Because the impact was just too great!
When Ganyu didn't say anything, Cloud Retainer continued, "Actually, I don't even need to tell you. When you saw Fang Xun, you must have felt some fondness for him, right?"
A feeling of closeness?
Ganyu couldn't help thinking back.
It seemed that after her nap, she really had felt some fondness for Fang Xun.
B-but she had only felt a little fondness for him.
That was nowhere near enough to mean they should be together, was it?
Seeing that Ganyu still didn't answer, Cloud Retainer asked again, "What is it? Do you dislike that man named Fang Xun?"
Ganyu hurriedly shook her head. "No. Mister Fang Xun is a very good person. I don't dislike him."
She lowered her head, not daring to meet Cloud Retainer's eyes, and said timidly, "I just... I just think this all happened too suddenly."
Cloud Retainer breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as you don't dislike him."
Seeing that Ganyu didn't seem willing to discuss the subject, Cloud Retainer said, "All right, Ganyu. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."
"Although I've lived for several thousand years, I'm not so old-fashioned that I'd try to force a match between you two."
"It's true that I hope you'll end up together, but in the end, it's up to the two of you. This isn't something that can be forced."
Ganyu nodded slightly, her face flushed. "I-I understand."
"Master, I still have work to finish, so I'll take my leave for now. I'll come visit you again another day!"
With that, Ganyu hurried away.
Cloud Retainer watched Fang Xun's departing figure and shook her head helplessly. "That child uses the same excuse to run off every time. More than a thousand years have passed, and she still hasn't changed it."
"That silly girl really is hopeless. If she ever gets married, will she be bullied?"
"No, as Ganyu's master, I ought to learn about that young man named Fang Xun first and assess his character."
"If the boy is suitable, I wouldn't mind bringing the two of them together."
Cloud Retainer spread her wings and flew into the drifting clouds, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Brother Fang Xun, Don't Be Scared—Ningguang Will Sing for You
Meanwhile, over on Fang Xun's side.
After changing the substats on his artifact, he quickly opened the wish banner.
He still hadn't used the Intertwined Fate he'd gotten from raising Ningguang's affection just now.
Believing that a single wish could bring a miracle, Fang Xun decided to do a single pull again.
A beam of light descended from the sky.
A gentle azure glow appeared before Fang Xun.
Then—
The blue light burst into dazzling gold!
A five-star!
A five-star on his fifth pull!
Watching this unfold, Fang Xun nearly wept tears of joy like a true unlucky player.
He'd played the game for so long, and he almost always had to hit pity to get a five-star.
Getting one in just five pulls was no small feat.
"Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the five-star skill 'Mystic Aegis'!"
The skill icon before him showed a little ghost floating in the air, looking incredibly cute.
Fang Xun was quite familiar with Mystic Aegis.
It was Hu Tao's Elemental Burst, and its damage was substantial.
In the game, all sorts of skilled players often used elemental reactions, character skill multipliers, and various enhancement potions—
Then they'd unleash Mystic Aegis to deal explosive damage worth over a million.
But the Mystic Aegis Fang Xun had obtained through wishing didn't require any of those complicated steps.
He didn't need any elemental reactions or enhancement potions. He could easily break through those so-called explosive damage numbers.
He'd heard that the Perpetual Mechanical Array and the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard were damage checkers.
Fang Xun had only one thing to say:
So what if they had tons of HP?
So what if they had high resistance?
If anything could withstand his Mystic Aegis, he'd consider himself the loser!
Soon, Fang Xun unlocked the skill and added it to his skill library.
Just as before, he mastered it naturally, as if the skill had always been an innate ability of his.
He exited the interface, and time began flowing again.
After that, Fang Xun accompanied Little Ningguang as she carefully inspected both floors of the new house.
The house was spacious, with plenty of bedrooms.
Even if more people moved in, there would be no problem at all.
Fang Xun ruffled Ningguang's hair and said softly, "Little girl, it's getting late. Shall we go bring your mother here?"
Originally, Ningguang had planned to go fetch her mother alone and let Fang Xun rest at home.
But Fang Xun wasn't comfortable letting her go by herself, especially since it was already dark.
So he decided to go with her.
"Mm-hmm!" Little Ningguang nodded emphatically, anticipation shining in her bright eyes.
Her mother would surely be so surprised when she found out they could live in Liyue.
Just imagining that moment made the little girl smile with delight.
Soon,
The two of them left Liyue Harbor under the cover of night.
The city was brightly lit, bustling and lively.
But once they were outside the city, the lights grew fewer and the noise faded into the distance.
Eventually,
The only thing accompanying them along the road was the faint moonlight.
To be honest, Fang Xun wasn't used to such surroundings.
It was simply too dark—dark enough that he couldn't see his own hand in front of his face.
He couldn't even spot a pillar right in front of him and nearly walked into it.
There was nothing he could do. Visibility was terribly low.
It reminded Fang Xun of when he'd done the Tsurumi Island quest, with the whole map covered in fog.
Yes, it was almost exactly like that.
He could barely see anything.
For Fang Xun, it was pure torture.
But even in such darkness,
Little Ningguang kept walking at the same pace.
She walked this road in the dark every day.
After doing it so many times, she'd naturally become familiar with the way.
When the little girl walked this road home every night,
What did she think about?
She must have been scared, right?
Whenever Fang Xun thought about it,
He couldn't help feeling sorry for Ningguang.
This child had endured so much hardship in the past.
Yet she'd never complained once, and faced life with optimism every day.
It really wasn't easy.
Little Ningguang didn't notice Fang Xun's complicated expression.
She thought he was a little scared,
So she immediately took his hand and said with a smile, "Brother Fang Xun, don't be scared. Ningguang will hold your hand and lead the way!"
"It's a little dark here, but we'll be at Ningguang's home soon~"
"When we get there, there'll be lights! Mother waits for me at the door with a lantern every night!"
The little girl was worried Fang Xun might be nervous, so she took the initiative to talk to him and comfort him.
She really was like a little grown-up.
Ningguang paused, then continued, "Brother Fang Xun, I'll sing for you~"
"I used to be scared when I walked alone at night, but then I found out singing helped me be brave!"
"I'm not very good at singing, so don't laugh at me."
Before you continue