The library was brightly lit, quiet, and pleasant.
As Amber left Acting Grand Master Jean's office, Mr. Virag stopped her and told her that a young man from Liyue was looking for her and was now waiting in the library.
With a fair idea of who it was, Amber strode into the library in her white over-the-knee boots.
She looked around the second floor but saw no one.
The bunny-ear knot atop her head bobbed as the soles of her mid-heeled boots tapped out pleasant notes against the floor. She descended the wooden stairs and, sure enough, spotted Li Qiuzhi in a corner.
He seemed absorbed in his reading and had not noticed Amber approaching.
Amber's lips curled into a silent, mischievous smile. Using the bookshelves for cover, she slipped noiselessly behind the young man.
She reached out her right hand, about to give him a scare.
Li Qiuzhi was so engrossed in his reading that he had almost forgotten why he had come to the Knights' headquarters. Just then, a sweet fragrance drifted into his nose, breaking his concentration.
The scent was familiar to Li Qiuzhi. It seemed to be Amber's.
Had she come over?
With that thought, Li Qiuzhi naturally turned his head, and a fair-skinned hand suddenly poked his cheek.
It was soft and gentle, with a slight warmth.
"Uh." Amber froze for a moment, then withdrew her hand and hid it behind her back. With a couple of awkward chuckles, she said, "I was going to tap your shoulder and give you a scare. I didn't expect you to turn around."
Li Qiuzhi certainly did not mind, but he still teased her:
"It's fine. This is the first time I've seen the lively, friendly Miss Amber looking so... hmm... so flustered. Haha."
"Hey, you!
"Never mind. Mr. Virag outside said you were looking for me. What did you need?"
They had known each other for a month and were fairly familiar by now. It was only a joke, so Amber quickly brushed off her embarrassment and got down to business.
"Oh, right. Remember the Mora I borrowed from you? I'm here to pay you back."
Li Qiuzhi took a drawstring cloth pouch from his waist. It held Mora in various denominations, totaling exactly thirty-five thousand Mora.
After all, he had no game inventory to store it in, so he could only carry it in a cloth pouch like an ordinary person.
"Huh? You don't have to." Amber was a little surprised; she had not expected Li Qiuzhi to come to repay her. Although she had called it a loan at the time, she had never really intended to ask for it back. "You still need Mora to get by. Keep it for now."
"That won't do. I'm a hunter now, and I have a source of income. I can't let myself leave the Mora I owe you unpaid."
Li Qiuzhi took Amber by the wrist and firmly pressed the Mora into her hand.
"...Mm, all right." Amber smiled and did not refuse again.
[Amber's affection for you has increased. Gained 50 Friendship points. Current Friendship level: Lv.2 (10/200)]
A notification sounded in Li Qiuzhi's mind. Amber's Friendship with him had increased again. At Lv.2, they should count as fairly familiar with each other.
Their earlier encounter in the Whispering Woods had been their first meeting. Over the following month, their occasional encounters had also raised her Friendship a few times.
Now, Li Qiuzhi's insistence on sticking to his principles had earned Amber's appreciation once more, increasing her Friendship a little.
After quite some time spent figuring things out, Li Qiuzhi had also come to understand how Friendship was gained.
Generally speaking, a person's liking for a stranger began with their first impression.
That was how it had been when Li Qiuzhi met Amber. He was no irredeemable villain, and the warmhearted Amber had found him in need of help. It was only natural for her to form a decent first impression and take a slight liking to him.
After becoming acquainted, as long as it was not a one-time encounter and they could meet occasionally or often, the two would naturally grow familiar. There was no need to do anything special; as their understanding of each other deepened, their affection would naturally increase as well.
Of course, that depended on Li Qiuzhi not doing anything that would make Amber dislike him during this natural process.
Li Qiuzhi guessed that Amber was still getting to know him. With more time and contact, he would not need to do anything deliberate for her to eventually consider him a friend.
But that would be the limit. Merely being friends would not be enough to gain the blessing of her constellation.
Li Qiuzhi needed to actively seek opportunities to spend time with Amber. As the days accumulated, their relationship would eventually undergo a qualitative change.
An ordinary person like him only needed to get along with her in an ordinary way. He could not appear too eager, or he might make Amber dislike him and undo all his efforts.
Amber put away the Mora, then noticed the book on the table and asked curiously:
"Are you planning to learn Favonius Swordsmanship?"
"Yes. I want to travel around Teyvat and become a powerful adventurer someday. A little skill with a bow won't be enough."
Li Qiuzhi spoke happily about his plans for the future.
"That's a fine dream." Amber nodded and sat down in a nearby chair. "Unfortunately, I'm not very good with a sword, or I could teach you... hmm, there's a training ground behind the headquarters with all sorts of equipment. You can go there to practice your swordsmanship."
"Great! I was just worrying about where I could practice."
Li Qiuzhi knew the training ground behind the headquarters all too well. It was where a young girl named Ellin often asked the Traveler how to knock down several wooden posts in a short time.
"By the way, to thank you for helping me, Miss Amber, I'd like to treat you to a meal at Good Hunter. You probably haven't had dinner yet, have you?"
Li Qiuzhi looked at Amber sincerely as he spoke.
The invitation was reasonable. Amber really had helped him a great deal, after all, so there was nothing wrong with treating her to dinner. Besides, buying her a meal was a rare opportunity to increase her Friendship, and he should not miss it.
"Helping people in need is the duty of the Knights of Favonius. How could I ask for anything in return? You don't need to treat me."
Amber shook her head and declined.
"Actually, there's something else I'd like your help with. And I've heard for ages that Good Hunter's Sticky Honey Roast is delicious. How about we talk over dinner?"
Li Qiuzhi "subtly" deployed his ultimate Amber counter.
"Sticky Honey Roast!" Amber's fair throat moved in an almost imperceptible swallow, and her eyes brightened a little. Then she said unhurriedly, "Well, if you need my help, I suppose it can't be helped. Let's go now."
[Amber's affection for you has increased. Gained 50 Friendship points. Current Friendship level: Lv.2 (60/200)]
"Sure. Let me put the book back first."
Smiling, Li Qiuzhi returned Favonius Swordsmanship: Fundamentals, which he could not yet register to borrow, to its original place on the shelf.
Sure enough, treating someone to meals and giving gifts were both ways to raise Friendship. Once it got close to Lv.3, we should count as friends, right? After all, we already felt pretty familiar with each other.
The sunset had still lingered when he arrived at the headquarters. By the time he left, the sky had darkened and night had fallen.
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