Designing a Version of You

Flashy Entrance???

"Was walking through the airport always this difficult?" A small girl, shorter than 5'5, huffed out as she pushed through the crowd with her luggage trailing behind. She had recently landed from a long flight and was hella' ready to leave the airport. Throughout the pulsing crowd, she came out as an eyesore of sorts. The girl's clothing style was slightly different from the popular trends of China, but the most noticeable feature was her dyed blue and purple hair. Despite the curious and disgusted looks she received; Li Xiu paid no mind to the surrounding onlookers.

Perhaps there was a temperature change, or perhaps, it was the deafening chaos that circulated through the airport. It made little sense to Li Xiu why she was irritated, but it frustrated her immensely. Li Xiu shook her head, stepping aside from the bustling crowd as she looked through her mental list of things that needed to be done, once again. Everything regarding her personal and work life had been taken care of. So, what in the world was she forgetting? 

 Li Xiu stared laser focused at the floor, her brows furrowed, as she attempted to remember what she'd forgotten. Abruptly, the irritation that plagued her cleared, "Rango!" Dropping her luggage, Li Xiu whipped out her phone faster than lightning, fear coursing through her. Dialing the animal department of the airline, Li Xiu bounced on the balls of her heels, nervously waiting for someone to pick up.

"Hello, Shanghai airport animal services. How may we help you?" An operator picked up on the other end.

"Yes! Could you please give me directions to the animal pickup desk?"

Li Xiu relaxed as the operator directed her to the pickup desk and informed her of the forms that would have to be presented to prove ownership. Nodding softly to herself, Li Xiu thanked the operator. Picking up the luggage she had dropped, Li Xiu pushed her way back through the crowd.

Arriving at the animal service desk, Li Xiu hurriedly pulled out the forms she needed and handed them to the clerk. Soon enough, everything was squared away, and her beloved pet was returned. Making her way outside the airport, Li Xiu sat on a nearby bench and, while opening the carrier, reached in and gently pulled out a chameleon.

"Rango, we're home," Li Xiu cooed at the lizard affectionately, tracing her hand along its scales. "You're finally going to see Yao Yao in person! Hopefully Biscuit won't try to eat you-" she trails off at the end, worried of that risk. "Speaking of Yao Yao, I better call her!" Li Xiu pulls out her phone, dialing Tong Yao. While waiting for her closest friend to pick up, she watches Rango gradually crawl up her arm. "Don't worry, bub, our journey is almost at its end! You'll soon be back in the comforts of home!" Li Xiu hums softly.

As soon as Tong Yao picked up, her curiosity unleashed. "Li! It's been two weeks since you last called. Why haven't you responded to my messages?! You better not be planning another one of your pranks. Last time things didn't end well." The younger girl huffed out at the end immediately wanting answers. "Also..." she slowed down, "I have some news!"

"Not this time Yao Yao, work has been keeping me pretty busy," Li Xiu scoffed bemusedly, leaning her head back to look up at the late afternoon sky. "What's this news my little Yao Yao has to share?" Smirking, Li Xiu decides to tease Tong Yao, "A boyfriend, perhaps? Has my little Yao Yao finally tried her luck at love again and pulled her head out of a computer~?"

"Yah, what nonsense are you talking about?" Tong Yao responds, shaking her head. "I joined the professional Esports team ZGDX. Stop talking such nonsense about relationships. You don't have room to say anything, ya know." This response naturally earned a laugh from Li Xiu.

"I know, I know." Li Xiu waves the younger girl's words off. "ZGDX, huh. Assuming you're staying at their base, they better treat you well. If they harm you in any way, I'll personally castrate them." Li Xiu giggles at the thought, her overprotectiveness of Tong Yao activated. "Speaking of which, you better let me meet them."

"I'm not a child, I can take care of things myself just fine," Tong Yao asserts. "Letting you meet them would probably end in disaster. But...fine. No interrogating."

"Mmmmm....no promises. Truly, though, I'm proud of you Yao Yao!! I'm sure you'll wipe the floor with those stinky boys!!" Li Xiu picks up Rango, putting him back in his carrier, and gathers her things as she gets ready to leave the airport. "I gotta go Yao Yao, duty calls. I'll call again sometime soon if I get the chance! Love ya, bye!" She hangs up before Tong Yao gets the chance to say anything further.

Calling over a DIDI (taxi), Li Xiu loads up and gives directions of ZGDX's base to the driver before turning her attention to staring outside the window spacing out.

Li Xiu felt worry creep up through her. She's a new employee at the company that created Onmyoji Arena as a character designer. Tong Yao had joined a professional Esports team that regularly plays the game, especially for the Onmyoji Arena Pro-League Championship. Li Xiu knows confidential information regarding the development of Onmyoji Arena, and seeing as she's friends with Tong Yao there would potentially be accusations of cheating. Obviously, such accusations would be incorrect. Even then, it's doubtful that the media and the fan base would listen all that much to the truth. Things would probably get worse if she got to assist with the new skin. Then again, perhaps Li Xiu had too little faith in humanity. Shaking her head, she banished the cacophony of thoughts away. 'I simply won't let such things take place.'

The car door to her right opened unexpectedly, startling her. "Apologies, Miss," the driver smiled sheepishly. "We've arrived at your destination. Allow me to take care of your things." As the driver moved around to take care of her luggage, Li Xiu made her way around outside the base. "Damn, this place is pretty nice. Might just have to crash here instead of inhabiting my new apartment." Li Xiu made her way back around to the front, smirking over the "flashy entrance" she planned to make. In reality, it was merely her making a fool of herself.

Knocking on the door before her, Li Xiu took a few quick steps back and prepared herself for her breathtaking entrance. Striking a pose with her legs spread, a hand on her hip, and her left hand extended forward as if she were a royal demanding respect from her subjects, she waited to give Tong Yao the surprise of her life. As soon as the door opened, Li Xiu whipped her head around smirking haughtily, "YOUR FAVORITE BITCH IS BA-" she stopped mid-sentence staring at the male before her who most definitely wasn't her Yao Yao. The male before her was tall and decently handsome, but what was more interesting was the intimidating presence he gave off. After a few seconds, Li Xiu realized that the male standing before her was the infamous captain of ZGDX, Lu Si Cheng.

The two stared at each other for a moment, both stunned to find something they weren't expecting on the other side of the door. Snapping out of shock, Li Xiu stepped forward to explain things, but before she could even get a word in, the male slammed the door shut.