Chapter Text
There were no words to describe how he felt in that moment, eyes wide as he stared down at the young man who boasted a permanent scowl.
Baizhu glanced into the distance, frowning at the night sky before pushing up his glasses, a shaky smile tugging at his lips as molten gold met the inflamed amber of the man in front of him. “I’m sorry,” he began, raising an eyebrow. “But just what have I done to have you on my doorstep?”
The man’s glare seemed to deepen, the crease between his eyebrows furrowing even further as the polearm he had in his hand willed away to nothing. Baizhu crossed his arms, jutting out his hip as Changsheng hissed. “That child is an adeptus , Baizhu,” she said, and he hummed, his smile broadening even further. “Show some respect.” If his snake could sigh, she would have.
“Adeptus, hm?” he echoed, moving to play with the hair he tossed over his shoulder after being awakened from his slumber. “Now, now, Mr. Adeptus, while I do appreciate the late night visits, I can’t say I’m a fan of them. So unless there’s a reason for you being here, I’d like to get to bed. Life as a pharmacist isn’t easy y’know.”
At this, the man (adeptus?) sighed heavily, turning to look behind him before speaking.
“I am giving you a responsibility, Baizhu,” he said flatly, and the green haired man beamed at the prospect. “It will now be your job to care for, love, and protect the responsibility I’m giving to you,” he added, and Baizhu tilted his head, mild confusion flooding his senses.
He frowned. “Is it an animal? I take very good care of Changsheng already,” he said flatly, only to stop as the adeptus shook his head, gesturing to the side. And then he saw what this “responsibility” was, taking the form of a little girl with purple hair and the prettiest magenta eyes he had ever seen. The only thing she did have was the talisman stuck to her forehead, and it took him a minute to realize what that meant.
“A zombie,” he said dryly, and the girl whimpered as the wind picked up for a second.
She turned to glare at the adeptus (who refused to meet her gaze), his eyes trained on Baizhu. “This is Qiqi. She is a zombie. I need you to take care of her as I can’t be there with her all the time.”
Baizhu nodded once, ignoring Changsheng’s muttered words. Was he just supposed to digest this information? Ridiculous. “But why me exactly, adeptus? There are many more capable young people in this world who have the needed resources and finances to care for a child such as herself,” he said, meeting Qiqi’s wide eyes. “It’s not that I’m unwilling to accept the task at hand, it’s simply because --”
He stopped, holding a hand up in front of his face when the wind howled, opening his eyes a moment later only to realize the adeptus was gone, leaving the small girl behind.
So that’s how it was going to be.
Sighing heavily, he rolled his neck before dropping his gaze to the child standing on his doorstep, hands clasped as she stared up at him with her too pretty, too wide eyes.
Damn his resolve.
Stooping down, he held out his hand, shaking it once to show she should take it. “My name is Baizhu. I work at the Bubu Pharmacy, but this here is my home,” he said, smiling as she frowned in what he assumed was concentration before taking his hand in hers. “This is my snake, Changsheng. She can talk.”
Now, this elicited a response, a startled expression colouring her features as she blinked.
“Your snake… talks?” she asked, and Baizhu laughed as he adjusted his arm for Changsheng to slither down.
“Indeed she does! It’s a talent that she always has possessed,” he told her, using two fingers on her the albino snake’s head. “Do you want to hold her?”
Qiqi stared at him before nodding slowly, holding out her hands. Still, she yelped when Changsheng found her way onto the young girl’s shoulders, loosely wrapping her body around the child’s neck. The girl watched her hands, putting two fingers together before reaching up to pat her head.
Baizhu observed her, a smile pulling at his lips before he could think of stopping himself. “Just like that, my dear Qiqi! You’re a natural!”
“A natural,” she echoed, almost dazed, and Baizhu chuckled as he stood.
He beckoned for her to follow him inside his home, shutting the door behind her. Qiqi watched Changsheng slither away, waving at the snake who disappeared into one of the small alcoves she had made for herself. Baizhu frowned as he watched the girl look around, absently tugging at her clothes or playing with her talisman.
Do zombies need rest? Showers? To eat? How much effort would he have to put into raising this child? He huffed, holding his chin. Would she even age? What happened then? How would he explain Qiqi to Gui? How would he --
“Excuse me --”
He jumped, eyes widening before he relaxed. “How might I help you, Qiqi?” he asked, smiling down at her.
She pursed her lips, brows furrowed in concentration before she spoke. “Would you happen to have cocogoat milk? It has been a long time since I had cocogoat milk,” she said, placing a hand on her chest. “When I was with the adeptus, Xiao, he couldn’t find me the cocogoat adeptibeast. He couldn’t find coconut milk either.”
Baizhu hummed as he smiled. Xiao, huh? He placed a hand on his hip, cocking his head to the side in a way one could only describe as dramatic. “Cocogoat, you say?” he asked, frowning when she nodded. He was about to break the news to her when it slowly dawned on him. “Do you mean coconut milk, Qiqi?” he said again, smiling when her eyes widened in understanding.
“That’s what it’s called! I forgot.”
“And that’s alright,” he replied, reaching forward to straighten the little jiangshi’s talisman. “I’m afraid I don’t have any coconut milk here, but we can go to town tomorrow and take a look,” he said, smiling. “We can even buy you a notebook so you can write down all the important things you see in the day,” he offered, relaxing when she gave him a tentative smile.
“I’d like that, Master Baizhu.”
He wouldn’t correct her on the name yet, sighing in hopes that one day she’d drop it on her own. But for now, it would have to do, shaking his head as he patted her hat. “So be it, then.”