A calm wind blew across the beautiful Liyue Harbor. The blue sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds that drifted lazily in the gentle breeze.
Along the town, in the dappled light of the olive trees, are the sweetest hues of blue and green—the hues that gave such life to the beautiful scenery.
"...and then he started complaining on and on, but he never had any of the necessary permits to sell alcohol in the first place. The guy even had the gall to demand compensation for the confiscated merchandise and went as far as to refuse to leave my office until something was done." Keqing let out a sigh. "I had to call up the Millelith just to get him out."
Taking a sip from his white tea, Zhongli savored the flavor before he calmly set the cup down on the table. "Sounds exhausting, but I am not surprised," he said. "Foreign merchants, most often than not, tend to disregards laws as they see fit. If anything, you handled the matter accordingly to what the situation demanded."
"I already know that, but it doesn't make it any less of a hassle to deal with," she said with an annoyed huff. The Yuheng put an elbow against the table, resting her cheek on her hand. "The guy won't take a 'no' for an answer. I had poor Ganyu deal with him on multiple occasions already, but he just keeps coming back."
"I can imagine how bothersome it must be," he said with an understanding tone. "Speaking if which, how is she doing?"
"You mean Ganyu?" Keqing asked, to which he nodded. "As good as you can imagine. She doesn't complain, but one can only tolerate people that stubborn for so long. It still baffles me just how well she handles stuff like this without breaking a sweat." She paused and took a sip from her tea. "Then again, she's been doing this for over a thousand years, so I guess that must come with the practice."
"Years of dedication can do wonders to one's patience, yes, but it can also do the complete opposite if left unchecked," he said. "However, I do believe Ms. Ganyu's performance so far has been nothing short of extraordinary—it's proof of her own resolve. For someone to uphold a contract for such a long time, one must hold true passion for what they do."
"You're starting to sound like an old man," Keqing stated with a flat stare.
The consultant let out a short laugh. "Maybe I do, but I speak nothing but my own mind. Feel free to ignore my ramblings if you wish."
"No, no. What you said makes perfect sense," Keqing responded. "I honestly never thought about it that way, but I guess that makes me look at Ganyu under a different light." Her gloved hand rested under he chin. "Hmm, perhaps I should consult Ningguang about rising Ganyu's salary later today."
"I'm sure she would appreciate that."
Both Keqing and Zhongli have been meeting at Heyu Tea House for quite some time.
It all began a few weeks back, not long after Rex Lapis' departure.
Her workload as the Yuheng became several times more exhausting—having to take responsibility of the numerous tasks that the Geo Archon once did, alongside her job as one of the Liyue Qixing, it simply became too taxing to handle, even for her.
Her already heavy workload doubled, and then tripled. Keqing was prepared for the amount of work that she knew would come her way, but even she couldn't have possibly predicted just how much that would end up being.
There's a limit for how much one person alone can handle, and by no means was she the exception. Her co-workers have known her reputation as a workaholic, but this time it got so bad that even her own health got affected.
It took a lot of effort from Ganyu's part and some serious convincing from Ningguang, but eventually she agreed to take some time off.
That's when the consultant of the funeral parlor came in.
Her first time meeting up with Mr. Zhongli happened by pure chance; they stumbled into each other at Wanmin Restaurant during a break. Neither of them seemed to mind the other's presence when they had to share a table. In fact, they had a much unexpected yet pleasant conversation afterwards.
As some would say: good company always makes a meal a lot more enjoyable experience.
She heard only rumors about the gentleman of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, but never got to actually meet him. Much to her surprise, the rumors about him being very knowledgable about Liyue's culture and traditions was by no means an exaggerated claim in the slightest—it wouldn't be wrong to say that the man was the very embodiment of a living encyclopedia.
He was a well mannered and mindful individual, and a great partner for discussion.
