𝙲𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚇𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐!

Xianglings Day Off

"Ahhh~ As much as I love looking around for different ingredients and cooking! It does feel a bit nice to take a break and visit my old friends in Mondstadt." Xiangling sqeaked out a yawn and streches her arms crossed behind her head and feet out.

"I agee, Its such a nice day to be at the tavern!"
Venti bursts out randomly.

Xiangling and You (Lumine or Aether) let out a chuckle. While Diluc just rolls his eyes while polishing a wine glass and placing it on the shelf.

"Well I think, me and you should cook together again! But this time instead of just you helping, we work together. And this time there won't be any stress of a competition." Xiangling suggests, with a wide smile cast across her face, there's no way you could turn her down!

"Alright sure! That sounds like fun actually" You said, actually meaning it, even if you did want to just laze around today for once.

"Alright its settled then, Venti you can go collect the ingredients for me and Lumine(Aether)!"

"Wait WHAT?!" Venti proclaimed, his mouth slightly agaped into a dumbfounded expression. "I didn't volunteer!" Venti looked like he was going to object, but Xianglings puppy dog eyes got to him.

". . . Fine." Venti looked defeated.
"I'll do it." He rolled his eyes a bit, but laughed in his usual bubbly expressions.

"But you owe me ya know! How about buying me a drink sometime?" Venti smiled and chuckled.

"You have a deal." Xiangling laughed and shook Ventis hand.

"Alright then! Go ahead and search for the ingredients, we'll be waiting in the back where the kitchen is getting preparations done." Xiangling smiled and skipped back to where the kitchen is, you couldn't help but think about how cute and enthusiastic she is all the time, you somewhat envied her for it. She also turned you on a lot tho, but that wasn't something she'd ever find out. You boasted to yourself for a minute, giving a little laugh to yourself. It'd be all types of embarrassing if Xiangling ever knew you found her super cute! You blushed a bit and shook it off. Getting up and smiling, you start walking towards the kitchen.

"Hey! Finally, I've already gotten the boar meat tenderized. What were you doing?" Xiangling walks out from behind the counter where she was preparing the meat. She's wearing a super raunchy kitchen apron with a maid skirt and no bra. You were surprised. Xinagling out of every girl?You'd think she wasn't the type to wear revealing clothes.

"It was super hot in here from all the pan steam, I started sweating really bad and got dizzy, so I had to change into something less hot." Xiangling caught me staring.

"Eh-Ehh?! No no I didn't ask or anything I mean I wasn't staring or thinking about it like that so don't worr-"

"Hush silly. Its okay." Xiangling put a finger over your mouth to hush you.

"You don't have to go making thinking weird or arkward." Xiangling laughed, walking towards the stove and picking up a bit of cooked meat she just cooked, giving it a taste test."

"Exactly what I thought it was missing."

Xiangling turned around to you

"Has Venti gotten back yet with those ingredients?" She asked.

"Uh no I don't think so, do you want me to go and get him?"
"No, its fine, I actually have all the ingredients I need already." She smiled and pulled out a bit of slime condensate and sweet flower.

"But wait, I don't get it." You pondered to yourself for a second. "Then why did you tell Venti t-" "Don't worry about it" Xiangling pushes you against the food pantry. "Maybe I wanted to spend the day with the the great Traveler" she whispered softly in you ear. It sent shivers down your spine.

Xiangling leans back up and laughs with her usual cute and cheerful smile.

"Help me make this sweet flower into suger for the sweet madame, while I put the chicken mushroom scewers in the pot." Xiangling smiled at me. I didn't mind helping really, its what I usually do. And as long as it makes her happy. You thought to yourself, smiling while mushing the sweet flowers.

When finished you brought Xiangling the sugar and she put it on the sweet Madame, and tossed it into the pan over the fire.

Xiangling turned back around to you, looking pondered.

"Hey Lumine(Aether), do you, like me?"

"Um.. define what type of like?"

Xiangling froze up.

It took for a few moments to answer finally.

"Just friend.. Like, I'm not annoying or anything, am i?" Xiangling gave a little hopeful smile.

"No! Of course not Xiangling, why would you ever think that?" You said, a little caught off guard.

"Welllll its just that I know I can be a little outgoing. And that can be really energetic for someone else and tiring, maybe even annoying." Xiangling looked a bit down.

"Of course not. I don't think you're annoying, you're fun to be around! A little tiring yeah but that's the fun of having fun!" You laughed "Not only that your super cute, and you never get unmotivated, I envy you sometimes actually, and man I can't even tell you that really I like yo-" you covered your mouth, not realizing what you were saying. "Anyways, you're a sweet creative person, outgoing and definitely not annoying!" You smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of your head.

"What did you just say?" Xiangling looked flustered. Happy, but confused too.

"Did you just say you really like me?"

"What? No no of course not I just meant I really like you around and stuff!!" Your words were quick to the point and a bit shaky.

"I don't believe you." Xiangling crossed her arms. You've never seen her make such a serious face before, except maybe before the food competition.

"Being honest isn't hard" Xiangling huffed a bit.

You sighed.

"Well what if you don't feel the same and its just awkward for our friendship?" You tugged at your hair nervously.

"If I don't then ill be honest and it won't change anything" Xiangling looked a bit insulted.

"But- It won't change anything anyways" Xiangling froze a bit, her cheeks turned rose red.

"C-cause I like you back!" Her words were way too loud, echoing through the tavern. "But we can't be together!" Xianglings expression turned from loving and tearful to anger. She punched a fist into the dining table we were sitting at. "Because I live in Liyue, and you live in Mondstadt, and I can't always be here, and long distanst isn't something I take part in." She sighed deeply, as if relief overflowed from her.

"But, Xiangling. . . . ."

TO BE CONTINUED~

If you liked this part please let me know and I'll make a second part revealing the rest of the story. But I'm not sure if anyone likes what I put out :( so let me know and I'll continue the stories. . . . . .