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“Meeting adjourned.”
The loud voice of the speaker announced, ending the weekly meeting of the Liyue Qixing just in time for lunch break. Keqing quickly shuffled to pack her belongings, eager to finally see Ganyu after being on an out-of-town business trip the week before.
Bracing for the large double doors, a familiar tall figure blocked her path making Keqing stop in her tracks.
“In a hurry my dear Yuheng? Oh, but may I speak with you for a quick moment?” Ningguang asked, interrupting Keqing’s supposed reunion with Ganyu.
Keqing briefly looked around the room, her eyes landing on Ganyu patiently waiting for her by the doorway with her lovely smile. Keqing gave a subtle nod to the secretary to go on ahead without her before facing the Tianquan and her all-knowing smirk. Soon enough, the two heads were the only ones left in the meeting room.
“What do you want?” Keqing crossed her arms, a little irritated with her only time to spend with her beloved getting stolen.
“My, no need to be so difficult. I simply wanted to check how Ganyu has been doing these past few days.”
Keqing huffed, “Why bother asking me when she’s your secretary as well, is she not? Anything relating to Ganyu you could easily ask her directly.” And with Keqing being away the past week due to work, she herself couldn’t have known how Ganyu had been doing either, her heart breaking at the thought.
The Tianquan breathed out a haughty laugh, “Yes, that is true. Although I couldn’t help but notice your and our dear secretary’s developing relationship.”
Keqing felt her brow twitch. Where was she going with this?
Ningguang shrugged her shoulders, “And besides, if her swelling belly and newly occupied ring finger weren’t any indications, I would have assumed you two were merely very close friends, hmm?”
Keqing sighed, a hand creeping up to rub her forehead of an incoming headache, “What do you really want, Ningguang?”
“You’re not entirely great at hiding your emotions, dear Yuheng.”
“Get to the point.” Keqing grunted.
The Tianquan produced a smoking pipe out of thin air and proceeded to twirl it within her fingers, “I have seen you intensely pine after Ganyu day after day. And I do say that it’s growing quite more obvious with each passing day.”
The Yuheng had her hand clenched into a fist, patience wearing thin. Each moment away from Ganyu was a moment too long.
Ningguang let out a smile, albeit an eerie one, “I do not know what had occurred to encourage the change nor have the desire to find out, but do listen to what I have to say Lady Yuheng; I know that you are aware of Ganyu’s situation. She is still the general secretary of the Liyue Qixing, and if anything happens to her you will be held accountable, I will make sure of that. I do hope that I make myself clear?”
Keqing gulped from the sudden threat, but all she could do was silently accept the words and nod. She never expected Ningguang to care about Ganyu’s well-being this much.
After the nearly threatening statement, Ningguang’s smile turned into a more genuine one, “And congratulations to you too, Keqing. You two make a wonderful couple together.”
The Tianquan drew her pipe towards her mouth and took a small puff, “Do send my regards to Ganyu. I fear if I deliver them myself she might faint from embarrassment, and that wouldn’t do any good to her, no?”
“I… I’ll let her know. Thank you, Ningguang.”
“Oh, and do send me an invitation to the wedding. I would love to attend my two dearest friends on their most special day.”
“...If it takes you to keep quiet about my private affairs, sure why not.”
Ningguang hummed, “...And the baby shower as well.”
Keqing sighed once again, her patience waning, “Fine.”
A laugh, “...Have I told you how lovely Ganyu’s mark looks on you?”
A vein finally popped.
“...Ningguang!”
“So, Lady Ningguang found out about us?” Ganyu curiously asked while her fingers combed through the soft locks framing her fiance’s face, head resting comfortably onto the half-Qilin’s bosom.
They were currently inside the Yuheng’s office laying down entangled with each other on their newly bought queen-sized bed, quietly basking in the afternoon light. With Ganyu’s pregnancy came a few small complications, one of which was her growing stomach.
Keqing would have loathed for Ganyu to take her regular naps on her hard wooden desk while carrying their unborn child, so she took matters into her own hands and ordered the most luxurious bed she could find in all of Liyue, much to the embarrassment of Ganyu. But this was Keqing we’re talking about, and she would do anything to make sure her mate was well taken care of.
“More than just found out, she’s fully expecting an invitation to our wedding… and the baby shower...” And probably many more events that related to her and Ganyu, but she was too tired to list them all.
