Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino Chapter 22 22: Chiori's Feelings

Chiori was still busy with her work. After all, preparing a complete, handmade uniform for Lu Li required a lot of preliminary work. However, she soon felt that sothing was amiss. The air seed to heat up, and when she realized what was causing the anomaly in front of her, she bit her lip, her eyes glinting dangerously as she looked up. "You... what are you doing while I'm trying to take your asurents?"

Lu Li looked away, embarrassed. "Sorry, but... Chiori, you look very alluring like this..."

"You... all you think about is yourself," Chiori said, exasperated. She stood up, hands on her hips. Her gaze was inevitably drawn to a certain area. She pursed her lips.

"If you go out like this, Aieru will definitely see. She's a new employee I just hired, not even a month into her probation. If she sees this, it could cause a scandalous rumor, which would be even more trouble..." Chiori said after a mont, looking away from Lu Li with dissatisfaction.

"Ugh... then you go out first, Chiori. I'll stay here for a bit..." Lu Li said awkwardly.

"If I go out and you co out later after... resolving it, wouldn't that be even more suspicious?" Chiori shook her head. "So, let's use the old thod."

Lu Li was stunned. He watched as Chiori turned and pushed against the wall. It flipped over, revealing a hidden passage behind it.

That's an illegal modification! Lu Li's eyes widened.

"Aieru, Lu Li and I are leaving for a bit. You watch the shop. Take any business that cos in; I'll handle it later," Chiori said to the fitting room door before leading Lu Li into the passage, which led to a deeper room.

Aieru, who was waiting outside, was startled. She rushed to the fitting room, opened the door, and stared in shock at the empty space. "Whoa... so there's a secret room here..." Though amazed, she quickly returned to the front and changed the sign back to "Open for Business," carrying out Chiori's instructions.

anwhile, Lu Li, led by Chiori, saw the secret room of Chioriya Boutique for the first ti. "I never knew you had a secret room... How did you do this?"

"The rent here is too expensive, and I don't have a good place to store so of my clothes, so I found this alternative solution. It's also an ergency escape route. Sotis Chevreuse and Navia sneak in here to get information from without being seen. Chioriya Boutique... is a pretty good place for them to gather intel," Chiori explained as she pointed to a room. "Co on, let's go inside."

Lu Li followed her into a room that was surprisingly cozy and well-decorated.

"This is my temporary resting room for when I work late and don't have ti to go ho," Chiori said softly. "Look, there's a bed. Go lie down."

Hearing such bold words, Lu Li's eyes widened. But seeing Chiori's proud and genuine expression, he walked over and sat down with a mix of complex emotions.

Chiori watched him obey, then slowly walked over. One hand pressed gently on his chest, while the other moved down to suppress the evil.

Feeling the subtle touch of Chiori's exquisite silk gloves, Lu Li felt a strange sensation. After a long mont, enduring the slight trembling of his body, he asked with curiosity, "Actually... I could have handled it myself, Chiori. Why did you do this, both before and now?"

The proprietress of Chioriya Boutique paused, then said softly, "I don't know myself. But when I see you react to my actions, I can't seem to look away." Then, turning her head to look him in the eye, she slipped her hand under his clothes, freeing the dragon and letting it roar in her palm.

"Don't tell you don't like this? No, I think you're enjoying it quite a bit, aren't you?" she said, observing his state with a playful look in her eyes.

Lu Li, trying to control his trembling, said helplessly, "It's true that I'm enjoying it, but... this doesn't seem very good for you..."

"How rare. I thought you were the type to only think of yourself," Chiori's eyes softened. She quickened her pace and said softly, "But, actually, I'm the sa as you. When I do this to you, I also feel... 'interested'."

Lu Li's eyes widened.

Chiori moved her hand from his chest and continued her work. "You and I are both from other countries who ca to Fontaine. I ca to chase my dream. Although you're not the sa, our situations are very similar. As your poem says, 'Strangers in a strange land, why must we have known each other before to et?' It was the first ti I had ever heard soone say sothing so philosophical while drunk."

"Plus, you're one of my few friends. You've seen at my lowest and at my most successful. So, I have feelings for you." Though she tried to sound calm, her voice trembled slightly. Even for soone as direct as Chiori, expressing her feelings so openly was still embarrassing.

Lu Li finally understood. "So that's how it is."

"Of course, having feelings is just having feelings. I'm busy with my career right now and have no ti for romance," Chiori said calmly. "Do you understand what I an?"

Lu Li shook his head, confused. Chiori was silent for a mont, then said, "I have my own needs, but I don't want us to be responsible for each other right now. And I'm not interested in other n. So, you get it now, right?"

At that mont, Lu Li's eyes widened. Wait, so this is...

-------

Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!

Find at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA

I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (105 Chapter)

Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (200 Chapter)

Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (205 Chapter)

MyGO!! A Story Voiced by (90 Chapter)

BLEACH: Blade of Purification (80 Chapter)

Konoha: Starting the Ga as Yoriichi (240 Chapter)

My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (90 Chapter)

The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (70 Chapter)

Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(60 Chapter)

Uma Musu : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (40 Chapter)

Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kan Rider (50 Chapter)

Genshin Impact: It All Began With Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (40 Chapter)

If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.