Chapter Text
Zhongli blinked. He could not recall how long he had drifted away. Slowly glancing at the clock from his desk snowed under piles of books, he realized it already passed 7am. How late did he spend preparing for lectures, he was unsure.
Breakfast. A breakfast could never go without a cup of tea. Zhongli calmly had a sip. It was a tranquil Sunday, no lesson planning, no classes, no coworkers, just himself and his odd joy in collecting artifacts no one could understand. A quality Sunday, he thought.
Until that very Sunday got disturbed by an unannounced gust of wind.
Odd sounds started coming from the room next to his.
That room had been unoccupied for as long as Zhongli could remember. He had been drifting away with classes and students, with never-ending graduation theses. Strangely, that very sound brought him back to reality, vague and familiar, as if he had bathed in it in some long lost life in a far-flung past. A mixture of the violin, a harp, slight sparks of Liyue flute, mingled with inaudible cacophony.
“A new neighbour…” – thought Zhongli. And he had certain knowledge about music. Interesting.
Should one befriend with their new neighbour, or a greeting nod is enough? Zhongli might possess immense knowledge about history of Teyvat, yet common knowledge in daily life was not really his expertise.
“Perhaps I have to drop by to say hello, as a normal welcoming Liyuean citizen.” – Zhongli thought, just when heard a knock on his door.
“Utility is paid up this month, so it shouldn’t be the fee collector.” – Zhongli recalled his money transfer a few days ago – “So it might well be the new neighbour” – He concluded.
In front of his house was Guizhong, another neighbour of Zhongli, one empty flat away from him, or at least it had been empty until now.
“Zhongli, our new neighbour knows music! Mind-blowing, no? Have you seen him? You really should see him! You like music, yes? We can play music together every weekend…” – Guizhong cheered.
“Calm down, Gui. We barely know them. I’ll pay them a visit after finishing my lesson planning.” – smile Zhongli.
Guizhong sighed: “That’s so you. It’s Sunday. Isn’t it your least busy day in a week?”
“Right. Right. Alright. Perhaps I’ll come over to their place this afternoon. Will you tag along?” – Zhongli was quick to surrender; maybe he wasn’t as busy as he thought.
“I have work for the whole day until midnight. You go ahead. Just text me late!” – Smiled Guizhong as she turned to leave, preparing for her Sunday working overtime.
Zhongli also stepped back into his room, locking his door, head pondering on how to start a conversation, or at least his history book never mentioned such thing. He walked towards his balcony for the wind to quench his concern in mind.
There was a smoking fragrance on the balcony.
Zhongli’s golden eyes opened wide. A small man, hair braided into two tiny braids accenting his pretty face was standing merely a balcony apart from him, as if he could easily reach him with a quick reach. The crop-top highlighted his slim shoulders and the fragile body. Upon hearing some sound, the young man moved his gaze to Zhongli, eyes sparkling.
Zhongli froze for a second.
“Greeting, neighbour! I’m Venti, and I’m staying here for a while.”
“Guizhong wouldn’t like this guy’s smoking…” – Zhongli thought, mouth curved into a polite smile – “Zhongli. A pleasure to meet you.”
And his curiosity took over before he could even think: “You play musical instrument?”
Venti spun the flute in his hand: “I hope I won’t bother you too much while practicing.”
“You smoke?”
“Only when looking for inspiration or clearing my thoughts.” – Venti was lifting the cigarette to his mouth, when he halted – “Do you mind if I --?”
Zhongli gestured for Venti to go ahead: “It’s fine. I used to smoke until the university banned smoking on campus.”
Venti’s eyes glittered: “You’re a student? You don’t seem like on—”
“Professor.” – Zhongli corrected.
“Liyue Uni?” – Venti suddenly hyped up.
“Yes, for three years.” – Nodded Zhongli. Three years were not a lot, but ever since he started working, he never let himself have a decent break. Oh right, enough prattle for the mean time. Zhongli excused himself, promised to get Venti acquainted with the neighbourhood, then quickly stepped inside, leaving Venti along on the balcony with his cigarette burning out.
“Venti? What are you doing here?” – Zhongli was close to shocked. Venti unannouncedly walked into his life with the Liyuean flute – that was odd enough. Now, for no particular reason, he appeared on the school campus, especially the restricted teacher area, his revealing crop-top replaced by a neat shirt.
