Shenhe and Luo Qing were locked in an intense kiss, leaving Ganyu utterly stunned.
Her mouth hung open, her expression frozen in disbelief.
How did this even happen so suddenly?
Meanwhile, Shenhe's wide eyes betrayed her shock as she felt Luo Qing's lips pressing against hers.
But the most troubling part was that, deep down, she didn't feel as repulsed as she thought she would.
Catching a glimpse of Ganyu's stricken face from the corner of her eye, Shenhe suddenly snapped back to reality.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, she pressed her hands against Luo Qing's chest, trying to push him away.
However, Luo Qing's physical strength had long surpassed hers. No matter how much she struggled, she couldn't budge him.
She had no choice.
It was time to use that move.
Determination flashed in Shenhe's eyes as her teeth clamped down hard on Luo Qing's tongue.
"Hiss…"
A sharp sting forced Luo Qing to retreat.
"What's with everyone biting tongues lately?" he muttered, rubbing his jaw.
"You bastard…" Shenhe was trembling with a mix of shame and fury. Her thoughts surged wildly, and in a flash, she summoned her polearm into her hand.
He had dared to do such a thing to her—in front of her Senior Sister, no less!
If Ganyu hadn't been here… who knows how far this would have gone?
No, Luo Qing had to be taught a lesson.
The tension in the air was palpable. The atmosphere in the room had become explosive.
Yet, Ganyu, who had just moments ago tried to mediate between them, now stood frozen, her mind completely blank.
"Girls who resort to stabbing people with weapons at the drop of a hat… that's not a good habit, you know," Luo Qing said with a soft chuckle. His calm demeanor only added fuel to Shenhe's frustration.
"Be good, listen to me, and put the weapon down. Let's talk things out, okay?"
"Why should I listen to you?" Shenhe snapped coldly. But before she could say more, her expression faltered as an unusual thought surfaced in her mind.
To her bewilderment, she found herself lowering her polearm and sitting back down.
Her body wasn't listening to her.
"You shameless rogue… How dare you kiss me…" Shenhe's voice trembled with anger, yet under Luo Qing's mental influence, she could do nothing but comply.
Sitting primly on the sofa, with her legs pressed together and her posture stiff, she looked every bit like a bashful noble lady.
"Didn't you tell me to take responsibility?" Luo Qing teased, raising a single finger to lightly tap her lips.
"Well, this is my way of taking responsibility."
"I've marked you as mine. From now on, you're my person. And that means you can't kiss other men anymore, or else I'll be very upset."
"W-Who's 'yours'?!" Shenhe's cheeks flushed bright red as she averted her gaze.
"You're the one who asked me to take responsibility, remember?" Luo Qing grinned, raising his wrist to show off the red string bracelet. "I'll treat this as your token of commitment to me, okay?"
"Huh?!"
At last, Ganyu snapped out of her daze.
Her gaze landed on the red-and-blue bracelet on Luo Qing's wrist. For a moment, her emotions churned with conflict.
The blue thread woven into the bracelet wasn't ordinary; she had imbued it with the power of her Qilin bloodline—a pure and potent energy.
In times of great danger, it could even manifest as her Qilin form to protect Luo Qing.
In Liyue, it could be considered an artifact of immense power.
And yet, she had given it to Luo Qing.
Why had she done that? To make amends? Or was it something else?
Just moments ago, Luo Qing had mentioned "you two."
But Shenhe… she liked Luo Qing too.
Even though Shenhe always said she wanted revenge, Ganyu had seen her secretly gazing at the red string in silent thought multiple times.
If Ganyu pursued her own feelings any further…
Wouldn't that mean she'd have to compete with Shenhe?
"Luo Qing, I actually…" Ganyu hesitated, lowering her head. Her voice was soft, almost hesitant.
She wanted to explain that she'd only given him the bracelet as an apology.
But before she could finish, Luo Qing turned toward her with a mischievous smile.
"And now it's your turn, Ganyu."
"Wha—?!"
Before Ganyu could react, Luo Qing cupped her delicate face in his hands and leaned in.
"Mm!"
The tables had turned. This time, it was Shenhe's turn to be utterly stunned.
Luo Qing… had just kissed her a moment ago, saying she was his.
And now he was kissing Senior Sister?!
Shenhe wanted to kick him across the room, but the effects of Luo Qing's mental control still lingered. She could only sit there, frozen, as her Senior Sister and Luo Qing engaged in an impassioned kiss right in front of her.
If their master found out about this…
Meanwhile, Ganyu, dazed for several seconds, finally began to struggle.
Like Shenhe before her, she pressed her hands against Luo Qing's chest, trying to push him away.
But her efforts were equally futile. Luo Qing didn't budge.
It wasn't until a few moments later that he finally released her.
"Luo Qing, why would you…"
Unlike Shenhe's fiery anger, Ganyu's eyes welled with tears, her voice trembling as if she were on the verge of crying.
In her thousands of years of life, this was her first kiss. And it had lasted… far too long.
Luo Qing had gone too far.
"Because I need to take responsibility for you both," Luo Qing said matter-of-factly, his tone utterly shameless.
"Now that I've marked you two, you're officially mine. No more being close with other men, alright?"
If he was going to embrace being a scoundrel, there was no point in pretending otherwise.
Why play the innocent while building a harem? That would just be hypocritical.
His reputation with the Fatui was already terrible. What difference would it make if it got worse?
He was a scoundrel.
And he was owning it.
"So, you really want to two-time us?" Shenhe muttered, her expression complicated as she processed his actions.
"Two-time?" Luo Qing chuckled. "Oh no, you misunderstand. I'm aiming for a fleet."
"..."
Silence fell between the two women.
Having lived through the Archon War era, Ganyu had seen families where polygamy was practiced.
Liyue itself had once gone through a period where such arrangements were common.
While she wasn't as shocked or resistant to the concept as Shenhe, deep in her heart, she still wished for a partner who would love her and only her.
"Luo Qing, you're truly a scoundrel…" Shenhe muttered, her feelings a tangled mess.
Why did I… no, Why did we get involved with him?
"Yes, I'm a scoundrel," Luo Qing admitted without hesitation. "But whether you like me or not, you're both mine now. And I won't let anyone else bully you."
"So, blame yourselves for falling for this scoundrel," he said with a smirk.
---
At Port Ormos
As an ultimate shut-in, Ei rarely ventured outside.
Standing amidst the bustling streets of Port Ormos, she felt overwhelmed.
Sumeru is so vast. Where do I even start looking for Luo Qing?
While she stared blankly at the street, lost in thought, a sweet, girlish voice spoke up behind her.
"Is this beautiful, elegant lady having some trouble?"
Turning around, Ei found herself face-to-face with a petite, pink-haired girl wearing glasses.
"You don't look like you're from Sumeru. Are you here as a tourist?" Dori asked enthusiastically.
Out-of-towners who were clueless about the area? They were the best customers… uh, she meant the best people to help!
Though, wow, this lady is really tall… and really, really…
"I'm looking for someone," Ei replied with a small shake of her head.
"Oh? Who are you looking for?" Dori asked, rubbing her hands together. "Not to brag, but I know everyone in Sumeru. I might just know who you're looking for!"
"His name is…"
Ei glanced at Dori's gleaming, Mora-filled eyes and responded coolly:
"Luo Qing."
"Luo Qing?!"
Dori staggered backward dramatically.
"Well, you've certainly come to the right person…"
---
T/N: DAMNIT, EI, SHOGUN, UR MY LAST HOPE FOR MORE DRAMA!!!!!!
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