Chapter 2: Hypnosis & Kiss

Part 1:

“I should be thanking Acting Grand Master Jean instead for watching over me. I was so focused I forgot about my surroundings, it would have been troublesome if a Hilichurl had ambushed me from behind. I don't want to lose my memory again.”

This was Chen Huaian's excuse to Amber yesterday: ambush + amnesia + stolen items—it was the perfect excuse!

“You know me?”

“Yes, Amber mentioned it yesterday, the beautiful and powerful Acting Grand Master Jean. Your figure is the most athletic I've seen in Mondstadt. If you weren't Acting Grand Master Jean, then I truly can't imagine how beautiful the real Acting Grand Master Jean must be.”

“You flatter me,” Jean said, a little shy. No woman dislikes being praised, especially by a tall, handsome member of the opposite sex.

Chen Huaian smiled, looked up at the towering tree and changed the topic, “Is Acting Grand Master Jean also here to enjoy the scenery?”

“Mm,” Jean nodded, taking two steps forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Chen Huaian. “This is the great tree symbolizing Vennessa. In my leisure time, I also come here to walk around, take rest, or pray to Lord Vennessa.”

“It's very beautiful here,” Chen Huaian said. “Suitable for relaxing, the only drawback is that it's too far from Mondstadt, and it takes a bit of a sweat to reach here.”

“But the scenery along the way is worth the effort.”

“Indeed,” Chen Huaian sat down on the steps in front of the statue of the seven. “I’ve just been getting restless.”

“Because of your memory?” Jean sat down next to Chen Huaian, crossing her legs. “I'm sorry this happened to you, a traveler from afar, and within Mondstadt's territory.”

“It's fine, the lost memories will slowly return sooner or later. As for my belongings, we can't help worrying over what's already happened. I'm just glad I was able to escape with my life.”

Chen Huaian said it didn't matter, but Jean, as the current person in charge of Mondstadt, couldn't ignore it. She bit her lip and said, “How about you come with me to visit Lisa, the Knights of Favonius librarian? She is a scholar, so she might have a way to help you recover your memories.”

This was also Jean's main purpose for coming to Windrise. She originally wanted to find him to understand the situation, but the Knight guarding the city gate informed her that he had gone to Windrise, so she had no choice but to follow.

“Alright,” Chen Huaian agreed. Although it was destined that Lisa would return empty-handed, who would refuse the opportunity to meet a mature and understanding older sister with those big 'assets'?

Wait, she might not be an older sister. They might be the same age.

When he transmigrated he's become younger. He thought why not return to how it's like to be a young man again? It seems like a great opportunity.

A young man and an older woman are a good match.

They have their advantages, possessing strength and stamina, and a young man's ability to 'transfer data' using his 'USB' is imcomparable while at this age.

Part 2: 

Chen Huaian and Jean left behind Vennessa's great tree.

On the way, Jean couldn't help but ask, “What if your memory can't be recovered?”

“What can I do? Scrounge for food in Mondstadt, or travel around... Oh, do the Knights of Favonius still recruit? Can I join?”

“To join the Knights of Favonius, you need to pass a strict assessment. Although the physical requirements for Vision holders will be appropriately relaxed, the standard for character will be even stricter.”

“Are you afraid that powerful individuals will cause greater harm?”

“Yes.”

“Then I believe I will definitely pass. When can I take the assessment?” Chen Huaian laughed. “I urgently need a job now, or else even being able to have proper meals will become a problem.”

Jean was stunned for a moment, then apologized, “I'm sorry, this would be the Knights of Favonius's dereliction of duty...”

“Why apologize? If you want to apologize, just relax the assessment a bit, or arrange an easy clerical job for me. How about giving me the secretary position for the Acting Grand Master?”

“There isn't such a position...”

“Well, there is now. At least give me a chance to fill my stomach. Please, beautiful and powerful Acting Grand Master Jean.”

Jean was left at a loss over Chen Huaian's persistence. She wasn't used to this kind of situation. She already felt guilty towards him, and furthermore, he was a Anemo Vision holder, a person recognized by Barbatos. He was the kind of talent the Knights of Favonius would accept with open arms.

“We'll see... at least you need to pass the assessment.”

“Then if I pass the assessment, can I be Acting Grand Master Jean's secretary? Or even Acting Grand Master Jean's personal guard, ready to answer your call whenever you need me?”

“No, why are you so fixated on...”

“Because Acting Grand Master Jean is beautiful and powerful, making me admire her, wanting to follow you, wanting to serve you diligently.”

...Jean felt a bit flustered over Chen Huaian's straightforward honesty. This sounded just like a confession!

Moreover, being told this by a member of the opposite sex, who was of similar age and had an outstanding appearance and physique... she couldn't just brush it off as a joke.

She started dwelling over his words.

