Chapter Text
Not many people know this about Zhongli, but the man can be absolutely brutal and unforgiving. Before Xiao really knew who he was, he’d simply categorised Zhongli as a superficial heartthrob—Xiao has always seen and heard girls staring or giggling after him. Zhongli is undoubtedly handsome and has generational wealth to his name. That’s often a killer comb, plus that he is also polite to a fault. Zhongli’s integritous nature is well-known as well, often liking to make sure that anything or everything he promised was done, citing the fulfillment on his part of an agreement.
A guy like that—well, Xiao didn’t really think he’d see Zhongli knocking Xiao’s bully flat out unconscious with the other’s bare fist. It shocked Xiao to see someone who’d presented a calm, gentle smile all the time turn violent, and then Zhongli was pulling him up onto his feet with a placid look.
“Are you alright?”
Xiao has never been a person of many words, and he doesn’t like it when others interfered in his business. So what if he gets bullied every now and then because he’s dirt ass poor and scrawny as fuck?
He can fight.
He's always fought.
“Leave me alone,” he mutters, grabbing his bag that was on the floor.
Zhongli apparently had no qualms about the harsh reply. “See you around then.”
It’s not the answer that Xiao expected, but then Zhongli is gone and Xiao quickly escapes the scene before anyone spies the unconscious body on the floor.
To Zhongli’s credit...they do end up seeing each other around every now and then.
Their first meeting is almost ten years ago now...and Xiao sometimes wonders if Zhongli has always been looking out for him. It’s unexpected, because Zhongli is older and he’d simply been a senior to Xiao school-wide wise, not even like a senior in the same extra-curricular club. Maybe Xiao just stuck out too much with his light coloured hair and weird birthmarks on his arm and garnered pity from the other.
In any case, Zhongli has always been in the vicinity before the other graduated high school...and when that happened everyone matured enough not to mess with Xiao anymore. Xiao applied to study fine art at college when it was his turn to graduate, and he had absolutely no idea that Zhongli had been accepted into the same course two years earlier than he did.
Honest to fucking Morax.
Zhongli seeks him out when their course has an introductory senior-to-junior gathering, giving him a nod in casual greeting, like it is completely normal even if they aren’t exactly friends or had spoken much beyond bits and bobs of aftermath bully trashing.
“You look well,” Zhongli says, his voice still in its slow, unhurried, rhythm.
“Mm.”
It’s not Xiao’s fault that he really doesn’t like small talk—or any human interaction for that matter. Thankfully (or not) some other seniors come over to join them and he ends up half-heartedly listening to Zhongli rattling off some trivia in some random topic they’ve ended up with.
Xiao survives it all the way until it’s the bare minimum time that looks polite enough for him to leave, but once he’s managed to squeeze out of the building, he finds Zhongli a step behind him.
“What do you want?” he asks, suddenly terrified with the possibility that Zhongli is taking a sudden interest in him (again).
Zhongli only blinks. “I’m heading back to my apartment, or else my flatmate will make a mess of the kitchen.”
“...Oh.” Xiao feels foolish; he’d been presumptuous. “You live with someone.”
Now the last bit is probably uncalled for—but Zhongli is...well, let’s just say he doesn’t need a flatmate to help pay the rent.
“Yes,” Zhongli nods. “Where are you headed?”
“Home,” Xiao states shortly.
“And where is that?”
“Home,” Xiao repeats, because he meant it as...their hometown.
He’s not moved any closer to university, even if it takes a three hour ride to get to campus. Xiao has a scholarship to cover school fees and a bit of allowance to spend, but it’s not enough to rent a place in the city and have anything left over to save. This is what poor people suffer—unlike what Zhongli will ever understand.
Zhongli stares at him but understanding creeps into features. Xiao does not like the look one bit, so he stalks off toward the train station before Zhongli can say anything.
