It's an abject credit to both Xiangling herself and the father that raised her that her friends are some of the best pals that a young adult could ever want. Xingqiu, Chongyun, Xinyan, Yunjin, Yaoyao, Hu Tao- all wonderful people, ready to cross oceans and conquer mountains for the people they care about.
Not that doing so is required in this context anyway! But the point is that even the Hydro-user's penchant for pranks and trickery is the first thing to go, as he and Chongyun return to the Feiyun Commerce Guild immediately after receiving the memo from one of his family's maids. Likewise, despite the fact that their exorcist friend doesn't feel the most welcome at the guild and prefers to hang out with Xingqiu at literally any other place, that concern is swept to the side as well. They know- Xiangling not working at Wanmin is rare enough, but having her be patiently waiting for them in an attempt to talk? Something is definitely up, the only question is just how severe it is…
When they reach the garden, Xiangling has luckily since pulled herself back up onto the bench, successfully hiding her embarrassment like at the restaurant. With Chongyun announcing his and Xingqiu's arrival, the three friends successfully get down to it after quick 'how are you's. "It", of course, being Xiangling slowly explaining just what has been happening lately. What she did at Wanmin yesterday, and what she can no longer do during expeditions with Aether and Paimon.
She does not mention the grand delusion she just had while waiting for them however…it's just too embarrassing!
Of course Xingqiu and Chongyun are very patient as she talks, barring a few snarky quips from the 'young master' that earns him a light elbow to the gut via his seating buddy. But it's all in good fun, Xingqiu argues, a needed way to lighten the tension as Xiangling tells her tale of worry. And he does have a point, it seems, as she smiles a bit before continuing to talk.
But eventually, Xiangling reaches the present time.
"And that's why I'm here… So guys, what do you think?"
Xingqiu is the first to speak, expression a bit relieved. It's clear he had much greater fears, maybe a health issue for someone? Fortunately for him, nothing of the sort applies.
"Before I address this more, a question. Do you believe that whatever this might be is a fleeting experience?"
"Fleeting….oh!" She shakes her head, holding a clenched fist underneath the table to her stomach. "Well, I can't be completely sure…but it really doesn't feel that way, you know? I know I get a lot of ideas spontaneously for my cooking, but-"
"But you always follow through with them, right." Xingqiu guesses correctly.
"Exactly! This is….different than that. It's lasted for weeks after all…like a reliable dish you can keep coming back to." She smiles warmly at the analogy as a comfortable breeze goes by.
"So, what's next?"
Xiangling's brow goes up in clear confusion. "Huh? What do you mean, what's next?"
"…Um, do you believe Aether to be mindreader?"
"W-What the heck…? No!" She argues…then a scary thought hits. Aether can already do things she would've never thought possible, like using elemental power without a Vision. So who's to say if he doesn't also have the power to read thoughts?! And if he does, then oh no…surely he already knows what really happened at Wamnim yesterday! "A-at least, I hope not!"
Xingqiu coughs into his fist. "Well assuming he is, indeed, not… what are you going to do now Xiangling?"
"Again, what do you mean?" …He's not going to say it out loud, is he?
Her worst fears are realized though, as Xingqiu looks at her like she's sprouted a second head. "I mean, it's obvious right? You have a cru-"
"P-Please stop!" Through a very reddened face, Xiangling expertly attacks her friend…with an emergency snack she carries on her, shoving the treat right down his piehole. Naturally this catches both Xingqiu and Chongyun off guard, the latter of which falls off the opposite bench in shock.
"Mmmhhh! Mmmppph!"
A few seconds pass, and Xiangling realizes just what's she doing. "S-sorry!" She speedily says, withdrawing at once. "But..can you please not say it aloud? I don't think I'm ready to hear it…"
One swallow later, and Xingqiu is back in action. "But why? It's nothing to be embarrassed over. It's endearing if anything."
"Be-Because…! Uh- just…don't say it!" She pleads, trying her best to convey a problem she can't vocalize…
"Xiangling, you're being contradictory." He says flatly. "You called us to figure out what your actions mean…but I believe you already know. That little "action" convinced me of that."
