Chapter Text
"A cultural festival?" Zhongli questioned, setting aside the paperwork he and Ganyu had been looking over prior to the twin’s arrival. Ganyu stood beside his desk, listening intently to their request for time off. It would ultimately be up to Ningguang for approval, as she was head of the entertainment company in which the duo were signed with.
However, considering how fond the woman was of them, neither Zhongli or Ganyu had any real doubt their request would be refused.
The oldest of the twins, as he liked to claim, merely sighed. He and his sister Lumine still under the impression that this would be a problem after all.
"Yeah, I know we should have informed you guys of this earlier, but we only found out about this today.”
“Apparently, they announced this last month when we left to Inazuma, but none of our friends thought it was important enough to mention.” Lumine huffed, still upset no one thought to relay this back to them in the first place.
“They probably didn’t want the two of you to use work as an excuse to miss out! Which Paimon agrees, the cultural festival is a super important event that you can’t miss out on!” the small fairy pointed out, appearing from thin air, coming out of whatever pocket dimension she usually hid herself away in.
“Everyone in the school is required to take part, it isn’t something we could have gotten out of even if we wanted too.” Aether explained, before arching a curious brow with Lumine at the fairy’s excitement. “Anyways, how do you know what a cultural festival is Paimon?”
Paimon puffed out her chest, looking proud of the knowledge she held.
“Of course, Paimon knows! Paimon is familiar with a lot of human festivals. ESPECIALLY, the ones with such yummy food!” She squealed to herself, kicking her feet in the air excitedly, just thinking of all the food stalls this festival would likely have.
Lumine and Aether understood then,
“Right, Paimon is the expert when it comes to anything involving food.” Lumine giggled, Aether sharing in her sister’s laughter, as said fairy harrumphed.
“Hey! Don’t laugh at Paimon! Next time you want to know how much Fisherman Toast goes for in the market these days, don’t come crying to her!”
“We’ll keep that in mind.” Aether snorted, before looking back to Zhongli and Ganyu apologetically.
“Anyways, that’s pretty much the situation we’re in right now. I’m really sorry, but considering Lumine and I will have to stay after hours to help prepare, we won’t really have time to come down to the studio to record anything these next few days. I also won’t be able to make it to any photo shoots if you have anything scheduled for this week.”
Aether on top of being an Idol alongside his sister was also a model, so his schedule was bit more trickier than Lumine’s. It was what made him feel even guiltier about the whole situation, knowing they would have to rearrange so many things in their schedule.
“I see, if it’s something you two are required to take part in then there really isn’t anything we can do.” Ganyu spoke first, before giving Aether a reassuring smile seeing the guilty expression he held. “Rest assured, though this may be late notice, Miss Ningguang will likely approve your request for time off.”
“It really won’t be a problem?” Lumine asked, a bit surprised with Aether upon Ganyu’s words.
“Miss Ningguang holds the two of you in such high regard, I imagine there is little that she would not allow or offer you if you merely asked.” Ganyu smiled, understanding well how she felt when it came to the siblings.
“So, what you’re saying is. we could ask for just about anything??” Paimon awed,
“Anything.” Ganyu reaffirmed, the small pixie looking back to the pair with excitement.
“Anything, she says!”
“Just these next few days off is more then enough Ganyu, thank you.” Lumine crossed her arms, leveling the small fairy with a look alongside Aether, recognizing the greedy expression playing across her features.
“Aw, Come on!”
Zhongli hummed, the trio turning in his direction next seeing he had something to add.
“Then, one can assume that because you will be busy preparing for this festival that I won’t be seeing either of you at all during this time?”
He seemed disheartened by the news. Just like Ningguang and many others in their party, the former geo archon had grown fond of the two humans in front of him. There just seemed to be something about the pair that had people gravitating towards them, Zhongli included.
He had decided to live amongst the humans centuries ago, and he had spent so much of it alone. Both in his life as a god and a human. The precious friends he made back in his days living as Morax long gone, with only the memories that he held dear to his heart left of them.
While he enjoyed his human life as Zhongli significantly more than his time as Morax, he always found himself feeling slightly empty. He was surrounded by people, but none of which he could truly call “friend”. It was only through his chance meeting with Aether and Lumine that he was finally able to understand this empty feeling he held had been loneliness.
It was an odd feeling to admit too, but it was true just the same. He had been lonely. He ached to have someone by his side to share in these new experiences, someone who he could spend his new human life with.
Aether and Lumine were the very friends he longed for and needed. He hoped to stay by their side for as long as they would allow him, and he hoped to stay by even their next of kin’s side if a time ever came that either Lumine or Aether choose a partner in life. Though, that immediate thought always left Zhongli feeling a mixture of emotions he could not identify, so he rarely liked to go so far with that line of thinking.
Even if that were impossible, spending what time he could with these two was enough for him.
“It will only be a few days Zhongli, but we can still see each other afterwards.” Lumine quickly assured, seeing the disappointed look he now dawned.
“Yeah, we just won’t have time for work related business.” Aether added,
“You’re always free to come join us for dinner if you get too lonely without us.” Lumine partially teased but was genuine in her invitation.
“Or, if all you need is someone to talk too, then our doors always open.” Aether smiled, happy to see Zhongli look more appeased by the situation.
“If you actually mean to extend such an invitation then I would very much like that, and in regard to this festival you will be taking part in, I hope you will enjoy yourselves and work hard." Zhongli offered an encouraging smile in return.
