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It was a sunny day in Liyue.
The sound of bright chatter and children’s laughter carried through the streets of Liyue Harbor, the warm rays of the morning sun accompanied by the fresh spring breeze and it was on days like this that Qiu Feng found himself enjoying patrolling the Harbor the most.
“Morning, Qiu Feng!” He heard one of his colleagues standing in front of the notice board call in greeting, the young male returning the grin with a bright smile and wave in return.
“Good morning!” The young Millelith called, hazel eyes sparkling brightly in the warm light of the sun as he passed his co-worker, weapon firm in his hand and smile not once wavering.
Qiu Feng had dreamt of working for the Millelith for as long as he could remember.
As a loyal devotee to Rex Lapis, he had always admired the Archon ruling over their nation and all he had done for not only to keep their lands safe, but also its citizens and to express his gratitude and give back some of their Archon’s kindness, Qiu Feng had decided to contribute to protecting the city- even if it was only by patrolling it.
His outgoing and charismatic nature had instantly gained him a reputation of his own, the Handyman of Liyue known for his positivity, but also his selflessness and desire to help others in need- be it by helping civilians with small tasks or taking over his colleagues shift regardless of how dangerous the mission was.
The passion he held for his job was known to all, most people openly admiring him for his outgoing and charismatic nature and although appreciative of the other’s kind words, Qiu Feng himself didn’t believe himself to be as open as everyone made him out to be.
Despite popular belief, Qiu Feng was one who found himself getting nervous more often than not when sparking up a conversation with others, especially strangers, the young male fearing to be unable to hold a conversation.
Yet if anything, Qiu Feng was beyond grateful for the chance he had been given nonetheless, the opportunity to be working as a guard and contributing to protecting the city and its citizens one of the greatest honors.
He had always been beyond grateful even for the most mundane things he had been given, be it words of praise or to live to see another day, and although there were moments when even the great Handyman’s smile would waver for the split of a second, he never dared be ungrateful.
Qiu Feng had always wished to receive a Geo vision, believing it to be the greatest honor bestowed on people by their Archon Rex Lapis himself and yet, when one day he found a Pyro Vision resting innocently on his desk, he couldn’t help but find himself filled with a spark of disappointment.
At first he had believed it to be someone’s lost item that had been left with him to return it to its rightful owner, the young Millileith instantly leaving to let his supervisor know about the matter, but upon being told that no one had reported a missing vision and that it was most likely his own he had been granted, he had come to accept it nonetheless, deciding to honor the blessing he had been given.
“Good morning, Qiu Feng.” He heard one of the elderly women call in greeting, instantly earning the young Millileith’s attention who turned to offer her a bright smile in greeting. “You are as diligent as ever.”
“Always pleased to do my duty.” He returned, the sincerity that laced his vice making her lips lift into a fond smile.
“That I can see.” Madame Ping hummed, eyes shining with a light that spoke of a wisdom he could only wish to one day acquire even a fraction of. “You do remind me of someone else I know. She always pours her all into her duties and has Liyue’s best interest at heart- something you two have undeniably in common.”
Qiu Feng’s eyes brightened at that, his smile not once wavering. “She must be an admirable person for you to speak so highly of her, Madame Ping.”
Madame Ping chuckled softly in return, eyes crinkling. “Indeed, she is. The position of the Liyue Qixing’s secretary is no easy one, but like you, she is both passionate and proud of her work.”
The second Madame Ping mentioned the word secretary Qiu Feng felt his heart skip a painful beat, eyes widening for a fraction at the realization of just whom she was talking about.
“Are you, by any chance, talking about Miss Ganyu?” The young male asked, hoping that his nervousness wasn’t as audible as he believed it to be, and when Madame Ping offered him a nod in return, he felt his heart skip an excited beat in his chest.
“She has been the Liyue Qixing’s secretary for quite a few years now and firmly believes that all the work she does is in honor of Rex Lapis, seeking the well-being of all living things within Liyue.” Madame Ping told him, voice laced with a fondness he didn’t miss. “Which is something you two seemingly have in common.”
Qiu Feng felt the pace of his heartbeat pick up upon hearing Madame Ping’s words, the grip on his lance tightening.
