Outside Moonsea Pavilion, the afterglow of the setting sun draped this administrative center of Liyue Harbor in a golden veil.

Disguised as having black hair, Jun Bai walked with his hands behind his head, seemingly strolling leisurely, but his crimson eyes were always fixed on the direction of the carved gate of Yuehai Pavilion.

His slender figure cast a long, slanted shadow on the stone path. Occasionally, Qianyan soldiers passing by would cast questioning glances at him, but they were all captivated by the lazy demeanor he deliberately exuded.

A gentle breeze carries the salty, damp scent unique to the harbor.

Jun Bai seemed to be casually kicking the pebbles by the roadside, but his ears twitched slightly as he caught every footstep coming from inside the Moon Sea Pavilion.

Suddenly, the sound of familiar, light footsteps came from inside the door.

Jun Bai's lips unconsciously curled up, but he pretended not to hear and continued counting the patterns on the stone slabs on the ground.

The vermilion gate of Yuehai Pavilion slowly opened.

Gan Yu strode out, her long, light blue hair gleaming like pearls in the setting sun.

She first habitually looked around, and when her gaze fell on that familiar figure, her amethyst-like eyes instantly lit up.

She strode forward, her skirt embroidered with cloud patterns swaying gently with each step, and the bells tied at her waist jingling crisply.

"Hey, senior, what brings you here today?" Gan Yu stopped three steps away from Jun Bai, her voice filled with undisguised excitement.

She noticed that Junbai's attire was different today than usual.

His black hair made him look less ethereal and more down-to-earth.

Jun Bai stopped, a sly smile appearing in his eyes. He held up two fingers and waved them lightly in front of Gan Yu:

Two reasons.

Sunlight filtered through his fingers, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Jun Bai said solemnly, "One reason is that I'm going to Sumeru soon, and I wanted to let you know before I left."

Upon hearing this, Gan Yu unconsciously clasped her hands together, her knuckles turning slightly white. She tried to maintain a professional smile, but a hint of reluctance flickered in her eyes: her senior was about to embark on another long journey...

The second reason was that Jun Bai suddenly leaned closer, his tone becoming frivolous, his warm breath brushing against Gan Yu's earlobe. "Someone stole the novel I wrote in my room, and I've come to settle the score with her."

Gan Yu's expression froze instantly, and her fair cheeks flushed red at a visible speed.

She took a half-step back in a panic: "Um... senior, please believe me, I really just borrowed it to pass the time, I didn't mean to send it to Liyue Harbor..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost a buzzing sound like a mosquito.

Jun Bai chuckled softly, reaching out to touch Gan Yu's head, stroking her soft hair. He deliberately slowed his movements, letting Gan Yu fully experience the awkwardness, before saying, "I know you didn't mean it."

His voice was so gentle it was almost dangerous: But even if you didn't do it on purpose, it's a fact that my novels are being circulated everywhere.

So… Jun Bai suddenly cupped her cheeks with both hands with lightning speed. His thumb and forefinger precisely pinched Gan Yu's soft face and gently pulled it to both sides. Before setting off, I need to settle this score.

"Ugh... Senior... I'm sorry..." Gan Yu pleaded incoherently, her eyes slightly red from the pulling on her cheeks.

She tried to struggle, but was afraid of hurting Jun Bai, so she could only blink pitifully.

Jun Bai felt the touch from his fingertips and sighed inwardly:

Mmm~ This feels just like the finest Qingxin flower petals, soft and bouncy, with the unique moist and cool sensation of Ganyu.

He mischievously pinched her a few more times, watching Gan Yu's expression change from aggrieved to helpless, and finally she simply gave up resisting, letting him rub her like a resigned little Qilin.

After a long while, Junbai reluctantly let go of her hand.

Gan Yu immediately covered her burning cheeks, her wet eyes accusing Jun Bai of his brutality.

If it weren't for her extraordinary recovery ability as a half-immortal, her face would definitely have obvious red marks by now.

Of course, this was also thanks to Jun Bai showing mercy.

He appeared to be using force, but in reality, he controlled the force perfectly, just like handling a precious piece of porcelain.

