An Encounter #3
Note: I don't know what to say next … Enjoy the story all :)
3 day later … in the evening
Yujin Terrance
Keqing's office …
Keqing returned to her office with her face and hair got messed up like a cat's just gotten out of the huge swamp. Normally Keqing never get tired of working even can working overnight if needed and still fine but after she faced that golden hair boy only 2 times … she's getting distracted at work even doing a simple task. Basically, she's becoming obsessed about him …
"That blonde hair … stop ruining my life … ughhh... " She groaned to herself.
Suddenly there's a knock on the door …
"Can I come in?" A girly voice came from the outside.
"Yes, please …" Keqing said tiredly
A young woman with purple eyes and long blue hair came in …
"What do you need … Ganyu ?" Keqing asked her
"Miss Keqing … There is a few documents and I need you to check it" Ganyu then placed a stack of paper on her table.
"Just leave it here … you can go out now … I don't have the mood to do today..." Keqing weakly waved.
"Are you ok, miss? You look not so well recently…"
"Just leave me alone! That damm boy has already annoyed me enough and now this!" She screamed
Ganyu startle for a few second then started to go out "… if you say so … you don't need to shout out like that…"
"Sorry … I didn't mean to"
Ganyu didn't say anything but before she goes out, she saw the "Wanted" poster with the face of the golden hair boy pinned on the wall with the stiletto hit right on the face and of course there's a few holes on it … it's the only poster with his face but the name of that boy is still missed …
"What a handsome boy … who is that?" Ganyu asked Keqing, looked at the picture and blushed.
"That … that the person who's currently ruining my life right now …" Keqing replied to her, moaned…
"Oh, so that's the person you are talking about … Did he do something bad to you?"
"That's a long story … you won't understand …"
"Oh … I see … I wish I could meet him one day" Ganyu said, grining.
"You will regret it…"
"Hehe … will see about that … by the way can I have that poster?"
"Whatever …"
Keqing doesn't need it anymore as his presence appears in her head most of the time anyways …
Ganyu then took out the poster, she's looking and holding it in her chest … humming happily…
Meanwhile … At Wangshu Inn
Aether is in the Kitchen, looking at the stove with very high temperate … above it is the pot filled with hot water. He's trying to cook something but still hesitate for some reason...
"So … how much did you spent … Paimon?". He's holding a thing that's looks like a fishing rod and with the fairy got tied up at the end. He slowly dragging her to the pot that's boiling violently.
"I'm Sorrrrry … I was so hungry …. I didn't mean to drop you there …" Paimon freaked out, begging for his mercy …
"I was almost met my end you know! And you were just still looking for food !?" He then keeps lowering the cord … that fairy can feel the hot water is only a few millimeters away.
"Stop please! … I'm sorry …. I will not behave like that again … I swear …." She cried all over the room now …
Aether then dragged the rod away from the pot and untied Paimon but before he does that, he's whispering to her ear … slowly:
- One more time like this and I will toss you to Xiangling and turn you into food…
Paimon was so scared and quivering for a while …
Aether then tried to calm her down "Alright, alright we will talk about this another time … Right now, we need to meet the adepti"
"Yeah, but we will need to offer some foods so we can meet them…"
"Too bad we are going to need the recipes for it and we can't have it in here" Aether said, disapointed …
"I know where we can get it … Luckly I when I was eating in that restaurant, I saw they made these kind foods too … maybe we can ask them for recipes" That fairy said loudly.
"Oh really … that's good then … perhaps you're not so useless after all" Aether chucked
"Hmhp! Never underestimate the fairy"
But then they realized something … something really bad…
Often when you hate something, you will most likely be going to get it again no matter what … and of course he might see that purple hair girl in the city for the 3rd time again…
Aether then sweated "Seem like we are going back to the city again … oh the archon … why you have to hate me this much"
Somewhere in Mondstadt …, A certain green bard somehow blurted: "Eh-he?" ~
"Why are you afraid of her? You're way stronger" Paimon questioned him
"I don't know why … I just don't want to fight her … every time I saw her face I just -" Aether confused about himself, a slight red can be seen on his face
"You are getting obsessed about her … aren't you?" Paimon said with the teasing voice
"Please don't say that … let focus on our topic"
"If we can't go in the morning then we can go by night, that way we can't see her nor herself too" That fairy suggested
"Hmm … that not bad … we will go by tomorrow night then, for now let's have some rest!" Aether nodded.
