Genshin Impact: One Hundred Confessions? Just a System Task

Financial freedom! Say goodbye to overtime! It's just around the corner!

"Hey! Brother Yichen, you're here early today!"

Sarah, the deer hunter's proprietress, interrupted his pleasant reverie with her cheerful voice.

"Go change into your apron, the orders at the morning market are piling up!"

"I'm coming!"

Yi Chen instantly switched back to his top-notch waiter mode, a professional and sunny smile spreading across his face, and nimbly rushed to the backstage area.

The working class's mindset: Nothing is more important than the orders! As for the lottery ambitions, we'll talk about that this afternoon!

"If I just hold on for another half day... I'll never have to work again..."

As he tied his apron, he muttered to himself, his eyes sparkling with anticipation for the "last time clocking in" that afternoon and boundless longing for a future where he wouldn't have to work.

Is Chapter 3 only about guilt, and nothing else?

Meanwhile, outside the city gate, Yura hadn't gone far. She simply turned into a quiet, deserted path, leaned against a large tree that was slightly cool from the morning dew, and finally allowed the taut "Lawrence mask" to shatter completely.

Her cheeks were like a burning sunset, the scalding heat spreading uncontrollably, even the tips of her ears were tinged with a light red.

The heart inside the chest was pounding against the ribs, making a drum-like echo that was particularly clear in the quiet alley.

Yura lowered her head, her gaze falling on the bouquet of pure white Cecilia flowers in her arms. Morning dew rolled on the petals, reflecting the dappled light, just like her chaotic thoughts at this moment.

With a tenderness she herself was unaware of, her fingertips gently brushed against the delicate petals.

Then, her gaze shifted to her other hand, to the lunchbox that Yichen had given her, still warm from his touch.

Taking a deep breath, as if drawing courage, Yura carefully lifted the lid of the box.

The soft morning light streamed in, illuminating the carefully arranged food inside the box—not just a simple stack, but given a breathtaking shape.

The perfectly golden-brown cod fillet was cleverly rolled into the shape of a heart, garnished with her favorite salad dressing made with raspberry sauce, like scattered heart-shaped pieces.

Several plump raspberries were carved into the shape of tiny roses, nestled quietly in the corner. The aroma of food mingled with the crisp scent of Cecilia flowers, gently enveloping her.

"Seriously... that big idiot..."

A soft sigh, filled with endless embarrassment and sweetness, escaped from Yura's tightly pursed lips.

She quickly closed the lid, as if the heart-shaped design would burn her, and her cheeks flushed even more.

"This is...this is the ninety-ninth time..."

"Why can't you learn from your mistakes? Every time... you always choose a place like the city gate!"

Yura recalled the guards' suppressed laughter and the faint whispers they had been making, and a deeper sense of shame welled up inside her.

"With so many eyes watching... how can I... how can I possibly agree to this..."

Her voice trailed off, tinged with a hint of grievance.

"I've hinted at it so many times... you blockhead! Idiot! You have no sense of atmosphere at all!"

Yura unconsciously picked at the warm wood grain on the edge of the bento box with her fingertips, those subtle "hints" that she had deliberately suppressed in her heart.

For example, he once "casually" mentioned that the lake view behind the Knights of Favonius was very quiet at dusk; he once complained that the pigeons in Mondstadt Square were too noisy; and he once "casually" mentioned that the moonlight was very bright in the garden of the abandoned Lawrence family mansion...

These clumsy, Yura Lawrence-esque "invitations" seemed to be perfectly ignored by that blockhead who was only thinking about "checking in".

My thoughts drifted back to the beginning.

When Yichen first appeared on her patrol route with flowers and said "I like you," Yura felt a surge of anger rising to her head from being offended.

Lawrence's surname felt like a heavy shackle; any sudden "good intentions" seemed to her to be shrouded in testing, mockery, or even deeper malice.

She mercilessly rebuked him with the coldest words and the sharpest gaze, even preparing to draw her sword.

However, that man... was like a stubborn rock.