Jun Bai smiled without saying a word, only gazing tenderly at Gan Yu with his star-like eyes.

The setting sun cast long, long shadows of the two people, which eventually merged together on the stone path.

Gan Yu initially glared at him angrily, but quickly gave in to the silent stare.

It's unclear who laughed first; perhaps they both recalled amusing past events.

A crisp laugh echoed outside the Moon Sea Pavilion, startling the sparrows that were resting under the eaves.

The secretaries passing by were surprised to see the usually serious Lady Gan Yu laughing so heartily, and the doting look in the eyes of the unfamiliar black-haired man made them take a few more glances.

As the laughter subsided, Jun Bai took out an exquisite brocade pouch from his sleeve: a farewell gift for you.

Then, with a thoughtful expression, he added: "Don't take my things secretly next time. Just tell me if you want to."

Gan Yu took the brocade pouch, her fingertips touching the warmth of Jun Bai's palm, and her heart skipped a beat.

She lowered her head to hide her flushed cheeks, her long eyelashes casting dappled shadows on her eyelids, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

Then she softly replied, "Yes, take care on your journey, senior." Her voice was so soft it almost seemed to dissipate in the wind.

Then, as if summoning her courage, she raised her head, her clear eyes reflecting the other person's image, and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "Remember to look for me when you come back. I've been learning to cook lately."

As she spoke the last few words, her voice trailed off, becoming almost inaudible. Unsure how to explain, she thought for a moment, then finally added bluntly: "I wanted to... make it for you first."

Upon hearing this, a gentle smile flashed in Jun Bai's eyes.

He reached out and gently rubbed the top of her head; the touch was as soft as stroking a cloud.

"Really? Then I guess I'll have to look forward to it." Jun Bai's voice carried a hint of teasing, yet it also revealed genuine anticipation.

Having said that, Jun Bai turned around with a smile.

In the instant she turned around, her long, jet-black hair suddenly turned a pristine white, with tiny sparks dancing among the strands.

Blazing flames swirled and coalesced behind him, transforming into a pair of magnificent fiery wings, each feather seemingly sculpted from the purest flames.

Flame Wings flapped gently, creating a blast of scorching air.

Jun Bai's figure transformed into a dazzling fiery meteor, streaking across the sky and soaring straight into the heavens. The light was so dazzling that it seemed to set the entire sky ablaze.

This shooting star, carrying the promise, will reach the distant Mount Sumeru when it hits the ground.

Gan Yu gazed up at the receding fire trail, lost in thought for a long time. The night breeze brushed against her hair, carrying a slight chill.

When she finally came to her senses, she found that the sun had already sunk behind the mountains, and the bright moon hung high in the sky, casting a cool, silvery glow.

She looked down at the brocade pouch that Jun Bai had given her before his departure; the silk felt soft and delicate to the touch.

Gan Yu gently untied the ribbon, revealing a box full of colorful candies that shimmered sweetly in the moonlight.

"Really, senior, you still treat me like a child..." She shook her head helplessly, but a faint smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.

With slender fingers, she picked up a red candy from the brocade pouch and carefully unwrapped it.

As she placed the candy between her fingers, the sweet strawberry flavor immediately blossomed on her tongue. That familiar taste reminded Gan Yu of the times when Jun Bai would magically pull out candy from his sleeve to comfort her whenever she was sad.

The sweet taste gradually soothed the sorrow of parting.

Gan Yu carefully put away the brocade pouch and turned to walk towards the Moon Sea Pavilion. The moonlight gilded her with a silvery edge, and her shadow stretched long on the stone path.

……

Meanwhile, in the distant Sumeru Rainforest.

After several days of arduous travel, Jun Bai slowly retracted the burning flames behind him. The flames gradually died down, turning into sparks that dissipated into the damp air.

He landed lightly on a tree trunk, his boots not even disturbing the dew on the leaves.

The humid, warm air characteristic of the rainforest wafted over, accompanied by the chirping of insects all around.

The branches and leaves of the towering ancient trees intertwine overhead to form a green dome, letting in only scattered patches of light.

Jun Bai looked around. The tips of his white hair still retained some lingering warmth, rising in the humid air as a faint white mist.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like