Chapter 21

After Ganyu announced the start of the examination, two groups of people left the Yujing Terrace plaza one after another.

The first round of the examination had already eliminated almost all competitors.

This second round was essentially a contest between Ningguang and that noble family's daughter.

According to the rules, it required her partner to take action.

They needed to use the money accumulated from the first round to conduct a single transaction in Liyue Harbor.

The final winner would be determined based on the profits from this one and only transaction.

Therefore, in this examination, Nathan played a crucial role.

After leaving the plaza, Ningguang didn't stop holding onto his arm.

Although Nathan wanted to remind her about this, whenever he was about to bring it up, she would deliberately ignore it.

Having no choice, he could only let his arm remain caught between the MOUNTAINS.

"Ningguang, do you think that person will continue to sabotage us?"

"..."

Nathan's question went unanswered.

When he turned his head, he found Ningguang deep in thought.

This was the first time he had seen such an expression on her face, completely different from her usual confident demeanor.

"Hmm...? Nathan, what did you just say?"

Feeling his gaze, Ningguang snapped back to attention.

"I said... will that person continue to work against us from behind the scenes?"

"Oh, that's what you meant. Given their personality, they've surely prepared the worst obstacles for us!"

As her thin lips curved upward unconsciously, that enchanting smile returned to her face.

Ningguang leaned her upper body slightly, her nose nearly touching Nathan's earlobe.

"Nathan... are you afraid now?"

The warm breath hitting his earlobe, that almost-but-not-quite touch, made Nathan's heart suddenly flutter.

"I'm not afraid of such people. I thought you were the one worried about the noble family's interference!"

"Hahaha, so that's what you thought? How could I possibly worry about such petty schemes!"

The laughter by his ear struck straight to his heart.

If it were an ordinary person, they would likely have been overwhelmed by that laugh.

"Then why... why did you have such a worried expression since we left?"

Nathan's curiosity was piqued by Ningguang's denial.

What kind of matter could make the usually unflappable Ningguang lost in thought?

"Pfft, it's nothing! Actually, what I've been thinking about is your relationship with Ganyu!"

"Ah... this!!!"

This answer left Nathan confused.

So since leaving the plaza, this was what had been concerning Ningguang.

But thinking about it again, Nathan found it very strange.

Why would she focus her attention on his relationship with Ganyu?

At this crucial moment in the examination, shouldn't she be more worried about the enemy's moves?

Even if that noble family's daughter was beneath concern, why worry about his relationship with Ganyu?

Unable to understand, Nathan could only shake his head helplessly.

"Ningguang, this is truly my first time meeting Miss Ganyu!"

Setting aside having obtained Ganyu at maximum constellation in the game, since crossing over to Teyvat, Nathan hadn't encountered any of these important characters.

It was only after getting the life simulation system that he began having interactions with these girls.

"I know it's your first time, but as for Ganyu... that's harder to say!!!"

Ningguang leaned half her body weight on him, her face rippling with a teasing smile.

Nathan didn't want to delve deeper into it, as this was just a life simulation generated subplot anyway.

After all, it wasn't reality, so some strange occurrences were normal.

Like Ganyu acting unusually at their first meeting, or how Ningguang could be so intimate with him despite just becoming partners.

----

Eventually, Nathan and Ningguang arrived on the streets of Chihu Rock, where various shops selling all kinds of goods were located.

But whenever Nathan tried to approach any of the shopkeepers, they acted as if they'd seen a ghost.

"Sorry, sir, we're not taking new business at the moment!"

"Apologies, but we're not selling anything right now!"

"My apologies, we've already closed up shop!!!"

Shop after shop turned them away. By the end, some shopkeepers didn't even wait for him to speak—they simply shut their doors the moment they saw him approach.

"Looks like that noble woman's retaliation is already underway!"

Faced with this scene of doors slamming shut, Nathan could only shake his head with a wry smile.

Sure enough, this assessment was anything but simple.

Right from the start, their opponent had everything carefully arranged.

But as Nathan stood there in a daze, he felt a twinge of doubt.

In the vast city of Liyue, they had the protection of the Geo Archon who had watched over them for millennia.

And below him, power rested with the Liyue Qixing—only after them did the noble families come into play.

For all the shops in the area to flat-out refuse them like this… the influence seemed to exceed what an noble family could manage.

"So, Nathan, are you frightened by these obstacles?"

Ningguang, used to this kind of targeted interference, remained calm and composed.

She looked at Nathan with a serene expression, as if trying to gauge his reaction.

"Doesn't matter. I'll step in!!!"

His response was simple, but the smile on Ningguang's face didn't waver.

"Then I'll leave it to you, my dear partner!"

With that, Ningguang leaned fully into him, her tall and elegant figure pressing completely against his side.