Genshin Impact: Villain Impact

With Shenhe's reminder, Lucas finally recalled the events of the previous night.

While some of his actions had been influenced by the Ring of Manipulation, the ring didn't control him outright—it merely amplified the darker impulses buried deep in his heart.

Indeed, he had acted on a sudden whim to bring Shenhe to his residence. Not only that, but he'd also used her red ropes to literally drag her along.

Fortunately, the streets had been quiet, and they'd avoided the Millelith patrolling the area. Otherwise, the two of them might already have been wanted criminals for "disrupting public order and morals."

Just as Lucas was about to speak, a knock sounded at the door, followed by Chunxiang's voice:

"Lucas, are you awake?"

"I-I'm awake!" Lucas stammered. "Is there something you need?"

"Open the door first," Chunxiang replied.

Panic surged through Lucas as he turned to Shenhe, whispering urgently, "You need to hide!"

"Why should I?" Shenhe propped her chin on her hand, completely unbothered. "I've done nothing wrong."

A typical girl might have panicked in this situation, but Shenhe's personality left her utterly indifferent. She saw no reason to hide over something so trivial.

"I'm begging you, please, goddess!" Lucas said desperately. "If Chunxiang sees that I brought a woman here and... played this big, I'm dead!"

Lucas still lived under Keqing's roof as her employee, and the strict household rules wouldn't look kindly on him bringing women home for the night. It would undoubtedly be seen as a major transgression.

"Your death is none of my concern," Shenhe said nonchalantly, wrapping the blanket around her legs like a cocoon. "What? Can't take responsibility for your actions?"

"Why aren't you opening the door?" Chunxiang's voice grew more insistent. "There's an important guest here to see you!"

Then, another voice chimed in—a soft and soothing one. "Miss Chunxiang, there's no need to rush. Since I am the one seeking an audience, I don't mind waiting a little longer."

Chunxiang hesitated before replying, "But Lady Ganyu…"

"It's fine," the gentle voice reassured her. "Please, carry on with your tasks. I'll wait here."

Ganyu?

The namesake caused both Lucas and Shenhe to freeze in shock.

Why was she here?

To Shenhe, few people posed a genuine threat to her. But if there were two exceptions, the first was her master, Cloud Retainer. The second was her senior disciple, Ganyu.

If Ganyu found out that Shenhe had already been sharing a bed with a man mere weeks after coming down the mountain—and passed this information to Cloud Retainer—the consequences would be catastrophic.

"What do we do?" Shenhe whispered in a panic, her previous bravado completely gone. "It's Sister Ganyu!"

"I thought you didn't care," Lucas teased, raising an eyebrow. "Shall we invite her in and let her see how lovely and charming her junior disciple is?"

"You—!"

Blushing furiously, Shenhe lashed out with a kick, shoving Lucas square in the chest. "You just wait and see!"

Attempting to get out of bed quickly, Shenhe tangled her bare feet in her own red ropes and fell face-first onto the mattress with a loud thud.

"Lucas?" Ganyu's concerned voice came from the other side of the door. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine!" Lucas called out, barely holding back a laugh. "Just give me a moment—I'll open the door right away."

Realizing she had no time to waste, Shenhe frantically scanned the room for a hiding spot. With no better options, she crawled under the bed.

Once Shenhe was out of sight, Lucas composed himself and opened the door.

Standing in the doorway was a stunning young woman with cerulean hair, her serene beauty reminiscent of a gentle spring breeze.

"Long time no see, Lucas," Ganyu greeted him with a soft smile.

Her smile was so warm and soothing that it seemed to melt away the tension in the air.

Even though Shenhe was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful women Lucas had ever seen, Ganyu's elegance and ethereal charm were in a league of their own.

While Shenhe's allure lay in her striking physique, Ganyu radiated an almost otherworldly grace.

"Y-Yeah," Lucas stammered. "It's been a while. What brings you here?"

Although he had grown close to Ganyu in the simulations, her breathtaking presence never failed to leave him in awe.

Ganyu, meanwhile, felt her heart skip a beat the moment she laid eyes on him.

The resemblance… It's uncanny.

Unlike other simulation "victims," whose experiences with Lucas ranged from enmity to romance or familial bonds, Ganyu's dream had cast him as something else entirely—her son.

The maternal instinct from her dream surged within her, making her want to pull Lucas into a warm embrace and shower him with affection.

No! I can't do that!

Ganyu quickly suppressed the impulse and forced herself to smile. "There's something I'd like to discuss with you, Lucas. May I come in?"

"Of course!" Lucas stepped aside hastily. "Pardon the mess—I hope you don't mind."

"It's okay," Ganyu said without hesitation, "You haven't liked cleaning your room since you were a child."

The moment those words left her mouth, both Ganyu and Lucas froze.

Oops! I said something from the dream!

"I-I mean…" Ganyu stammered, trying to recover. "You don't look like the kind of person who tidies up often."

Child?

Lucas tilted his head, puzzled by the remark.

Then he shrugged it off, reasoning that someone as ancient as Ganyu probably saw everyone as a "child" in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Shenhe, who was hiding under the bed, grew increasingly frustrated.

Why come inside to talk? Can't they have their conversation outside?!

Ganyu glanced around the room, her sense of déjà vu growing stronger by the second. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Even the smell of this room… It's exactly the same as my little Lucas.

Lucas noticed Ganyu's subtle sniffing and grew nervous. "What's wrong? Does the room smell bad?"

He wasn't obsessive about cleanliness but wasn't sloppy either, keeping his room well-ventilated and tidy. Still, the thought that last night's activities with Shenhe might have left behind some... peculiar odors made him uneasy.