“Professor, I’m an intern student at Liyue University…” – Venti naughtily glanced at the other, the one who felt his blood is pluming behind his nape, his ears echoing those words “Professor – student” – “… Therefor I have to rent an apartment near school, as Professor can see.” – Venti even stressed on that “Professor”, his face faking innocence making Zhongli’s heart unnecessarily skipped a beat.
“You… How long is your internship?” – Zhongli collected his thought, calmly asked. As an official professor, he had no intention of stooping down in front of an intern who never held a degree in his hands.
“One month, then I’ll be back to my uni to finish my degree and graduation thesis.”
“You are not from here?”
“A man who knows how to play Liyuean flute is not necessarily a Liyuean…” – Venti pensively said – “…but a student from Mondstadt School of Music with a great interest in Liyue’s art.”
That left Zhongli speechless.
“Well then, I’ll be relying on you!” – Venti, sensing the awkwardness, bowed Zhongli a goodbye the walked away, a victorious smile working its way across his face.
Apparently, Zhongli was three years older than Venti on this career path. Zhongli slightly thought Venti would encounter many problems, yet he might have overthought it.
“Venti? Oh he’s a genius musician!” – Principal Ningguang smiled, her smiled always connoting a secret – “He is a famous singer, a song writer gifted with natural talent. What I don’t understand is the reason he chose this education path; what a waste.” – Ningguang shook her head – “After all, he brings a good image to our school. It’s not like you get to study with your idol every day. Students go crazy for him.”
“Oh” was everything Zhongli could say. There was so much information to be updated in Zhongli’s old encyclopedia, especially about this Venti guy.
“Anyway, Professor Zhongli…” – Ningguang’s eyes flashed – “Could you guide him?”
“NO.” – Zhongli retorted, and realizing his overacting, he slight coughed – “I mean, I don’t have what it takes for this responsibility.”
“I appreciate your modesty, Professor Zhongli.” – Ningguang smiled, yet her eyes were cold – “You clearly understand you have more than enough what it takes, from your personality to your knowledge. Besides, you are the only teacher who asked about him, you I assumed you took some interest in him.”
Zhongli nodded understandably before stepping out of the Principal room, Ningguang’s voice echoing behind his back: “You will get a bonus from instructing interns, so don’t worry!”
Zhongli tried to listen for that odd sound before entering his flat. “No musical instrument sound. Perhaps Venti hasn’t gone back.” – then immediately shook his head, avoiding his sincere stream of thought – “Why would I have to be worried for him?”
Venti was home an hour later than Zhongli. Zhongli’s door was knocked once again, but this time, it wasn’t Guizhong.
“Professor, you are fast.” – Venti cracked a smile, still with his angelic face covered in hot and cold sweat. What had he done to be this sweaty?
“You don’t have to call me Professor at home. ‘Zhongli’ is enough.”
“Can I call you Zhongli at school too?”
“Absolutely not!” – Zhongli furrowed his eyebrows – “People will talk.”
“Ehe!” – Venti got amused, and Zhongli got this hunch that Venti would do the exact opposite. – “By the way, is there a way to get home faster than walking?” – Venti’s head tilted, hair wet with sweat.
“You could grab a taxi.”
“I’m not that well-off.”
“Then the subway…?”
“Liyue’s subway is too confusing, and the station is far away.”
Zhongli sighed.
“I could give you a lift…”
“Really?” – Venti’s eyes were bright emerald – “Brilliant! Thank you Prof!”
“It’s Zhongli.”
Venti pouted, mumbling the word “Zhongli”, and the other found it cute.
“Zhongli! The principal said you will become my mentor for this internship!”
“Oh, is that so?” – Zhongli simply took a sip of tea, eyes wandering around Venti’s flat. That was the first time Venti invited him over. He had imagined Venti’s room a lot messier, given his artistic attitude; on the contrary, the room was bathed in sunlight and Cecilia fragrance, the specialty of Monstadt. Living in the heart of Liyue, Venti’s was a pleasant change.
“Zhongli! This is serious! As your mentee, I have to follow your guidance without fail, else the Board will bother me, and annoy me, and…, and…”
This time, Zhongli was the amused one: “So you don’t want me your mentor?”
Venti sulked: “No that I don’t want you, idiot. I just hate the ruckus following.”
Zhongli’s teacup was almost empty. Mondstadt’s tea was surely strange, way sweeter than that of Liyue. “Contract is contract. You are an intern student, so you have to follow the rules.”
Venti retorted: “I’m not just an intern student, after work I’m also a musician, a youtuber, a…”
Zhongli already stood up, lightly patted Venti’s hair before heading to the door: “At home, you are my neighbour. At university, you’re my mentee under my guidance. That is enough.”
