Suddenly, Makoto's imposing aura softened. She smiled gently, like a kind older sister, taking Layla's hand and speaking in a warm tone.
"Could you tell me how Luo Qing saved you?"
"Huh...?"
Layla's face turned awkward, and she looked down, mumbling softly.
"Well... it was outside the city. I was attacked by monsters, and Luo Qing stepped in to save me..."
"So that's how it happened."
Makoto's lips curled into a knowing smile, her sidelong glance at Luo Qing seeming to say: You're quite something, huh? Already a hero saving damsels in distress?
"Well then, perfect timing. We were just about to start preparing lunch. Since Miss Layla wants to help out..."
Makoto's eyes shifted back to Luo Qing.
"Would you mind running out to buy some sandworm meat for us, brave hero?"
"Didn't we already have plenty of meat at home? Alright, alright, I'll go."
With a single sharp look from Makoto, Luo Qing slinked out of the house without further protest.
Clearly, Makoto wanted to speak with Layla alone. Whether it was to assert her position or to pull Layla into her camp, Luo Qing didn't care. As long as it didn't cause him trouble, he was happy to comply.
---
Meanwhile...
Watching Luo Qing submit so obediently to this seemingly sweet and gentle woman, Layla couldn't help but be surprised. Who is this woman to keep that scoundrel Luo Qing so firmly under control?
"Come now, Layla."
Makoto gently took Layla's hand and led her toward the living room.
"Let me help you get familiar with the place."
---
Not long after...
When Luo Qing returned from the Grand Bazaar with the sandworm meat, the dining table was already set with an array of dishes. It looked like they hadn't needed the meat at all.
"You've already finished cooking? Then why send me out to buy this?"
"Because what you bought is for dinner, of course. Any problems with that?" Makoto's expression was so matter-of-fact that Luo Qing could only sigh.
"Wash your hands. We're all waiting for you."
"..."
---
The four of them sat at the table: Luo Qing at the head, Makoto to his right, Theresa to his left, and Layla sitting a little farther away.
Layla couldn't help but glance at the trio from time to time.
Theresa, the petite girl with a lively demeanor, was constantly scooping food onto Luo Qing's plate, affectionately calling him "Lord" with every sentence.
On the other side, Makoto carried herself with the grace of a perfect housewife, chatting with Luo Qing about domestic matters with a warm smile.
The three of them got along so naturally and harmoniously that there wasn't a trace of tension between them.
How does Luo Qing manage this?!
Layla felt completely out of place.
She had come here today to thank Luo Qing and settle her debt. In the process, she'd also hoped to warn him to stay away from her outer persona.
But now she felt like an outsider, a stranger intruding on their world.
Even in the kitchen earlier, she had barely been able to help. She'd only managed to cook her signature dish; the rest was all Makoto's work, while Layla had been relegated to washing vegetables and other minor tasks.
Can I even consider my debt paid after this?
Lost in thought, Layla suddenly heard Makoto's voice.
"Here, try Layla's dish—'Dreamy Rosette Custard.' It's quite wonderful."
Layla looked up to see Makoto placing her dish in front of Luo Qing, then winking playfully at her.
"So, Layla, how did you and Luo Qing meet?"
"Uh..."
Layla froze.
Could she admit that she'd woken up to find Luo Qing in her bedroom, tying her up with no explanation and asking about her hobbies?
Could she mention that this jerk had even touched her hands and feet?
She glanced at Luo Qing, who looked equally uneasy, and an idea struck her. This guy seems utterly submissive to Makoto. Maybe I can use that...
With a faint pout and a touch of grievance in her voice, she murmured,
"It's nothing, really... Luo Qing just barged into my room, claimed he was fulfilling a commission, tied me up, and started asking about my hobbies..."
"Oh?"
Theresa, who had been quietly focused on her meal, suddenly perked up.
"Did Lord only tie you up? He didn't do anything else?"
"Huh?"
Layla blinked, confused. "He... he also touched my hands and feet..."
"Now that sounds more like it."
Theresa nodded in satisfaction and returned to her meal without another word.
She clearly had no intention of stepping into the brewing storm, leaving the situation to Makoto.
"Oh?"
Makoto raised an eyebrow at Luo Qing, her smile carrying a hint of amusement.
"Misunderstanding... it's all a misunderstanding!" Luo Qing quickly interjected.
"Hmph. I know you too well."
Makoto let out a soft huff before turning back to Layla. She took Layla's hand gently, her tone as sweet as ever.
"Layla, if Luo Qing ever bullies you again, come straight to me. I'll make sure he gets what he deserves. I won't let him mistreat you."
