Yae Miko's brow furrowed as she contemplated whether or not to resort to force against Luo Qing.
His words were infuriating—how did Ei manage to tolerate him without striking him down?
"Mr. Luo Qing, do you understand the consequences of saying something like that?"
Her tone turned cold, and her eyes narrowed, as the pressure of a divine being enveloped Uyuu Restaurant.
Even the owner and chefs dared not make a sound, fearing to provoke the High Priestess.
But despite the suffocating aura, Luo Qing seemed entirely unaffected.
Gulp, gulp, gulp...
Luo Qing downed his drink in one go, wiped his mouth, and then casually looked at Yae Miko, seemingly oblivious to her intimidation.
"So, Miss Yae, you're not willing to meet my conditions?"
Just a little more, Yae Miko thought.
She was on the verge of blasting Luo Qing with a fox thunderbolt.
If they weren't in Uyuu Restaurant, and if she wasn't worried about collateral damage, he would've gotten a good smack already!
"Hmph, what do you think?"
Yae Miko scoffed.
You want to touch my ears and tail in front of everyone here? If I agree, what kind of High Priestess would I be?!
"If you don't agree, then forget it."
Luo Qing shrugged, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
"Whenever you've made up your mind, Miss Yae, I'll be waiting~"
He got up, ready to leave.
But after only a few steps, he turned around and sat back down next to Yae Miko.
"Oh? Why are you back, Mr. Luo Qing? Did you..."
Yae Miko's voice was teasing, assuming that Luo Qing was reconsidering to negotiate terms.
But before she could finish, Luo Qing interrupted her seriously.
"I have professional standards. I said I'd spend the evening with you, Miss Yae, so I'm going to keep my word!"
"...?"
[+10 Frustration Value from Yae Miko]
This guy is dead set on touching my fox tail, isn't he?!
For hundreds of years, Yae Miko had always been the one to trick others, not the other way around.
But now, Luo Qing held a secret she desperately wanted to know, and she couldn't afford to truly fall out with him.
It had been ages since she'd felt this kind of frustration after the person in question had left.
Maybe... maybe I should just let him touch it?
No!
That's my ears and tail! How could I even think of something so ridiculous?!
Caught in her emotional turmoil, Yae Miko found herself momentarily stunned.
Could it be that, deep down, I actually want to be...
No way!
...
"So, where does Miss Yae want to go next?"
Luo Qing asked casually, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside Yae Miko's mind.
He had nothing else planned for the upcoming days, so spending time with the sly fox seemed like a good way to pass the time.
"It's getting late, and I have other matters to attend to. Why don't we continue this another day?"
Luo Qing shook his head. "No can do. Private appointments come with an extra fee."
"..."
"Goodbye."
Without another word, Yae Miko left Uyuu Restaurant without looking back.
Foxes are known for holding grudges. Whatever ground she lost today, Yae Miko vowed to regain in the future.
But right now, she had to prepare for her meeting with the traveler. She didn't have the time or patience to continue tangling with Luo Qing.
Once everything was settled, she'd find a way to toy with him properly!
...
After parting ways with Yae Miko on a sour note and with Kamisato Ayaka back at the Yashiro Commission, Luo Qing found himself with nothing to do and returned to his resting place.
Without the constant need to focus on gathering Frustration Points, his days had become much more leisurely.
Upon entering his room, he found Rosalyne still lounging inside, lazily flipping through a light novel.
When she noticed Luo Qing's return, she raised an eyebrow but pretended not to see him, burying her face back in her book.
"Hey, Rosalyne, have you seriously been reading light novels this whole time since I left?"
"Mind your own business. Go away and stop bothering me."
Rosalyne's tone was cold.
"..."
Luo Qing was momentarily speechless.
Is this icy and aloof Rosalyne secretly a homebody too?
Talk about breaking character...
"What are you reading? Let me see."
Luo Qing sat across from Rosalyne and casually picked up a book from her pile.
Hmm...
"The Wandering Maiden's Youthful Journey: A Girl's Dream of a Noble Knight"
What an odd choice...
"Didn't you say these were all garbage books? Why are you reading them all day?"
Luo Qing flipped through a few pages and asked offhandedly.
"You're so annoying."
Rosalyne's brow furrowed.
Whenever Luo Qing was around, her mood seemed to plummet.
One day, I'm going to get rid of him!
"This is my room. Didn't the logistics division assign you a room? Why are you still hanging out here?"
Rosalyne snorted. "Hmph, it's mine now."
"You want to share a bed that badly?"
"..."
Rosalyne's frown deepened. Was Luo Qing really this dense, or was he doing this on purpose?
He was even bold enough to tease his superior?
"My patience has limits, Luo Qing. Just because we're colleagues doesn't mean I won't take action against you."
"Oh? And what kind of action are you planning? Kneeling or sitting?"
"..."
[+1 Frustration Value from Rosalyne]
"Alright, alright. You keep reading, I won't bother you anymore."
Luo Qing waved dismissively, pulled over a tatami mat, and lay down, covering his face with a book, intending to take a nap.
After all, it was his room—he wasn't going anywhere.
Meanwhile.
Rosalyne kept sneaking glances at Luo Qing every few seconds, suspecting he was up to something.
But as the minutes passed, Luo Qing didn't move at all, leaving her increasingly puzzled.
Is he really asleep?
I'm still sitting right here, and he's not even a little on guard?!
Is he not worried that I might do something to him?!
After some thought, Rosalyne flicked her fingers, conjuring a small mist of frost that floated toward Luo Qing.
Before the frost could touch him, a muffled voice came from under the book.
"Don't mess around. I'm trying to sleep."
"..."
Don't mess around?
Is he treating me like a child?!
Rosalyne felt a flash of irritation but, eager to continue reading and catch up on the latest chapters, she decided to let it slide, burying her nose back in her book.
Time ticked away, and midnight came.
Stretching, Rosalyne finished her light novel and glanced over at Luo Qing, who was still in the exact same position as before, not having moved an inch.
This guy... isn't he supposed to be from the intelligence division?
Or does he really trust me that much?
Rosalyne's thoughts were tangled.
Among the Fatui Harbingers, deception and scheming were common. Even though they all served the Tsaritsa, each had their own hidden agendas, often ready to stab each other in the back.
Except for Childe, most Harbingers interacted with countless ulterior motives.
How is Luo Qing so unguarded, just falling asleep right in front of me?
---
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