Ningguang's words instantly froze the atmosphere at the Liyue table. Yelan and Beidou, seated beside her, knew her better than anyone as her friends, and naturally knew just how grand her ambitions were.
She would never love anything finite, much less allow herself to be confined by it. That was precisely why she loved endless Mora and the ever-expanding Jade Chamber.
What did a man amount to in her eyes?
Yet looking at Ningguang's utterly unruffled expression, Yelan and Beidou were no longer certain. The condition she had just proposed seemed practically tailor-made for someone. At that thought, they both gave Yucheng a strange look.
Yucheng, the very instigator, also noticed that something was off about the atmosphere. This was no place to linger, so he took Shenhe along to the Sumeru table.
The guests at the Sumeru table were primarily Alhaitham, Cyno, Collei, and Nilou. Ayaka, who had once visited Sumeru as an envoy, was entertaining them on Yucheng's behalf.
When Yucheng and Shenhe arrived, an excited Collei bowed deeply to Yucheng in thanks. Anyone who did not know the circumstances might have thought that the Regent had done something outrageous to the innocent, naive young girl.
Even Shenhe gave her husband a somewhat peculiar look, though her expression soon returned to normal. Given Yucheng's personality, if anything really had happened between him and this young girl, he would not have hidden it from her.
A flicker of surprise crossed Yucheng's eyes, but he soon realized why Collei was doing this. He could not help glancing at Venti, his stand-in drinker, who responded with a cute "ehe" expression.
Yucheng smiled. "Collei, how are you feeling? The Archon Residue inside you has been completely cleared away, hasn't it?"
Collei nodded. "Yes. When I woke up, my whole body felt light