Honkai Star Rail Simulation: I'm Surrounded By Characters

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Within the Artisanship Commission.

Since Su Qing had formed a bond with Jingliu, Yingxing planned to offer them a weapon as a congratulatory gesture.

"However, considering you already have Fragmentary and Non-Grasp as your weapons," Yingxing said, handing over an elegantly antiquated box, "here, take this special material I traded for with my new weapon designs. Attach it to your weapons or wear it on yourself; it prevents bloodstains, which should be quite useful on the battlefield."

Su Qing accepted the box and opened it, revealing a ball of red cord neatly wound inside.

Yingxing continued, "Bear in mind, this is just the raw material. What it becomes ultimately depends on how you use it. The material itself is extremely valuable, so once crafted, we can give it a fitting name."

"Many thanks." Su Qing took the box, smiling. "I usually employ the sword control technique, so attaching it as a tassel to Non-Grasp should work well."

Jingliu added, "Bai Heng taught me some crafting skills before, so I might be able to assist."

As for the name...

Jingliu pondered briefly, gazing at Su Qing, and then offered a faint smile. "Then, let's call the tassel I tie for you... Mujun—Yearning for You."

[March 7th: Ooh-ooh! Such a straightforward name?!]

Yingxing sharply drew in a breath.

Hisss...

He glanced at Su Qing, expecting his once-single good buddy—just like himself—to find this overly sentimental and cringe-worthy.

To his surprise, Su Qing smiled and said, "What a lovely name."

Su Qing then turned to Jingliu, "Since you primarily engage in close-quarters sword combat, let me think about it; I'll create a knot ornament for you."

"As for its name, how about 'Remembrance Knot'? With 'remembrance' as in longing thoughts."

"Mm-hmm." Jingliu, naturally delighted, bowed slightly and replied softly, "Thank you, I will cherish it dearly."

Yingxing couldn't take it anymore.

How did two perfectly fine individuals turn into this after falling in love?!

Look at them—do they even resemble a sword leader and future general anymore?!

[Stelle: Laughing to death. Sharpblade Bro: Pathetic! Such cheesy lovebirds!]

Watching the oblivious couple, Yingxing felt goosebumps rising. He waved his hands, hastily shooing them away, "Go, go, go! Gifts have been exchanged, now hurry up and leave!"

Su Qing shrugged, "What's wrong? We haven't properly thanked you for the gift yet."

Yingxing was flustered, "Just get going already! Stop flaunting it here—you're giving me the best thanks by leaving!"

[Stelle: Amused.]

[Sparkle: Amused.]

[March 7th: Ha ha ha, actually, this is still tame.]

[March 7th: When Su Qing and Sister Himeko were together, it was unbearably cheesy!]

[Sparkle: I remember that too. Too bad, new love replaces old...]

[Himeko: ...@Sparkle, what are you implying?]

[Sparkle: Hee hee, nothing at all.]

[Qingque: ? Sparkle's stirring up trouble again, bouncing back and forth online.]

[Stelle: She'll get her comeuppance eventually!]

***

If there was one clear difference between Jingliu and Himeko, it naturally lay in their personalities.

During combat, Jingliu displayed exceptional offensive prowess. However, most of the time, her demeanor leaned towards being reserved and aloof.

For instance, Jingliu rarely acted coquettish or initiated closeness spontaneously. Although when Su Qing took the initiative, she willingly followed his lead, even naively cooperating to learn many things from him.

Overall, physical intimacy with Jingliu was less frequent compared to his relationship with Himeko.

Moreover, as they say, "a true friend knows thy heart."

Su Qing and Jingliu often found deeper resonance in shared interests and emotional understanding.

[March 7th: Oh wow! So, @Jingliu, would you say the ratio of your physical contact to mental connection is approximately 3:7?]

[Jingliu: ...About right.]

[Jingliu: @Himeko, that's why I mentioned earlier, compared to a girlfriend, a soulmate is truly where one finds spiritual refuge.]

[Silver Wolf: Enjoying this, @Firefly. Being outside the love triangle has its perks; just watching them bicker and clash is quite amusing.]