He had heard of the secretary of the Liyue Qixing many times before, whenever her name was mentioned words of praises following immediately behind and although he had never gotten to personally meet her just yet, he could already tell that she was a beyond admirable young woman.
He had overheard quite a few of his colleagues in the Millelith gush about her, her reliability as well as willingness to take up any task given to her having instantly caught his interest and with every new story that reached his ears about her, he found himself more and more invested in her.
For weeks he had wished to spark a conversation with the young secretary, to personally meet and talk to her if only for a brief moment, but due to his nervousness and her schedule he unfortunately had never received the opportunity to do so.
There was not one person who didn’t know about the adoration he held for the secretary, his colleagues encouraging him to seek her out until their paths would eventually cross, but so far, Qiu Feng had always hesitated, claiming that he didn’t want to keep her from her duties since he, himself, knew best how one’s tasks could keep one busy.
After conversing with Madame Ping for a bit longer before bidding her goodbye, Qiu Feng spent the remainder of the day thinking about the blue-haired secretary, his desire to approach her gnawing at him from the inside and consuming his mind.
It was only when the sun was about to set that an idea suddenly hit him that made his heart soar in his chest, the thought of finally being able to show her his appreciation and gratefulness for all the hard work she put into her tasks making his body buzz with excitement.
After months, Qiu Feng had finally found a way to reach out to the one he had wished to speak to more than anything, and he couldn’t wait for the sun to rise the coming morning for him to turn that plan into reality.
The following morning found Qiu Feng standing in front of the Liyue Qixing secretary’s office, the small boy in his hand suddenly weighing heavier than it had when he had left his home this morning.
Qiu Feng spent the better part of the previous night preparing for this morning, his excitement keeping him up for the better part of the night and resulting in a lack of sleep but the moment he found himself approaching the wooden door in the tall building, all of his sleepiness faded, the adrenaline making his stomach churn and leaving him wide awake.
The young male had spent his shift thinking about what he could possibly do to express his admiration and interest in the young woman, and after hours of thinking it was only when his mind drifted to a story he had been told by his parents years ago that he found the answer he had been seeking.
Back when he was still only a young boy, his mother would always tell him the story of how she and his father had met in the prime of their youth.
His mother was a merchant in Liyue who only sold rice balls- the recipe she had learned from an acquaintance from Inazuma that contained a mysterious flavor gaining the attention and praises from many while his father, like him, had been a young male working for the Millelith.
She would always see him patrolling, be it under the pouring rain or the scorching heat of the sun, and after gaining up her courage, she would approach him and give him a free riceball and a note.
This one act was only what would mark the beginning of countless of more interactions between the two of them, the two of them communicating by exchanging notes due to their busy schedules and yet, even something as small as that would eventually light up a spark that would soon turn into a feeling deeper than the words written on the note could ever describe.
Qiu Feng tightened his hold on the lunchbox, the small note placed neatly on top of it shining in the dimly lit corridor and despite of the anxious churning of his gut, the spark of hope that burned in his chest refused to fade.
As long as there was only a fraction of a chance, even the smallest of possibility that by following his mother’s footsteps he too, might be able to convey even a fraction of the admiration he held for the young secretary, it was a risk worth taking.
So with his mind set, Qiu Feng deeply inhaled, willing his furiously beating heart to calm down before he lifted his hand and after a moment of hesitation finally knocked on the door.
And regretted it not even a split of a second later.
His blood run cold at the realization of what he had just done, his heart slamming against his ribs as he anxiously waited for the seconds to tick by, but before he could even think about waiting for her to open the door, he had already placed the lunchbox softly on the floor before taking his swift departure.
His feet carried him away at a speed that surprised even himself, the realization of what he had done sinking in only a few moments later when the fresh morning air of Liyue gently caressed his face once more and once it did, a groan of defeat escaped him.
The young male allowed his body to drop down on one of the stone steps leading to the entrance of the Pavilion, head falling into his hands as he tried to calm his furiously beating heart.
He had done it.
He had finally mustered up the courage to prepare her a lunchbox and even a note containing a short message of his admiration for her- just to run away like a coward in the last moment.
