Chapter Thirty: Lumine Falls in Love

"Oh? A gift!" Upon hearing the word "gift," Paimon grew excited before the recipient, Chen, could even speak. "Finders keepers! Paimon wants one too!"

"Um, but this isn't something you can use, Paimon." Amber shook her head regretfully, then broke into a bright smile. "However, I have prepared another gift for you. How about I treat you to Mondstadt's specialty, Sticky Honey Roast?"

"Sticky Honey Roast?!" The name alone sounded delicious. Paimon’s eyes turned into sparkling stars, and she couldn't help but drool at the corner of her mouth.

Seeing this, Chen felt a bit embarrassed and hurriedly whispered a reminder: "Paimon, show some restraint!"

Paimon snapped back to reality, hastily wiped her mouth in a panic, and said sheepishly, "Oh, s-sorry."

Amber smiled, unbothered; in fact, she found Paimon’s behavior rather cute.

"Well then, follow me. Let's find a suitable spot. This gift can only be used from a high vantage point."

With that, Amber, like a little girl eager to share a prized possession with her friends, impatiently reached out to take Chen's hand and led him quickly toward the high ground she had in mind.

***

In a spacious and bright university classroom, students sat in neat rows, some attentive and some bored, watching an elderly professor wield a stylus to rapidly write dense rows of key points across a vast electronic chalkboard.

This was a special class composed of elite admissions. Although the school’s curriculum for these exceptionally gifted students differed from that of the general student body, they were still required to attend a few mandatory, in-person sessions each week.

Today happened to be one of those sessions.

Aether and Lumine were two of these gifted students. Although they were the youngest in the group, they were also the most brilliant, firmly occupying the top two spots in the class rankings.

It must be said that the gap between people can sometimes be vast. Some struggle with all their might just to reach the threshold of genius, much like the students in the front row who were listening intently, terrified of falling behind.

However, for others, what is called "genius" is merely a starting point—like Aether and Lumine in the back row. Their composure and calmness stood in stark contrast to the students in front.

Of course, compared to his spirited younger sister, Aether’s personality was much more steady and reserved. Even though the teacher was covering material he had already mastered, he maintained a serious attitude, listening attentively and taking careful notes. He considered it a good way to review and consolidate his knowledge.

As for Lumine...

Sigh! She had stood her tablet-desk upright, creating a screen, and was now hunched behind it, secretly watching a miniaturized holographic display.

Aether felt helpless regarding Lumine's behavior, but there was little he could do. When it came to his sister, he had no choice but to let her be.

What Lumine was watching with such relish was none other than the *Teyvat* series, updated regularly by the Prosperity Corporation. Lumine was deeply interested in anything related to Ling Feng. After learning from Paimon that Ling Feng had actually stepped in to complete the destined fate of saving the world in her stead, her interest in his marvelous adventures on the continent of Teyvat had reached an unprecedented high.

Lumine thought: If Ling Feng had walked a life that was originally meant for her, then in a certain sense, did that not mean their destinies were intertwined—that they were bound together in a relationship where each was part of the other, inseparable?

It was fortunate that Aether did not know what Lumine was thinking, or he would likely have felt deeply unsettled.

(Aether: Little sister? Before you confirm this relationship, shouldn't you think clearly? Boss Feng didn't just replace you!)

Of course, Lumine was destined not to care about Aether’s thoughts; she had mentally excluded him from this experience of life-swapping.

(Lumine: This is a unique experience shared only between me and Feng! Aether? Who is that? I don't know him, never met him, he should just get lost.)

And so, having unilaterally decided that a "unique" relationship existed between them, every time she thought of this lately, a silly, goofy smile—entirely different from her usual carefree image—would uncontrollably appear on her face. Her expression was filled with the shyness and sweetness unique to a young girl.

It was because of these girlish thoughts that Lumine had been eagerly awaiting the *Teyvat* updates from the Prosperity Corporation, watching them the very moment they were released.

Unfortunately, regarding Paimon’s awakening, the three of them had agreed before the series even aired to go find Ling Feng together at the end of the month to surprise him. To maximize the surprise, Lumine and Aether had agreed not to contact Ling Feng until then.

(Lumine: Even if Feng doesn't remember Paimon now, if he suddenly sees her, he should still feel something special, right? He’ll definitely be happy, won't he?)

If not for this, given Lumine’s personality, she would have long since called Ling Feng to demand the full series, rather than waiting here every day, miserably anticipating the updates.

Aether couldn't help but sigh to himself: only when it came to matters concerning Boss Feng could Lumine actually restrain her impulses!

Since she couldn't watch the future episodes, Lumine spent her time re-watching the previous ones after the daily update ended. At this moment, she had just reached the second episode of the *Mondstadt Chapter*.

Watching the enthusiastic and adorable Crimson Knight on screen, who was captivated by Ling Feng's charm upon their very first meeting, Lumine puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.

(Feng is really something. Can't he restrain his misplaced charm? Why is he attracting admirers wherever he goes?)

(Clearly, clearly I should be the girl who has spent the most time by his side!)

This was something Lumine found incredibly frustrating. She had been by Ling Feng’s side for so long, and she had almost never hidden her intentions toward him. Yet, until the moment he brought her and Aether to this world, her relationship with Ling Feng had remained stuck in the stage of "more than friends, less than lovers." This made Lumine feel very discouraged.

(However...)

Lumine seemed to recall something, and her gaze gradually turned rather unkind.

(Come to think of it, this is all Paimon's fault.)

In the past, whether intentional or accidental, a coincidence or pure luck, or just plain stupidity, that little creature Paimon always managed to interrupt Lumine’s grand plans for a confession at the perfect moment, causing her to fail time and time again. If not for that, the boundary between her and Ling Feng might have been broken long ago.

(As it turns out, I haven't been hitting her enough.)

With this thought, Lumine made up her mind. *Spare the rod, spoil the child.* As partners who had been through life and death together, she simply *had* to let Paimon feel the depth of her love!

Lumine let her mind wander until the plot on the screen advanced, reaching the battle between the Traveler and the dragon. Only then did she clear her head and watch with rapt attention, her eyes filled with anticipation.

It’s coming, it’s coming!

The first climax of the *Genshin* storyline: the battle between the Traveler and the dragon!

Of course, Lumine didn't care about the battle itself. The point that made her heart race and her eyes burn with intensity was:

The way Feng looks when he fights is truly, truly...

So handsome!!!