The Auspicious Beast, the Adeptus Qilin, Guards an Age of Peace and Prosperity / Wouldn't It Be Great to Make Poor Little Ningguang Your Secretary?

Fang Xun raised an eyebrow in surprise when he heard that.

That voice sounded a little familiar, like someone he'd often spoken with in the game.

He looked up.

The innkeeper was an elegant woman in a pale purple dress, her ponytail falling over her shoulder.

She looked mature and alluring.

Her eyes were captivating, her gaze gliding this way and that.

Ying'er!

Fang Xun recognized her at a glance. It was Ying'er!

Auspicious Beast and Immortal Qilin Guarding Peace in a Flourishing Age

As everyone knew, Ying'er was known as the Queen of the Road in Liyue.

When Ying'er got behind the wheel, it felt like her wheels could run right over your face.

However, Fang Xun found something strange.

When he played the game, Ying'er seemed very young, still a girl.

But this timeline was twenty years before the game, so Ying'er should have been just a little girl at most.

What was going on??

"Ying'er? You know my daughter, then?"

The innkeeper spoke up.

Daughter?

Fang Xun understood immediately.

The woman in front of him, who looked so much like Ying'er, was Ying'er's mother.

Had they been carved from the same mold?

If the innkeeper hadn't spoken first, Fang Xun would have thought she was Ying'er herself.

Noticing the innkeeper's suspicious gaze, Fang Xun nodded and made something up to avoid giving himself away. "That's right. Ying'er and I know each other, and we've even become friends."

The innkeeper looked enlightened. "So you're the big brother Ying'er keeps telling me about."

"So you're the one who taught my Ying'er all those things,"

"Like how you have to gently peel open the flower bud, and not grip the pestle too tightly..."

Fang Xun: "???"

"No, that wasn't me! I didn't do that!"

Fang Xun was close to tears.

Those were all things Ying'er had taught him in the game.

Ying'er was the real master. How could Fang Xun presume to teach her anything?

He wasn't taking the blame for this.

The innkeeper covered her mouth and giggled, looking thoroughly pleased with her prank.

"All right, I was just teasing you. I made all that up. Don't be so tense."

"Young people should take life easy. You can't stay wound up all the time. It's bad for your health."

"When it's time to relax, you should relax. Got it, little brother?"

Fang Xun: "???"

So Ying'er had learned her driving skills from her mother!

"All right, you're here to stay at the inn, aren't you?"

"Since you're Ying'er's friend, I'll give you a discount. Just five thousand Mora a night."

Five thousand Mora really wasn't expensive for a stay in Liyue.

After all, even one serving of Mora Meat cost six hundred Mora.

And this inn looked quite nicely furnished, too.

Who could say no to a well-decorated inn with an experienced driver for an innkeeper?

However, he ran into a bit of trouble when it came time to register.

"Little brother, judging by your clothes, you're a foreigner, right?"

"Recently, a group of Treasure Hoarders came to Liyue, so the inspections have been strict. We need to record your information."

"Where are you from? Do you have anything to prove your identity?"

Hearing the innkeeper ask this, Fang Xun didn't know how to answer.

He was a transmigrator. Where could he get something to prove who he was?

But if he couldn't answer, that would only make him look more suspicious.

Just as Fang Xun was about to make up a lie,

a soft voice came from behind him. "There's no need to inspect anyone anymore. We've received word that the group of Treasure Hoarders has left Liyue."

"Starting today, we're canceling the tedious registration process. Keep everything simple."

Fang Xun turned around and saw that he knew the speaker, too.

She had two little horns atop her blue hair, giving her a cute, playful look.

Her delicate face was gentle and dignified.

Her eyes were as clear as water, as if nothing in the world could taint their innocence.

Most striking of all were her long, shapely legs, wrapped in black stockings and utterly flawless.

Liyue's number one secretary!

Ganyu!

Fang Xun was a little surprised.

He hadn't expected to meet his dear Ganyu so soon!

Who wouldn't like coconut milk and an adorable, petite cocogoat?

The innkeeper nodded and smiled. "So it's Ganyu-sama."

"Understood. Thank you for coming to pass along the news."

"But still, we shouldn't have made Ganyu-sama come here in person to deliver the message. The Millelith could have done it."

"Ganyu-sama is always so busy. Liyue has been able to remain stable all these years thanks to her."

The innkeeper clearly held Ganyu in great respect.

After all, Ganyu had always protected Liyue.

And it wasn't just the innkeeper. Liyue's residents were generally warm and courteous whenever they saw Ganyu.

As the number one secretary, she was simply too dedicated to her work.

It was thanks to her that Liyue had become so prosperous.

"N-no, there's no need to be so polite." The innkeeper's praise left Ganyu's face flushed and flustered.

She wasn't used to social situations like this. She preferred to keep busy with work rather than talk to people.

"I-I was going to investigate a lead, and I happened to pass by, so I came to let you know."

"The Millelith work hard every day, too. I'm only doing what I can."

As she spoke, Ganyu couldn't help glancing at Fang Xun.

She was curious about this oddly dressed foreigner.

But then Ganyu noticed that Fang Xun was looking at her, too.

She didn't meet his eyes. Flustered and at a loss, she lowered her head.

"Um, um, I should get going. I still have a lot to take care of."

With her face red, Ganyu hurried off, striding away on her long legs.

"Ganyu-sama is always so busy," the innkeeper sighed.

She paused, then turned to Fang Xun. "Little brother, since Ganyu-sama says those tedious rules have been abolished, you can go upstairs and rest now."

Why Not Make Poor Little Ningguang Your Secretary?

The next morning,

golden sunlight streamed in through the window, and a cool breeze made the inn's curtains billow.

Before transmigrating, Fang Xun would still have been fast asleep in bed at this hour.

But today,

he was up much earlier than usual.

He and Little Ningguang had made plans the night before to explore Liyue together, so Fang Xun had to reach their meeting place on time.

They had agreed to meet by the river where they'd eaten grilled fish the night before.

Although Fang Xun wasn't very familiar with Liyue, he had a pretty good memory.

So he reached the meeting place without much trouble.

As soon as he arrived by the river, Fang Xun spotted Little Ningguang.

The little girl sat quietly beside a wooden bridge,