Falling Cherry Blossoms
A Hutao x Zhongli FanFiction (Genshin Impact)
"Zhongli!"
Zhongli turned to see a small girl running towards him. Her clothes were disheveled and the usual hat that sat on her hazelnut hair was lopsided. He sighed. No matter how hard he tried to keep her in line, Hu Tao always managed to tangle herself in trouble.
"What is it this time?" Zhongli sighed and faced Hu Tao.
Hu Tao laughed and said, "Maybe, well, if you, you know, have some time later this afternoon, we could go to the Xinyue Kiosk and have some dinner together?" Zhongli cocked his head, beckoning her to go on.
"We haven't eaten together in so long, so I thought we could take this opportunity to bond!"
Zhongli felt terrible for saying what was going to come next, as Hu Tao's enthusiasm made him almost feel inclined to accept her offer.
He shifted the weight onto the other of his knees, saying, "Sorry, but I have a meeting with some elders this afternoon," Making sure his face stayed monotone, Zhongli's eyes showed no sign of any emotion, let alone remorse.
Hu Tao nodded. She understood that with Zhongli's position, he was a busy man. She shouldn't expect him to do more than the bare minimum. After all, it was good for her to not get too attached.
"It's ok, silly! What's with the long face?" Hu Tao laughed again, but as Zhongli gave her a brisk nod and walked away, she couldn't help but feel a sharp pang in her chest.
-3-
im not a photographer, but i can totally picture us together
In the 19 years that Hu Tao has lived, Zhongli has been by her side. From since she was too young to walk, to caring for her in her adolescence, and now: a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Hu Tao knew this wasn't right. How could she ever dare to feel this way? After all, she was but a mere mortal that would come and go. But as they say, the heart wants what it wants. And Hu Tao's heart wanted Zhongli.
After making plans with Xiangling, the daughter of Chef Mao, Hu Tao set out to slaughter some slimes. Xiangling's favorite food was Sugar Frosted Slimes, and Hu Tao wanted to bring a portion as a sign of courtesy. Although Hu Tao had never tasted this so-called delicacy, it was sure to be delicious if it was Xiangling approved.
Hu Tao furrowed her eyebrows, wondering if she would be able to pull this off. She whispered a few words of encouragement to herself, adjusted her hat, and set off to the terrains close to Liyue in search of some hydro slimes.
-3-
r u swiper? bc u just stole my heart
It had been close to an hour since Hu Tao arrived at the riverside, yet there was no sign of any slimes. She wondered, was it always this empty? Sighing, Hu Tao dropped herself on a nearby rock to rest, guzzling down the bottle of water that she had brought. Was she always this thirsty?
Not fully aware of her surroundings, Hu Tao decided to head west. She remembered that Mrs. Yu had told her that there was an influx of monsters in that area, so there were bound to be slimes. Trudging her feet, she arrived at the desired location. Am I at the correct place? Hu Tao tried to recall if this was the place that Mrs. Yu had mentioned. This place was equally barren as the previous, if not more.
Suddenly, she heard a movement ahead of her. Hu Tao wasn't alarmed, though. She was a good fighter and had fought countless monsters. Silently, she cautiously stepped toward the direction of the noise. If she was lucky, there would be slimes. If not, she would just need to fight a few cowards and be on her way. Peeking through the bushes, Hu Tao scanned the area. And then, she saw something.
It was a pyro abyss mage that was casting some sort of spell. This was a piece of cake. Maybe she could even get the abyss mage to spill what was happening to this land. She bravely walked toward it, and at once, the abyss mage noticed Hu Tao.
Swiftly, Hu Tao killed the abyss mage after a tuggle. She had to admit, this one seemed to be stronger than the others that she had fought in the past. She bent down to fix her boots, when crack!
Before she could blink, a group of 50 abyss mages had her surrounded.
-3-
do u play Minecraft? bc I wanna play bed wars
Hu Tao tried her best, she really did. But when you're facing such a big group of monsters, you were bound to get tired quickly. She cursed under her breath and looked up to see how many were left. Even though it felt like an eternity had passed, why was there no difference in the crowd surrounding her?
Mustering up the last of her strength, she swung her spear at the nearest abyss mage, hoping that it would take them out. She stopped for a moment, trying to catch her breath.
At the corner of her eye, Hu Tao saw a flame of fire heading towards her. She realized that this was the abyss mage's ultimate attack. She tried to dodge it, but her body refused to move. Hu Tao felt the searing pain of the attack, and unwillingly, her mind went black.
She didn't know when it began. Was it the time that he carried her on his back when she injured herself? Or maybe, was it when their faces were incredibly close when revising a contract? She didn't know, except for the fact that she was addicted to a drug called Zhongli.
-3-
r u a valentine? bc ur mine
Slowly blinking open her eyes, Hu Tao awoke to a small cozy room. She winced, feeling the pain in her left abdomen. Her eyes began to adjust to the dim lighting, and she looked around. Hu Tao gripped the sides of her hospital bed and tried to prop herself up. Right away, she noticed him. Despite the pain that Hu Tao was feeling, she couldn't help but admire his beauty. Seeing his face in such a state of peacefulness made her feel at ease as well.