For a brief moment Qiu Feng found himself questioning if he should just go back and explain himself, knowing that she would most likely understand but the small voice in the back of his mind advised him against it, telling him to not make an even bigger fool out of himself than he already had.
After a few moments of wondering what the best thing he could possibly do in such a situation would be, Qiu Feng eventually decided that it would be best to simply go on with his day and seek her out after his morning shift, hoping to receive the opportunity to explain himself properly and make up for his earlier cowardice.
So with a heavy sigh, the young male moved to stand once more.
He would not beat himself up over what happened and instead, try to make the best out of it.
Qiu Feng had always been an optimist, and he refused to let that change, especially when it came to having finally gotten the courage to approach the one person he had wished to speak to for the longest of times.
So with a smile on his face, he made his way to work, hoping that the blue-haired female would enjoy his little token of appreciation.
The warm rays of the sun gently caressed her soft, blue tresses from where she was seated behind her desk, and although her day had just begun, she could already tell that it would be another one filled with multiple tasks that would require for her to stay overtime.
Ganyu hummed softly as her violet eyes carefully drifted over the report she had been given from Keqing earlier this morning, the purple-haired woman having offered to stay behind to discuss the most recent events and future schedule for the Liyue Qixing.
The silence in her office was comfortable, Keqing skimming over the schedule Ganyu had prepared for the upcoming week and it was just when the adeptus was about to ask the Yuheng about something regarding the report, the sound of a knock on her office door suddenly sounded.
Ganyu’s gaze drifted to the door in mild confusion, the young female not able to recall to have scheduled a meeting with anyone this early and when her gaze met Keqing’s curious one, she felt her heart drop in her chest.
It wasn’t the first time she would have forgotten a meeting scheduled with someone, her exhaustion making her rather forgetful at times and after quickly moving to her feet, she swiftly rushed to answer the door-
-just to find no one standing there.
Ganyu’s dark eyes brightened in surprise upon finding no one there, expression slack with confusion and when she peeked out of her office and scanned the hallway for anyone just to find it empty, her brows lowered in concern.
Had she missed someone?
“Is everything alright?” She heard Keqing ask from behind her, the sound of her heels clicking softly against the wooden floor echoing through the office as she moved to stand behind her and upon finding no one there, her eyes narrowed. “That’s weird.”
Ganyu thinned her lips, concern sparking in her chest at the thought that she had been too late to catch the person requesting her aid for something but just before she could think about closing the door, she suddenly felt Keqing’s hand settle on her shoulder.
“Wait, what’s this?”
Ganyu’s eyes lowered to the item Keqing was pointing at, eyes sparking with surprise as her gaze fell on the small box resting innocently at her office door as she bent down to pick it up.
As soon as she did, she reached out to close the door of her office before moving back to her desk, allowing herself to drop back into her chair once more before examining the item that had mysteriously appeared at her office door.
Her delicate fingers moved to unwrap the cloth carefully tied around it, curiosity sparking in her chest and the moment the fabric slipped to reveal its contents, Ganyu’s eyes widened in surprise as she turned to look at the young woman standing behind her right.
“A lunchbox?” Keqing wondered, the curiosity that laced her voice audible as she moved her gaze to fix it on Ganyu instead. “Were you expecting a delivery?”
“I didn’t- at least, I don’t remember that I did.” The young woman confessed, soft voice not betraying her equally confused expression. “I haven’t seen anyone leave the corridor either.”
Keqing softly hummed in return, moving to cross her arms above her chest and when her gaze lowered to the box once more, her brows suddenly lifted.
“There is a note attached to it.” The young female pointed out, instantly making Ganyu’s eyes dart down to the box in her hand once more and indeed, just like Keqing had said, a small blue-colored note was neatly placed on top of it.
Ganyu reached out to take hold of the slip of paper, the pace of her heart picking up and the moment her eyes fell on the words written neatly on the small paper, she felt her chest flutter.
“ Dear Miss Ganyu.
Please accept this lunchbox as a small token of my appreciation for all of the deeds and effort you pour into your tasks for the sake of keeping Liyue safe and prosperous .
