As it was nearing the end of the year, the Yuehai Pavilion was getting busy, with even the Liyue Qixing members who were usually away on their respective businesses were present in the premises. Amidst the hecticness, an emergency meeting was held in the Yujing Terrace, summoning the members who were in the area: the Tianquan and the Yuheng. Keqing and Ningguang waited for the task in hand; it ought to be important to need both of their help at once.
"We want to ask for both of your help in finding someone important. This is her picture." One of the assistants of the Qixing, in which Keqing noticed to be Ganyu's colleague, handed both of them a photograph each. The lost girl was small, with lavender hair and… fluffy? It was a picture of a cat, to their surprise. "We are quite busy nearing the end of the fiscal period, so we can't waste our time searching for a cat. Not to mention, we are the Qixing. Surely, the job will suit adventurers or travellers more?" Keqing immediately protested, given how she had yet to be done with her jobs before being summoned.
The assistant explained how the cat was not an ordinary cat. She belonged to an ambassador from foreign land who had just arrived at Liyue that day, and so she needed to be found before the said ambassador returned to his country. The uncommon fur colour of the cat seemed to indicate that she was a mythical creature. She then went on to explain further on why they did not give the mission to the public, as too many people searching would have scared her to the wildlands, on top of the risk of her being kidnapped for ransom if people knew her value. After hearing the reasoning, Keqing finally agreed to accept the mission.
Ningguang had been quiet for a while as she stared at the photograph, as if she knew something about the cat. When Keqing asked her about it , she casually replied, "Ah, it's just that I recall hearing something about a lavender cat earlier on."
Keqing perked as she heard that, she got even more excited in finding the cat now as the faster they did, the faster she would have returned for work. "Where is it? We should head there as soon as possible, then.."
"It was in Liyue Harbor, just before I arrived at Yuehai. The cat should not have gone far, I think." Ningguang placed the photograph in her pocket as she discussed the strategy with Keqing. "I think it is best if we stick together instead of splitting up. Cats can be quick and difficult to catch alone.", she added, to Keqing's agreement. "You are right, we better hurry since it will be difficult to search at night. The ambassador will depart tomorrow morning, too."
The two left for Liyue Harbor immediately. Keqing asked the cat's location to the harbormaster as soon as she reached there. She was indeed seen around there earlier in the morning, probably escaping from the carrier after getting on board, and followed the fish smell of the harbour. As Keqing rushed to look around the harbour she noticed that Ningguang did not follow her. Instead, it seemed like the other girl was working on her Tianquan business instead. "We don't really have the luxury of time. Help me a little, won't you.." she grumbled seeing how she did not get to do her own work.
"I will join you shortly, I am gathering information as well." Ningguang said as she did look busy with the sailors; Keqing could not really hear what they were talking about. It did not take long for Keqing to swiftly scan around the area, although the cat was nowhere to be found. Ningguang approached her when she was done with her investigation, saying that a sailor saw the said cat walking towards the shopping district a while before their arrival. The purple-haired girl sighed as she said, "Let's head to the shopping district immediately, then." Perhaps a bit annoyed that she had wasted her energy (and time) to roam around , or that it was Ningguang that found the next 'clue'.
The shopping district may be smaller than the harbour but with how packed it is, searching there would not be as easy. "This time it's better if we are splitting, there's too many stores to visit." Keqing said as she would make sure to ask around first before she zoomed around. "This time it's a competition? I wonder what the winner will get." Ningguang chuckled seeing how the younger girl acted as if there was one. "Not a time to joke around…" Keqing sighed , as she could not understand Ningguang's lack of sense of urgency.
Keqing searched around the alleyways as Ningguang seemed to enter a jewellery store the moment they reached the main road. 'A weird place to gather information.' Keqing wondered as she observed her colleague first before focusing on her own exploration. An hour had passed as Keqing had browsed every store in the district, even the ones Ningguang was supposed to visit, all to no avail. Letting out a heavy sigh as she saw that the white-haired girl was still in the same jewellery store… With no strength to get annoyed, Keqing could only deadpan.
As Keqing entered the store, Ningguang called out to her at sight, "Keqing, come here for a second. I need your help." It's a rare occurrence that Ningguang asked help from her, so Keqing managed to forget about scolding her for a while. "Please put this on your neck. I want to see which one is better for me, and it will be easier to compare it side by side." Ningguang asked the storekeeper to put on the Amethyst necklace on Keqing's neck. Meanwhile, Ningguang had already worn her Citrine necklace; the chain and pendant were similar to each other.
"It suits you, Yuheng." The store owner praised Keqing; the purple colour of the gemstone did compliment the aesthetics of the girl. "It is not for me, I'm just helping her." Keqing could not help to blush regardless, a praise was still a praise after all. The store owner continued, "Amethyst is worn to remove negative energy. It may even help you to reduce stress, including from overwork.", to Keqing's further embarrassment. Her workaholic nature had always been well-known all over Liyue, after all, in which Ningguang could not help but chuckle as she heard that. "I told you, it is not for me…" She stood beside Ningguang while hurrying the colleague to decide faster before she melted from embarrassment.
