[Age 2: However, you soon discovered that only the first part of your plan was feasible. While Ganyu's feeding indeed helped you accumulate a great deal of strength, it had almost no impact on her own energy levels.]
[In fact, ever since having you, Ganyu discarded the cumbersome breast pump she used to rely on. After all, an automatic solution is far more convenient than a manual one.]
[Ganyu even specially crafted a baby carrier to strap you to her chest while she worked, allowing you to indulge in a self-serve buffet while her freed hands handled more tasks.]
[Regularly clearing out her excess energy not only left Ganyu feeling refreshed, but over time, even caused her to breasts to grow two sizes larger due to frequent use.]
[Age 3: Thanks to your extraordinary bloodline and regular access to Ganyu's exclusive supply, you possessed strength equal to that of an adult by the age of three.]
[However, to conceal your abilities and maximize the amount of energy you could absorb from Ganyu, you decided to continue pretending to be an overly dependent and slow-developing toddler.]
[Of course, even delayed development must have its limits. To placate the oblivious Ganyu, you eventually managed to utter the words "Mama" after her tireless coaching.]
[What you didn't expect was Ganyu's reaction. She froze for a moment before tears streamed down her face. She cheered repeatedly, "My Baby called me Mama! Lucas called me Mama!"]
[What a foolish woman, you thought. Calling her "Mama" was just a tactical move. When you grow up and become a great demon, she'll regret it!]
["Mama, hungry!" you pointed at your mouth. A feast was immediately delivered, and you indulged heartily, letting out a satisfied milk hiccup while fantasizing about your future as a mighty beast.]
[Age 4: Not only were you physically healthy, but your mind was sharp and cunning (Talent Activated: Clever and Mischievous). In your free time, you often explored the family's library, reading and learning.]
[Age 5: That spring, the wild cats outside were especially numerous, howling through the night and disrupting Ganyu's work... No, more importantly, disturbing your sleep.]
[One day, while Ganyu was busy working, you slipped out of the house and effortlessly leaped onto the roof, determined to put an end to the noise.]
[The wild cats, seeing a mere child, paid you no heed and even meowed provocatively at you. In response, you swiftly captured them all.]
[But after catching them, you were unsure what to do. Kill them? No, that would leave behind carcasses that might distress some Liyue citizens.]
[Worse, it could attract the attention of Liyue's animal rights activists, a group more fearsome than certain religious sects.]
[As the captured cats hissed and yowled, your feral instincts flared. When you came to your senses, all the cats were gone—only a scattering of fur remained.]
[From your stomach came a low, eerie sound of meowing.]
[You recalled reading in the library about an ability unique to the beast Gluttony: "World Within the Stomach." This power allowed it to swallow living creatures into a dimensional space within its belly, sealing them there while also gaining some of their abilities.]
[Lacking parental guidance growing up, you had never learned to control this power. Unexpectedly, it activated during this incident.]
[You examined your hand, and at your command, your fingernails elongated into sharp claws. A soft, elastic paw pad also appeared in your palm.]
[A startled exclamation nearby quickly brought you back to reality.]
[Switching to Immersive Mode.]
"Lucas! Why are you up there?"
Looking up, Lucas saw Ganyu standing nearby, gazing at her "precious son" atop the roof. Usually composed and calm, her expression was now filled with panic. "Don't be scared, Mama's coming to save you!"
Without a second thought, Ganyu rushed over at an astonishing speed. Before Lucas could react, she was beneath him, catching his falling body effortlessly in her arms.
"Ganyu Mama is amazing!"
Lucas instinctively praised her, only to see her abandon her usual gentle demeanor. After a sigh of relief, her face took on a rare stern expression.
"How many times has Mama told you?" Ganyu scolded with a slight frown. "No dangerous stunts. Leave these things to Mama!"
"I… I just…"
Before he could explain, Ganyu grabbed his wrist. "Today, I have to teach you a proper lesson!"
It was the first time Lucas had seen Ganyu so angry. He tried to wriggle free, but no matter how fast he grew, he was no match for her. Soon, she dragged him back into the house.