"Thank you... Makoto... sister..."
Layla murmured softly, though she couldn't shake the strange feeling in her heart.
Why does this sound so odd? Luo Qing didn't actually do anything to me... so what's with this "I'll protect you" vibe?
---
Lunch eventually came to an end.
Layla felt a wave of relief wash over her. From this moment on, she resolved to treat Luo Qing as nothing more than a stranger. She had repaid her debt, and that was that.
With her outer persona's sleep period nearing its end, Layla politely declined Makoto's invitation to go out for a walk and chat.
As Makoto and Luo Qing headed to the kitchen to clean up, Layla prepared to slip away quietly.
But before she could leave, the eccentric Theresa appeared in front of her.
"You're leaving?"
"Y-yes, Theresa... sister. I have something to attend to, so I need to head back."
"I see..."
Theresa pulled her aside, glancing toward the kitchen with a conspiratorial look.
"Listen, you've got to pick up the pace, Third Sister. There are lots of people watching."
"Huh?"
Layla froze.
"Theresa, I think there's been a misunderstanding. I don't like Luo Qing..."
"I get it!"
Theresa's expression was one of total understanding.
"Girls like you are always shy and reserved. That's normal. But if you stay reserved for too long, it might be too late!"
"..."
Layla was at a loss for words.
When did I ever say I was being reserved?! I'm trying to avoid him, not get closer!
"Theresa, I really think you've misunderstood. I only came here to repay Luo Qing for saving my life."
"Oh, sure, sure."
Theresa nodded knowingly.
"A life-saving debt can only be repaid with a lifelong commitment, right?"
"..."
"Trust me, you've got to act fast. You're Number Three, after all. If you don't get on board... hey, wait, don't leave! I'm not finished yet—"
Before Theresa could finish, Layla fled, her face burning red.
What is wrong with this family?!
If their man likes another girl, shouldn't they be upset?
Why are they actively helping Luo Qing instead? And what does she mean by 'get on board'?!
---
Greetings, esteemed reader.
Your presence throughout this chapter's journey is deeply appreciated. In Liyue, we hold that every tale, much like the enduring stone, gains strength through the appreciation of those who encounter it.
Should you wish to support WiseTL's dedicated endeavors in bringing these narratives to you, you may consider visiting:
[patreon.com/WiseTL].
Even the most modest contribution serves as a cornerstone, fortifying the foundation upon which future stories are built.
With sincere regards,
Zhongli
Your support has carved the path for these bonus chapters—may they bring you joy.
---
Since then, she had seemingly vanished, leaving Luo Qing to wonder if she was deliberately avoiding him.
Meanwhile, Rosalyne and her group had returned to Sumeru City after completing a month-long "training session" at the Tanit Tribe.
By now, the Tanit Tribe had fully adopted Luo Qing's "new youth, new ideas" philosophy. The regimented schedule of 5,000-word essays and mandatory morning and evening exercises had become second nature to them, even appearing in their dreams.
The result? There was little left for Luo Qing to extract in terms of frustration value.
However, Luo Qing had managed to save up enough frustration points to fund another 50 draws, bringing his total to a tantalizing 90.
---
That night, after a relaxing fishing trip and a hearty dinner, Luo Qing wasted no time. He scooped Makoto up, carried her to their bedroom, and tossed her onto the bed, ready to dive into a new round of gacha.
"The sun hasn't even fully set yet. Why are you in such a hurry today?"
Makoto looked at him in mild surprise.
Usually, it was she who initiated their nighttime activities, teasing him into succumbing to her temptations. On rare occasions, they'd invite Theresa to join their little symphony. Luo Qing, however, rarely acted so enthusiastically on his own.
To her surprise, Luo Qing hurriedly stripped off his shirt, climbed onto the bed, and took her hand with barely contained excitement.
"Hurry, I need a lap pillow!"
Without waiting for her response, he plopped his head into her lap and shut his eyes.
"Ah... Oh..."
Though puzzled, Makoto shrugged it off. Since Luo Qing liked it this way, she had no complaints. She adjusted her neckline, exposing her smooth, delicate shoulders, and pulled him closer.
Luo Qing, his head nestled comfortably in Makoto's lap, closed his eyes and mentally opened the gacha interface.
The last time he had used Makoto's lap pillow, he'd gotten incredibly lucky—pulling a rare item within just 50 draws.
Now, staring at the glimmering golden item labeled [Authority: Void] in the prize pool, Luo Qing felt a rush of confidence.
"Ten-pull, go!"
Purple lights flashed on the screen.
Then again.
And again.