But almost immediately, her extreme injury made Hu Tao lie back onto the soft cushioning, letting out a soft thump. She felt Zhongli's eyes open and fix on her.
"You're awake?" he asked, walked towards the chair next to her bed. Hu Tao nodded, smiling.
"Gosh, you really need to be more careful. If I hadn't gotten there in time, who knows what would have happened to you," Zhongli scolded her, giving the girl a small frown.
Hu Tao seemed to have a bigger smile.
"Did Mr. Zhongli come and save me?" She questioned. Zhongli nodded, sighing once again. He fixed the positioning of her blankets, and without another word, quietly left the room. Hu Tao closed her eyes, attempting to fall asleep, but in reality, the only thing that was on her mind was him.
-3-
u r the wifi to my xfinity router
It had been weeks since the incident. Ever since then, Hu Tao kept thinking that she needed to make up for the date that she had arranged with Xiangling. Lady Ningguang had just settled the matters in the forest a few days ago, and things were looking to be peaceful again. So, Hu Tao thought that she should try to make Sugar Frosted Slimes again. She pulled down her clothes in the mirror, getting ready to set out.
"Hu Tao! Where are you going this time?" Zhongli yelled out from his spot in the parlor.
"I'm going to try to gather ingredients for a dish!" she replied.
"Stay safe,"
Hu Tao nodded and looked down to secretly smile. She must be in deep if two of the simplest words could make her heart dance.
-3-
r u a god? bc ur the answer to my prayers
This time, without any mishaps, Hu Tao acquired her slime and returned to the kitchen to cook up some magic. Thankfully, the cooking process also managed to pass by without any serious accidents. Feeling proud of herself, Hu Tao plated the Sugar Frosted Slime in a blue antique plate that she had purchased not too long ago from the antique shop. She put one last finishing touch onto it, gently setting the dish into a light blue box with a white ribbon. Hu Tao stepped back to admire her creation. She felt satisfied and hoped that the taste would be just as good as the appearance.
Walking towards Xiangling's place with a hop in her step, Hu Tao smiled and waved to all the citizens in the plaza. It seemed like everything was going her way today.
Hu Tao let out a breath of air, glancing up at the famous sign that the Mao family kept on their doors. As soon as she opened the door, the windchime placed on the lever made a pleasant ring, alerting the people inside.
"Hu Tao!" Xiangling ran to hug her, and Hu Tao returned the gesture. They grinned at each other, and Xiangling helped Hu Tao place the box she was carrying onto their lunch table. Xiangling motioned for her to sit next to the already set table.
"How have you been doing?" Hu Tao asked, laughing. "I'm sorry about last time, so I wanted to make it up for you!" Xiangling shook her head.
"It's totally fine. After all, it wasn't you who attacked you, was it," she reassured Hu Tao. Hu Tao nodded, agreeing with the latter's words.
"Well then, we should start eating. I prepared a lot of food, so we should eat up!" Xiangling giggled, and they began to feast.
-3-
do u believe in love at first sight, or should i walk past u again?
Xiangling walked Hu Tao out to the funeral parlor. They were both extremely full and struggling to walk. However, to Hu Tao, it was a satisfying meal, as the chefs who had created it were one of the best in Liyue. They comfortably chatted about all the things that you could expect two girls to talk about. Having arrived at the parlor, they bid each other goodbye and waved as Hu Tao stepped in.
Hu Tao was greeted by Zhongli, who gestured her to head up and clean herself. Hu Tao wondered why he couldn't be bothered to say a few words of acknowledgement, but she reminded herself that she shouldn't expect too much from him.
"Wait," she heard a voice from behind her. Looking back, Hu Tao saw Zhongli reaching for something on his desk. She walked down towards him, and he pulled a box out of a drawer. Hu Tao had to admit, she did get slightly excited by the sight of that.
"Did you get me something?" Hu Tao curiously piped at the archon. Zhongli nodded.
"I thought that because you were injured and I never got to give you a get-well gift, I might as well give you something now," Zhongli nonchalantly said, looking up at the girl. Hu Tao beamed as he placed the box into her arms.
"Can I open it now?" she questioned, and Zhongli nodded in return. Hu Tao delicately untied the ribbon placed on top and wiggled off the lid. Inside the bundle of pink tissue paper, there was a neatly folded up dress. She gently took it out and took a second to admire it. It was a beautiful red qi pao with gold highlights and decorations around the sleeves and body of the dress. The material felt soft and there were a few buttons at the collar of the dress.
Hu Tao laughed, "Wow, it's so pretty!" She put the dress back into the box and asked Zhongli where he bought the dress. He seemed to think about it for a moment.
