Genshin Impact, I, a mere mortal, cannot accompany you to the very end.

Miss Ying lazily opened her eyes. She curled up in the blankets, her golden hair falling loosely over the edge of the bed. She breathed out a breath of cold air.

"don't want."

Qing Nuoyan turned to the side, her voice muffled, "...I'm too lazy to move, I want to sleep. Go turn it off yourself."

"But I'm cold...you don't even have a kotatsu here."

Ying poked the boy's shoulder, her beautiful golden eyes filled with seriousness. She then nudged Qing Nuoyan's back like a disgruntled kitten, "Go close the window."

"Go back to your room if you're cold." Qing Nuoyan buried her head in the pillow and replied lazily, "Idiot."

"are you going?"

"No, I'm too lazy."

"But I'm cold."

"I'm not cold."

"...Because your blanket is thicker than mine!"

Ying said indignantly.

She lifted Qing Nuoyan's thick quilt, and her fair, bare feet slipped inside, savagely resting on Qing Nuoyan's ankles. Then she slipped inside herself, resting her head on Qing Nuoyan's pillow, their bodies pressed together.

"Don't take my blanket," Qing Nuoyan muttered, turning around and staring at Miss Ying with slight dissatisfaction.

Ying also raised her face and calmly looked at Qingnuoyan.

She wore a pure white nightgown, light and translucent. The warm, yellowish winter sun shone through the white hem of the dress, the light intertwining with her golden hair, spreading out before Qingnuoyan's pillow, as beautiful as a painting.

The snow on the wooden window was slowly melting, and the melted snow dripped onto the tatami mat.

"...I don't care about you anymore." Qing Nuoyan gave up resisting. He lazily closed his eyes and chose to sleep between the blanket and going back to sleep. "Let me sleep a little longer."

Ying smiled triumphantly. She tilted her head and looked at Qing Nuoyan's sleeping face. They were so close that the warm winter sun shone on the boy's eyelashes so clearly that Ying could even count how many eyelashes he had.

"I'm still cold," she said, pressing her advantage.

“I’m not getting out of bed to close the window,” Qing Nuoyan replied with her eyes closed. “It’s a matter of principle.”

"Then hug me."

Ying pressed her cheek against Qing Nuoyan's, their breaths mingling, their warm scents intertwining and dispersing in the slightly chilly early morning air. She whispered in Qing Nuoyan's ear, "Hold me, maybe I won't be cold anymore."

...Qing Nuoyan opened his eyes and found Miss Ying smiling and looking at him. They were sharing a pillow, their cheeks almost touching.

"Then hug me," Ying said to him.

"...Fool."

Qing Nuoyan sighed softly, revealing a helpless expression. He placed his left hand on Ying's slender and soft back, applying slight pressure, and his right hand gently pressed on Ying's shoulder. He turned to hug her, then lowered his head, resting his chin on Miss Ying's golden hair.

Ying's body was soft and delicate. When Qing Nuoyan held her, it felt like holding a large doll. Her hair also carried a faint fragrance, which blurred the morning after the first snow and also blurred his thoughts.

"Are you satisfied now?"

Qing Nuoyan muttered softly, "Be quiet...stop making a fuss...we still need to prepare for the New Year. Go to sleep."

Ying shifted in Qing Nuoyan's arms, then draped her thigh over his waist before revealing a satisfied yet slightly sly smile. She then embraced Qing Nuoyan in return, her delicate white hands encircling his neck, her cheek pressed against the young man's chest.

"Hold me tight all the time," she whispered to Qing Nuoyan.

-

Today is New Year's Day.

Konta Village was filled with lanterns, and early cherry blossoms fluttered down, piling up in front of the Seino Tofu Shop. Red lanterns hung at the entrance, their red glow casting a hazy yellow hue on the white snow in front of the courtyard.

As Lia pulled back Ying's blanket and dragged her off the bed, the morning was almost over.

"What are you doing!" Ying's golden hair was practically standing on end. She glared angrily at the Salt God, baring her teeth and brandishing her claws, and said, "It's cold!"

“Blonde,” Lia said coldly, “why don’t you explain why you’re here again?”

"What's it to you!" Ying raised her head and stared into Liya's eyes. "You salty thing."

A deep shadow fell over Lia's eyes, her long, pure white hair cascading down. An ancient and majestic divine aura rapidly spread throughout the room as she stared at Ying, her elemental power beginning to gather.

Immortals fight, mortals suffer.

...I was woken up again.

Qing Nuoyan sighed helplessly.

These two argue every single day... I'm not going to get any sleep...

He propped himself up and sat up in bed, saying to the two of them, "...Gentlemen, it's New Year's Day, so let's not fight...We still have a lot to do."

Qing Nuoyan is right. They do have a lot to do. There are always many things to do during the New Year. They need to clean the shops, put up couplets, prepare tofu, and go to the lantern fair tonight.

Today is New Year's Day.

