Reputations-Beiguang

Chapter eight

"Hey when's your birthday?" Beidou wonders while chewing on her lunch. Ningguang, the friend beside her, is slightly gagging at the visual. Although she doesn't want to be rude, so she doesn't say anything. Just left to come up with a good enough response.

Ningguang shrugs, "when do you think it is?" The eating brunette stops for a moment and swallows her food. It was a trick question because if she had got it wrong, maybe it would sound like she wasn't a good friend. The two of them didn't talk about birthdays much since nothing special ever happens on them.

Beidou searches deep down in her brain and memory. Had she never even asked for the birthday? What about Ganyu and Keqing? Had she also remembered theirs? Birthdays aren't such a personal matter, so should she be aware of them? Beidou takes then finally comes up with an answer.

"August 26th, right?" she responds as if it just rolled off her tongue. As if it was some sort of reflex or automatic memory. Ningguang looks surprised and gives a slight smile. It begs the question of how she knew and what was the point of asking in the first place. Beidou, of course, wanted to play it off as her being stupid. Unfortunately since she got the answer right, now she had to do something different.

"Yes that is my birthday," the silver haired woman chuckles, "how did you guess so quickly?" Beidou's face flushes. Maybe birthdays were a personal matter and she just didn't care about them as much as other did. That would mean she came off really creepy just now. Uh oh, she thought to herself.

Beidou struggles to come up with a lame excuse. "Lucky guess I suppose. You look like you were born in August anyway." she brushes it off confidently. It was almost as if she wasn't just worried about looking like a creep five seconds ago. Ningguang couldn't possibly understand her response though, so she continued to press her friend.

"What does that even mean?" Keqing, who's sitting right in front of them, questions while fixing her hair. Beidou then realizes that her comment doesn't make any sense and now she has to make up more excuses. A harsh wake up call from Keqing is never a punishment anyone wants to face.

Ganyu starts to giggle because of Beidou's clear embarrassment. "Well I'm just saying, uh," she goes on, "they say the prettiest girls are born in fall." Ganyu holds in her laughter as best as she can, cupping her hand over her mouth. Keqing gives teasing smirk. Ningguang is just confused, but slightly flattered.

Then why are you so beautiful? Ningguang thought when she started rolling her eyes. "Is she wrong?" someone spoke from behind her. The four girls turn their gaze towards a tall red headed man. Childe stood casually a couple feet away with a confident smile on his face.

Each of the girls hold in their sighs and groans with a struggle. "I guess not, why? Do you think she's attractive too?" Keqing sneers, even more upset than Beidou. Childe walked closer and started laughing. Typical. They all glance at each other then look back at him.

"Of course, haven't you heard? She is in the media after all. Say, how come you aren't working and still go to this dump?" he bugs the poor woman with needy questions. As much as Ningguang dislikes dealing with him, it would only be respect to give a respond.

"I'm a minor, so legally, I can't exactly run the thing until I'm out of school. Not to mention I wouldn't throw away my education for a business that has a chance of failure," she coughs, "any chance is not one worth taking. I still work sometimes and I get all the money in return. It just isn't-"

Before she can continue, Beidou covers her mouth. "What she means to say is," Beidou interrupts, "it's none of your business. Get lost." Everybody other than Ningguang is on their hind feet.

Childe ignores her and comes closer. "I'm afraid I wasn't talking to you, mutt. I was talking to the princess." he protests against her negative comment. Now the four of them were even more anger, about to kick him out at any second. Everyone was slightly uncomfortable that she was addressed as 'the princess' while the others were treated like dirt.