Chapter 5: Date
1745 Words
Your POV
" Where are you going? You really loved those pair hairpins, huh?" Zhongli said.
" I need to buy medicine at the Bubu Pharmacy. " I said in a hurry.
" We shall proceed then." He said and followed me.
After buying the medicine, I handed Zhongli the hairpins." Would you like me to help you with these? " He asked and I nodded.
" Okay, stay still. " He said and I immediately backed away from him.
" Oh, no. Just hold them for me." I told him and he looked curiously at me.
" Can we go to Quince Village? I think I know the owner of these hairpins. " I asked and told him, his eyes widen, he smiled and nodded.
" So you bought the hairpins so you could return them to the owner? " Zhongli asked and I nodded.
" Generosity... As what humans call. " Zhongli said.
" Well, the god of geo itself is unselfish. So why would I be?" I said and he smiled.
As we were walking, " Do you know that you saved me from death when I was just a kid? " I asked Zhongli and he nodded.
" I remembered Ningguang, your sister, selling her wares barefooted to buy your medications. She told me that her younger sister is having a deadly illness and both of your parents left to search for your little brother. " Zhongli told me.
" You knew this entire time. " I said and he nodded.
" Ningguang loves you so much and would do anything just for you, seeing her sincerity, I felt an urge to save you, to grant you the opportunity to live. " He said and I smiled at him. He then cupped my face.
" Now, seeing you doing the same to help others live. I have no regrets for letting you live nor for choosing you. " He said.
" Choosing me? " I asked and I remembered the contract.
" You're special." He said. I just rolled my eyes at him.
" That's what the Fatui said before they took my brother. " I told him," They were also about to take me, but our mother didn't let them since I was ill. So they took my brother instead, he was 5 at that time... " I explained.
" No wonder you hated the Fatui so much. " He said and I nodded.
" I couldn't help but wonder what happened if the Fatui took me instead of him. " I said with a sigh.
" I heard they experiment with children back then... " Zhongli said and I nodded.
" That's what my friend at Mondstadt told me as well... There's actually a kid that survived the experiment, she was taken by the scholars. " I told Zhongli.
" The Fatui wanted to take her back to the facility because she was the culprit behind the death of their 2 diplomats, but we don't want the little kid to suffer. " I told him and he nodded.
" Ah yes, I've heard about that news. I overheard one of the Millelith saying that the Tianquan's sister might get involved with the issue since you were there at the said party. " Zhongli said and I laughed.
" I was indeed at the party, but I was a little drunk and out of my senses... " I said and scratched the back of my head. He then chuckled.
" We're here. " Zhongli said.
" I haven't noticed the time at all... " I said and we both started searching for their home.
" Do you know the owner? " Zhongli asked me.
" I have a feeling. A man helped me locate some glaze lilies yesterday, and he mentioned something about his wife. " I said and he chuckled.
" Ahh, Lady (y/n), You're back. Did the lord of geo appreciated your gift?" A man said and wiped the sweat off his face. I immediately recognized him.
I looked at Zhongli and whispered, " Did you appreciated it? " He then chuckled and nodded politely.
" Sure did. Thank you for helping me yesterday. " I said and handed him the medicine.
" Lady (y/n)... Y-you shouldn't have. " He said, I just chuckled at him.
" No, it's okay. Take it, you deserve it. You helped me even though you're too busy farming. " I told him.
" This is too much... Thank you! " He said with his teary eyes and bowed.
" I almost forgot, we believe this belongs to your wife. " Zhongli said and handed him the pair of hairpins and his eyes widen. He then nodded.
" But where... and how? " He asked, we just smiled at him.
" Let's say that the lord of geo blessed you today. " I said and looked at Zhongli.
" Or it's the goddess of dust. " Zhongli said and the man immediately looked at Zhongli.
" Ahh! You must be the consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? You are the living history! " The man said, Zhongli just sighed.
" I... just have a good memory. " Zhongli said with a chuckle. The man then smiled at both of us.
" Excuse me, Lady (y/n), Mr. Zhongli. But I have to go and take these to my wife, she'll be delighted if she sees these! " He enthusiastically said, Zhongli and I nodded, he then left.