"I just, saw Mrs. Changshun having a special sale, so I stopped by to browse some items," Zhongli replied, almost like he didn't care. Hu Tao should have been hurt by his statement, but the fact that he had bought this dress for her was enough to keep a smile on her face.
-3-
are u a raisin? how abt a date?
Zhongli was strolling in the streets of Liyue, as he had some time before he had to arrive at his meeting. It had been a long time since he had time to simply take a walk and relax. All of a sudden, a certain red qi pao caught his eye. It was hanging on a display rack at a merchant stand. As he walked closer, Mrs. Changshun waved to him and shouted out promotional dialogue.
"We are having a sale today! Come and buy all you want!" Mrs. Changshun yelled, using her hands as a megaphone. Zhongli stopped to browse the items, but his goal was to purchase that blindingly gorgeous qi pao.
"How much is this dress?" He asked the older lady.
"Because of the sale that we are holding, it has been discounted to 11,450 mora!" Mrs. Changshun smiled cheerfully. "Would you like to buy it?"
Zhongli nodded his head. He could already imagine how good Hu Tao would look in this dress. He reached into his pocket, praying that we had some mora in hand. But once again, he had forgotten to bring some along. Zhongli couldn't help but feel dejected. He hadn't gotten Hu Tao a proper gift in so long, and he was really looking forward to giving this qi pao to her.
"Ouy!" Zhongli turned around to see a red-haired boy walking up to him.
"My name's Childe. You probably remember me," Childe laughed and looked at the qi pao. "You wanted to buy that, didn't you? But of course, Mr. Zhongli is out of mora."
Zhongli sighed and looked down in embarrassment.
Childe patted him on the shoulder. "It's ok, I'll pay for it." He then handed Mrs. Changshun the mora, leaving Zhongli staring at Childe, wondering why he would ever do such a thing. Childe just smiled, and before Zhongli could say a word of thanks, he sauntered off. Mrs. Changshun handed Zhongli the dress and nodded. Zhongli had prepared to hand the present to Hu Tao later that night, but because of the incident, he never had gotten to it. Now that it was in her possession, he felt relieved that she liked it as much as he did.
-3-
is your name google? bc ur everything that i've been searching for
The next morning, Hu Tao woke with a smile on her face. She was still ecstatic about the present that Zhongli had gifted her and was excited to try it on. Quickly, she hopped out of bed and headed to her washroom to get ready. As soon as the cold, refreshing water met forced with Hu Tao's face, she felt a burst of fresh energy. Hu Tao carefully took off the box's lid to see the dress folded inside. She took out the qi pao, amazed at how wonderfully crafted it was once again. After stripping off her pajamas, Hu Tao delicately stepped into the dress. At once, it fit snuggly, and she took a look into the mirror.
Hu Tao was extremely pleased at how the qi pao looked on her. Though she has had her fair share of similar dresses, she felt as if this particular one was made for her. Of course, she adored it even more because Zhongli had given it to her. The shoulder pads sat on her shoulders perfectly, and the qi pao billowed out below her knees. Hu Tao concluded that she was absolutely in love with this piece of clothing.
She reached for the button to secure it at the back. For whatever reason, though, she just could not manage to button it up. Hu Tao then realized what this meant. She would have to go down and ask Zhongli for help. She mentally screamed and banged her head on the bedstand.
"Hu Tao? Are you ok?" She heard a voice from just outside her door. She eyed the door frame as it slowly inched open and made eye contact with Zhongli. He looked her up and down.
"Are you trying the dress on? Do you need help?" He asked nonchalantly. Hu Tao was relieved that he was not as judgmental as she thought he would be. She nodded and Zhongli tenderly helped her button up the back. Hu Tao took a look in the mirror, looking at the backside. She thanked Zhongli and he headed out of the room.
Hu Tao suddenly collapsed onto her bed. Even though she hadn't shown it, her heart was beating like crazy when he had helped her with the qi pao. Now that Zhongli had left the room, Hu Tao was finally able to let her true emotions show. She shouldn't feel this way towards him, but whatever she tried, Hu Tao just could not escape the void that Zhongli was pulling her into.
-3-
u r the green eggs to my ham
Hu Tao decided that this would be the day that she told Zhongli about how she felt. It was rather fitting, as it was the day after his birthday. Hu Tao always loved winter, because in winter, she looked forward to spring, where the cherry blossoms bloomed. Ever since she was young, watching the spring flowers took an immense amount of pressure off her shoulders. As a result, Hu Tao thought that it would be nice if she confessed now.
Thankfully, Zhongli was free the whole day, so Hu Tao had some of her employees arrange a location for them. The whole day, Hu Tao was worried about what he would say, and with good reason. She had told Zhongli to meet with her at the Golden House at 19:00. He was usually extremely on time, so she hoped that he wouldn't be late on this occasion either. Thankfully, Zhongli didn't question Hu Tao's intentions of asking him to meet her.
Sooner than she could realize, it was already time for Hu Tao to arrive at the Golden House. She thanked the cart driver and stepped out, looking at the structure before her in awe. No matter how many times she came to visit, the Golden House always surpassed her expectations. Thus, Hu Tao settled on it being the place where she confessed.
