Genshin Impact : Joining the Genius Club

Lei Dian's Real Misunderstanding

"A child who looks like you?"

Raiden Zhen, who initially just wanted to see Ying squirm over her lack of Mora, froze at her sister's words.

Could there really be someone else in the world who resembled them?

"That… is a…"

If Zhen were to ask directly, Ying usually wouldn't hide things. But now, relying on her consciousness separated from her original body and using this small, fox-like form, Ying hesitated. It felt too embarrassing to admit the truth aloud—especially knowing Zhen would likely tease her for ages.

"It's just… a child who looks like me…" Ying finally muttered, carefully choosing her words.

She considered all the possible outcomes and decided to keep the truth hidden. After all, Zhen was confined to this dream reality. She wouldn't be able to verify the facts for herself.

Meanwhile, Yae Shenzi, sitting snugly in Zhen's arms, raised her small paw. As someone who had seen Ying return to reality from the Pure Land of One Mind, Yae knew exactly what the "child" was. If Ying refused to tell Zhen, she would gladly do so.

"Does Yae Shenzi know something?" Zhen asked, noticing the little fox's movement.

Raiden Zhen frowned slightly. Could it be that Ying had… a child?

But who could possibly tolerate her bad temper long enough for that to happen? Zhen's gaze darkened as she looked at Yae Shenzi, her expression as if she were imagining turning the fox into a fur coat.

Yae stiffened under her glare, deciding against spilling the truth. Humph, if Ying doesn't want to say it, then I won't either. Let her deal with it!

However, Yae wasn't about to let Ying off the hook entirely. She raised her paw again, this time pointing toward the castle tower.

This sudden gesture made Zhen pause. It dawned on her that Ying was deliberately trying to keep this news a secret.

"When did my sister start hiding things from me?" Zhen thought with a sigh. "But… I suppose she's grown up now. She has her own ideas. As her sister, I shouldn't pry too much."

But Ying had underestimated Zhen's persistence. The closer the person, the more awkward it was to reveal one's embarrassing secrets. Ying couldn't risk Zhen finding out about that.

"Does Mr. Su Ran know about this?" Zhen suddenly asked.

Ying froze, her body stiffening. How should she respond? Of course Su Ran knew. After all, her current form had been created by him. But how could she explain this without digging herself into a deeper hole?

She could threaten Yae Shenzi into silence, but Su Ran? There was no way to intimidate him.

"He doesn't know!" Ying blurted out, feigning calmness. Her heartbeat, however, betrayed her.

"Really?" Zhen eyed her suspiciously.

Ying nodded quickly, hoping Zhen wouldn't press further.

Unfortunately, Zhen wasn't one to let things go so easily.

"But didn't you just say a man was holding a child? Wasn't that man Su Ran?" Zhen asked, narrowing her eyes.

Ying hesitated, unable to come up with an excuse fast enough. How had she ended up in this mess?

"Why would Su Ran be holding a child who looks so much like you?" Zhen pressed further. Her usual gentle demeanor had been replaced with an unusually sharp intensity.

"He…" Ying's face flushed bright red, realizing there was no way out of this. If Zhen found out, the embarrassment would be unbearable.

"Okay, okay, I won't ask anymore," Zhen relented, noticing how flustered Ying was. "But that child… it has nothing to do with you, right? Surely not…"

Zhen tried to reassure herself. Her sister wasn't exactly skilled in anything besides fighting. Who would even be interested in her?

Her gaze shifted back to Yae Shenzi, who was still pointing toward the castle tower.

"You're saying that man is Su Ran?" Zhen asked the fox.

Yae nodded.

"And the reason Ying is… like this… is also because of Su Ran?"

The fox glanced at Ying, then nodded again, more firmly this time.

Zhen's expression grew more complicated.

This silly sister of hers—how could she entrust everything to someone else without even questioning it? Even… a child?

As an aunt, she hadn't prepared anything at all. She wasn't ready for this!

Though Su Ran was undeniably intelligent, Zhen couldn't help but worry. Ying was too simple-minded to handle someone like him. If they were together, wouldn't she be completely outwitted?

Zhen suddenly remembered something Su Ran had said about pursuing a woman named Kamisato Ayaka. She now felt compelled to meet this Kamisato woman. Just how extraordinary was she, to attract someone like Su Ran?

"Ying, let's go back to the castle tower," Zhen said decisively.

"Wait… pack me two more servings of dango milk," she added to the vendor.

If she was going to meet her niece, she couldn't arrive empty-handed. While this visit had been unplanned, dango milk was delicious enough to serve as a gift. Surely, her niece would like it.