Exactly one week later Zhongli comes to him with a neat, thick stack of papers. Xiao had been in the library, because he doesn’t have a lot of space at home to do work. Yeah, it’s only the first week, but assignments are already out and Xiao can’t afford to get a bad grade or else his scholarship will be rescinded.
“I have a proposal,” Zhongli starts, and Xiao wonders if Zhongli even knows his name.
When nothing more is said, Xiao furrows his eyebrows. “What proposal?”
Zhongli simply nudges the thick stack of papers towards him. Xiao’s known Zhongli to be a reasonable person (who has no qualms slamming bullies into brick walls, but shh) so he sighs and looks at the first page of the thesis.
The heading says: ASSURED SHORTHOLD TENANCY AGREEMENT.
Xiao does not read any further than that. He pushes the contract back to Zhongli. “No,” is his simple answer.
“Why not?”
Xiao turns back to his materials, ignoring the question.
Zhongli seems unperturbed. “If it is due to a lack of funds, the contract stipulates that you will not need to pay any mora,” and then he adds, “You would know if you read it.”
Xiao hates that he visibly paused when he heard ‘no mora’. He looks up again, and eyes the thick stack of papers. “...Why?”
“Why?” Zhongli echoes.
“Why are you offering me a housing contract? For free?” Xiao demands, as soft as he possibly can because they are in a library. “I’m not a charity case, senior Zhongli. Please go somewhere else if you have to exercise your philanthropic behaviour.”
“It’s not free,” Zhongli states, again with the tone that says you would know if you read it. “And I am not a philanthropist, nor do I have any inclinations to be one. All my offers arise from an agreement which I believe will benefit me. It’s only whether you think the exchange is equivalent to you. If not, we can negotiate.”
Xiao thinks that’s a very wordy way of just saying ‘why don’t you just fucking read the contract’.
The answer is: it’s too damn long.
“Tell me the gist of it,” Xiao nods jerkily towards the contract. “If it interests me, I will consider it more thoroughly.”
Zhongli seems to find that acceptable. “I believe that because of your...financial situation, you are currently commuting from Liyue for class, is that right?”
Xiao reluctantly nods—well, it’s not like Zhongli doesn’t know his ass is dirt-poor.
“I also recall that you topped the cohort in Home Economics back in 2016, 2017 and 2018—”
Xiao squints and wonders why Zhongli would know that, then he remembers the very awkward award ceremonies back in their high school every year.
“It wasn’t just Home Economics, but what is your point?”
“You can cook,” Zhongli points out. “And I assume you have basic skills in household chores. I would like you to perform these duties for me in exchange for a rent-free room.”
“...You want me to be a live-in maid?” Xiao doesn’t know if his voice went higher because the offer is incredulous.
“A helper,” Zhongli corrects.
“Maid,” Xiao corrects back. “Why don’t you just hire a professional to clean your apartment every week instead?”
“I’ve considered,” Zhongli replies smoothly. “However, I have weighed the costs and have concluded that a professional service is excessive as we do not have large messes.”
“....You think I’m cheaper.”
“I think this contract is mutually beneficial,” Zhongli says, blinking once. “And my flatmate has expressed his...preference that we extend this offer to you,” he paused. “It was his idea. But I think it is reasonable. I do not mind your presence and he would be happy to have another....friend.”
Xiao should ask why Zhongli’s flatmate even proposed this idea, given that he has no idea who the other is, but he instead asks another thing. “Where is your apartment?”
“Just off the road of Windrise.”
Xiao refrains from sucking in a deep breath. That’s—that’s prime location. Xiao could wake like five minutes to class and still be on time.
Fuck.
“You are welcome to view the apartment whenever suits,” Zhongli nods towards the contract. “The address and my phone number is stated on page two. I look forward to your decision.”
