Next, It's Your Own Business

Judging from the reactions of others, Liu Bai's situation... should be considered rather special, right?

Keqing pondered—although the others present were also inexperienced.

"It's much smaller than the ones I've seen before."

However, Keqing wasn't too surprised, since this was fairly basic knowledge.

Keqing can only say that this is the first time she has seen the real thing, and she is somewhat... well, eager to learn.

After a brief examination, Keqing inexplicably reached out her hand to Liu Bai.

"... So this is what it feels like."

Keqing tried her best to appear serious about studying in order to cover up her unease and shyness.

Someone like her, when she does something wrong for the first time, will constantly feel guilty even when no one is around.

"Ah... it's gotten bigger."

Keqing looked at the object in her hand that had expanded because of her handling, and her face showed surprise.

It feels a bit like... holding a balloon in your hand and blowing it up.

(...Aren't these two completely different things?)

It went from cute to vicious.

"What... what's the next step?"

Keqing was quite guilty, like a good student who had done something wrong.

She doesn't plan to continue, but... she has to restore this thing to its original state.

Can this be reset?

Although she thought it was unlikely, Keqing still reached out and pressed down from above.

... As expected, it didn't work. This feel doesn't seem like something that can work wonders with brute force.

Pressing it down again gave Keqing the feeling that she might break it.

Could it be that I'm going to... No, no, no! I absolutely won't do that! It's not like it's irreversible.

Well, based on what I've learned, if I just leave it alone, it will recover automatically after a while, right?

Then...

Keqing held the pocket watch; ten minutes passed, and Liu Bai showed no change.

"..."

Why can it get bigger but not smaller?

Keqing was slightly frustrated.

—(—Because the cage stops within the time limit, most of the judgments will be terminated, and only a portion of the judgments can still be carried out.

For example, when Liu Bai poured water for Pellervy, the water could be splashed out while it was in the bucket, but after it was splashed out, it remained suspended in mid-air.

At that time, Liu Bai complained that the time stop judgment was strange.

Keqing is now facing this situation.

Keqing was using it for the first time, so naturally she didn't understand what was going on—but even if she did, she couldn't solve the problem.

It is known that shrinking requires touching, touching may apply stimulation, and applying stimulation will cause it to grow larger...

"Never mind... I hope no one will notice if I cover myself with the blanket..."

They covered Liu Bai with the blanket again, not covering her completely, but not too conspicuous either. Oh well, they might as well try anything, since no one could say she did it anyway.

Keqing glanced at the pocket watch, which had regressed nearly half an hour, and felt a pang of guilt. She sat back in the spot where time had stopped. Taking a deep breath, Keqing pressed the button.

"Has anything changed, Keqing?"

Ningguang's voice rang out.

The world has returned to normal.

Keqing glanced at the blanket and replied calmly, "Nothing has changed."

Looking for a watchmaker?

"Forget it, it's better to avoid trouble."

Keqing shook her head, put down her pocket watch, and stood up to walk in front of Ningguang.

"Let's go. As for Liu Bai's place... there shouldn't be a shortage of people willing to come and keep watch, not to mention that Miss Xueyi just went out to throw out the trash and will be back in a bit."

Keqing stood between Ningguang and the bed, speaking calmly.

"Find Kujou Sara."

Ningguang was easily diverted from the topic by Keqing.

Ningguang had nothing to say about abandoning the clock project halfway through; she was simply worried that Liu Bai's pocket watch would break.

Since it was inherently bad, the issues they discussed later were unnecessary; they were merely done out of courtesy.

It didn't matter if Keqing didn't do it, and even Ningguang felt relieved; at least not doing anything meant no harm was done.

"Okay, then let's find Kujou."

Keqing nodded. Now, let alone finding Kujou, she even agreed to let Ningguang find Yelan in order to get Ningguang away.

After the shift changes... things should return to normal, right?

Keqing really wanted to look back, but she couldn't resist her guilty conscience and was Keqing restraining her instincts.

It's great that Ningguang didn't suspect anything... No, I should really reflect on myself.

