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Page 34
"Mr. Yichen, you are quite humorous."
Upon hearing Ningguang's words, Yichen composed himself and shook his head earnestly.
He turned to look out the window at the myriad lights of Liyue Harbor.
The magnitude of one's strength does not determine whether a person is ordinary.
Moreover, my power is used to protect those I want to protect, to protect Mondstadt, to protect my companions, and to protect peaceful nights like this one.
I will not use it to harm innocent people, much less use it as a bargaining chip.
Ningguang listened to these words and looked at the young man's profile, which appeared exceptionally clear and resolute in the lamplight, and her heart stirred slightly.
She had seen too many people—greedy, cunning, hypocritical, arrogant… They chased power, either using it as a tool to seize profits or as a status symbol.
She had never seen anyone like Yichen before, possessing such terrifying power yet maintaining such a pure heart, taking protection for granted, and completely separating power from personal value.
An indescribable appreciation and goodwill quietly grew in her heart and rapidly increased.
Ningguang's smile became more genuine, less of the scheming that belonged to "Tianquan Star" and more of the warmth that belonged to "Ningguang" herself.
“Mr. Yichen, I admire your idea. Well then, let’s look at it another way—if you’re unwilling to exchange power, then surely labor can be used?”
She paused, watching Yichen turn back with a slightly puzzled look in his eyes, then parted her red lips and offered her suggestion:
"How about you become my temporary secretary?"
Upon hearing Ningguang's words, Yichen's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had found his people, and he nodded his head vigorously.
"Great! I'm best at being a secretary!"
"Please, Lady Ningguang, use me as you please!"
Ningguang was amused by Yichen's overly enthusiastic response and smiled in response.
"Alright, in that case, I will make the most of my new assistant."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ningguang looked at Yichen's energetic face and a question suddenly popped into her mind.
She had seen all sorts of people pursuing wealth, whether for power, pleasure, or ambition, but Yichen's purpose seemed both exceptionally simple and exceptionally complex.
She couldn't help but ask, "Assistant Yichen, I'm a little curious, what exactly is your motivation for making so much money?"
"After all, with your strength, if you really wanted to use some 'unconventional' methods, Mora would probably just grow legs and run into your pocket."
Upon hearing this, Yi Chen's expression immediately became extremely serious, and he began counting on his fingers.
"It's for making a living! Lady Ningguang, you don't know, I just bought a house in Mondstadt, and it's still being renovated. There are also maintenance fees, furniture costs, and the cost of my future wife..."
He sighed, then his eyes lit up again.
"Of course, it would be even better if we could also improve Mondstadt's economy and make it easier for everyone to earn money!"
"However, I also know that the economic models of Liyue and Mondstadt are very different."
Mondstadt is more free-spirited and undisciplined, while Liyue emphasizes contracts and business rules. Simply copying Liyue's model will definitely not work; it will inevitably lead to incompatibility. Therefore…
Yi Chen looked at Ning Guang, his eyes filled with curiosity.
"I will definitely learn from you! Let's start with the basics!"
Ningguang listened quietly as he spoke, from his most practical personal needs to his concern for his companions, then to his vision for the development of his hometown, and finally to his clear understanding and down-to-earth learning attitude. These words gave her a new understanding of the young man in front of her.
So, for some reason, perhaps it was the complex emotions that surged up at that moment, or perhaps it was because the person in front of me looked too... pitiful?
Ningguang reached out as if possessed and very naturally touched Yichen's soft black hair.
After making the move, both of them were stunned for a moment.
Ningguang was the first to react, but she did not withdraw her hand. Instead, she took the opportunity to rub it twice more, seamlessly transforming that sudden intimacy into encouragement and care from a senior to a junior, or from a superior to a capable subordinate.
"Hmm, very insightful and responsible. Keep up the good work, my assistant Yichen."
However, this seemingly heartwarming scene was not missed by Kaiya, who was holding a wine glass not far away (actually observing from the shadows).
Kaiya abruptly put down his wine glass and, with lightning speed, pulled out a small, exquisite notebook and a quill pen from some unknown dimensional pocket, and began to write furiously.
"Major diplomatic intelligence! Tianquan Star Ningguang patted the assistant to the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius on the head as a sign of affection and reward... Hmm, vivid details, serious situation, must be reported to Grand Master Qin immediately!"
At almost the same time, Gan Yu, who was looking for Yi Chen, also happened to witness this scene.
She looked at the slender hand that belonged to Ningguang, which was resting on Yichen's black hair, and a very faint look of bewilderment and... loss flashed across her face, a look that she herself did not even notice.