Hu Tao had worn her traditional red shirt and black shorts. However, she had changed her dress shoes to a more ladylike high heel with a slightly taller heels. In her two pigtails, she had intertwined glaze lilies, which were fortunately in season. Additionally, she had worn the jade necklace that her grandfather had given to her before he passed. Hu Tao felt that because it was a special event, per say, she should change up her usual attire.
The sound of bells jingling made Hu Tao's head snap up. As she had guessed, it was Zhongli. She watched him get off the cart and walked towards her. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. This was inevitable, and she had to face him.
-3-
do you eat lucky charms? bc u look magically delicious
"You…look different today," Zhongli said as he walked up to Hu Tao. She nodded, grinning.
"I would consider today as a special occasion, so in honor of that, I decided to dress up a little," Hu Tao gave him a little twirl. "What do you think? Do I look okay?"
Zhongli nodded, looking her up and down. Hu Tao suggested that they take a walk around the Golden House, to which Zhongli agreed. They walked in comfortable silence. Though Zhongli couldn't tell, Hu Tao was frantically trying to stay calm and sort out her words. Abruptly, a hand stopped Zhongli from walking any further. He looked beside him, seeing Hu Tao and her hand.
"Can we stop here? I…wanted to talk to you about something," She said. Zhongli thought this was so strange. Why did he feel like Hu Tao was a completely different person today? Hu Tao turned to face him, a nervous smile on her face.
"Truth is, I've been wanting to tell you this for quite a long time. I'm not sure how you will react to what I'm about to say, but I just wanted to get it off my chest," Hu Tao said, looking down, then glancing up at the taller male. Zhongli beckoned her to go on.
"Before you say anything to what I'm going to say, though, please give me a chance to…explain myself," she murmured. Zhongli sighed, frustrated. He just knew that she had gotten herself in some form of trouble. What was he going to do with this girl?
"Zhongli, I know you think of me as a friend, or maybe even a daughter. But for me, you're something more than a father figure. I...like you,"
Despite Hu Tao's brazen statement, she observed that Zhongli had almost no reaction to this. There was a few seconds of silence, then she spoke once again:
"Like I said, I just wanted to explain myself. I'm truly not sure when I started to feel this way, but I've tried so many times to stop how I feel," Hu Tao rapidly threw out her words. "I understand that this isn't right, and I hope that you won't hate me after this."
Zhongli, sighed and looked down, saying, "Hu Tao, I will never hate you. However, I simply don't think that we can have the kind of relationship that you want. I think that we should have some time apart to settle our feelings, and then we can come back together to discuss things," With that, he turned and walked away. Hu Tao didn't try to stop him. After all, how could she? This was her fault, and she hated herself for it.
-3-
i must have a house made of straw, bc u just blew me away
Once Hu Tao couldn't see Zhongli's figure anymore, she dropped to the ground. The reality sank in. Although she had never expected him to return her feelings, the rejection still hurt. It really hurt. Hu Tao hung her head back, and without warning, the waterworks started.
At first, it was like how one washes their hands. Then, the shower water came pouring down. Hu Tao cried and cried, until there was enough to support a waterfall. Her heart felt as if someone had yanked it out and stomped on it. She tried to stop. But she just couldn't. For some reason, even though the rejection was expected, the tiniest light of hope that Hu Tao had was now blocked by an avalanche of boulders.
When her tears had seemed to dry up, she glanced at the sky. It was already pitch black. Grunting, she got to her knees. Hu Tao grabbed her hat from beside her and started to exit the pavilion. At the beginning of her walk back to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, she started to get teary-eyed again. She couldn't help it. Then, she slowly started to compose herself. Hu Tao didn't want any of the citizens to see her, especially not in the state that she was currently in.
Hu Tao began to rethink about the confession with Zhongli. It was clearly a failed one. Bringing in the reasons about how Zhongli was a god and she was just a mortal, Hu Tao thought that she shouldn't blame herself too much. It was unhealthy for her well-being.
Not long after, the bright lights of Liyue came into sight. Trudging in, Hu Tao closed the funeral parlor's door. She noticed that Zhongli wasn't there and dejectedly heaved. It seemed that Hu Tao couldn't last even one day without him.
-3-
i think theres smt wrong with my phone…it doesnt have ur number in it
Contrary to all the encouraging words that Hu Tao had said to herself about moving on, as soon as she woke, she felt awful. The pain was unbearable. Was it possible to feel worse than the day before? She didn't want to get out of the comfort of her bed. All she wanted was to sleep and forget about all the problems that she had caused.
But when a cremator knocked on her door, asking for cremation instructions, Hu Tao was forced to start her day. If anything, she was grateful that she had more time to sleep in than usual, but even that was not enough to lift her spirits.
