Genshin Impact: One Hundred Confessions? Just a System Task

Barbara's gaze immediately shifted to the horrible "food" on the table, then to the pile of evidence on the floor, and finally to Ying, who looked like she wanted to disappear into the ground. She seemed to understand something.

She sighed helplessly, but her eyes were very gentle.

“Sigh… Mr. Yichen, please come back to the church with me for a check-up first.”

Chapter 23 The Traveler Who Shifts the Blame

Supported by Barbara, Yi Chen weakly left the villa and headed to the church for "treatment" and emotional comfort.

The door closed softly, leaving the room in a mess and a deathly silence.

Ying stood frozen in place, her gaze sweeping blankly over the charred objects on the table that could be considered the origin of "Resident Evil," before slowly moving to the black substance on the floor that was still faintly emitting an ominous aura, the substance that Yi Chen had spat out...

Her cheeks flushed bright red instantly, and steam practically rose from her head! A wave of immense shame and frustration overwhelmed her.

“Pa...Meng…”

She squeezed out two words through clenched teeth, her voice trembling slightly.

W-What are you doing?!

Paimon shrank back in fright, watching the traveler who suddenly exuded a dangerous aura warily.

Ying suddenly turned around, her face showing a resolute determination as if she were going to die together, and pointed to the mess in front of her.

"Come quick! Help me clean this place up! Right now! Immediately!"

"Why does Paimon have to be dealt with too?!"

Paimon immediately protested loudly, stomping his feet angrily in the air.

"This was clearly all done by you, Traveler! Paimon was just an innocent bystander! At most... at most, he was an attempted victim!"

Ying stepped forward, grabbed Paimon's little arms with both hands, her eyes gleaming with a "we'll die together" light.

"Because you didn't do everything you could to stop me! If you had threatened to kill yourself or blow up the kitchen, things wouldn't have turned out this way! So you bear undeniable responsibility!"

"What kind of logic is this?!"

Paimon was on the verge of tears, struggling desperately to break free.

"Paimon clearly advised you! It's the Traveler who wouldn't listen! You even said, 'Don't worry, Paimon, we'll definitely succeed this time!' Why should Paimon take the blame in the end?! Paimon is not happy about this!"

"The protest is ineffective!"

Ying rejected the appeal without hesitation, then pulled out two rags from somewhere and forcibly stuffed one of them into Paimon's little hand.

"Hurry! Get to work! This place must be restored to normal before Yichen and Barbara return! Otherwise... otherwise all the snacks next week will be confiscated! Nothing at all!"

"Waaaaah! Demon! Traveler, you're a demon!"

Paimon let out a desperate wail, but the threat of "confiscating the snacks" was too deadly. She could only tearfully and reluctantly carry the rag that was bigger than her face and wobbled toward the most horrible pile of vomit, her little face filled with utter despair.

"Why...why would Paimon do such a thing..."

"This is even scarier than fighting the ruins guards..."

"Waaaaah... Paimon's nose... Paimon can't breathe..."

Ying picked up another rag and began wiping away the solidified, charred residue of the fried pork chop on the table with a death-defying resolve. With each wipe, her face paled and her sense of shame deepened.

Amidst the bleakness and Paimon's incessant mutterings, the two unfortunate brothers began the arduous task of rebuilding the kitchen after the disaster.

Paimon, pinching his nose, carefully dipped the sharp corner of a rag in water to wipe the floor while angrily accusing the injustice.

"Paimon will remember this grudge! For life! Traveler, you owe Paimon a hundred... no! A thousand feasts!"

Ying silently wiped the table and responded in a muffled voice.

"...If you can keep this secret for me, I'll treat you to all the big meals for a month."

"real?!"

Paimon's eyes lit up for a moment, but then his face fell again.

"But Paimon's heart is severely wounded! He needs more delicious food to heal it!"

Ying answered weakly, feeling as if her Mora bag was crying hysterically.

After the last trace of suspicious black marks was cleaned up and all the "evidence" was packed into the bottom of the trash can, Ying and Paimon slumped onto the spotless floor, exhausted as if they had just finished a one-on-one battle with the heavens.

"Finally...it's over..."

