𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐓 ↷ 𝑧ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑖

v

You sister is a mercenary. That's why she is going to Sumeru to do her work. Sometimes, it takes her a month or a two before she comes home. At that time, you planned to go to mount aocang and decided to give her the glaze lilies that you were growing for the past few weeks.

You were still quite nervous of this idea. You knew for sure that your sister will get really mad because of your idea of going to mount aocang and giving the Glaze lilies to her personally. And you had a stubborn ass. That is why you kept asking your pet, zhongli.

"Zhongli, do you think this is a good idea?" you said as you stare at him, just lying in your bed. You looked outside of your window. "Lucky for you, your just a little creature, not a human like me. You don't have to problem anything in life. You're not even experiencing poverty like me."

You frowned a little. Yes, you and your sister were poor, but still was able to live together.

You shake your head, making the bad and negative thoughts leave your head. You took the bag, you prepared for your journey to mount aocang. You brought everything you needed for this journey, such as clothes, medical kit just in case you get hurt, and some foods good for one week. You also brought some materials that help you for your safety.

"Come here, Zhongli!" you said as you immediately took him in your arms. "This is going to be a long journey."

***

"We should take a break, zhongli." you said as you drop him on the floor as well as putting your bag beside him. "The sun has fallen and the sky is beautiful."

The sun was about to sleep and it was time for the moon to take over. You and zhongli have been walking for hours, without letting him go.

You sat down to the rock because you want to watch the sun go by.

After a few minutes of resting, you went to your bag to prepare a temporary camp for you and zhongli to stay.

"Zhongli, today was a tiring day. But I was all worth it. Just so I can get Lady Guizhong's blessing and help my family." you said gently, thinking that zhongli was listening and he was.

"Anyways, since the sun has fallen down to sleep, why not we find some food to eat! How about some fish! I can go and catch us some!" you said and you noticed the disgust in his eyes. It was obvious he dislike fishes.

"What's wrong? You don't like eating fish? Well, you have no choice. You have to eat fish! If you don't you will die out of hunger!" you tried your best to sound scary to scare zhongli so he can start eating fish with you.

Zhongli looked away.

Rude.

You held Zhongli as you both tried to find a bond or any body of water where you can get some fish. After few minutes of searching you were able to find a lake. You put zhongli down. "Zhongli, stay put." You folded you pants and sleeves up so you won't get that wet.

You started to get some fishes. After 30 minutes of trying to get some fish for dinner, you were only able to get 3 fishes. But this three fishes were able to feed both you and Zhongli.

"Should I also catch another one to give Lady Guizhong." you asked zhongli. "Or should I give her this extra one for her." you said and looked back to the lake.

You frowned. "I'm kinda tired. We'll just give her this third fish I got!" you said as you held zhongli in your right arm along with the three fishes in your left.

You both went back to the camp you made earlier. You dropped zhongli and went to prepare to cook the three fishes you caught.

***

"Zhongli, please eat the fish I cooked for you." You said to zhongli who is literally neglecting the fish you worked hard to catch.

Even if you kept on repeating to tell him to eat the fish or else he will die starving, he still refuses to eat the fish. He obviously hates him.

Enough forcing him if he won't eat it. If he won't eat the fish, then he won't eat it.

"Maybe I should get you some sunsettias? Do you like that?" You asks him and took the cooked fish in front of him. "If you won't eat this, then I will. After all, one fish is not enough for stomach."

Zhongli watches you eat the fish that you were telling him to eat. "I'll get you some sunsettias later after I eat this."

After eating the fish, you kept the third fish and wrapped it in leaf. After wrapping it in paper, you tied it in you bag. Hoping that there won't be any dogs or creature out there to eat it while you are asleep, or maybe stealing it.

"I hope Lady Guizhong will accept my efforts." you whispered as you stared at the Glaze lilies beside your bag.

I stood up, tidying your clothes and looked at zhongli who was resting in your tent. "Well, I should go get some sunsettias for you to eat. At least you should eat something. We are going to climb the mount aocang tomorrow, so you need to eat a lot so you can have a lot of energy! So you stay put." You said and left to find a sunsettia tree nearby.

Lucky enough, you found a sunsettia tree after a few walks later. You went near there to collect some of the fruit.

"Should I get some for Lady Guizhong." You asks yourself. You even had a debate to yourself if you should get some for Lady Guizhong or not. At the end of the debate, getting sunsettias for Lady Guizhong won.

As you were collecting some sunsettias, you felt some movement, something was approaching you.

You dropped the last sunsettia, as you see a big silhouette.

A monster!?

[ march 11, 2023 ;; unedited ]