Chapter 185

"Here, here, and here - all these need corrections. What's going on with you lately? How did you become so careless? You never had this many document errors before."

At Yuehai Pavilion, Keqing called one of her junior secretaries to her office and began pointing out the errors in the documents one by one.

The secretary responded with a troubled expression: "Lady Keqing, I've been working overtime for a whole week now. Just looking at documents makes my head spin... couldn't I get some rest?"

Keqing thought for a moment and said, "Very well, I'll give you one day off. Is that enough?"

The junior secretary nodded vigorously with joy: "More than enough! Long live Lady Keqing!"

With that, she happily bounced away.

Keqing looked at the documents before her and sighed. Well, she might as well correct these errors herself.

However, the other staff members watching the secretary skip away with a silly grin had somewhat pitying looks as they saw her off.

Ah, another one lost to madness.

Lady Keqing's department wasn't just any department - it was practically hell that devoured people whole without spitting out the bones.

Though exaggerated, Lady Keqing had recently become more considerate of her subordinates. At least now, when they asked, she would give them time off.

Apparently, this was all thanks to Master Ning's influence.

By the way, Yuehai Pavilion was now divided into three factions:

Lady Ningguang's "Queen Consort" faction, Lady Keqing's "Empress" faction, and Lady Ganyu's "Senior Secretary" faction.

Recently, the first and last factions were absolutely ecstatic.

They often saw Lady Ningguang dismissing everyone during her free time, staying alone with Master Jiang Ning at the Jade Chamber.

Though no one knew what happened up there, as adults - many of them married - they all understood what it implied.

The Ningguang faction was overjoyed.

As for Ganyu's side? The two were often seen shopping for groceries together and browsing stores.

Rumor had it that Lady Ganyu and Master Jiang Ning even exchanged clothes they bought for each other.

Such domestic coupling made the Ganyu faction equally jubilant.

But the Keqing faction stuck in the middle was suffering terribly.

They had hoped that after the trip to Inazuma, Lady Keqing would finally capture Master Ning's heart.

But what happened? Apparently, Master Jiang Ning even managed to charm their deity over there, while Lady Keqing...

Lady Keqing was still working, still conducting business negotiations!

Come on, Lady Keqing, step up your game! You're making all your supporters anxious!

Even after returning to Liyue, Lady Keqing remained swimming in an ocean of work.

Honestly, if it weren't for Master Jiang Ning running a harem, if it was a one-on-one choice, Lady Keqing would definitely be the first one eliminated.

"So, what do we do now?" one secretary whispered, staring at the closed office door.

"What can we do? It's not like we can make decisions for Lady Keqing. Let's just sleep on it and let nature take its course."

One of them had already given up.

"Master Jiang Ning could at least be more proactive," someone complained.

"What are you thinking? Master Jiang Ning is surrounded by heaven's chosen ladies. He's not lacking for options. Lady Keqing's personality puts her at a real disadvantage."

Another secretary shrugged: "If all else fails, we could trick Master Jiang Ning to come here. Tell him Lady Keqing is dying and wants to see him one last time."

"You're really brave, aren't you?"

The other secretaries gave a thumbs up to their daring colleague.

Spreading rumors, especially about their own superior - they really had a death wish.

"What else can we do? Can you think of something better? Just thinking about those other shareholders' ugly smug faces makes my blood boil."

They were grinding their teeth in frustration.

"What are you all discussing?"

An unfamiliar but pleasant voice suddenly spoke up.

The secretaries, huddled together, replied without thinking: "We're trying to help our Lady Keqing avoid being sent to the cold palace."

"Keqing? Cold palace? That's not the kind of person I am."

The voice said, holding back laughter.

"You're not that kind of person? Who are you anyway? Lady Keqing and Master Jiang Ning are meant to be together, you..."

The secretaries turned around dissatisfied, only to find one of the two main characters they were just discussing.

"M-Master J-Jiang Ning..."