On his fourth ten-pull, gold streaked across the interface—a brilliant meteor blazing across the heavens.
"Only 40 pulls?!" Luo Qing was stunned.
Could it be that the lap pillow was some kind of good-luck charm? Is this spot really blessed?
Opening his inventory, he saw the golden item gleaming there, though something about its design seemed... off.
"Hm?"
Curious, Luo Qing clicked to read the description.
[Companion Ability: Mental Suggestion]
Usage: Enables the user to forcibly impose mental suggestions on targets with lower mental power, manipulating their actions to align with the user's will. Can influence stronger targets to varying degrees, depending on their mental resilience.Notes: Can be enhanced using Emotion Item Cards (+0.1% effect per card) or identical items (+20% effect per duplicate).
Additional Info: This is a permanent gold item and can appear in any gacha pool.
Luo Qing blinked, dumbfounded.
So this gacha pool can roll permanent items?!
Had he never noticed because he'd never hit a pity-off before?
Apparently, this ability was meant to be his all along; it had just taken him this long to pull it.
Still, no complaints—this item was immensely useful. With it, Luo Qing wouldn't need to rely on specific emotion cards for manipulation anymore.
Satisfied, Luo Qing turned his attention back to the remaining 50 pulls.
With Makoto's lap pillow proving so lucky, he decided to go all in.
On his 90th pull, golden light once again erupted from the screen.
"Here we go..."
Luo Qing opened his inventory to see the new item—a true jackpot this time.
[Authority: Void]
Usage: Allows the user to exponentially expand the Void's range based on their attributes and grants maximum Void authority.
Notes: The Void's range can extend to cover all of Teyvat. Requires the Heart of the God of Wisdom to sustain maximum authority, ensuring no entity can override the user's control.
Luo Qing's excitement spiked as he stared at the description.
Is this the power of the lap pillow?!
Two gold items in 90 pulls—one off-pity and one guaranteed. This was a fantastic outcome!
He glanced through the rest of the rewards:
[Scientific Railgun] (Purple) x1
[Affinity Boost Card ProMax] (Purple) x2
[Simulated Mask] (Purple) x1
[Interstellar Flush Toilet] (Purple) x1
[Toilet Stabilizer] (Purple) x2
[Scientific Railgun]: Grants the ability to manipulate electromagnetic forces, scaling with physical strength.
[Toilet Stabilizer]: An external stabilizer for the Interstellar Flush Toilet, ensuring stable transmission to another toilet equipped with a stabilizer, unaffected by random spatial fluctuations.
The Railgun? Meh—it was barely useful given his current abilities.
But the Toilet Stabilizer? Now that was a game-changer. Luo Qing could install teleporting toilets in various locations, drastically cutting down travel time. Plus, no more worrying about accidentally landing in Ei's Plane of Euthymia.
Feeling pleased with his haul, Luo Qing opened his eyes. He found Makoto leaning down, her soft chest pressing against his head as their foreheads nearly touched.
"All done," Luo Qing murmured, sitting up from her lap with a contented smile. He pulled Makoto into his arms, holding her tightly.
She's my lucky charm.
"What's gotten into you?" Makoto asked softly, resting her head against his chest and poking him playfully.
"Makoto, promise me you'll never leave me. Ever."
Luo Qing's tone was both sincere and tender.
"Why are you saying this all of a sudden?"
Makoto blushed.
Though they were already like an old married couple who had explored every possible dynamic, his sudden earnestness made her heart flutter.
"Just feeling sentimental," Luo Qing said, shaking his head with a smile. His hands, however, had begun wandering.
"Since I'm in such a good mood today, you can do whatever you want to me," he whispered, blowing softly into her ear.
"Really?" Makoto perked up, her eyes sparkling.
"Really."
"Even the thing with the whip and candles I mentioned before?"
"..."
"Yes."
"Great! I'll go get Theresa!"
With a delighted grin, Makoto bolted out the door, eager to bring Theresa in on the fun.
This family... Luo Qing sighed, shaking his head but unable to suppress a smile.
---
T/N: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOIT THE MINDCONTROL THINGGG hopefully he doesn't use it in that way :((
Greetings, esteemed Readers,
Your steadfast support throughout this journey has been as constant as the tides and as enduring as stone. In the spirit of gratitude, I am pleased to announce the release of bonus chapters, a reflection of your unwavering dedication and enthusiasm.
Should you wish to continue fortifying the foundation of these tales, WiseTL's efforts can be supported here:
[patreon.com/WiseTL].
Even the humblest contribution becomes part of an enduring legacy, a cornerstone for tales yet to unfold.
With utmost sincerity,
— Zhongli
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