Author's Note: Please note that this is modern Teyvat AU. It is loosely based on the game Genshin Impact but it isn't the same. Please enjoy and thank you.
Ajax, aka Tartaglia, aka Young Master, 'Childe', was bored at university orientation when lightning struck him. He thought he'd be bored out of his ass in this new country and new school he was forced to go get his degree - mostly because he got into just a bit too much trouble at home. He took whatever classes his Family told him to which were business, economics, and finance, the usual boring stuff.
Childe was just glad he wasn't forced to go all the way to Sumeru for Akademiya. Instead, he was sent to a nice university in Liyue. Although Mondstat University would have been a better choice for their drinking culture and the frats… Childe wasn't given much choice on the matter. After all, Liyue was the country of commerce. The Family demanded that he take 'useful' lessons while he was temporarily on leave from Snezhnaya for all the troubles he had caused.
On the day of the orientation, one of the professors caught his eye. A hottie, younger than all the old gramps and grannies. This professor was tall and poised. The way he carried himself stood out to Childe. He immediately asked around for who he was and found out the man's name was Zhongli, a professor of ancient history.
That day, Childe quickly switched one of his classes to and signed up for ancient history.
On the first day of class, Childe sat right in the middle, front and center, with a smile on his face as the professor walked in. The professor had a steady gait, his chin held straight and proud like a chiseled statue. He wore a suit and tie along with fitted gloves to complete the outfit. He was covered from the neck down and yet, Childe couldn't help but notice that the suit only accentuated his perfectly proportioned body. Childe was already undressing him with his eyes, imagining him without the jacket and just in a plain button-down shirt and…
Chalk dragging on the blackboard carved through his daydream along with a soothing, deep voice that glided in the air as he introduced himself.
"My name is Zhongli. I will be teaching you this semester. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
The professor's voice was jaw-dropping. Childe couldn't believe his ears. He had fallen for this man's looks but the true beauty was that voice! That deep, resonating voice made his soul tremble. How could any man in this world have such a voice? If male sirens existed, surely they would have sounded like this.
"As I'm not very good with technology, I prefer in-person meetings after class. I have the time and dates for my office hours written on the top of the syllabus. Do feel free to send me emails with simple questions. I will always make myself available to you, should you need it." Zhongli said.
"Since this is the intro course for Ancient History of Teyvat, I will not go too deeply into each region; however I do encourage you to dig further should your curiosity wander."
The professor ended his introduction with a soft smile that pierced Childe's already throbbing heart. How could someone legally be that hot and adorable at the same time?
After his short introduction, Professor Zhongli passed the printed syllabus to the students sitting in the front. Childe smiled as he took his copy and passed the rest along. A paper-printed syllabus instead of an email or an online post and a chalkboard rather than a powerpoint. Professor Zhongli did not look old but the way he carried himself was, in a way, befitting of an ancient history professor. Once everyone received their syllabus, the class began.
'Man, even his voice is dreamy.' Childe sighed happily as he listened. Zhongli's voice was one that would be perfect for book reading. He was literally earcandy. It was rich, dripping with charisma and strength. Although most of what Zhongli said went in one ear and out the other, Childe could listen to him all day.
'I could literally jerk myself off with just his voice.' Childe thought to himself as he listened. In fact, he might just do that. Next class he would definitely bring a recording device. Besides, he couldn't focus anyway. He might as well record it to listen until he memorized the words. Then he wondered if he could just bring a kamera and record the man's beautiful ass.
Childe almost choked at the thought and cleared his throat a few times in the otherwise quiet classroom. He covered his face with his hand as he tried to compose himself. He really shouldn't be thinking these thoughts in class.
However, he couldn't help himself as he watched the professor's pretty lips move. They were shaped perfectly, with a shade of color he couldn't help but wonder how it would look if they were bruised from kisses. Elegant fingers in tightly-fitted gloves held the chalk at the perfect angle to create beautiful, long strokes on the blackboard. The way he moved was entrancing…
'I would totally eat his ass out all day.' Childe thought to himself. Part of him wanted nothing more but to raise his hand and ask a dumb question just to get some attention. Any attention.
'This is bad…' Childe thought to himself as he let out a slow, uneven breath. The professor's looks alone were heart-throbbing but that voice along with his looks was a fatal attack for Childe. Plus, there was that killer smile. It was so hard to stop himself from jumping the man right then and there. This man was just… perfect.
In the end, he didn't raise his hand to ask any questions. Others did however and Childe noted how the professor patiently answered them, no matter how 'dumb' it may be. For example…
"Professor?" Someone raised their hand to ask in a bit of a sassy voice. "I see in the syllabus, that you have a tea-tasting day where we go over the development of tea culture in Liyue. I also see that we will be going over the god of wine and freedom, Barbatos from Mondstat. Will we also be allowed to bring alcohol to drink for that day? You know, in appreciation for the god of wine and all?"
Several people snickered. Childe sighed quietly through his nose. However their professor turned and smiled at the student.
"A wine tasting in class while we talk about Barbatos is a wonderful idea. I do happen to know the very wine that Barbatos was said to be particularly fond of so I'll bring it then. However, I do hope everyone brings their I.D. since I'll be checking to make sure you are all of legal age."
Childe blinked in surprise at the mature answer as the class erupted with excitement. This professor… was different from others. He was insanely handsome with a dazzling smile along with a patient and mature heart.
'What a perfect man.' Childe thought to himself. 'And I'd suck his dick twenty-four-seven if I could to see his face contort in pleasure.'
