Last December Double Drop!
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Several days had passed.In the end, Theresa's little schemes didn't succeed.
Though the skiff was fast, the journey still took several days. If Theresa had been allowed to hop on, she'd have surely clung to him at every opportunity.
Thus, the two ended up sitting side by side in the cabin.
Even so, Theresa still found every excuse imaginable to snuggle up to Luo Qing over the past few days.
Seasickness, anemia, cramps—any excuse would do as long as she succeeded in her mission.
After several days of this, Luo Qing felt like his body was marked all over by Theresa's constant nuzzling.
He couldn't quite explain it. Theresa was undoubtedly attractive; her beauty and figure could hold their own even in Teyvat.
If this had been his past life, with Theresa acting so clingy, he wouldn't have just agreed—he might've left her unable to get out of bed.
But now, he felt no interest at all. He couldn't figure out why.
Maybe it was because this girl was just... a bit unhinged?
He was way too smart to risk catching her particular brand of craziness.
When they finally returned to Inazuma City, Luo Qing, exhausted from days of her antics, didn't even bother dealing with her directly.
He came up with a random excuse, sent her off to play with Natalia and the others, and finally enjoyed some peace and quiet.
Since his last experiment using a toilet to fast-travel to the Plane of Euthymia, Luo Qing hadn't gone looking for Ei or the Raiden Shogun.
After all, the last time he'd warped there unannounced, Ei had immediately taken a swing at him without even asking questions.
The news about Tatarasuna had probably reached Kujou Sara by now, and Luo Qing was curious to see what kind of reaction the Raiden Shogun would have.
Without thinking too much about it, he headed for Tenshukaku.
The approach was familiar as always. Luo Qing leapt up from the balcony and flipped into the Raiden Shogun's room. Nobody would stop him if he used the front door, but sneaking in this way felt much more exhilarating.
"You're back?"
From the elevated platform, the Raiden Shogun slowly opened her eyes, turning to look at Luo Qing as he approached. A trace of softness flickered in her gaze.
"I missed you guys, so I came back~"
The Raiden Shogun furrowed her brow slightly, turning her head away as she resumed her seat. "Hmph. If you'd left out the 'guys,' I'd be happier."
Was it his imagination, or was the Raiden Shogun... sulking?
Was this emotionally reserved puppet really pouting?
"Well, I missed you the most."
Luo Qing chuckled, reaching out to tousle the Raiden Shogun's hair before pulling her into his embrace, inhaling the faint cherry blossom scent from her neck.
"Don't you think you went too far in Tatarasuna?"
The Raiden Shogun didn't seem to mind his touch, tilting her neck slightly to expose more of her pale skin.
Picking up a scroll of official documents from the table, she tapped it against his forehead.
"Oh?"
Luo Qing's curiosity was piqued. He paused, taking the scroll from her hands to read it.
As expected, it was a strongly worded report from Kujou Sara.
The fiery language and agitated tone practically leapt off the page, making it easy for Luo Qing to imagine how furious Sara must've been while writing it. She'd probably been counting on the Raiden Shogun to punish him severely.
But what she didn't know was...
Her revered Raiden Shogun belonged to him!
He couldn't help but chuckle darkly to himself.
"It was all for good reason, of course. Surely the great Shogun wouldn't punish me, right~?"
Luo Qing buried his face back in her neck, much like Theresa had tried to do to him on the skiff. Cough, cough. That comparison sounded a bit melodramatic.
"Still, don't push your luck too much..."
The Raiden Shogun's voice dropped slightly. "If Kujou Sara finds out how lenient I've been with you, it would undermine the dignity of the Shogun."
"Alright, just this once. I won't do it again," Luo Qing murmured, his tone carrying a hint of mischief as his kisses trailed upward from her neck to her cheek and finally to her lips.
Their lips met, and soon, their playful sparring turned into an exchange of passion.
But as their kisses deepened, Luo Qing noticed something odd.
Wasn't he usually the one leading?
Today, it seemed like the Raiden Shogun was taking the initiative... almost as if she couldn't get enough.
Could it be...?
A bold idea popped into Luo Qing's mind, and his hands began to wander.
Hmm?
This time, she didn't stop him.
In fact, her breathing quickened.
Taking advantage of the moment, Luo Qing launched a full-on assault, his hands moving with precision. Opportunities like this were rare, and he intended to seize it with both hands—literally.
After an intense exchange, the Raiden Shogun's clothing was in disarray, leaving only the essentials covered.
"Shogun..." Luo Qing murmured tenderly. Just as he was about to take things further, she suddenly pulled her clothing back on and tied it securely.
Her face flushed red as she whispered, "That's enough for today. The rest... some other time..."
"Just a little longer. I'll just..."
"No."
The Raiden Shogun's refusal was firm.
Frustration bubbled within Luo Qing, but what could he do? He wasn't strong enough to force her hand, and brute force was out of the question.
"This body still has important matters to handle. Luo Qing, you should leave for now."
She added softly, "Also, I'll be undergoing training for a while. I won't be at Tenshukaku, so there's no need to visit."
"Training?"
Luo Qing frowned in confusion. This wasn't part of the storyline he remembered.
"Yes... it's very important training."
"I see..."
Though he felt a flicker of doubt, he didn't dwell on it. After all, their bond had grown to this level. He didn't believe she'd harm him.
After a few more moments of lingering affection, Luo Qing left Tenshukaku.
Once he was gone, the Raiden Shogun's gaze turned complex as she stared after him.
"Hmph. So this is the final thing you wanted to do?"
A voice echoed in her mind—Ei's voice, tinged with disdain.
"Don't act like you're any better," the Raiden Shogun retorted. "You wanted it too, didn't you?"
"Wh-what are you talking about?! Who'd want to do that with him? If it weren't for me holding you back, you'd have given in completely! Don't forget why you were created. You're not here to... to bear his children!"
Ei's voice was flustered, the memory of their earlier intimacy flashing through her mind.
"Anyway, the last thing you wanted is done. It's time for me to take control again."
"...Alright."
Reluctance laced the Raiden Shogun's voice as she closed her eyes and relinquished control of the body to Ei.
Perhaps the next time they met...
It would be their final encounter.
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T/N: Hello! The translation might be a bit different but hopefully better! I left off at chapter 152 a few weeks ago!
Spotted any mistakes or awkward wording? Let me know—I'm always looking to improve!
Also, quick reminder: take a moment to check your posture and sip some water. Stay comfy while you read!
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