Loss - A Hu Tao Centered Fic

Chapter 3

Day 3

"*Yawn* Where is everyone heading?" Hu Tao said to herself as she rubbed her eyes, looking at the clock to see it was 14:00. "Jeez, I was clearly tired."

As Hu Tao looked out her window from her bedroom, she could see the people of Liyue making their way towards Yujing Terrace in a large crowd. Getting curious, Hu Tao ran to her dresser grabbing a red shirt and black shorts, changing out of her pajamas. Once she was done changing into her current clothes, she unhooked her coat from a nearby hook, sliding her arms in the sleeves and locking it in place with the strings hanging from the edge of her right section.

Exiting her apartment, Hu Tao made her way down the stairs in order to enter the parlor itself, seeing her employees making their way to the front doors, stopping once they saw her. Hu Tao looked at them with a questioning gaze, speaking her mind.

"Where are all of you going?" She asked.

"To go see what is going on, Director Hu Tao!" One of her employees said.

"Everyone is heading to Yujing Terrace for something, and clearly it's something big for everyone to attend!" Another one said.

"O-Of course after whatever i-is finished, we'll a-all come back to go back to work!" A female employee stuttered, getting a sound of agreement from everyone else.

"Well, does anybody know what's going on?"

"I feel like I may know Director" A male voice behind her said, Hu Tao looking behind her, not surprised by the sudden voice behind her.

"Really?" She asked, getting a nod from the consultant.

"Yes, I believe I do."

Hu Tao looked at her waiting employees. "Go ahead, we'll catch up." She said, waving her hand to dismiss them, everyone making their way out. "Well then, do enlighten me Zhongli!"

"Of course, Director. This morning, we received a letter from Lady Ningguang." Zhongli saw that Hu Tao tensed at the mention of her name. "The contents contained her asking for all of Liyue Harbor's citizens to head to Yujing Terrace, and I believe I do know what is going to be planned."

"Well then, what's your theory?"

"I don't know how to say this without saying it bluntly, Director, so I'll just ask you directly. You're mourning the loss of your partner aren't you?"

Hu Tao took a step back, confirming Zhongli's suspicions.

"W-What makes you think that?!" She lashed out, pointing a finger at Zhongli, the latter not moving. "How would you know if I was?!"

"Three days ago when Osial attacked, I saw Y/N going to the Jade Chamber before Osial did his first move. The moment I saw the Jade Chamber fly over Liyue Harbor, I got curious to see where it was going, so I went to the docks to watch what was going on. Shortly after Osial made his appearance at Guyun Stone Forest, I saw that a figure with a massive claymore in hand sealed Osial away, only for them to fall into the sea afterwards."

"When you came back, I saw that you ran into the parlor with no one else behind you, the rest of the group coming back to the harbor with the help of the Adpeti, leaving behind a grounded Jade Chamber where it still sits to this day. I never saw Y/N there with the others, just you being the one not with the group. If Y/N survived their encounter with Osial, they would have either been with you or the others, but they weren't with anyone."

"Am I correct, Director?"

Hu Tao was stunned. He had got everything correct, and it hurt her having to hear it bluntly from a person she can maybe consider a friend.