Ganyu hummed, “Mmm, I think it sounds fun.” Her head raised in amusement. The thought of inviting all of the people they knew, no matter how strange they seemed to be, would surely make for an interesting occasion.
Keqing sighed once more, “Just make sure they promise to behave themselves whoever it is you decide to invite. I’m afraid the Tianquan might intend to use us as a means to make mora.”
Ganyu giggled, “I don’t think Lady Ningguang would do that.”
“Nng… You never know what goes on in that woman’s head. I’m amazed how you could stand working for her for so long.”
Ganyu tilted her head in teasing wonder, “Hmm? I seem to recall someone else that I’m currently working for that I used to be on bad terms with. Did someone forget their own history with me already?”
Keqing’s face inched closer to Ganyu’s neck to hide her reddening cheeks at the implication. “Ah… fair point.”
“Haha… With that said, you’ll get used to Lady Ningguang in due time.” Ganyu rubbed Keqing’s head in affection.
“Hmm, I hope so… Let’s talk about something else… My sweet rain, how have you been while I was away?” Keqing gave small soothing rubs to the bare skin her hands could touch from having missed Ganyu so much.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn't come across any problems but overall I feel much better now that you’re home, my sun.”
Keqing snuggled closer, “That gives me relief. I’m sorry for leaving you...”
“Hush… You were needed for the groundbreaking ceremony, and I didn't mind the alone time.” Ganyu reasoned.
“But you needed me more...” Keqing protested quietly.
“Yes, but you are also the Yuheng in case you forgot—”
Keqing quickly sealed Ganyu’s lips with a kiss, effectively ending their small banter. Once they pulled apart, Keqing looked into Ganyu’s eyes with passionate longing, fingertips caressing Ganyu’s soft cheeks.
“I missed you so much.”
Ganyu returned the gaze in full, “I missed you as well, my sun.”
Keqing slowly crawled down until she was face to face with Ganyu’s belly kissing the bare skin there, “And I missed you too, my little darling.” She gently caressed Ganyu’s slightly swelling stomach with her fingers, giving soothing sparks of pleasure to the both of them.
Keqing softly breathed in a sigh, “It pains me how we only have this moment to spend with each other before we take over our duties once again.”
Ganyu combed her own fingers through Keqing’s hair, scratching the scalp bringing a sense of calm to her mate, “We’ll get our time someday soon, for now let’s make this last.”
Keqing crawled towards Ganyu again until her face was resting on the Qilin’s neck, “Nnn, Ganyu… I wanna cuddle with you...”
“I recall you telling me how starved you were earlier. Aren’t you hungry?”
“Not anymore, just being with you made me feel full already—” A loud grumble interrupted her in mid-sentence, “...Or not.”
Ganyu softly chuckled, “Go on and eat, you’ll need the strength for later.”
“But it’s almost time for your afternoon nap. I’d hate to eat without you.”
Ganyu shook her head, “Just knowing you’re beside me right now is enough for me.”
Keqing leaned over to give a quick kiss to Ganyu’s temple then touched their foreheads together, “Then I’ll have someone fetch the food while I stay with you as you sleep until you wake up. Please, I’d hate to leave you to worry.”
Ganyu tightened her grip around Keqing’s body, her heart feeling much fuller from her words. Just how did she get such a loving and caring person such as Keqing to be her mate? Sometimes she felt so lucky.
Ganyu rested her chin on Keqing’s shoulder as they let themselves lay more comfortably on their bed.
“Then rest with me, love. I’m starting to feel very sleepy.” Ganyu whispered only the two of them could hear. Keqing cuddled even closer, her own body slowly succumbing to sleep.
“Sleep well, my darlings.”
Ganyu had some business near the port of Liyue Harbor, having been tasked to receive the shipment reports of all ingoing and outgoing ships traveling in Liyue.
In all seriousness, Ganyu was allowed to reject this particular assignment due to the travel distance between the Harbor and the Yuehai Pavilion on foot, and much to the Tianquan and Yuheng’s insistence for her to take it easy—especially the Yuheng’s— but Ganyu wasn’t the type to ‘take it easy’. She may be pregnant but she wasn’t crippled. Ganyu could just be as efficient as she normally would be without them having to worry about her too much.
