Keqing shot up from her seat on the sofa in Zhongli's office. "You don't like seafood?"

Zhongli looked up at her from his desk. "Does that come as a surprise to you?"

"Of course it does!" Keqing stepped around the table and walked up to Zhongli's desk. She put the flats of her palms on the desk, leaning forward. "The day we met, you were shopping for fish."

"You remember that?" Zhongli had almost forgotten; that day had been months ago. It was a bit embarrassing to have it pointed out now.

"How could I not?"

Even if it was embarrassing to get caught, Zhongli was flattered that Keqing had remembered such a small detail about him. "It is not the taste or smell that I dislike; it's the appearance. That day, the idea of fish hadn't seemed unappetizing, so I said I wanted to purchase one. However, it would not be incorrect to say I regretted that decision the moment I laid my eyes on the stall."

Keqing slowly stood upright again, removing her hands from the table and letting them fall to their sides. "I see. You could've told me. I wouldn't have minded going somewhere else."

Zhongli shook his head. "I regretted it then, but I cannot say that I still regret that decision now."

"Why is that?"

"In the end, that decision led me to spending much more time with you."

Keqing's eyes widened, but then her expression softened into a smile. "Then I'm happy you didn't say anything." She laughed a little. "You're a valiant soul, braving the seafood stalls just for me."

Zhongli chuckled. "Indeed."

"You said that you don't mind the taste of seafood? It's odd that the only thing that puts you off is the appearance."

"It reminds me of a disturbing memory from long ago."

Keqing raised an eyebrow. "I see." When Zhongli didn't elaborate, Keqing continued, "So, does that mean that you'll eat it if it doesn't look like fish?"

Zhongli wasn't sure he liked where this was going. With how much Keqing enjoyed seafood, she was probably going to try to get him to like it, too. "In theory, yes. Though I don't enjoy the prepwork necessary to get to that point."

"Oh, then the answer is rather obvious."

"Is it?"

"You don't need to do the prepwork if I cook it instead."

The same was true of eating at a restaurant, but Zhongli didn't think it was the time to tell Keqing that. It was obvious that she was inviting him somewhere, and he didn't want to give the impression that he didn't want to go. "What exactly are you proposing?"

"Stay here after work tomorrow, until I get the chance to swing by. I'll take you to my house and feed you some of the most well-disguised seafood you've ever seen."

The fact that Keqing was inviting Zhongli into her home made him feel pleasantly warm. It was an intimate gesture, compared to their normal meetings in public. "While I am not certain that I'll find the fish enjoyable, that sounds like a rather pleasant evening."

"That settles it, then. And mark my words - you will like it."

After work the next day, Zhongli waited until Keqing arrived, and they walked side-by-side through the streets to get to Keqing's home.

On the way, Keqing asked, "What do you think about the adepti?"

"Is this another test of my knowledge?"

"Sure, you could say that. But I'm more interested in hearing your thoughts."

Ah, so Keqing was not asking for a lecture about the history of the adepti. She was asking for Zhongli's opinion. And, well, considering the group known as "adepti" included Zhongli himself, he laughed.

Keqing quirked an eyebrow. "Was what I said really that funny?"

"Ah, no," Zhongli said. "It's just that I may be rather biased, when it comes to this topic."

Keqing's gaze turned sharp. "Biased?"

She was starting to catch on, and much too quickly than Zhongli hoped. "Yes," Zhongli answered, brushing over the true nature of the question. "However, I believe I have already answered this question for you in the past."

Keqing stared at Zhongli for a long moment. For that moment, Zhongli thought that she might inquire further about why he might be biased about the adepti, but then she dropped the stare and looked back out onto the road. "Yes, but I don't mean their place in society. Who do you think they are as people? They must be arrogant, giving commands to the people of Liyue and then secluding themselves to Jueyun Karst."

Zhongli had a suspicion that Keqing didn't completely mean what she was saying. She was presenting such a strong view of the adepti to get Zhongli to contradict her in some way. It was a way to draw out his thoughts, but there was no need; Zhongli would have told her his opinion anyways.

He joked, "You are asking me for my opinions on your coworkers, now?"

Keqing's eyes went wide. "What do you... Of course not! Ganyu isn't the only adeptus in Liyue." She crossed her arms and shot him what was probably supposed to be an accusing glare, but she was too flustered for it to be threatening. He laughed again.

