Yes, Lady Funina!

Baiwen was clearly surprised that Ningguang would be waiting here. It was already evening, the sun had set, and Liyue Harbor was by the sea, so the temperature difference between day and night was already large. In addition, the Jade Pavilion was located high in the sky, making the night even colder...

Under these circumstances, Lady Ningguang still chose to greet Richard here instead of having Baiwen bring him to the Qunyu Pavilion for a meeting.

'It seems that Mr. Richard's position in Ningguang's heart is even higher than I imagined.' Baiwen thought to herself that she had overestimated Richard's position in Ningguang's heart, but judging from what just happened, it seemed that she had underestimated it.

"It's been a long time. How should I address you? Richard... or perhaps 'Sir'?"

Ningguang's words reminded Richard of when they first met. At that time, Ningguang had gradually learned how to do business, but due to her lack of experience, she misjudged the situation in Liyue, which resulted in her goods, which she had staked her entire fortune on, failing to sell as she had expected.

As the days passed, Ningguang found that the goods she had purchased with all her savings were still piling up in her hands, and she hadn't been able to sell a single one. This meant that not only would she not be able to recover her funds, but all her years of hard work would also be in vain, and she might even end up in debt, making it difficult to even eat.

Thinking of this, an indescribable feeling of suffocation gradually spread through Ningguang's heart.

Just then, a kind-hearted citizen, Mr. Li, noticed Ningguang's predicament and sold most of the goods with a little trick. When Ningguang asked his name, she heard the man reply, "Just call me 'sir.' I've been observing you for a long time. Do you want to learn how to do business? I'll teach you."

And with just this one sentence, the gears of fate began to turn, and Ningguang, the Tianquan Star, embarked on her legendary journey from a lowly merchant to a business tycoon in Liyue.

Without a doubt, Richard is Ningguang's teacher, partner, and indispensable 'friend', and judging from her current state, she doesn't seem to intend to stop at just 'friend'.

P.S.: I checked the backend and realized I'm already 40,000 words behind. Looks like I'll have to write 10,000 words a day. Anyway, I'll pay back 4,000 words first. Anything with a '+' sign after that is bonus content. I'm going to start writing the next chapter now. That's all for now—

Volume 1: Chapter 89 The Land of Gentle Touches

"It's been a long time, ever since we parted years ago..."

"It's been twenty years, three months, and seven days, right?" Ningguang replied naturally, and Richard was taken aback.

Ningguang smiled and added, "You know I'm quite good with numbers, so don't worry about it."

No, no, no, this isn't a sensitive issue anymore, is it?

Richard keenly realized that this reunion seemed to be getting complicated; he was already sweating profusely after only a few words.

“Your memory is as good as ever, Ningguang,” Richard said.

"Yes, sometimes having too good a memory isn't a good thing, because it always brings back memories of the past. By the way, you still haven't answered my question from earlier. Should I call you Richard or 'Sir'?"

"Personally, I think 'Mr.' is easier to pronounce. After all, the word 'Mr.' has different meanings in different contexts. It can refer to someone older than oneself, it can also mean a teacher, and it can also be used to refer to one's own or someone else's husband."

“Except for the last usage, every other one suits you perfectly.” Ningguang spoke at a steady pace, enunciating clearly and logically.

It's the kind of voice that can keep people listening attentively even when delivering a long speech.

"Yes...yes." Richard didn't know how to answer that question, so he could only force a smile.

"Let's go inside and talk. It's getting a bit chilly at night. People can't stand hardship once they've been in a comfortable environment for too long. Compared to the cold we experienced back then, this is nothing."

Although Ningguang didn't explicitly mention Richard in any of her sentences, it felt like every sentence she uttered was a reference to him.

Upon entering the Qunyu Pavilion, the view immediately brightens up.

Because the sun had already set, the area outside Qunyu Pavilion was quite dim, with only a few streetlights and lanterns carried by Ningguang's attendants as light sources.