-Qiu Feng ”
By the time she finished the end of the note her eyes were already open wide in a mixture of both shock and surprise. It took the young woman a few more times over reading over the note before the words properly settled in, and the moment they did, she heard Keqing let out a soft chuckle.
“Would you look at that.” The Yuheng drawled, hand gently patting Ganyu’s slim shoulder and when the blue-haired female turned to look up at her, she was greeted by the sight of her friend’s teasing smile “Seems like someone is rather fond of you, Ganyu.”
“I-” The young Adeptus started, all words failing her as she tightly held onto the note, cheeks covered in a rosy hue. “I’m sure there must be a mistake. They probably delivered it to the wrong person-”
Keqing merely arched a brow in return. “I am pretty sure they got the right person, given that when you opened the door no one was to be found. To me, it seems like someone simply was too shy to approach you.”
Ganyu’s eyes widened only further, the rosy hue dusting her cheeks deepening into a soft pink and as her gaze fell back down to the lunchbox sitting on her lap, her heart skipped a beat, fingers tightly gripping the note in her hands.
She couldn't believe that anyone would actually take the time to seek her out just for the sake of praising her, not to mention go as far as to actually go as far as to prepare a lunchbox for her, and as she moved to open the box and was greeted by the sight of the most delicious smelling food she had the pleasure of seeing in months, she felt her chest flutter.
She would make sure to thoroughly express her gratitude to whoever it was that had gone out of their way to prepare this, and with that thought on her mind, she decided to enjoy the meal, the taste of the dishes sweeter than she could remember.
Despite his efforts to distract himself during his shift, Qiu Feng couldn’t help but feel nervous for the rest of his shift.
He had tried not to think too much about it, to keep his mind positive and a firm smile on his face and yet, before he realized it he already found his thoughts drifting to that morning, his mind coming up with the most ridiculous scenarios that only served to worsen his concerns.
He anxiously waited for his shift to end, his mind filled with all kinds of what if’s and although his colleagues have congratulated him for having dared to take the first step and assured him that it would be fine, the moment the sun set and signalized the end of his shift, he already found himself making his way to the Pavilion.
The moment Qiu Feng caught sight of the building in the distance he felt his heart jump in his chest, his pulse quickening at the thought of what would expect him and when he finally reached its entrance, his steps gradually slowed before he deeply inhaled.
He could do it.
And with that thought repeating over and over in his mind, he made his way inside, his feet easily carrying him down the familiar path to her office.
The sound of his boots hitting the wooden floor echoed softly through the otherwise empty hallway, Qiu Feng’s throat suddenly feeling incredibly dry and when he finally reached the door he had last seen this morning and lifted his hand to knock on the door once more, he felt his foot suddenly hit something on the floor.
Hazel eyes drifted down, his expression scrunching up in surprise but the second his eyes fell on the black item laying innocently on the floor, her eyes widened in recognition.
Placed on the floor in front of her office was the very same lunchbox he had left in front of her office door this morning, the cloth carefully wrapped around the box to keep its items in place as it was when he delivered it and just when he felt his heart drop at the thought of her having rejected his small gift, his eyes caught sight of the small, pink note attached to it.
Qiu Feng’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the unfamiliar note, the young guard bending down to pick the lunchbox up, and when he reached out to take hold of the note, he felt his heart beat furiously in his chest.
“ Dear Qiu Feng,
I am beyond grateful for your gift and appreciate the time and effort you have put into it. I genuinely enjoyed the meal and hope to be able to repay you for the favor in person if given the chance.
Sincerely,
Ganyu, secretary of the Liyue Qixing. ”
It was only after a few more times of re-reading the note over and over again that the meaning of her words hit him, the realization that she had not only accepted and eaten his lunch, but enjoyed it, making his eyes widen in a mixture of both surprise and excitement.
It had worked.
Months of wondering if he would ever get to approach her and thinking of a way to spark a conversation with her to express his gratitude and admiration had finally paid off, and as Qiu Feng moved back through the corridor and out of the Pavillion, his wide smile not dimmed, even as he went to prepare the next lunchbox at his home.