Against Xiao’s better judgement, he flips through the contract. He tries to read everything, but it’s humanly impossible to keep that much attention to concentrate through fifty pages of dense writing. Also, Xiao knows that Zhongli is first and foremost a fair individual—if Zhongli truly wanted to scam him, Xiao would’ve been dead on his ass ten years ago. In fact, Xiao might go so far as to say that Zhongli has helped him a lot along the years, even if he never asked for any of it.
Doing this little “favour” for Zhongli where Xiao benefits too is not a bad idea.
Zhongli had summarised what his expectations were of this agreement adequately: Xiao would be entitled to free board in a room, bills included, that would be fully furnished in exchange for meal services once per day (dinner), weekends subject to Xiao’s discretion, and to clean the apartment once a week. Zhongli, however, did not mention that Xiao would also be entitled to have his groceries and common toiletries covered by the household fund. That was just icing on a free cake. Rex Lapis.
Xiao could not have possibly turned down the offer. Xiao might be stubborn, but he was not stupid. Just one week of class and the three hours of travel for a single trip was really taking its toll already. He knows he can’t do it any longer without wrecking his health soon enough.
He finds his phone and punches in Zhongli’s number.
When Xiao arrives at the apartment complex for a viewing, he stares mouth agape at the opulence of it. It’s a private compound, one of those newly built ones with all glass and fancy landscaping. Xiao awkwardly nods at the guard at the gate who greets him by name. It’s weird. Super weird.
Zhongli himself is dressed very casually when the other opens the door—in a soft cashmere pullover and some loose pants. Given that Zhongli wears ties and blazers all the time to class, it is too, very weird.
“Was there any trouble finding this place?” Zhongli asks, like anyone would miss this coveted apartment complex. “Would you like some tea?” he adds after Xiao simply shakes his head in response.
“No,” Xiao replies. “Can I see the room,” he says instead, and then tacks on, “Please?”
“Very well,” Zhongli says, and leads him on the apartment tour.
As expected, Zhongli’s abode is furnished very nicely. The overarching colour scheme is gold and black, but there are some random bits of decor, like a poster or painting here and there, that stuck out in style. The place is huge, even disregarding Xiao’s low standards. There is a large sitting/common area where a flat screen monitor is mounted on the wall, with several game consoles stacked underneath it. The kitchen has an island table, the fridge has double doors, the dining table is made of marble—the excessiveness can go on.
“This is the laundry area,” Zhongli says when they circle out from the kitchen. “Washing liquid is all in the cupboard. If you need something laundered, put it in this basket,” he gestures to a linen one placed next to the washing machine. “Since it’s mostly my clothes for now, I usually send it to the laundromat to get it done. Any questions?”
Xiao shakes his head, absorbed with the complicated controls on the washing machine. There are way more on there than Xiao had ever seen on one.
“The toilet you will be using is shared with Venti,” Zhongli continues, showing him the bathroom. “I have the en-suite and I will tidy my things as I see fit, so you don’t have to be concerned about mine.”
“Okay,” Xiao says, eyeing the decidedly much more haphazard way things were kept in this shared bathroom.
He has an inkling that whatever mess Zhongli is hoping that he would help to clean up was coming from this third flatmate, Venti, because Zhongli seems like the very proper type.
“My room is the closest to the corridor leading to the front door,” Zhongli points to the closed door. “I am happy to speak to you whenever you wish, but I would appreciate it if you knock first for my attention. Next to it is Venti’s,” he continues, moving Xiao's line of sight to the door that's halfway open. “He isn’t in at the moment...although he said he’d be here,” Zhongli mutters, more to himself. “He might be running late. More importantly, this will be yours,” he opens the room nearest to the shared bathroom. “...Do you find it acceptable?”
Xiao does not answer because he is speechless. He hadn’t peered into Zhongli’s nor Venti’s room so he didn’t exactly have expectations of how large it’d be, but it is at least three times the size of his own room back home. There’s a solid double bed, a nice wooden desk with plenty of drawers and shelves, one of those comfy, office roller chairs and even a canvas stand at the side.
