Huh?
Carry her?
Before Fang Qiu could even react, Yun Jin stepped to her side, slipped her left arm around behind her back and under her armpit, scooping her up, while her other arm passed beneath Fang Qiu's thighs and lifted her clean off the ground.
Once she had been picked up by Yun Jin, it was hard for Fang Qiu to say anything more about being put back down.
She could only let Yun Jin carry her toward the bed.
"Thank you."
Yun Jin's faint, clean fragrance drifted into her nose. Fang Qiu's pretty face flushed slightly as she murmured her thanks.
At the same time, she was a little astonished.
She never imagined that Yun Jin could so easily lift her up too....
Why did it feel like everyone in the whole world, except herself, had physical fitness far beyond anything she'd ever known?
"Although the sprain isn't very serious, it's best not to move around carelessly for a while, and don't put too much force on your foot, or it'll make the injury worse."
Yun Jin said.
"Mm."
Fang Qiu nodded.
This was probably the reason Yun Jin had carried her to bed.
In her past life, there had been a school fitness test once—a thousand-meter run—and she'd come in dead last.
During the run she'd even twisted her ankle.
At the time she hadn't even noticed, and she'd finished the entire distance.
And it wasn't that she walked the rest because she'd twisted her ankle—it was because after running a little over two hundred meters her stamina gave out, so she walked the rest.
After the fitness test ended, she'd even gone to the cafeteria to eat, then walked all the way back to the dorm.
That day, nothing was wrong at all.
The result was that the next day her foot swelled up huge, and she had to rest a full week before she regained the ability to walk.
Although her physical fitness in her past life hadn't been anything to write home about, in this life, with this sickly invalid's body, if she messed around, she'd probably be bedridden for the better part of a month.
Although Fang Qiu didn't want to trouble Yun Jin, under Yun Jin's repeated insistence, Fang Qiu had no choice but to let Yun Jin stay and look after her.
It was just that Fang Qiu was very worried.
Her own sleeping posture....
What if, while sleeping beside her, she carelessly did something out of line again—what then?
Ah, how distressing.
However, after Yun Jin carried her onto the bed, she didn't get into bed to sleep. Instead, she borrowed Fang Qiu's desk, saying she wanted to write down the story from just now and draft a new opera.
"I didn't expect that Miss Fang Qiu can even use a quill pen—you truly are multitalented."
Looking at the quill pen resting on the desk and the writing brush hanging on the brush rack, a trace of astonishment surfaced on Yun Jin's pretty face. She said, "This quill pen is really hard to use. I bought one before too, but my writing came out all crooked and crippled—far less handy than a brush. I never imagined Miss Fang Qiu could actually use one to write books. That's truly amazing."
"Uh… it's nothing special, really."
Fang Qiu's face reddened.
The reason she wrote her books with a quill was that she couldn't handle a brush well—but that, she couldn't bring herself to say out loud....
Still, having written so many characters, her handwriting had gotten much better lately.
Now that she was used to writing, her hand no longer trembled when she gripped the pen.
Even with a brush, she could now manage a level a cut above the ordinary person. Given time, she might really recover to how she used to be.
Having ground the ink, Yun Jin sat down on the Jumpy Dumpty, picked up the brush, and began recording the story Fang Qiu had just told.
"Yun Jin really is hardworking. It's so late and she still wants to write the story down. Are all Liyue people this diligent?"
Gazing at Yun Jin's earnest profile lit by the lamplight, Fang Qiu mused.
Keqing was hardworking, Ganyu was hardworking, Xiangling was hardworking too, and even Hu Tao worked hard promoting the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's business.
No, that's not right either.
Back when she'd visited the editorial department of the publishing house, she'd often heard the editors complain about that bunch of authors and their fancy excuses for missing deadlines.
Things like going to the flower and bird market to buy a pet, then imitating the Sumeru method of controlling snakes with a musical instrument to tease a snake—and getting bitten as a result, then staying at the Bubu Pharmacy for a few days....
Hmm...
That sounds absurd, but it doesn't seem entirely impossible....
After all, when she'd gone to buy Tingyu, she'd seen a pet shop selling snakes....
And then there was the author who got so absorbed in playing chess with an old man on the street corner that, by the time the deadline came, he'd written a grand total of less than two hundred characters....
Thinking like this, a wave of drowsiness came washing over her.
Fang Qiu put up no resistance and simply closed her eyes.
Outside the window, a gentle breeze brushed past.
The years were peaceful and serene.
The night was hazy and dim.
But, unlike Liyue Harbor, which was gradually sinking into silence—
At this moment the Guyun Stone Forest was bustling with life. The Alcor was moored beside the Guyun Stone Forest, and the sailors, having finished a day of salvaging treasures lost from the Jade Chamber, had collapsed one after another onto the deck.
Not minding their appearances in the slightest.
The ship's cook was grilling meat with roaring enthusiasm.
The aroma of the meat wafted out, and the rich fat, seared under the fierce flames, kept sizzling and crackling.
Making mouths water uncontrollably.