Hu Tao directed the cremator to the family and had them discuss with each other. She excused herself, making an excuse that she had some business to attend to. In reality though, she just wanted to insert herself back into bed. But like always, her plans went interrupted. A traveler from Monstadt had asked her to bring his business papers into the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
She wanted to decline him, using the same excuse that worked perfectly before. But she pitied him. He was just a young traveler trying to build a life in a foreign place. So, Hu Tao accepted his request and set off to complete it.
-3-
are u a camera? bc every time i look at u i smile
By now, it had been more than a month after Hu Tao's confession. She felt as if she was going crazy for not seeing Zhongli for that period of time. But she always talked herself out of finding him. She reminded herself that they needed time apart, and the distance would help her to move on.
She wasn't going to lie, Hu Tao was not in a good state. Sometimes, she would spontaneously tear up. Just the thought of what Zhongli would think of her was enough to make her break into a cold sweat. Hu Tao hated herself for her feelings. She tried to do all kinds of activities to keep her mind off of him, but they never succeeded.
At this point, she was just settling into the final stage of rejection: acceptance. Even though her heart still ached at times, Hu Tao had accepted the reality. Zhongli would never feel the same way that she felt.
"Hu Tao!" Someone called out her name. Hu Tao spun around to see a funeral manager standing a few feet away from her.
"Zhongli asked me to run this message to you," she paused, "He wants you to meet him at the place where the Rite of Descension was held." Hu Tao smiled, thanking the manger for her words. She sighed. Was she truly ready to face him after all that had happened? She could already imagine a tense environment between her and Zhongli, and that was the last thing that Hu Tao wanted. But as her grandfather had always told her, it was good to face your fears. And so, Hu Tao began to head in the direction of the Descension.
-3-
if I could rearrange the alphabet, id put u and i tgt
As soon as Hu Tao stepped foot into the plaza of the Rite of Descension, Zhongli noticed her. They made eye contact, and she broke it first. Looking down, Hu Tao walked towards Zhongli. While Hu Tao was extremely nervous, Zhongli looked as calm and polished as ever. He didn't let her know about any of the emotions that he was feeling in the moment.
"So…did you think about the situation we are in?" Zhongli cautiously asked the girl in pigtails. Hu Tao nodded, saying,
"I did think about it a lot, and I wanted to say that we shouldn't be awkward with each other. We can just disregard the fact that I ever confessed," She glanced at her hands, which were fiddling with each other. Zhongli sighed.
"I don't think it will ever be that way between us. I still want us to have a good relationship with each other," He replied.
"Then do you feel anything…different towards me?" Hu Tao stretched out her words. Zhongli shook his head no. Hu Tao nodded, not expecting more.
"Well then, if you have nothing else to say," Hu Tao paused, looking at Zhongli. "I have some business to-"
"No, actually, you offered to go to the Xinyue Kiosk with me, and I wanted to go with you today, if that's fine," Zhongli said to her. Hu Tao smiled, accepting his invitation. It was all right if he didn't feel the same way. As long as she could see him while her feelings lasted, everything would be perfectly fine.
-3-
r u shrek bc im head ogre heels for u
Upon arriving at the famous Liyue cuisine-centered dining area, a waiter guided Zhongli and his party to an already set table. Hu Tao bowed slightly to thank the waiter and sat down once Zhongli pulled out a chair for her. In just a few moments, plates of food were brought out. One sniff was enough to send Hu Tao into a spiral of heavenly aromas. The silver platter tops were lifted, and the visuals of the food was even more magnificent than the smell.
Hu Tao and Zhongli enjoyed a pleasant conversation over their food, and as he had said, there was never any tenseness between them. However, Zhongli was noticing things about the latter that he had never noticed before. She had a tendency to brush her hair behind her ears as she drank from her cup, and she tapped her foot in a constant rhythm. It was strange how he never noticed these things before, but there was always a first for everything.
"I'm done eating. You?" Hu Tao asked Zhongli. He nodded in reply and they stood up to leave. Hu Tao observed that he seemed to glance at her much more often than before. She felt so self-conscious. Did he see something on her face that she hadn't seen yet?
So, she decided to ask up front.
"Zhongli, is there something on my face?" Hu Tao asked nervously.
"Uh, no," he responded, eyes darting around. Why did Zhongli's cheeks feel so hot?
The rest of the walk back to the funeral parlor was quiet, but it wasn't necessarily awkward. Zhongli opened the door for Hu Tao. As she fell asleep, Hu Tao dreamed of Zhongli and their dinner together.
-3-
you may fall from the sky, you may fall from a tree, but the best way to fall is in love with me
Experts say that you fall in love on one specific day. But when trying to name that day, it's nearly impossible. You fall in love, not because of the intensity, or the events, but rather the consistency. She didn't fall in love because he held a birthday party for her. Nor did she fall because she was given a bundle of flowers. She fell in love because in the morning, he always says 'good morning' to her. She fell in love because when he went shopping for himself, he brought back something for her. She fell in love because when he had a great day and she didn't, he never bragged about his. The accumulation of all those little things is what made Hu Tao wake up one day and confirm that she was in love with Zhongli.