“It’s my spare, but you are free to use it,” Zhongli mentions nonchalantly. “The dresser should be empty…” he starts, but blinks when he opens it and sees several outfits in it. “Venti,” Zhongli repeats under his breath, but the tone isn’t exasperated, just resigned. “He will take these away before you move in. Bedsheets are in the lower drawer if you need them. If you require any more furnishing, do let me know.”
It’s generous—honestly.
“It’s fine,” Xiao says shortly in lieu of ‘everything is more than great’.
“Good,” Zhongli looks at him expectantly. “Do you agree with the terms of the contract?”
“...I have one main concern,” Xiao says, because he knows he will regret if he says yes immediately.
“Please state your case.”
“What sort of person is Venti?”
“He’s a native of Mondstadt,” Zhongli immediately says, like it answers everything. At Xiao’s quiet stare, he elaborates. “He is...a dear friend.” Now that is sort of surprising, because while Zhongli was always popular, he preferred to spend his lunch hours alone. “He shares your common interest in the flute.”
Xiao perks up, just a bit, but then also silently freaks out that Zhongli has a monster memory. Xiao has never made his passion hobby with the flute well-known, but one time, many years ago, the contents of his bag had been scattered by some annoying classmates and Zhongli had helped pick up his flute that had rolled to the floor when they ran after the other came into view.
“ZHONGLI!” comes a yell from the corridor just then, together with a loud resounding sound of the front door closing and hasty shuffling noises. “IS HE HERE YET ? SORRY I LOST TRACK OF TIME, DIDN’T MEAN TO—oh hey.”
Xiao turns to look at who he assumes is Venti.
There’s no reason why it isn't Venti.
But it’s… Barbatos?
The dip-dyed pigtails, the small, cherry stature, those brilliant green eyes—by Morax, he looked exactly like one of Xiao’s posters on his wall.
Like, the legendary flautist Barbatos.
A known prodigy since three years old, Barbatos is practically the face of Mondstadt now. He has eleven albums of varying, eclectic genres and Xiao has them all. Truth be told, Xiao picked up the flute because he’d listened to a lot of youtube playlists when he was younger, trying to starve off the boredom of always eating lunch alone in school. And then he came across the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard from a tiny, smiley boy...the rest is history.
“Hello, I’m Venti,” the other grabs Xiao’s hand to shake it a few times, smiling with his eyes crinkled. “Zhongli has told me a lot about you. I can’t wait for you to live with us! We’ll have so much fun!”
“....” Xiao can’t be blamed if he lost sense of trying to string words together...he’s still in shock.
Maybe Zhongli assumes it’s just his tendency to keep silent, because the other steps in. “He hasn’t agreed to the contract yet.”
“I can tell he’s going to say yes,” Venti blinks, smiling. “My intuition is never wrong.”
“What if I don’t agree?” Xiao ends up blurting, because he dislikes it when things are assumed of him.
“Hmm...then I’m sure Zhongli can negotiate further with you. He’s really good at making an offer you can’t refuse.”
“Venti…” Zhongli starts. “It’s his choice.”
“Yeah, but you could also make the deal sweeter, with something else...like almond tofu.”
Xiao suddenly realises three things all at once.
Number one: Zhongli remembers everything. Every small bit of detail, especially if they seem insignificant. Xiao knows Zhongli has seen him eat almond tofu in the canteen before. He’d accidentally said ‘hi’ because he was in a good mood—it’s almond tofu, it does things to him. He’s never eaten almond tofu in public ever again.
Number two: Zhongli and Venti are friends. Like, real friends. The sort who talk to each other about everything and anything. Why else would Venti know about almond tofu? Maybe it’s coincidence, but with the way Zhongli looks half apologetic at this hinted bribe/threat/who knows what, it’s likely that they know how much almond tofu means to Xiao.
Number three: Xiao is never going to win against the combination of the other two.
Never.