The secretaries immediately began stammering, cold sweat breaking out.

This was bad - getting caught by a deity while gossiping about said deity behind their back. What should they do?

Seeking urgent online advice.

Jiang Ning smiled and said: "It's fine, it's fine. You're all just worried about Keqing. I'm worried too. That's why I came to be more proactive, right? You all carry on with your work, I'll go see her."

The junior secretaries instinctively covered their mouths and nodded.

Jiang Ning chuckled softly, then quietly walked into Keqing's office, gently closing the door behind him.

The moment the door closed, the secretaries' faces lit up with excitement as they began discussing:

"See? I told you Master Jiang Ning wouldn't forget Lady Keqing."

"This is wonderful! Now our Lady Keqing is finally on the right track."

"What do you think they're doing in there? They wouldn't... in the office..."

"Hehe..."

Inside the office, Jiang Ning watched Keqing buried in her furious writing, unable to hold back his smile.

Keqing sat there properly, and in the sunlight, the interplay of light and shadow made her already prominent nose bridge even more defined. Her long, thick eyelashes cast shadows like curtains over her eyes.

"Keqing?"

Jiang Ning called out.

But Keqing seemed not to hear, only pausing briefly before continuing her work.

Jiang Ning found this strange - she couldn't possibly not have heard.

So he moved closer to Keqing, and heard something that made him want to laugh.

"How strange, am I having hallucinations? Why am I hearing Jiang Ning's voice..."

"That guy, at this time he's either with that woman Ningguang, or with Ganyu... Or maybe he's out in the wild with Eula, or taking care of Shenhe at Wanmin Restaurant..."

As she spoke, a trace of resentment appeared on Keqing's face.

"Really now, you don't even know to come find me... Even though I'm your fiancée too..."

"That's it, once I finish today's work, I'm going to find Jiang Ning..."

Thinking this, Keqing unconsciously stretched.

However, as she raised her arms, she seemed to touch someone.

Keqing's expression immediately turned stern.

To approach so silently... what if it was an enemy?

She immediately reached for her Lion's Roar sword at the edge of her desk, but her hands were held down.

Her heart jumped, but feeling the warmth of those palms and the familiar scent, Keqing immediately softened.

"You scared me..."

Keqing turned her head reproachfully to look at Ning.

Ning gently pressed his lips against Keqing's soft cheek, then said:

"I called out to you, but you thought it was a hallucination. I didn't go find anyone else, you know. I came straight to you."

Keqing's face turned bright red: "Y-y-you, forget it! Forget everything!"

To think all her earlier monologue had been overheard? This was truly mortifying.

Jiang Ning quickly said: "It's okay, I'm the only one who heard. No one else will know."

Keqing covered her face and said in a muffled voice: "But it's still so embarrassing..."

Jiang Ning thought for a moment and said: "Well, actually, Lady Ningguang sometimes says embarrassing things too."

Keqing paused, slowly lowering her hands to look at Jiang Ning skeptically: "Really?"

Jiang Ning patted his chest and said: "Of course it's true."

Especially when she gets carried away, she can say anything.

At least he wasn't lying to Keqing. When things naturally progress, it's not embarrassment anymore - it's called romance, understand?

But that part couldn't be told to Keqing.

Thinking that even Ningguang had such mortifying moments, Keqing felt much better. She nodded and said:

"O-okay then... Why did you think of coming to see me today?"

Jiang Ning said: "Well, someone hasn't been coming to find me. And if I didn't come, wouldn't someone have turned into a jealous wife?"

"Didn't we agree not to mention that?!" Keqing bristled.

Jiang Ning spread his hands: "Did I agree? When was this? I don't remember."

"You!"

Keqing was furious but helpless, because Jiang Ning had only promised that no one else would know, not that they wouldn't discuss it between themselves.

"Anyway, you're not allowed to mention it anymore, whether we're alone or not!"

Keqing glared with her beautiful eyes, being somewhat unreasonable.