The next day, the third day... for a whole week, rain or shine, he would appear on time. The persistence in his eyes was not extinguished by her frost, but instead became as firm and bright as steel after being tempered.

Just as the first crack began to appear in Yura's ice wall, her best friend Amber brought crucial information.

Yichen, Mondstadt's newly crowned "most handsome man," has zero scandals, is as hardworking and reliable as a tireless beast, works three jobs a day to support himself, and is honest and dependable...

Most importantly, Amber patted her chest and assured me that her feelings for you were serious!

What truly melted the iceberg in Yura's heart was that afternoon after her 78th confession.

As if possessed, she quietly followed Yichen after he finished confessing his feelings.

She watched him walk into the bustling "Deer Hunter," greeting guests with a beaming smile and moving nimbly between the tables.

She watched him wearily walk toward the blacksmith's shop, roll up his sleeves, and silently swing the hammer amidst the sparks, sweat soaking his forehead.

She saw it too, more than once, from more than one person—a regular at the tavern, Wagner the blacksmith, even the passing Knight of Favonius—patting him on the shoulder with regret or incomprehension:

"Brother Yichen, take my advice, let it go... that Miss Lawrence's heart can't be warmed..."

"Yes, why bother? With your looks, there's a whole line of good girls in Mondstadt waiting for you to choose..."

“Yura Lawrence? Hmph, that Lawrence…”

Each time, Yichen would stop what he was doing and look up.

On that face, scorched by the fire or soaked with sweat, there was no wavering, only a clear light that was almost stubborn.

Yura clearly remembered that, illuminated by the red-hot furnace of the blacksmith's shop, he put down the heavy hammer. The sound wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling power that clearly pierced through the noisy clanging of metal.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I must say I cannot agree."

"The Yura Lawrence you speak of seems to be a different person from the Yura Lawrence I see every day."

"She was dedicated to her duties, and her patrol route was never changed in the slightest, regardless of the weather."

She was a skilled swordsman and had protected innocent merchants from the clutches of monsters on more than one occasion.

She bore the heavy burden of her surname, yet she never became arrogant or despondent about it; she simply silently and diligently wiped away the dust of history with her actions.

Yi Chen's gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on the leaping fire in the furnace.

Ultimately, are your evaluations of her too superficial?

If the Lawrence name is destined to bear the sins of a thousand years, then... what about the glory and honor of the Lawrence ancestors who brought order and prosperity to Mondstadt a thousand years ago?

Is there nothing but guilt flowing in this blood?

At that moment, Yura, hiding in the shadows of the alley, felt as if she had been struck by an invisible bolt of lightning.

She covered her mouth tightly, trying to stop the sob that was about to escape her lips.

The cold stone wall pressed against her back, but it could not stop an unprecedented, scalding torrent from washing over her limbs and bones, melting the last piece of ice.

Her vision blurred instantly, but the tall figure standing in front of the fire, arguing for her, became incredibly clear through her tears, deeply imprinted in her heart.

Perhaps... it was at that very moment.

In those unfamiliar, yet powerful words spoken for her.

In that gaze that pierced through all prejudice and rumors, and truly "saw" her.

She, Yura Lawrence, hopelessly fell in love with this stubborn yet gentle fool.

The blush on her cheeks had not yet completely faded. Yura leaned against the cool tree, feeling the comforting warmth emanating from the lunchbox in her arms, and the delicate fragrance of the bouquet of flowers.

She took a deep breath of the cool morning air of Mondstadt, and in her icy blue eyes, all hesitation and shyness were replaced by an unprecedented determination.

This afternoon... when he came to "ambush" me again...

This time, I must tell him properly.

Tell him to...find a place where it's just the two of them.

Stop acting like a stubborn, foolish battering ram, only knowing how to launch an attack at the city gate in full view of everyone.

She carefully put away the lunchbox, as if putting away a heavy sentiment, her fingertips brushing against the delicate petals of the bouquet of Cecilia flowers.

Then, straightening her back, tidying her appearance, and putting on the calm mask that belonged to guerrilla captain Yura Lawrence again, she continued her unfinished patrol route with steady steps.