Sitting down in a chair, Ganyu placed him over her lap and, without hesitation, began spanking him.
This time-honored disciplinary method, passed down through generations in Liyue, was direct but effective.
Ganyu herself had been punished this way as a mischievous child when she once rolled down the mountain.
Of course, unaware of his latent powers, she thought he was just an ordinary five-year-old. Thus, her strikes were light—intended to teach a lesson, not cause harm.
Simply put, the pain was minimal, but the humiliation was immense.
After about twenty swats, Ganyu's anger subsided. She stopped and looked at him, seeing his head hanging low in apparent dejection.
Uh-oh. Did I go too far?
Regret washed over Ganyu as she spoke sternly, "Why did you climb onto the roof? Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"
"Meow-meows were bothering Ganyu Mama's work, so I wanted to chase them away…" Lucas muttered, teary-eyed and pitiful. "I don't like Ganyu Mama anymore!"
With that, he pushed open the door and dashed into his room.
Learning the truth, Ganyu was overcome with guilt.
She hadn't realized her son's risky behavior was an effort to help her. And instead of understanding, she had punished him harshly.
As a mother, she felt she had failed.
What Ganyu didn't know was that Lucas wasn't upset at all—his dejected act was pure performance.
Now snugly wrapped in his blanket, he silently counted down in his head.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six…
"Creak…"
As expected, before he could finish, the door opened softly. Ganyu entered, gently patting his back. "It's Mama's fault. Can Lucas forgive me?"
"No!" Lucas replied sullenly.
Children truly are hard to pacify, Ganyu thought.
She slipped into bed beside him, softly patting his shoulder. "Mama's new to this too. Sometimes I make mistakes, but my sweet baby will understand, won't he?"
"Mm-hmm…" Turning to face her with tearful eyes, he whispered, "But… so unfair…"
How adorable!
Ganyu's heart melted. No matter how many times she looked, her little one was always this cute.
"How about this?" Ganyu proposed. "If Lucas forgives Mama, Mama will do anything Lucas wants, okay?"
"Anything?" Lucas widened his big, innocent eyes.
"Of course." Ganyu nodded. "Mama must make up for her mistake."
"Then…" Lucas whispered something in her ear, making her cheeks flush faintly.
"All night?" Ganyu lightly tapped his little head with her finger, smiling. "Aren't you worried about bursting that tiny belly of yours?"
Lucas is the child of the mythical beast Gluttony and can eat endlessly without any issues, but Ganyu, as his mother, is extremely meticulous about his "diet."
Especially when it comes to "highly nutritious drink," Ganyu enforces strict controls.
"Is that not okay?" Lucas tilted his head innocently.
"Of course it's okay," Ganyu replied with a gentle smile. "It's not exactly an unreasonable request. But drink slowly, or it might not last."
"Okay!" Lucas cheered, leaping into Ganyu's arms and snuggling against her. "Ganyu Mama is the best!"
"Sigh…"
Watching the adorable boy in her embrace, Ganyu let out a soft, exasperated smile.
At this rate, she thought, her size might increase again...
[After a full night of Ganyu's nourishing care, your ice elemental mastery has increased by 20%.]
Previously, a single sip had granted a 30% boost. Now, a whole night yielded only 20%.
It seemed like the effect was being diluted.
Of course, Lucas didn't mind. The reward wasn't the focus—the process was what mattered.
When he said "an entire night," he meant it, not a second less.
The next morning, Ganyu was groggily woken up by a soft, slurping sound. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw Lucas still asleep but instinctively swallowing. Even his little mouth was flushed red.
"This little guy…" Ganyu chuckled as she gently pinched his cheek. "Stop drinking, it's long gone."
Lucas yawned and gradually woke up. Smacking his lips, he patted his now full, round belly and exclaimed, "I'm so full!"
"Well, of course, you are!" Ganyu teased with a smile. "You even kept drinking in your sleep!"
"It's because it's so delicious..." Lucas replied, pouting playfully. "I wish I could drink this much every day!"
