Genshin Impact: Villain Life Sim

Lucas sighed, loosening the first button of his collar. "I didn't expect things to escalate this far," he muttered. "But if that's the case, it'd be rude of me to hold back now."

With a sharp ripping sound, the tension in the room skyrocketed. The air grew heavy with anticipation, and Xianyun—Xianyun herself—found her form stiffening. Before she could muster a response, Lucas lunged forward, a move so sudden it left her stunned.

The adeptus felt a chill sweep over her as Lucas approached with unsettling precision. She had intended this as a test, but the current situation was beyond her control. Foot acupoints sealed and her adeptus strength momentarily neutralized, Xianyun's usual composure faltered, and an unfamiliar panic took hold.

Her instincts betrayed her, and before she realized it, she cried out, "H-help!"

Help?

Lucas froze for a moment. Help? he thought, perplexed. Just earlier, she'd said, "Do whatever you think is best." Why the sudden shift in tone?

Ah. Lucas's mind clicked. Roleplay.

A smirk crept onto his face. She's testing me with some kind of playful act, he concluded. Of course, he believed it was Ganyu before him. After all, if Ganyu truly wanted to overpower him, she could easily do so with her adeptal strength.

"Shout all you want!" Lucas grinned devilishly, leaning fully into his role. "The louder you scream, the more fun this gets! Hahaha!"

His over-the-top villainous act was, in his mind, flawless. But just as he reached out, a sudden explosion of white mist filled the room. When it cleared, the figure before him was no longer Ganyu, but a black-haired woman with a stunned expression.

"C-Xianyun?!" Lucas blurted, immediately recognizing the face he'd seen before in simulations.

Before he could piece everything together, the door burst open. In walked two more women: Shenhe and… Ganyu?

The real Ganyu.

Shenhe stormed forward, grabbing Lucas by his collar. Her voice was as cold as her glare. "You beast! How dare you lay a hand on our master?!"

"Wait, hold on!" Lucas stammered, utterly dumbfounded. "She's the master? Why on earth was she pretending to be Ganyu?"

"Shenhe…" Xianyun's voice came through, her tone commanding yet weary. "Release him."

Reluctantly, Shenhe let Lucas go but not without glaring daggers at him. Her protective instincts for her master were in full force.

"Explain yourself!" Shenhe barked, still visibly furious. "You've already tricked my senior sister, but now even our master isn't safe from your grasp?"

"Tricked?" Lucas was beside himself. "She was the one who tricked—never mind. What the hell is going on?"

Xianyun, now regaining her composure, gave a small cough. "Ahem. You've misunderstood. This… was merely a test."

"A test?" Shenhe blinked, realization dawning on her. "Oh, so that's it. I should've known. Master, your acting was exceptional—I even heard the panic in your voice."

"Y-yes, exactly," Xianyun stammered, quickly grasping onto Shenhe's interpretation. "Everything that occurred was part of my meticulous plan. I was assessing Lucas' character."

"But what about that 'help'—" Lucas began, but Xianyun cut him off sharply.

"That was a signal!" she said firmly. "To indicate that the test had ended. Right, Ganyu?"

"Y-yes! That's right!" Ganyu quickly backed her up. "Master said, 'As soon as I call for help, come into the room immediately.' It was… part of the plan."

As Lucas tried to process the bizarre string of events, a sudden growl interrupted them. The source? Xianyun's stomach.

"Ah…" Xianyun's face flushed slightly. She quickly shifted the focus. "It's nearing lunchtime. Lucas, prepare a meal worthy of my esteemed presence."

"Of course," Lucas replied, grateful for the excuse to escape the awkwardness. "I'll head to the kitchen right away."

Xianyun nodded stiffly before turning to Ganyu. "There are some matters I wish to discuss with you."

In the dining room, Ganyu and Xianyun sat at the table while Shenhe busied herself in the kitchen.

"Ganyu," Xianyun began, her tone low and serious. "Let me be clear. I do not approve of this marriage."

"What?" Ganyu's face fell. "Why? Lucas is kind, dependable, and he's never shown ill intentions."

Kind and dependable? Xianyun thought bitterly. You didn't see how he behaved in that room.

Naturally, Xianyun wouldn't admit to the humiliation she'd endured. Instead, she sighed and said, "Being kind and dependable isn't enough. You are a qilin, a direct descendant of the adepti. Your status demands a partner of equal standing."

"So, it's because he's human?" Ganyu asked, her tone accusing.

"I simply want what's best for you," Xianyun replied, her voice softening slightly. "Think of the suitors I've introduced—White Lord, Bi Lingjun. Aren't they perfect matches?"

"They're excellent, I suppose," Ganyu admitted, lowering her gaze. "But I… I simply don't like them."

Xianyun sighed, seeing a familiar stubbornness in her disciple's expression. "You're just like your mother—soft on the outside, but impossibly headstrong."

"Soup's ready!" Shenhe's voice cut through the tension as she entered the room, carrying a steaming pot of chicken soup. "Master, Senior Sister, enjoy."

The tension eased slightly as the aroma filled the air, but Xianyun's disapproval lingered. For now, though, it seemed the discussion was tabled—at least until after lunch.

Xianyun and Ganyu glanced at the chicken soup before them, their expressions turning somewhat peculiar.

In the pot, the soup's portion was notably small, and a large black chicken foot protruded from the surface, its claws raised as though in defiance.

"Tsk, tsk," Xianyun remarked coolly. "Your husband is quite stingy, isn't he? Couldn't even make a full pot of chicken soup?"

"Wait… don't tell me…" Ganyu narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Shenhe. "Did you sneak some?"

Shenhe instinctively averted her gaze. "It was… to test for poison, ensuring Master's safety."

"First of all, Lucas would never poison anyone," Ganyu sighed, rubbing her temples. "Secondly, who tests for poison by drinking half the pot? If it really were poisoned, wouldn't you have already collapsed?"

"Enough, enough," Xianyun intervened, waving her hand dismissively. "Shenhe is still inexperienced; don't be too harsh on her." She reached for a bowl of soup. "Besides, see? It's still drinkable."

It was clear to Ganyu that Xianyun doted on Shenhe, and the sight of the three of them interacting brought a small smile to her face.

Not long ago, this grand house had been eerily quiet, with only Ganyu living within its walls. But now, it was brimming with life, and she felt a warmth in her heart.

"Hmm?"

After taking a sip of the soup, Xianyun's expression shifted slightly.

"What's wrong?" Ganyu asked nervously. "Does it not suit your taste?"

Although Xianyun lived a life of reclusion, she was surprisingly particular about food. She'd even once attempted to invent cooking contraptions for herself—though they ended in failure.

"No, it's delicious," Xianyun said, shaking her head. "It's just… this flavor is nostalgic. It's been a long time since I've tasted something like this. Who made this soup?"

"It was Brother-in-law," Shenhe replied before catching herself. "I mean… he's not officially acknowledged as such yet, right, Master?"

Xianyun nodded, her expression softening slightly. "It seems he's not entirely without merit. Bring on the next dish."

"Next dish?" Shenhe looked confused.

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