Zhongli got invited to participate in one of Venti’s lectures.
Upon crossing the lecture room’s door, he was taken aback by the sheer number of students attending this class. It was just a music lesson, yet students of different majors had occupied every seat. Zhongli thought they were not here to study but to simply contemplate. So loud, so crowded, so festive, as if this had not been a lecture but some random concert. Somehow, Zhongli felt displeased.
The clamour suddenly died out upon the appearance of the blue-haired man. He glided on the stage like an effortless gust of wind, hand lifting the harp, thin fingers gracefully hovering on the strings, laid-back yet emotional. A piece foreign to Liyue, but Zhongli was more than certain it was not from Mondstadt either. An impromptu for nobody, yet for everyone. At time it got fortissimo like a battlefield, at time crystal clear like the air, at time laden with grief and sorrow, then suddenly got vivace with the staccato melody. The audience was close to dumbstruck, indulging and passionate. Zhongli jolted when he saw Venti’s eyes laid on him, thought for a split second, before returning to his solo. Zhongli’s heart trembled in his chest.
The piece ended since forever ago yet everyone was still mesmerized; no one could utter a sound. Then, one clap, two claps, the audience burst out in an ovation, as loud as thunder. Venti bowed down professionally, thanked and welcomed everyone to his lecture, before gracefully introduced the content.
“The opening was exceptional” – Zhongli pensively commented – “The theory was detailed and easy to follow, despite the fact that I’m completely new to such music concept.”
“You’re such a slow driver, Zhongli. Maybe I can take over…?”
“Are you even listening?” – Zhongli glanced at the man sitting on the front seat next to him.
“Yeah yeah, but I know I’m good ehe.” – Winked Venti, his tongue sticking out – “Why don’t you tell me what I don’t know?”
Zhongli contemplated. The car fell into silence.
“Why did you choose education? You know you wasting your gifted talent, don’t you? Why must you…? – Zhongli hesitated – “bide yourself to this narrow path?”
“Then why did you choose this ‘narrow path’, Professor Zhongli?”
Zhongli was slightly taken aback: “History major doesn’t give me too much to choose from. I could become a tour guide, or a museum docent, or a research,…”
Venti leant against the side window, eyes drifting away at the scenery flashing through his sight. The slanting rays of setting sun coloured Venti’s skin a fire-gold glow, accenting his angelic face: “Tour guide sounds decent, or at least better than education.”
Zhongli gently nodded: “No doubt tourism is livelier. The thought of switching career crossed my mind, but I thought I’m not cut out for constant travelling back and forth restlessly. I like the serenity and intelligent talks rather than shallow sightsees and unnecessary comments.”
Venti was lost in his own thoughts and Zhongli’s warm voice: “We are… kinda different. I never thought I’m suitable for this education thing. I want to travel and see people, bringing music to the world. The sole reason that forced me to go down this path is…” – Venti suddenly sneered – “my very beloved father, Decarabian.”
Zhongli halted like an old broken machine: “De-Decarabian? Mondstadt Senator?”
Venti’s smile was fake: “You really live up to your reputation as a History Professor at Liyue Uni. That’s why I chose to do my internship in Liyue, away from his surveillance, yet I can return instantly when needed. The old man couldn’t restrict my passion for music and performance, so he used his authority to control, distort it.”
Zhongli’s car had arrived at their apartment.
“Thank you for taking me home, Zhongli.” – Venti reached out to touch Zhongli’s cheeks. And as if he realized himself had crossed certain boundary, he swiftly retreated, opened the door and rushed into the apartment without turning back, leaving Zhongli alone in the car, lost in that alien warm.
No one knew why, that night, Venti was playing the harp in Zhongli’s flat, while the other was snowed under his lesson planning.
“Venti, could you kindly shut up for a second? I need to focus.”
“Earlier you told me I could come over if I wanna talk…” – Venti pouted.
“Talk…” – Zhongli stressed – “isn’t playing the harp.” – and turned to face Venti - “Perhaps this is enough for tomorrow.”
Venti playfully looked at his senior: “I bet those students attend your class not because for your boring lesson, but actually for…” – Venti gestured at Zhongli. The elder blushed.
“F… off.” – Zhongli coughed, earning him a shameless laugh from the blue-haired man.
“Professor, wait no, Zhongli, you, you are cute as heck.” – Venti faked being serious, locking eyes with the other.
That served him right when he got kicked out of Zhongli’s room, door slammed right in front of his eyes.
