𝐀𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞 | Genshin Impact

ᴘᴀᴘɪʟɪᴏ ᴄʜᴀʀᴏɴᴛɪꜱ

THREE

THE 77TH DIRECTOR of the Wangshen Funeral Parlor was described by her dear friend as a person who took over the business at a rather young age. Hu Tao, she who flawlessly carried out a person's last rites, always reminding her employees to never deviate from the client's requests.

(Y/n) imagined a solemn young lady, polite and well-mannered. So it wasn't without reason she found herself a bit shocked when confronted with the director in her purest form.

Their eyes met in the dimly lit hallway, a foot belonging to (Y/n) halfway into the entrance of Zhongli's workspace.

(Y/n) watched as the girl stood there, her hands resting at her sides. Ever so slowly, her lips curved upward as her eyes slightly widened.

It all happened so fast. Hu Tao held (Y/n)'s wrist, watching as her fingertips naturally folded and unfolded as she tilted it to different angles.

"Radiant glow, healthy posture..." The funeral director muttered out loud. She then looked (Y/n) up and down, still holding onto her hand. "Yes. You're definitely here for something other than that which falls within my regular line of work, aren't you?" The girl released her grip.

(Y/n) stared down at her, unsure of what to say.

That was when Zhongli's face appeared from within, his eyes softening upon glancing at his boss. He then stepped out of the room, a small smile plastered on his face. "So I see you've met the Hus of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor," He spoke to (Y/n).

And upon hearing her name, she turned her head around towards the man. "...The director?" She repeated.

The brunette eagerly answered back. "That's me!"

(Y/n)'s eyes glided back towards her pale face.

Behind those blossom-shaped pupils of hers, she wore faded red makeup painted at the corners of her eyes. They were surrounded by her wide swept bangs, layers framing her face curled inwards and the layers behind outwards.

Hu Tao blinked her eyes a few times, turning her attention back to Zhongli. (Y/n) blocked out their conversation, instead focusing on the rest of the girl's appearance.

She wore a black coat with a collar over a traditional red shirt, sleeve cuffs and black shorts with gold accents. (Y/n)'s eyes followed her fingertips—who's nails were painted a polished black—as they reached to fix the dark hat sitting atop her twin-tail styled hair. 

Hu Tao's gaze flickered from her employee's back to (Y/n). "Is something on my face?" She asked with a silly smile.

"Not at all," (Y/n) responded back with a slight shake to her head, "Apologies for staring."

"That's quite alright, (Y/n)," Hu Tao said. Then, with narrowed eyes, she raised a finger to her bottom lip. "(Y/n), (Y/n), (Y/n)..." She repeated her name, "That's how you say it, right?"

The young woman nodded her head. "Yes."

Hu Tao turned cheerier then she already was. "Nice to meet you," She outstretched her hand.

(Y/n) stared down at it, glancing back up at her before settling her gaze once more over the girl's palm. She reluctantly raised her arm, her fingertips meeting hers. That was when Hu Tao met her halfway, eagerly shaking her hand up and down.

"Zhongli here's mentioned you once," The girl explained, "You're from afar, right? When you've got the time, tell me your story, yea?"

THREE