You've begun to feel like home. Xiao x Aether.

No answer.

Regardless the time, the Yaksha still did not feel rather comfortable in entering the city. There was no possibility that Xiao would encounter any familiar face here – Ganyu was definitely working herself late again, Hu Tao was most certainty out of town searching for ghosts and all of Aether's friends looked too diligent to not sleep at such late hour. However, knowing that did not help the dark-haired not to shrug the second he landed on the main street of the city. As he made his way carefully, heading towards the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, he noticed how the city had changed from the last time he was here. The decorations for the upcoming Lantern Rite were already on their places – garlands were hanging on every corner of the town, ornamental screens decorated the streets, and the lantern were sold almost in every store, which were closed. Due to his troubles – first the task to clear domains, then the stronger effect of his karma, then the strange flow of emotions, which the Yaksha had not experienced before; Xiao had almost forgotten that this time of the Year arrived. The event never bothered him really, or he usually preferred to think that way. As there was no opportunity for him to visit the city because of the number of citizens and tourists, he would just simply continue doing his duties as a Yaksha. Although, the past few years were different, when Traveler appeared. After meeting Xiao, Aether would not miss a single opportunity to spend at least some time with him during the festival, the reason to which the dark-haired never comprehended. Nevertheless, it was nice to sometimes stop thinking about fighting for death with monsters, especially when there was a festival in your honor going on in the city that you're protecting. And for some reason, the blond always knew his way to distract Xiao from the constant burden he carried and sit with him outside the city, observing the sky as dozens of lanterns lifted there.

"I wonder if this year would be the same." – Xiao thought as he looked at one of the lanterns at the display window of the souvenir shop. Last year was different, more usual for the Yaksha in some way – as Aether was away from the nation, the dark-haired simply returned to his routine work during the Lantern Rite. It was not that bad, he had been doing that for a hundred of years straight after all, but somehow the days seemed less festive without the blond. Xiao remembered the last time they spent the festival together – the night was glowing with the lit lanterns, the city was as loud as ever, however, where they two sat it was quiet and peaceful. They talked for couple of hours and them, when it was time to launch the lanterns into the sky, Aether suddenly went silent, turned around for a split-second and then handed the bright and colorful lantern to the Yaksha. Xiao remembered how shy the blond looked at the moment, how his eyes were shining just as bright as the sky that day, how his wide smile turned to the soft and gentle one, and how he said, "I thought it would be great if we light them together". This moment preserved in Xiao's head till this day, he cherished the memories of it and, at the bottom of his heart, wished that this year would be the same.

As Xiao was lost in his memories, he didn't even recognize how he reached the planned destination and was already standing at the door of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

"Right, - he thought to himself. – I came here to ask the question about my debt, should be more focused." – and, just like that, he opened the door without knocking on it first, expecting to meet with his master there.

To his surprise, there was a sound of someone talking when he entered the building, and that voice definitely was not the Geo Archon's one – it was more cheerful and playful.

- Oh, Mr. Zhongli, someday I will stop giving you my mora and you will regret saying this. – the unknown voice sighed. There was only one room, where the lights were still on, the cabinet presumably. Without making a single sound, Xiao walked up to the entrance of the room, trying to recognize the owner of the voice.

- Childe, if you do so, I might reconsider the agreement conditions of our contract. And you should be more than aware, that I do not tolerate people who violates the conditions which they agreed to initially. – now it was most certainly Zhongli voice, Xiao sighed in relief. Judging by the time of the conversation, his master was out of danger, thus, the dark-haired can let the guard down.