Because it is an indoor space with concentrated light, the interior of Qunyu Pavilion is as bright as day.

It must be said that the Jade Pavilion truly lives up to its reputation as the most powerful and wealthy palace in Liyue. Its luxurious interior decoration and numerous treasures are simply dazzling.

Moreover, this kind of decoration is not the kind of nouveau riche style. It is the kind that seems ordinary at first glance, but if you look closely, you will find that there is a lot of attention to detail in every place. Those who know more about the place will be amazed by the exquisite design and the preciousness of the decorative treasures.

Richard was an expert; he only made a rough estimate of the price of the treasures and paintings used to decorate the front hall, and the figures he obtained left him speechless.

Keep in mind that this is only the front hall.

Upon seeing this scene, Richard couldn't help but wonder if Ningguang had robbed the Golden House.

Otherwise, there's no way to explain how the other party was able to accumulate such a huge fortune from nothing in just a few decades.

While Richard did teach Ningguang many business tips and interpersonal skills, those were only enough to enable her to live a comfortable life.

The fact that Ningguang has achieved this level is clearly the result of her own hard work and talent.

Upon arriving at the prepared reception area, the servants served tea and then withdrew, including the three secretaries who were knowledgeable and shrewd.

"How is it?" Ningguang asked first, as always.

"what?"

"How about our Qunyu Pavilion?"

“Very good, but…we?” Richard was puzzled. Shouldn’t this be your Jade Pavilion? Why are you talking about ‘we’?

“Of course it’s ours. You contributed your technology as equity back then, and that was agreed upon beforehand. Although there’s no written agreement, it’s still a contract concluded under the witness of the God of Contracts. Merchants are based on integrity, and even a verbal agreement should be respected.” Ningguang’s expression was serious; she wasn’t joking.

“Wait, I can’t quite remember… Wasn’t that a joke?” Richard gestured for Ningguang to wait a moment so he could think about it.

Richard quickly remembered what had happened. After he helped Ningguang sell her unsold goods, she insisted on giving him a portion of the proceeds as payment for his help and as a reward for becoming her apprentice.

However, Richard knew that the goods sold using his method would barely break even. If he were to receive a share under such circumstances, it would undoubtedly result in a complete loss, not to mention that Ningguang's share of the proceeds was more than half of the total.

Essentially, Ningguang gave Richard half of the wealth she had accumulated at the time.

Of course, those amounts were nothing to Richard, but he knew that these Mora were the culmination of the girl's hard work over the past year.

Its significance transcends that of Mora himself.

Therefore, Richard did not accept this heartfelt dividend, and knowing Ningguang's seriousness, he returned Mora in another tactful way.

What did he say back then...?

"Take this Mora and the method I'm about to teach you, and count it as a share for me."

Richard remembers that Ningguang wrote it down very carefully at the time, and even brought out a statue of the Rock King, solemnly swearing an oath in front of the statue.

However, Richard didn't care. In his long experience, he understood all too well the variability of human beings.

As time goes by, no one remains unchanged forever. Perhaps Ningguang really wants to share the profits with him now, but as time goes by and the family fortune grows, her thoughts may change.

You know, the human heart... is often the most vulnerable to the wear and tear of time.

“I never thought it was a joke. The Jade Pavilion I stand on now, and the foundation I built in Liyue, should all belong to you.”

Ningguang seemed to be referring not to the Jade Pavilion beneath her feet, which had taken nearly a decade to build, and the countless assets under her control, but rather to the half of Mora that she had failed to give away back then.

"However, because you've been gone all these years and I haven't been able to find you, and also to avoid inflation, I took it upon myself to reinvest the dividends that should have been given to you. But don't worry, it was all reasonable financial management, and there was no loss. On the contrary, I made a lot of money."

"It's just that the amount is so enormous that withdrawing it all at once would inevitably affect the economy of Liyue and even the entire Teyvat region, so we can only withdraw a portion for now..."