"…But….I just… can't feel this way…."
After all-
If I really…have a ….a c-c-cr…..on Aether…
The next thing to do… w-would be…..to…to confess…my feelings…
And there's just no way I can do that!
"Guys!" Jarring Xiangling loose from her thoughts, Chongyun pops up from the ground. "Can you stop speaking in riddles? I'm utterly lost here!"
Xingqiu rolls his eyes. "You're so oblivious, man…Xiangling, can I-?"
A quick nod is his non-verbal answer. A "Whisper it" accompanies. And that's how Xiangling is treated to a first-class showcase in Chongyun going from his normal temperament to a paralyzing blush from second-hand understanding. What would be a normal reaction for everyone else is instead dangerous, but is solved quickly when Xingqiu passes an ice popsicle into Chongyun's hands.
"Phew….thanks…" The Cryo-wielder says after several licks of his frozen treat. "So when you were talking about Aether reading minds-"
"Correct." Xingqiu elaborates. "I highly doubt our otherworldly friend has noticed Xiangling's new feelings towards him…yet, at least."
"Yet?" The 'lovestruck maiden' in question looks up.
"….Are you going to attempt to suffocate me with a snack again?"
"H-Hey I apologized! Don't make me regret telling you this, Xingqiu!"
Chongyun gives him the side eye, but the bookworm presses on, looking directly at his chef friend with only seriousness.
"Look, this may be only a recent problem, but it's very much not a good idea to let it fester." He shakes his head disapprovingly. "If it's starting to affect your work- distracting you, getting you into trouble with customers - then we must act now."
"My dad definitely thought the same…."
"I'm not surprised, Chef Mao is always very polite when I need his advice." Xingqiu remarks, with a Chongyun nod as well. "The way I see it, there are two options."
He waits to continue, and no one interrupts, showing his leadership.
"Option 1: Xiangling, you completely cut Aether out of your life until the feelings within subside."
"Wha-?! Cut him out?!" She repeats in awe, while Chongyun gasps.
"Right. Don't go on expeditions with him, don't hang out with him, only interact with him if you cannot help it. Which in your case probably refers to serving him food at Wanmin, in a professional environment. Do this and you'll have to move on eventually. Absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder, but time is the ultimate equalizer- you will forget about Aether one day."
"Wow, did you get that from a romance novel bud?" Chongyun asks jokingly- then has his eyes widen when he sees Xingqiu get a bit pink. "Wait- so those books you read-?"
"I-I peruse a wide variety of literary works, thank you very much! And hey, why are you suddenly perceptive now?!"
While the two bicker, Xiangling takes the same fist higher- softly to her chest.
The idea of cutting Aether out of her life- never trying to see him again…..
It….it hurts…
She….she could never do that!
"And…the second option…?" She asks, looking back at her friends. (And ignoring Xingqiu's blush growing ever wider)
:Ahem: "You are not going to enjoy hearing this Xiangling…"
But she nods her head anyway, even as she's sure what is about to be said.
"Find Aether, and confess to him. Let him know how you feel, and see where the results may be. Does he reciprocate…or-" Xingqiu starts, but never finishes that.
Nobody speaks for a bit after, contemplating the scenarios laid out.
Xiangling tightly closes her eyes, as if trying to block out what was said by visual confirmation somehow. Yup…no matter who she talked to- these two, Xinyan and Yunjin, her master, her dad, probably even Yaoyao- they were all going to suggest this once she became aware as well. And of course they were. This is how the world works, she knows that. People grow up, they get jobs, they fall in love, they…even start families sometimes. And the cycle repeats with children and grandchildren…
And yet…even knowing that…even knowing how she feels…
"Xingqiu….Chongyun…..I can't do that…."
The second son opens his mouth, but is beaten to the punch this time by his friend. "What does that mean?"
"Why confess….i-if I know that it won't work out?"
"What…?"
