Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [595]

Klee cradled her drink, happily fiddling with the little decorations on the table, while Jean sat across from Diluc, earnestly discussing the issue of "increasing compensation for the Knights of Favonius."

“Surprising, isn’t it? Something like this would usually be handled in the Knights’ conference room… or the Acting Grand Master’s office.”

As the former Quartermaster and now Jean’s right hand, Kaeya was well within his rights to know all this.

He grinned at Gu Sanqiu. “But my dear brother doesn’t like talking business in places like that. So Jean chose Angel’s Share instead.”

Gu Sanqiu nodded, beginning to understand. “So this is her way of consulting Diluc for advice?”

He could see it now — while Diluc still harbored some resentment toward the Knights, that feeling seemed to be easing. He was even willing to discuss administrative matters now.

And Jean — a tireless workaholic who showed up early and left late — was here at a tavern, close to work hours. That, in itself, said a lot.

Respectful distance. Mutual compromise. Both sides are clearly making space for one another.

It was just like how ideal couples managed their relationship — when a girl didn’t nag while her boyfriend gamed with friends, and might even bring him snacks and drinks if they were gaming at home.

And during dates, the boyfriend would tag along, helpless but indulgent, as they wandered from mall to mall, giving sincere feedback on outfits emerging from the fitting room.

He’d even go with her to places he found boring, just to take good photos of her smiling from the perfect angle.

Even if she found it dull, she’d still sit beside him as he gamed, not because the game mattered, but because she liked the way his profile looked in the light.

In short, even if those two weren’t technically a couple, and even if they were talking shop while babysitting a child, the signs were clear — something was blooming beneath the surface.

Even if Diluc’s icy demeanor wouldn’t thaw overnight, and even if Jean’s buried feelings hadn’t yet bubbled to the surface, it was only a matter of time.

And who said we needed to wait for it to happen naturally?

Gu Sanqiu rubbed his hands together with a sly smile. Waiting for it to unfold might be slow, but with passionate bystanders like them around, surely someone could nudge things along.

He was already wondering how much of a gift to prepare for the eventual wedding.

“Jean said Knight compensation should be distributed fairly, with specific allowances for field duty and hazard pay,” Kaeya explained. “But my brother doesn’t entirely agree. As the head of the Mondstadt Chamber of Commerce, he believes performance-based pay is a more appropriate model.”

“Still,” Kaeya continued, “he does support the idea of hazard pay. As for other perks, he’s offered to help negotiate — like exclusive discounts at shops and restaurants for Knights.”

Ah. Sounds like holiday benefits.

Gu Sanqiu scratched his head. Even the Knights were getting a raise now. And what about me?

He had no salary. Worse, he was working under his old man for free — practically indentured labor.

Just one word for it: Tragic.

“So you’re saying… they’ve been meeting here for days now?”

“Pretty much,” Kaeya said, sighing. “Why else would I know they always show up here at this exact time?”

“At first, I thought Jean had called my brother over to get me back to work. Scared the hell out of me.”

Gu Sanqiu gave him a sideways glance — then paused.

“Wait a sec. Be right back.”

A gust of wind scattered across the balcony as Gu Sanqiu disappeared into thin air, slipping out of the tavern without so much as a ripple.

Under normal circumstances — or in combat — Diluc’s instincts would’ve caught that. But not now.

Because right now, that stern and serious girl sitting across from him had claimed nearly all his attention.

Well… except for the small fraction reserved for the little red riding hood playing war games on the table with the bar’s tiny decorations. He was keeping an eye out in case Klee hurt herself on any sharp edges.

...

Five minutes later—

“Teacher, drinking in the middle of the day is bad for your health! It’ll only encourage your inner laziness. The Thousand Winds still blow — how can the Saint of Favonius be so degenerate?”

Barbara’s sweetly scolding voice floated up from below. Kaeya leaned over the railing, breathing a sigh of relief when he saw she wasn’t reacting oddly.

Gu Sanqiu, completely unbothered, tugged Barbara into a seat beside him and pointed downstairs.

Barbara gasped and covered her mouth. “Wait— That’s my sister?! And… that’s Mr. Diluc?!”

Little Klee was completely ignored in Barbara’s moment of revelation.

Kaeya shot Gu Sanqiu a look. “You really live for the drama, huh?”

He honestly hadn’t expected Gu Sanqiu to go all the way to the Church of Favonius just to bring Barbara here. Was he trying to let the little sister witness the truth firsthand?

Barbara’s eyes sparkled with gossip-fueled curiosity. “Teacher, teacher, what’s going on down there? Explain!”

“It’s simple,” Gu Sanqiu said, grinning. “Exactly what it looks like. Pretty interesting, right?”

He watched Diluc take the document from Jean’s hands, their fingers brushing ever so slightly in the exchange.

Jean didn’t react. Diluc, gloved as always, didn’t either. Infuriating. Gu Sanqiu wanted to leap down right then and rip those gloves off the man.

Ideally, he’d give the two of them a nice, gentle version of a cultivation technique that smashed foreheads together — except in this case, their lips would meet.

Seriously, why talk business in a tavern? Go outside! There’s a lovely little garden by the fountain!

With just a little help from my wind, I could blow Jean straight into Diluc’s arms. Or vice versa!

Then Kaeya and Barbara could get a perfect photo.

But not yet.

For two clueless people — one unaware of their own feelings, the other thinking they were just “helping to restore the Knights” — too aggressive a push might backfire. It could all go up in smoke. They might revert to how they were before, maybe even stop talking entirely.

Jean would retreat from embarrassment. Diluc… might chase him all the way back to Liyue with a flaming greatsword.

“Oh, by the way, sir,” Charles looked toward Diluc. “The Saint of Favonius was in Mondstadt earlier. He was here just a little while ago, had a drink with Captain Kaeya.”

“Big Brother?!”

Klee perked up. “Where is he?!”

“No idea. The two of them left together shortly before you all arrived. Looked like they had something going on.”

Diluc took a sip of juice. “No big deal. Unless something’s changed, he’s probably here to relax. He did just pull off a pretty incredible victory in Liyue, after all.”

Barbara glanced at her teacher — still smiling serenely.

And for some reason… her whole outlook on life seemed to open up.

Not only had she glimpsed another side of her big sister, she’d also just learned a wickedly useful “adult maneuver” from her teacher.

Barbara clenched her little fist, satisfied.

Mm. Today’s been a very productive day!

---

This is a fan translation of 原神之璃月奉香人 by 淡白蛋清. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!