" A living history or living since history? " I asked Zhongli and he just sighed.
" So how long have you been in Teyvat? " I asked him.
" I'm not telling. " Zhongli said and I laughed.
" Do you prefer daddy or grandpa? " I asked him again and laughed. He just sighed again.
" Your statue's pretty cool! And it has abs! Do you have one as well? " I asked him and he looked at me.
" Would you like to see it for yourself? " He asked me with a warm smile, my jaw dropped at what he said.
" Try to feel it. " He said and he took my hand, I immediately pulled it away from his grasp.
" N-no! It's fine! I'm good! " I said, looking away at him and quickened my pace.
' That is so embarrassing! ' I mentally slapped myself.
We went back to Liyue Harbor at Chihu Rock for lunch. Xiangling's not around so I don't know what to eat. Zhongli got as a table and ordered everything since he's more knowledgeable about everything than I do.
" Where did Xiangling go?" I asked her father Chef Mao.
" She went to Mondstadt, she said she'll be searching for some new ingredients." Chef Mao said.
" Aww, I wanted to join her. " I said.
" She searched for you everywhere, but she remembered you can't go to Mondstadt for now." Chef Mao said and I just pouted.
" Why not? " Zhongli asked me and I sighed.
" I... drink too much when I'm at Mondstadt. I mean the wine's just irresistible, even if it's just the aroma. I told Zhongli and he chuckled.
" Ahh. Guess I made the right choice then. " Zhongli said.
" Here's the vintage wine you ordered, Sir. " A woman said and placed it on our table, my eyes widen.
" Is this from Mondstadt?!" I asked and Zhongli nodded.
" Fresh from the Dawn Winery, Milady. " She answered and I immediately hugged Zhongli.
" Thank you so much Zhongliii~! " I happily said and he just smiled at me.
" You're always welcome." He said as I started pouring wine on our glasses.
" Seriously, (y/n)? Even at Liyue you're still drinking? Guess I'll be temporarily closing your account at Northland bank. " A familiar voice called me out. I immediately froze when turned around and I saw her.
" Welcome, Lady Ningguang!" Chef Mao greeted her.
" Sorry, did I interrupted your date with the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's consultant? " Ningguang asked.
" Uhh... I... Hmm... " I shuttered in embarrassment.
" Ahh. Pardon me for interjecting, but—" Zhongli said but was cut off by Ningguang walking away, ignoring him. I chased after her.
" Hey, that's rude, sis. " I said pulling her slightly, she then turned around to look at me, then at Zhongli. She then sighed.
" Just meet me at the Jade Chamber, I'm still closing your account at the Northland Bank for a week to teach you a lesson." She told me and I just sighed.
" And beware of the other guy. " Ningguang said and left. I went back to Zhongli with the food already at the table.
" Shall we eat? " Zhongli asked with a warm smile, I smiled back at him and looked at the food he ordered. My jaw dropped.
" I ordered everything on the menu for you to taste it all. " Zhongli said and sipped his wine.
" Wow... You've been so welcoming and kind towards me, Mr. Zhongli." I said and sat beside him. He looked at me with his eyes widen.
" Mister..." He said and chuckled." This would be lovely if this was a date, no? " He said, making my eyes widen
" Do you even know what a date is? " I asked him.
" Hmm... Hu Tao once told me it's when you go out with someone you know..." Zhongli said and I nodded.
" Hu Tao's still a kid indeed. " I said.
" She once told me that Childe and I are dating since we were always going out together. " Zhongli said, I sighed and facepalmed.
" Hmm... How should I put this? Dating is more of a generic social term, where one goes out and meets people and spends time with them. "
" Dating someone, is, however, a lot more specific, and connotes romantic time spend together with another person. It means you are seeing someone with a specific purpose, have time to yourselves only, and in regular intervals, with the hope of culminating it into a more defined relationship, if both persons feel the same way. " I explained and he just looked weirdly at me.
' Maybe this is what he meant by the contract...' My eyes widen at the thought of it.
- Writer
