Chapter Text
“I am not partial to crowded areas. Especially at this time of the year.”
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A few days left until the release of Mingxiao Lantern, the main event of Lantern Rite itself, and Lumine still hasn’t got any partner to attend the event. Well, it is not an obligation, but bringing your loved ones has been a tradition passed down by the locals.
Ah, Paimon with no doubt will go with Xiangling. Those two are inseparable when they meet food.
Taking a stroll and enjoying the atmosphere around the harbour, a familiar scent reached her senses. A dish, that she too once cooked.
Almond Tofu.
A glimpse of memory started to roll inside her mind, leading to one particular person.
Xiao.
————
3 days ago.
Lumine and Paimon returned to Wangshu Inn to take a break from their commissions and fill up their stomach. As they arrived, Verr Goldet greeted them with a friendly manner.
“Hey! Ordering from Smiley Yanxiao?”
“Hey boss lady! Yep we’re here for the food hehe,” Paimon eagerly replied.
The boss lady left a giggle, “as always huh. Ah, speaking of which, the table is a bit occupied. So, you guys might have to wait for a second.”
“Oh? Smiley Yanxiao has a guest?” Lumine was especially curious because normally at this time, the kitchen was vacant.
Verr Goldet nodded, “regular, to be exact. Anyways, hope you have a great lunch!”
As the boss lady welcomed another guest, Paimon and Lumine looked at each other, wondering who might be taking their table this afternoon. It took only a few steps to reach the stair and they saw a familiar figure.
Black hair with teal undertones, pale skin with green tattoos, and amber eyes that had a piercing gaze. A man with a small figure, yet refined and firm, sitting in a chair, pondering whatever he was thinking. No one could ever guess what was inside his very mind.
Xiao?
The small figure turned his head, finally caught a glimpse of the traveler. To his amusement, his heart skipped a beat. He wondered, what was that thing he felt, a new yet refreshing kind of feeling, or maybe excitement, he did not know. The young-looking man was deep in his thoughts.
“Xiao?” Lumine called him, the adepti who saved her from her own doom.
Xiao got back to his senses after hearing the traveler’s tender voice, “oh, it’s you. Lunch time?”
“Yep! If you don’t mind, can we join you? Eating with companions can be fun you know!” Paimon squealed excitedly.
Lumine glared at Paimon, her eyes got larger, signaling that Paimon should’ve known, Xiao was accustomed to eating alone, not liking any commotions. Realizing that, Paimon immediately added, “uhhh, nevermind! We can go find another table in-”
“Do as you like.”
Paimon’s word were interrupted with a dash.
“Eh??” Both Lumine and Paimon were shocked, of course.
Xiao grunted, “do I need to repeat?”
Fearing that the Adepti would wreak havoc in the kitchen, Lumine replied, “yes, we’ll take the seat. Excuse us then.”
Lumine and Paimon both sat with confusion. Just what had gotten into Xiao? The young man usually avoided being accompanied, he disliked crowds.
The Conqueror of Demons was always living in solitude. Exterminating monsters or mutations infesting the land had been his contract with Rex Lapis since thousands of years ago. No mortals dare to pass the border between their and the Adepti’s realm, considering that mortals could not handle adeptal power. Thus, made Xiao grow accustomed to solitary. Moreover, losing all his comrades made him the last sole surviving Yaksha.
Intended to break the awkwardness, Paimon stood up and went to Smiley Yanxiao to get their lunch ordered, hoping that would serve as an ice-breaker.
Lumine finally spoke, though with hesitation, “so Xiao, would you like to umm, go to the Lantern Rite with me? I heard it’s a tradition to bring a partner. So umm, I thought I might ask you out.”
Again, Xiao’s heart skipped a beat, and his eyes widened, didn’t know how to respond.
“Did Verr Goldet ask you to do so?” was the first thing that came up to his mind.
“Huh? Oh no. I asked it out of my own will. I really-”
“I… am not partial to crowded areas. Especially at this time of the year. So, I must reject your offer.”
Sudden disappointment came to Lumine. His answer was not what she had expected. She thought that the Yaksha would at least consider to tag along, but none of it exceeded her expectation.
“Oh, okay.”
The awkwardness started to linger back into the atmosphere. She could’ve asked the reason, but her disappointment had reached its culmination, her question would only exacerbate the situation. What was actually she expecting?
Thank archons Paimon was such a consummate mediator, the food was yet prepared to end the awkward moment, “you guys lunch is ready! Paimon can’t wait to taste the Jueyun Chilli Chicken!”
Lumine looked at their orders and saw the Almond Tofu was placed onto Xiao’s table.
He really only likes Almond Tofu, huh.
Having a hard time to ignore the intricacy of the situation, they all could finally eat with ease. Losing appetite was another possibility but Smiley Yanxiao’s dishes surely lightened up the mood.
When lunch time was over, they parted ways as Lumine had to continue her commissions. Leaving with an uneasy gesture, she and Paimon bid farewell to Xiao, the boss lady and the chef, thanking them for their time and space.
As they exited the Inn, the boss lady snuck out behind the adepti in disbelief, “you don’t have to be that harsh, you know.”
Xiao looked dumbfounded. He didn’t know why he had rejected Lumine’s offer. He knew that deep down inside, he would love to accept it. Regret started to surround him, made him feel guilty just because he didn’t know how to act and respond to his own heart.
“I- have never been asked out…”