The sound of firecrackers could be heard outside the window. The firecrackers exploded, turning the streets red for miles around. Crimson candles illuminated the entire street, and pale blue mist dissipated on the street. After the firecrackers stopped, the cheers of children could be heard outside the window. Everywhere in Inazuma was filled with joy.

This New Year, the people of Inazuma will certainly be happy. The national isolation order has been abolished, the eye-hunting order has not been issued, and after the Great Purification of the Divine Cherry Blossom, the filth has been cleansed. This winter there will be no war and no filth, and those who have left their homes will finally be reunited.

After winter comes a clean and beautiful spring, like a rebirth.

Bathed in the warm morning light, Qing Nuoyan gazed at the two people before the bed and said earnestly,

"Happy New Year, Ying, Liya."

Today is called the New Year in Inazuma, and the birthday of the Flower Goddess in Sumeru.

The goddess of flowers celebrates her birthday; in other words, today is her birthday.

Beyond the rainforest and desert, at the very top of the Council of the Church, the scholars and nobles of the Council of the Church respectfully recited hymns of blessing, praising the great achievements of the gods, and extolling them with the most magnificent and sacred words.

But as she listened to those words, those grand and shared blessings, she was reminded of things from long ago, of her past birthdays.

My memory is already hazy.

—"Happy birthday, dear Bouyer."

.

.

P.S.: Phew, great!

Bonus Chapter 3: "You'll understand when you grow up"

"Teacher, wake up."

Naxi Da raised her head and said.

She has long, white-gray hair with dark green ends, and light green pupils shaped like beautiful four-leaf clovers.

Nasita looked very young, wearing a white lotus dress and a dark green cloak. As the skirt swayed, her two fair legs were revealed, and she wore pure white footed socks.

The pure white socks shimmered in the orange sunlight of early morning. The sunlight filtered through the fabric, making the socks appear semi-transparent, and one could vaguely see the fair and delicate ankles inside.

The great sage named Morning Star looked at Nasita; the girl was still so vibrant, radiating light as the sunlight fell upon her. A gentle smile appeared on Morning Star's face; he patted her head.

Happy birthday, Nasita.

Today is the Tree God's birthday, and also Naxida's birthday.

Naxida, also known as the Little Auspicious Grass Goddess, is the next successor to the rule of the Sumeru Mortal World. She now resides in the Pure Good Palace under the care of many sages. As a newly born being, the task of teaching and caring for her has fallen to the Great Sage Morning Star.

"I've finished today's homework too," Nasita said, somewhat boastfully.

The little grass spirit raised its head, its elf ears perked up, like a proud little beast hoping for praise. So Morning Star patted its head again.

"No need to study today, it's Naxida's birthday."

"...Birthday?" Little Grass God tilted her head, still unfamiliar with the term. "Teacher...what is a birthday?"

"A birthday is the day you were born. It was a year ago, when I found you in the rainforest."

Morning Star paused as she spoke.

His face suddenly turned pale again, and his lungs twitched slightly. He turned his face away so that the little grass god wouldn't see his snow-white complexion, and slowly exhaled, "It's something to celebrate—it's a very, very joyous day."

Today is Nasita's birthday, and it's also 'her' birthday. It's a joyous day, and he can't spoil it; he must persevere.

At least.

—It can't be today; he can't die today.

He took another breath, and his expression gradually calmed down.

The blinds divide the sunlight in two, thus clearly separating the light and shadow in the room, with one half being the magnificent morning light and the other half being the dim shadow.

“A day worth celebrating…” Nasita tilted her head again, her long gray hair falling to one side. “Is today also the Tree Goddess’s birthday?”

“Yes.” Morning Star turned his gaze to the window, to the tall tower. The brilliant morning sunlight bathed the tower of the Sumeru Temple, making it shimmer with golden light. Through that light, he seemed to be able to see her.

"Today is also the Tree Goddess's birthday. Ah... I am her great sage, and I will offer her a blessing later. The Tree Goddess receives the blessings of her subjects during the Flower Goddess's birthday celebration, and this will also be the case after Nasita succeeds to the throne."

"...Her great sage, huh?"

Nasita lowered her eyes, as if she had thought of something. Then she raised her beautiful eyes again and blinked, "After Nasita takes power... can Teacher become Nasita's sage?"

The clear sunlight fell into her clover-shaped pupils, making them sparkle brightly.

"Nasida doesn't understand anything..."

She looked at Morning Star and said earnestly, "There are so many things I don't understand, and I don't know how to govern a country. I haven't learned so much. Nasita can't do without a teacher. When Nasita grows up, can the teacher become Nasita's great sage?"

Morning Star was stunned.

He lowered his eyes, gazing at the little grass god, his lips moving slightly before gently pursing them. After a long while, he finally said, "...Are you ready? We're going to the celebration."

Time flies so fast.

Morning Star did not answer the little grass god's question.

“I’m not leaving.” Nasita stared at Morning Star.

"Nasita will have her own great sage from now on..."

Morning Star said earnestly,