Genshin Impact, Breezing Through Teyvat

"Are we there yet...?" Hu Tao whined.

It hasn't even been 10 minutes since they've resumed their journey, yet she was asking this annoying question again.

After excusing herself, she went ahead to rinse her shorts in the pond again, this time more carefully in order to not smell. It was all Yomite's fault.

[As a result of previous 18+ chapter in case you did not read]

And now they were on their way to visit The Abyss.

"Are we there yet...?"

"I believe I've told you something before. Ask it one more time and you'll fly!" Yomite retorted, "Come here you little brat!"

"Gah!?" Hu Tao yelped and tried jumping away but she was too late.

Yomite had already caught her by the nape of the neck and pulled her close to his face.

She was hanging in the air like a doll, helpless, or like a naughty kitten being carried off by her mother.

"I warned you before..." Yomite spoke menacingly in a low whisper, "Now come here."

Yomite forcefully brought her in for a kiss, her legs dangling in the air.

She instinctively closed her eyes, feeling his warm lips press against hers.

Tongue soon followed, wrapping around her own.

"Oh, my." Lisa let out a sly smile upon witnessing the display.

"Sorry..." Yomite lowered Hu Tao back onto the ground, "She wouldn't shut up so I had to give her some discipline. Just ignore it."

"It's fine. I'm quite curious about your relationship with her, though."

"Ah, Hu Tao is my cute dog, she does everything I tell her and obeys my orders. I love her."

"A dog? Intriguing."

Lisa was quite surprised by the answer.

She was expecting he would say something more romantic, perhaps something along the lines of 'my lover,' or 'my fated one', but instead he classified her as an ordinary pet.

Their relationship must have been quite deep if she tolerated something like this.

"H-Hey...I'm not a doggie! I'm soon to be the first wife! Don't call me a dog!" Hu Tao protested.

Yomite grinned and patted her on the head, "It's fine, you're a cute puppy. And a smart one at that. Go on, run and play. Chase the butterflies like you usually do."

"...You! Hmph! Let's see who marries you if I don't!"

"Well...I mean...Fischl would be glad I believe."

"Argh grrrr!" Hu Tao growled at him with a pout, then turned away and ran in the opposite direction.

"She's quite cute indeed I must say." Lisa remarked.

"So are you," Yomite replied.

Lisa tilted her head slightly, confused by his words.

"Cute? How so?"

She knew she was attractive, anyone with eyes could tell as much, but calling her cute was a big difference.

Calling a woman in her thirties cute was a bold statement. As usually that was the time where women truly matured and were no longer capable of showing cuteness, dropping straight into the realm of maturity.

Yet Yomite called her cute.

"How so? Well, I guess I find your laziness adorable. Your facial expressions are so innocent and pure when you rest in the library, and when you wake up you're all groggy, and those sleepy eyes of yours are charming. I guess that's about it?" Yomite answered calmly.

"Oh? Is that so? How nice of you."

Lisa was taken aback by his unusual declaration, but quickly recovered and smiled.

Despite her initial confusion, she found herself feeling flattered. He wasn't just complimenting her looks after all. He also saw her beyond that, and liked her personality.

"You're quite sly, my dear student. Toying with a woman's heart like that. You made a lot of girls cry, didn't you?"

"I'm not so sure about that? My main goal at all times is to make my girls happy. Even now with Hu Tao. She's pissed at me because of what I said, but once she comes back I'll do something nice for her and she'll forget it immediately. It's more of a teasing than treating her badly and she knows that."

He wasn't going out of his way to hurt any woman, rather, he was doing everything he could to make sure they were happy and satisfied in order for them to stay with him indefinitely.

From hugging, to buying gifts and complimenting them, and even taking time to understand their emotions and thoughts just like he did with Barbara.

He used to have a difficult past and he was far from perfect. But he was definitely trying to be the best version of himself at the moment.

In fact, his current lifestyle was the result of his personal growth.

"If you think calling Hu Tao a dog is too much, then you've never seen what she'd been doing to me in the past...my body was falling apart because of her intense training. She used to hit me so often... Ahh, I feel depressed remembering..." Yomite murmured.

The endless spars and training were annoying, and he was sure something similar would soon be happening with Lisa.

Lisa watched him fondly as he reminisced on his past, realizing that despite his playboy appearance, he was actually quite sensitive and caring towards women.

The playful side of him came out often, yet there was a strong and loving man hidden underneath.

"Well, I suppose you're right...that little cutie Hu Tao does seem like a puppy to me, too." Lisa watched as the previously angry Hu Tao actually started chasing around butterflies, no longer bothered by his previous words.

"She seems to be enjoying herself quite a bit."

"Huh? Oh yeah, she really is. But she can go overboard with her behavior. That's why I took the initiative to kiss her and tease her."

"That's...a very bold move."

"Why? She's my lover. I can kiss her whenever I want."

"Yes, but I thought you weren't supposed to touch a woman without permission~?" Lisa questioned with a sly smile.

"Not necessarily. The one who makes the first move in the relationship is oftentimes the one in control. I can do whatever I want with her. As long as she loves it, it's allowed. She can do whatever she wants with me too as long as I like it."