"I'm going to talk to Ningguang," Zhongli said to her as he shut the front door. Hu Tao leaned back into her chair, sighing contently. She hadn't had a proper breakfast in so long, yet Zhongli had gotten up early to make her some. If she was being honest, the act made Hu Tao waver.
But when she remembered that this wasn't right, her heart would stop being giddy and her once bright smile disappeared. Hu Tao quickly finished her breakfast and visited the family who had signed up for a cremation. They were all in tears throughout the whole process, trying to hide it, but nonetheless Hu Tao noticed. She wondered if when she left Tevyat one day if anyone would cry for her.
She had been associated with death her whole life, even as she had never experienced anything close to it. At the beginning, meeting with families left Hu Tao extremely traumatized. However, as she got used to her profession, she learned how to console them without getting personally attached. Hu Tao didn't have the time to get attached to all of the people who came to her service. She supposed that she should've felt bad, but in all respect, she wasn't the least bit guilty.
-3-
if u were a burger, u'd be mcgorgeous
Hu Tao was going on an excursion. The past few weeks were both mentally and exhausting for her. It was almost two months since she and Zhongli had cleared things up. She had to note, though, that he was acting strange lately.
After booking a room at the Wangshu Inn, Hu Tao packed up a few bags and flew to the inn. She hadn't been on a vacation in so long, and it felt refreshing to get a breath of fresh air. She loved the feeling of the wind billowing past her face when gliding. It made Hu Tao relax instantly. When she arrived at the Wangshu Inn, Smiley Yanxiao greeted her with a bowl of almond tofu, his specialty.
"Thanks for choosing Wangshu as your inn. Please take this as a welcoming gift," Yanxiao said to Hu Tao. She accepted the dish and bowed in a sign of gratitude. He wished her a good stay and left to go fishing. Hu Tao was lucky that he was in a relatively good mood today.
The inn's boss agreed for Hu Tao to roam around, as long as she didn't cause trouble. At the inn's balcony, she bumped into Xiao. Even though they had never met, Xiao was exactly the same as all the reports of people who had met him. He was polite but very reserved.
Hu Tao smiled at him, but Xiao just nodded and briskly walked off. He was a rather peculiar fellow. The rest of the day at the Wangshu Inn was pleasant. Hu Tao purchased a deluxe meal for herself and had small talk with the other customers. It was nice to socialize with people other than the citizens of Liyue. The amount that she had filled her stomach with was enough to last her 10 meals. She worried if she would still be able to fit into her clothes the next day. By the end of the night, she was slowly slipping into a food coma.
Hu Tao wondered what a certain archon was doing miles away from her.
-3-
from 1-10, u would be a 9, and im the 1 that ur missing
While Hu Tao was away, Zhongli spent the entire day planning. He had woken up earlier than usual to head to Yanshang Tea House. They were always busy after noon, so he had to arrive first to order ahead.
"If you're not an elite class member, please step away," the hostess said. Seeing that her new guest was none other than Zhongli, though, Chuyi gasped and hurried to bow to him.
"Hello Mr. Zhongli, what brings you to our lovely tea house on this fine morning?" Chuyi's attitude immediately changed, and a smile was plastered on her face. Zhongli smiled in return, asking for a menu. Chuyi handed him a menu through the small opening of the slit.
"Is it possible for me to order some glaze lily tea, mint shortbread, and a dim sum special?" Zhongli flipped through the menu.
"Yes, of course! Would you like it now or have it delivered at a scheduled time?" Chuyi asked in response.
"Can you deliver at around 15:00 the day after tomorrow?" he asked. She nodded, writing down his order. Zhongli thanked her and went about his day. Next, he stopped at Scent of Spring. Ying'er, a shop assistant there, was known for her incredible perfumes, and Zhongli wanted to personally craft one. Ying'er greeted him, welcoming Zhongli inside. She had set up a variety of different ingredients and essential oils to add into the perfume.
"Which would you like to experiment with?" she asked. Zhongli carefully thought about this. In his opinion, the scent of a perfume held a deep meaning. He settled on a combination of mandarin and red plum. Step by step, Ying'er taught Zhongli how to make the perfume. Thankfully, Zhongli was able to succeed in one try. He selected a beautiful red bottle to hold the liquid and once again, thanked Ying'er and went on his way.
-3-
i think that ur lacking some vitamin me
After Hu Tao's one-day trip at the Wangshu Inn, she returned to her home at Liyue Harbor. Even though she wished she could've stayed longer, the familiar air of Liyue was comforting. All of a sudden, a carrier pigeon landed on her shoulder. It nipped her finger, signaling Hu Tao to take the letter tied around its leg. Gently, she pulled on the bow tying the small slip of paper onto it, and the pigeon flew off. Hu Tao unrolled the letter. It read: Please meet me at Luhua Pool at 15:00 today -Zhongli.
