Yes, Lady Funina!

Did you know Richard was a virgin?

Ningguang: ?

Is this something that can be talked about?

Ningguang looked at Funina, who was spouting wild words, and even she didn't know how to react for a moment. Laughing would feel disrespectful to Richard, but crying would feel strange.

And also, how come he hasn't lost his virginity?

In Ningguang's memory, Richard never seemed to lack outstanding women around him. Of course, this is not surprising, after all, who would not like a good-looking and very capable man?

To be honest, even if Funina told her that Richard had a promiscuous private life and was a scumbag, it would be easier for her to accept than to tell her that Richard was a virgin.

Of course, this is not to say that there is anything wrong with being a virgin. It is good that Mr. Richard has not lost his virginity. For Ningguang, this should be considered an unexpected joy. It also proves from another perspective that in the twenty years that she was away, no other woman was able to truly enter Richard's world.

Even the water god before us is no exception.

Actually, it doesn't matter if you really get close to them. Ningguang has a big perspective. She doesn't care whose first time Richard had. No matter whose it was, Ningguang can treat the other person as a coach who is helping her train Richard's skills.

It's just that my husband is practicing his skills with you first, and in the end, I'm the one who benefits.

In a sense, could this also be interpreted as Ningguang having full confidence in achieving final victory?

"Ms. Funina, what is this...?" Ningguang's mind raced, and after a brief moment of surprise, she asked Funina what she meant by saying that.

Surely he didn't come here just to share gossip with her?

Fu Ningna didn't keep them in suspense and directly stated her purpose.

"Ningguang, if I'm not mistaken, the 'teacher' you're referring to doesn't mean 'teacher,' right?"

Ningguang's smile faded slightly. "Of course, it also carries a respectful connotation."

"I'm afraid it's not just a term of respect, but rather means partner or husband. You like Richard, right?" Funina ignored Ningguang's excuse and chose to cut to the chase.

Tell Ningguang directly that I already know you like Richard, and I also know that you know I like Richard too.

“Mr. Richard does indeed hold extraordinary significance for me.” Ningguang did not directly answer Frynn’s question; the reserved nature typical of Liyue people prevented her from easily uttering the word 'like'.

She prefers to prove herself through actions rather than just talking.

"Yes or no." Funina tapped the table, mimicking Richard's tone and mannerisms, attempting to overwhelm the powerful woman in front of her with her presence.

Unfortunately, if Richard's aura is likened to a tiger in the deep mountains, then Frynn's aura, in Ningguang's opinion, is more like a little kitten. Oh, that might be a bit disrespectful, so let's raise it a notch: a little tiger cub.

"Is it... really that important? Does Lady Funina care about this so much?" Ningguang didn't understand why Funina, who was still in the probing stage yesterday, would suddenly make things clear today.

“It’s not that I care, but your answer will determine what I have to say to you next,” Funina said seriously.

“Alright, since Ms. Furynau has said so, then…” Ningguang straightened her posture, adjusting her demeanor. The gentle smile on her face vanished, replaced by seriousness and solemnity, as if she were making a declaration, and stared into Furynau's eyes as she spoke:

"Yes, I do like you, sir. I've liked you for the past twenty years."

No, if you like it, just like it. Why are you making such a big fuss?

Funina mentally complained a few times to ease the embarrassment of having her hard-won momentum easily suppressed by Ningguang.

"Alright, alright, stop staring at me. No matter how much you stare, I'm not going to just give Richard to you like that. He's my secretary-general," Funina muttered.

"Ms. Funina, can you tell me what you really want to say to me now?"

"It's very simple, Richard will not leave Fontaine."

"this one?"

Ningguang had long known that Richard wouldn't be leaving Fontaine anytime soon. If it weren't for her extensive intelligence network throughout Liyue, she probably would have missed her chance to reunite with Richard last time.

Even after they met again, Richard only stayed in Liyue for two more days. He didn't even wait for her to come and thank him after the disaster before he quietly left Liyue and returned to Fontaine.

Based on this alone, Ningguang realized that Fontaine must have some reason for Richard to stay there.

She had initially thought it was Funina, but now it seemed there was more to the story.

Richard has a physical defect.

"Wh...what?" Ningguang's pupils dilated in shock, and she quickly said, "Tell me in more detail."

If Richard really has a health problem, Ningguang will do everything she can to help him get treatment, not only for her own future happiness, but also because she knows how much such a problem can damage a man's self-esteem.

Therefore, for Richard's mental health and her own sexual well-being, Ningguang must prioritize this matter, even if it means putting aside her cultural exchange work. She must handle this matter properly.