"It is for you, though." Ningguang said as she had already carved Keqing's name behind the pendant. "It's perfect for you." She added, piling on the compliments as Keqing could not really reject it at this point. Deep down inside she was happy to get a gift from someone she cares about. "Thank.. You." Keqing said in a low voice, as she tried to make herself less embarrassed by asking, "Anyways, what does that golden yellow-colored citrine mean?".
"Financial wealth and prosperity." The store owner said, which surprised none of them. This time Keqing was the one that chuckled while teasing Ningguang in return, "It is perfect for you."
"Speaking of, the store owner saw the cat entering the teahouse in the neighbourhood district." Ningguang mentioned, as Keqing remembered the reason they were in the shopping district. "You should have said that sooner!". At least this time the location was specific, Keqing could feel themselves getting closer to find the cat they were looking for.
The teahouse was not far from the shopping district, just on the next block as the two reached the spot not long after. Keqing almost rushed to ask the owner immediately but Ningguang stopped her, "It is impolite to ask without ordering anything. Besides, I have always wanted to try on the thing Mondstadt people refer to as 'tea time'." She proceeded to sit on the empty chair and beckoned Keqing to come closer and sit with her. "We really don't have much time…" she grumbled as she sat down anyways, all while Ningguang ordered the set menu.
"It's quite… comfortable." It had been a while since Keqing sat down, her legs could have some rest after travelling on the nook and cranny of the two areas. She was all relaxed , waiting for what Ningguang ordered for them. "This is totally a date, isn't it?" The teasing came out of nowhere as Ningguang grinned, as she had observed Keqing who was lost in thought for a while. Keqing could only blush at it, "How is it a date? Don't be silly. Besides, you are the one that insists us to partake in this 'tea time'." Although she did realise that no matter how one looked at it, it was , without a doubt, considered as a date.
The waitress arrived with a set of tea with traditional cookies and cakes. Nice timing, Keqing thought as she could distract herself from the flustering. The tea was poured from the pot onto each of their teacup, with an assortment of snacks to choose in the middle, two of each variety. Keqing had been in the teahouse for a while and never ordered them, so she was quite excited to try them all. Ningguang smiled as she saw Keqing tried one after another, sitting face-to-face allowed her to admire her 'date'.
When it came to the snack that was the closest to Ningguang however, Keqing's shorter hands can't reach them. Seeing the 'predicament', Ningguang offered to help by taking the cookies with her hand and offered them to Keqing's lips. The excitement made the girl instinctively glomp on the cookies, and only afterwards she realised that Ningguang was actually hand-feeding her. Blushing in embarrassment once more as she munched the snack, coincidentally loving that particular snack as her favourite…
As they finished eating the assortments, the two of them sipped the last cup of tea. Ningguang stood up to proceed for payment, as well as asking the owner of the teahouse of the whereabouts of the cat. Keqing could not really hear it from afar as the nodding and smile seemed to indicate a lead after all this time. It was starting to get dark with Keqing getting a bit worried, but this time Ningguang was the one leading the way, walking with , the direction seemed to be familiar to Keqing.. Isn't this the way to the… Jade Chamber?
As both of them stepped on the portal, the lavender cat approached them as soon as she saw new people teleporting in. Keqing was at a loss of words, unable to fathom what was happening . Ningguang chuckled while she immediately explained, "I found the cat in the Liyue Harbour earlier during my visit, right before I visited Yujing. As the harbormaster said earlier, she ran off from the carriage and was attracted to the fishes. Her fur reminds me of you, and so I figure I can keep her safe here for a while. I was about to find the owner when the Qixing summoned us, and that's when I knew what truly happened. During our time at the port, I have told the harbormaster to report to the ambassador immediately; the cat could stay here for a while as he will come to pick her up later in the evening."
The explanation sent Keqing to a flurry of emotions. For the most of it, she was at least relieved of her worry since 'they' had found the cat, thus completing their Qixing task assigned to them. "That was when… I was searching all over the harbour? But what about the jewellery shop and the teahouse?" Keqing could not help but ask due to her curiosity, albeit a bit annoyed at the time wasted given she could just return to work.
"It took some time to engrave your name so I need to distract you for a bit. I want to go on a date with you, that's all~". It was indeed the best way to distract Keqing for hours given how Ningguang wanted to surprise her. The date on the teashop was very comfortable and relaxing as well (she almost forgot about finding the cat, even).
Keqing's face was redder than a tomato at this point, adding the blush from embarrassment on top of her anger. She was about to burst when she felt a soft sensation on her legs; the cat purred and rubbed on her legs as if she wanted to calm Keqing down. Not long after the ambassador arrived in the Jade Chamber to pick up the cat and thank both of them. The cat let out a farewell meow as by this point Keqing had already calmed down and smiled as she waved at the departing guest.
Ningguang let out a bright smile, as well. Mostly from the day well-spent, and her 'complete victory'.