Hu Tao cocked her head, wondering why he wanted to see her. She tucked the letter into the back pocket of her shorts, walking further into the busy atmosphere of Liyue Harbor.
An hour before the designated time, Hu Tao was ready to go. She presumed that it would take a while to get to Luhua Pool, so she would get a head start. In no time, the calm waters of Luhua Pool greeted her. It was always a nice sight to see, especially more so as some builders had renovated the pools recently.
Hu Tao saw Zhongli sitting at the side of a water opening. She rushed over to him, grinning happily.
"What's all of this?" Hu Tao asked, seeing the array of things laid out on a picnic blanket.
"I just…ordered some things from the teahouse," Zhongli nonchalantly said. She sat down next to him, furrowing her eyebrows. She took a pair of chopsticks and picked up a piece of dim sum, placing it into her mouth. The meat melted instantly, leaving a peppery aftertaste. Hu Tao closed her eyes, savoring the flavor. Despite the rude hostess, Yanshang Teahouse never disappoints.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" She asked the man in front of her. Zhongli sighed, almost nervously. He pulled something out from behind him, giving it to Hu Tao. She took it, questioningly. Inside the magenta tissue paper sat a red bottle of liquid.
"Is this perfume?" Hu Tao inspected the bottle.
"I stopped by at Ying'er's place and I thought it would suit you well," Zhongli responded looking away. "By the way, I wanted to ask you something,"
Hu Tao smiled and nodded. "Go ahead," she said.
"So, if you were still interested…" he paused for a moment. Hu Tao gestured him to go on.
"How about we try this dating thing?"
-3-
yk whats on the menu? m N u
5 years later:
"Hu Tao! Hurry up, they're all waiting!" Xiangling rushed into the room where her friend was getting ready. Hu Tao looked up at the sudden noise, seeing Xiangling in a panicked state.
"Sorry, I had some issues with the dress earlier. I'm almost done though, just have to put on my shoes and perfume!" Hu Tao reassured the latter. Xiangling nodded, telling her that she was ready to walk her out. After Hu Tao finished getting ready, she and the shorter girl began to walk on the aisle. Hu Tao smiled at the audience, spotting Little Lulu and Mrs. Yu. All the faces looking up at her put her into an even better mood, if that was even possible. At the very front, she saw him. He looked dashing in a black and yellow suit. Hu Tao thought to herself that she needed to purchase more of that color scheme for him. They smiled at each other, and in no time, Hu Tao was already next to her future husband.
Little Lulu brought out the rings on a white cushion, and Zhongli and Hu Tao put on the rings for each other. Then, Katheryne from the Adventures Guild read the blessings and they said their vows. Before Hu Tao could even process what had happened, the ceremony was already over. She had to admit, she did feel slightly emotional.
After the first part of the wedding, all the guests were moved to the Golden House, where dinner was served, and they could dance with the other people. Helen and Venti preformed a duet that they had specially prepared for this event. Hu Tao was thankful that Helen had agreed to travel all the way from Mondstadt to perform. Hu Tao was happier than she had ever felt in a long time, and she hoped that Zhongli was too.
-3-
i want to be ur cushion, so when u sleep, u hold me tightly
5 years later:
"Zhongli! Are you coming?" Hu Tao yelled up the stairs of their home. She heard Zhongli grunt in response. A few moments later, they were ready to head out. Upon arriving at the Liuli Pavilion, Licai seated the couple and asked what they would like to order. Zhongli and Hu Tao had a memorable evening together, and once they arrived home, they shared some wine while listening to the radio.
Hu Tao wished that nothing would ever change.
8 years later:
Ningguang had invited Hu Tao and Zhongli to the Jade Chamber along with some others for brunch. It was rare that such normal citizens had this opportunity, so Hu Tao made sure to dress her best. She sighed when looking into the mirror. Her body just wasn't the same anymore. Shaking it off, Hu Tao grabbed her bag and left with Zhongli.
She had a magical time at the Jade Chamber. Ever since it had been rebuilt, Ningguang had become less private and thus sharing her prized possession with others. Hu Tao thanked her once everyone had left, and in return, she patted her back. Ningguang must've known about the struggles that she was going through.
10 years later:
Although they didn't acknowledge it, Hu Tao was getting old. Her face started to sag and her skin began to wrinkle. No matter how many appointments she scheduled with the local esthetician who specialized with anti-aging treatments, she seemed to age. However, when she say Zhongli in the morning, it was almost like she got a dose of fresh youthfulness.
Today was their 23th anniversary. Hu Tao wondered if Zhongli ever got tired of her. There were so many younger girls in Liyue Harbor, and Hu Tao was just an ordinary woman. She had to admit, there were times that she felt self-conscious. Hu Tao never mentioned this to Zhongli, though. He had enough on his mind. A lot of the funeral parlor's activities were passed onto him, so Hu Tao thought that the stress was already huge.
Zhongli had brought her to the tallest place in Liyue. Just for this, he had also installed a white marble balcony and pillars to make the scenery better. They leaned on the edge of the railing together, feeling the wind rush past their faces. Hu Tao looked beside her.