Keqing's office.
Another sound of knocking at her door but no respond this time.
Ningguang came in and saw Keqing had already asleep in the desk mumbling something...
"That golden hair boy … I will catch you … stop haunting me …. oww…."
Poor Keqing … but to be real it is rare to see her like this beside her alcoholic working attitude
Ningguang put a small note at her table then left with a smile … "This is going to be interesting…"
The next day … evening time … 8 P.M
Ather and Paimon teleported to the city outskirt, they don't dare to teleport straight in to the city like the last time … it was one hell of the experience for them.
Paimon start scouting around the city's gate to see is there any threat or not, after looking for a while and see nothing dangerous, she flies back to Aether.
"All clear! we're good to go now!" Paimon said.
"Ok Paimon, going dark ~" Aether signal Paimon
"What is that mean?" She confused.
"Let's just go…" Aether then grabbed her and both of them went into the city.
The city at night was so beautiful with numerous of lantern light up the street like the stars in the sky, there is a lot of activity in here although is quite late now
"Wow even in the evening, the city is still very impressive" Aether surprised … it's was different when he was in Mondstadt as the city was quiet at night and peaceful but in here, the people are very crowded yet still enjoyable and full of fun.
The two enjoy the stroll around the city … the market, the port, the harbor, … everything is so lively and joyful … they wish their everyday can be like this.
"The air in here is awesome! I think I should go here more often" Aether exclaimed but then he remembers the awful meeting with that girl … "If that girl is not chasing me all the time"
"Forget it Aether! It's quite late now, there's no way she can be here…" Paimon tried to cheer him up. "Let's enjoy the night!"
"Ok then… let's enjoy our way to that restaurant" The two enjoy all the way there.
But they didn't notice there someone else is heading to their way as well…
A young girl is currently walking around to the restaurant with her ticket in her hand, the pair of amethyst eyes is looking around to locate it. Her usually working clothes is replaced with more casual one yet her beauty still can't be ignored, her normal cat's hair odango is now gone but instead a long slender purple hair… Only a few meters away and she will meet those two people but still, they haven't recognized each other yet.
"What is this woman thinking this time? Why did she give me this?" That girl wondered…
In the morning … Ningguang's office …
"So… you've seen the ticket… there's a discount in the restaurant… you should go there and enjoy … Keqing" Ningguang said to the purple hair girl.
"This better not be one of your schemes" That girl growled.
"Of course, not… I saw you working too much so I guess this is a good time for you to take a break … I mean you're looking not so good recently"
Keqing then looking back at herself… she wasn't in a good shape in the last 3 day, she's now look so inactively, gloomy and bored … she really needs something to make herself back to normal and of course … food is always the best solution.
"Agh… alright…alright… you won this time" Keqing sighed
"It is better if you go there with normal casual clothes … don't wear your usual working one if I were you" Ningguang chucked.
Keqing slowly nodded then left.
Back to present
"I'm almost there now I think" Keqing then saw the restaurant, she checks back the name and it said "Wanmin Restaurant"
But before she went into the restaurant, Keqing saw these two familiar fingure is heading to her now. Her bad mood started to go back…
"Why are they her again? … Stop following me … so tired already … I just want to have one normal day …" She groaned again. She really wants to kill or catch him right now but the last two times didn't go well. Keqing then decided to follow them instead ... She trying to collect all of her spirit left in her: "Alright, alright … calm down Keqing … you can do it"
She jumped to the second floor of the opposite building then observing those two. Aether although didn't see anything but with his quick instinct, he heard something.
"Did you hear something Paimon? I think someone is stalking us …" Aether then looking around but see nothing suspicious.
"How did he know I'm looking at them…I need to do something" Keqing try to stay hidden then she came an idea.
A few second later Aether heard some broken noise "NyAzzz~~nYaN~~Nya~~~…."
"Ok now what was that awful sound …" Aether confused, he's looking around again but still see nothing.
"Probably some hungry cat… It's their time anyways" Paimon said.
"That was the weirdest cat's sound ever …"
Both of them continued to move. After they've gone far enough, Keqing jumped back down
"*sigh* I'm not going to make that sound again …" after that her stomach started to growled … "Now this too? … Ugh…" Keqing then remembered she hasn't eaten anything yet …
After 20 minutes, they've arrived the restaurant.
