Work Text:
Yanfei hummed to herself as she scanned through the textbook she was bravely balancing on one hand. She glanced back at the study guide in her other hand, dodging incoming traffic in the crowded high school hallway without so much as looking up from her work. She was almost certain that there was a typo on the study guide, but she was never one to assume. This quiz was going to be approximately 2.7% of their grade, and she didn’t want to risk getting a question wrong over a mere typo.
“Yanfei! No reading while walking,” Ms. Ningguang called out to her, giving her a look of warning.
Yanfei looked up, hiding her annoyance as she snapped the book shut, her study guide serving as a bookmark. She had to ask Mr. Zhongli about this immediately, as it was already the end of the school day, and she wouldn’t have another chance to ask before the test on Monday.
Once she was out of Ms. Ningguang’s line of sight, she shoved her head back into the book, double-checking to make sure she wouldn’t be wasting Mr. Zhongli’s time unnecessarily. She turned into the classroom, and glanced up, stifling a gasp.
The silhouettes of two of her classmates, Ganyu and Keqing, stood out against the golden afternoon light from the window. They were standing extremely close together, their mouths connected in a passionate kiss.
Ganyu caught sight of Yanfei from the corner of her eye, and pushed Keqing away, her face burning bright red. “U-um!! I’m so sorry, Yanfei! It’s not what it looks like!”
Keqing rolled her eyes. “What are you talking about? This is exactly what it looks like, Yu-Yu.”
Ganyu somehow turned an even deeper shade of red. “Shh!”
“It’s fine. Yanfei’s a nice girl. She won’t tell anybody.”
Yanfei shrugged. “I think that stigma against homosexuality is outdated at best, and I believe most people have at least some curiosity towards those of the same sex. However, if you would like to keep this a secret, you don’t have to worry about me. I won’t tell. I’m sorry for interrupting, please continue.” Yanfei hurried out of the room, feeling a light blush start to prick at her own cheeks. Please continue? Why did she say that? That sounded so weird! That whole little monologue she just did before running away most likely made her look crazy. She would have a lot of overanalyzing to do tonight.
She let out a squeak as she bumped into someone else, scattering their books everywhere. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she has yet again caused trouble for someone else. Today was not her day. She quickly bent down to help the girl pick up her things, not even noticing who she was helping.
“Yan-Yan! Hi!” Hu Tao smiled at her as she calmly collected her papers from off the floor. “You look kinda freaked out, did something happen?”
Yanfei looked up at her friend in shock. “N-no! Of course not! Everything’s fine.”
Hu Tao squinted at her. “I don’t know if I believe you.”
Drat. Hu Tao knows her too well. “It’s nothing, really. I’ll tell you about it later, okay?”
Hu Tao nodded, satisfied. “Okay! Did you end up getting your question about that typo answered? I know that’s been bugging you.”
“No, actually. Maybe if I send him an email as soon as I get home, Mr. Zhongli will reply. However, it doesn’t seem like he really knows how to use email…”
Hu Tao bopped her on the head. “Stop overthinking! It’s just a typo, it’ll be fine!”
Yanfei rolled her eyes, knowing it was a far more important matter than a mere typo. Her academic career was on the line here! This was something Hu Tao, who was barely skating by in most of her classes, would never understand.
The two girls stood up, brushing themselves off, and headed down the hallway. Yanfei had plenty of studying to do, and Hu Tao had a very important rap battle to prepare for, so it was best for them to head home.
At least, that’s what Yanfei was thinking. Hu Tao, however, got distracted by a small grove that was just off of the path they used to walk home every day. Yanfei had never seen it before, as it was always concealed by the thick vines hanging from the trees, but someone must have cut them away, giving a clear view of a field that was decorated with tiny red flowers.
“Yan-Yan!! Come on!” Hu Tao called, already standing in the middle of the field.
Yanfei sighed, but followed anyway. It might help her memory to try a new study spot. She plopped herself underneath a sandbearer tree, and cracked open her textbook, getting distracted momentarily by Hu Tao’s antics. The girl was currently picking flowers and spinning them between her hands. After a bit, she would let go, and watch them take flight for a moment before falling back to the ground.
Yanfei chuckled, admiring Hu Tao’s carefree nature, her cute little gestures, her infectious laugh… Anyways, she needed to study, so she buried her head in her book, and tried to block out the world.