Paimon feels... he's incapable of loving again...

Paimon lay sprawled on the ground, his eyes vacant.

On the other side, Barbara carefully supported Yi Chen. They hadn't gone far from the villa, and hadn't even reached the square in front of the church, when Yi Chen's powerful self-healing ability began to operate wildly.

His pale face visibly regained its rosy hue, his stiff limbs became flexible again, and even the weakness that felt like his soul had left his body was swept away.

He straightened up, stretched his neck, and apart from a lingering, strange, bitter taste in his mouth, he had fully recovered and was even more energetic than before—after all, he had vomited up something so terrible.

“Uh… Miss Barbara, I think I’m… alright now.”

Yi Chen, somewhat embarrassed, let go of Barbara's hand and jumped up and down twice to prove it.

Barbara blinked in surprise, then breathed a sigh of relief and smiled with satisfaction.

"That's wonderful! As expected of Mr. Yichen, you recovered so quickly."

But seeing that Yi Chen still looked somewhat shaken and kept glancing back at the direction of their villa, she immediately offered a considerate suggestion:

"Now that we're out, if Mr. Yichen doesn't want to go back for the time being... would you like to take a look at the West Wind Cathedral? Although it's open to the public, there are some areas that are only accessible to staff."

Yi Chen, who was just wondering where to go, immediately nodded vigorously: "Great! I couldn't be happier!"

He was now haunted by the kitchen that had nearly killed him, and he wished he could go back later.

So Barbara became a guide, leading Yichen on a tour of the solemn and majestic West Wind Cathedral.

She spoke softly about the stories told through the stained glass windows, the marks left by bishops throughout the ages, and the magnificent wind god statue in the prayer hall.

The tranquil and sacred atmosphere inside the church, along with Barbara's gentle and patient explanations, quickly helped Yi Chen relax and temporarily put the morning's "tragedy" behind him.

Before they knew it, they had arrived near the choir practice room.

Barbara glanced at the wall clock, a hint of apology on her face.

"Ah, Mr. Yichen, I'm sorry, it's almost time for my daily poetry practice."

She paused, as if suddenly remembering something, gently clasped her hands in front of her, slightly raised her head, her eyes sparkling with anticipation mixed with a touch of shyness, and asked softly:

"Um... speaking of which, Mr. Yichen, it seems you haven't officially heard me sing before, have you? Although it's just my daily practice... I wonder if you... would be interested in listening to me sing?"

Her invitation carried a hint of uncertain probing, her cheeks slightly flushed, as if she had mustered considerable courage.

Upon hearing this, Yi Chen's eyes lit up immediately.

Barbara's singing voice is famous in Mondstadt for its healing power, and he had long wanted to hear it, especially in such a private, close-up "special event"!

"Of course I'm interested!"

He answered without hesitation, a bright smile spreading across his face.

"It is my honor to hear Miss Barbara practice!"

Upon hearing his quick agreement, Barbara's smile instantly blossomed like a flower, bright and captivating.

"Then... please follow me."

She spoke softly, leading Yichen briskly towards the practice room, her heart filled with indescribable joy and a touch of nervousness.

Chapter 24: Idol Producer is Making a Move

The two walked into the spacious and quiet choir practice room one after the other.

Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows high up, casting dappled patterns of light on the polished floor.

Barbara walked to the center of the room, took a deep breath, and prepared to begin her daily practice.

However, perhaps realizing there was a special listener behind her, or perhaps because the aftershocks of the morning's chaos hadn't subsided, when she sang the first note, her voice trembled slightly, and even at a high note, there was an extremely subtle yet clear crack.

Barbara's voice stopped abruptly, her fair cheeks flushed crimson, and she instinctively covered her mouth, barely daring to look back at Yi Chen's expression.

Making a fool of herself in front of someone she cares about makes her want to disappear into the ground.

In that awkward and silent moment—

A clear and smooth piano melody suddenly rang out!

The melody was gentle and precise, cleverly connecting to the broken phrase by Barbara. Like a gentle stream, it instantly smoothed out the abruptness of the broken note and naturally guided the melody to continue flowing forward.

Barba turned around in surprise.

