[COMPLETE]Memories of Soothing Water

Chapter III

As Zhongli hazily strutted to the kitchen, he saw Hu Tao making some abalone, confused, he asked the director why she was cooking and tried to stop her.
"No Zhongli I will not have it!" She persuaded the old man to quit pestering her.
"Why? I must feed yo-" he was stopped midway.
"You just witnessed someone dear to you die, please let me take care of you..!" She calmly answered.
Zhongli did as his master asked and sat down on the sturdy cedar wood chair. The two of them seldom talked as Hu Tao was cooking.

After Hu Tao served her speciality, Ghostly March as she liked to call it, she started to stir a conversation. But all Zhongli did was mummer his answers and nod or shake his head, clearly zoning out and refusing to talk.
At last Hu Tao gave up and took the plates to wash on the marble sink.

"Say, Zhongli, when will you ever realize that life goes on like this? I'm only trying to make you understand and move on.." She asked the man.
"Please Hu Tao, I've had enough." He strictly made his words clear to the young director.

Hu Tao shut up for a few minutes, finding a way to make her old man feel himself again.

"Would you mind a shopping spree? I'll try my best to make you feel like Childe is with you, you did say shopping with him was like being in 7th heaven right?"

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Zhongli and Childe walked in the bustling and crowded Liyue streets, even in the rush, the scenery was breathtakingly elegant. The trees swayed their leaves to the wind, causing a cool and fresh breeze.
There were many fine and vast shops laid in the harbour, attracting customers far and wide.
As far as Zhongli was concerned, he needn't to go to numerous shops to find the item he was looking for.
"So we're here for the Noctilucus Jade, right? Finely cut and chipped..?" The younger man inquired.
The latter nodded his head, scouting out for shops that sold the Jade.
It was relaxing to shop with Childe, as he was the one that usually paid for everything, no matter how big or small, he was determined to buy it for his lover.
At last, they arrived at the precise stall they were looking for.
"Welcome to Jade Mystery! My name is Shitou, and I am glad to be of your assistance!" The man exclaimed.
"Very well then, could you sell us a finely cut Noctilucus Jade that was from the depths of Mingyun Village?" Zhongli consulted the owner of the stall.
"My! Quite daring today! But yes, we do have the exact Jade you were looking for!" The man smiled. "Although It's quite the hefty price I must warn you."
Zhongli inquired the man of the price for the fine Jade.
"Very well then, the price is one million mora! Can you afford it?" the owner smirked, expecting that the couple would leave.
"Childe." Zhongli turned to the ginger-haired man with imploring eyes.
Childe silently handed over the massive pouch filled with Mora, right up to the brim.
Shitous eyes widened as he saw the bag brimming with Mora, most probably freshly minted as the gold shined luminous and glossy.
"Very well then." The owner sighed in defeat as he handed over his prized possession, the Noctilucus Jade.

"Say Xiansheng, how are you going to compensate me?" Childe winked and held a mischievous grin.
Zhongli just grinned and continued walking.

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Hu Tao toured Zhongli over some exquisite flower shops, explaining their uses in funerals and what each flower meant.
At last, Zhongli decided to pick the Dahlia and Freesia.
"Dahlia, the flower that symbolises wealth for the deceased, Childe would like this." The man mumbled.
"And the Freesia, a flower symbolising unconditional love, yes, he would like this flower." Zhongli declared as Hu Tao packed the flowers into a pretty bouquet.
"That would be four thousand Mora, please." The last working at the stall asked.
Hu Tao handed the money and took Zhongli with her back to the place where Childe laid.

"I'll leave you alone now, come back when you're ready." Hu Tao let out a sigh, tired from the day.
Zhongli didn't say anything but he was thankful to the girl for knowing her boundaries.
'At least she has some manners.' the old man thought.
He laid down to his late lover, setting the flowers near the side of the cold rock.
As try as he might, tears eventually formed around his eyes, and he knew Childe wouldn't be there to comfort him now.
"One day, I'll come to you Childe, but... But unfortunately, my time hasn't come yet.." he sighed, feeling the familiar pang in his chest of the time he saw Childe on his deathbed.
The brunette felt like he could still hear Childe's usual happy-go-lucky tone, the voice he loved to hear so much.

"Xiansheng, whatever you do, I'm always with you."

Notes- I GOT ZHONGLI!!! IT TOOK 80 PULLS BUT I GOT HIM!!!