And besides, she may have heard from Lady Ningguang murmuring to herself about Beidou and her crew coming back to Liyue after their long voyage from Inazuma, and Ganyu surely missed her dear friend for being gone for so long. Beidou always told the best stories and Ganyu couldn’t wait to hear about the pirate’s journey.
All the reminiscing caused Ganyu to forget her surroundings, making one sneaky pirate captain hiding behind a box of crates lunge at the unsuspecting secretary, squeezing her into a bone-crushing hug. Ganyu yelped in surprise at the sudden weight encircling her neck and was about to hit the offender with self-defense until a familiar chuckling voice reached her ears putting a pause to her action.
“Beidou?”
Ganyu turned around to look at the perpetrator and was pleasantly surprised to know she was right. Beidou grinned at the mention of her name and gave another light chuckle.
“Well someone’s glad to see me. What’s up, Ganyu?” Beidou chose that moment to release Ganyu from her strong grip, noticing the state she was in.
Ganyu fixed her clothes which became a bit wrinkled due to Beidou’s impromptu hug and instinctively hid her right hand from view, hiding her ring, “Of course I do. It’s been too long since we last saw each other. How was Inazuma?”
The pirate lifted her hand to her chin, recalling her journey in the Electro nation, “Eh, nothing much. The crew and I helped the traveler win a civil war and that’s about it.”
Beidou shrugged, her gaze much more focused on Ganyu like a hawk. Ganyu couldn’t have been more grateful that Keqing’s bite mark was well hidden under her clothes.
“But enough about me! Did anything happen when I was away?” The captain’s expression was giddy with excitement, like anything that Ganyu would spout from her mouth would dramatically be more interesting than a story about witnessing —and participating!— the conclusion of a two-year war. Ganyu merely let out a meek laugh avoiding Beidou’s curious gaze.
“Don’t be silly Beidou, there’s nothing interesting about my secretarial duties in the Qixing.” She waved her arm around, trying to redirect the topic away from herself.
Beidou shook her head, “Uhuh, but being a secretary isn’t the only thing you’re doing.” Technically, being a secretary was her job 24/7 but Ganyu may have adjusted her schedule to make more time for a certain cat bun-styled alpha.
“C’mon! Tell me all the juicy stuff, ya get laid yet?” Beidou asked with a slight wiggle to her eyebrows, the question itself leaving an intense heat in Ganyu’s cheeks by the indecent word choice.
...Not that it wasn’t true, but she promised Keqing to keep their relationship hidden until they were both ready to come clean to everyone. N-not the risque parts, mind you!
“W-wha… Y-you’re no better than Cloud Retainer! Asking such nonsensical questions…” Ganyu mumbled, clearly flustered at the suggestion.
The pirate rubbed her chin in slight interest, “Ohoh, so even that old Adeptus gets curious about your love life, now does she?”
“Y-yes, my non-existent love life. Now can we please leave this and talk about something else?” The half-Qilin was practically begging at this point.
Beidou clicked her tongue, adamant about not letting go of the topic, “But this is us catching up! C’mon, better tell me now before I resort to finding out through other means.”
“And that is?” Ganyu was afraid of the answer and Beidou letting out a knowing grin certainly didn’t help.
“Ningguang.”
And that one name was enough for Ganyu to spill her guts out, figuratively of course. What perfect timing that Lady Ningguang out of all people managed to discover her and Keqing’s well-kept secret just a few days prior, and that was all just from her keen observation.
“Alright I’ll tell you, but not here. I promised to keep this a secret from everyone.”
“Then let’s go to Xinyue Kiosk and eat! I’m starving from the trip and it’ll be my treat for my precious buddy taking the time to see me.” Beidou said with a wide grin and set off with Ganyu following behind her to the said restaurant.
When they arrived, Beidou was able to procure a slot within that same hour despite the usual reservation procedures needing to be sent a month in advance. Ganyu couldn’t tell if the reception staff was just charmed by the captain’s charisma or felt threatened because she was the ‘Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean’ suggesting she had unbelievable power and by rejecting her request, she’d unleash it onto them, which to Ganyu just sounded absurd.
Not too long after that thought process, they were quietly escorted to their table by the reception staff and asked for their orders. Xinyue Kiosk was known for their Yue style cooking, so Ganyu decided to order herself a Vegetarian Abalone and one order of Golden Shrimp Balls to go, a small apology gift to Keqing for breaking their promise once she gets home.