"It smells so good."
Paimon wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, her eyes full of anticipation.
Lumine, meanwhile, sat in front of Beidou.
Beidou was holding The Forest of Fireflies' Light, quietly reading.
After resting a while, while waiting for the grilled meat to cook, quite a few sailors took out Fang Qiu's The Forest of Fireflies' Light and started reading.
"I never expected Beidou to actually enjoy reading."
Paimon said.
"What? Can't I enjoy reading?"
Beidou asked.
"That's not what I meant—it's just a bit surprising. Um… no, that's not it either, it just feels like you'd prefer drinking…"
Paimon said, her words not quite hanging together.
"Haha, comparing reading and drinking, of course I prefer drinking. And besides, I don't read just anyone's books—I only read that little lady Fang Qiu's books."
Beidou laughed heartily.
The moment she said this, many of the sailors present chimed in in agreement—though there were a few exceptions.
"Besides Miss Fang Qiu's books, I also like reading Junior Sister, Go Easy, Senior Sister Hurts."
"Me too."
"What? You traitors! I'm going to settle the score with you traitors on Miss Fang Qiu's behalf!"
"Junior Sister, Go Easy, Senior Sister Hurts? I feel like I've heard of that somewhere… but I can't remember."
Paimon stroked her chin, thinking hard.
"There's a good chance Miss Fang Qiu has read this book too. I'd like to know what Miss Fang Qiu thought of it after reading it—could I trouble you to help ask?"
one of the sailors said.
The moment she said this, several people who'd read that book nodded in agreement.
"Ask Fang Qiu for her thoughts on the book?"
Paimon looked puzzled.
But under the looks of these few people—their faces saying what bad intentions could mere sailors possibly have—Lumine still accepted their request.
After this brief interlude, the sailors once again struck up a lively conversation.
"Oh right, did you all listen to Divine Damsel of Devastation?"
"Listened, listened—Master Yun sings it so wonderfully! I never used to listen to opera, but a while back, after hearing Divine Damsel of Devastation, I fell in love with it—just like with Miss Fang Qiu's novels. After reading Miss Fang Qiu's novels, I fell in love with reading."
"Now that you mention it, I suddenly find myself looking forward to Miss Fang Qiu and Master Yun collaborating—Miss Fang Qiu writes the story for an opera, and then Master Yun handles adapting it into an opera and performing it."
Everyone discussed it animatedly.
Hearing everyone's discussion, Paimon and Lumine couldn't help feeling a little anticipation too.
After all, Fang Qiu and Yun Jin knew each other; if the two could collaborate, they'd surely create a magnificent work.
"Speaking of Fang Qiu—Traveler, I've got a favor I'd like to trouble you with too."
Beidou took a sip of wine and said.
"What favor?"
Lumine asked.
"You should know Yoimiya, right? That girl Yoimiya prepared a set of fireworks for Fang Qiu and entrusted me to set them off for Fang Qiu to watch during the Lantern Rite. But I've got other matters that day, so I'll have to trouble you. Don't worry, I'll prepare a suitable reward for you."
Beidou said.
"Fireworks Yoimiya prepared for Fang Qiu?"
Paimon was a little puzzled.
"It seems they were specially prepared to lure Fang Qiu into coming to Inazuma to play."
Beidou said, taking a sip of wine.
"I see. Then we'll take on this commission too—it just so happens we can ask Fang Qiu for her thoughts on the book at the same time."
Seeing Lumine nod, Paimon said so.
"Then I'll be troubling you."
Beidou smiled, picked up the book beside her, and started reading.
The ship was incredibly lively.
Listening to everyone's chatter down on the deck, Kaedehara Kazuha, up on the mast, felt a little helpless.
He withdrew his gaze and continued reading the book in his hands.
But just as he turned a page, he suddenly froze.
A wind blew past.
He lifted his eyes toward the summit of the Guyun Stone Forest, but when he cast his gaze there, he found nothing at all.
Was it an illusion?
Kaedehara Kazuha felt a little puzzled; the wind, too, seemed not to have carried any information.
Could it have been an illusion?
Kaedehara Kazuha withdrew his gaze and continued reading.
And at this moment, atop the highest peak of the Guyun Stone Forest.
Bathed in the clear, limpid moonlight, a youth sat upon the summit.
He looked at The Alcor moored near the Guyun Stone Forest, his gaze narrowing slightly.
"His perception is quite strong—he nearly noticed my presence."
Xiao murmured to himself with some surprise, his gaze seeming to easily pierce through the mist rising over the Guyun Stone Forest in the night, falling upon Kaedehara Kazuha, who sat reading on the mast.
With the Lantern Rite approaching, he was patrolling the area around Liyue Harbor.
"Come to think of it, the book they're reading seems to be written by that person called Fang Qiu again."
Xiao said, "And from listening to the Traveler chat with them, the Traveler also seems to really like the books by that person called Fang Qiu—and is friends with her, too."
"Fang Qiu..."