This was bad. He forced himself to calm down. Childe really couldn't think straight at all. It was all he could do to not have a boner under his desk.
Finally, the bell rang and the class was over. He watched as students swarmed the professor, mostly women, who asked him all sorts of questions. Professor Zhongli patiently answered one by one but the ladies had more and more questions and…
Childe waited to see if he would ever get a turn but nope. It seemed like he wasn't the only one completely smitten and took this class just to get this professor's attention.
Childe went ahead and packed up his things. He will have to try another time. Besides, he had another agenda.
The first thing Childe bought as soon as he left class was a nice kamera. As tempting as it was to purchase a tripod, he figured that would be overkill.
The next day, since the syllabus had times and dates for open-door sessions, Childe walked over to Professor Zhongli's office in hopes of seeing him. Childe walked into the building to find that Zhongli had a private office in the history department. Unfortunately, there was already a line of girls out the door. Childe sighed. This was ridiculous.
Childe leaned against the wall and waited and waited. He checked his phone to see if he could make it to his next class or if should skip it.
Unfortunately, Zhongli's office hours ended. He allotted an hour each day but clearly, it was not enough. The professor apologized to the remaining students and assured them that he would make extra time after class for anyone who needed to speak with him. He told the crowd that they could email him if they had straightforward questions. The ladies all looked quite disappointed and Childe was pretty sure that most of them just wanted to talk to Zhongli directly.
Childe could feel the frustration boil inside of his chest. He couldn't believe that of all things, a line of women got in his way. If they knew who he really was, everyone would be running in fear. But that was the whole point of him transferring to a new school and even a new country. No one knew who he was here. He was supposed to have a fresh start. And he found someone he really liked. He really did not want to screw up his chances here.
Feeling irritated, Childe turned to leave. He would have to try again tomorrow. He had classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Zhongli. It should be fine, he told himself.
The next day it was the same. After class, there was a sea of women around the island that was Zhongli. During office hours was another sea of women who surrounded Zhongli like sharks seeking his attention.
Childe once again stood by the wall and watched, waiting to see if he could have a chance again and again. Two weeks went by and he knew he didn't have a chance but he waited patiently anyway. He did notice that the number of ladies was dropping. Although kind, Zhongli was very professional. He answered all their flirting questions with matter-of-fact answers. The disappointed ones soon gave up but there were still ones who were quite determined. Childe was half impressed with their tenacity and half annoyed by their half-baked excuses for questions to gain the professor's interest.
Although that did make Childe wonder to himself. He himself didn't really have a good question either. He was also there with an ulterior motive. In the end, he was no different from these women. The only difference was, he didn't have the courage to step up and ask a dumb question just for some attention.
So instead, he just watched from afar, listening to the beautiful man with a melodious, rich voice all day.
On the third week, as usual, Childe came to class early. With all the ladies fighting for seats in the front, Childe preferred to come early so he could snatch the front center. It was the perfect angle to view Zhongli's ass, which he may or may not be filming.
That day, Childe was very surprised to see his professor was also there early, sitting at his desk sipping his tea and reading. Childe stood there, stunned. Then his professor looked up.
"Ah, you're here." Zhongli lowered his cup gently onto the plate. He turned and smiled at Childe, whose heart was paralyzed from that brilliant smile.
"I've noticed you couldn't ask your questions each time you come due to my failings as an educator. I was always hoping you'd send me an email but since you didn't, I figured your question must be a rather difficult one to answer over email."
Zhongli looked at Childe with soft eyes. "So I was hoping if I could catch you early in class, I could answer your question."
Childe stood petrified by such kindness. 'W-what a perfect man! He noticed me already!' He screamed inwardly.
"I… umm… well…" Childe stammered, not even knowing what to say to him. He hadn't even thought of the question since he gave up a long time ago!
"Come, sit." Zhongli gestured and pat at the seat that he had pulled up earlier. "I know you study quite hard. I see you bring your kamera to record and you always come early to sit front-and-center. I worry if I haven't answered your question for so long, you must be struggling with something quite difficult."
Childe, like an obedient puppy, stiffly walked over and sat down. He swallowed hard.
"I… umm… in the reading material… the book…"
Childe stammered as he quickly looked through his bookbag and pulled out the textbook. He fumbled and opened up towards the early part of the textbook chapter.
"I… didn't understand this part." He pointed at a page. Childe didn't even know what he was pointing at.
"Ah, yes. The section about the formation of the Chasm. I can see why that part is rather difficult for you to understand and it is rather long to explain." Zhongli looked up as some students started to filter in. "I guess I won't have the time to explain it right now and I'd rather not give you an insufficient answer. Why don't you come later? When is your last class of the day?"
Childe's mouth parted in shock before he stammered, "uh, t-today, it's economics at three… so it'll end around four thirty."
"That's good. I can wait until then. As long as you don't mind meeting me at my office at that time?" Zhongli asked softly with a gentle smile. Childe stared into those golden eyes that glimmered like cor lapis exposed to sunlight.
"I… yes. I have time."
"Wonderful." Zhongli lightly patted the back of his student. "I'll see you then."
Childe couldn't believe his luck. He struck gold.
Author's Note: Huge thanks to Badromance who inspired me to write this fanfic.
Also a huge thanks to both Badromance and LadyThalia for editing my fanfics and giving me suggestions.
And to my readers, I hope you enjoyed Chapter 1. I'll try to write chapter 2 soon. Thank you for all the likes and comments.