"Guys….this is Aether we're talking about here." She says, eyes still closed and fighting back a sudden urge to sniff. "Aether. The otherworldly hero of Liyue! Rumors say he's met with Rex Lapis, quelled dragons! They say he's stronger than anyone, even Captain Beidou! But he's also a friend to everyone, always willing to lend a hand during festivals…heck, we saw for ourselves during Lantern Rite! I'll have you guys know the only reason I was able to serve Xiao my Almond Tofu prior to the Masterful Chef's Cookoff was because Aether had befriended him before!"
"Getting off topic there…" Chongyun warns.
"S-sorry. But the point is…Aether is amazing…so amazing…! He knows so many people, so many equally impressive people…and that's just in Liyue! Who knows what he's done in Mondstadt, Inazuma, Sumeru- but I bet it's just as incredible!"
She runs out of breath here and has to stop for a moment. But it appears that's not the only thing that she has lost control of.
Xingqiu and Chongyun are able to clearly see them- tears, out of the corner of her eyes, have finally began to leak.
"I'm just a normal chef, not even an adepti or…a-anything cool. Not- I'm not anywhere close to Aether's level of amazing. B-But…..I'm sure that there are plenty of people who….are."
"And he….he deserves to be with someone like that, rather than someone like-!"
THWAP!
Xiangling's head goes ricocheting back, as if it's on string. She blinks back- and a red mark forms in the center of her forehead.
"…OWW! Chongyun, what the heck?! That hurt!"
"…Oh! I am SO sorry Xiangling!" He hurriedly retracts his outstretched hand, extended finger and thumb included. "I didn't mean to hit you hard, like that…"
"Smooth move~" Comes the Hydro peanut gallery.
"Shaddup….." A humiliated mutter in response - while Xiangling rubs the mark with her palm. Ouch…
The delusion with Aether made that look so much less painful….
"Seriously though, why did you do that". She asks with a rare deadpan.
"Y-Yes…one moment." Chongyun quickly rallies with another bite of his popsicle, several deep breaths, and then sending the food to a pocket dimension. The others watch, curious.
"I-I don't appreciate my friends taking down about themselves…but more than that, I find it interesting…" He begins, directed at Xiangling. "That you mention Lantern Rite when pointing out how impressive Aether is, but the day that it happened, there were compliments thrown at all of us during dinner. You included, Xiangling, remember?"
"What do you-?"
"Xingqiu, feel free to correct me. But I remember hearing *ahem* 'She's the disciple of an adeptus, the Stove God's best companion, the winner of the Master Chef's Cookoff, the only successor of the famous Wanmin Restaurant, a dear old friend of mine'"`Chongyun smiles at her happily while Xiangling gets flustered.
"T-That was Hu Tao, not Aether!"
"Doesn't matter. You…you're putting your own accomplishments down to prop up others, others who may not even exist! But do you know how amazing all that sounds to me, for one? I mean, the Stove God is your best friend! How many people can say anything like that?! That's incredible - you're incredible! And I'm sure Aether feels the same!"
Another popsicle gets passed to the suddenly-animated Cyro boy, who takes it embarrassingly.
"H-Hey, you do the same thing too…" Xiangling grumbles through a red face, sparking a chuckle from Xingqiu. "And how do you know how Aether feels?"
"Welth, you didn't hear him…*munch munch*… disagree with Hu Tao, did you? …Ahhh~"
"Oh come on, that doesn't prove anything and you know it! He could've just been being polite."
Chongyun isn't amused by that though and stops eating. "…Be serious Xiangling. Do you really believe he wouldn't agree with what was said then? As you said yourself, this IS Aether we're talking about. Helpful to everyone?"
"Ulp!" She realizes this point is dumb to fight real quick. Of course Aether agrees with the compliments, that's one of the reasons she has a cru- No, I still can't say it… -why she likes him so much… She pivots. "F-Fine! But even he believes those things, that doesn't mean he…feels the same…"
A doomsday scenario starts to quickly forms in Xiangling's mind. One where she gets Aether alone….takes several deep breaths….works up the courage to say it…and then another woman comes up from behind her! She embraces Aether, revealing her true identity to be-!