Then, he answered seriously. "I am of the opinion that the adepti are people just like you and I, only with long lifespans and great powers. Just like people, they are from all walks of life. A kind old woman with a tendency for clutter. A young man who suffers from chronic pain. A master engineer who prefers her own company to the company of others. While they may seem arrogant to you as a group, you must not forget that they are their own individuals, as well."

"Hmm..." Keqing trailed off, thinking. "You speak as if you know them personally. But, when you put it like that, I find it hard to disagree."

"However, I take it that your mind hasn't been changed?"

"Exactly. Even if they're just people, they need to figure out their relationship with Liyue instead of this mystical exile they've put themselves into, while still expecting to be treated as authority."

"A fair opinion," Zhongli said. He thought that the adepti were justified in their seclusion, considering that the other choice was to live with their identities out in the open. But he'd already said his piece.

The conversation waned. After they turned a corner, Keqing said, "I probably should've warned you before, but my family lives in a compound, me included. We might run into some of my family members when we get there."

"Is that a problem?" Zhongli was curious what Keqing's family was like.

"Not in itself, but some of them tend to be a bit... nosy. Be prepared to answer a multitude of questions about your life, your job, and what exactly you ate for dinner two days ago."

Zhongli didn't see the problem with that. He enjoyed it when Keqing asked him questions, anyways.

Before he could voice his thoughts, Keqing continued, "Though, I'm not sure why I'm warning you. You enjoy stuff like that."

Zhongli smiled. "You know me too well."

Keqing shook her head in mock-disapproval. "It's something I'll never understand."

Soon, they arrived at the compound, an area surrounded by short, white walls. Keqing opened the main gate to reveal a grassy courtyard area, with paths leading to three two-story buildings. Each building bounded one side of the courtyard. Keqing said, "Follow me." She led him to the building straight across the courtyard.

The building had an outdoor stone hallway. While they walked through it, Zhongli said, "This place is rather large."

Keqing, who was walking slightly in front of him, looked at him over her shoulder. She looked slightly embarrassed. "Perks of being born into a noble family."

As they passed a cross-section between their hallway and one that ran perpendicular, a man's voice called, "Keqing!"

"Grandpa." Keqing stopped, and Zhongli stopped next to her. Keqing's grandfather, an elderly man with white hair and crimson eyes that were striking in contrast, walked towards them from the other hallway.

He stopped in front of Keqing and Zhongli. He said, "Welcome back. How was your day?"

"It was the same as usual. How was yours?"

Keqing's grandfather nodded. "Good, good. My day was wonderful, thank you for asking." Then, he turned his attention towards Zhongli. He scanned his eyes briefly up and down, assessing him. Then, he smiled, like he understood something. "Ah, is this the man you've been seeing?"

If Zhongli had less self-control, he would have choked.

However, Keqing, for her part, let her jaw fall open. After a moment, she recovered and said, "What? No, I'm not seeing anyone. Where did you ever get that idea?"

Keqing's grandfather momentarily frowned. "Did I get it wrong?" Then, his expression cleared. "I noticed that you've been getting home later on some evenings. You always look happier than usual on those evenings; there's a certain lightness to your step that gives it away. Were you not with this man on those days?"

Zhongli kept silent. While it pleased him to hear that he was able to lift Keqing's mood, he knew that this wasn't the proper time to voice that notion.

"Well, I have been getting home late because I was with Zhongli, yes." When Keqing's grandfather grinned, Keqing quickly added, "But we weren't doing whatever you think we're doing."

Keqing's grandfather nodded. "Yes, I'm sure." Then, addressing Zhongli, he said, "Your name is Zhongli, then? It's nice to meet you. My name is Kang." He offered his hand to shake.

Zhongli decided not to address the previous conversation. While, internally, he was stuck on the idea that he was mistaken for Keqing's lover yet again, he didn't let it show outwardly. He took Kang's hand and shook it. "You are correct in assuming that my name is Zhongli. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Kang smiled as he let go of Zhongli's hand. "Of course, of course! Say, what is it that you do for work? I'm retired now, but I like to hear about what younger people are up to."

Zhongli was still perplexed by the quick turn the conversation had taken, but he said, "I am the consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."

Kang kept bombarding Zhongli with several more questions, and Zhongli answered each of them in turn. By the end of the conversation, Kang learned where Zhongli lived, where he got his clothes tailored, and even at what time he usually ate lunch, among other things. Zhongli was terribly confused by the entire ordeal, but he answered Kang's questions thoroughly and at length.

