Posting this cringe because I have no motivation to write. Might make it a serious fic later. Maybe. Idk.

Those days were especially busy for Keqing. The holidays had been coming close and work kept piling up on her table, which made her stay at work late. Oversea orders, calls from customers and meeting schedules had all been putting her on edge. To add to it, the calls from customers were not always regarding work, but sometimes just a call for coffee or shopping. It was unclear how many times she had to tell them that she was really busy and could not accept the invite, but the new calls kept on coming.

Riiiingg…

Tap.

"Hello?"

"Miss Keqing, this is Fenghuang, we have not seen each other since summer. Time flies like an arrow, isn't it?! I think it would be a perfect reunion for this holiday~"

"Sorry, I have plans already." Keqing bluntly shut the mobile.

Riiingg…

Tap.

"Hello Miss Keqing, remember me, Nanhai? We last met at this year's Lantern Rite, sooo…."

"Ah, if you are talking about a meeting, then let us meet later. I already have plans for this holiday."

"Aww, bye-bye then."

…

Riiingg…

This time it was a telephone call. She picked up in frustration. Telephone calls are most of the time, business calls. She hoped so.

"Drive, drive, drive your car, gently down the barrr-"

She shut the phone immediately upon hearing the kid's singing. Those customers really need to control what their children do with the phones and the phonebook.

Keqing sighed. See, those kinds of calls always made her wonder if staying at work would be worth it. In the day, the majority of the calls are about issuing container ships to other countries, but as the evening moved closer, the percentage of trivial calls would go up, driving her off the cliff.

And yet, for all that pressure and stress, she was slow to be promoted. Her diligence and industriousness kept her from being moved away, but her forthrightness prevented her from reaching higher.

She let out a heavy breath. Such a life for someone who placed righteousness above everything else. If only she was a bit more patient and her tongue was a bit more sugar-coated, she would not have to suffer like that. Sometimes, the thought of giving up her own principles almost broke her, but honestly, her effort had been spent a huge deal in keeping herself from falling into the pit of evil.

Her phone rang again. An unknown number showed on the screen. This better be something worth it.

She picked up.

"Hey girl, remember me?"

Keqing widened her eyes. The voice was so familiar. It had a strange sense of nostalgia to her. She was hoping she did not get things mixed up because everyday she heard so many voices of customers from all over the world that she did not know whose voice is whose anymore.

"Ae… Aether?"

"Hey."

It was really him. The blonde guy that she met some years ago as her customer. He helped her a lot and would send her gifts every week or so. She remembered he was kind, caring and loyal to his friends, which is part of why she liked him more than her boss Ningguang. She was just unsure if he liked her back the same way.

"Hey." Keqing replied while smiling.

"So… I just think that…" Aether went on. "Since it's almost New Year, would you like to go out with me on the Eve? It's kinda lonely not having anyone to go with, you know?"

Keqing's heart jumped at the mention of New Year's Eve. The handsome blonde guy? Inviting her to go out with him? They could do the countdown and say happy new year together? Oh no no no… Her heart was starting to beat faster and faster. She was not ready to hear that. It… it was all so sudden. What should she say?

"Uhh…" She stuttered.

Come on, come on, say yes, Keqing. You can do it!

"I would… love to,..."

Yes, yes, yes.

"...but… I have plans with my friends already. Sorry."

Keqing internally facepalmed. She could feel the whole world shouting and screaming at her for her stupidity. She could not blame them, because she was also cringing hard at herself. Her body shivered. She did not remember what Aether said next, only saying 'okay' to pass his words and then heard the beeping sound of the call ending.

Placing the phone down, Keqing frowned in exhaustion. Why? Why did she reject that offer? A golden chance, thrown into the sea just like that. She could almost feel her forebears in heaven looking at her and shook their heads in disappointment. Perhaps her grandfather was punching the glass windows while her grandmother was burying her face in her palms. If her friends were to hear about her response, they would literally unleash hell upon her.

She turned off the computer and walked very fast off the office to the corridor with her belongings. She just wanted to run, but the highheels pained her feet and made them unstable. The embarrassment appeared clear as day in her brain as she imagined her friends laughing at her as if she was a loser who could not even get a guy.

Though, honestly, does she care?

"Should I?" She thought indignantly.

"Miss Keqing, are you hurrying for something?" A deep voice called. That startled her and made her realize that she did not look exactly comfortable while walking. Stopping to regain her posture, she coughed.

"Mister Zhongli." She bowed to the man. "I have just finished work and am going home. Nothing too urgent, really. How about you, though? Do you need anything from me?"

"Ah, if you are going home, I shall not hold you back any longer." Zhongli replied. He stood there as Keqing bid him farewell and walked, this time slower, to the elevator. However, when she was about to press the elevator open, he added in. "If you are frustrated by something, don't hesitate to share it with people you trust. Isolation is the path to losing yourself."

Keqing nodded, giving a smile. "I already know that, but thanks for reminding me."

Yea, I know.