Afternoon, Yuehai Pavilion.
Ningguang stepped into the office of the Yuheng Star, raising her hand to gently knock on the door. The crisp sound echoed through the room.
Keqing lifted her head from the pile of blueprints on her desk and looked toward the door.
"Ningguang."
"Keqing, it's time to head over to Mr. Xia's shop. You should set aside your work for now."
"Oh? Is it that late already?"
Keqing glanced at the darkening sky outside the window and stood up.
"Wait a moment, I'll tidy up my appearance."
She moved behind the folding screen, changing into a more formal outfit and quickly freshening up.
When she reemerged, she looked completely refreshed.
Ningguang glanced at her and smiled. "That was quick."
Keqing brushed a strand of her violet hair behind her ear and said, "Let's go."
The two walked out of the office.
Outside, Baishi was waiting, holding two exquisitely wrapped bags in her hands.
"Ningguang, Keqing."
"Baishi, what's this?"
"These are gifts prepared by Ningguang!"
"Gifts…"
"I also prepared one for you, Keqing. It's tea leaves—Mr. Xia enjoys tea, and it's appropriate to bring something like this for a first visit."
"Hmm, thank you. By the way, your hair looks a bit damp. Did you just take a bath?"
"Yes."
"Ningguang, it's just a meal and a discussion. Isn't this a bit too formal?"
"This has nothing to do with formality."
Ningguang's tone was light.
"I took a bath because I plan to ask Mr. Xia for a massage afterward. After working all day, my body feels a bit grimy."
"A massage?"
"Mm."
"So the rumors are true?"
"They are."
"You go to that shop for a massage every day?"
"Not every day. Sometimes, when I'm too busy, I skip a day or two."
Keqing fell silent at this.
The Qixing were all incredibly busy.
Since the departure of the Geo Archon, the responsibilities that Morax once oversaw had been divided among the Qixing and their various departments.
Each of the Qixing had a mountain of tasks to handle daily, and among them, the Tianquan Star was the busiest. Even with three highly capable personal secretaries, Ningguang often worked from dawn until late at night, frequently being the last of the Qixing to leave her office.
Keqing gave her a long, scrutinizing look.
"Ningguang, you've changed."
"Oh?"
"You've become… lazy. You're wasting time on meaningless indulgences."
"Haha…"
Ningguang couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing… Keqing, you wouldn't understand."
"Huh?"
"You actually think this is a waste of time."
"Isn't it? You're spending one or two hours traveling from Yuehai Pavilion to Feiyun Slope for a massage, including the time you take to bathe beforehand. Do you know how much work you could accomplish in that time?"
"You're right. But in reality, ever since I started going to Mr. Xia, my work efficiency hasn't decreased—it's actually improved significantly."
"?"
"You still have a lot of unfinished work today, don't you? But I've already completed all of mine."
"!"
"That's why I say: balance is key. Work and rest must complement each other."
"…"
"You don't believe me? Baishi."
"Keqing, it's true! Ningguang has finished all her work for today!"
"…"
"How about this, Keqing? Let me treat you to a massage later. You'll feel relaxed, and I guarantee—"
"No need!"
"Don't be so quick to refuse. Mr. Xia's massage services aren't something just anyone can enjoy. Even I can't guarantee he'll—"
"I said no!"
Keqing's tone was firm as she rejected Ningguang's suggestion.
"I'm not interested in such things."
"Is that so? What a pity."
There was a hint of regret in Ningguang's eyes.
The three of them walked in silence for a while.
Keqing broke the quiet. "Ningguang, do you know why Shenhe wanted to meet with me this time?"
"I do. To be precise, it's not Shenhe who wants to meet you—it's Mr. Xia. He's planning to build a free academy in Liyue, and you're in charge of land development."
"A free academy?"
"One that can accommodate thousands of children. Regardless of their background, as long as they're willing to learn, they can attend. The academy will provide books, and the children can freely pursue the knowledge they're interested in. What do you think?"
"It sounds like a good thing… but what's his motive?"
