“Can’t you make an exception… just this once?”

On the Jade Chamber, Keqing looked gloomily at Baixiao, who was firmly stationed in front of the teleport pod.

By now, she had completely let go of the resentment in her heart.

Whether Su Ran was a Fatui Harbinger or not no longer mattered.

From the moment he granted Ningguang such an enormous opportunity, he had already become Liyue’s future.

Keqing had accepted the shocking information Ningguang brought back— yet she was still not permitted to board that space station.

“I’m sorry, Lady Keqing,” Baixiao said apologetically.

“Mr. Su Ran has rules. As for you… you still don’t meet the qualifications.”

Baixiao was in a difficult position as well.

Though the Yuheng Star wasn’t her direct superior, she was still very much a leader.

Blocking her carried pressure.

She couldn’t speak too harshly— but she also couldn’t soften her stance.

Finding the right balance wasn’t easy at all.

“But I support Ningguang too!” Keqing protested.

The moment she heard Su Ran has rules, regret flooded her heart.

She should have seized that benefactor before Ningguang did, instead of foolishly waiting for him to reveal a flaw.

Well— the flaw did appear.

But the man possessed power beyond the level of gods.

There was nothing she could do.

Especially since even the Geo Archon had been constrained by him.

Back then, she had been full of suspicion, never imagining cooperation with Su Ran.

Now look at things— proximity had given Ningguang the advantage.

Keqing could clearly see Liyue’s brilliant future now, yet had no chance to play a part in it.

For someone who had always devoted herself to reform, this was agonizing— and filled her with regret.

If the heavens gave her another chance, she would never let it slip again.

The teleport pod activated once more.

Someone was coming down.

“Morning~”

Yawning, Su Ran walked past the two of them.

Though the space station had resting quarters, the style was still very much like Herta Space Station.

He wanted a change of scenery— to enjoy another one of his properties: the Jade Chamber.

Raiden Makoto followed closely behind.

Seeing the two women, she smiled and nodded politely in greeting.

Keqing and Baixiao watched the pair pass by.

“Well… Lady Keqing,” Baixiao whispered, finally reacting, “maybe you should seize this opportunity?”

After all, Su Ran didn’t come to Liyue every day.

They might occasionally see him at the space station— but Keqing couldn’t go there.

Her rank was equal to Ningguang’s.

Even if she supported Ningguang wholeheartedly, she wasn’t someone Ningguang could fully control.

But if she gained Su Ran’s approval— that would change everything.

Having the right to board the space station was literally just one sentence from him.

“Wait for me!”

Keqing reacted instantly and rushed out the door.

“Master Keqing, are you here to sleep with me?”

Sitting on the large bed in the Jade Chamber, Su Ran looked impatiently at the Keqing who had burst in.

“Absolutely not!”

If she didn’t have so few chances to see Su Ran, she would never have barged in like this.

Fortunately, Raiden Makoto was resting in another room.

Otherwise, Keqing wouldn’t have dared enter at all.

“I think my abilities aren’t much worse than Ningguang’s, so I hope you can give me a chance too…”

Though Keqing tried her best to maintain her resolve, her presence still fell far short of Ningguang’s.

The gap in their abilities was undeniable.

Ningguang had her own commercial empire.

Keqing managed land.

In theory, they each excelled in their own domains.

But to Su Ran, their usefulness differed vastly.

He valued Ningguang because he understood her money-making ability— something Keqing simply couldn’t match.

And compared to the universe, Liyue was no more than a speck of dust.

He didn’t need it.

Even if Zhongli handed Liyue over to him, Su Ran wouldn’t necessarily accept it.

So whether Master Keqing could be useful to him wasn’t particularly important.

“Keqing,” Su Ran said calmly, “do you know what your biggest gap with Ningguang is?”

Keqing nodded.

She knew very well.

Whether it was business acumen, courage, ambition, or even life experience—the gap was enormous.

Her own growth didn’t mean Ningguang stood still.

What she could do, Ningguang could usually do as well.

What Ningguang could do, she might not be able to.

The difference was clear.

That was why she harbored no resentment toward Su Ran choosing Ningguang.

Only regret— that she hadn’t seized the opportunity together back then.

“Seems you still don’t understand…”

Keqing’s expression and the faint guilt in her eyes told Su Ran everything.

“My space station lacks talent.

One more person wouldn’t be a problem.”

Keqing’s eyes lit up instantly.

She had already imagined it— her efficiency improving, Liyue developing even further.

If Su Ran agreed, she was confident she could accomplish far more.

“However,” Su Ran continued, “the real problem is— you don’t understand priorities.”

It was like a bucket of cold water being poured over her.

Keqing froze.

“You’re the priority, I’m secondary? That’s fine.

Or Ningguang is primary, I’m secondary?”

“No, no,” Su Ran shook his head.

“That’s not what I mean.

Ningguang works for me because she sees a better future.

If Liyue can’t meet her expectations, she’s willing to abandon everything she has there and become a full-time interstellar merchant.

Clean break. No regrets.”

Then he pointed at Keqing.

“But you’re different, Master Keqing

You want to develop Liyue first, and incidentally work for me.

You can’t let go of Liyue.

That’s why I say you can’t distinguish primary from secondary.”

Ningguang prioritized her own growth while incidentally benefiting Liyue.

What she gave Liyue were minor benefits— but they were already more than enough.

That’s why Su Ran could use her without hesitation.

She knew her priorities.

Keqing, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.

If he accepted her so casually, wouldn’t that severely disrupt the space station’s working environment?

“So that’s the real reason?” Keqing asked softly.

“Because I’m not selfish enough?”

She couldn’t refute it.

She knew Su Ran had no obligation to sacrifice so much for Liyue.

He wasn’t from Liyue— he even worked in Snezhnaya.

“Exactly,” Su Ran said.

“So… want to lie down on the bed for a bit? It’s pretty spacious.”

“…”

Keqing stared at him speechlessly.

He had just rejected her— and still dared to say something like that?

“You’re shameless!”

“Ever since I became a Harbinger,” Su Ran replied calmly, “I’ve developed immunity to being called shameless.”

Keqing: “…”

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep