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When Ningguang returns home that evening, she goes to follow her usual routine. Take off her shoes, put any groceries in the kitchen, and go to her bathroom to take a shower. She has two grocery bags in hand—both contain fruits and vegetables for mindless snacking. While putting them down on the counter, she sees Beidou in the corner of her eye at the dining table. Ningguang reaches in the bag and takes out her strawberries.
She freezes.
Beidou is sitting at her dining room table. Her feet are kicked up on it.
By the Archons, Ningguang curses to herself. She didn’t even take off her shoes.
“How did you get in here?” Ningguang asks without looking up. She is busy inspecting her strawberries. Some of them aren’t ripe.
The apartment had the best security systems installed. There were Millelith guards that kept watch in the lobby for any suspicious guests. Cameras were both outside and inside. Yet Beidou didn’t set off a single alarm, nor did she raise the attention of the Millelith.
“Did you miss me?”
“No,” she replies. “Get your feet off my table and take off your shoes.”
“Yes ma’am.”
Beidou follows Ningguang's instructions without raising any issues. Ningguang busies herself with her produce.
“Is this going to become a regular occurrence, Beidou?”
“I’ll sleep on the couch.”
Ningguang sighed. That wasn’t what she had asked. But it seemed like an answer in itself.
In the morning, Beidou is gone before Ningguang wakes—which surprises her, for she is an early riser. A couple of the dresses in her closet are gone, along with all the cucumbers she bought last night. Taped onto the refrigerator—Ningguang has no magnets, for what would be the need?—there is a note from Beidou along with a glaze lily.
Thanks for letting me crash for the night, gorgeous. Took a couple of your dresses and all of cucumbers if you don’t mind.
It angers her at first. How could she barge into her apartment, stay the night, and then take her dresses and cucumbers? How could she be so impolite? Why would she tape a note in messy handwriting on the refrigerator instead of leaving it on the counter?
Her anger towards Beidou fades. Beidou could do all of those things if she wanted to. Because after all, Ningguang was the one who let her stay.
—
The children of Liyue tell Ningguang that Captain Beidou has gone away for an important mission—something to do with a yellow haired foreigner and their floating companion. Despite this, she returns home that night half expecting Beidou to have her feet on her dining table again. She half expects to wake up and have more of her produce be stolen. Looking at the fridge, Ningguang sees the note Beidou left for her that morning.
She doesn’t take it off. The glaze lily is removed so it won’t wilt.
Beidou doesn’t return for weeks. Months.
The children hear rumors of Inazuma. Ningguang doesn’t doubt it for a second. Leave it up to Beidou to foolishly lead her crew into a nation that cannot be reached. A part of her mind scolds Beidou for being idiotic—how could you do such a thing? The other part of her mind worries—aren’t you at all worried for your own well-being?
She stops expecting Beidou to show up. How can she expect a visit when she’s on her ship?
One day, in the heat of summer, the children come to Ningguang happily. Captain Beidou has returned, and she brought all sorts of candy from Inazuma. More like smuggled—Liyue cannot accept candies or plants from Inazuma, as they pose a threat to both the economy and environment. Ningguang pretends to ignore this information. She doubts the children will sell the candy and compete with the local businesses, for they are far too excited to try them than to make profit.
That night, Beidou doesn’t come to her apartment. Ningguang feels odd. Disappointment, almost.
In the morning however, Beidou is in her kitchen cooking. “You really kept that note on your fridge?”
“Archons!” Ningguang exclaims. “You really—wait, is that my dress?”
“Maybe. Want some breakfast? Your plate is on the table.”
Ningguang goes to inspect it. “How did you make this?”
The rice was in the shape of a cat.
“I never tell my secrets.”
Beidou finishes her plate, and they eat breakfast together. At one point, Ningguang notices that she is going to be late—she is also her own boss. So she stays.
“Should I be expecting you again tonight?” They are cleaning the dishes together. Beidou scrubs, Ningguang dries and puts them into their proper places.
“You sound like you missed me.”
Ningguang smiles to herself. “I did.”