[Firefly: It's not like that, Silver Wolf? If you keep observing, sooner or later, you'll suddenly realize your role has inexplicably diminished...]

[Silver Wolf: R-really?]

[Himeko: @Jingliu,]

[Himeko: There's a common misconception that spiritual love surpasses conventional romantic love.]

[Himeko: The highest form of love encompasses both spirit and physicality. Therefore, a 5:5 balance is actually the most ideal ratio.]

[Stelle: Got it! Fifty-fifty split: no worries, I'm still the strongest.]

[Silver Wolf: ??? Stelle's references are getting too cryptic, even I can't fully grasp them!]

***

Jingliu's advances were often unpredictable and surprising.

One such unexpected moment occurred when Bai Heng was pulling Jingliu aside to learn how to make pastries together.

Initially, everything seemed normal, except for Bai Heng secretly tasting a bit of cream, thinking he went unnoticed—though both Su Qing and Jingliu had indeed seen him.

[Bailu: Happy.]

Until...

With his right hand holding the cake and his left unavailable yet smeared with a bit of honey, Su Qing casually said, "Jingliu, could you help wipe this off?"

"Mm-hmm."

What happened next caught everyone by surprise.

Facing Su Qing's finger extended towards her, Jingliu unexpectedly licked it gently, removing the honey.

Instantly, Bai Heng exclaimed, "Eep!"

Bai Heng, having zero experience in romance, had never witnessed such a moment before. Her face flushed red, and her beautiful tail abruptly stood up as if electrified!

[Qingque: Oh my gosh!!!]

[Seele: Wow!]

[Himeko: ... (almost faints from shock again)]

[Even for the Pressure-Resistant Queen, witnessing this scene suddenly was too much to handle!]

[Himeko: @Jingliu, is this what you meant by 3:7 ratio?]

[Jingliu: ...It might have been closer to 4:6.]

[Himeko: What?!]

Su Qing glanced at his finger, still feeling the lingering sensation of soft warmth from earlier.

Yes, indeed.

It happened just like that.

Jingliu's sudden attack caught even Su Qing off guard.

Bai Heng exclaimed once more, "So this is how you two usually play?!?!" He covered his flushed cheeks with both hands, his tail swaying incessantly. "I-I-I... I seriously misjudged you both!"

To Bai Heng, licking fingers was far too daring.

In response, Su Qing could only offer a helpless explanation, "No, it's not like that. If I say it was merely a coincidence and our first time doing such, would you believe me?"

"Absolutely not!" Bai Heng retorted.

Yet Jingliu, who caused this commotion, remained utterly composed. She stood to the side, gently licking her lips.

Hmm...

Su Qing's finger tasted quite sweet.

[March 7th: Aaaaah, indeed it sounds so sweet!! Even without tasting it myself, I feel the sweetness—how is that possible???]

[Qingque: As the major C in Version 2.0, Jingliu's attacks practically carry true damage now!!]

[Bronya: The key point is the unexpected ambush! And why does something like this seem so impactful when done by Jingliu??]

[Black Swan: Because of her cool yet straightforward nature, when expressing closeness, she inadvertently performs highly potent actions, often unaware of their effect.]

[Silver Wolf: Speaking of which, since being passive might diminish our presence, let me summarize.]

[Silver Wolf: I've kissed Su Qing, so I'm like Himeko.]

[Silver Wolf: Additionally, Su Qing and I share common interests; we're kindred spirits, similar to Jingliu.]

[Firefly: (confused with question marks all over) Wait, what?!]

[Silver Wolf: Therefore, rounding it up, I am both Su Qing's girlfriend and his closest confidante! Outdoing Himeko and Jingliu!]

[Stelle: It's here! The Silver Wolf Comparison Method!]

[Qingque: No, you... Ha ha, can't hold back my laughter anymore.]

[Sparkle: Enjoyable chaos! Silver Wolf's mental victory tactics are quite traditional.]

[Sparkle: @Silver Wolf, then what about Kafka?]

[Silver Wolf: Kafka? My feelings for Kafka... She's equally cherished as a dear teammate!]

[Qingque: Ha ha, equally cherished, huh?]

