"Yes, she was rich, and she had plenty of Floating Stone. Why not?"
Bai Ye wore the expression of a complete money-grubber.
"Really? Then that would be wonderful."
Hearing Bai Ye's answer, Hagintos was also extremely happy.
Listening to her, Bai Ye could not help teasing, "Teacher, you always used to complain that I was money-minded, but compared to me, you're even more obsessed with money."
"Hmph, do you think I'm a money-grubber like you?"
Hagintos said unhappily,
"I was thinking that if you could cooperate with one of the Seven Stars of Liyue, wouldn't that give you a stable source of income? Then you wouldn't have to go recklessly adventuring everywhere."
Whenever Hagintos watched Bai Ye go out on adventures, she was always on edge.
She was terrified that something might happen to him.
Before, she had needed Floating Stone, so she could only watch as Bai Ye went off and did all sorts of things.
Now that she saw he could find a suitable way to earn an income,
she naturally did not want Bai Ye to risk going on adventures again.
"Teacher, even if I have an income now, I'll still go adventuring. After all, I don't go on adventures solely for money."
Bai Ye had finished eating by then. As he cleaned up, he spoke to his teacher.
"Why?"
"Of course, it's to find a way to restore you, Teacher. The current Floating Stone is only a temporary measure. I'm worried that if one day even Floating Stone can no longer sustain you, what will I do then?"
During the Archon War, Liyue had undoubtedly been one of the regions with the fiercest battles. Across its lands lay many ruins of fallen gods and adeptal abodes.
Bai Ye thought that perhaps one of them held a way to restore his teacher.
"Mm. You need to be careful."
Hagintos did not refute Bai Ye, because she knew perfectly well that there was absolutely no room for argument when it came to restoring her.
"Of course."
Bai Ye stretched lazily.
"Teacher, I'm going to take a bath. Close off your vision now."
"Got it~"
Hagintos shut off her vision.
Bai Ye headed into the washroom.
There was a scale by the door that measured height and weight.
Bai Ye stepped onto it with great anticipation,
then walked into the washroom looking utterly dejected.
"Why did it have to be Anemo..."
The next day,
while Bai Ye was still resting, there came a knock at the door.
"So early?"
Wearing loose pajamas and barefoot, Bai Ye walked to the door.
When he opened it, Yelan was standing outside waiting for him.
"Not early at all..."
Seeing Bai Ye like that, Yelan could not help turning her head away.
His platinum-blond hair was smooth as silk. With his eyes half-closed, he looked like a sleepy little cat. His pajamas revealed his delicate collarbones and fair chest, while his handsome face and adolescent build only made the sight more striking.
"Go put on some proper clothes first."
Yelan rubbed her nose and shut the door.
Bai Ye lightly patted his cheeks, changed clothes, and opened the door again.
Seeing that Bai Ye had returned to his dashing young swordsman attire, Yelan sighed in relief. She then said to him,
"I finished my business early, so I've had free time for a while. I still need to investigate the Fatui. Recently, their activities have become increasingly brazen. If we don't find out what they're up to soon, who knows what damage they might cause in Liyue?"
The Fatui's activities...
Bai Ye thought of how Mondstadt was already suffering from the dragon disaster.
He said to Yelan, "Those people might be after the Hundred-Binding Scroll."
I've seen the plot. I might as well tell you directly.
"Hm? How did you know that?"
Hearing Bai Ye say that, Yelan raised an eyebrow.
"That's my own intelligence."
"Always acting mysterious." Yelan rolled her eyes at Bai Ye. "Come on. I'll investigate the Hundred-Binding Scroll later. For now, I'll take you to see Ningguang."
"Mm-hmm."
Bai Ye immediately followed Yelan outside.
This time,
Yelan walked ahead, while Bai Ye followed behind her.
Yelan remembered how, the last time she had followed Bai Ye, so many people had talked about them. Now that their positions had been switched, what would the result be?
To her surprise, none of the onlookers found anything strange.
Yelan could not quite understand it. At times, being young could be both a disadvantage and an advantage.
Was it really a problem for a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old boy in the hazy throes of puberty to glance a few extra times at a beautiful older woman? It was not as though he had touched her.
Yelan felt a little depressed.
She led Bai Ye to Yujing Terrace.
Someone had long been waiting for him there.
"Young Master Bai Ye, greetings. I am Buyun, an attendant of Lady Ningguang. I will guide you up to the Jade Chamber."
The middle-aged man spoke to Bai Ye.
"Alright."
Bai Ye nodded.
Then, Buyun made a light gesture, and a piece of Floating Stone descended.
"Young Master Bai Ye, Miss Yelan, please."
Buyun gestured for Bai Ye and Yelan to step on.
After the two stood on it, he operated it again, causing the Floating Stone to rise toward the Jade Chamber.
While they floated upward, Bai Ye could not help crouching down to touch the Floating Stone.
Yelan's heart skipped a beat at the sight.
"Don't you dare make a move now."
"Don't worry. I may love money, but I'm not stupid."
Bai Ye reluctantly pulled his hand away from the Floating Stone.
Then he raised his gaze toward the sky.
The Jade Chamber stood above them.
An entire complex of buildings floated in midair.
Pavilions and towers, jade-green tiles and vermilion eaves—it was extravagantly magnificent.
Higher up,
Bai Ye saw someone standing at the edge of the Jade Chamber, waiting for them.
Her platinum-blond hair was pinned up with a black-and-gold hairpin, splitting from her back and trailing down to her calves.
She wore a white, gold, and black qipao that accentuated her exquisite figure. Her slender, jade-like legs appeared and vanished beneath the thin silk hem of her dress.
She held a smoking pipe in one hand,
exuding the charm of a mature woman.
Dignified and beautiful.
This was Ningguang of the Seven Stars of Liyue.
The Floating Stone arrived at the edge of the Jade Chamber, and Yelan was the first to jump down.
"I've finished my part. Where's the reward you promised me?"
"I had it prepared long ago."
Ningguang gave a light wave of her hand. Her secretary Baiwen said to Yelan, "Miss Yelan, come with me to complete the paperwork and collect your reward."
"Mm."
Yelan nodded, then left with Baiwen.
Only Bai Ye, Ningguang, and her remaining two secretaries were left.
Ningguang carefully examined Bai Ye.
He had the same platinum-blond hair as her, and his features were so handsome that simply looking at him was a pleasure.
It would not cloud her business judgment,
but it certainly put her in a better mood.
Ningguang smiled and said to Bai Ye,
"Welcome to the Jade Chamber, young master Bai Ye."
Before you continue