"The flower isn't here, so stop rummaging through my pockets."

Liyue caught the blonde woman's restless hands and scolded her. "Besides, that Angel Wing doesn't even belong to us yet."

"Huh? It's not ours? Didn't you take it?" Yu Feier blinked at her in confusion.

"I didn't. There were… many reasons."

Liyue turned her head aside, cheeks faintly warm, refusing to meet the blonde's gaze.

"yueyue, you've changed."

Yu Feier plopped down beside her, speaking casually. "If this were the old you, once you found Angel Wings you would've stolen it without hesitation."

"People grow numb eventually." Liyue leaned against the blonde's shoulder, a sweet smile tugging at her lips. "The life I had before was so dull. Now I want to try changing."

Out of nowhere, Yu Feier asked, "yueyue, did you meet someone you like?"

"You—what are you talking about?" Liyue's silver eyes widened in panic. Her face flushed, and she quickly denied it. "No! Don't say nonsense."

"The way you look right now… just like Little Lily said. You must've met someone you like." Yu Feier's voice grew sly.

She had only been testing Alina's words:

'If a girl suddenly changes, either she's fallen in love, or she wants to.'

—Alina's sayings

Yu Feier realized with a jolt—Liyue really did have someone she liked.

"Hmph! Alina just spouts nonsense." Liyue turned her head, trying to hide her blush. "Don't pick up her bad habits."

"I'm not an idiot, you know." Yu Feier pouted.

"Yes, yes, you're not an idiot." Liyue brushed her off perfunctorily.

"Don't change the subject. Tell me about the Angel Wings." Yu Feier pressed with a serious face.

"Huh? Wasn't I just saying it?" Liyue covered her forehead, scalp prickling. This silly blonde had clearly learned from Alina how to turn words against her.

"Come on, what's going on with the Angel Wings?" Yu Feier leaned closer, squeezing her shoulder.

"I said stop squeezing." Liyue wriggled, embarrassed, before finally murmuring:

"I sneaked into Bloodbeard's treasury and saw the Angel Wings. It was almost withered. I was about to despair, but Luciel revived it… and gave me a drop of Angel Tears to drink."

She skipped over the more embarrassing details—especially anything about the little Black Tortoise—and only explained the essentials.

"After that, I stayed at Luciel's house. I came here not just for the Angel Wings—Luciel also wants to ask you about making enhanced secret medicines."

Yu Feier quietly studied Liyue's expression.

When the white-haired girl spoke of Luciel, a sweet, shy smile bloomed on her lips.

"…Why are you staring at me like that?" Liyue finally noticed the silence and turned. Yu Feier's golden eyes were locked on her.

Flustered, Liyue touched her cheek. "Were you even listening?"

"yueyue, your expression just now was so sweet." Yu Feier stretched lazily, grinning.

"No—it wasn't!" Liyue covered her face with both hands. Her cheeks were hot.

"Let's go then. Let's see what the person you like wants from me." Yu Feier walked toward the cave's entrance.

"Wait, don't go out yet!" Liyue's pretty face burned crimson. "Stop talking about 'the person I like'! It's… inappropriate."

"Oh! I didn't expect yueyue to be just as silly as Little Lily." Yu Feier turned back with a dramatic sigh.

"You don't need to worry about me," Liyue muttered, pressing her forehead. She never thought she'd be the one teased for romance by someone as scatterbrained as Yu Feier.

Collecting herself, she glanced at the clutter around them. "Aren't you bringing your things with you?"

"I got the Angel's Tears to study—why bother hauling everything else?" Yu Feier asked blankly.

"…Aren't you coming with me?" Liyue stepped closer, her voice urgent. "You're not planning to stay in the Moon Lake Tribe, are you?"

"Follow you? Why? Didn't you already get the Angel Wings?" Yu Feier tilted her head, confused. Then her eyes lit up. "Once I finish the cure for the Void Ghost infection, I'll come find you!"

"I give up." Liyue sighed. Talking with Yu Feier always felt like running in circles. Their thoughts simply didn't match.

She finally used her trump card. "The Angel's Tears can only condense one drop every ten days. I can only give you one drop now. After that, we'll have to part ways."

"What? Just one drop? That's impossible!" Yu Feier panicked, throwing her arms around Liyue with tears brimming. "I need at least ten drops to study!"