It's as if I can see my carefully nurtured cabbage being... patted amicably by a powerful, wealthy woman?
She gently bit her lower lip, silently lowered her head, and did not step forward again.
Chapter 15 Good impression
The next morning, Yi Chen, under the watchful eyes of his fellow Knights of Favonius, especially Kaiya's strange gaze filled with "compassion" and "amusement," ascended the Floating Life Stone Steps leading to the Jade Pavilion alone.
The palace, high above Liyue Harbor, gleamed in the morning light, its grandeur as Yichen walked by, secretly marveling at its magnificence.
"How many Mora would it take to build this... Miss Ningguang is truly my role model!"
As soon as I stepped onto the smooth, mirror-like floor of the Jade Pavilion, three female secretaries dressed in uniform and exuding a capable air—Baiwen, Baixiao, and Baishi—were already standing there waiting in neat rows.
They had already heard about the new temporary assistant's "outstanding achievements," and now they were all looking at Yichen with a mixture of strong curiosity and professional scrutiny.
"Good morning, Mr. Yichen. We are Lord Ningguang's secretaries, here to greet you on his orders."
Baiwen, as the representative, stepped forward, his words and actions were proper and his manners were courteous.
Good morning! Greetings to the three seniors!
Yi Chen flashed a bright, sunny smile, instantly breaking the slightly tense atmosphere.
"We'll be colleagues from now on, so please take care of me! Don't hesitate to give me any heavy or rough work!"
His straightforwardness and enthusiasm surprised the three secretaries who were used to the cutthroat world of business. They exchanged glances, their scrutiny lessening and replaced by curiosity and... a hint of goodwill.
After all, a colleague who is strong yet humble and willing to do odd jobs is a rare breed.
After the welcoming process, Baiwen led Yichen to his workstation.
One is located diagonally to the side of Ningguang's spacious and magnificent main desk, a spot that Ningguang can easily see when she looks up.
This arrangement is less like being an assistant and more like being placed under someone's watchful eye and "taken special care of."
Lady Ningguang is indeed very special to this new assistant.
The same thought flashed through the minds of all three secretaries.
Soon, Ningguang began assigning tasks to Yichen.
From compiling and summarizing business intelligence from various parties, to initially screening letters of intent for cooperation, and then to drafting some simple replies.
At first, Baiwen, Baixiao, and Baishi were secretly worried that this seemingly dull new colleague would mess up the documents.
However, to their surprise, Yichen was surprisingly adept at these assistant duties!
His reading speed was astonishingly fast, his categorization and filing were swift and precise, and his drafted replies were standard in format and fluent in sentence structure. Although his wording still carried a touch of Mondrian straightforwardness, the core meaning was clearly and unambiguously expressed.
When he occasionally encounters Liyue's unique business terminology or complex contract terms, he immediately looks up and humbly asks the three seniors next to him for advice, and he understands it immediately and can apply it to other situations.
Although I am still somewhat unfamiliar with some of Liyue's unique unspoken rules and culture, their speed of handling and execution are absolutely top-notch!
What surprised the three secretaries even more was that Yi Chen had absolutely no airs of being an "expert" or a "connected person".
Seeing that Bai Shi was struggling to carry a thick stack of files, he immediately stood up and took them from him: "I'll do it!"
When he needed to deliver documents to various departments downstairs, he would grab them without hesitation and run off, returning with an accurate report of the feedback from each department.
Even small tasks like adding tea or water for Ningguang were done proactively and efficiently by him.
Who wouldn't love a handsome colleague who is capable, efficient, hardworking, and always willing to help others?
In less than a morning, Baiwen, Baixiao, and Baishi's attitude towards Yichen had changed from initial curiosity and businesslike behavior to complete satisfaction and appreciation.
In the secretary's office of Qunyu Pavilion, thanks to Yichen's arrival, the originally efficient but slightly tense work atmosphere has become exceptionally smooth and... relaxed and pleasant?
Bai Xiao whispered to Bai Wen, "I think our efficiency this morning was about 10% higher than usual after Mr. Yi Chen arrived..."
Baiwen looked at Yichen, who was engrossed in writing and whose profile looked particularly serious in the morning light, and nodded slightly, the corners of his lips involuntarily turning up: "Hmm... indeed a good assistant."
Ningguang, seated in the main seat, took in all the interactions below. She picked up the teacup beside her, gently blew away the foam, and a barely perceptible, extremely satisfied smile curved her lips.