This worked for a grand total of five minutes, before Hu Tao walked over and tapped her shoulder.
When Yanfei looked up, she was greeted with a bouquet of red flowers from the field.
“For you, M’lady.” Hu Tao giggled, holding the flowers out to her and tipping her imaginary hat.
Yanfei giggled along with her. “How generous. These must have cost you a fortune!”
“Yep! Everything I own.” Hu Tao threw herself onto the grass next to Yanfei. “So what were you getting all hot and bothered about before you ran into me today? I feel like it wasn’t the test.”
Yanfei thought for a moment. She told Ganyu and Keqing that she wouldn’t tell anyone, but she didn’t want to lie to her friend, either. She made a compromise to omit any names from her story. “So, I walked into Mr. Zhongli’s room, and of course I was reading while walking, so I walked in on two of our classmates…you know…”
“Doin’ the dirty?”
“No! Tao! They were making out .”
Hu Tao snickered. “Close enough. But I see now. It’s always weird to walk in on that kind of stuff. Who was it?”
“I’m not telling.”
“That’s fair. However, as I recall, you’re the one who said that these kinds of shows of affection are completely natural and shouldn’t be the source of any embarrassment. Yet, here you are, losing your mind over two people kissing. What changed?” Hu Tao smirked, rolling over to adjust her uniform, but never breaking eye contact.
Yanfei didn’t really know how to respond. “I’m not losing my mind. I just…I don’t know. It was surprising, is all. I think it made me a little jealous, as well.”
“Oh! Green with envy I see! Does someone have a little crush?” Hu Tao wiggled her eyebrows and poked Yanfei in the stomach.
Yanfei gazed at Hu Tao’s innocent expression. She had no idea. “Perhaps. But not on anyone in that room. I think it’s more like…I haven’t done that with anyone yet. I have this burning curiosity, like, I need to know what it feels like to kiss someone.”
“Hm. I get it. I haven’t kissed anyone either. I bet it’s great, though.” Hu Tao stared up at Yanfei in silence for almost a concerning amount of time, before sitting up, and swooping in on her.
Yanfei stiffened when their mouths connected, but relaxed into the kiss after a moment, letting out a shaky breath. She tilted her head and closed her eyes, savoring the feeling of Hu Tao’s soft lips on hers. She savored the flavor of Hu Tao’s favorite candy on her lips, knowing that she had been sneaking it into her mouth during their last class of the day. She had never tasted anything sweeter.
Before she knew it, it was over. Hu Tao pulled away, a glint in her eye and a mischievous grin on her face. “That was a lot more fun than I thought it would be.”
Yanfei could only stare at her, her heart pounding. This was probably the first time in her life that she had ever been rendered speechless. “I-I think I like you.”
Hu Tao cocked her head in confusion. “I know?” She glanced around with a look of confusion on her face. “Wait…does that mean that when we went out to dinner last Friday, that wasn’t a date?”
Yanfei searched her memory, recalling that Hu Tao did seem a little more flirtatious than usual. She even had to rush to the bathroom to splash water on her burning face at one point. “Uh…I guess it was…”
Hu Tao burst into laughter. “Yan-Yan! You’re so oblivious! I thought we’ve been dating for a week!”
Yanfei hid her face with her book, before peeking out again. “So, wait. What about that comment you just made about me having a crush?”
“That was a joke! I thought the crush was meee!!”
Yanfei sighed and put her head in her hands. “I’m so sorry, Tao. I didn’t even know we were…dating.” A small smile crept onto her face, excitement building in her chest. “But yes, my crush was you.”
Hu Tao laughed giddily, leaning in again to kiss Yanfei’s forehead. “I’m glad. Do you want me to leave you alone so you can study now?”
Yanfei shook her head, closing her book. “How can I study boring old statistics now? I’ll do it later. I have the entire weekend, after all.”
Hu Tao cheered and flopped down so that she was laying down on the grass, her head on Yanfei's lap. “You’re trapped hehe.”
Yanfei giggled in response. “You’re going to get bugs in your hair.”
“That’s ok, bugs are my friends.”
That afternoon felt like the countless afternoons they shared together as children, but now, there was something different in the air. Yanfei’s heart felt lighter, like she had been holding onto something heavy for a long, long time, and now she had finally let go. It was an exhilarating feeling, and it was enough to make her completely forget to email her teacher about the typo she was so concerned about before.
(She freaked out when she realized that the next day.)