Rewind | Genshin Impact

Chapter 30

29th April 2020:

Venti spent the better half of the morning considering whether he should actually meet Xiao at Valley Bridge, and trying to figure out what the hell this was all about. His hesitance to meet Xiao was a result of how left in the dark Venti felt. Their whole interaction left him on edge, especially considering the fact that Xiao denied giving him any information beyond the time and place. It felt like he was getting dragged into a very sketchy drug deal, or, honestly, was walking into his assassination. Something about Xiao, Scaramouche, bridge and night didn't sit well with him. 

To further his uneasiness, he didn't have Xiao's phone number so it wasn't like he could call or text him. Besides, of course his memory wasn't amazing so he couldn't remember the number from the last time loop. Granted, he could just go to Xiao's house but a voice bugging the back of his head convinced him otherwise.

Although, 4pm came around a lot quicker then he expected, giving him very little time to make a decision. After some hesitation, he decided that he should go. Xiao's actions the previous day had put Venti on edge, but every other time loop Xiao had proved to be nothing but helpful. So why should Venti start questioning him and his motives now?

Venti sighed as he went to his closest and slung on a green jacket, then reached to grab his hat from the top shelf and adjusted it on his head properly. Ensuring to also take a sip of his personal alcohol bottle as he did so.

Before he left his apartment, he informed Chongyun and Bennett that he was going to a 'local bar', to reassure them he wasn't doing anything sketchy or dangerous. Although, the two of them were so shaken up by what happened to Kaeya that they spent about 20 minutes warning him of all the possible dangers, insisting that Venti allowed them to go with him.

However, Venti couldn't let that happen. The last thing he wanted to do was drag anyone else, especially his friends, into this really sticky situation.

Eventually, Chongyun and Bennett both gave up trying to go with him, but it came with a compromise. Venti had to text them every hour to assure them that he was okay, as annoying as it was Venti was happy that his friends cared that much about his wellbeing and safety. 

The uber drive to Valley bridge was nothing but nerve-racking. Right now, the carefree bard who would dance on bar tables for fun was nothing but a memory, and he wasn't sure whether, after this whole experience, that carefree version of himself would ever come back. Venti used to live his life like he had all the time in the world, but now he knows his life could be taken away from him at any second, when he least expects it, when he's most vulnerable. Just like Kaeya was. This could go so many ways, he could get hurt, Xiao could get hurt. Besides, as far as Venti was concerned no one was as suspicious as Scaramouche, and in that case Venti and Xiao were on their way to meet up with a murderer, a brutal one.

Yeah, Venti was a bit nervous.

Before he knew it though, the uber driver turned around from the driver's seat asking for his pay, and (not very subtly) hinting at Venti to give him a tip. 

As soon as Venti got out of the car, he was met with a cool gush of wind which nearly sent his hat flying. Venti hadn't been to Valley bridge in a while, and looking at it now, it's a lot more beautiful then Venti remembered it to be. 

Valley bridge overlooked a peaceful lake. Surrounding it, deciduous trees shredded red, orange and yellow leaves, the wind nearly tangling some in Venti's hair.

The scenery nearly made Venti forget why he was really there. However, he was reminded again when he saw a familiar greenish black haired man leaning forward on the bridge railing facing away from Venti, seemingly also taking in the view.