The staff quickly jotted down the last of their order and just as quickly left the two alone inside the extravagant room.
Beidou lightly tapped her fingers on the table, waiting for Ganyu to start. Ganyu didn’t even know how to start the conversation with the current atmosphere growing even more awkward with each passing second.
Beidou figured the awkwardness had gone on for too long and decided to break the silence, “Ehem, I got so excited to catch up with you that I forgot I brought you guys some souvenirs.” She turned to get her satchel behind her and rummaged through it to find Ganyu's souvenir.
The pirate's eyes lit up in triumph once she took out the object, “Ahah! Here you go, fresh from Inazuma! Er, as fresh as it could ever be I guess.”
Beidou handed a stack of slightly worn bookmarks, but what was in them was what caught Ganyu’s attention.
There was an assortment of colorful bookmarks, bright and vividly pigmented flowers of blues, pinks, and purples in different shapes and sizes delicately pressed onto the beautifully textured paper, creating a gorgeous scenic background detailing the land of Inazuma.
Ganyu especially loved the flowers pressed in each and every one of them. She only ever saw these species of flowers in books, but seeing them in the flesh, despite being in their pressed form, gave an entirely different warm feeling altogether.
Beidou rubbed the back of her head in light embarrassment, “Yeah… I wanted to bring back some fresh Inazuman flowers, but I figured they wouldn’t survive the trip home. So I asked the local publishing house to help me source and press them onto the bookmarks. Err…”
They both looked at the state of the bookmarks, obviously having as rough of a trip as the rest of Beidou’s crew, but Ganyu kept them close to her chest treasuring the gift nonetheless.
“These are lovely. Thank you, Beidou.”
Beidou let out a relieved laugh, “Hehe, don’t mention it!”
At that same moment, the staff came back with their food served in an intricate cart, placing each meal onto the rotating tray in the center of their table. The last one on the cart was her order for Keqing, the golden shrimp balls. Ganyu’s heart picked up speed when she realized that it wasn’t prepared for takeout like she wanted it to be.
“O-oh, that’s actually to go...” Ganyu softly reminded the waiting staff before they could serve it to them. Quickly apologizing for the mistake, they immediately headed back with a bow to pack the order. Ganyu hoped Beidou didn’t suspect anything from the short exchange but when she turned around to check, the pirate captain had crossed her arms together looking at her with slight mirth.
“So… who’re you giving those to?” Beidou asked with a large grin.
Ganyu internally gulped. There was no backing out from this one anymore. She clutched the bookmarks still in her hands harder from sheer nervousness, but was aware enough not to damage them. Ganyu took a deep breath, readying her confession.
“I’m sorry it took so long to tell you. It was just—I just… Keqing and I…”.
Seeing how nervous Ganyu was, Beidou shook her head and lightly patted her shoulder, stopping Ganyu from her ramble.
“Hey, hey… Don’t worry about it. And besides, I already figured as much, or else you wouldn’t have ordered those shrimp balls in the first place.”
The staff later came back with the takeout shrimp balls, further reminding Ganyu of how the truth came out. Beidou clicked her tongue and offered Ganyu her plate of Vegetarian Abalone, inviting her to start eating together. The atmosphere soon calmed down and the two enjoyed a quiet meal—save for Ganyu uncharacteristically stuffing her face with food.
“Ya know,” Beidou broke the silence while continuously munching on her Mora meat, “I was actually bluffing about the Ningguang part since you’re close with her and all. Probably knew your secret already.” The statement caught Ganyu’s attention.
Ganyu tilted her head in wonder, “Hm, but aren’t you also close with Lady Ningguang?”
Beidou almost choked, “Me? Close with that annoying woman? Who told you this?” Beidou continued chewing her food ignoring her earlier accident.
Ganyu brought a finger up to her chin, her earlier embarrassment seemingly vanished now that the topic shifted to the pirate captain.
“Well, Xiangling may have mentioned about you two playing chess aboard your ship… and the Traveler may have slipped about the part where you were the only other person who may visit as you pleased in the Jade Chamber. So I just assumed that meant you two were very good friends.”
