𝙰 𝚆𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝙱𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙻𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚄𝚗𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 - 𝚇𝚒𝚊𝚘 𝚡 𝙵𝚎𝚖!𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 ~ 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟶

Your POV

I'm really beginning to think that Xiao is bipolar. One minute he's being cold and practically threatening you and the next, he's caring about your wellbeing and safety. Who the hell is this man?

My thoughts feel like a blizzard, everything is scattered and unclear. My emotions are basically in the same state.

I spin around and frantically glance around in search of a clock. I run down the staircase and find a clock hanging behind a desk. The clock reads 4:47 pm.

Crap, I'm supposed to be doing my job still. I hope Ms. Goldet doesn't notice my absence-

"Y/n? Shouldn't you be in the kitchen or serving and taking orders?" My eyes trail down from the clock to the desk. Only then do I realize that it's the front desk. It's the front desk where my boss has just caught me not doing my job.

As if my pulse hasn't had enough jumps and eruptions...

"Yes, I had complications with a customer and-"

"You ended up on the balcony on the top floor while the customer was on the main floor?" Her eyebrows raised, she speaks factually and almost with disappointment.

I swallow and attempt to hide the shakiness in my voice and limbs. "Yes, Ms. Goldet. It won't happen again. I promise."

She pauses and laces her hands together before responding. "You are a good person and employee Y/n. Never have you caused issues or disruptions in my business therefore, I will let you off the hook this once. Do not make me think twice on my opinion of you again."

"Yes. Ms. Goldet" the words, barely audible and practically wheezing, find their way out of my throat.

I head to the kitchen and take in another lecture from none other than Smiley Yanxiao himself. I remain discreet for the remainder of my job. Walking to my room, I can't help but smile when I remember.

I'll be seeing Xiao later today. 

I wonder if he's ever had any other students? I enter my room and rummage through my closet, taking off the apron I found in Yanxiao's kitchen. I don't know if I should be excited to see Xiao especially because of his odd demeanor and the whole-energy-could-kill-me. He can be extremely intimidating and cold, but when he is genuine and caring I really enjoy hanging around him. I wonder what his mood will be when he trains me.

I stiffen and realize, I don't even have a weapon to train with. 

Xiao is already doing me a large enough favor so I don't want to bother him with this. I'm done work anyways so I have the next hour or two to find a weapon. Still, I am not very sure where to find any type of armory but Liyue seems like a place to start my search. Picking up my jacket and bag, I quickly stroll to the nearest teleportation point and soon find myself in the Harbour. 

There are plenty of shops and booths all around. Unsure of what to do or where to look, I wander through the streets until I find something that could be promising. A blacksmith. He is quite friendly and gladly shows me the array of weapons he has to offer. Xiao never specified how he was going to train me. I don't know if he wants a bow and arrow or a polearm like his.

 In the end, I try to stick to something basic which ends up being a sword. There isn't anything super noticeable about it except for the handle. It's laced in crimson and adorned with a golden lion's head which leads to the actual blade. I also asked him for a case since I wasn't sure where to place it but he only knitted his eyebrows in distinct questioning. 

"You know you have a vision, right?" I nod "Yes, what does that have to do with a case for my sword though?" 

"Having a vision lets you summon and store away your weapon. I'm not too sure how it works though."

"Oh, I guess I could try to use my vision." I hold the sword in my hands and try to imagine it disappearing. After a few seconds, nothing happens. I grunt in slight disappointment. "Hmmm..." I grumble to myself and straighten my back ready to try something different. Remembering the green sphere that saved me, I attempt to re-envision that feeling. Suddenly, the blade leaves both my hands and sight. 

"Huh," I turn to the blacksmith. "Thanks for the sword and tip." Fishing out a bag of mora, he smiles kindly and nods in acknowledgment. I'm presuming that I do the same action to retrieve my sword so I don't bother asking him about it. 

Strolling away in satisfaction, I ponder on what time it could be. Being late to my first lesson wouldn't be prudent and it could give Xiao the wrong impression of me. Despite this, I can't resist the urge to find the local bookstore. 

Leaning against the railing, as usual, is Xingqiu with a hand behind his back and the other on a novel. I sift through a display of novels looking for titles that could inform me on one topic; the Adepti. "Good evening Y/n," I jump a bit, I know it's Xingqiu speaking but I'd thought he hadn't noticed my presence, too consumed by his book. "The same to you Xingqiu" and I return my attention to the shelves of literature. "Do you know or have you read anything about the Adepti?" I question him. "Only a few" and he closes his book to show me the ones he is thinking about. After selecting a few titles and thanking Xingqiu, I hurry back to Wangshu Inn.

 Practically stumbling up staircase after staircase, I finally make it to my room and check the time. 

7:58

Wow, time really flies... I could've sworn- WAIT ISN'T MY LESSON AT 8!?

I whip my head to look at the clock again

7:59

Crap. I'm going to be late. 

Hastily, I spring from my room, dropping my coat, newly purchased books, and bag, running to the balcony. 

Please let me make it on time. Please let me make it on time. Please let me make it on time...

Arms crossed once again, he stands against the frame of the balcony, calm and collected. The rays of pearl moon play on his cerulean green hair. he doesn't look as pale-skinned when I first saw him. Instead, a better world to describe his complexion would be 'fair'. Xiao's darkened sunflower eyes, flit open when I walk in. 

Even though it's the wrong time to be thinking of this, I'm just noticing how handsome he is.

"I thought you'd never make it, Y/n" 

My heart does a double-take as he gracefully strolls towards me.