°Yandere Zhongli x Fem! Reader°

- Chapter 9 -

Y/N sprinted off to her next lesson which ended quickly enough. Sucrose was a very kind physics teacher so the girl thankfully didn't get into too much trouble, although Sucrose sounded quite disappointed that Y/N had forgotten her equipment.

Break began and Y/N didn't know what to do. She began walking around for a bit then decided to go to the vending machine. As she grabbed her snack, she felt a tap on her shoulder. It was Xiao.

'Xiao? What - '

Xiao simply put a finger to his lips, then took Y/N's wrist and began almost dragging her outside. Y/N tried to protest, but he simply ignored her. Xiao soon stopped and Y/N almost crashed into him.

'Xiao what are you - '

'Look.'

Xiao pointed silently at an object on the ground.

'It - it's a harp? Wait, no, it's a lyre... that's Venti's lyre! How - '

'Shh.' Xiao pressed his hand against Y/N's mouth. She slowly bent down to look at the wooden lyre.

'It's... really Venti's... it has his name carved in it and everything... But why is it here? And... how?'

'I don't know. I found it... somewhere.'

'Where? Where did you find it?'

Xiao looked away. 'You don't want to know.'

'Xiao. Where. Did. You. Find. This.'

Xiao sighed.

'I... found it in Childe's bag, okay?'

'Huh?'

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'Why... why was it there?'

'I don't know. I'm sorry, Y/N.'

'Why are you sorry? You didn't... never mind. So, do you know anything else? And if you found it in Childe's bag, why did you bring it out here?'

'I...' Xiao stayed silent for a second.

'It would be stupid to just carry out a lyre like this. Especially if it belongs to a dead person. Your fingerprints would get all over it and I'm sure Childe would have noticed even if you used a cloth to pick it up. It would be reckless and irresponsible. And I know that you're neither.' Y/N stated, internally pretty proud of herself for thinking that up.

'Huh? What are you saying, of course I found it in Childe's - '

'I don't believe you.'

'... Fine. Okay.'

'Tell me the truth, Xiao. Where did you get this.'

'I didn't kill him. I don't know why anyone would. But, I swear I didn't kill Venti. I liked him as much as everyone else.'

'You're still acting suspiciously.'

'I... listen. Don't tell anyone about this, got it?'

'I can't promise that. But, why Xiao? Why are you lying to me? Why are you doing this?'

'Y/N, stop.'

'Xiao, please.'

'Y.../N? Xiao? What are you guys... doing?'

'Childe?' Y/N looked up as Childe walked over to them.

'Xiao, what are you doing to her.'

'I'm doing nothing. I'm going now anyway. Bye.' With that, Xiao swiftly left and walked back into the building.

'What was that about?' Childe glanced at the girl.

'Oh, nothing... also, why are you here? Didn't you hate me? Why are you talking to me - '

The bell rang to signal the end of break.

'Oh. Out of time I guess. But, meet me at the gates after school okay? I would meet at lunch but I have to do something.' Childe said.

'What is it?'

'Nothing you need to know. Anyways, bye!'

'Childe. We're going to the same class.'

'Oh. I knew that.'

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The two entered the class as Beidou began her lesson. Two hours later, it was lunchtime. Childe rushed off to wherever he had to go and Y/N began to get lunch. She spotted her friends at a table then went to join them.

'Seriously, Aether, take better care of your hair it's always so messy - ' Lumine muttered as she began to braid Aether's hair again.

'It's not my fault it's long - '

'Hu Tao! Eat your food it's gonna get cold!' Thoma sighed.

'Not yet! Anyways, Yanfei, so like I was saying - '

At the end of the table, Xiao was silently eating. Y/N sat in the seat opposite him.

'Y/NNN... can you do my hair instead of Lumine? She always pulls too hard, pleaseee?'

'Aether, you idiot - ' Lumine rolled her eyes but smiled.

'Sure. I'll eat first though.' Y/N smiled at a very happy Aether.

'Okay!'

That didn't stop the chatter of the people around her. Y/N gave a small smile as she heard the voices of her friends and the rest of the school around her.  It was calm and uplifting. 

Y/N looks back on these memories sometimes, feeling the warmth of simply living a normal life. It was all perfect. If only she had known back then. Would things have been different? Possibly. But it's too late to know that now.