Chen Huaian saw a slight blush on Jean's pretty face and stopped there. He didn't want to push her too hard. They had only just met, so it was necessary to maintain some distance.

They walked in silence.

However, Chen Huaian also took the opportunity to slow down a few steps and admire Jean's beautiful back.

The way she walked swaying like a slime, and her rounded, perky figure encased in her Knight's pants, were truly beautiful. Seeing it firsthand, he realized it was nothing like those beautified figures that wore yoga pants from short videos. She truly was the soul of the Knights of Favonius...

As they were about to cross the bridge, Chen Huaian asked Jean to wait a moment. He ran to the riverbank and retrieved the simple fish trap he had set earlier. As expected, he had caught one large fish and several small ones.

The fish here were truly easy prey.

He released the small fish back into the lake, hid the fish trap in the grass for next time, and then carried the large fish to meet Jean, who was waiting at the bridgehead.

“This is today's lunch,” Chen Huaian explained. “If I don't have mora, I have to find something to eat myself, or I'll starve.”

Hearing this, Jean felt even more guilty. She began to ponder Chen Huaian's earlier words—should she give him a secretary position?

“Let's go to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters. But before that, I need to bring the fish home first. I'm currently living with Mona... Does Jean know her?”

“That astrologist from Fontaine, temporarily residing in Mondstadt?”

“Yes, it makes things easier when we are living together. It's thanks to Amber, otherwise I would have had to sleep outdoors yesterday.”

The house was empty with the absence of Mona's shoes, so she must have gone out. He filled the sink with water to keep the fish alive, then went with Jean to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.

All we had to do was continue on our way to the stairs next to Mona's house, which led up to the Adventurers Guild. And continuing up the stairs beside it led to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.

Jean greeted the knights on guard duty, pushed open the door, and led Chen Huaian to find the scholar Lisa in the library.

Lisa, similarly to Jean, had a mature figure, but with an even larger bosom.

“Good afternoon, Acting Grand Master Jean,” Lisa said with a smile, eyeing Chen Huaian, who was following Jean. “And who is this handsome gentleman?”

“Chen Huaian.” Chen Huaian introduced himself. “A unlucky traveler who lost his memory. Acting Grand Master Jean said that Librarian Lisa is very knowledgeable, so I shamelessly asked Acting Grand Master Jean to bring me to meet you.”

“So you're the one who was ambushed by a bandit group and lost his memory,” Lisa said, crossing her long, mature legs, wrapped in openwork black stockings. She observes Chen Huaian with interest. “Such a strong physique, and you even possess a Vision. When did bandit groups become so powerful?”

“His Vision just awakened.” Jean explained. “I saw it with my own eyes at the base of Vennessa's tree.”

“Not bad. Did you get your Vision because of your strong desire to recover your memory?”

“I wanted to become stronger,” Chen Huaian casually gave an excuse. “I didn't want to be ambushed again. I wanted to be free like the wind, to go wherever I wanted, and then I got my Vision.”

“Just to become stronger? Then it seems your desire is exceptionally intense.”

“Yes, I was scared.”

“Please sit down then. I'll see if I can help you recover your lost memories.”

“In what way?”

“Hypnosis,” Lisa replied, taking out a beautifully crafted pocket watch from her drawer.

“Then I'll trouble you,” Chen Huaian's face still held a smile, but inside he began to panic.

This was hypnosis, after all. What if his lie was exposed?

「Please rest assured, Host. This system has the effect of stabilizing the mind and is immune to all mental control.」

That's good. Chen Huaian breathed a sigh of relief. It was a nice assist by the system.

“Ready? I'm starting,” Lisa released her hand, and the pocket watch swung in front of Chen Huaian.

“Concentrate... Relax... Slowly close your eyes...”

Under Lisa's guidance, Chen Huaian vaguely closed his eyes. Finally, a "snap" sound came from his ear. At that moment, Chen Huaian felt as if he had lost control of his body, but the clarity of his mind allowed him to instantly regain consciousness.

Hypnosis was immune.

Then Lisa began to ask questions. Chen Huaian, with his clear mind, answered them one by one, without a single slip. After a while, Lisa could only shake her head apologetically at Jean.

“He can't remember,” Jean was a little disappointed, yet a strange joy welled up within her. He could stay, join the Knights of Favonius, become her secretary, serving her diligently. They were both Anemo Vision holders; she could be his teacher, instructing him in martial arts, teaching him how to use his Vision, and watching him grow stronger under her guidance...

Jean shook her head, casting aside her chaotic thoughts, and said, “Since there's no way to recover them, wake him up.”

“There's no hurry,” Lisa smirked, looking at the successfully hypnotized Chen Huaian, and continued to ask, “What do you think of Jean?”

Lisa was a shrewd person. From the moment they entered, she had noticed that Chen Huaian's gaze towards Jean was not pure, carrying the gaze unique to adult men.

