Genshin Impact: This fireplace house is your graveyard.

Chapter 31: Hanging on a hook and not allowed to change for one year

After Yura led Qiuhe home, she bumped into her uncle as soon as she opened the door. Seeing that Yura's eyes were still red, her uncle anxiously went up to her and asked:

"Yura, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Are you hurt somewhere? Or did those bastards in Mondstadt bully you?"

Yura didn't say anything but hurriedly returned to her room. Schubert was very puzzled by this scene. Only then did he notice that Yura had brought back a child.

Looking at Qiuhe in front of him, Schubert frowned. "Kid, what happened to Yura? Did you do something to her? Tell me!"

Qiuhe sneered inwardly. Just like in the game, Schubert was exactly the same as in the game.

Akikawa recognized the man before him as Schubert Lawrence, the one who would later collude with the Fools. If Yura weren't his only remaining family member, Akikawa would have killed him right now.

"If looks could kill, this guy would have been torn to pieces by now," Qiuhe said with a disdainful expression.

"Uncle~, I don't know what happened either. My little sister suddenly started crying, so I took her home. But as soon as we got home, she ran back to her room."

Qiuhe recounted the day's events in a casual manner, because she didn't want to waste any more words with the man in front of her.

Schubert frowned, puzzled. He knew Yura was always strong and rarely cried; her sudden outburst must mean something serious had happened. He decided to wait until Yura calmed down before asking her for details.

"Hmph, judging from your appearance, you're just a country bumpkin from some backwater. How dare you speak to me like that when you're addressing a nobleman?"

Qiuhe was too lazy to waste words with him, so she simply found a place to sit down. Schubert was furious when he saw this; how dare they be so insolent in his own home!

Just as he was about to grab Qiuhe, Yura slammed the door open. When Yura carried Qiuhe back from the snow mountain, she hadn't changed out of the clothes she was wearing, which had gotten dirty on the mountain.

I just went to change my clothes and compose myself before pulling Qiuhe, who was sitting in a chair, up and leaving home.

"I'm sorry, my uncle was just being a bit unreasonable with you. He still clings to the old aristocratic etiquette. Please don't take it to heart."

Indeed, Qiuhe didn't care about Schubert's words; he simply hated the man. In the game, this guy was purely a nuisance to Yura, and the people of Mondstadt already had a prejudice against Yura.

Schubert was also in league with the Fools, but Akikawa knew that such a minor character was like a good little baby compared to Kugavina.

"It's alright, I understand. It's not Yura's fault, so there's no need to apologize," Yura said with a smile to Qiuhe. "Let me introduce you to a friend of mine. She's just as kind to me as you are."

"Oh, by the way, after knowing you for so long, I don't think I even know your name yet," Qiuhe replied. "My name is Qiuhe. Please take care of me, Ms. Yura."

Yura brought Qiuhe back to Mondstadt and found Amber. "Qiuhe, this is Amber, a very good friend of mine."

"Hello Qiuhe," Amber said with a bright smile.

"I've actually been watching you all day. I was quite surprised when I saw you giving a good scolding to someone who was talking bad about Yura near the Deer Hunter's Restaurant in Mondstadt."

“Those guys are really going too far. They're always talking badly about Yura behind her back, and it's really bothering me, but I don't know what to do. When I saw you stand up for her and teach that guy a lesson today, I was so brave.”

Qiuhe smiled and said, "After all, it was Yura who rescued me from the snow mountain. Otherwise, I probably would have died there. Of course, I wouldn't just stand by and watch him be bullied by so many people."

Amber, looking at Qiuhe's outfit, suddenly asked, "Qiuhe, you're not from Mondstadt, are you?" Qiuhe slowly replied to Amber:

“I used to be from Liyue, but I became an orphan for some reason. Now I’m a child of Hearth House,” Amber said upon hearing that Qiuhe was an orphan. “Oh, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry for bringing up your painful past. I’m so sorry.”

"It's alright, it's alright, those things are all in the past. After all, I have a family now, don't I?" Amber then took Qiuhe and Yura's hands.

Thinking that Akikawa wasn't a child of Mondstadt and probably hadn't seen the beautiful scenery of this free land, I decided to act as her guide for a day, showing her around all the most beautiful spots in Mondstadt.

At noon, the three of them hunted wild boar together and enjoyed a picnic. Amber also took Qiuhe to Star-Picking Cliff, where Qiuhe looked down and felt very excited.

Games and firsthand experiences are completely different. If one day he successfully leads his friends to escape that hell, he must bring Clover, Peruvier, Lily, and Tian Yaochen to Star-Picking Cliff to see this beautiful scenery.

The three of them played from morning until afternoon. Finally, after Akikawa and Yura said goodbye to Amber, Akikawa escorted Yura home. Before taking Yura home...

Yura took Qiuhe to the lower right of Cape Lookout. Looking at the beach and the ocean, Yura felt for the first time how wonderful the world was, how beautiful it was.

Like a beautiful flower blooming on scorched earth, Yura stood before Qiuhe, slowly extending her hand, her face flushed, and softly said, "Handsome knight, may I dance with this sinner before you?"

Qiuhe gazed at the girl's beautiful figure bathed in the setting sun, momentarily captivated before snapping back to reality. "Ah? I... but I can't dance either."

Yura smiled slightly and gently took Qiuhe's hand. "I can teach you," she said. Yura led Qiuhe in a ritual dance, and Yura danced gracefully like a butterfly fluttering on the seashore.

Qiuhe's dance steps were somewhat clumsy, and she almost tripped several times. The two of them stayed on the beach until evening, with Yura and Qiuhe sitting on the rocks by the sand.

As she watched the sunset, Yura felt a surge of indescribable emotion. Perhaps it was the twilight's doing, or perhaps she truly longed for this love, but she slowly asked, "Qiuhe, I know you have your own things to do, perhaps a mission that concerns your destiny."

She paused, then continued, "I guess you might be a warrior destined for greatness, bearing a mission you must complete. But I want to ask you, if your journey comes to an end, would you like to be with me?"

Qiuhe was never truly confident; he didn't know if he could defeat Kujavina. However, for the sake of those he deeply loved, he had to fight; he didn't want to let down anyone he cherished.

He knew that he had planted a seed of light in Yura's heart, and therefore he could not abandon her.

He gazed at Yura, a gentle smile on his face, and answered firmly, "Indeed, I don't know if I can succeed, or even if I can make it out of this journey alive."

"But I must fight. If you're willing to wait, I'll say yes, I promise I'll come back alive."

Upon hearing Qiuhe's reply, Yura gently closed her eyes and leaned against him, slowly extending her little finger.

Qiuhe smiled knowingly after seeing it, and slowly extended her little finger. Yura softly said, "Pinky promise, a hundred years from now, no take-backs."

Akikawa added, "The contract is now in effect; those who break their word will be punished with the Devouring Rock." Yura, upon hearing this, wore a happy smile.

As the two made their pinky promise, a shooting star streaked across the sky.