“Of course, we mean it silly! We also hope you and Ganyu will come see everything when it’s ready.” Lumine clapped, suddenly excited by the new turn of events.
“You want us to come?” Ganyu blinked, taken back at the invitation.
“The cultural festival is a time when the school opens up for anyone to come visit, so you’re more than welcome too.” Aether nodded, giving Zhongli an unsure look as he turned to him. “I’m not really sure if it’s a good idea for Zhongli to come, though. As much as I’d love for him to come see us, I’m worried about the attention he might bring in. Not to mention if people were to recognize him, then the whole school would go crazy.”
“You can’t just exclude Zhongli like that!” Lumine argued, hands at her hips,
“Besides, no one knows he is our talent manager, and no one besides our friends even knows about us being Idols. You’re the only one with some remote popularity since you model, but they’re only for small projects and I doubt anyone is going to think that the former CEO and president of Liyue Enterprise stepped down just to become a part time model’s talent manager.”
"Fear not,” Zhongli intervened, not wanting to see the two argue on his behalf on whether he should or should not attend. “I will simply don a disguise for this event. No one will even know I am there." He assured, a small smile beginning to form.
"If I am being honest, I would love nothing more than to attend this “cultural festival” you speak off. In part because I have never experienced one for myself, but more so because you two will be taking part and anything which involves the two of you is always guaranteed to be an enjoyable time for me.”
"Zhongli..." Aether’s voice wavered, suddenly at a loss for words.
"...How can you possibly say no to that?" Lumine turned to her brother, just as touched.
"Nngh…I really can’t!" Aether facepalmed, folding to their friend’s desire as he let out a long sigh afterwards. "Alright, if you really wanna come then by all means...Just make sure nobody can recognize you, alright?"
"I will be sure to take the proper precautions." Zhongli beamed at this new invitation extended to him.
"What about you Ganyu?" Lumine turned to her next, seeing she had not given them a proper answer.
"Eh? Ah, well I would have to check first with Miss Ningguang to see if it would be alright for me to attend-” She started to say,
“I recall you said we could ask for Anything, remember?” Lumine grinned, seeing Ganyu falter and blush at her words.
“You…would ask to be able to spend time with someone like me…?” Ganyu shyly questioned, unsure if she was understanding her request correctly.
“You’re not just someone to us Ganyu. You’re special.” Aether’s expression softened as he turned back to her. “We won’t actually force you to go by requesting it to Ningguang, but I would really like it if you could attend.”
“WE would like that very much.” Lumine corrected, slyly giving her brother a knowing look as he blushed at her correction.
“WE, yes, WE would, not just I.” Aether chuckled, looking off nervously to the side.
Ganyu seemed taken back, blushing further by his own admission.
“I will work doubly hard to finish my duties, so I may attend as well then!”
“No, don’t overwork yourself either…” He tried to say, as she began to plan out everything she would need to get done before the date.
“I’m actually pretty excited about this now.” Lumine beamed, “Maybe we should invite Xiao too?”
“I don’t think he’ll enjoy it much. In fact, the whole thing might make him really uncomfortable considering all the people that will be around.” Aether frowned, knowing how his sister felt, wanting nothing more then to have the grumpy ex-yaksha attend.
“I’m sure he will be there in attendance, you two just won’t be able to see him.” Zhongli added.
“Well, we know he’s going to BE there since he’s our “bodyguard”, but we would much rather he take part and actually experience the festival for himself.” Lumine sighed, the ex-yaksha had been assigned to them by Zhongli himself after a number of “incidents”.
Aether and Lumine as far as Zhongli and others could discern were completely normal humans. Yet, the company they attracted was anything but that. Their discovery of Paimon had set everything in motion, and since then they were introduced to a world no human should know existed. A world full of gods and magic. Something that was but mere stories in this day and age, that was treated as fantasy, but secretly held some level of truth.
While a majority of their discovery to this new world introduced them to new friends, and new beginnings, it also bought about new dangers. This is where Xiao came in, who was tasked with keeping the pair safe when neither Zhongli or Venti were present. He would often guard them from afar and in secret, but the twins often called him out of hiding to spend time with them. Much to Xiao’s slight annoyance.
“Paimon thinks Aether has a point, but maybe we can think of a way to bring the festival to him instead of bringing him to the festival! Like you did back in Inazuma when you wanted him to come with you guys to watch the cherry blossoms” Paimon suggested, making the two think.
“I don’t know how we would do it in this case, though.” Lumine thought aloud, mulling it over with Aether.
“I’m sure you two will think of something.” Zhongli chuckled, appreciative of their efforts to always try and include Xiao in their plans. “In any case, I’m sure the three of you must not have had dinner yet if you came straight here to notify us of the news. How about joining Ganyu and myself for a bite?”
“Dinner??? Now we’re talking Paimon’s language!”
“Ah, I actually have quite a bit of work to finish up…” Ganyu trailed off, tempted by the offer.
“I think Ganyu is deserving of a break. You work hard enough as is, and if you plan on working doubly hard so you can attend the festival then even more so!” Lumine reasoned.
“Yeah Ganyu! Come with us!” Paimon cheered, excited to be getting dinner. “As long as we’re getting take-out so Paimon can join too though!”
“We’re all unanimous agreement that Ganyu should join us for dinner!” Aether grinned, offering his hand to her.
She hesitated, if only for a moment before taking his hand in hers. Smiling at the warmth, she half wondered as they all walked out the office if there was really anyone that could say no to these two.