Yi Chen was already sitting in front of a piano, his slender fingers landing on the black and white keys with seemingly casual yet incredibly precise strokes.

He tilted his head slightly and winked at Barbara, who was standing there in a daze, signaling her to continue.

With the power of "Idol Producer," being proficient in musical instruments is a given!

Looking at Yi Chen's encouraging and unreserved smile, and listening to the piano melody that blended perfectly with her singing, Barbara's tension and embarrassment were instantly replaced by a huge surge of warmth and surprise.

She let go of all her burdens and spoke again.

This time, her voice regained its former ethereal and clear quality, and even gained an unprecedented confidence and emotion thanks to the perfectly timed piano accompaniment.

She was no longer just practicing; she was having a dialogue with another soul through music.

Yichen's piano playing sometimes gently supported her like a breeze, and sometimes swirled around her with the agility of a bird in flight. It always accurately predicted the changes in her breath and the fluctuations in her emotions, as if they were breathing the same rhythm of music together.

The two didn't even need to exchange any words; they achieved an amazing understanding simply through occasional glances and the melody.

The clear, melodious piano and the pure, beautiful singing voice intertwine, creating a wonderful chemical reaction. The harmonious and infectious music far surpasses the scope of ordinary practice, brimming with indescribable vitality and emotional tension.

Such a moving ensemble naturally attracted the attention of others in the church.

A passing nun stopped and listened intently.

Two nuns who were cleaning curiously approached the crack in the door of the practice room.

Soon, three or five nuns quietly gathered at the doorway. They exchanged surprised and delighted glances, none of them willing to make a sound to disturb this wonderful impromptu performance. They all wore smiles of satisfaction mixed with a hint of ambiguity.

They watched the black-haired youth intently playing the piano and the blonde girl immersed in singing in the room. The sunlight outlined their golden silhouettes, and the music, like invisible threads, entwined them together.

The scene was as beautiful as a poem bestowed by the wind god.

An elderly nun even secretly drew a wind god symbol on her chest, her face showing a kind expression that said, "My little cabbage finally has hope."

Inside the practice room, Yichen and Barbara were completely immersed in the world of music, unaware of the growing number of "listeners" outside the door. Their ensemble became increasingly fluid and moving, the air seemingly filled with sweet notes.

As the last note slowly faded into the air, leaving a lingering aftertaste, the two exchanged a smile, a tacit understanding and joy flowing between them.

It was only then that they belatedly heard the faint clapping and whispers coming from outside the door, which they tried to suppress but which were still present.

Barbara's face flushed red again, but this time, the blush was tinged with shy joy.

Yi Chen smiled and waved towards the door, eliciting a few good-natured chuckles from the nuns outside. They then dispersed, leaving enough privacy for the two "musical partners."

As the "audience" left, Barbara turned around, her eyes filled with undisguised amazement and admiration, and looked at Yichen, who had just stood up from the piano.

"Mr. Yichen! You are truly amazing!"

Her voice was a few decibels higher than usual with excitement, and her hands were clasped excitedly in front of her chest.

"You can play the piano! And you play it so well! You're simply... simply a genius! Singing with your accompaniment feels completely different!"

Faced with Barbara's sincere and enthusiastic praise, Yi Chen did not show the usual modesty or refusal.

He put his hands on his hips, raised his chin slightly, and smiled brightly with a hint of smugness, accepting everything without any hesitation:

"Hahaha! Right, right! I also think I played pretty well! Maybe this is what they call being gifted!"

He even shook his head smugly, as if to say, "Praise me more!"

If someone else had made such a gesture, it would have inevitably been seen as frivolous and arrogant. But when Yi Chen did it, it only appeared sincere and frank, even a little cute, making Barbara burst out laughing and feel even more relaxed and happy.

She walked to the piano and gently sat down on the piano bench next to Yichen. The distance between them was neither too far nor too close, but it was a little closer than before.

After a brief moment of excitement, Barbara lowered her head slightly, her fingers unconsciously tracing the smooth piano keys.

"Speaking of which... Mr. Yichen, it's been so much quieter outside the church lately..."

"Oh! Albert and the others!"