"Not at all! I think it smells… nice," Ganyu said reflexively before realizing how odd that sounded. She quickly shook her head. "What I mean is, I don't dislike this scent."

A girl walks into a guy's room, takes a deep breath, and says it smells good.

Such behavior in the human world might be labeled as… infatuation?

"So," Lucas said, steering the conversation. "What brings you here, Miss Ganyu?"

Normally, there was no reason for someone of her stature to seek him out.

"Well, I won't beat around the bush," Ganyu said directly. "I've come to ask you for a favor."

"A favor? From me?" Lucas raised a brow. "If even someone like you needs help, I can't imagine what I could possibly do."

"This matter does require assistance," Ganyu admitted, a touch embarrassed. "I'd like you to… be my boyfriend."

From beneath the bed came a muffled thud.

The sound, naturally, was Shenhe reacting to Ganyu's unexpected words.

"What was that?" Ganyu asked, startled.

"Rats!" Lucas blurted out, grasping at straws.

"Rats?" Ganyu frowned slightly. "Why don't they come out?"

"After getting along for so long, we have developed some feelings for each other," Lucas said with a smile, "even though this rat has a bad temper and is unfriendly... but sometimes she is quite lovable."

Under the bed, Shenhe's usually stoic face turned faintly red. She muttered to herself, "Damn it... you are the rat"

"Um…" Lucas shifted the topic. "When you say 'boyfriend,' do you mean what I think you mean?"

"In human terms, it refers to a male partner, correct?" Ganyu nodded. "But don't misunderstand. I'm not asking you to really be my boyfriend. I just need you to pretend."

Lucas recalled their earlier staged photo and asked, "Is this another ploy to… deal with Cloud Retainer? Like the fake couple act from before?"

Under the bed, Shenhe suddenly realized the truth. So Sister Ganyu and Lucas aren't really a couple? That photo was fake!

I knew it! No real couple smiles that awkwardly in a photo!

"Sharp as always, Lucas." Ganyu sighed lightly. "I hate to trouble you again, but I never expected Master to come personally to Liyue over this. If she finds out I lied… the consequences would be unthinkable."

"Well…" Lucas seemed hesitant.

"I know it's a lot to ask," Ganyu quickly said. "Of course, I won't let you do this for free. If you agree to help, I'll make sure you're rewarded."

Why is she being so polite? Lucas thought. Even without any reward, he would have agreed. After all, in the simulation, their bond was like that of mother and son.

"No need for any rewards; I'm happy to help," Lucas said with a smile. "I was only hesitant because I'm worried about slipping up. If we get caught, won't Cloud Retainer be even angrier?"

"That's why I came early," Ganyu said eagerly. "I was hoping you could stay at my home for a few days… to practice being a couple."

Practice? You can practice this?

"I understand," Lucas nodded. "But since I work for Lady Keqing, I'd need her permission to leave."

"That's no problem!" Ganyu grabbed Lucas by the wrist. "Let's go ask her right now!"

After the two left, Shenhe finally crawled out from under the bed, dusting herself off.

"So it was all fake…" Shenhe murmured. "Then I might as well make it real."

In Keqing's Study

"What… what did you just say?"

Keqing's eyes widened in disbelief as she processed Ganyu's request. "You want to take Lucas to your home for a few days?"

"Exactly," Ganyu replied calmly. "I have a secret mission that requires someone resourceful, quick-witted, and capable. Lucas fits the bill perfectly. I hope you can spare him for a while."

Naturally, Ganyu couldn't disclose the true nature of her request. The fewer people knew about their "relationship," the better.

Of course, calling it a "secret mission" wasn't a complete lie.

"If Lady Ganyu herself needs assistance, I can hardly refuse," Keqing said reluctantly. "But to be honest, Lucas is my candidate for the upcoming Tianshu election. I'm concerned this might interfere with his preparation."

This was Keqing's polite way of deflecting. She rarely hesitated to grant Ganyu's requests, but the thought of lending out Lucas—someone she valued highly—was unsettling.

"Is that so?" Ganyu's lips curved into a sly smile. "No need to worry. I'm one of the election judges. Successfully completing this mission would reflect positively on his evaluation."

"That sounds like… favoritism," Keqing said, frowning.

"Not at all," Ganyu countered. "The Tianshu election has both overt and covert assessments. The overt part tests competence, while the covert evaluates character. Excelling in both is essential for success."

Despite her demure reputation, Ganyu knew how to navigate bureaucracy. Her words left Keqing with no room to argue.

Keqing sighed and turned to Lucas, giving him a meaningful look. "What about you? Do you want to go?"

Lucas caught her unspoken plea and responded with a "I understand" smile on his face.

Seeing Lucas' smile, Keqing felt a little relieved.

But the next second, Lucas said directly: "I'm willing to help Miss Ganyu!"

Keqing's face darkened, but she bit back her frustration.

"Well then," Ganyu said, her eyes narrowing with satisfaction. "Lady Keqing, may I take him with me now?"

"…Fine." Keqing rarely went back on her word, though her voice was tight with irritation. "But before you leave, I have a few things to say to him in private."

"No problem," Ganyu said, stepping toward the door. Before leaving, she turned and gave Lucas a warm smile. "I'll be waiting outside."

She smiled…

At him! And it wasn't her usual polite smile—it was genuine and affectionate!

Keqing's heart churned with confusion. Ganyu was typically composed and reserved, smiling out of courtesy rather than emotion. This was the first time Keqing had seen her display such open fondness.

"Lady Keqing?" Lucas said cautiously. "You had something to tell me?"

"You fool!" Keqing's demeanor shifted as she glared at him. "Didn't you see my signals earlier? Why didn't you refuse?"

"I saw them," Lucas replied with a smile. "But wasn't your signal encouraging me to seize this opportunity?"