As Ganyu recounted the multiple tales about Beidou and Ningguang’s ‘friendship’, the pirate captain seemed to look more and more uneasy as the stories went on.
“...Yeah, good friends. Let’s go with that.” Beidou said shakily as she gradually continued eating her meal, her distress painfully obvious. Ganyu shrugged at the reply and continued eating her own food in a starving manner.
“Yo, you sure are hungry today.” Beidou noticed, quietly sipping her drink.
“Oh! I apologize for my manners…” Ganyu paused and took a table napkin to wipe her mouth from leftover crumbs and to help cover her reddening face, “I’ve been having food cravings lately and I couldn’t stop myself from eating so carelessly.”
Beidou lifted an eyebrow, “Cravings?”
“Ah. The doctor did warn me of food cravings the last time I went to my appointment. My pregnancy will certainly make me hungry—” Before Ganyu could finish her sentence, a loud crash erupted from the room, nearly startling her from her seat. Ganyu looked up and focused on Beidou, the glass that used to be in her hand now turned into tiny chunks of crystals scattered on the ground.
“You’re WHAT?!”
“Stop sulking, Keqing.”
Ganyu giggled as she rubbed a gentle hand on her fiance’s back prompting Keqing to snuggle even closer to Ganyu well into the night in the comfort of their bedroom.
Ganyu had told Keqing of what transpired earlier that day. The more Keqing listened in about Ganyu’s fun but nerve-wracking reunion and meal together with the renowned pirate, the more envious she became. Keqing had held Ganyu in her arms in a firm hold, while being especially careful of Ganyu’s stomach area, and hasn’t let go since.
Keqing grumbled into the secretary’s neck, “Nng… I can’t help it. I rarely see you anymore, and the next thing I know, you’re having lunch with Beidou of all people.”
Ganyu giggled, finding Keqing’s jealousy endearing, “It was just a friendly lunch between Beidou and I, and from what I could tell, her and Lady Ningguang’s relationship may be tiptoeing the lines beyond friendship, don’t you think?”
Keqing let out a sigh, “...At least I have something to keep Ningguang’s mouth shut for once.”
Ganyu tugged at her arm, “Hey… You never know, they might even be soulmates.” She ended with a bit of a giggle.
“Hm…” Was Keqing’s lone reply.
They lay together in comfortable silence, their breaths the only source of sound resounding within the walls. It was a tranquil peace, but Ganyu could tell that something was bothering Keqing from the way her arms seemed to stiffen the longer she held onto her.
“Are you upset?” Ganyu whispered. “Is it because Beidou found out?”
Keqing gently shook her head, “...No, it’s not about that.”
Ganyu felt Keqing loosen her grip on her body and back away, the warmth they shared leaving with her.
“...Keqing?” Ganyu called out, sensing the change in atmosphere, she reached out her arm to pull Keqing back, but the younger woman seemed very adamant to stay curled up on her side of the bed.
The half-Qilin looked at her partner closely, seeing Keqing’s eyes closed and brows scrunched up in frustration and that was enough for Ganyu to get an idea of what the other woman was thinking.
Ganyu willingly stayed silent until Keqing opened up.
“I found the culprit today.” Keqing let out a shaky breath.
“...The culprit?”
“You know…” Keqing slowly opened her eyes to look into Ganyu’s, “The reason why we found out we’re soulmates…” And just as soon broke away, replaced with a look of disgust, not directed at Ganyu but at herself.
And Ganyu understood why.
Because Keqing never had truly forgiven herself for the incident.
Ganyu scooted closer to Keqing and wrapped her arms around the dejected woman. Keqing initially refused the act of comfort, but with every bit of Ganyu’s gentle coaxing, Keqing eventually relented to the touch and reciprocated. Their bodies naturally relaxed in each other’s arms finding their way back into a calming embrace.
“Can you tell me what happened?” Ganyu touched their foreheads together, making Keqing inevitably face her. Keqing let out a small breath before retelling the events earlier in the day.
“We found all the stolen suppressants hiding in an abandoned village somewhere northeast. The routes leading to it seem to be closed off or difficult to get to, making it the perfect hideout.”
Ganyu trailed her hand lower to hold Keqing’s.
“A few days ago, the millelith stationed nearest that area spotted a group of thieves transporting a large amount of cargo using the route leading to the village and reported it to me. So I led an investigation of the area this morning and in just a few hours, we were able to catch the same group carrying in more cargo filled with suppressants.”
