Authoress note: it's a belated birthday gift for Qiqi, though you are cute but please don't go and come for my next Baal's pull!

Disclaimer: all characters property of Hoyoverse

Qiqi's Birthday

"Qiqi, today you can take a day off." Baizhu, her boss said as soon as she entered the pharmacy.

"Qiqi want to know. Why?" The green hair man was back into the counter. He moved to the medicine drawers, pulling several small drawers into the table. He read the prescription paper then started to weight roots or dried paper and put it into several portions.

"It's Qiqi's birthday." He said without looking at her.

"Um, what is birthday?" The small zombie cutely tilted her head in confusion.

"It is the day when you are… born." Baizhu didn't know her exact birthday day so he made one for her. She might not remember but today was the day when he found her years ago.

"Qiqi is born today?"

"Yes, so it's your special day. And here." He dug under the counter and processed to give her a bottle of white liquid.

"Oh! Cocogoat milk." Her expression didn't change but Baizhu could see a spring on her steps when she approached him.

"Coconut milk. Happy birthday."

"Qiqi is happy." She took the bottle.

"Now take a day off and do what you want to do today."

"Order: Qiqi will take a day off. Ordered received. Qiqi will take a day off." She said. She turned, bottle in hands and walked out from the store, running.

…

"Qiqi!" The zombie girl didn't stop at all. It was the opposite way; she knew that familiar voice too much. So run she did. She was just manning her own business, picking fresh bamboo shoot near the gate close to the restaurant. But that monster just found her.

"Oi! Qiqi! Wait!" The Liyue citizens sometimes glanced toward them but most of them ignored the commotion. After all, the sight of Wang Sheng 77th funeral director, chasing Bubu's pharmacy assistant was quite common. Though Qiqi found it strange. Hutao had been easily letting her go most of time but today, for unknown reason, the director is so persistent!

"Qiqi want you to leave Qiqi alone. Qiqi don't want burial." The little girl mumbled while running as fast as she could.

"Qiqi!"

"Order: Qiqi should find somewhere to hide. Ordered received. Qiqi will find somewhere to hide." The zombie looked left and right to see if there anything that she could hide into but ramped quickly into someone in process of finding a hiding place. As unlucky or as lucky as it seemed, the man who she just hit gently pulled her back when she about to fall down.

"Are you allright?" A voice beside the man she just hit entered her ears. This voice somewhat familiar… She looked left and found the best hiding place. She quickly ducked behind the woman.

"Eeee…" Ganyu just let out a sweatdrop.

"Finally, Qiqi." Hutao stopped from her running in front of the three and tried to catch her breath.

"Director, what is the reason of you, chasing a little girl."

"Xiansheng, I'm not going to bury her, promise." Ganyu let out a small gasp after hearing what the purpose of the chasing and instinctively, shielding the poor girl.

"Qiqi don't want burial."

"I told her several times; I just want to be friend but eh I don't think she remembered." Hutao said between breath.

"The only thing this poor child remembered is you and burial." Zhongli, letting out a sigh.

"I guess so…" The director looked a little frustrated "I guess I should begin to chase her everyday again." Both Zhongli and Ganyu slightly widen their eyes.

"No, to be her friend. I mean replacing her earliest memories."

"… what you do will go both ways. Either her memory will replace or she will be more frightened."

"Eeee, is it?" Hutao did feel bad. Zhongli let out another sigh before giving her a pat. Hutao blinked in surprise but second later she grinned. The man however didn't notice as he scooted down to meet Qiqi's eyes. Ganyu wanted to throw a glare at the young director, she wanted that head pat too! From Morax, no less!

"Little child, she didn't mean any harm. You are safe."

"Qiqi is safe?"

"Yes, Qiqi is safe."

"Qiqi is not sure."

"It's her birthday, Baizhu Xiansheng asked me to stay away but I just want to… give her this…" Hutao took out a new memo pad with Wang Sheng embossed on its cover. "As birthday present. I know she always had memo pad with her."

"… Qiqi got a new memo pad as present?" That seemed to perk her interest. Zhongli stood back and observed as the zombie child took a peep at the book.

"Yes, this is for you." For the first time, Qiqi stepped away from behind Ganyu and moved toward the hand that held her present. She took it with caution, making sure that she could bolt out quickly if Hutao reached for her. But nothing had happened as she saw the young director grinned even wider.

"Happy birthday, Qiqi." She continued with small giggle, proud that the little girl was actually coming to her instead of away from her.

"Qiqi is happy." The book was perfect on her small hands.

"Since it is your birthday. How about I buy you another present?"

"Qiqi likes cocogoat's milk."

"Cocogoat?" Hutao looked at Ganyu weirdly, the Qiling descendant blinked.

"Wha- I don't produced mi- I'm not even a goat!" Zhongli chuckled before patting her head which makes Ganyu gasped in disbelief.

"I believe it is coconut milk. Come let's find a vendor nearby." He let out another amused chuckle while offering his hand. Qiqi unhesitatingly took the hand and let herself being taken to Liyue's harbour area. Hutao followed closely as she asked if Xiansheng had his wallet. Miracle do happen that Zhongli did remember his wallet today. The trio were walking away leaving Ganyu who was still frozen on the spot. The Qilin finally snapped out of the trace when her name was called.

"Ganyu?"

"Yes, I'm coming!" The usually timid girl had her smile from ear to ear before chasing the trio in finding cocogo- wait coconut milk.

End of story