"Just pure goodwill, I suppose."
"Goodwill? A project of this scale would cost a fortune just for the initial construction."
"You don't need to worry about the money. I'll be contributing as well, which is why I'm accompanying you today."
"Tch. With your profit-driven mindset, you're actually willing to invest in a money-losing project like this?"
"Losing money? Haha…"
"Ningguang, what's so funny now?"
"Nothing. I just thought of something amusing. Keqing, you have so much work—why not hire more assistants to help you?"
"I've tried…"
"Yes, but no one can keep up with your pace, right?"
Keqing fell silent again.
She had her own convictions.
Perhaps it was her desire to set an example for the people, but she always demanded several times the effort from herself compared to others. She also had little tolerance for laziness or inefficiency.
Because of this mindset, her work rhythm was often out of sync with those around her.
She wouldn't rest until her tasks were complete.
Even if a project required half a month to finish, she would find a way to compress the timeline and complete it in one or two days.
For her, "completion" didn't just mean finishing the task—it meant addressing every detail related to it.
To others, she appeared highly efficient and flawless.
But not everyone possessed her level of drive.
No assistant had lasted more than three months working with her.
She had received countless suggestions to slow down, but she always dismissed them coldly.
To her, they were just excuses.
"Liyue lacks talent."
"Yes, Liyue lacks talent. But why is that?"
"Because people relied too much on the gods in the past. After living under the protection of the Geo Archon for so long, most people became lazy and timid. They only followed the divine decrees issued during the Rite of Descension, never questioning the meaning behind them."
"Is that really the only reason? While the children of fishermen play by the docks, the children of noble families are already studying behind closed doors. Why is that?"
"…"
"For centuries, the Qixing have changed hands countless times, but most of them came from noble families like yours. How many were self-made, like me?"
"…"
"We all say Liyue lacks talent. But where does talent come from? It's not discovered—it's cultivated, and that requires investment."
Keqing walked in silence for a while before finally speaking. "This… is difficult."
"What's so difficult about it?"
"To read and study, one must first learn to write. But paper is expensive, and ordinary people can't afford the long-term cost."
"I've developed a new method for making paper. It'll be on the market soon, and the price will drop by more than tenfold."
"Where did you get that?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Then there's the issue of knowledge. Good books and good teachers are scarce. The noble families hoard their knowledge and rarely share it with outsiders."
"I've already contacted scholars to compile textbooks. They'll be completed soon, and their quality will surpass your so-called family teachings by tenfold."
"Really?"
"What do you think?"
"Then there's the issue of scale. Liyue has thousands of children. A single academy can't accommodate them all."
"I have a plan. This is just a trial. If it proves effective, we'll expand it across Liyue."
"Is that so?"
"Mm."
"Also…"
Keqing raised several more concerns, all of which Ningguang answered effortlessly.
Frowning, Keqing asked, "If you've already thought everything through, why not handle this yourself? Why involve others?"
"This is Mr. Xia's project, not just anyone's."
"? What's the difference?"
"There's a big difference, but it's hard to explain to you."
"??"
"Alright, we're almost there. Baishi, hand Keqing her gift."
"Oh!"
Baishi handed one of the tea bags to Keqing.
The three of them entered the shop together.
Just like in the morning, only Qiqi and Xia Ci were inside.
"Ningguang, and the Yuheng Star."
"Where's Mr. Xia?"
"He's busy in the kitchen. Please have a seat! Oh, you didn't have to bring gifts!"
"It's just a small token, nothing compared to what Mr. Xia has given us."
The three sat down, and Qiqi thoughtfully brought over three cups of tea.
Xia Ci sat nearby, chatting with them.
Keqing couldn't help but sniff the air, catching a whiff of a delicious aroma.
At that moment, Xia Zhi emerged from the kitchen to greet them.
"Yuheng Star."
"Mr. Xia, about the matter you wanted to discuss…"
"No rush, no rush. It's nothing urgent. Let's eat first."
"…Alright."
