Icy lines | a Xingyun fanfic AU

Chapter 4

Chongyun POV

"Dear, are you sure you want return to acting?"

Auntie Shenhe asked me this morning, worried. I shrugged with my head yes and she sighed before preparing me some glass noodles. Before I continue, I think a proper introduction is worth of me:

My name is Chongyun. I'm 19 years old and living with my dear kind aunt Shenhe. She's a tall woman with long soothing icy cold hair and marvelous icy bright eyes. You either see her dressed in skinny leggings and a sweater or if you're lucky enough, you can see her in this black body suit in which on top she wears a white cropped sweater.

Just like my aunt, I have bright turquoise eyes and icy hair. I do kung-fu, taught by someone younger than me. I also am an exorcist, which means that I haunt ghosts. I do get spooked out a lot but it's the only way for me to be a good breadwinner. So I'm forced to do it.

Not until Zhongli stepped in.

2 weeks ago

"Huh? Acting?

-Yes! Acting! It's a great job sir Chongyun! *he told me, enthusiastically*

-No. I'm not returning back. Never again. So you can already leave before you get on my nerves. * I crunched my fist*

-Oh why so? Could you tell me if not too personal.

-I used to be a child actor. But by the time I was seven I only had one good friend : Xingqiu. His eyes were , drawing you by their very nature. His smile and laugh were enticing and when he would speak, everyone was drawn in. He was rich alright, but had a very kind heart. I never really knew what it was to love platonically your friend, so by the time of 9, I had a very very early maturity. Xing was very affectionate and I would always push him away until one day, I found some vomit and blood on a bridge that was at least at 500m drop. He also left a scribbled message in which was written:

"Dear person that finds this:
I died. Please tell my aunt Yelan I love her and tell a certain Chongyun that I have the earring he gave me for my 7th Birthday."

I was devastated by this and that made me quit the acting industry. So please, Mister Zhongli I-

-Quite a devastating story. I offer this. There's a guy called Xingqiu that will also be in the cast. So this might be him.

-But...he died. *I looked down*

-I gave an offering to Morax earlier on and he told me that a certain named Xingqiu had been revived but his attitude is rather weak.

-A...A...Alive?

-Yes Chongyun. Yes.

-Alright! We have a deal! *I shook his hand*."

Back to the present

My aunt Shenhe looked sadly at me again before giving me my food box.

"Do you want any... Nian Gao?

-Huh? No."

I shook my head, trying to fight the tears away. That cake. My mom used to make it only until she...left. I loved her with all my heart and she just left from me. The only thing that my mom was known for was cooking some Nian Gao. It's a Southern Liyue meal, which is eaten during the Lunar New Year, but my mom would always make it, until death parted her and she left us. That's when Shenhe started taking care of me.

After bidding her a nice goodbye, I left her to her own.

Author POV.
I just make a little break here. Nian Gao is a Cantonese dessert eaten on New Years and is composed of glutinous rice flower and coconut. As soon as the dough is composed, it is fried in oil, but personally, I like it with Coconut oil mainly because it's just so good. Since Liyue Harbor is in the sort of South of Liyue, near the sea, I inspired myself form Guangzhou, this city situated on the South East coast of China. So that's it, now back to the story!

I left my aunts house and on to the bustling streets of Liyue Harbor. On the way, I stumbled upon some ruan players who were asking people to throw some Mora at them. I walked past Wamin restaurant to notice a familiar face cooking some Jade Parcels:

"Xiangling? I thought you'd be going to the cast! And where's Xinyan?

-The cast? I withdrew! I'd rather like helping my dad in the kitchen rather than acting. Oh and Xinyan also withdrew because she's busy with concerts and stuff.

-Who are the gonna be the two new people then? *I asked, with great concern*

-The two subs? Well, lemme remember. So....it's two girls from Sumeru, one is a dancer and the other one specializes in lofi music so she's very popular on the stream front. I mean both are.

-The dancer is...Nilou right? And Slay Deh is the music maker?

-Yep! *Xiangling' s eyes glittered* Also, my cousin's gonna be in the cast-

-Hm? I never knew u had a cousin! What's the name?

-So...his name is Xingqiu, he's 17 years old, raised by his mom until 5 years old, then he lived most of his life with my aunt Yelan. So yea.

-A...Alright. See ya!"

I nodded her goodbye and left. Xingqiu. Just the name resonated over and over in my head. No wonder, could that be my...lost dead friend? I mean Zhongli did mention that a certain Xingqiu came back from ten dead! And in the whole Liyue Harbor, there's only one Xingqiu. A part from that, the cast members seem really cool! Nilou the most famous Internet dancer, Slay Deh, the best music producer, Tighnari, the most popular biologist making documentaries, Cyno, the Alchemist from the Akademiya shown in many sit coms, I couldn't wait to know more about them!

But this Xingqiu. Just him. So mysterious, and weird,I asked myself tons of questions if hat could be actually him!

"Hi! Sorry I'm late!"