"What are you saying!" Ganyu playfully flicked his forehead. "What do you take me for?"
At that moment, there was a knock at the door.
"Who could it be so early?" Ganyu murmured, her expression tinged with confusion.
Despite living in Liyue for over three millennia, Ganyu had always maintained a distance from humans, avoiding close friendships.
After all, human lifespans were fleeting. Forming attachments would only lead to heartache, so she chose to avoid such bonds altogether.
Although puzzled, Ganyu stood up to answer the door. But just as she reached the entrance, Lucas called out loudly, "Ganyu Mama, shame on you!"
Only then did Ganyu realize she had been so groggy that she'd forgotten to dress properly.
Quickly tidying up her clothes, she shot Lucas a playful glare. "It's your fault for being such a glutton!"
With that, she opened the door.
Meanwhile, Lucas lay back in bed, savoring the memory of last night's feast.
Ganyu's current residence wasn't initially very large, nor was it close to Yujing Terrace. But to better care for Lucas, she had purchased a large house nearby.
In a prime, high-cost location, the new home was one of Liyue's most luxurious properties. However, for someone with three millennia's worth of savings, the cost was negligible.
Walking through the courtyard to the main gate, Ganyu opened the door to find two women standing outside. One had black hair with light blue undertones and the other had silver hair and stunning features. The older-looking woman had a gentle smile, while the younger, seemingly around sixteen or seventeen, wore a cold, emotionless expression, resembling a lifelike ice sculpture.
"Master?" Ganyu exclaimed, her face filled with surprise. "What brings you here?"
Indeed, the older woman was none other than Cloud Retainer, in her human form, Xianyun. Without hesitation, she stepped across the threshold and said, "I've come to see my grandson."
Ganyu, who had been raised by Cloud Retainer, regarded her as a mother figure. From Cloud Retainer's perspective, Ganyu's son was naturally her grandson.
"W-What?" Ganyu stammered in shock. "How… how did you find out?"
"Yuheng visited me a few days ago and inadvertently mentioned it," Xianyun replied with a frown. "But you… You've kept this from me for so long. Do you not want me to acknowledge my grandson?"
Truthfully, Cloud Retainer's human form appeared no older than twenty-six or twenty-seven. Hearing her refer to herself as a grandmother was undoubtedly peculiar.
Ganyu had not intended to hide the matter. However, Lucas was the child of the ferocious Gluttony. She had been using celestial energy and her divine essence to suppress his ominous aura.
While this method could deceive ordinary people, it might not fool an experienced immortal like Cloud Retainer. As one of the Archon Rex Lapis' oldest allies, she had vanquished countless demons and evildoers. If she discovered Lucas' true nature, the consequences could be dire.
"He… he's not awake yet," Ganyu quickly diverted the topic. "By the way, this young lady must be Junior Disciple Shenhe?"
Although Ganyu was Cloud Retainer's foster daughter, she rarely visited her due to the long lifespan of immortals.
It had been nearly twenty years since her last trip to Aozang Mountain. Years ago, she'd heard via letter that Cloud Retainer had taken on a human disciple, but this was their first meeting.
"Shenhe greets Senior Sister." Shenhe's tone was polite but devoid of expression.
"She's not impolite," Xianyun explained. "She's simply spent her life in seclusion, lacking experience in human interaction."
"That's no issue," Ganyu replied with a smile. "When I first came to Liyue, I didn't understand anything either. It took me a long time to adjust."
"Ganyu Mama?"
A timid voice interrupted them. Behind the group, a small boy with a chubby, angelic face peeked out from behind the door. "Who are these two sisters?"
"Grandson!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Xianyun stepped forward and scooped Lucas into her arms, giving him a hearty squeeze. "I'm your grandmother!"
This declaration left Lucas completely bewildered.
After all, it's not every day a youthful beauty suddenly appears, claiming to be your grandmother.
----
Author's Note: There might be a slight delay in the next chapter, as I'm going to post a really long one to not drag this simulation for too long...