It had been a few weeks ever since the day Qiu Feng had decided to approach the secretary of the Liyue Qixing and ever since, there had been not one day in which he had regretted it.
Due to their busy schedules, they were only able to converse through notes for the following weeks, Qiu Feng having made it his habit to leave the house a bit earlier than usual to drop the lunchbox off at her office door just to pick it up after the end of his shift.
It made him start the day with an excited smile and end it with a flutter in his chest upon finding a new note, his previous interest in the Liyue Qixing’s secretary having increased and blossomed into something that made his chest warm at every note he found.
Although he had yet to meet her personally, he could already tell by the notes they exchanged that she was just as the rumors about her claimed her to be, and although their schedules have made it hard for them to finally meet in person, he was determined to turn their first meeting into one she would never forget.
When he had asked her whether or not she would be free from her duties on the day of the Lantern Festival he was thrilled to find that she wouldn’t be expected to be at the office and although he was supposed to be on patrolling duty that night, one of his colleagues offered to take over his shift, much to his joy.
The Lantern Festival was only a few days away and from the moment he knew that he as well would be able to attend he had spent all of his free time preparing for it, the young guard determined to make it a day worth remembering.
He wanted to offer her the chance to relax, to take a break and simply enjoy the beautiful sight that was Liyue and although it was a selfish wish, he hoped that he would be granted the opportunity to do so with her.
The morning of the Festival he had finally mustered up the courage to ask her, Qiu Feng eagerly waiting for her response and when his shift finally ended and he moved to receive her answer, he was beyond thrilled to find that she had accepted his invitation.
Since it was his free day he used the hours he had left until the sun would set to find a spot that would both give them a beautiful view of the lantern-filled sky and at the same time offer them some privacy, and upon finding a slightly isolated spot at Liyue’s outskirts that offered a stunning view at the harbor, Qiu Feng rushed home to prepare the food.
His stomach churned with excitement as he rushed to prepare the dishes, his mothers famous rice balls serving as his lucky charm and before he knew it, the sun was already about to set.
He rushed to gather all the things he prepared, briefly glancing at the mirror to ensure that nothing was out of place, and with a confident smile at his reflection, he left his home and swiftly made his way into the buzzing streets of Liyue to prepare their meeting.
Ganyu had returned from her meeting with Cloud Retainer just when the sun had set and as she gazed up at the darkened sky, she felt her chest flutter, her grip on the note she held in her hand tightening.
It had been weeks since she had first received the lunchbox with a note attached to it from Qiu Feng, and ever since, the two of them had grown undeniably closer to the point Ganyu found herself looking forward to going to the office even more than before.
Every morning she would make her way to the office and smile upon finding that a new note had been slipped under the slit of her office door, and although she did feel a little guilty that he spent his time coming all the way to her office just to drop off and pick up another note, she found herself greatly enjoying their small exchanges.
When he went as far as to ask her to join him in watching the Lantern’s she had been caught off guard, her eyes widening and face heating up at his request.
After a few moments of hesitation and considering her options, Ganyu decided to accept his invitation, knowing that it was the least she could do to pay him back for his kindness and after giving him her response, she found that she was looking forward to it more than she had expected.
Now, a few hours later she found herself making her way through the buzzing crowds that had gathered to watch the Lantern in Liyue Harbor, the blue-haired female carefully following the instructions that told her how to find him and when she reached a more isolated part near the Harbor’s outskirt, she felt the pace of her heart pick up.
Ganyu made her way up the set of stairs that led her up a hill, the brisk night air gently biting at her exposed skin and when she finally reached its top and her gaze fell on the sight that greeted her, her eyes widened.
She found herself standing on a Hill that offered a stunning view on the Harbor below, a big blanket stretched over the grass at the top of the hill with all sorts of dishes placed on it, a lantern placed on each side of it and the moment her violet eyes clashed with hazel, she felt her heart skip a beat.
Standing in front of the blanket with his hands held behind his back was whom she assumed to be Qiu Feng, navy blue that reached his lean shoulders combed back and revealing his handsome face that was illuminated by the orange, soft glow of the lanterns.