If in the end it really is beyond cure, Ningguang won't despise Richard because of it. At worst, she can have a Platonic relationship, communicating only between spirits, without any physical intimacy.

Even if she has no offspring, she can adopt one. With her financial resources, she can raise several without any problem. It would be best to raise as many as possible to avoid raising them astray and ultimately leading to the predicament of having no one to inherit the Qunyu Pavilion.

No, Richard is immortal, so he doesn't need to worry about inheritance...

Ningguang thought of many things in an instant, and even prepared a plan in her mind on how to comfort Richard.

Seeing Ningguang's shocked expression, Funina knew that the other party had misunderstood. She waved her hand and said, "It's not what you think. Richard said there's nothing wrong with his body."

"No problem, still a virgin after five hundred years?" A rare trace of worry flashed across Ningguang's exquisite face.

“Uh…” Funina’s first thought was that Ningguang’s words made sense.

Seeing that Funina remained silent, Ningguang became even more certain of her guess.

As the saying goes, concern can cloud judgment. Even someone as calm as Ningguang couldn't help but panic when it came to Richard's health.

When Funina saw Ningguang get up, seemingly intending to go directly to Richard to ask him for clarification, Funina quickly stopped her.

Just kidding, if you actually went and asked, Richard would tear himself apart, wouldn't he?

"Don't panic, let me explain." Funina quickly grabbed Ningguang's hand.

Ningguang paused for a moment, as if she had regained her senses, and sat back down in her seat.

“You’re right. Generally speaking, men are very sensitive about these kinds of questions, especially someone like you. If you ask directly, not only will you not get any answers, but you might also provoke a negative reaction from him…” Ningguang muttered to herself.

"No, what is all this about?" Funina tapped the table with her fingers. "Can you let me finish what I have to say?"

Ningguang paused for a moment, then replied apologetically, "I'm sorry, I lost my composure. Please continue."

“Well, I can understand your anxiety, but Richard…” Furnessa was about to explain something when she noticed the office door being pushed open, and Richard walking in.

"Lady Funina, did you call me?" Richard was carrying a stack of documents when he entered the room and heard Funina seemingly calling his name.

"No, no, no, I didn't call you," Funina shook her head frantically.

"But……"

"No buts. Why didn't you knock before coming in?"

"As you can see, I don't have any hands free."

Funina didn't believe Richard's nonsense. If she wanted to knock on the door, there were plenty of ways to do it.

While Richard and Furness were talking, Ningguang couldn't contain herself any longer and asked directly, "Sir, your health..."

“My body? My body is fine, this is nothing to me.” Richard said, lifting the documents with one hand, the thick stack of documents feeling as light as a feather in his hand.

"Doesn't this free up my hands?" Funina complained.

“Well…” Ningguang carefully chose her words, thinking about how to ask in a way that would not hurt Richard’s pride and would get her the answer she wanted.

To be honest, Ningguang has never put this much effort into organizing her words when negotiating large-scale commodity trade.

"You want to ask me if I have any health problems, right?" Richard said, as if he already knew what Ningguang wanted to ask. He also glanced at the guilty-looking Funina as he spoke.

It was obvious that he overheard Frynn and Ningguang's conversation at the door, which is why he didn't knock and went directly to her.

Noticing Richard's gaze, Funina quickly explained, "I was just about to explain when you came in..."

"Lady Funina personally promised that it wouldn't be leaked," Richard said quietly.

Fryna choked, and Ningguang, seeing this, spoke up in time, "Sir, please don't blame Ms. Fryna. It's what I wanted to ask. Am I considered an outsider to you?"

After hearing Ningguang speak up for her, Funingna quickly nodded repeatedly, "That's right, that's right."

But after a while, she suddenly realized that something seemed wrong.

“What you’re saying…” Richard sighed helplessly. Ningguang was indeed not an outsider to him, even though they hadn’t seen each other for a long time. Richard was a sentimental person.

"Can you tell me about it?" Ningguang looked at Richard with her beautiful eyes, her gaze no longer suppressing her emotions for fear of frightening Richard, just as before.

Although Ningguang had guessed that things might not be as she expected, it didn't stop her from revealing her feelings. Taking advantage of the situation is one of the essential skills for every successful businesswoman.

As long as Richard doesn't explicitly refuse, Ningguang is already in an invincible position today.

Fu Ningna still has a lot to learn!

Richard did not explicitly refuse. In fact, it was impossible for him to make such a choice. Even before parting with the Yae no Kami, whom he had not seen for a hundred years, he did not forget to tease her. How could he bear to turn away Ningguang, who was now offering herself up?

He needs many real-world anchors like Ningguang to avoid any unforeseen events that might occur when he regains his former glory.

