Flowers are the Language of Love - Kokomi x Hu Tao

Chapter Ten - 𝔹𝕝𝕦𝕖𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕝

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"Hu Tao, you're so creepy, forcing yourself onto vulnerable girls?"

"Aren't you ashamed? No man will ever love somebody such as you,"

"I wish I had a cuter daughter, maybe then you'd be able to get married off,"

"Even if you learn more feminine things you'll never amount to anything, you'll forever be a creepy girl who plays with imaginary friends,"

"Hu Tao,"

*Knock*
*Knock*

"Miss Tao, are you awake yet?" Hu Taos' eyes flash open, she had awoken to cold sweat, her breaths also coming out in uneven clumps.

Hu Tao flings her legs out the covers, she felt as if she would die from the heat.

"Miss Tao, please wake up," Hu Tao scrambles out of bed, for once she's glad Zhongli had awoken her, 'what the hell kind of nightmare is that?'

Hu Tao rushes to the door, opening it faster than The Raiden Shogun's lightning.

"Good morning Zhongli, sorry I haven't gotten dressed yet I'll be out in a bit..." Trying to hide her stutter Hu Tao plastered her best smile.

"Oh make sure to get dressed quickly, otherwise we'll be late," Hu Tao felt somewhat touched at Zhongli's kindness.

"You can come in, it must be pretty cold," despite trying her best to be her usual self, she felt a bit of guilt. Zhongli would come over every day just to check on her, thinking Hu Tao was sick, but in reality, she was just hung up over a girl she knew for a day.

"It's fine, I like the fresh air, also I see you've finally watered your plants," Zhongli peeps inside at the table.

"You were always quite fond of gardening and flowers, they seem to be white chrysanthemums... aren't they usually used in the funeral ceremonies? They mean mourning and grief if I'm correct."

"Ahh, I just like the flower..?" Hu Tao didn't even think about the suspicious Zhongli, who knows everything about anything.

"Hmm, very well. Make sure to get dressed young one," Hu Tao laughs, Zhongli does have the personality of an old man.

"Will do, Mr Zhongli!" Hu Tao closes the door much softer than the previous day.

Hu Tao went back into her room and got changed into her usual workwear, she always liked the hat especially the straps however it would hit her back at times. The plum blossoms had also fallen off her hat, however, Hu Tao didn't have time to replace it so she decided to go out as is.

"Hello Mr Zhongli, it is I, Hu Tao and I'm back in business!" Unlike how she wanted, Zhongli stared at Hu Tao almost as if analysing.

"Mr Zhongli we best go!" Hu Tao hummed but she couldn't seem to shake Zhongli's stern gaze, he nods slowly.

"Mr Zhongli stop being silly and looking at me like a ghost! I'm not dead yet!" No matter what Hu Tao does Zhongli's glaring holds strong, despite that they continue to walk. After a few short minutes they reach the parlour, Hu Tao is greeted by The Ferrylady.

"Miss Hu, I'm so glad you're all right, we thought that we'd need to bury you," Ferrylady was always a serious 'lady' so to see her worried came as a shock to Hu Tao.

"I've still got a lot of life left in me!" Hu Tao flashes the biggest smile she possibly can, The Ferrylady grins slightly, however, Hu Tao could still feel Zhongli staring holes into the back of her head.

"Oh that's right, Meng should be coming back from leave soon right? Three months is quite a while," Hu Tao smoothly ponders.

"He should be back soon, but seeing his long lost friend's ghost is usually seen as a traumatic incident," The Ferrylady speaks in an apologetic tone.

"I guess, but you can never prevent death so it's best to live your short life with lots of laughs and fun!" Hu Tao felt a strong pain in her chest, giving advice she couldn't take on board left a sour feeling.

"Hu Tao are you sure you're okay?" Zhongli's sudden words made the atmosphere bleak.

"Zhongli whatever are you talking about?" Ferrylady challenged analytically.

"Mr Zhongli I'm all better now, so no need to worry about me!" Hu Tao can feel her heart rate pick up, she wished for Zhongli to just drop it.

"If you say so,"

Hu Tao knows Zhongli doesn't buy it for one second, but what more could she do? For the first time Hu Tao would much rather be in bed than at the parlour, she just wants the day to hurry up and end so she can snuggle up to her pillow again.

"I should start doing paperwork now!" The Ferrylady nods suspiciously.

"I should also get to work now," Zhongli answers promptly.

Hu Tao sits in her office chair, unlike a few weeks ago when all paperwork was spread out it'd become rather neat, knowing this was the work of Zhongli made her feel some shame in her self indulging behaviour. Hu Tao never liked paperwork, however today she found some sort of comfort in it, being able to keep her mind off Kokomi and the nightmares were a nice change. Before she knew it the light beyond the blinds began to decimate, not even the luminous shine of the moon could be seen, it was a dark night.

Hu Tao couldn't help but feel melancholic, perhaps it was time to go home. Hu Tao placed her paperwork to the side, and fled her chair, also leaving her office, not a clue what the time was.

"Miss Tao, it's late. I thought you would never leave that office," Hu Tao slightly scoffs, Zhongli is one to talk.

"Mr Zhongli, you know how hypocritical what your saying is, right?" Hu Tao mentally rolls her eyes.

"I guess it is rather smooth-tongued of me, however, I'm used to working late and taking frequent breaks, your body, however, can't handle it," Hu Tao just wanted to sleep, she didn't sign up for Zhongli's scoldings.

"That's why I'm going home now," Hu Tao brushes Zhongli off and goes on to leave the parlour, her heart feeling tightened.

Hu Tao's eyes wondered up, the sky was clouded not even a single star or glisten of light twinkled. The usually lively and bright Liyue had gone to sleep, the only thing to be heard was the rustling trees and the howling of the wind, it was a rather cold night.

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