"Klee is just too adorable! I'm gonna die!"
Axue pinched her nose, trying to stop herself from bleeding out. "I know Klee's banner is back, and miHoYo wants to milk us dry, but do you have to be this cruel?! I already have her at C6 with her signature weapon! Are you seriously trying to make me max her out on my alt account too?!"
Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. Watching Klee in the story, then glancing at the gacha banner above—how could anyone resist?!
Genshin Impact's character models were famously detailed, to the point where in-game visuals rivaled official artwork. Combined with the heartwarming storyline, even Ye found it hard to resist.
He quickly shifted his attention away from Rea, logging out of her account before he did something embarrassing, like hugging the screen and rubbing his face against it.
What's going on? Watching Klee makes me want to get married and have a daughter…
Sitting across from Sangonomiya Kokomi during dinner, Ye couldn't help but fixate on her face. Could I marry Kokomi and have a child with her?
Thinking about it, it had been 500 years since he'd last indulged in such pleasures—and even that had been a blur. The woman who'd seduced him had acted like nothing happened the next day.
Truth be told, Ye wasn't unfamiliar with such advances. Even before arriving in Teyvat, his life had been… eventful. And in the 500 years since, he'd encountered no shortage of women trying to win him over.
Not to boast, but Ye was well aware of his charm. He was the kind of man women fell for at first sight. Add to that his high status in Fontaine, and it was no surprise that ambitious women sought his favor.
But back then, Ye had held firm.
Back in the world of Honkai Impact, Ye had forcibly merged the Paths of Original Sin and Pure Beauty, despite their inherent conflict. He'd done so to exploit the resulting instability and break free from the world's constraints.
The world had shackled him by imposing the Path of Original Sin—a move Ye found deeply insulting. Sure, given his past, he couldn't exactly claim innocence… but to assign him such a Path without even asking? That was just rude.
Ye had wanted to be a good person, but the world hadn't given him the chance. So, he'd taken matters into his own hands. He'd expanded the Path of Original Sin until it was strong enough to devour the Path of Pure Beauty.
In Ye's eyes, everything in the world was beautiful. He had an eye for beauty, even in sin. To him, all Paths were interconnected.
But the world's rules disagreed. Original Sin and Pure Beauty were incompatible, and attempting to merge them had caused Ye's Path to fracture. Seizing the opportunity, Ye had escaped the world's grasp and fled to Teyvat—only to crash straight into Furina's bathtub.
From one cage to another, Ye couldn't help but lament his terrible luck.
Still, there was a silver lining: in Teyvat, Ye could finally be the good person he'd always wanted to be. Over the past 500 years, he'd cultivated virtue, practiced kindness, and lived a disciplined life—no gambling, no drinking, no philandering. Who could deny he was a good man?
With this righteous indignation, Ye picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and refilled it.
Even when faced with countless temptations, Ye had remained steadfast. He could swear on his honor—and Furina could vouch for him—that he'd never faltered. After all, Furina usually showed up to chase away any would-be seductresses before things could escalate.
But that didn't diminish Ye's self-control. Even without Furina's intervention, he was confident he could have resisted. He knew he could.
However, even the strongest will has its limits. After 500 years, Ye had finally slipped up in Inazuma.
He'd been prepared to face the consequences… but Kokomi had acted as if nothing had happened. Days had passed, and she showed no sign of discomfort or awkwardness around him. Sometimes, Ye wondered if the whole thing had been a dream.
Kokomi was an enigma. The smarter someone was, the easier they should be to understand—but Kokomi defied all logic. Even Ye found her thoughts inscrutable.
Truly, the mind of a strategist was beyond ordinary comprehension. Ye had to admit he'd underestimated her.
"Your Excellency, is there something on my face? You've been staring for a while."
Kokomi looked up, gently touching her cheek and wiping the corner of her mouth. "Did I get rice on it?"
With Rea's side of things temporarily handled (the Golden Apple Archipelago storyline was just a lighthearted diversion), Ye decided it was time to focus on his own future.
If I get married, Charlotte won't be able to blackmail me anymore, right?
With this thought, Ye met Kokomi's gaze and spoke softly:
"Kokomi."
"Hmm?"
She tilted her head, curious.
Ye chose his words carefully: "Wanna hang out tonight?"
Kokomi: "..."