[Kafka: Silver Wolf might be under too much stress lately, acting a bit unusual. Please bear with him.]

[Sparkle: Laughing to death! Now Kafka's popularity will skyrocket—everyone will want to claim her as their daughter!]

***

Jingliu's sudden attack was indeed hard to resist.

However, when facing Su Qing, even the cool and composed sword leader would occasionally reveal a more adorable and obedient side.

One day, Su Qing came across an amusing meme circulating on Luofu and casually asked Jingliu if she could mimic it. Initially, he didn't expect much success, as the expression seemed entirely unsuitable for her.

To his surprise, after taking a look, Jingliu agreed to give it a try.

[Stelle: Jingliu strikes, catching everyone off guard with this spontaneous move!]

Jingliu reviewed the image Su Qing shared, finding it peculiar but still decided to cooperate. At that moment, she faced away from the audience.

The viewers guessed that Jingliu was earnestly attempting to replicate the expression, seemingly struggling due to its complexity: "...Is this right?"

Su Qing covered his mouth, trying not to laugh. "Hmm, getting close. The smile in your eyes can be more pronounced, and the overall expression should be livelier."

[March 7th: Ha ha, Su Qing is clearly holding back laughter! There's that mischievous side of him again!]

[Firefly: Fun fact, reminds me of when he spent ages encouraging Silver Wolf only to later admit he prefers fit physiques.]

[Silver Wolf: Don't bring that up! It still makes me furious!]

[Kafka (laughing): No worries, physical appearance isn't everything.]

[Himeko: +1]

[Jingliu: +2]

[Black Swan: +3]

[Silver Wolf: Is being grown-up so impressive?!?]

After making some adjustments, Jingliu asked, "Like this, is it okay?"

Su Qing barely managed to suppress his laughter. "Perfect, just like that..."

Then came the sound of a camera shutter.

[Photography Lv.2] activated!

Despite being hastily taken, the photo perfectly captured this moment.

Jingliu froze. "Why did you take a picture?"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"

Finally unable to hold back, Su Qing burst out laughing. He quickly operated his phone. "Because good moments should be shared; I need to send it to Bai Heng and the others."

There was a brief silence.

As Su Qing leaned backward, narrowly avoiding a flash of sword light, Jingliu lightly bit her lip. "...Don't send it."

Her cheeks flushed visibly, transitioning from the rosy hue of infatuation to genuine embarrassment for the first time.

Just as viewers were curious about what expression could elicit such a reaction from Jingliu, the screen finally showed the photo on the phone.

Jingliu: (≧▽≦)

[Sparkle: (instantly cracking up) hahahahaha!!!]

[Herta: Laughed.]

[Stelle: So cute!]

[Stelle: Wait, let me try again.]

[Stelle: So cute! (≧▽≦)]

[March 7th: Hehehe! Indeed adorable! (≧▽≦)]

[Bronya: Joyful, what an amusing expression! (≧▽≦)]

[Jingliu: ...]

[Oh no.]

[A sense of dread unexpectedly surfaced in Jingliu's mind.]

[Although they had managed to stop Su Qing earlier, preventing Bai Heng and others from seeing it, now even more people have witnessed this moment.]

[This live stream audience comprised viewers from various forces across the universe. With this incident, their fame is likely to spread rapidly, making them instantly notorious...]

[Qingque: Ha ha ha, the aloof sword leader suddenly looks so adorable!!]

[Silver Wolf: When Jingliu unleashes her ultimate move: ?(≧▽≦)?]

[Seele: ?? I'm dying of laughter, remember no spoilers in the chat!]

[Bailu: I also think this expression is quite charming!(≧▽≦)]

[Clara: Clara agrees too!(≧▽≦)]

[Sparkle: This is truly entertaining!(≧▽≦)]

[March 7th: Oh no, it's spreading like wildfire! Everyone's getting influenced!! Quick, someone stop it!(≧▽≦)]

[Stelle: Can't... can't control myself!(≧▽≦)]

[Jingliu: ...Now, I finally understand.]

[Jingliu: Ah, so this is what they meant by "black history" and "shameful embarrassment," terms Silver Wolf and others often used before.]

