DUTY | 𝗔 Chili 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗰 | GENSHIN IMPACT

7. Wanmin Restaurant

"Zhongli, where should we go next?" 

It was a fine Autumn afternoon, with Childe and Zhongli shopping together. The Lantern Rite festival was just right around the corner, and neither of them had any time to prepare. It had been about a week since they went to Wuwang Hill. Childe had made a full recovery, and was back in top condition.

"Hmm, perhaps we should go to Wanyou Boutique. We do need some cultural clothes for Lantern Rite." Replied the brunette.

"Sounds fun! Let's head off now so that we can make it back in time for lunch!"

Zhongli and Childe walked through the harbour, bustling with merchants advertising their products, and tourists exploring curiously, the children running around and the drifting whiff of seawater. The pair descended the dock to the lower market, finally reaching Wanyou Boutique. 

"Greetings, new customers, wait-- Childe, with Zhongli?" Said Bolai, the owner of Wanyou Boutique, in a tone of bitter surprise.

"Ah. Hello Bolai." Replied Zhongli, with not a hint of hatred in his voice, earning a smirk from Childe.

"Ah, uh, how may I help you.. I have important customers waiting, so let's make this quick." 

Bolai's offending tone infuriated Childe. 

"Hmm, well, clothes are better chosen with time and care, so I'd rather take my time.. Unless you'd rather have us halfheartedly leave without buying anything." Childe sneered.

"Ah- no, not at all! Please t-take your time..." 

--

"Childe, have you selected anything yet?"

Childe walked out of the changing room sheepishly, dressed in a royal blue robe with a white haori over it, put together with his signature red scarf. His red mask was draped over the side of his ruffled hair as usual. The loose-fitting robes hugged him loosely around his chest, revealing a sliver of his toned chest and abdomen. Zhongli's eyes roamed the male's figure.

"So, err- how does it look?"

In between his state of shock, and the feeling of being lost for words, as well as overheating for some peculiar reason, Zhongli found himself saying the word:

"Breathtaking." 

He shook his head fervently, returning to his senses only to realise how incredibly silly he must've sounded to the orange haired male. He slowly looked up to Childe, immediately biting his lip to suppress the urge of hugging him. 

Childe stood against the door, his head hanging down as he covered his mouth with the back of his hand, as if similarly to Zhongli, his gaze was concentrated on the floor, while his cheeks were similar to the colour of a tomato.

"Childe, are you okay?" Zhongli walked over to the male, who snapped his head back up to Zhongli.

"Ah- ah, yes I am, I'm fine. More importantly, have you selected something to wear?" The male hastily changed the topic.

"Oh, yes I have. I got Bolai to pack it up, although he seemed quite reluctant to do so."

Childe sighed, his heart dropping slightly.

What a shame, and I was looking forward to seeing it, too.. Perhaps he's just.. conscious.. Yes. That's it. He must be self conscious.

"Alright, then, let's move on. I'm quite hungry, why don't we get something to eat? It's on me."

"That sounds wonderful, what are you in the mood for?" Zhongli replied.

"Ah, I know nothing about Liyue cuisine, so I'll let you pick."

"Well, I did feel like having some Crystal Shrimp."

"Oh, sure! It isn't too spicy, is it?" The orange haired male asked skeptically.

"No, not at all. Quite sweet, really."

"Then it's no problem! Let's walk, Wanmin restaurant isn't too far from here."

--

"Here we are." 

Zhongli and Childe entered the Wanmin restaurant, taking a seat at the furthest table from the door. The restaurant was decorated with xiao lanterns and flowers hung around. The dim lighting of the restaurant and the slow jazz in the background set a romantic mood.

"Was Wanmin restaurant always this... lovey dovey?" Childe asked, sarcastically.

"Ah, I believe Xiangling hangs little Guoba shaped lanterns to give the restaurant a more romantic mood. I think it works quite well. Guoba is quite attractive, after all." Zhongli replied sincerely.

"Pfft-- Aha-!" Childe burst into lighthearted, bubbly laughter. Zhongli didn't think that what he said was very entertaining, but something about this was different. Zhongli had heard Childe laugh quite a lot, but this was the first time Childe had really LAUGHED, you know?

Normally, they were always polite, obligatory laughs. They lacked genuine emotion, so when he heard the sound escape from Childe's lips, Zhongli felt as if he had achieved something great for the first time in many centuries. He had made Childe, who all this time, had only laughed for Zhongli's sake, laugh for himself.

"Zhongli, I didn't know you were funny.." Childe exhaled, wiping a tear from his eye.

Zhongli averted his gaze from the male, instead opting to stare at his half eaten shrimp, as an attempt to hide the tint of pink creeping up on his face.

...

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were being serious!" Childe exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air.

"No, it's alright, I'm glad I was able to make you smile." Zhongli replied quietly, smiling softly back at Childe.

G-glad..? He was glad to see me laugh?

Childe's heartbeat increased, as his cheeks turned into a bright shade of red, as he hastily buried his head into the menu to hide his flushed face, earning a look of confusion from the other male.

"Sir, are you Mr. Childe?" Xiangling came over to the two.

Childe looked up from his dish. 

"Yes, why?"

"A 'Signora' wants to see you."

T.B.C.

a/n
LMFAO IM SORRY I DIDNT EVEN REALISE THAT ZHONGLI HATES SHRIMP 💀