I absolutely must not do this again!

"I've already sent the message, now..."

"How about we find a place to rest first? Anyway, no one else will come in here."

"... Alright."

Ningguang glanced at Keqing.

Keqing's heart skipped a beat—had she been a little too deliberate just now?

Ningguang only glanced at it twice and didn't say anything more before leaving with Keqing.

"Are you really alright?"

As Keqing closed the door, Ningguang suddenly asked a question.

"Huh?! No, it's nothing, of course it's nothing."

"...Yeah?"

Ningguang looked doubtful.

"But your performance just now..."

Ningguang believed that Keqing wouldn't hide anything important, but Keqing was acting very "rushed" right now.

Keqing's "swift and decisive" approach is not about rushing in headfirst, but about making steady decisions and taking decisive action.

Keqing was clearly a little impatient just now—she suddenly became impatient.

That's why Ningguang asked that question.

"I... I..."

Keqing and made a decision.

"Hey, get up."

"...What?"

"That's the one."

Keqing gestured – this was her strategy: to cover up the first lie with the second, and to cover up the big one with the small one.

It's not a brilliant method, but it seems to be the only one that works right now.

The fewer people who know about the pocket watch, the better.

Ningguang paused for a moment after understanding, then burst into laughter.

Keqing was naturally a little embarrassed by this.

Having said that, Ningguang naturally wouldn't press the matter further.

"Try to understand, Mengliu; Mr. Bai is, after all, young and vigorous." Ning's wife casually offered a few words of comfort.

Although both she and Keqing were young women, they were ultimately of different ages, and today's situation was indeed a bit difficult for Keqing.

If it were a different era, Keqing would already be "unmarriageable".

"Excuse me, the Shogun."

Ningguang and Keqing had just reached the top of the stairs when Kujou Sara arrived right behind them.

Even though she knew Liu Bai was sleeping inside, Kujou Sara still knocked on the door twice quietly before entering, and respectfully whispered something.

Then Kujou Sara tiptoed to Liu Bai's side and pulled back the curtains slightly so she could see the night outside.

"... The moonlight is beautiful."

Kujou Sara couldn't help but murmur.

Did I open the curtains because I wanted to say that, or did I want to say that after I opened the curtains?

A slight blush crept onto Kujou Sara's face, which, combined with her upright posture, was unexpectedly endearing—unfortunately, no one was there to appreciate it now.

However, it was precisely this "serious shyness" that made Kujou Sara subconsciously lower her head and notice Liu Bai's blanket.

"So energetic? Truly... worthy of being the Shogun."

Kujou Sara slightly lifted the blanket, glanced at it, and then prepared to put it down.

However, Kujou Sara was soon filled with a sense of melancholy.

Now... who is the person in the Shogun's dream?

Surely... it couldn't be me?

Kujou Sara felt a slight pang of sadness in her heart.

Kujou Sara is not a cold person, but rather a typical example of someone who is outwardly cold but inwardly warm due to poor communication skills.

In the stillness of the night, alone in a room with her beloved, Kujou Sara naturally felt a touch of girlish melancholy.

Just like the girl who sat in the same chair before her, Kujou Sara also inexplicably lifted Liu Bai's blanket.

"... This body is meant to serve the general."

Kujou Sara took a deep breath and brushed a strand of hair from her temple.

This is a very normal statement.

Before Liu Bai and Zhen confirmed their relationship, Kujou Sara kept reminding herself of this phrase and avoiding feelings.

However, after Liu Bai became the New General, this sentence took on a new meaning.

So much so that, out of shyness, Kujou Sara rarely thinks about this phrase in her mind anymore.

Now, Kujou Sara brings up this phrase again—to encourage himself.

Kujou Sara lowered her head, looking at what was in front of her.

"... Please forgive me for overstepping my bounds."

The exhaled breath seemed to stimulate Liu Bai again.

However, for Kujou Sara, who had made up her mind, this was no longer important.

Chapter 255 The rest is up to you.

"Ugh... cough cough cough...!!"