Ganyu squeezed Keqing’s hand offering comfort, nodding for her to continue.
“We interrogated the captured thieves and initially, they only confessed to their crime of ambushing unsuspecting trade carts leading in and out of Liyue and then said that it was their idea of fun.”
Keqing let out another deep breath before continuing.
“But it didn’t make sense. Why would a group of thieves purposely steal the one object that can potentially cause chaos to a whole nation for months? It wasn’t until I threatened them with my Vision that they finally gave in.”
Keqing smirked at the memory but quickly morphed back to her neutral facade.
“It was the Fatui. A group of lower members who conspired with the thieves were behind everything. Since the initial plan failed, they thought they would gain favor from the higher-ups if this one came through. The thieves led us to them and we immediately apprehended each and every one of them.” Keqing used her free hand to pinch the bridge of her nose, upset.
“How could I let some lowly grunts get away with this? If I just did my job better then none of this would’ve…” Keqing started rambling, and Ganyu, having been silent the whole time, decided that this was the moment to speak up.
“Keqing, whatever you’re thinking it’s not your fault.” Ganyu wrapped her arms around Keqing’s whole body, the tense condition befalling her mate somewhat lessening. Keqing during this time had started shivering in her arms and soon the sounds of slight whimpering could be heard echoing in the room.
“It’s just… I could’ve done something. I’m the Yuheng, if I just did a thorough search in each existing village then maybe I could’ve prevented this from happening.” Keqing laid her head on Ganyu’s chest, feeling a bit lightheaded.
Ganyu shook her head, “And you can only do so much by yourself, Keqing. Please realize that none of us knew this was gonna happen.”
Keqing remained quiet in the midst of her anguish, Ganyu softly placed her hand on top of Keqing’s resting head.
“Keqing… we’ve talked about this before.”
Keqing shook her head lightly, “I know… but I just can’t help but feel this way. My thoughts keep reminding me of my failures, of what could have been. It's eating me up inside.”
Keqing remained passive from Ganyu’s touches. The half-Qilin narrowed her eyes from a passing dark thought.
“Then are you insinuating that you regret any of this happening?” Ganyu couldn’t stop the words from leaving her lips, but the intense atmosphere pushed her to say them, needing something to vent her frustrations out.
An audible gasp coming from below could be heard, and before Ganyu could utter an apology, she was pushed back towards the bed gently by the shoulders and a pair of warm lips pressed against her own. They let out all their pain, frustration, and love through the kiss, and by the time it ended, both Keqing and Ganyu calmed down and cuddled again with their foreheads touching.
“Ganyu… Don’t even dare imply what I think you’re saying. I love you and our baby so much that I will not trade you two for anything in the world.” Keqing said with eyes staring at her love with a burning passion. She intertwined one of her hands with Ganyu’s and squeezed.
“I’m sorry.” Keqing mumbled and kissed the interlaced fingers.
Ganyu gave a smile and shook her head, cuddling closer for warmth, “I’m sorry as well, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Keqing let out a small giggle, “No need, what you said made me come to my senses, even if it did hurt for a bit.”
Ganyu hummed in the enveloping calm silence, “Keqing, what happened in the past does not define who you are now. And it is up to the current you on how you choose to mold your future,” Ganyu squeezed her hand, “I will always be with you every step of the way, please don’t forget that.”
“Thank you, Ganyu, for always reminding me. I love you so much.” Before Keqing could lean in and give Ganyu another kiss, she felt from her hand that was holding onto Ganyu’s hip a strange movement, and no doubt Ganyu felt it as well.
“Oh, she kicked!”
Keqing immediately crawled down to place her ear next to Ganyu’s belly and to her delight, she felt another kick come up.
“She probably woke up because of her noisy parents.” Ganyu giggled and sighed in comfort when Keqing started caressing her stomach again.
“I’m sorry that your mamas woke you up my darling. But thank you for gracing us with your presence.” The kicking eventually stopped but the lingering feelings of happiness remained. Keqing and Ganyu made themselves comfortable and got ready for bed.
Ganyu gave one last sleepy smile, “I love you, my sun.”
“And I love you, my sweet rain.” Keqing breathed into the night bringing her two most precious people with her in her dreams.