"If I may interject here so that Chongyun can continue eating uninterrupted…" Xingqiu speaks up, getting attention back on him. "Xiangling, do you really doubt even the possibility?"
"I mean, like I said, I'm just a chef from Liyue, so…."
"And yet. Aether seems plenty fond of this "just a chef from Liyue". The last several weeks say as much, no?"
….For once, Xiangling is rendered speechless, so Xingqiu keeps going.
"Let's look at this logically for a minute. If Aether had these "incredible friends" you imply he does - well, no, I'm sure he DOES know people from Mondstadt, Inazuma, and Sumeru who have done things we can only dream about - but if he really held them on a higher pedestal, do you think he would still be in Liyue post-Lantern Rite?"
"Instead, he hangs out with us constantly. Or more specifically, with you." He thrusts a finger out at his red-as-a-tomato friend. "Xiangling, the boring chef from Liyue."
"W-wait! Hey! I never said I was boring!"
"You implied it though."
"Did not!"
"Did too." He grows an amused cat-like grin- mirroring the ever-so tiny one Xiangling feels coming on too.
Chongyun relaxes a bit as the tension eases, halfway through his popsicle.
"Look. No one knows how the famous Traveler really feels, that's just a fact." Xingqiu resumes after calming down. "You need to brace yourself that it may, ah, not work out…."
"Xingqiu, what are you doing?" Chongyun argues. "We're supposed to be encouraging her!"
"Without acknowledging the risks? Blind foolishness, my friend."
"….Chongyun, it's ok…" Xiangling calms him. "I d-don't know if I'm really ready for this…but you guys are right… this can't just wait around! I-I mean, it's just like cooking! R-Right? The most important ingredient is passion!"
She's definitely trying to hype herself up, so Xingqiu decides to offer a lifeline.
"If I may be so bold, I have an idea in mind that could assist with this." This makes Xiangling spring forward excitedly, making the bench creak, but Chongyun raises an eyebrow.
"What confessions have you organized before."
"I-I have read about plenty of them! And I've been forced to think independently about their viability!" He stammers, trying really hard not to confess that he's an author with strict deadlines, and even stricter editors. "B-Besides, I don't hear you offering any brilliant ideas!"
Chongyun ponders for a moment. "Fine…what do you have in mind?"
Xiangling leans forward even more. She can't believe this is happening…it feels so bizarre. Xingqiu notices her and gives a look, wanting consent before speaking. After all, her opinion is the only one that actually matters.
There is no turning back once this is in motion.
…Gulp.
"G-Go on. And….thanks guys."
-0-
Unfortunately (or perhaps the opposite for Xiangling's nerves), by the time the three of them are done hammering out the details - what she'll say, how to get Aether alone, what the two of them will be doing - it's past the afternoon. Chongyun and Xiangling have definitely started noticing some dirty looks coming their way via the Guild's maids, no matter how much Xingqiu attempts to glare right back. So they end the surprisingly-important meeting there and all go out for dinner…before belatedly remembering that any diners have long since been booked, sans Wanmin…
So they do the next best thing: cook their own dinner. Except this time, Chongyun and Xingqiu make their specialities for Xiangling, who jokes she's too nervous "to even add a whole Slime to the dish". Chongyun thanks Rex Lapis silently.
Afterwards, they split, agreeing to meet tomorrow. Xiangling goes home, fights the urge to run back to Wanmin and help out, wins that fight, and gets rewarded with…a comically-overcrying Gouba who leaps into her arms the second he (and Chef Mao) arrive as well and see her.
"So, how are you?" He asks.
"Well…I think I'll need another day off." Xiangling confesses, hiding her nerves… But her father just laughs and agrees. And even though Gouba is initially immensely upset by being without Xiangling for another day, some calm pats on the head settles him down.
"Piiii~?" Of course he notices she's not being her usual energetic self though.
"I'm…ok…! I'm alright! I'm fine, this will work..…right?"
She's saying that more for herself.
In case I bungled that, Xingqiu is meant to appeal to logic, while Chongyun appeals to emotion.