Of course, it would be too much of a scoundrel to attribute his fondness for flirting with women entirely to this. There must also be issues with Richard's personality; he's a born scumbag.

Richard never offered any explanation for this; after all, there's a saying: "Dragons are inherently lustful."

Navilette: I need to find a lawyer.

Richard repeated what he had told Furna to Ningguang. After clarifying that he was not "incapable," he glanced at Furna, his eyes clearly saying, "I'll settle the score with you later."

Fu Ningna shrank back, feeling a little wronged. "I could have explained it clearly even if you hadn't come. It's just that you didn't give me the chance!"

After proving his innocence, Richard left. Unlike the idle Minister of State, Richard had a lot of work to do, including many projects that required his involvement. Generally speaking, he would be quite busy for the first few days of such events, but things would get much better once everything was on track.

As Furness watched Richard's departing figure, she forced herself not to think about how Richard would punish her. She looked at Ningguang and said, "Do you understand now? Richard will not leave Fontaine."

"Well, I just won't leave for now. Once I find the original fetal sea alien space that you mentioned, and replenish myself, I probably won't have any reason to stay in Fengdan anymore." Ningguang was quite open-minded.

Funina, however, had a different opinion. She pouted and said, "I'll give him a reason he can't refuse."

—I left him behind with my own life.

"Does Ms. Funinna intend to use herself to keep the gentleman here?" Ningguang saw through Funinna's plan at a glance.

Funina was speechless. Had she made it that obvious?

“Is that not allowed?” Funina said defiantly.

"It's not that it's impossible, but I'm afraid we'll have to fight again then," Ningguang said with a chuckle.

Just as Funina was about to say "Who's afraid of who?", she suddenly had a brilliant idea. Our Water God's eyes lit up, and a playful smile appeared on his face as he said, "Who said it's just you and me?"

“Oh? Ms. Funina means…” Ningguang asked with great interest.

“Lynette and Clorinde will also be joining, and I don’t mind them sharing Richard with me, but I don’t know about Ningguang…” Frynn didn’t continue.

Clearly, in Funina's view, someone as proud as Ningguang would disdain the scenario of several women sharing one husband. Even if she didn't make her back down, she should at least leave a small grudge in her heart.

But to everyone's surprise, Ningguang said nonchalantly, "Me? I don't mind."

Under Funina's astonished gaze, Ningguang countered, "Since Ms. Funina doesn't mind, why should I?"

P.S.: Starting tomorrow, I'll be writing like crazy. These past few days, other authors have been dragging me into playing games, so I've really been updating like crazy. I've already uninstalled QQ.

Volume 1: Chapter 122 "Frinina's User Manual"

Ningguang wasn't joking; she genuinely thought so. She never believed she could have Richard all to herself.

In the eyes of the world, love is often possessive, but Ningguang is different, because she knows that Richard's lifespan is far beyond that of ordinary people, while she is just an ordinary human being. Even with immense wealth, it is difficult to break through the limitations of human lifespan.

This is the topic that can never be avoided when long-lived and short-lived species fall in love—the theory of lifespan.

Ningguang had thought before that if she met Richard again, she would eliminate all competitors and have Richard's love all to herself. That way, she would be happy at least until she died.

But... she eventually gave up on the idea. Putting aside whether it was possible to do it, what would happen to Richard after she left if it were possible?

She had seen too many ordinary people suffering from the pain of losing their husbands or wives. This pain would not be gradually erased with the passage of time, but rather, like wine, it would become more mellow and intense with age.

Therefore, Ningguang only wanted to occupy a small part of Richard's love, so that even if she left, other love would fill the void, and it wouldn't feel like a piece of her heart had been ripped out, leaving her life empty afterward.

Thinking of this, Ningguang looked at Funinna with a hint of envy. Compared to her, Funinna was truly blessed with a long lifespan and a noble and supreme divine body.

Judging from these points alone, there is no doubt that Funina is the most suitable partner for Richard among his many current lovers.

With a good temperament, a simple and kind heart, stunning beauty, and noble status, she is an excellent choice as a partner in every respect.

However, what Ningguang didn't know was that Funina, who seemed to have a lucky life, actually had a very difficult time.

There's an old saying in Liyue: "Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise."

Fontaine also has a similar saying: 'Every gift of fate comes with a hidden price.'

The same words applied to Funina were perfectly fitting. Although she possessed a lifespan that was beyond the reach of ordinary people and an incomparably noble divine status, these were not blessings for Funina, but rather a curse.

Cursed that she could only ever play the role of 'someone else' and could never find herself, she was forced to bury her unspeakable secrets deep in her heart, worrying for all the people of Fontainebleau, with no end in sight.