The smile on his lips was warm and welcoming, the way his eyes sparkled in excitement making her tighten her hold on the note in hopes of getting her rapidly beating heart to calm.
“Miss Ganyu.” He greeted her, the joy that laced his voice as he stepped forward not betraying the way his expression visibly brightened at the sight of the woman he had been hoping to meet for the past weeks. “You came.”
She was as beautiful as the others claimed her to be, long, soft blue tresses cascading gently past her slim shoulder, violet eyes glowing warmly in the darkness of the night and Qiu Feng found himself wondering how one could have both a beautiful heart and appearance.
“Q-Qiu Feng.” Ganyu softly called in return, her stomach flipping nervously as she offered him a shy smile. “I promised that I would, didn't I?”
Qiu Feng felt the pace of his heartbeat increase the second the soft chime of her voice carried to his ears and when he was an arm-length away from her, he finally stopped.
For weeks he had dreamt about this exact moment, that one day when he would finally be able to talk to the one that had occupied his mind for so long and although he had been beyond nervous before, now that he was standing in front of her, it was as if there was only the two of them.
All of his previous worries and concerns have faded into nothingness, the soft scent of glaze lilies clouding his senses and Qiu Feng knew that it was one he could never get enough of.
“I hope that you like the place I have chosen.” Qiu Feng started, his voice sounding steadier than he had expected it to as he offered her a bright smile. “It offers a beautiful view of the Harbor.”
Ganyu felt the pace of her heartbeat pick up at his sheepish smile, the adeptus interlacing her hands in front of her as she tilted her head down in hopes of preventing the color that heated her cheeks to be visible.
“It's beautiful.” Ganyu softly confessed, expression falling in guilt. “But you didn't need to go through the trouble of preparing all of this.”
“I wanted to.” Qiu Feng hastily returned, heat rising to the back of his neck at her startled gaze. “I know how busy it gets for you at work, and I had hoped that with this you could relax and enjoy the Harbor from a different perspective for once.”
His words made her chest flutter in surprise, the way he suddenly averted his eyes from her to settle them on his feet instead making her smile widen.
In all of her years of working as a secretary for the Liyue Qixing, Ganyu couldn't remember the last time anyone had ever gone as far as to do something as thoughtful as that for her, and the mere fact that he had taken his time to prepare all of this on his day off made warmth blossom in her stomach.
There was something about Qiu Feng that instantly made him stand out from the others she had met so far, something that made the secretary feel alarmingly comfortable in his presence and although she knew that it was only their first meeting, Ganyu already knew that he was just like she had imagined him to be.
Thoughtful and kind, yet firm and determined- a young man who was passionate about what he believed in and poured just as much effort into all he did.
“Thank you, Qiu Feng.” Ganyu softly spoke, the sweet chime of her voice laced with both sincerity and gratitude as her gaze softened. “Is there any way I can repay you for your kindness?”
Qiu Feng’s eyes sparked at her question, the young male’s expression instantly brightening and when he suddenly extended his arm to offer her his hand, she felt her heart jump in her chest.
“I would be beyond grateful if you would grant me the honor and join me in watching the lanterns.” Qiu Feng returned, gaze softening at the way her eyes sparked in surprise at his request. “They should start soon, and I would hate for you to miss such a beautiful sight.”
Ganyu watched as the moonlight illuminated his form and bathed it in a white hue, the soft glow from the lanterns making his dark eyes shine with a warmth that spread in her chest, and it was then that she knew that despite her nervousness, she would be unable to deny him.
The young secretary moved to lift a delicate hand, the split second of hesitation earning her a reassuring smile from Qiu Feng, and the moment her small hand slipped into his warm, bigger one, she felt her chest warm.
The second her hand found his, Qiu Feng moved to tighten his hold on it, the smile that brightened his face dazzling as he gently moved her towards the picnic he had prepared earlier.
For the remainder of the night the two would sit on the hill under the lantern-filled sky, laughing and conversing merrily beneath the twinkling stars with their fingers still interlaced.
It was a night both would always remember fondly, a night that marked the beginning of something much deeper and bigger than any of them could have possibly expected.
It was something they would forever keep in the confines in their heart, a memory forever cherished of many more to come.