You Always Catch Me~ (yantao)

8-Could they fix things?

''I love her so much, but if it means that she could live without hurt then it was best to remove myself...'' Yanfei sighed, ''I knew something like this could happen... and why have I suddenly gotten so attached? It's not just friendship its more than that and I'm not sure if I can take it,'' Yanfei breathed in and out. She wanted to forget, but why couldn't she?

''Grandma..'' 

''Yes, dear?'' Madame Ping said, polishing a teapot.

''I'm hurting, a lot.'' Yanfei said shortly, rubbing her arm.

''Oh my, why dear?''

Yanfei couldn't put into words how much she loved Hu Tao. Or to tell anyone that an adeptus had fallen in love with a human, ''Hu Tao...''

''What about her?''

''She was my... cru- friend and I had to let her go.'' 

''Oh my dear, I can feel your hurt. I'll fetch you some valberry tea. Straight from Mondstadt!'' Madame Ping offered generously.

''Thank you granny.'' Yanfei said with slight hostility.

More thoughts began to race through Yanfei's head.

''I'm such a horrible person, I left her hurting more than me.. why have I done that to someone..''

''It seems your feelings are genuine, Yanfei. But it was not right to leave her hurting like that, and you know that dear,'' Madame Ping, sat down and pushed a teacup in front of her.

Back at the parlor, Hu Tao sat on her bed, staring out at the shining streets below. People seemed happier than usual, their faces bright and gleeful. Most seemed to be in pairs possibly couples. Possible foreshadowing...?

''Why does everyone get to be so happy, and I cannot?'' Hu Tao thought to herself. She began to sing, and sing and sing her heart out. Of course, her poor heart was aching and so was her head. She walked into her bathroom only to find that her bathroom was all messed up. Did someone break in? There was notes all around, stuck to the walls with little letters on them. Hu Tao picked them up and read them in the order they were set (as they had numbers on them as well).

1) Who may this be?

2) Lanterns, smells of fresh aromas.

3) That is the Lantern Rite of course.

4) A shame you ruined it though.

5) And now that she hates you, she's all mine.

6) It was all apart of my plan.

7) Glad you fell for it.

8) I hate you Hu Tao, I hate you.

9) You don't deserve Yanfei.

10) Yanfei hates you too <3.

You could guess who these notes were from. Hu Tao's eyes started to water and she sat on the floor, buried her face in her knees and arms and cried. Her tears were stinging her eyes. The kiss re played in her head over and over.

Hu Tao got up, and she had a plan. She had to talk to Yanfei no matter what.

''Granny, this is really nice... thank you.'' Yanfei thanked Madame Ping and set off. In search off Wanmin Restaurant to have a small meal. She wanted to cheer herself up and forget about all of this.

Fairy tales can never be real can they?

Hu Tao held onto hope. She was resilient, a good quality to have.

''Xiangling, xiangling!'' You could hear Hu Tao shout.

''Yes Hu Tao?'' Xiangling spun around happily.

''What do you see Yanfei order usually? Do you know her favorite food or please help me!'' Hu Tao rushed with her words.

''Oh my! Well let's see. She usually orders Crab Roe tofu. You could try give her that,''

''How did you know-? Well thank you!'' And Hu Tao sped off to buy the ingredients and hand bake some soft tender tofu and whisk some delicious crab roe! She also wanted to impress her and knew she liked books so she decided to also take a trip to Wanwen Book house and buy a book. Maybe even make some letters and pick flowers! That would be lovely.

''Xiangling,''

''Oh, Yanfei. Hu Tao just left, she's off to second life.''

''No but about Hu Tao-''

''Her favorite food is steamed fish and prawn dumplings,''

''Oh, thank you,'' And Yanfei skipped off towards the seafood stalls nearby the dock.

Yanfei had already forgotten about the meal she was gonna eat at Wanmin but now that she knew her favorite food she wanted to collect more intel and prepare a delicious surprise for her. Maybe then they could re start?

''What is Hu Tao's favorite color?''

''What?''

''You must know, Congzi. You spend a lot of time with her,''

''Oh. Uh reddish-orange,'' Congzi said sweetly and fluttered her eyelashes.

''Thank you.'' And Yanfei skipped over to the seafood stall right next to them.

''3 fish for 1000 mora,'' The salesman said.

''Prawns and fish please,''

''Three?''

''Okay.'' Yanfei passes the mora over the counter and quickly slips away with a plastic bag filled with fish and prawns.

''Silk flowers? I don't know what the fuck she likes,'' Yanfei took a breath, ''Okay, I need to take time, it's a gift and I want it to be perfect.'' 

Back with Hu Tao she was already stirring the crab roe at home and pouring it all over the tender, sweet and soft tofu. The taste would send you to heaven, a bite of dreamy.. delicate tofu with a briny crab roe drizzled all over.. Hu Tao could feel the taste in her mouth.

''What are you up to Kiddo?'' Zhongli peered over her shoulder, sucking in the fresh aromas of the delicious tofu Hu Tao was making, ''That smells amazing.''

''Oh nothing.. just making a gift.'' Hu Tao replied bluntly but carried on humming a cute tune.

''What is it that you are singing?''

''Aiya.. nothing.. there's some files in the main room.'' and Zhongli was off, to go get those files.

''She looks just like a dream...

               The prettiest girl I've ever seen...

                                   From a cover of a magazine...''

Hu Tao carried on humming. She wrapped a soft white envelope around a little letter and stuck a few playful stickers.

''Hopefully she'll like this.''

Yanfei wrapped a letter in an envelope that was a light shade of pink and stuck a small pink heart in the middle. Just like those dumb high school romance movies. Maybe it could be just like a fairy tale after all? That is all they wanted..