Aether and Paimon looked the name, it said "Wannin Restaurant", before he could remember there is someone he knows also working in here too. A girl suddenly appears right in front of them.
"Hey, Aether! Long time no sees!"
"Oh Xiangling! Nice to see you again" Aether greeted her "Are you working in here?"
"Yeah, I'm working in here … Thanks for your help I can now making even more delicious food!"
"That's good to hear! We are here for some help anyways" Aether asked her
"Oh, so what do you need?"
Aether then listed the recipes he needs for his quest. With her skilled cooking, she gives all he needs in just a few minutes.
"Thanks, Xiangling … you're a big help" Paimon said
"No problem! And by the way we are currently having some specialties, would you like to try it? Of course, I will give you free treat too"
"But that's too much to ask for me" Aether tried to refuse but Paimon and Xiangling are keep convincing him.
"Oh, come on Aether, consider it as my thanks" Xiangling said
"Yeah, and as my apologize too" Paimon joined.
"But you didn't do anything, Paimon … but still, I will accept the offer, you guys will still be going to do it even if I say no anyway" Aether then nodded
After 15 minutes of cooking, the dish is ready and of course it's …
Golden shrimp ball Speical's Edition…
Someone is drooling bad and it's not Aether or Paimon…
The dish really has a good looking even if you don't like it, the smell of the well-cooked dish really attractive, enough to make people go crazy about it.
"Wow, thanks for the food!" Both of them said in the same time then they started to eat.
"Don't worry I still have some more to you guys so enjoy" Xiangling said and looking at the satisfied customer … happily.
Well not all of them …
Keqing sit in the table in corner of the room still watching what is Aether doing, her hungry is like torturing herself right now but she still tries to hold it. To make it worse she's watching him eating her favorite kind of food… Keqing really want to order some of it but if she called them, all of the people will know she is in here because they know that's her favorite food and when she calls it … she orders a lot.
30 minutes … 40 minutes … 1 hour passed … Aether and Paimon are still sitting there, enjoy their Golden shrimp ball … meanwhile Keqing is almost collapse right now…
"… Not again … just because I have diffirent look on the Archon … so they hate me this much, right? … so hungry right now … uhhhh …" Her face getting paled … She's like going to cry anytime...
Keqing then heard the walking sound is approaching her. She looked up and saw the golden hair boy is looking at her. She's fearing about her disguise has been exposed and he comes here to finish her off. More importantly, she is really weak right now and can't do anything.
"I guess this is my end now …" Keqing closed her eyes as that boy put something on the table.
Newly cooked Golden shrimp ball dish are put to her table. "I saw you almost fall off the table and your face looked so paled so I guess you're hungry. I think you don't have money to buy so you can have some from us, Miss… I've already order some more but don't worry you don't have to pay for it" The boy said
"Uhhh… Thanks …" Keqing then started to eat like no tomorrow. She is focusing on eating too much and have forgotten her main task is and what she did earlier … She also didn't notice that Aether and Paimon had already left the restaurant …
Wangshu Inn, later …
Aether and Paimon has returned after their trip to the city with the recipes needed for the next mission...Their stomachs have never felt so full since they enter Liyue.
"Ahh this is the best trip ever since I set my foot on Liyue … no running or seeing that girl today… yay!" Aether said with happy noise.
"Yeah, we can finally have a normal day, but somehow the girl you gave the food to her at that time seem similar to the girl we usually fight" Paimon said
Aether shook his head: "There's no way that's her, that girl I saw at the restaurant so gloomy … completely different from that full of energy, flexible and determined girl we fought"
"Hehe… you remember every detail of her, do you?" Paimon smugged
"You want to swim around the hot pot again huh?" Aether threaten …
The next day…Keqing's office
Her daily full of energy is finally back, she is now full of excitement, egetic and now willing to do her task again … catch the golden hair boy at all cost …
"This is the best meal I've ever had! And it's somehow totally free and I still have the ticket! So lucky, I wonder who gave them to me … Now I can get back to catch that pervert golden hair boy again!". She is very hype about it. But …
It seems like Keqing was forgetting something yesterday … something important …
3rd Encounter? End …
P/s: Hope you guys like it. To be continued ...