Not many people were open to debate when it came to her ideas regarding Liyue's prosperity and economic stability, but he on the other hand had no qualms with being put on the spot and even brought up well-constructed arguments that can push both participants to the very edge.
If there was any downside to the man, it's that his mindset was too traditional for her liking—thinking in the same tired old terms as Rex Lapis did. Regardless, she still holds a great deal of respect for him and she would find his presence appeasing, especially after long days of hard work.
What began as a random encounter eventually turned into a routinely occurrence.
With each day that went by, their meetings slowly became a part of their daily lives—a time between the day in which they both made room from their busy schedule to meet up for some tea. Of course, what Keqing was looking for wasn't merely a cup of tea or a warm meal, but the company of the man who managed to pique her interest.
Whenever they met up, all they've talked about were simple topics such as economics, their political views, Liyue's infrastructure and concerns—and at times even their own work.
The Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing and the consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. An odd combination indeed, but nonetheless an interesting one.
"I guess Ganyu was right," Keqing mumbled to herself. "There is a limit to how much one can do by themselves,"
"Hm, did you say something?"
The young Yuheng blinked. "Uh? N-no, sorry. I was just thinking out loud. Anyway, I believe I spoke enough about myself for one day," she said, taking another drink from her tea. "What about you? I'm sure you must have your own share of troubles yourself."
If the silent sigh that escaped Zhongli was any indication, she probably hit the nail on the head.
"Master Hu has been rather... adamant about spending the Funeral Parlor's budget in the restoration of some of the properties in Wuwang Hill. I wholeheartedly agree with the investment, but her business plan isn't exactly the most sound."
"Aren't you her advisor when it comes to this sort of thing?"
"I'd be glad to assist her if I could, but as I'm sure you're already aware of, I'm not exactly the most suited person when it comes to managing mora," he admitted. "It pains me to admit it, but I'm afraid that I might only end up increasing the general cost instead."
Keqing almost laughed, a gesture that didn't go unnoticed.
"Do you find my misfortune amusing?" Zhongli didn't look angry, but rather curious.
"Not at all," Keqing responded while suppressing a smile. "But if that's what's bothering you, then maybe I can lend you a hand."
"Your offer is very much appreciated, but I'm afraid that I'd have to decline," Zhongli said with a polite tone. "I wouldn't wish to burden you with extra work. You're already dealing with enough as it is, and adding more to it doesn't seem like a fair trade."
"It's fine," Keqing insisted a little more forcefully. "I deal with budget management all the time, so I wouldn't mind taking a look at it if it helps."
For a moment no one spoke. Neither of them said a word for almost a minute before Zhongli finally broke the silence. "I don't have anything to offer you in return," he said.
Keqing shook her head and replied with a smile, "There's no need for payment. I'm doing this as a friend."
The young Yuheng's words caught Zhongli by surprise. Friend, he word repeated itself inside his mind far more times than he cares to admit. It was a simple term, yet its meaning carried a lot of weight.
He remained silent, considering her proposal with a look of contemplation.
Keqing on the other hand, had a different thought process.
It was kind of him to have her welfare in mind, but she would not have offered her help if she hadn't thought that she could handle it—and she was sure he must have reached the same conclusion as her, as soon afterwards he responded with a short nod.
"Very well then, I will accept your offer," Zhongli answered. "I will inform master Hu later in the day about our agreement. I'm sure she will appreciate your assistance." The corner of his mouth turned upwards. "As I too am grateful for it, Lady Keqing."
"Good," Keqing said with a satisfied smile, taking one last drink from her tea, savoring its sweet and fragrant flavor.
Upon parting ways, Zhongli went back to his office in Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to finish his duties for the day. Unsurprisingly, his arrival did not go unnoticed by a certain director who eagerly awaited for his return.
"Master Hu," he greeted the young girl.
"Aiya! There you are, Zhongli. I've been waiting for you all day! Hee-hee…" The young director balanced herself on her tiptoes back-and-forth with a cheerful smile.
