Genshin Impact One-Shots

Xingqiu | Cute And Wormy Assistant

Even though Xiangling provided you simple instructions, so simplistic that even a little kid can understand (as you requested), you're still finding some... struggles with understanding what's written on this piece of paper. It's not that her handwriting is awful or anything like that; really, it's a lack of culinary background on your part.

Damn... you should've paid more attention to all those times her and Guoba taught you how to make various dishes.

So here you are, standing in front of Wanmin Restaurant with the recipe in your hand, an immediate frown present upon seeing the written chalkboard sign set out for all eager customers:

We will be back shortly after gathering some ingredients! Please check back during the late afternoon hours. Thank you, dear customer!

Just your luck... so much for getting some assistance from the chef herself, now you're very stuck and lost on what to do. It's a shame, because you intended to make this for your cryo friend Chongyun who seems to be under the weather for the past few days. Sure, you can consider winging it and praying for the best. Preparing the ingredients is something you can successfully do, at the very least.

Step one may be safe, but Archons know how the next steps will go...

"Ah, (Y/N)! What a pleasure seeing you here," Xingqiu's voice comes from behind you, and as you turn around to greet him in excitement, he closes the book he's reading with one hand and gracefully tucks it under his arm, smiling.

"Xingqiu, my cute and wormy book reader!" you say dramatically, falling onto your knees and grasping his pale hands, tugging on them and feigning sobbing sounds. With such a scene, some onlookers in the distance pause, looking rather concerned.

He raises a brow, removing one of his hands from your hold and pats your head like he's comforting a child who got lost in the vibrant streets. He hums in thought. "Perhaps you meant to use the term 'bookworm'?"

"Bookworm, cute worm, book reader, booker. Same thing! You couldn't have arrived at a better timing than now; I am in desperate need of your help, please! I'll pay you for your hard work!" you plead, bowing your head and squeezing his hand as tightly as you can to seriously show how badly you need him.

"Ow ow ow ow ow...! (Y/N), I get it, I understand the gravity of your situation...!"

"Pleaseee!"

"I felt your sincerity the first time!"

♡

After Xingqiu finally somehow manages to assure you that he'll do the best he can to lend a helping hand (because for some reason, you thought he was going to rush away once you let go of him), the two of you quickly get to work in the quiet kitchen of Wanmin Restaurant. Fortunately, Xiangling and Chef Mao are fine with you using their kitchen for your own needs and experiments; however, the agreement is that you must always have someone with you, no matter what. No ifs, ands, nor buts.

Understandably so, because you almost burned down the restaurant five times in the past.

You force your eyes as wide as you can get them to open, ensuring you don't miss any important details of the cooking process as you listen to and watch him slowly but surely turn the ingredients into something that looks edible. Throughout the cooking session, he starts to genuinely worry your eyes will either pop or fall out of their sockets, but you insisted this is what you must do.

When you turn back to your own mess, trying to fix what you can of the... whatever the hell this atrocious glob is, you whine in defeat, your fingers all sticky and white.

"I caaan't...! Look," you wail, showing your friend the evidence of failure, "how'd you make them not sticky icky?! Eugh, it feels like I dipped my hand in slime... shoot! Did I forget the secret weapon you told me to use?! Y'know... that, uh... whatchamacallit..."

The navy blue-haired male initially suppresses his snort and laughter, but after seeing your teary, wide eyes and all the crushed noodles all over your hands, grumbles of annoyance under your breath, he can't help but loudly laugh at how—despite your greatest efforts—you still can't do something as simple as this. Heck, this ingredient is the primary star of the cold noodles dish.

Flustered, you start to chase him around the small kitchen, outside, and back in as he nonchalantly dodges all your swipes with a faint smirk.

Honestly, while your lack of skills in the cooking realm is questionable, it's your honest confusion and diligence to learning and trying that makes you too cute. The dish can be complete sludge, and Xingqiu knows Chongyun would still force himself to enjoy the supposedly cold noodles since it's the thought that counts, after all.

Sighing in a mixture of disbelief and amusement, Xingqiu side steps from your final swipes before gently pushing you against the table with his own body, his arms wrapping around you and moving to hold onto your hands tightly. He directs you over to the bag of something powdery and dips your hands in with his own, leaning into your ear.

"That's right. The 'secret weapon' is flour, my dear. Don't forget that for next time," he says in a low voice, almost a fleeting whisper that's tickling your now burning ear. Sensing your sheer embarrassment, he chuckles and begins instructing you on how to pull the raw noodles properly, taking the time to adjust his laced fingers with yours whenever you stray too far from him.

After several tries, you can't help the loud gasp of happiness and pure surprise at seeing the successful noodle hanging from your fingers. "Xingqiu, we did it!" you exclaim, turning your head quickly to look at him with sparkling eyes, unbothered by the close distance.

As the sun begins to gradually set in the background, painting the streets of Liyue a warm glow with careful shadows, the hydro user's amber gaze is already focused on you as he hums in approval, though not bothering to shift his attention. "Good, your improvements are commendable. I'm proud of you," he praises with a small smile.

You correct him, "You mean you're proud of us since we made this noodle together!"

"Well, I haven't improved upon anything, considering I was already excelling at the task. So, the praise is all you, my dear."

-♡-

I'm going outside to find a worm, bring him into my home, name him Xingqiu, and bundle him in a tiny blanket with some carrots and a book. My very own cute and wormy book reader.