Reconnected with an old friend, huh?
So it wasn't a matter of life and death? Qin Yu had assumed Keqing had experienced some kind of tragic loss, given her bitter tone. Good... Relatively speaking.
"Isn't that something to be grateful for?" Qin Yu asked curiously.
"Grateful? Hmm, yes, I suppose so. At least, deep down, I feel genuinely happy. She's grown so much, even more beautiful and captivating than before."
So she's a woman.
"But she still doesn't remember me at all."
Ha? What do you mean she doesn't remember you?
"Doesn't remember?" Qin Yu asked, astonished.
"That's right. She looked at me like a complete stranger—no, more like someone she'd heard of but never met."
It doesn't sound like she's pretending not to know me.
And yet she remembers... That must be painful, Qin Yu thought sympathetically, while also growing increasingly curious about what would happen next.
"You must be devastated," Qin Yu said tentatively.
"No."
Not devastated?!
"It hurt when I saw the look in her eyes, but at the same time, I felt relieved. The fact that she doesn't remember anything... it's for the best."
The situation had suddenly become more complicated.
"Most importantly, she has new friends now. I was furious when I saw her in such a dangerous place when we reunited, but I'm still glad."
"Even though I'm no longer by her side, she's doing just fine. One of her friends has a rather... unique personality, but I don't think it will be a problem."
Qin Yu sighed softly, unsure how to respond to such a statement.
"Why... did she forget you?"
As expected, that question still lingered in her mind.
The other woman remained silent for a long time, as if debating whether to answer. The prolonged silence itself made Qin Yu realize this might be a question she shouldn't have asked.
"Ah, don't worry about answering! It was just me rambling to myself."
"Mm, I understand."
Qin Yu picked up her glass and took a sip of the "Poetess."
Perhaps influenced by the woman's words behind her, the normally sweet drink left a slightly bitter taste in her mouth.
"And I'm also envious. Envious of those who can stand beside her like that. Something I could never do."
"Why not?" Qin Yu asked.
"The reason is simple. If she saw me, she might remember me, and then she'd remember the things that caused her pain. I don't want to see her like that, so I won't approach her."
So that was it. Staying away out of concern for her, yet secretly envying those who could stand by her side, forced to watch from afar.
If I were her, I'd probably do the same.
But if I were her friend... I couldn't quite agree.
"There's something I'm not sure I should say..."
"Hmm? Go ahead. There's nothing to hold back."
Qin Yu reached inside her collar and pulled out the toy ring, fiddling with it as she carefully gathered her thoughts.
"You two were close, weren't you?"
"That's right."
Her voice radiated confidence, but she sighed. "But that's all in the past now. The memories are gone."
"I don't think it works that way. Even without memories, feelings linger. Even without recollection, there's a lingering sense of familiarity, an inevitable concern for that person."
"That's..." The woman behind me stammered, unsure how to respond.
Come to think of it, Keqing, the Yuheng Star I recently met, also gives me this overwhelming sense of familiarity. No matter how hard I try, I can't shake the feeling.
But not being able to remember anything is really frustrating.
"From the moment we met again, something must have already changed."
"Change, huh..."
The other person seemed to lean back in their chair, and Qin Yu faintly caught the delicate scent of their hair.
That smell... right, the shampoo formula must contain these ingredients... Hmm? Why do I remember that?
Puzzled, Qin Yu also leaned back in her chair.
Regardless, she continued, "If you two were so close, your friend wouldn't want you to carry this burden alone."
"She definitely wouldn't. When we were kids, she was such a crybaby and so clingy, but she was also incredibly caring."
Hmph, she's nothing like me at all.
Cry? I'm bloodless, heartless, and tearless! Clingy? I thrive in solitude! Caring? That's just a necessary facade. Empty tenderness is useless, but one can't live without it entirely.
The woman she described sounded like an angel, the complete opposite of a wicked woman like Qin Yu.
If we ever met, we'd clash like oil and water.
Qin Yu shook her head with a sigh.
"I'm sure she still wants to be your friend," Qin Yu said encouragingly.
"Continue being friends with someone like me? But what if she remembers..."
Qin Yu smiled. "Then just stay by her side. No matter what difficulties we face, as long as we're together, we'll always find a way! That's the belief that has kept humanity alive all this time."
"..."
The woman behind her fell silent.
Damn, did I bore her? Well, I did ramble on and on... Qin Yu's mind began to cool as she took a sip of her drink, a flicker of self-disgust rising within her.
Why am I already so long-winded when I'm not even old yet?
"Thank you," the woman said softly.
"Huh?"
The woman chuckled lightly. "Thank you for encouraging me so much, even though we're strangers. You're really kind."
"Ahaha..."
Phew, doesn't sound like she hates me.
No, maybe she just thinks, "This person is so annoying!" but is too polite to say it. Qin Yu's thoughts spiraled.
Keqing genuinely felt that the woman behind her was incredibly kind. Not only had she listened to her dull, rambling words, but she had even encouraged her.
Just like "her."
Should I continue being her friend? Even if she's lost her memories, we could still be friends again.
If that were possible, the bitterness in her heart would finally fade away.
But it couldn't be.
She couldn't let her remember. Letting her emotions drive her would only cause her pain in the end. How could she do that? Her adoptive teacher had entrusted her care to Keqing before passing away.
Now, all she could do was watch over her from afar.
Whether it was entrusting Yanfei with a quest, paying her medical bills after the monster attack three years ago, or the fact that she had made new friends even without Keqing by her side...
Yes, maintaining the status quo was best.
With this thought, Keqing pulled out a wooden toy ring.
"Speaking of which, I once gave her a gift as a symbol of our close bond. I wonder if she still has it..."
Hearing this, Qin Yu glanced down at the toy ring hanging around her neck.
I wonder too. I still have this treasure, but what about her?
But in this situation, there was only one thing she could say.
"She definitely still has it," Qin Yu replied with a smile, clutching the toy ring. "Even if her memories are gone, a treasure remains a treasure. The emotions imbued within it never fade."
Keqing smiled, pinching the toy ring between her fingers. "If that's the case, then that's all the better."
After a while, the woman behind her said she needed to leave.
"Thank you so much for tonight. Next time we meet here, I'll treat you as promised."
"Okay, good night!"
"Good night."
The sound of her footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
What an incredible person, they both thought.
Qin Yu remained seated, ordering another "Poetess" cocktail. She savored it alone for a while before finally leaving the bar.
She stretched lazily in the night breeze.
"Ah, time for bed."
She still had to work as a maid tomorrow to earn money.
[Snuggling should bring happiness.]
Where did that come from? What's gotten into me?