In Ningguang's words, the Mora that could affect Teyvat's economy was like a trivial matter.

"Um, no need. My current salary and savings are more than enough to support me, and I don't want to change anything..."

“I understand. From now on, I will use the profits and dividends for investment and financial management, just like before,” Ningguang continued, seemingly unsurprised by Richard’s choice.

If outsiders knew that Ningguang was also engaged in this kind of financial management business, they would probably sell everything they owned to hand over their assets to her.

Unfortunately, this service currently appears to be available only to Richard.

After hearing Ningguang's words, Richard had never understood the meaning of the phrase "the hardest thing to repay is the kindness of a beautiful woman" so clearly.

"If you need to withdraw funds, use this checkbook. The entire checkbook is specially made, representing the credit of Qunyuge. It can be used by any well-known bank in Teyvat."

As she spoke, Ningguang handed over a checkbook with both hands. It was so exquisitely crafted that it exuded an aura of wealth that you could feel it just by touching it.

The anti-counterfeiting technology of this checkbook is also top-notch in the world. Theoretically speaking, apart from the Jade Pavilion, only the Fools could do it.

The Fools obviously wouldn't do something so thankless, so the probability of this checkbook being counterfeited is 0%.

Richard did not accept the checkbook. He knew perfectly well that if he accepted it, he would, in a sense, be being kept by this incredibly wealthy woman, who was famous throughout Liyue and even the entire Teyvat continent.

This might be something that ordinary people dream of or even can't have, but for Richard it's a burden. No, that description isn't accurate.

It should be called a responsibility.

"Ningguang, you don't need to..."

“A contract is a contract. Merchants are built on trust. But what you said to me back then, do you want to refute what you said back then?” Ningguang changed her gentle attitude and forcefully pulled Richard’s hand, stuffing the checkbook into his hand.

"This..." Richard himself couldn't even remember what he had said back then, yet he still had to swallow this boomerang that seemed to have come from nowhere.

"Take it. Whether you use it or not is your business, but whether I give it to you is mine." Ningguang gently closed Richard's fingers, her eyelids slightly lowered, and said, "I just hope you won't leave without saying goodbye this time."

"I try my best."

Ningguang didn't mind the other party's hesitation. She already knew Richard's current address, so she wasn't in a hurry.

We've waited all these years, what's a little longer?

Moreover, she was well aware of the objective problem between immortals and ordinary people—lifespan. Before she was confident in handling this matter, Ningguang chose to wait and see, just as she was evaluating whether a project was worth investing in. However, this time she was not deciding whether to invest or not, but rather when to enter the market.

If the issue of lifespan cannot be resolved, Ningguang will still choose to leave the battlefield, just as a last-minute act of willfulness, and also as revenge for Richard's sudden departure all these years...

"Alright, we've finished discussing the business assets. Now it's time for the usual reminiscing." Ningguang clapped her hands lightly, and a maid came in from outside to replace the cold tea with two fresh cups of hot tea.

It seems that the food culture of Fontainebleau has also been taken into account, with coffee and Fontaine available as well.

"How have you been these past years?" Ningguang asked, then looked at Richard, who was stammering, and said, "You weren't as taciturn as you are now back then. I remember people in the market called you 'Golden Mouth,' meaning that as soon as you opened your mouth, Mora would come running to you."

"What a strange name. Did anyone really say that back then?" Richard couldn't help but complain.

Richard remembered that no one had said that back then, and he had reason to suspect that Ningguang was fabricating something out of nothing, testing his memory, and then altering or even rewriting his memories based on them.

"Really? Maybe I'm mistaken." Seeing this, Ningguang knew that Richard still remembered what happened back then, so she gave up on the memory-altering technique and made up a random excuse to get by.

Ningguang then reminisced with Richard about some events from back then. Perhaps because it had been so long and their perspectives differed, there were bound to be some discrepancies, but it was still a great topic for chatting and reminiscing.