"If you follow me, there will be enough Angel's Tears for you." Liyue's tone softened. She no longer held hope for Yu Feier's "secret medicine." All she wanted was for her companion to live.

Besides, she understood Luciel's intentions—someone who could refine medicines was precious. Wouldn't it be better to bring Yu Feier onto the Black Tortoise's back and let her research at her own pace?

"…Fine. I'll go with you." Yu Feier rubbed her cheek against Liyue's.

"Stop that! Just pack quickly—we're going to meet Luciel." Liyue shoved her away in embarrassment.

"Are we leaving today? Morning or night?" Yu Feier asked while gathering her things.

"Midnight." Liyue exhaled helplessly.

"At midnight? Do you have enough food over there? If not, I'll sneak back up and grab some more." Yu Feier glanced toward the surface.

"Stop bullying people!" Liyue cut her off sharply. Truly, this blonde had no limits—robbing a household right before leaving!

"There's still so much left in their house…" Yu Feier scratched her neck, trying to defend herself.

"Fine, fine, just pack what's useful." Liyue gave her a look that said, I'll let it slide this time.

"Oh." Yu Feier obediently stuffed wooden boxes into the bags.

Halfway through, she paused, her golden brows furrowing.

"What's wrong? Forget something?" Liyue asked, opening the bag for her.

"…Do you think the marks on my face will scare the person you like?"

Yu Feier turned around pitifully, pointing at the scarlet lines etched across her cheeks.

"No. Luciel won't hate you," Liyue said gently.

"Impossible. Lily said normal people hate monsters like us."

Yu Feier lowered her head, squatting in silence. She suddenly didn't want to go anymore. If she followed Liyue, she might ruin her chance at happiness.

"That Luciel… may not be a normal person." Liyue forced a small smile, sacrificing Luciel's dignity for now just to reassure her.

"…But Lily also said non-normal people won't like us either." Yu Feier's head drooped lower.

Liyue grit her teeth. She was going to sew Alina's mouth shut someday.

She crouched down and pressed a hand to her chest. "Look at me. Luciel accepted me, didn't he? He'll definitely accept you too."

"That's different. You're the one he likes." Yu Feier shook her head.

"H-huh? What do you mean, likes…?"

Liyue's face turned scarlet, Luciel's words under the Starlight Tea tree flashing in her mind.

"I've got it!" Yu Feier suddenly perked up, golden eyes sparkling. She grabbed a piece of cloth, wrapped it around her head and neck, leaving only her eyes and two small nose holes.

"Mm-mmmf—"

"You tied your mouth shut…" Liyue sighed, rolling her eyes. A few strands of silver hair slid down her forehead as she carefully cut a slit at the mouth.

"Haaaah—" Yu Feier gulped in air, then flashed a triumphant thumbs-up. "See? I'm clever! No one will be scared if I look like this!"

"Yes, you're very smart…" Liyue swallowed back her words. It was fine. She'd just bring Yu Feier along first. The rest—prejudice, fear, misunderstanding—could be solved slowly with time.

"yueyue, don't worry. I'll never let them discover my true identity!" Yu Feier clenched her fist with determination.

"…Alright." Liyue silently picked up the bag. She couldn't tell her that Luciel already knew what they were. Letting Yu Feier stay oblivious wasn't such a bad thing.

Half an hour later, the two had finished packing.

"Let's go. If we wait, dawn will catch us."

Liyue donned her mask, picked up a bag, and led the way out of the cave.

"Coming." Yu Feier followed, carrying two heavy sacks.

They moved quietly toward the inn. But after a while, Liyue slowed and frowned.

"What's wrong? Enemies?" Yu Feier set down the bags and crouched, ready for battle.

As one of the Four-Person Team, her strength was no weaker than Liyue's.

"…No patrols." Liyue's voice was low. "This late at night, there should still be guards on rotation. Not seeing anyone—it's too strange."

"Maybe it's just the time they're switching shifts?" Yu Feier narrowed her eyes at the empty streets.

"Doesn't matter. Let's hurry and meet with Luciel." Unease gnawed at Liyue. Her instincts whispered that something would happen tonight.

"Okay. I'll follow your lead." Yu Feier slung the bags back over her shoulders.

-

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