Xiao furrowed his brow slightly, turned his head to look toward Liyue Harbor, and said, "I wonder whether Lord Zhongli has read Fang Qiu's books."
After a moment of silence, Xiao withdrew his gaze, lifted his foot and took a single step out, and instantly vanished from where he had been.
Time slowly passed.
"Mm…"
In her dreams, Fang Qiu let out a soft murmur and gently opened her eyes. The first thing to meet her gaze was the flickering lamplight.
The very first thing she did upon waking was to check her own sleeping posture.
She moved her hands and feet a little, and soon discovered that her sleeping posture was quite bad.
Just as she was panicking over whether she'd done something strange to Yun Jin, she discovered that Yun Jin wasn't sleeping beside her at all.
A little puzzled, she cast her gaze toward the desk, and there she saw Yun Jin slumped over the desk at this moment.
Uh…
Fang Qiu was stunned. Yun Jin hadn't come to bed to sleep after all—and had fallen asleep slumped over the desk.
She glanced out the window. The night outside was deep; clearly it was already the dead of night.
Without a phone or a watch, she had no idea what time it was now....
The window was open, and the air carried a clear chill.
Even with Yun Jin's constitution, sleeping a whole night at the desk with nothing to cover her would easily catch her a cold, wouldn't it?
So, she gently propped herself up and stood up from the bed.
She hesitated a moment, then gave up on the idea of carrying Yun Jin over and laying her on the bed.
Setting aside the matter of her sprained ankle—even if she weren't injured, although Yun Jin looked very light, with her own constitution, the kind that gets winded after carrying a few catties of things for a dozen-odd meters, never mind getting Yun Jin onto the bed without waking her, she simply couldn't lift Yun Jin at all....
So, she could only settle for the next best thing.
She limped over to the wardrobe, took out a wool blanket, then tiptoed over in front of Yun Jin and gently draped the blanket over her.
Fortunately, Yun Jin was sleeping soundly and wasn't woken by her movements.
After draping the blanket over Yun Jin, she limped over to the window again and gently closed it.
The winter night was cold and clear; with one gust of wind, it was all too easy to catch a chill.
Having done all this, only then did Fang Qiu return to bed and gently lie down.
Time slowly passed, and the dazzling light of dawn came pouring down.
A few sailors moored at the Guyun Stone Forest leaned against the ship's railing, holding a closed copy of The Forest of Fireflies' Light, their faces weary and sorrowful as they watched the sea water grow gradually clear and limpid with the rising of the sun.
Yesterday, after finishing the grilled meat and the wine, they hadn't rested right away. Instead, they'd leaned against the deck reading The Forest of Fireflies' Light deep into the night, finishing the book.
They'd originally planned to have a good sleep after finishing the book, but the result was that after finishing it, they couldn't sleep the whole night.
"Hiss… hahh, so they can't be bound by fate after all...."
An older sailor held a pipe and drew a deep breath of the dry tobacco, then slowly exhaled. He lifted his head toward the edge of the sky, his eyes slightly red, his expression distant, as if recalling times long past.
Then he sneezed.
Spending a whole night on deck in winter really was cold....
At this moment.
In Fang Qiu's rented room, Yun Jin, slumped over the desk, knitted her brow, then gently opened her bleary, sleep-laden eyes.
The candle flame had not yet gone out.
The faint candlelight swayed gently in the cold wind blowing in through the gap in the window.
Yun Jin straightened up, and only then did she discover that at some point a wool blanket had been draped over her.
It was very warm.
"Miss Fang Qiu really is gentle."
Yun Jin murmured.
Afraid she'd catch a chill, Fang Qiu had endured the pain in her foot just to fetch a blanket to cover her.
There were only the two of them in the room—she and Fang Qiu—so naturally it was Fang Qiu who had draped it over her.
It surely couldn't have been Tingyu, curled up in the cat bed, could it?
Although Tingyu was indeed quite clever, no matter what, she couldn't manage something like this, right?
She turned her head to look at Fang Qiu, who lay quietly on the bed.
Fang Qiu was sleeping soundly, her serene, sleeping face endearing and pitiable, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, as if she were dreaming of something delightful.
However, there was one thing she found a little puzzling.
When rebuilding the Jade Chamber, back when she'd gotten acquainted with Miss Shenhe, Miss Shenhe seemed to have said that Miss Fang Qiu wasn't very well-behaved when sleeping and liked to sleep hugging people.
But looking now, Miss Fang Qiu seemed to sleep quite well-behaved, didn't she?
How strange.
Was it a coincidence?
Just as she was puzzling over it, Fang Qiu kicked at the quilt, kicking a good deal of it off her body and exposing the scenery beneath the quilt.
Fang Qiu's hand had reached in under the hem of her clothes, causing the garment to roll up quite a bit, exposing a large expanse of snow-white skin.
Her sleeping trousers had also slipped down a good deal, revealing a hint of black lace.
Seeing Fang Qiu's disheveled clothing, Yun Jin couldn't help but blush.
Miss Fang Qiu… really isn't well-behaved after all...
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