Let's All Eat Together

In the bedroom, Ye Ming looked at the lone twenty-four-inch suitcase behind the door, somewhat surprised.

Generally speaking, whether it was a girl or a guy moving house, they would have quite a bit of luggage, right? Ye Ming had not expected Keqing's belongings to fit into just one suitcase.

"Mm, this is all my luggage. There are a few changes of clothes inside, toiletries, and things like that."

Keqing nodded vigorously. "Since I haven't been on the mainland for long, and work was busy recently, I didn't have time to buy a lot of things. So for now, this is all I have. Isn't it convenient for moving?"

"But..."

After her moment of pride, Keqing furrowed her brow slightly, looking troubled.

"Precisely because I haven't bought many things, daily life has been a little inconvenient. For example, I only have two or three professional outfits to change into, and not a single casual outfit for everyday wear."

"Besides clothes, there are lots of everyday things I still haven't had time to buy."

As she spoke, Keqing sighed and said helplessly, "I can only slowly buy the things I'm missing later. But I've just arrived in this city, so I'm unfamiliar with the roads, the stores, and everything else. It's really troubling."

"It's fine. I'll go shopping with you from now on," Ye Ming promised.

Keqing raised her head and looked at Ye Ming in surprise. "Huh? Really? Wouldn't that trouble you?"

"How could shopping with my wife be troublesome? Keqing, since we're going to live together from now on, you can tell me directly about anything you want."

"Mm." Keqing nodded, unable to stop the corners of her lips from lifting happily.

She was very happy.

She was happy not only because of Ye Ming's words, but also because another step in her carefully laid plans had succeeded.

That's right! Bringing only a single suitcase of luggage had been part of Keqing's plan as well.

Before meeting Ye Ming, Keqing had loved working very much. Aside from working diligently, shopping had been one of the few ways she relieved stress and relaxed.

Keqing loved shopping. Even though she had only been on the mainland for a short time, the wardrobe in her villa was already filled with clothes, jewelry, and various other things she had bought. Some were things she liked, while others had been purchased simply because she found them novel or interesting.

But when she packed, Keqing had not brought a single one of those things.

She had brought only a few changes of clothes and necessary toiletries.

The benefits of doing so were obvious.

In the future, she could naturally go shopping with Ye Ming. Once there was a first time, a second, a third, and many more would follow naturally.

That would not only increase the time she spent with Ye Ming, but more importantly, it would let her raise Ye Ming's affection for her as much as possible while shopping, warming their relationship.

As for the specific details, Keqing had planned them out long ago.

As the former head of land planning in Liyue Harbor, Keqing lacked neither strategic vision for the big picture nor the ability to make detailed plans for execution.

She was confident that, given one or two months, she could completely solidify her advantage and no longer fear any challenge from a love rival!

Better still, as the one responsible for finding information about Ye Ming, she was the only one among the people of Liyue to have come to the mainland. When to tell Ganyu the news was entirely up to Keqing.

So, having reached this point, Keqing felt that victory was already in her grasp. Things could not possibly be more secure.

"Then, after we move my luggage, could you come shopping with me for a bit?"

Keqing took the opportunity to make her request.

"Sure."

Of course, Ye Ming would not refuse. "I already have bedding and things like that at home. Of course, if you don't like them, we can replace them. Once we drop off your luggage, I'll go shopping with you."

As he spoke, Ye Ming thought for a moment before adding, "But it's best not to shop for too long. Since this is your first day moving in, I'm planning to buy ingredients early and cook a nice meal. When Fu Hua gets home tonight, we can all have a good dinner together. On one hand, it'll welcome you here, and on the other, it'll make up for Fu Hua's welcome dinner. We can all get to know each other properly over the meal."

Ye Ming mentioned Fu Hua, but not Laffey.

Because in Ye Ming's heart, tonight's meal was not a welcome banquet for Laffey.

He remembered that a few years ago, when he first started playing Azur Lane, he had chosen Laffey as his starter around April. As for the exact day, too much time had passed, and Ye Ming could not remember clearly.

But recently, Ye Ming had been trying every possible way to determine the exact dates—not only the date he first met Laffey, but also the date he married her in the game, as well as Laffey's birthday—though Ye Ming did not know whether Laffey's birthday was the day she had been built in the game or the day the real White Eagle destroyer Laffey had been launched.

Once he confirmed the dates, Ye Ming planned to give Laffey a surprise of her own, with just the two of them.

After all, Laffey was the first girl to find him. She was the cutest Laffey, his Ship-Girl, his Oath Ship, his little angel.

He had a responsibility to make the little girl happy.

Of course, Keqing was his wife too, and making his wife happy was also Ye Ming's responsibility. But Laffey was still a little girl, after all. Ye Ming felt that it was only natural to spoil a little girl a bit more, right?