"It's been only two hours since I left," Zhongli stated. "You should already know my schedule by now. You signed it yourself, after all."
Hu Tao giggled. "I already know that, you silly. It's just that each time you seem to come back even more late the more you go out." She gave him a weird look. "That's rather suspicious of you if you ask me."
He couldn't help but return her look with one of bewilderment. He did not understand where this was coming from. Last he checked, he's been taking his breaks the exact amount of time every week. Not a minute more, not a minute less. That's what their contract stipulated.
Rather than arguing with her, he opted to let it pass, thinking of it as one of Hu Tao's attempts of jest. He merely offered a nod in response. "I understand. I'll be careful not to let it happen again."
He knew that he choose the correct answer when he saw her smile widen.
"Oh, geez, don't worry about it. I'm just messing with you," she said, proving his assessment to be the correct one. "By the way, what exactly do you do out this late anyway? I can't imagine you doing anything remotely fun, no matter how much I beat myself to try."
"Not much, I'm afraid," he responded. "I'm merely seeing a friend over some tea."
"Really? Do my ears deceive me or did I heard you say that you have a friend?" He decided not to take offense at her look of disbelief. "Well, what do you know. Color me impressed, Zhongli!"
"Does the fact that I have a friend surprises you that much?"
"Of course it does!" The young director spoke out loud. "I mean, who else besides me would want to hang out with you considering how boring you always are!" She then proceeded to mumble under her breath. "That Fatui guy doesn't count though, he's kinda weird…"
He found such claims rather amusing. He folded his arms and responded with a neutral tone, "Well, I'm sure Lady Keqing would like to differ about such claims."
Hu Tao's body froze in place.
"…Wh-what?"
D-did I heard that right?
"Uh…" The young director lost her voice for a moment. "C-care to repeat that? I don't think I heard that right…" Her smile was starting to crack. "D-did you say Keqing as in…"
"As in the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, yes," he finished for her with a solid nod.
The look of utter shock that was present in Hu Tao's face was one that Zhongli never got the chance to see until now. He would have found the expression quite humorous hadn't he felt more concerned about her well-being.
"…Master Hu?"
Hu Tao blinked, as if she was pulled back to reality. "…eh-what?"
Zhongli's eyes softened in concern. "Are you feeling alright?
"Y-yeah, I'm fine!" Her smile was back again, but something seemed off. "It's just that… uh, what did you two talked about?"
Now that was a rather direct question.
The consultant raised a brow. It was clear that she wasn't fine, but then again, when it comes to Hu Tao, her behavior was always odd. Maybe this was just another one of her antics. "She offered her help in the project for the restoration of Wuwang Hill. She will help us out with the cost management and the necessary permits to move the project forward."
Hu Tao's eyes went wide. "B-but that project was suppose to be just between the two of us…! I… I didn't know… you–"
"Master Hu?" He spoke again in concern and there was a small pause.
"I, uh… I have to go." Without even waiting for a reply, she was quick to walk out of the room. "S-see you tomorrow!"
And just like that she was gone.
He was perplexed by the director's rather abrupt exit. It wasn't hard to tell that something was bothering the young girl, but whatever the reason was, he did not know. While he was proud of his own capabilities when it comes to discerning people's intentions, Hu Tao has always been a special case.
Knowing what that girl was thinking was simply beyond his own understanding.
With a weak sigh, he opted to let the matter rest at least until tomorrow. He was sure that whatever was bothering her could wait for a couple of hours. After all, as rare as it was to see Hu Tao became upset, it was hardly the first time it ever happened.
She'd probably be her usual self by tomorrow, Zhongli thought.
Too bad he wasn't aware of just how wrong he truly was.
It was almost afternoon by the time Keqing returned to Yujing Terrace.
One thing that she sincerely appreciated about these short breaks that she started taking was how her efficiency seemed to increase whenever she resumed her work. It was honestly baffling just how a little bit of rest could help her feel so refreshed.