Since he had made tofu earlier in the day, Xia Zhi served each guest a small bowl of tofu pudding as a pre-meal treat.
Keqing took a spoonful, and her eyes lit up.
The taste.
So tender! So smooth! So delicious!
She couldn't stop eating.
When she finally put down her spoon, she noticed Ningguang smiling at her with a spoon in her mouth.
Keqing's cheeks flushed slightly.
How embarrassing!
Xia Ci noticed and asked with a smile, "Yuheng Star, would you like another bowl?"
Keqing quickly declined. "No, thank you!"
She picked up her tea to hide her awkwardness.
A moment later, she saw Ningguang elegantly finish her bowl and hand it to Qiqi.
"Qiqi, another bowl, please."
"Of course, Ningguang."
"Qiqi, I'll have another as well."
"Of course, Baishi."
Keqing froze.
Watching Ningguang and Baishi dig into their second bowls, she swallowed hard, feeling like she had missed out.
The aroma in the air grew stronger.
Footsteps sounded at the door—it was the final guest.
"Zhongli is here."
"Good evening, everyone."
"Please, have a seat. Would you like some tofu pudding?"
"No need. I had some this morning."
"Qiqi, another cup of tea, please."
"Alright."
Keqing glanced at Zhongli, who was calmly sipping his tea, her eyes filled with curiosity.
Could Zhongli be the scholar Ningguang mentioned for compiling textbooks?
Before long, dinner was served.
Just like at noon, the table was filled with a feast of dishes.
Tasting the masterful cooking for the first time, Keqing couldn't help but eat three bowls of rice. When she turned to look, she saw that Ningguang had also eaten three bowls.
Wait a minute. I'm always running around construction sites, so it's normal for me to have a big appetite. But why can you eat so much?
And your little secretary too!
After dinner, Xia Zhi and the three guests moved to another table to discuss business.
As usual, Xia Ci pulled up a chair to sit beside her cousin, quietly listening.
"It's like this. The reason I invited the Yuheng Star today is to ask for your help with the academy's construction…"
Xia Zhi explained his plan again.
Keqing nodded. She had already heard about it from Ningguang and was prepared.
"I understand. You're asking about the location for the academy, correct? For now, I'd recommend the Chihu Rock area. The land is relatively cheap, and the environment is suitable…"
Keqing's suggestion matched her cousin's earlier one.
As she spoke, she pulled out a map of the city and spread it on the table.
"Look here, here, and here. These areas are spacious and ideal for building a school."
"Yuheng Star, actually…"
"Oh, sorry, I forgot Mr. Xia can't see. I'll—"
"That's not it."
"Then?"
"Actually, I wanted to ask you about the reconstruction of the Jade Chamber."
"Huh?"
"I heard you and Zhongli oversaw the project?"
"Yes, but what does that have to do with the academy?"
"It's related. You see, I have a friend… Xia Ci, why are you laughing?"
"Nothing, haha. Go on, cousin…"
"Well, I have a friend who heard about Ningguang's bounty for Sunset Vermillionite and went searching in the mountains. He only found a large piece a few days ago, but he missed the deadline for the bounty. So, he's planning to sell it to me at a low price."
"!"
"So, Mr. Xia, you mean…"
"I thought it was perfect timing. Why not build the academy in the sky? But such a large-scale project isn't something just anyone can handle. Since you both have experience with the Jade Chamber, I wanted to consult you tonight."
"…"
Keqing pondered for a moment.
"That's an interesting idea. My suggestion is to start construction as soon as possible. Many of the craftsmen from the Jade Chamber project haven't left yet, so we can save a lot of effort."
"What about the cost?"
"An academy won't be as luxurious as the Jade Chamber, so the budget will be much lower. But we'll need a design plan quickly."
"I already have one! I spent a night drawing it!"
Keqing stared at the beautifully detailed design Xia Ci pulled out, momentarily stunned.
"You drew this in one night?"
"Mm! Not bad, right?"
Keqing fell silent.
You know what? Maybe you should take over as the Yuheng Star.
---
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