Hu Tao x Reader - A Morbid Curiosity

Chapter 17: For as the sun is daily new and old...

*sniff sniff*

Hu Tao: "What's this smell of perfume I can smell on you? This doesn't smell like something you can afford!... Y/N, why do you smell like another girl?!"

Y/N: "Oh."

Hu Tao: "Wait, what's with that response?! Aiya! So it is another girl?!"

Y/N: "Well... it is, yes. But it's not what you're thinking, I promise!"

Hu Tao: "Hmph! Explain it to me then!"

Y/N: "R-Right, of course! You heard about the hostage thing right?"

Hu Tao: "But I thought you weren't involved with all that? You said you went out for combat practise! Was it the Treasure Hoarders?! But wait... I don't think I've ever seen a girl amongst the Treasure Hoarders' ranks when I'm out hunting... come on! Tell me already!

Y/N: "I was trying! You need to stop interrupting me!"

Hu Tao: "Okay! Okay! Just tell me already, please! I feel like I could just die from worry right now!"

Y/N: "Don't do that! I'll be brief for you then, okay? I was taking a break from training and I saw Miss Keqing get knocked out and captured by some Treasure Hoarders who set a trap out for her-"

Hu Tao: "-It was Keqing that got captured?! That's quite the catch those ruffians landed! What happened next, what happened next?! ... Oh, I interrupted you again didn't I? Sorry!"

Y/N: "... And then I went over to where they had her strung up with ropes and when they saw I was a Vision Wielder they got scared and ran off before I had to actually fight any of them. But then when I cut down Keqing she uh-... she wasn't ready to stand up I suppose, and I did catch her before she fell, but then I slipped over and she landed on me... s-so that's why I have another g-girl's scent on me. I promise!"

Hu Tao: "Hmmm... it didn't sound like you were lying I guess... hey Y/N, I was actually in the middle of something... mind if I quickly finish up and then I'll meet you at Bubu Pharmacy?"

Y/N: "Oh? Uhmm... sure, I guess I could head back and drop off my stuff and get a change of clothes...? I can still smell the river I fell into in these ones!"

Hu Tao: "Aiya! You're helpless Y/N! Hee-Hee! I'll be back soon!"

*HU TAO'S POV*

Hmmm... Keqing huh? As the Yuheng of the  Liyue Qixing I assume she'll probably be up here right? With all the other big names of Liyue Harbor... the Yuehai Pavilion of Yujing Terrace.

???: "Lady Keqing, I must protest! After such an ordeal, you must give yourself some time to rest, to relax your mind!"

Keqing: "I can't just rest Huixin! They knew I was coming after all! I must look over this original information once more, did I perhaps make a mistake somewhere...? Else, I must start looking at those of whom I shared my plans with, for there may be traitor amongst us..."

Huixin: "Lady Keqing... I really must insist-"

Keqing: "-Nothing exists independently, and there's nothing you can do to change that. So, when you drag your heels on one thing, you're actually causing chaos for a whole bunch of other connected issues, too. That's why I firmly believe you should never put off until tomorrow what you can do today..."