretched out his voice, stalling for time.
At a moment like this, with the two women locked in a standoff, how he wished for a third person to come and rescue him.
As if on cue, a sound came from outside the door.
"As members of the Liyue Qixing, you shouldn't make things difficult for others!"
"Ganyu? Why are you here?"
Ningguang's smile disappeared as she turned to question the newcomer.
The third party, who had entered through the door, was none other than Ganyu, the secretary of Yuehai Pavilion and someone Nathan had already met in a previous "life instance."
"Ganyu?"
Keqing also recognized the secretary, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.
Truth be told, Keqing's impression of Ganyu, with her qilin bloodline, had never been particularly favorable.
Ever since Keqing became the Yuheng, she had been determined to enact bold reforms.
Among her grievances, none stood out more than that night… when her childhood friend was not saved.
If the people of Liyue had such faith in the Archon, why hadn't he answered her desperate plea in that moment of crisis?
As a result, Keqing came to believe that Liyue's people relied too heavily on their Archon.
Matters concerning human destiny should be handled by humans themselves.
And humans could do better.
To prove this point, Keqing worked harder than anyone else.
Thus, her view of Ganyu, who remained unwaveringly loyal to the Geo Archon, was far from kind.
But due to the connection between the Qixing and the Yuehai Pavilion, Keqing had always kept her thoughts to herself.
"I came to find you, Ningguang… there are still many important matters in the Jade Chamber that need your attention."
Ganyu's gaze swept across the room but didn't linger on Nathan for even a moment.
This allowed Nathan to breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed that, in this reality, this was his first meeting with Ganyu.
"Alright… I understand. You can leave now, Ganyu."
However, Ningguang's response to Ganyu's reminder was one of impatience.
Even when confronting Keqing earlier, she hadn't shown this level of irritation.
Keqing quickly picked up on this subtle change.
"Ganyu and Ningguang… don't get along? I've never heard of that before."
Keqing thought to herself.
A closer look revealed a peculiar tension between the two.
As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Keqing typically had her own issues with Ganyu, but when it came to Nathan, Ningguang was the true rival.
So, she decided to seize the opportunity and align with Ganyu's suggestion to get Ningguang out of the picture.
"Ningguang… since this concerns the Qixing's official business, you shouldn't delay. Go back with Ganyu."
Keqing's strategy was simple: if Ganyu took Ningguang away, she'd have time alone with Nathan.
"Keqing… there are also several urgent plans regarding the Yuheng Star's duties that need your attention!"
But Keqing's plan backfired.
She too was called out by Ganyu.
"I'll return to the Jade Chamber, but Nathan has to come as my assistant!"
Ningguang's eyes sharpened as she voiced her condition.
Her wariness toward Ganyu was far greater than toward Keqing.
After all, Ningguang remembered a past where she and Ganyu had fiercely competed over Nathan.
"No way! Nathan should be my assistant instead!"
Keqing clung tightly to Nathan's arm.
Ningguang's excuse to claim Nathan was simply too obvious.
"It seems the two of you, esteemed members of the Liyue Qixing, have differing opinions about this gentleman."
Ganyu interrupted again, skillfully defusing the tension before another conflict could erupt.
Her brilliance lay in not mentioning Nathan's name directly.
"To prevent your work from being disrupted, why not let this gentleman temporarily stay at Yuehai Pavilion?"
Her suggestion was calm and composed, yet to Nathan, it felt like a lifeline.
"Fine… I'll go to Yuehai Pavilion first!"
Nathan thought it through. Ganyu didn't seem to recognize him in this world. Once he got to Yuehai Pavilion, he could find an excuse to slip away.
"I disagree!"
This time, Ningguang's tone was more serious than before.
"Your disagreement is meaningless. I agree with Ganyu's suggestion, Ningguang. Majority rules!"
From Keqing's perspective, Ganyu always maintained a certain distance from others.
Having Nathan stay at Yuehai Pavilion was certainly safer than leaving him with Ningguang.
"Hmph, foolish!"
Ningguang's cold snort was her only response to Keqing's logic.
Keqing had no idea that she was sending the lamb straight into the wolf's den.
Don't be fooled by Ganyu's serene demeanor—Ningguang was certain of one thing:
If Ganyu were left alone with Nathan, she would drop her act in no time and transform into a predatory wolf, devouring Nathan whole.
This could not be allowed to happen. Ningguang's mind raced as she plotted her next move.
...
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