𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 ― baizhu x reader

𝐈𝐈. 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐒

it had been a month since qiqi and (y/n)'s day trip to qingxu pool. the two companions continuing their small adventures across liyue, the cyro user often asking her new friend to accompany her when baizhu sent her to pick herbs or run errands for him. and yet baizhu still hadn't met the elusive friend the zombie spoke so fondly of.

he had often made up herbal mixtures and medicines that qiqi would pass onto (y/n), the friend of the undead girl almost never coming into the pharmacy themselves. when they did he had gui on customer service, making the lead pharmacist the only person who hadn't met his errand girl's newest friend. from the properties he was mixing into the medicine requested, he could only believe she had trouble sleeping. valerian root, chamomile and lavender being helpful ingredients, for inducing sleep, which he often found himself rummaging around for when it came to her orders.

it was safe to say baizhu was a little more than curious about (y/n), each time qiqi came back from spending time with them, speaking freely of their time together, he saw a small picture form until after a while he had quite the impression of the insomniac and he grew impatient to meet them.

-ˏˋ ✿ ˊˎ-

qiqi's notebook was left discarded in the backrooms as she left to pick herbs this morning, the zombiefied girl not bothering to check the plans she had scribbled in the book that she and (y/n) had made the previous meeting they had. so whilst she was out in the lush fields liyue had to offer, busy looking for the medicinal plants baizhu had written down for her, her friend was seated by one of the many food venders liyue harbour brought, waiting patiently for the forgetful zombie.

it was two hours past the agreed meeting time when (y/n) decided to look for qiqi, heading straight to the place she knew the small girl worked. many thoughts flew through their sleep deprived brain, they tried to push out the worried thoughts, knowing that the undead girl was much stronger than she looked if she got into trouble and that she probably had just forgotten.

they knew of her impaired memory from their many previous trips, qiqi often forgetting small facts that (y/n) had told her before. they had never pried into the reason why her memory had depriciated so quickly, just putting it up to the fact that she was a zombie and her memories must be rotting away as her body was supposed to be.

before they knew it they were scaling the stone steps to bubu pharmacy, clutching at the cold vision hanging at their chest and hoping qiqi was just out looking for herbs or sorting through medicines in the backrooms of her workplace. they were huffing when they got to the top for the stairs, not realising they were speeding up them and that they were now staring at the entrance of the store, eyes flickering over the building before taking a minute to pushing the worrying thoughts down, projecting confidence and almost storming inside.

it was perfect timing for the man standing behind the counter as the exact person who was tampering with his thoughts came wondering into his pharmacy, face pulled into a temporary frown before making eye contact with the green haired man behind the counter. (y/n)'s smile was curt and polite as their shining (e/c) eyes met with sharp amber and they walked towards the counter.

"i don't believe i've seen you come in before, welcome." baizhu spoke, eyes flickering up and down his 'new' customer analytically, as he took in their form. (y/n) only nodded shyly under the doctors gaze before inquiring about what they came to the pharmacy for. "may i ask where qiqi is?" the welcoming attitude the snake adorned man wore quickly changed into skepticism as the question was asked as he shot back, "and whom might be asking?"

the frosty change suprised the customer however they answered without missing a beat, they needed to know qiqi was safe. "it's (y/n), i apologise for not saying so when i came in." the cold exterior faded just as quickly as it appeared and the man smiled sweetly, sheepishly apologising for his hostility. the (h/c) person simply waved his apology off, "i assume you're baizhu then?" they asked. "indeed i am," he paused before continuing, "and might i say qiqi has spoken a great deal of you, i'm happy to finally meet a friend of hers."

they flushed at his words before changsheng butted in, "that simpleton doesn't shut up about you, (y/n) this, (y/n) that-" she was cut off by baizhu gently scolding her, (y/n) laughing softly, "i like your snake." the emerald hair that cascaded down his back moved as he nodded in acknowledgement before adresssing what they had come to the pharmacy for. "why are you looking for qiqi?"

"well, we had plans this morning, however i had waited and she never showed, i thought it'd be better to check incase she had gotten herself into some trouble." (y/n) tangled their fingers into their hair as they spoke, baizhu thought it sweet they worried for the undead girl as he did, almost thinking it cute of them. "ahh i see," he spoke, "i sent her out to pick herbs this morning." colour returned to (e/c) eyes as they were filled with relief, "so she forgot?" (y/n) questioned.

"ah yes.. she often does that." the dendro vision holder chuckled. "she should be back now if you'd like to see her?" the silky haired man offered, opening the divider between the counter. "oh! if you don't mind?" they looked to baizhu who motioned for them to come through and they bowed shortly before shuffling further into bubu pharmacy.

-ˏˋ ✿ ˊˎ-

qiqi had just returned from the fields, locking up the back door as she heard baizhu interacting with someone up front of the shop, she ignored it thinking it as just another customer and started to sort the fresh herbs she had picked into their places. there were baskets and shelves that littered the backrooms, each labeled with what should go where, she organised them accordingly and was almost halfway through the basket before she was interupted.

"qiqi? you have a visitor." baizhu announced as he held open the door to the back room, (y/n) slipping in behind him as he shut it. the zombie hummed in acknowledgement before turning around to face her boss, pleasantly suprised by her friend standing behind him. "oh hi." she said shortly, before the bespectacled remarked, "qiqi, did you perhaps forget to look at your notebook this morning?" the pale girl paused to think, puzzled. "can you do us a favor and check it please?" he suggested pointing at one of the books by the desk.

the undead girl padded toward to book, reading what her plans were for today and finally understanding why her friend was at her work. she looked at her friend apologetically, "sorry." she spoke. (e/c) eyes softened as they looked at the small girl before them, taking a fews steps towards her before speaking, "there's no need to apologise, i was just worried and started overthinking is all." (y/n) smiled bashfully. "besides," they added, "it's not your fault you're forgetful."

qiqi only nodded, still feeling a bit guilty. baizhu frowned at the girls obvious guilt, looking towards his errand girl's friend who stood a bit ahead of him swaying awkwardly. "what were you two supposed to do anyway?" he spoke up amber eyes flickering between the two behind his glasses. "we were to go have breakfast together." (y/n) answered as they both looked towards him, eager for his suggestion. "why don't you have lunch, take some mora and i'll give qiqi the afternoon off." the cryo user stayed silent, looking to her friend for an answer.

"lunch sounds great, however i couldn't possibly take your mora." they protested waving their hands in refusal before the pharmacist enclasped them with his own, "for the trouble you went to, please take it." he spoke softly. (y/n)'s eyes widened in embarrassment as their cheeks flushed red. "well, if you insist." they muttered, eyes cast down at their feet, they hoped the sly green haired man hadn't caught her expression as the man took out some mora and pushed it into their hands.

"are you sure?" the zombie spoke up, tilting her head. "i'll look after the pharmacy, don't you worry." the doctor smiled reassuringly and qiqi was satisfied, tugging her friend out of the backrooms and off to lunch, (y/n) waving to baizhu as they walked out of the pharmacy. he followed them into the front of the store, "you have a good time okay?" the two nodded as qiqi had already started down the stairs (y/n) yelling a "bye." as they quickly followed after her.

"cute." was all baizhu said, watching the two leave the shop and reminiscing of the shy expression that was planted on (y/n)'s face just moments before, as he disappeared into the back to finish putting away the herbs qiqi had picked earlier that day.