[Firefly: (compassionate gaze)]

[Silver Wolf: (compassionate gaze)(≧▽≦)]

[Even Kafka and Himeko, at that moment, temporarily set aside their disagreements, sharing a sense of empathy.]

[This feeling of shame from past missteps can only be understood by those who have witnessed their own simulations.]

[Fu Xuan: Sigh (shaking head). Who would've thought the esteemed sword leader, after falling in love, would start acting cute? This venerable one truly doesn't know what to say.]

[Qingque: The Grand Diviner remains ever serious!(≧▽≦)]

[Fu Xuan: Qingque! Don't follow suit!]

[The Black Swan, observing Fu Xuan's authoritative demeanor, smiled warmly.]

[Unbeknownst to herself, she became increasingly engrossed in the live stream.]

[She even found herself anticipating the moment when Fu Xuan's simulation would begin...]

"No, don't show them."

Despite Jingliu not caring much about others' opinions, expressions like these... if Bai Heng and the others were to see her like this, it would be far too embarrassing! Especially as the Luofu Sword Leader, her dignified image would instantly crumble.

The sword light Jingliu had just used to stop Su Qing narrowly missed him, as if their understanding as close friends extended even here. Su Qing timed it precisely, anticipating within 0.1 seconds when Jingliu would strike.

Jingliu stepped forward to block his path.

She expected Su Qing to continue obstructing her, but surprisingly, he simply let go of the phone, allowing her to take it away.

Jingliu glanced down at the smartphone; it was still on the photo capture screen, with no indication that it was about to send anything.

Confused, she looked up at Su Qing.

Su Qing smiled. "Just joking. With such an adorable expression, I wouldn't dream of sending it to others."

...Jingliu suddenly realized.

All along, from asking her to mimic expressions to pretending to send them to Bai Heng, Su Qing's actions were merely meant to tease her. And now hearing him compliment her cuteness...

Faced with these feelings that simultaneously caused unease and made her heart flutter, Jingliu didn't know how to respond. Softly, she murmured, "Su Qing, you...you're teasing me..."

[March 7th: Aaaaaah!!! (Almost sent them soaring again?)]]

Jingliu's voice was barely audible, her bashful demeanor adding a captivating charm to her ethereal beauty.

"Apologies, I'll make it up to you," Su Qing said, taking her hand gently.

Jingliu, cheeks flushed pale pink, remained silent but softly leaned into his embrace.

How would he make it up to her? Naturally, through more intimate moments of closeness and affection.

Such incidents were merely small links within their steadily deepening relationship...

[Stelle: After one romance, Su Qing has become quite mischievous!]

[March 7th: It's definitely a great pairing!]

[March 7th: These small interactions are the best for shipping!!]

[Bronya: ? March 7th is fully immersed in this new ship now, despite supporting Himeko earlier.]

[Himeko: ...Honestly, it doesn't bother me. We all know little March ships any couple she sees. In fact, knowing that makes it quite alright for me.]

[March 7th: Hehe (a bit embarrassed), mainly because every pair just seems so shippable.]

[Black Swan: This segment primarily showcases snippets of Su Qing and Jingliu's daily life after they got together. Are you enjoying it?]

[March 7th: Absolutely, love it! @Black Swan, keep 'em coming!?]

[Kafka: Not really interested.]

[Himeko: Definitely not interested.]

[Sparkle: Well, I'm indifferent, but since these two enjoy it, count me in too. ??]

[Silver Wolf: Initially not keen, but Jingliu's past stories do sound intriguing. (≧▽≦)]

[Firefly: Ha ha, same here! (≧▽≦)]

[Black Swan: @Jingliu, what's your take on this?]

[Jingliu: I... ]

["Although these black history moments are embarrassing, they feel incredibly precious as memories."]

[Jingliu: If not for the black history aspect, I'd naturally want to see more.]

[When Black Swan sealed part of her memories and allowed her to revisit past joyful experiences, Jingliu unexpectedly found her previously turbulent emotions remarkably stable.]

[Jingliu: However, it's uncertain how long this beautiful yet fleeting time, like a moonflower's bloom, can last...]