"Zhongli, you look as young as ever," She smiled at him. Even though he didn't respond, Hu Tao could feel Zhongli grip her hand tighter.
-3-
is ur name lg? bc lifes good after meeting u
Zhongli felt as if his entire world had collapsed. This morning, when Hu Tao had gone in for her annual check-up, the doctors had called to inform him that she was diagnosed with a terminal illness. He had rushed to where Hu Tao was staying. As soon as he entered the hospital room, he was greeted by a familiar grin. He wondered if she knew already.
Apparently, she did. And honestly, it was a relief, because Zhongli didn't know how he would tell her. Zhongli didn't know why Hu Tao seemed so cheerful all of the time. She had just been told that she was extremely sick, yet she had the energy to smile and laugh. He admired her strong will.
Every day, he came in to see her. Despite the heavy workload, Zhongli managed to clear up time to keep Hu Tao company. At night, he fell asleep by her side, and the next morning, this repeated. He didn't feel as though this was a burden. No one dared to say, but Hu Tao was running out of time. Zhongli spent every extra minute that he had with her. He brought her homemade food, helped her with her medication, and took her on walks. All the other patients thought that the two were grandson and grandmother. When they asked them this, Hu Tao simply told Zhongli to go with the flow. No one would believe the truth if they tried. So, he could only agree to this.
Even though Hu Tao was getting older day by day, she still possessed the lively aura that she had all those years ago. Her eyes remained bright and her smile was always genuine. No matter what the doctors told her, she always responded in a tone that sounded as if everything was going to turn out fine.
But Zhongli knew better. They weren't going to have a happy ending. So when Hu Tao asked him to not come and see her so much, he just couldn't agree.
-3-
being afraid to fall in love just means u've been hurt before and never want to feel like ur heart has been ripped out again
As per usual, Hu Tao asked to be taken on a walk in her wheelchair. Of course, Zhongli obliged. He helped her into the chair and began to push her along. They waved hello to the nurses on duty, and they waved back. Hu Tao smiled as soon as Zhongli had pushed her to the garden outside. It was spring, her favorite time of the year. The flowers were blooming, and everyone was in a good mood. She looked up at Zhongli, who also seemed to be admiring the scenery.
"Zhongli…" Hu Tao said softly. Zhongli immediately became attentive. She laughed a little. The young man beside her was so full of energy. He was never going to end up like the mortals in this world. Hu Tao wished that she could go back and spend some more years with him.
"You know, I don't intend to go back to my hospital room after this walk," She said. Zhongli panicked. What did she mean by she wasn't going back? That wasn't possible. Hu Tao was too young. She ought to stay with him for a few more years.
Then he came to the sudden realization that although she always was smiling, he had heard the doctors explaining the seriousness of the illness she had. Hu Tao must have been going through a lot of pain without him knowing. How could he skim past the fact that she had pretending to be fine? Zhongli's heart ached, but he knew that he couldn't allow Hu Tao to experience anything further. He felt a small tug on his dress sleeves. Looking down, he saw Hu Tao. Her hair was white, deep wrinkles engraved onto her face. But she still wore her beloved hat neatly on her head. Zhongli noticed that her eyes seemed to be much dimmer than before. He nodded as a sign that he agreed with her plan.
Hu Tao smiled, and with Zhongli by her side, sat back to watch the falling cherry blossoms for the last time.
-3-
sometimes i think of how much u hurt me and wish i could hurt u back. but then i realize that id hurt more if i hurt u like that
It had been more than 50 years since Hu Tao had left Tevyat. Zhongli missed her more than he could put into words. He tried to move on with his live and sell the house that they had once lived in together, but he couldn't manage to sign the papers. Every once in a while, Zhongli would be invited to Ningguang's palace in the sky, but it was never the same without Hu Tao. It was visible to everyone that Zhongli was severely affected by Hu Tao's loss. He always seemed to mope, even on the days that he had the best luck.
The only possibly good thing that had happened was that he befriended Childe. Zhongli was grateful that Childe had the patience to hear him talk about Hu Tao. He brought the archon to local pubs so that he could cry his feelings out. Sometimes, Zhongli felt a thousand times better. Others, he felt almost worse than he did before. Nonetheless, Childe was a good friend and helped him overcome many struggles. Zhongli reminded himself to not get too attached, though. He didn't want to go through the same thing that he did with Hu Tao.
Every year on Hu Tao's birthday, he would go to the place that was most special to them and watch the flowers slowly fall. It was almost comforting, as if she had come to him as the cherry blossoms. But as soon as the day passed, Zhongli felt lonely again. He missed Hu Tao's smiles and the Sugar Frosted Slimes that she made. Zhongli longed for the 364 days that weren't her birthday to pass quickly so that he could bathe in her warmth once more.
what hurts most is the memories i used to hold so close to me. now they r the memories I want to forget forever
The End