This was extremely rare.

Jean's strength and seriousness only commanded respect from everyone in the Knights of Favonius and Mondstadt, a respect that dared them not to overstep. This was the first time Lisa had seen such an undisguised gaze of an adult man directed at Jean.

So, when a handsome and tall member of the opposite sex cast such a look at Jean, it naturally piqued Lisa's curiosity. She had to get to the bottom of it.

“You... that's his privacy!” Jean was a little flustered, but she didn't wake Chen Huaian because she was also a little curious, curious about what he meant by those words on the way here.

Part 3: Kiss

Chen Huaian was also stumped by Lisa's question. After a moment's thought, he decided to tell the truth.

After all, he was still under hypnosis, wasn't he?

Directly revealing his inner thoughts and hitting Jean with a straight ball might not be a bad way to take the initiative.

Besides, Jean must also be curious, right?

If she wasn't curious, she wouldn't have cared about his answer and shaken him awake while objecting.

So Chen Huaian opened his mouth and said, “I like...”

Just as expected!

Jean's hands clenched involuntarily. She had been confessed to, and for a moment, she didn't know what to do.

The last time Jean was confessed to by a man was when she was a young maiden. As her strength grew and her status rose, people around her became more respectful, and no one expressed romantic feelings for her anymore.

Now, after many years, another man expressed feelings for her, and he was a man with excellent looks and physique. This made Jean truly at a loss for what to do.

Should she reject him without hesitation, as she did in her younger days when faced with confessions?

Or should she accept him and try dating to see how it goes?

Or, act as if nothing happened... Yes, nothing happened. He was currently under hypnosis. Although his words were his true feelings, he wouldn't remember them when he woke up.

Just as Jean's thoughts were a tangled mess, Lisa continued to ask, “What do you like most about Jean?”

“Her butt...” Chen Huaian continued to answer, “Acting Grand Master Jean's butt is so beautiful... round and bouncy like a slime. I want to...”

“Lisa!” Jean couldn't take it anymore. Blushing with anger, she covered Chen Huaian's mouth. “Quickly, break his hypnosis!”

“Let's keep listening, it's so interesting!” Lisa felt regret, but seeing Jean's murderous glare, she could only snap her fingers to release Chen Huaian from the hypnosis.

Chen Huaian “woke up” groggily, avoiding Jean's gaze. He first asked the smiling Lisa, “How was it? You're smiling so happily, have my memories returned?”

“No,” Lisa shook her head, her smile undiminished. “This should be amnesia caused by brain damage. I'm powerless to help with this. Why don't you ask Acting Grand Master Jean what to do? Losing your memory after being robbed in Mondstadt, someone has to take responsibility, right? Hmm?”

Lisa emphasized the words “take responsibility,” clearly referring to what Chen Huaian had said earlier. She couldn't pretend she hadn't heard anything.

Chen Huaian subconsciously looked at Jean behind him. He saw the usually proud and calm Acting Grand Master Jean's face flushed. She tried hard to maintain a straight face and said, “You can stay in Mondstadt for now. As compensation, I will personally provide you with some financial assistance to help you pass the assessment and join the Knights of Favonius.”

“Then if I pass the assessment, can I become Jean's secretary, or Jean's personal guard?”

Chen Huaian didn't give up. After all, the early bird catches the worm. Judging from Jean's reaction to his “confession” just now, with a little effort, winning over the soul of the Knights of Favonius wouldn't be too difficult.

“Oh, a secretary,” Lisa's face held a mysterious smile. “A secretary for work, and for other things when there's no work. So, should I contact the engineering team in advance to build a partitioned office with a bathroom?”

Lisa understood too well, didn't she?

I like it.

Jean pretended not to understand, grabbed Chen Huaian's hand, and dragged him out of the library. At the door, she quickly let go and said, “You come with me.”

Following Jean to her office, Jean walked behind her desk and took out a bag of mora from a drawer. She said, “I'm very sorry about your memory loss. Take this morafor now. Although it's not much, it can help in an emergency... Don't refuse yet. Just consider it a loan from me, and you can repay it when you have the mora later. How about that?”

To refuse after going this far for him would be too ungracious. Besides, borrowing mora from Jean would also build a bridge between them, increasing opportunities for future interactions.

“Thank you,” Chen Huaian took the heavy bag of mora. During the exchange, he inadvertently scratched Jean's palm. Jean, who wasn't wearing gauntlets, was startled by this suggestive action and quickly withdrew her hand. Because of this, the mora bag, which she hadn't held firmly, fell to the ground when she let go, scattering mora everywhere.

“I'm sorry...” Jean, whose mind was currently a mess, quickly bent down and squatted. “Coincidentally,” Chen Huaian across from her made the same movement, and then their lips “naturally” met.

It was a gummy-like sensation, though he wondered if it was as sweet as a gummy.