(Author: This is what people call “Gay-panic” 😊 )
“Meanie!” – Venti pressed his face against Zhongli’s door.
“Go home, Venti. You are going to school by yourself tomorrow.” – Zhongli raised his voice from inside
“Wait no, please!” – Venti was pretty sure Zhongli was the one who sticks to his word - “I’m gonna be late for work. At least give me a lift!”
Silent.
One thing Zhongli might not know was that, Venti was a reckless pain in the neck, also sticking to his thought, dumbly following the voice inside his heart.
Zhongli heard some rustle outside his balcony right before he was about to turn off the night lamp. He carefully walked out. Ah, that was him again, with that blue hair and notorious emerald eyes.
“Zhongli, if you don’t let me in, I will find the way in myself.” – Venti was brief, before lifting one legs onto the balcony bar. Then both legs. Venti stood straight on the bar, one arm holding onto the pillar, the other still grabbing the harp, pupils widening when looking down – he was seven floors above the ground – before lifting his gaze back to meet Zhongli’s, one balcony away from him.
“Venti, you are insane--!” – Zhongli had not finished processing whatever was happening when Venti already lifted his tiny body and flew out of the balcony. Head empty, Zhongli’s reflex was faster than what he saw, arms opening wide to catch the other.
Venti not-very-gently landed onto his chest.
Both kept the position for an eternity, no one making a move. Perhaps they were still in shock, or maybe they just did not want to leave.
That day marked the end of Venti’s second intern week. Half a month flew by like a blink of an eye.
“You…” – Zhongli snared, arms still grabbing Venti tight, mind turbulent. “Rude”? “Nonsensical”? “Reckless”? “Selfish”? No, that was not the word. “Smell good”? Good grief, what was he thinking? Venti on his chest was coated in sweet aromatic fragrance of pure Cecilia. For a second, Zhongli recalled his History lecture on Mondstadt, with its unique Cecilia which only grows where harsh winds blow, and is just as intangible as the true heart of an unbound soul.
“… idiot.” – Zhongli hesitantly put.
“No, you are the idiot one!” – Venti’s voice was more quiet than usual, face resting against Zhongli heaving chest, eyes half lidded.
Zhongli released Venti, which he regretted almost immediately for the lost of heat and the smell of Cecilia.
Then he bent down and put a kiss on Venti’s cherry lips.
It was just a brush at first, which accelerated fast, getting needier every second, as if they were in a rush. Head went blank and blurry, teeth and lips clashed and crashed. Zhongli’s tongue found his way to Venti’s lips, separating them before entering, which Venti eagerly received, exploring every untouched corner, wet, damp and sticky. Venti took his chance well, slightly sucking on Zhongli’s tip of his tongue, before biting it, raw, mouth curving into a mischievous grind. They only separated when gasping for breath, then continued the rhythm, passionate and covetous… Venti’s moan was rounded and mellow, just like every impromptu he performed, but this time is was for an audience of one.
Zhongli…
Not until their lips were red and swollen, faces covered in a pink fog did they let go…
And Venti, despite risking his damn life to jumped over Zhongli’s balcony, now frantically retreated, reaching the door in an instant, about the fling it wide open and escape.
Who could imagine Zhongli, being just as careful as he should be, had locked the door from the inside. Venti cracked a miserable smile when the stubborn door remained static. The other’s footsteps echoed in his ears, earing him a thrill running along his spine like electricity.
Venti could not bring himself to turning back, but he could sense Zhongli’s golden gaze on his back, and if gaze could kill, o God, Zhongli would be the deadliest serial killer.
A hand landed on Venti’s shoulder, sending him another shiver, his ears bright pink, head low. Zhongli’s voice was so close, his breath hovering over Venti’s blue hair, stirring up everything inside him: “You hate it that much?”
Venti jolted. Yet he stayed silent.
“I’m sorry. I never meant to frighten you…” – Zhongli swallow thickly – “L-Let me just open the door for yo—”
His sentence was cut short when Venti suddenly turned back, grabbed his collar and dragged down, putting a kiss on his lips. So thirsty…
They made out, again and again. The world spun. Conscience faded, bodies burning, touching, begging for more and more.
Too addictive...
[To be continued…]
Aight so I finished translating half of the story I wrote 2 days ago in Vietnamese. You can try using Google translate to read the rest , or just wait here a for another 2 days. Until then, happy Zhongven!
Feel free to talk to me on Instagram: @dn__ha , yknow, that amateur artist <3