bitter exes | beidou x ningguang

chapter lvi

Things were never the same just like before. For a so, it has been over a week since Beidou's departure and for Ningguang, every day feels like hell without her and also the fact that she does not even know when she'll return or would she ever even return somedau. Even though it only occured for a week, it seemed as though it was over a year. It felt so torturing for her when she would always have to wait along Liyue Harbor's wharf and expects her to suddenly come but it only disappointed her when she had been waiting all day only to find out that she didn't come. When she would visit along the deck, she also wears Beidou's pirate coat given to her to feel her warmth and to also smell her scent which she had been longing for.

Their love is so tragic that it changed her. Ningguang was never the woman she ever has been because of her love's absence. She would only smile every once in a while and the twinkle on her eyes is gone, losing its shine just the way it had before whenever it sets upon Beidou's. To sum it all up, everything about her changed within a blink of an eye. Her face turned pale, with sunken cheeks as a result from stress, worry and deep grievance. A mood of melancholy descended upon her which engraved her to a mournful state. Moreover, she lost appetite and skipped meals very often and would only eat if she wants to or not. The misery enervated her to the point of collapse that she does not even recognize herself anymore. Even so, despite the imperfections mentioned regarding the drastic change on her appearance, she still appeared as gorgeous and dazzling as ever.

With her Jade Chamber destroyed, she lost her one and only home which embraced her ever since. A place wherein she would contemplate her thoughts and relax as the fresh breeze air wept past her. Nevertheless, it only took her a manner of time to finally get over with it and decided that it wouldn't be too bad to start again from the beginning and work for it again for how long. At cases like this, she must endure the pain and carry on living even though a part of her wants to throw it all away and lock herself on a room where it's just her alone.

Right now, she would always find herself strolling around Feiyun Slope alone, which she wished it could have done together with Beidou, and often visits at places where she could find peace and stare at a good view of the ocean where ships would dock. Apparently, with her always staring beyond the ocean, she already familiarized herself with herself with every ships but none of them were Beidou's Alcor.

She heaved a sigh and spaced out at one corner blankly, looking sulky as ever. Also with her great sadness, she became as intimidating as ever that people wouldn't even dare to have a word with her (excluding Ganyu, Keqing and a few others exceptionally she had known from the captain). Besides that, she also busied herself researching for her location and also for her crew, who also disappeared with her and did not leave a trace behind. Concluding that her absence is a dark mystery, even for everyone else. For the people of Liyue, they now treated Beidou as some kind of myth who lived then vanished completely out of sight. With that in mind, Beidou's criminal title was also washed off when the Liyue Qixing announced about the Tianxuan's bad intentions. All of those who despised her now wanted to apologize and even worship her from how they mistreated and misjudged her.

"Well then, dear guests, what would you all like to hear next?" Tea Master Liu Su spoke then pressed his hands together.

When no one responded, he cleared his throat, "Now, if I may bid you listen to another tale..." he pushed his sliding glasses up the bridge of his nose.

Ningguang sat at one corner by herself and moped silently, her fingers playing along the teacup's ear as she kept her eyes towards the ocean, gazing at the far horizon while she hears Liu Su's stories which she honestly does not have interest upon. But the reason why she came here is because so that she could distract herself from all of the thoughts poundering all over her mind.