The Winter Boy's Novel (Xingyun FanFic)

Chapter 9

Xingqiu's POV

My father had written in my book. That was close to the worst possible thing. I was so confused. So hurt and anxious. So terrified. "Hey, what's wrong?" Chongyun came up behind me. I shook my head, unable to even put anything in words. I was at a loss. Again. I stepped backward, longing to get as far away as possible from that evil writing. I just wanted to burn it. "X-Xingqiu, it'll be okay." Chongyun piped quietly from behind me. I just backed up farther. "Let me burn it." I whispered. I heard Chongyun's breath hitch in his throat. I picked up the book with my hand, walked to the kitchen, and grabbed a match. I lit it, threw the book outside, and threw the match out with it. I watched it burn. The flames flickered angrily, consuming it, but not satisfying my rage. Chongyun stood in the doorway next to me. "You needed to let your anger out, didn't you...?" he asked. I turned my head away but nodded. "Sorry... for waking you up, my liege." I said after a minute. The fire cracked mischievously. "I was never asleep in the first place."

Chongyun extinguished the fire for me as I sat in silence at my desk. I couldn't tell how many books my father could've written in. And I was scared of that. Chongyun pulled up his chair next to me and laid his head on my shoulder. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said. "Nmmm..." I never really said anything. I was too scared to do the one thing that comforted me most. What if there was more writing? I shuddered without realizing it and Chongyun looked up at me. "I know you want to talk to him," he said. I swallowed. "I know you know." Chongyun stood up and draped a blanket over me. "You look cold." "Nmmm... thank you..." He sat down next to me again. "When you talk to him... do you want me to come?" "Yes." "Okay. Then I'll come." "Thank you, my liege." "Yeah."

I stood up and pulled a book out of my bookshelf. I flipped through it slowly. Only printed letters, to my relief. No writing. Chongyun had gone to bed and was now snoring peacefully. I was glad. I shouldn't have burdened him with my own issues. I began to read, trying to clear my mind from the book that remained in ashes outside. The book, in such a coincidence, was about a young boy who carried a torch that he could not let be extinguished. I read until the sun began to rise, to chapter 26, and until my lamp flickered off on its own. I placed my ribbon inside of the book and closed it. I stared at the book cover for a while. Torches. The word looked familiar in some way. I decided that I should at least try to write to my father.

Dear father—-----------------

Hi dad—------

So I've been wondering why you decided to—--------------------________

I eventually gave up. The trash can was full of paper, and several pens that I completely used until the point where they ran out of ink. I sighed and put the rest of my blank paper into my drawer. So, I pulled out the gifts that I'd gotten Chongyun for Christmas. A glass snowflake, a blanket, and of course, some popsicles. I wrapped them neatly in white wrapping paper with silver snowflake decorations and tied a silver ribbon around each one. I carefully hid them underneath my bed, just in case. It seemed a pretty obvious place, though I knew he wouldn't look anyway. I stared out the window and at the fiery sunrise. Part of me regretted burning my father's writing. That part of me had an igniting curiosity for what had been written down.

Chongyun's POV

I woke up to the same owl hooting that I'd heard last night. I wasn't positive that it was the same owl. I just found it familiar. It was weird. I got out of bed quietly, wondering where Xingqiu was. He must've been pretty upset to burn a book himself. I wish it could be easier for him. I grabbed a popsicle from my ice box and walked into the kitchen, but when I passed through Xingqiu's side of the room, I noticed that the small trash can was overflowing with crumpled up balls of paper. It left me a little confused. Xingqiu was curled up on the couch, reading, and didn't notice me entering the room. I don't think he slept last night. "Morning." I said with my popsicle still in my mouth. He was spacing out into his book again and didn't reply. I sat down next to him quietly, hoping not to disturb him. This time around, it worked. He kept reading, turning a page every so often. I took a lick of my popsicle. Xingqiu yawned as he turned a page, ending the chapter he was so spellbound in. I watched him quietly. He turned the page again before glancing up at me. "Good morning, my liege. Apologies, I didn't notice you sooner." "Oh, no, it's not like I was trying to make a flashy appearance. I was actually trying not to disturb you, but..." I trailed off. He waved it away. "It's alright." "Ah... Xingqiu... did you sleep at all last night?" "Why do you ask?" "You... just a hunch. Did you?" "I..." he hesitated. "I tried to write to my father last night. I did not." That explained all the paper in the trash can.

"So... then... are you at all tired?" I asked. He shook his head. "No. It's... ah... It's happened before. I'm used to going long time frames without sleep." "Oh. Are you sure that's okay for you?" I didn't think so. "Some questions have no definite answer, my liege." Xingqiu replied, somehow dodging my question. "AGH~!?" "What is it? Are you alright?" Xingqiu looked alarmed, but I was only panicking because I'd forgotten all about his Christmas gift. "I.. uh, have to go run out for a while, be back soon!" I said, throwing on my sweater and putting my shoes on, then redoing them because I put them on the wrong feet. "Al... Alright. Have fun...?" It came out like a question from Xingqiu, his expression worried and confused.

I took a long time to decide where to go, then settled on going to Wanwen Bookhouse. There had to be something for Xingqiu there. Jifang, the person manning the bookhouse, raised a curious eyebrow at me. "Chongyun the Exorcist. What brings you to a bookhouse?" she asked. I shook my head, a bit out of breath. Why are there so many stairs in Liyue?! "It's for my friend Xingqiu. Is there anything here you think he might like?" "Xingqiu? The boy is over here all the time. He's read nearly everything we own here." Jifang said, fiddling with the bracelet around her wrist. I should've known that. "Erm... okay... is there anything else here he hasn't read?" I asked. Jifang paused and turned around, running her hand over several books and musing quietly to herself. "I... yes... ah, there it is. Here. It's Heart's Desire: Sapphire. I don't think Xingqiu has read it yet." "Oh, yeah, that's great! I'll take it. Thanks." I said. I paid for it and tucked the book into my bag. Now off to find the other thing. Buuuuut I had no idea where to go. So I turned around to talk to Jifang again. "Hey, do you have any books from Mondstadt or Inazuma?" I asked. "Er... I have the Legend of The Shattered Halberd and The Dark Knight Hero from Mondstadt, but Xingqiu has read those if you're still shopping for him. Though I have The Serpent-Drake of Tokoyo no Kuni and I'm not sure Xingqiu has read any Inazuman books." "Oh, that's cool. Thank you, I'll take that too."