[COMPLETE]Memories of Soothing Water

Chapter IV

As dawn settled in the peaceful harbour, Hu Tao arrived at the cemetery, waiting a while before lightly reaching for Zhongli's shoulders.
The older man turned around with a timid expression only to realise it was the director.
She motioned Zhongli to come back to their house and rest for a while, to which the brunette sheepishly agreed.

As the cool breeze caressed Zhongli, he could feel Childe stroking him with his soft fingers, oh how he longed to feel that touch again, but unfortunately, he was no more.

It was well overnight when they reached the house. Zhongli dropped himself on the cosy bed, and his eyes soon closed.
"Zhongli.. Zhongli? Hello?" A soft voice interrupted his very short nap.
The senior man opened his eyes, well overtired.
Hu Tao handed him some warm soup, but Zhongli declined the offer.
"You need strength for the day ahead, please eat." the younger girl begged.
Zhongli didn't budge his mouth even once.
The ponytailed brunette didn't give up on feeding the poor man and finally opened his mouth forcefully to put food in.
Zhongli flinched and struggled to get the food out, but eventually gave in and let Hu Tao feed him.
"You.. Shouldn't see me like this, I'll take you home." Zhongli managed to get his words out.
"I cannot fathom my only father figure to be like this, miserable and unwilling to live!" the girl scoffed, obviously upset with how her old man was behaving.
Zhongli suddenly looked at the small girl next to his bed with fiery amber eyes which looked furious, which made Hu Tao startled and worried for dear life. Zhongli had made it crystal clear on what he wanted.
"Fine, I'll go." the girl left the room in failure, knowing that she'd let her consultant down.
Zhongli followed her and dropped the younger one back to her house, making sure she was safe.

Once he reached back home, Zhongli extended his hands for the undercovers of the bed and took out an intricately designed box, light but filled.
He opened it gently as to not break anything inside, and held the crinkled paper in his hand.

"Dear Xiansheng,
I'm finally in Shneznaya! It was a ride but I'm here, and I wish you were too. If only Signora allowed me to bring you here I would've opened my arms for you! Although you wouldn't be accustomed to the temperature here.
I'll say it once and again my love,
Я люблю вас."

He feebly smiled at the number of letters he got from Childe, all ending in Я люблю вас, which meant 'i love you.'
He took out another letter, this one more yellow than the latter.

"My love, I miss you, I've been working my heart out just so I can visit you again, I want you to see your pretty smile when you welcome me back to our abode!
Xiansheng, Я люблю вас, and I wish we can meet again soon."
Zhongli tightly pressed the box near his chest, whimpering and almost having a breakdown, but he was determined to read more, just to pretend that Childe was there, somewhere.
He wiped his fallen tears with a soft handkerchief and continued reading.

"Xiansheng, it is freezing here! I want to go back to you! I want to feel your warm body and see you happy! But La Signora isn't having it, so I will be here for a few more weeks at worst, but don't worry my love! I will arrive soon, once my post is over we can head to Guyun Stone Forest and bask in the sunlight, or moonlight..!
Я люблю вас, dear."

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Zhongli was never the flirtatious type, he was more accustomed to keeping silent and observing his surroundings instead of idle chit-chat. Although, ever since Childe was introduced into his life, he slowly opened up like a turtle coming out from its shell.
He always acknowledged Childes mischief-making self.
"Childe, please behave properly, we are going to visit my acquaintance, who is the stubborn type," he said to the excited man, who quickly died down and kept a calm face.
They reached Mt Aozang, a place where the adeptis hold meetings and discuss the safety of Liyue.
Zhongli and Childe awaited the Adeptus to arrive at the foot of the mountain.
Soon enough, a small boy-who looked barely over twelve-trotted to Zhongli, his gaze baring clear disapproval of the ginger-haired guest.
He had dark turquoise locks which blended from midnight black to a verdant hue, making it almost identical to a certain bard he met in Mondsatdt.
His eyes were a sharp yellow, which resembled him of a wasp, no a hornet. The pupils were almost fully lean, straight and thin as a pole.

"Who is this? Why is he here Rex Lapis?" The young Adeptus scoffed at the ginger man.
"Xiao, this is Childe, he is a friendly person, I promise you."
"Nice to meet you!" The Fatui boy grinned, passing a hand to the disappointed turquoise haired boy.
The young man didn't return the favour, instead, he stared at Childe, it was like Xiao was digging daggers into his chest, making him unable to breathe with the chilling face.
"Alatus, one of the Yakshas, only Rex Lapis can call me Xiao." the bluette scorned.
Zhongli picked up the heated tension on the air and motioned Childe to go behind and sit by a tree stump.
Children obediently listened and skipped to the golden leaved tree, laying down and enjoying the breeze.

"I'm sorry, Xiao is not good with strangers." The brunette tried to apologise for the inconvenience.
"No worries! Here is a letter I made, it contains all the things I saw while you were discussing!" Childe chuckled and handed him the already crinkled paper.
"Let's head back, Master Hu must be tired by now," Zhongli explained.
"Can't wait to show her more tricks!" the latter laughed.

———————

Zhongli scouted for the lost letter, turning every single thing in his room to find his lovers most treasured letter.
At last, he had found it near a little desk with pictures and ornaments picked and bought everywhere those two went.
Zhongli took a deep breath in and started reading.

"Xiansheng, the scenery here is plentiful, the trees are slowly swaying with the cool breeze, the birds are chirping a fascinating tune! I feel so much at ease here, and whenever you feel sad, come to where I sat! I'll always take you to Mt Aozang, I'd even take you around the whole of Teyvat too!
And when the time comes and I wither like a flower, I will always be there, no matter where you are, even the places where the stars won't reach, and maybe one day,

We will run away together, with no one to get us..!"

Notes:
That was a long ride, chapters might now take a little longer since I'm planning to make them over 1k words each at minimum, so, please bear with me! I also have school so updates might be slow,, but dw ill be trying to post chapters like normal!!