At one point when Kang looked away, down the hall behind him, Zhongli noticed Keqing staring at him from the corner of his eye. He turned his head to the side to make eye contact with her, and he realized from the fact that she was standing on her toes that she had been purposely trying to get his attention.

Keqing's eyes shot between Zhongli and Kang, and her lips were twisted in slight displeasure. Zhongli wasn't sure why; he and Kang were just having a pleasant conversation. Zhongli did his best to shoot Keqing a perplexed look in return, to communicate that he didn't understand what she was trying to tell him.

Keqing heaved her shoulders in an exaggerated, silent sigh. She jerked her head towards the hallway they had been walking down earlier and gave him a pointed look.

Oh, she wanted to leave.

Before Zhongli could try to silently communicate back again, Kang turned back to face Zhongli. Then, he said, "It was a pleasure to talk, but I'm sure I've kept you long enough. Why don't you two run off to do whatever it was you came for?" Kang laughed, but there was a certain nefariousness to it that made Zhongli think that perhaps cackled might be a more apt descriptor.

"Thank you, grandpa," Keqing said. "We'll be going now." She put her hand in the crook of Zhongli's arm and quite literally dragged him away and down the hall. Zhongli let himself be pulled without comment, but he wouldn't have minded talking with Kang for a bit longer.

Keqing dragged Zhongli to one of the doors in the hallway. She opened it, revealing a kitchen, with a large dining area connected to it by an open doorway. When they were both inside, she let go of Zhongli's arm and promptly shut the door.

Zhongli said, "Your grandfather is certainly a curious one."

"He's definitely nosy." Keqing walked into the kitchen and started washing her hands in the water basin.

Zhongli, awkwardly standing in the middle of the room, wasn't sure what to do with himself. He elected to walk over close to Keqing and lean his lower back against the kitchen counter, arms crossed.

Keqing continued, "I'd apologize that you had to deal with that, but you didn't seem bothered at all. I can't tell whether you like talking about yourself," Zhongli nodded, that was true, "or if you just have an affinity for old people."

Zhongli paused. He stared at the floor and murmured, "An affinity for old people..." Perhaps it was true.

Keqing leaned into his line of vision, slightly smiling. "Hey, I was joking, you know. I don't mind at all."

Zhongli blinked. "Ah, thank you."

"Now," Keqing dried her hands on a towel, "Do you mind golden shrimp balls? You've seen them before; are they too fishy-looking?"

Zhongli thought back to one of the several times he had seen Keqing order the dish at restaurants. Since the shrimp would be mostly covered in batter, he didn't mind the sight of them. If he did mind it, then he would have lost his appetite every time Keqing ordered it. "I don't mind them at all."

"Shrimp it is, then." Keqing walked the short distance to the nearby wooden door. She opened it to reveal a pantry. She got out flour, potatoes, and oil and set them on the counter. Then, she closed the pantry and removed the stone lid from the nearby ice box on the ground. She looked up at Zhongli, who was still leaning on the counter. "Are you sure you still want to look? I'm going to get the shrimp."

"I am perfectly fine," Zhongli said.

"Suit yourself."

Keqing got out a bag of shrimp and placed it on the counter. Then, she got out a large plate from a low cupboard. She opened the bag of shrimp and let the shrimp spill onto the plate.

The deluge of translucent, curled bodies was sickening. The carapaces of the shrimp reminded Zhongli of a particular sea monster's armor. It was the armor that protected the monster's soft, slimy body, leaving its multitudes of terrible, wiggling tentacles to move freely, to latch onto his arm and spew out their repulsive ink-

Zhongli promptly turned around and went into the dining area.

He heard Keqing's laugh through the open door. It wasn't one of her usual, short laughs; it was a full, hearty laugh - a melodic sound coming from deep within her chest. Zhongli almost went back into the kitchen just so he could hear it better.

Through her laughs, Keqing said, "I warned you!"

Zhongli smiled, even though Keqing couldn't see it. However, his mirth probably still showed in his voice. "Perhaps I should take your advice more seriously from now on."

"You should!"

Zhongli pulled out one of the chairs at the circular dining table and sat down. They passed the time while Keqing cooked by talking through the open doorway, chatting and occasionally exchanging banter back and forth. A few times, Zhongli wished to see Keqing's face, but the prospect of seeing the raw shrimp again kept him firmly planted in his chair.

Eventually, the sound of hot oil quieted from the kitchen. A few minutes later, Keqing walked into the dining room with a plate of food. She set it on the table in front of Zhongli, and then she took a seat in the chair next to his. She said, "Try it. It's good."