"I really should have taken Ningguang's advise much sooner."
Reviewing some paperwork regarding a new shipment that just arrived from Snezhnaya, she took note of the ship's records and permits.
"Nothing wrong so far," Keqing mumbled.
Normally she wouldn't be the one doing this sort of thing, but because this could be related to some shady Fatui business, she choose to handle the matter directly and conduct a throughout inspection of the vessel and goods.
There was a small knock on the door. "Lady Keqing, I've brought the report from the Millelith that you requested," she heard a voice from the other side.
"You may come in."
A moment later Ganyu stepped inside, carrying a small stack of papers under her arms with a gentle expression. "Good evening, lady Keqing. I see that you're already back," she greeted her warmly.
"I wanted to finish a couple of things before calling it a day," the young Yuheng replied without looking away from what she was doing. "You can leave it there. I'll check it out in a moment."
"Of course," Ganyu said, putting the stack of papers on top of the desk. "I must say, I'm glad to see that you're finding some time away from the office, and I'm sure that lady Ningguang feels the same way."
Her words made Keqing stop what she was doing. "What do you mean?" She inquired with a raised brow.
"Well, seeing you work so much made us all worried about your health, so to see you in such high spirits after so long puts my heart at ease," she said with a warm smile. "Though I cannot help but think that there's more to it." An idea came to mind. "Oh! Could it perhaps be that you met someone, lady Keqing?"
"Teasing doesn't suit you, Ganyu," Keqing stated with a flat look. "You've been spending way too much time with that woman. Those bad habits of hers are starting to rub on you."
Ningguang always enjoyed embarrassing her whenever she has a chance. Keqing of course wasn't childish enough as to fall under such underhanded tactics, but it was still distracting. That's one of the reasons why she made sure that their offices are as far apart from each other as possible .
Ganyu let out a small laugh. "Forgive me. I couldn't help myself." The Adeptus' secretary then asked with a teasing tone, "though I don't think that I'm wrong with my assumption, am I?"
"I'm…" she took her gaze away. "…I'm seeing a friend."
She leaned forward. "Is he a man?"
Keqing cheeks reddened. "…Y-yes."
Ganyu's lips turned into a bright smile. "How wonderful. I am truly happy for you, Lady Keqing."
Pushing her embarrassment away, she shook her head with a dismissive wave. "It's nothing of that sorts. At least I don't think he sees it that way," she said, somewhat disappointed. "He's educated, well mannered and a good listener. It's really hard to get bored whenever he strikes a conversation, even though he could learn how to take a hint." An annoyed huff escaped her lips, resting her cheek against her small hand. "Honestly, he's lucky that he's cute."
"I see." Ganyu found herself hesitant. "Hmm, may I ask who this gentleman is? Is it someone that I know?"
Keqing shook her head and responded, "You probably heard about him. He's the consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Mr. Zhongli."
Ganyu's warm smile seemingly vanished in an instant upon hearing the name of the man who now had Keqing's attention. It was a name that she heard many times before.
One she was familiar with.
"I see," she lowered her head. "I'll… I'll be taking my leave, Lady Keqing."
The young Yuheng gave her assistant an odd look at the sudden change of tone. Ganyu was one of the very few people who she actually considered a close friend. She was reliable and was always willing to listen to ones problems despite always putting her all at work.
Then again, she's probably just tired, Keqing thought. I shouldn't think too much about it.
"Sure, have a good night," she said, resuming her work.
With a respectful bow, Ganyu gathered the documents in her hand before promptly leaving the office.
Once outside however, she nearly lost all her strength as she leaned back against the door's frame. Her hand went to her mouth, trying to suppress the rushing wave of emotions.
Only one question echoed across her mind.
"…Wh-why?" Her lips trembled while she spoke. "Out of all people, why did it have to be him?"