But according to books, this was a lover's privilege.

Jiang Ning said: "Alright, alright, I won't anymore."

Only then did Keqing nod with satisfaction.

"Have you eaten? Want to get something from the Yuehai Pavilion staff cafeteria?"

Keqing asked casually.

Ning shook his head and said: "No need... Look what I brought you?"

Like performing magic, Jiang Ning produced a food box and placed it in front of Keqing.

He casually stacked the documents to one side, helped Keqing set up her bowls and chopsticks, then said:

"No matter how busy work is, you can't forget to eat properly. I heard you've been getting by on quick meals and steamed buns with water here while working overtime."

"We're not short on money, why are you being so frugal..."

Keqing said: "These things fill me up and are quick to eat. This trip to Inazuma left a lot of work undone."

"Alright, I get it, stop lecturing. Master Chef Keqing, let's eat first."

Jiang Ning opened the food box, and seeing the dishes inside, Keqing's eyes lit up like a cat seeing its favorite things.

"Golden Shrimp Balls!"

Ning said: "I made them myself. How about it? Saw you haven't had them in a while, so I made some for you to try."

Keqing eagerly put a Golden Shrimp Ball in her mouth.

The crispy golden exterior and the bouncy shrimp filling intertwined, along with just the right amount of oil and tender shrimp meat, made this dish absolutely delicious.

Especially since Jiang Ning made it...

"This is rare, you actually cooking yourself? Should I feel honored?"

Keqing said with a smile.

At home, her little fiancé was so lazy, and everyone else spoiled him, never forcing him to cook.

Yet this guy was still the best cook in the family.

Isn't that infuriating?

Today she actually had the honor of having Jiang Ning specially cook a dish for her. Any slight dissatisfaction Keqing had felt from being neglected these past few days completely vanished.

Ning watched Keqing eating happily while resting his chin on his hand and said:

"Can't you come home more often? You're always at Yuehai Pavilion, practically just missing a bedroom next door as a rest area."

"Look at Lady Ningguang, though her home is in the Jade Chamber, she has a fixed room in Sister Ganyu's residence"

"Why are you still living in your own house? No, I mean, why are you treating Yuehai Pavilion as your home?"

Keqing swallowed her shrimp meat and said seriously: "Liyue is at a critical point of takeoff now, everyone is busy. As the Yuheng, I definitely need to lead by example."

"The great Liyue won't stop turning because someone works an hour or two less each day. Keqing, don't forget what I told you - you need to slow down a bit for Liyue to develop better."

"If others can't keep up with you, it actually creates mutual hindrance."

"If you keep working overtime like this, I might have to use my authority to force you to take a vacation."

Jiang Ning gave Keqing a little scare.

Keqing pursed her lips and said: "I know..."

Though it was a threat, Keqing was still delighted inside. After all, this was a form of care, wasn't it?

Ning continued: "Come home to sleep tonight. Your room is all ready, understand?"

"I know." Keqing nodded, "Mm, I'm full now, I can continue working..."

"Hmm?" Jiang Ning gave Keqing a sideways glance.

Keqing shrank her neck: "Um, maybe I'll take a noon nap first."

Though sleeping right after eating wasn't good for the body, that only applied to ordinary people.

Keqing was not only a Vision holder, but recently, without her noticing, Jiang Ning had also been nurturing her body with his divine power.

So Keqing pulled out her office recliner.

"Don't sleep there." Jiang Ning sat on the sofa and patted his leg, "Come here."

Keqing was stunned, then seemed to think of something. Her pretty face slightly reddened, but she still obediently walked over.

Lying down on Jiang Ning's leg, feeling his presence, she felt completely at peace.

Jiang Ning looked at the softened Cat Keqing, and couldn't help himself. He lowered his head and captured those cherry-red lips.

"Mmm..."

Keqing gave Jiang Ning a reproachful look, closed her eyes, and enjoyed this moment of happiness.

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