Luc Vaudelier returned home, rubbing his sore shoulders and joints, utterly exhausted. He collapsed onto his bed, despair clouding his face.
Luc was the head chef of a five-star hotel. Renowned for his masterful cooking and precise knife skills, he earned a monthly salary of 38,000 yuan. With additional bonuses and commissions from wealthy clients requesting private dining experiences, he had already purchased his own apartment in Jiangcheng by the age of twenty-four.
Yet, despite the high income, the breakneck pace of city life and the relentless intensity of his work left Luc constantly drained. Every day felt like a battle against fatigue.
He had entered the workforce early to pursue culinary training, skipping much of the carefree student life. Love, too, had eluded him—he had never been in a relationship.
But even a 24-year-old man who had carved out some success in his career couldn't suppress a longing for love.
His parents had tried to set him up on numerous blind dates back in his hometown, but the girls were either too conventional or transparently materialistic. Luc had rejected every one of them.
In an effort to fulfill his "youthful dreams," Luc had fallen under the spell of Genshin Impact, the wildly popular open-world RPG filled with charming characters—especially the beautiful, complex heroines.
"Genshin Impact—start!"
He hadn't played in several days, buried in work. But he'd heard that the story of the new Hydro Archon had reached its climax.
Eager to catch up, he opened his laptop to watch the latest lore breakdown while grinding through missions.
"This… is the Hydro Archon? No, she's a mortal who dares stand among gods."
Luc was utterly captivated by Furina's character arc. Her pride, her vulnerability—he felt a fierce desire to protect her. Even if she disrupted the team meta, he didn't care. He wanted to pull her at all costs.
"Damn it! What kind of rigged RNG is this? I've burned through all my Primogems, even recharged with real money, and still—nothing?!"
Yet he was unwilling to give up. Gritting his teeth, he continued pulling. Dozens more attempts—no luck.
His face darkened.
"This is robbery!"
He'd been disappointed by gacha results before, but this time—it hit different. This wasn't just any character. This was Furina. Rage consumed him.
And then—
Thump!
His heart stopped.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Luc stirred to strange noises. Dazed, he found himself lying in a forest. In the distance—something was charging toward him.
A wild boar.
"What the—?!"
Panicked, he scrambled to climb a nearby tree. But the bark was slippery, and he couldn't get a good grip.
The beast's tusks glinted dangerously close.
Suddenly—a glowing sphere of Hydro energy slammed into the boar, knocking it unconscious.
Luc blinked.
She stood before him, cloaked in cerulean, calm and radiant.
Furina. The Hydro Archon. In the flesh.
"Wait—Furina?! Where am I?!"
Looking down at his unfamiliar clothes, Luc realized with a mix of shock and awe: he had somehow been transported into the world of Teyvat.
Or perhaps… this was just a vivid dream.
But the Furina he had never been able to summon now stood here, alive and breathtaking.
Tamping down his excitement. Dusting himself off, he offered a respectful nod.
"Thank you for saving me, mademoiselle."
Furina beamed like a student praised for a perfect score. Waving a hand nonchalantly, she replied:
"Think nothing of it. I was just out for a stroll and happened to pass by. The wilds have been restless lately—you should head back quickly."
Luc barely had time to respond before a group of Hilichurls crested the hill nearby, brandishing crude weapons and snarling.
Furina tensed, eyes narrowing. With no time to waste, she grabbed Luc's hand and ran toward the city.
But their escape was interrupted—several Hydro Slimes emerged to block the path. Furina was forced to fight.
Luc cursed inwardly.
"Not only was I unlucky in the gacha… even after crossing into the game, I'm still cursed?!"
While Furina dispatched the slimes, one Hilichurl snuck up behind her.
"Look out!"
Luc grabbed a nearby stone the size of a millstone and charged.
Bang!
The Hilichurl struck him mid-sprint. Luc collapsed, unconscious.
Furina's eyes widened.
System Notice:
"Host has made contact with Lady Furina. Contract established. Generating shared inventory…
System mission complete. Initiating self-destruction."
***
"Ugh… where…?"
Luc awoke in a luxurious bedroom, his head pounding and wrapped in bandages. The decor was ornate but carried an unmistakably feminine touch.
The door creaked open. Furina entered with a tray in hand.
"You're awake. The doctor patched you up yesterday. Just rest a few more days."
It hit him—this wasn't a dream. He had truly traveled to Teyvat.
But somehow, meeting Furina like this… made everything okay.
"Thank you… and please thank the doctor too. I'm Luc Vaudelier."
"My name is Furina."
"What's on the tray?"
"Pasta."
"Thank you."
Luc tried to sit up, but pain surged through his head.
"Looks like you still can't move much. Let me feed you."
Furina usually avoided getting too involved with strangers, but Luc had protected her—even as a mere mortal. That kind of courage deserved respect.
Luc resigned himself to being fed like a child, silently vowing to repay her.
Before leaving, Furina pulled out a small, gold-trimmed pouch.
"This dropped when you passed out. I held onto it."
"Thanks."
Luc didn't question it. He was too dazed to.
The next few days passed with Furina tending to him. She fed him, fussed over his recovery, and even stayed nearby to chat.
When Luc could finally get out of bed, she sighed in relief.
"You're finally better."
Luc smiled, grateful.
"Lady Furina, thank you for everything. I want to repay your kindness—with a proper meal. A feast."
Furina's stomach growled in betrayal. She coughed, flustered.
She couldn't cook, didn't want a maid invading her space, and had been living on pasta for weeks. The thought of real food…
"Ahem. Very well. I'll… reluctantly accept."
Trying to maintain her dignity, she wiped away the saliva that had formed.
Luc made for the door, ready to buy ingredients—then paused.
"Er… do you happen to have any Mora?"
Furina: "…"