This is just the beginning, her assistant Yichen.
Several hours later, the afternoon sun bathed the Jade Pavilion in a warm golden light, leaving only Yichen and Ningguang inside.
After the hustle and bustle of the day subsides, only the wisps of smoke from the incense burner and the soft clinking of teacups remain.
Ningguang picked up the hot tea that Yichen had just brewed for her, took a small sip, and found the tea to be fragrant, mellow, and at the perfect temperature.
She looked up at Yichen, who was organizing the last few documents, and smiled.
"Assistant Yichen, how are you feeling today? Are you settling in alright?"
Yi Chen put down the document and thought about it seriously: "I think it's alright."
He spoke casually, as if he had only done some insignificant little things today, rather than efficiently handling a mountain of official business and helping his three secretaries move countless heavy objects.
The only thing that bothered him was the look in Gan Yu's eyes when he went to Yuehai Pavilion to deliver documents in the afternoon. It seemed to be a bit complicated and hard to explain, but he felt that it had nothing to do with work, so he didn't think much of it.
Ningguang naturally didn't miss his fleeting, subtle pause, but she didn't point it out. She simply set down her teacup gracefully and stood up.
"You can't learn the true essence of Liyue's commerce by just sitting in the pavilion dealing with documents. Come on, I'll take you to Liyue Harbor so you can see for yourself how the pulse of wealth really beats."
As dusk settles, Liyue Harbor welcomes its most bustling and vibrant moment.
Ningguang didn't bring many followers, only walking side by side with Yichen.
She pointed out the shops, docks, and stalls along the way, her voice not loud, but always able to penetrate the noise and clearly reach Yichen's ears.
"Look at that clothing store. The owner always quietly raises the prices by 10% in the half hour before sunset, because that's when foreign tourists are most concentrated in buying souvenirs..."
"The unloading wages at the third berth are always 50% higher than at other berths because the cargo there is mostly fragile and requires more care, but it's also easier to have things skimped on, so you need a trustworthy person to keep an eye on things..."
"See that seemingly idle tea merchant? He's actually the biggest tea wholesaler in this area. Every vendor who talks to him is probably reporting on today's market prices..."
Ningguang's words were like detailed footnotes added to the invisible business map she had woven herself. Every seemingly ordinary scene, under her guidance, revealed its ingenious calculations and flowing Mora luster.
Yi Chen listened intently, his eyes filled with amazement and wonder.
He would occasionally exclaim, "So that's how it is!" or "It can be done like that!"
Ningguang's interest in explaining grew even stronger as she watched Ningguang completely absorbed the lesson and listened attentively.
She would occasionally move slightly closer, her slender fingers seemingly pointing unintentionally to a certain spot, her sleeve almost touching Yi Chen's arm, bringing with it a faint, lingering fragrance.
Or, when the conversation reaches a crucial point, she'll turn her head and look at him with a smile in her eyes, as if sharing some secret that belongs only to the two of them.
Although Yi Chen was single-mindedly focused on "making money," to outsiders, the atmosphere between Tian Quan Xing and her new assistant seemed rather too close and...ambiguous.
After strolling around for about an hour, the two walked back to the Qunyu Pavilion.
The night was deep, and the stone steps of Fusheng gleamed with a cool light under the moonlight.
Ningguang suddenly stopped and sighed softly.
"I'm a little tired after walking for so long."
Upon hearing this, Yi Chen turned around almost without hesitation, his back to Ning Guang, and he squatted down decisively, exposing his broad back to her.
"Please use me as you please, Lady Ningguang."
Ningguang watched his back as he squatted down without hesitation, and felt as if something had gently bumped into her heart.
She leaned forward slightly and knelt down.
Yi Chen stood up steadily, supported her, and stepped steadily up the stairs leading to Qunyu Pavilion.
Lying on Yichen's back, even through a layer of clothing, I could feel the warmth from his body and the steady, powerful heartbeat.
A night breeze swept by, carrying a clean, refreshing scent from his hair, mixed with the smell of sunshine.
Ningguang gently rested her cheek on his shoulder, watching the myriad lights of Liyue Harbor slowly swirling beneath her feet, a strange and unfamiliar tranquility and sense of contentment welling up within her.
She didn't know what was wrong with her.
As the leader of the Seven Stars of Liyue, accustomed to control and scheming, she now so naturally showed weakness in front of a young man she had only known for less than two days, and even began to crave this brief reliance.
Why is Yichen treated so specially?
Is it because of his powerful yet pure strength?