When Rose's Thorns Attack my Sides (But my Eyes Stay Trained on You) (Xingyun)

Ch. 28

1 month later

"You wanna know a secret?" Xingqiu hums, spinning a silk flower between his thumb and index finger.

"What?" Chongyun asks curiously while he fixes the flower crown he has placed on Xingqiu's head.

"I wish me and you could be romantic all the time."

"We aren't?" Chongyun looks at him funnily from overhead.

"I mean in public and stuff. I can't hold you hand or anything because everyone's still thinking about me waking up."

Chongyun sits back on the bright field of flowers, thinking about what he'd just said.

The two of them were sitting in their famous flower field that they'd met in, which by now was overrun with silk flowers amongst the tall grass.

"We can if we go someone else. Somewhere further than Liyue." Chongyun suggests.

"Like where? It's not like we have time to go overseas or all the way to the desert..."

"Not that far. Mondstadt far."

Mondstadt. Xingqiu knew that that place was supposed to be bright and peaceful, and it was a city of freedom. That had to include holding his boyfriend's hand, right?

"I like that idea. We should go right now!" Xingqiu drags him up by his hand, taking the exorcist by surprise.

"H-huh? We can't go now! It's already noon!"

"Sure we can! The Traveller can go from Quince Village to Ritou in 3 seconds flat. Surely they can help us get over to Mondstadt for a few hours?"

Chongyun follows after Xingqiu while he drags him along, thinking about already going so far. "I guess, probably..."

"Let's go ask him then. Last I heard, he was stationed over at Wangshu Inn. Not too far from here!"

Xingqiu adjusts the flower crown on his head before abruptly stopping and adjusting Chongyun's hair.

"What are you doing?" Chongyun asks when he pulls away.

"Just putting a flower in your hair. That's all." He grins, standing back to admire his work. "Now we match! And I'd say you look pretty cute~ So let's go!"

Xingqiu pulls Chongyun along down to Wangshu Inn, seeing the Traveler and Paimon having a short little discussion with Venti.

Well well, if it isn't Zhen- I-I mean, Xingqiu! And his little boyfriend too! Hello there Chongyun." He waves to the two.

"I don't believe I've ever divulged such information to you." Xingqiu looks at him curiously, trying not to peak the Traveler and Paimon's interest.

"Well as the saying goes, the wind has ears!"

Chongyun looks between them, also confused. "That's not a saying-"

"You and Xingqiu are dating? Paimon's not hearing this wrong, is she? Like, you're in love?" She gawks at them over Traveler's shoulder.

"Not so loud! Talk of the curse is still very much a hot topic." Xingqiu holds a finger to his lips. "And..."

He looks to Chongyun, not wanting to tell them such private information if he's not comfortable with it.

"It's okay. Just as long as they don't tell everyone...I think that's something we should tell people ourselves." He tells them all.

"OkeeDokee then! Paimon can keep a secret!" She grins while Aether shakes his head in defeat. "So what are you two here for anyways?"