In the short time it took to chat, the distance between Richard and Ningguang that had been created by time was gradually filled. Although they could still feel a faint barrier, it was much better than when they first met.

Ningguang was quite satisfied with this. Seeing that it was getting late and knowing that too much of a good thing can be bad, she brought the reminiscing to a close.

"It's getting late, and it's inconvenient to go up and down the Jade Pavilion at night. Why don't you stay here? There's a room for you in the pavilion, fully equipped with bedding, sheets, and other necessities. I'll show you around later."

"If there's anything missing, just let me know and I'll have Baixiao and the others prepare it for you."

Ningguang's suggestion was reasonable and convincing, and Richard really had no room to refuse. In addition, it was indeed late, and he had no place to stay in Liyue. If he really insisted on leaving Qunyu Pavilion, he would probably have to find a place to stay in the Fontaine embassy.

That would be more troublesome; it's better to just stay here.

"Then trouble you."

"There's no need for formalities between us; after all, you're my 'teacher'..."

Richard opened his mouth but before he could speak, he heard Ningguang say again, "Respecting one's teachers and elders is a matter of course, and even the old Prince Yan can't say anything about it."

There was really nothing that Lord Yan could say. His body was still lying in the Golden House. As for Zhongli... what did he have to do with Lord Yan?

But Richard saw Ningguang's manner as something other than how she would treat a teacher; rather, it seemed to be a different kind of "sir."

Of course, it would be even worse if she actually took him as her teacher; that would be a recipe for disaster for the jockey...

Richard certainly couldn't say these words to the other person's face; he only dared to mutter them to himself. If he said them aloud but the other person didn't mean it that way, wouldn't that be extremely awkward?

Richard isn't boasting, but based on his years of experience, the likelihood of that happening is extremely low.

After all, Ningguang didn't seem to be trying to hide anything at all, and now she was even personally preparing a bed for Richard, just like a virtuous wife.

"I can do it myself, I can do it myself." Richard snatched the blankets from Ningguang's hands, not daring to trouble her any further.

Seeing this, Ningguang didn't insist. Instead, she smiled and said, "There are clothes to change into in the wardrobe. Although I don't know if your size has changed over the years, it doesn't matter. The wardrobe has all sizes. Just pick the one that fits you."

After saying that, he didn't disturb Richard's rest any longer and said, "Get some rest early. I still have some official business to finish. I'll go rest after I'm done. How about we have breakfast together first thing tomorrow morning?"

“…Okay.” Richard realized that ever since he entered this Jade Pavilion, Ningguang had been controlling both his conversations and his actions, leaving him no room to interrupt or resist.

In layman's terms, everything was arranged perfectly for me.

"Then... goodnight?"

"Good night."

Volume 1: Chapter 90 Ningguang: My 'Master' (4K+)

Silent all night.

Although Richard's house is only separated from Ningguang's by a wall, there are no scenes that would make us happy, such as a chance encounter after a bath, a midnight raid, or walking into the wrong room.

Richard's biggest takeaway from spending time with Ningguang was that he could clearly sense that Ningguang had a good grasp of boundaries, or rather, a strong sense of propriety.

It is worth mentioning that a sense of boundaries is not about deliberately distancing oneself, but rather about the degree to which one judges and values ​​the boundaries of interpersonal relationships.

When you find yourself feeling comfortable with someone, it actually means that the other person is good at maintaining boundaries and won't do anything out of line that goes beyond the scope of your current relationship.

Ningguang is the kind of person who, although not explicitly stated, makes you clearly feel that she intends to improve your relationship, but she needs your consent before taking the next step.

This not only makes you feel extremely respected, but combined with Ningguang's beauty and status, it also gives you an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and conquest. This combination is truly hard to refuse.

If you get it right, then yes.

"Mr. Richard, Lady Ningguang is already waiting in the dining room." A young girl greeted Richard as he stepped out of his bedroom.