𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 ― baizhu x reader

𝐈. 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑

sun beats down unforgivingly on the rooftops of liyue, grass wet with the morning dew, streets bustling with vendors and merchants shouting of their various goods for sale. contrary to the busy atmosphere liyue harbour brought, bubu pharamacy was quiet, allowing qiqi to slip out with her newest mysterious companion.

qiqi wondered out the front of the pharamacy, looking down at her friend waving enthusiastically at the bottom, qiqi sighed, holding the umbrella over her head and clutching her trusty notebook before heading down the stone stairs.

the two wondered through liyue harbour, qiqi glancing at the sun starting to make it's way over head and trotting after her friend. she never liked going out on sunny days, afraid it would make her undead body start to age, rotting and decomposing. however (y/n) had insisted the girl acompany them and that one day of fun couldn't do any harm and so, reluctantly, qiqi agreed.

clouds rolled over the mountains sculted by the geo archon, providing the two shade as they trudged on and further away from the noise of the city. the zombiefied girl simply admired the scenery as they walked, relaxing in the peace that the environment brought to her, eyes raking over trees and the mostly clear sky above, she couldn't remember if she liked the countryside, but it was peaceful and she wrote down in her notebook to come back here. (y/n) walked swiftly ahead glancing back every once in a while to make sure qiqi was still silently following, they were eager to show her their destination.

the trek to qingxu pool passed quickly, the crunch of the gravel path beneath their feet was the only noise as they walked towards their destination. (y/n)'s excitement rolled off of them in waves as they got closer to where they planned to show their friend the view. the sun was high in the sky when they got to their destination, (y/n) picking out a tree to find shelter from the sun, shade providing qiqi a chance to set the umbrella down and make herself comfortable as (y/n) unpacked the bag they were clutching.

"cocogoat milk!" qiqi exclaimed, as she watched the contents of the bag pour out onto the grass, two bottles of coconut milk outstanding from the rest of the items. (y/n) handed the pale girl a bottle. "you said it was your favourite," they recalled, "and today is your treat so drink as much as you want." they spoke with a grin, encouraging a smile from the girl holding the coconut milk as she excitedly opened the bottle.

the two companions sat there lazily, sipping at coconut milk and bathing in the tranquil atmosphere. qiqi qazed at the calm water finishing her drink before catching sight of some lillies by the shore. "i want to pick glaze lillies," she spoke, pointing to the patch of flowers by the glistening waterside. (y/n) only hummed before following qiqi's demand, stretching from the comfortable position they had found themselves in to snatch the umbrella and stand up, qiqi leading the way to the tiny garden.

-ˏˋ ✿ ˊˎ-

baizhu had his arms full at bubu pharmacy, having just recieved a new shipment of herbs, eagerly bringing them to the back rooms to sort them into place as he called for qiqi's help. he didn't think much of it that she hadn't replied, continuing to carry the crates into the pharmacy before cracking each one open with a crowbar, he huffed before sorting through the various goods to make sure they were as he had ordered. it was only when he was halfway through the assortment when he realised qiqi still hadn't come to help unpack.

"qiqi?" he paused, expecting an answer, sighing when silence filled his ears. "where could she have gone today?" changsheng slithered around baizhu's shoulders only shaking her head before the emerald haired man tutted and went to ask gui of qiqi's whereabouts. he pushed up his glasses before emerging into the shop front, greeting the herbalist with a worried smile.

"baizhu! weren't you supposed to be supervising and unpacking the shipment with qiqi today?" gui questioned, the bespectacled man waving a hand in dismissal before answering with a frown, "i was, however i couldn't find her, have you seen her?" the question was strange and foreign as qiqi usually never left without baizhu or gui accompanying her.