Pulling Keqing's suitcase, Ye Ming accompanied her to check out at the hotel front desk. Under the excessively respectful gaze of the receptionist, Ye Ming and Keqing got into the car and returned to the residential complex where Ye Ming lived.

When they got home and opened the door, they happened to see Laffey lying on the sofa with her eyes half-closed, unclear whether she was asleep or watching TV through half-lidded eyes, along with Yae Sakura beside her, watching television with Laffey.

Hearing the door open, Yae Sakura turned around. When she saw Ye Ming entering with Laffey's suitcase, a flash of surprise passed through her eyes.

Then Keqing followed behind Ye Ming and entered through the door as well.

Yae Sakura froze.

"Hello. Sorry for the trouble these past couple of days. My Laffey didn't cause you any trouble, did she?"

Seeing Yae Sakura, Ye Ming smiled as he expressed his gratitude, then introduced her to Keqing. "This is Yae Sakura, Fu Hua's friend. She's been looking after Laffey these past couple of days."

After a slight pause, Ye Ming looked at Yae Sakura again and introduced Keqing. "This is Keqing, my wife."

Everyone, Let's Have Dinner Together

"This is Keqing, my wife."

The moment those words left his mouth, Ye Ming felt that Yae Sakura's expression seemed to stiffen slightly. He wondered if it was just his imagination.

However, before Ye Ming could take a closer look, Laffey, who had heard his voice, had already pounced on him.

"Commander, you came back so early today. Did you miss Laffey?"

"Mm, that's right. Commander missed Laffey so much he was dying, so he came back early to see Laffey." Ye Ming bent down and picked Laffey up, smiling brightly. "What about Laffey? Did you miss Commander?"

"No. Laffey definitely didn't miss Commander so much that she couldn't sleep. Probably."

Though she said that, even an idiot could see the little girl's feelings, right?

Ye Ming rubbed his face against Laffey's little cheek and introduced Keqing to her. "Laffey, this is Keqing. You met her last weekend. Starting today, she'll be moving in and living with us. You can call her Big Sister from now on."

"Big Sister?"

Hearing that, Laffey examined Keqing with her beautiful wine-red eyes. After a moment, she realized that this purple-haired woman should be the newlywed Oath Ship to whom her Commander had given a ring yesterday.

"Big Sister Keqing, my name is Laffey. Please take care of me from now on."

Keqing smiled brightly. "Hello, Laffey. Big Sister will also be in your care from now on."

Keqing also liked this adorable Laffey, a little girl who could not possibly be a love rival.

That was only natural. Who would not like a sensible and adorable little girl?

Keqing was not the only one who liked Laffey. Yae Sakura liked her too. But liking Laffey was one thing; at this moment, seeing Ye Ming, Keqing, and Laffey looking as harmonious as a family of three, Yae Sakura could not feel happy no matter what.

Wasn't this woman the one who had struck up a conversation with Ye Ming on the subway?

Why? Why had this woman appeared so many days later than them, yet somehow ended up by Ye Ming's side and become his wife?

She was even about to start living with him!

What exactly had happened?

Did Fu Hua know about this? If she did, why hadn't she told me?

Yae Sakura's mind was in utter turmoil.

The three people by the door looked like a harmonious family of three, while she, in the living room, was an unrelated outsider who could only watch helplessly...

Yae Sakura felt bitterness in her mouth and stinging in her eyes. She wanted to cry a little.

I can't cry! I have to be elegant!

Yae Sakura forced herself to pull herself together. She rose from the sofa, tried hard to lift the corners of her lips, and revealed a stiff smile.

"Hello, my name is Yae Sakura."

Yae Sakura extended her hand toward Keqing.

"Hello, my name is Keqing."

Keqing reached out and shook Yae Sakura's hand. Noticing Yae Sakura's somewhat stiff expression, vigilance immediately rose in her heart.

A woman's sharp intuition told Keqing that this beautiful girl with cherry-colored hair was very likely a potential love rival!

How should she deal with a love rival?

Keqing revealed an enthusiastic smile.

"So you're Yae Sakura. I've been hearing Ye Ming mention you these past two days, saying how kind and helpful you are. Our Laffey has received so much care from you recently. Seeing you today, I've discovered that not only are you warmhearted, you're also so beautiful. What a surprise."

Our Ye Ming? Ye Ming was already yours?

Bitterness welled up in Yae Sakura's heart, but looking at Keqing's enthusiastic smile, she did not know what to do. With her mind in chaos, she instinctively chose to run away.

"Not at all. Keqing, you're very beautiful too."

As she spoke, Yae Sakura looked at Ye Ming and forced a smile. "Since you came back early, I'll leave Laffey to you. I'll head home first."

"Don't rush off. I'm going out to buy groceries in a bit, then I'll personally cook a nice meal. You're Fu Hua's friend, and you've also taken such good care of Laffey these past two days. I've never had the chance to thank you properly. This is a perfect opportunity, so stay and have dinner with us."