Zhongli replied, "You have not even taken a bite yet."

"I want to see what you think of it, first. I've tasted my own cooking before, you know." Keqing stared at him expectantly.

Zhongli cautiously looked down at the plate. The shrimp balls were arranged in a circle. He had to admit that they looked rather appetizing, with golden potato slices and crispy batter covering the most aquatic-looking parts of them. The only thing that put him off was the fact that their tails were still bare, sticking out of the batter.

He asked, "Why did you leave the tails attached?" To his knowledge, shrimp could be fried without the tails. He had seen Keqing eat them at restaurants without the tails, before.

"It's easier that way. Besides, they act as handles so you can pick them up easier."

The plate suddenly looked much more intimidating than before. The shrimp balls were no longer a delicious treat, but a challenge to be conquered - a battle to be won. Their tails stuck out like swords, poised and ready to strike. "You want me... to touch the tails?"

Keqing looked down at the dish, and then back up to Zhongli. She must have seen something in his face, because she sighed. "Do you want me to feed them to you?"

Zhongli's gaze shot to Keqing. He knew that she had proposed it as an off-handed joke, but he couldn't deny the fact that the concept sounded pleasant. "That does sound rather nice."

Keqing stared at him in disbelief. Then, she cracked a smile, shaking her head. "You're insufferable sometimes, you know that?"

Zhongli smiled back. "I am aware."

"Now, don't think that this is going to become a regular occurrence." Keqing reached for a shrimp and picked it up by the tail. Zhongli watched the motion in mild disbelief; he hadn't thought that she would actually feed him. But he didn't dare say anything about it.

Keqing raised the shrimp until it was at Zhongli's lips. She said, "Eat it."

There was no going back, now. Zhongli took a small bite of the shrimp. As he chewed it, he looked at Keqing. There was a light dusting of pink on her cheeks.

Keqing said, "So? How is it?"

The outside of the shrimp was satisfyingly crunchy, and the taste of the potato crisps enhanced the flavor of the sweet shrimp inside in perfect harmony. Zhongli truly did appreciate the dishes of Liyue. After he swallowed, he said, "It is... delectable."

Keqing grinned. "You like it?"

"I do."

"I knew you would! Now, eat the other half of this one. I want some, too." Keqing waggled the shrimp in his face.

Zhongli took another bite to finish the shrimp. Keqing put the tail onto the plate and then grabbed a shrimp for herself and ate it in one bite. Zhongli said, "Thank you."

There was an awkward moment as Keqing finished chewing. When she was finally able to speak, she said, "You're welcome. You ought to get me some good food next time."

"I can even cook it for you."

"Oh yeah? Are you any good at it?"

"I have some practice, yes." Several thousand years of practice, in fact.

"Really?" Keqing reached for another shrimp. "You should show me. I only know how to cook my favorite things. It's honestly a small miracle that I managed to figure out the fryer." Zhongli expected Keqing to eat the shrimp herself, but she instead brought it up towards Zhongli.

"You are truly humble, Yuheng." Zhongli said the words in his normal tone, but the tease was obvious.

Keqing roughly shoved the shrimp to his lips. "You talk big for a funeral consultant. Maybe this shrimp will silence you."

Instead of answering, Zhongli took a bite of the shrimp that was at his lips. As he chewed it, Keqing slowly lowered her hand from his face.

There was a drawn-out silence as Zhongli slowly chewed his shrimp. Then, he swallowed and stared wordlessly at Keqing. If she wanted the shrimp to silence him, then silence was what she would get.

Keqing stared back. However, it was obvious that she was trying much too hard to keep her expression neutral. Her eyes slightly crinkled with mirth and a smile slowly crept onto her face, and then she finally burst into laughter, a sound that was even more beautiful up close than when she was in the other room.

Zhongli laughed with her, amused at the bizarreness of the entire situation. He wasn't sure how their evening had come to this, but he knew that it was the most pleasant evening he had experienced in a long time.

Whew, it took a lot longer for me to post than I thought. School has been hectic (and still is!) so I'm lowkey proud of still being able to get this chapter out lol.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! I had a lot of fun writing the fluff :D

(Also, I swear this is the last time I milk the fish joke, lol.)

Replies to guest reviews:

hahadhc: Omg I'm your favorite writer? What an honor aaaaaa! More Jealuc should be coming, assuming I get some stuff done in time for Jealuc week. And LOL that pun on my username. If I don't update for a while it's probably because I'm swamped with schoolwork yet again. I'm glad you like my fics!