Just as she turned to leave the path, an incredibly clear thought, tinged with a secret, joyful excitement, sprouted and quietly grew within her heart, like a tender bud breaking through the soil:

On the 101st time... in that quiet place that belonged only to her and Yichen...

...Let her, Yura Lawrence, take the initiative to speak.

Chapter 4 Whose Xiahou Dun is it?

At noon, the sun warmed the stone path in front of the Deer Hunter Restaurant, and the air was filled with the enticing aroma of roasted meat, buttered fish, and fresh bread.

Yichen took off the dark apron, which was stained with a little oil and sauce, carefully folded it, and placed it in a corner of the counter.

He deftly smoothed out the last wrinkle on his shirt before walking toward Sarah, the proprietress who was checking accounts behind the counter.

“Sister Sarah,”

Yi Chen wore his signature sunny smile, and his voice was clear and bright.

"This is the last 'Satisfaction Salad' order, and it's already been delivered to table number three. Also... could you please settle this month's wages?"

Sarah looked up from the thick ledger, her eyebrows rising almost imperceptibly.

"Are you really planning to leave? Won't you reconsider?"

She leaned against the counter, her gaze sweeping over the nearly full tables in the restaurant—many of the young female customers' eyes were subtly drifting toward her.

“With you leaving, my ‘customer flow guarantee’ will be reduced by more than half. And,”

She paused, then her tone became more sincere.

"You're a really efficient worker, quick-witted and hardworking. You've never complained about being tired. It's not easy to find a worker like you."

Yi Chen's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes conveyed a sense of ease and relief.

"Yes, I'm really grateful for your care during this time. But..."

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through the restaurant walls, landing on a moment of impending "freedom."

"I've made up my mind."

Sarah stared at him for a few seconds, then simply sighed softly and didn't try to persuade him any further.

She turned and opened the heavy Mora money box, a crisp metallic clanging sound ringing out.

She carefully counted out the full amount of Mora, even adding a few extra shiny ones, put them in a sturdy little purse, and pushed it in front of Yichen.

"Take it, you deserve it. In the future... if you can't make it here, come back anytime, we'll keep your position for you."

"Thanks, Sarah."

Yi Chen took the heavy money bag, feeling the cool touch and weight of the metal with his fingertips, and his longing for "saying goodbye to working" became more real.

He nodded solemnly in farewell, then turned and pushed open the clanging wooden door of the Deer Hunter, merging into the lazy yet bustling crowd of Mondstadt in the afternoon.

The afternoon sun shone warmly on his shoulders as Yichen weighed his purse and walked briskly.

Although the afternoon's "task" was just a formality, it was still the 100th time "checking in," so it had to have some sense of ceremony.

As Yi Chen walked, he brainstormed his lines, trying to add a touch of originality to the framework of "heartfelt confession".

"Hmm... 'I like you' is the basic premise, and 'please consider marriage' is also indispensable..."

He stroked his chin and muttered to himself.

"...Perhaps we could add a line like 'Thank you for your understanding all this time'?"

Thinking of this, Yi Chen felt a rare, slight sense of guilt.

After all, being harassed a hundred times by someone you don't like would be annoying enough for anyone.

Miss Yura has been able to hold back until now without drawing her sword to attack me; that's the pinnacle of chivalry, isn't it?

He shook his head inwardly, deciding to be as sincere and humble as possible this time, giving her enough face to refuse gracefully...

Just as Yi Chen was immersed in thinking about "how to elegantly complete the last harassment", a strong arm wearing a black leather glove suddenly reached out from the side and grabbed his shoulder with great familiarity!

"Hey—! Look who's here!"

A voice with exaggerated laughter and a long, drawn-out tone rang in my ears, carrying the unique, cynical yet subtly witty style of Caia Albury, the cavalry captain of the Knights of Favonius.

"Isn't this our Mondstadt's infamous 'Number One Affectionate'—Brother Yichen? Tsk tsk tsk,"