Chapter Text
Now that she was finally done with all the work that that b...urocrat full-of-herself Ningguang dumped on her on the last minute – as if the Lantern Rite festival wasn’t already a busy enough week for the Qixing! – just so she could spend the festival with her girlfriend (and if she and Beidou thought that they had her fooled, they were oh so wrong!), the Yuheng of Liyue took a deep breath, stretched her sore back, and finally wrapped up the busy day.
Now that it was all over and the last light of the sunset deemed in the distance, Keqing walked out of the offices and into Yujing Terrace, approaching the northeastern edge of it, just past Madame Ping’s garden of Glaze Lilies, to look down – with a warm and eager smile on her face – at the festivities of the Lantern Rite festival.
“Time to spoil myself!” she decided, starting her walk downtown at a faster pace than that of her usual stroll.
Keqing absolutely loved the Lantern Rite festival. Not only because of everything that the festival meant for Liyue, but also... well, the romantic atmosphere, the sight of everyone coming together to make it as special as possible, the delicacies that were prepared only around this time of the year, it all both enticed her and filled her heart with warmth.
In a matter of minutes, the young lady was arriving by the harbor, the countless Xiao Lantern brightly illuminating her path as she walked through the crowded streets, even this late into the night. Liyue was a city that hardly seemed to ever sleep – much like a certain secretary that she knew – but that was even more noticeable during this time of year.
‘Where to even start...?’
There were so many places she wanted to see, so many friends she hoped to greet and wish for a bright coming year, so many dishes she wanted to snack on too! Truly, she was probably not getting much, if any sleep tonight herself. Now, if only she could pick on where to-
A loud, exploding riff then echoed through the harbor, followed not by a panic, but by everyone suddenly getting excited!
“Look, it’s Xinyan!”
“It’s Xinyan! Let’s hurry!”
“Holy lanterns, it’s Xinyan!”
Before she could even make heads or tails of what was going on, Keqing found herself dragged by the masses into the congregation that was happening – and that she was about to form part of – whether she liked it or not! She was lucky enough to have managed to remain standing and not get trampled over even as everyone around her kept pushing, with no regard for personal space.
“Hello, Liyue Harbor!” the proclaimed young woman herself – rockstar of Liyue, tall and muscular, wearing a hairstyle unlike those found in any of the seven nations – called for the audience, holding her instrument on one hand and against her body, while greeting them all with the other. “Lemme tell you: This Lantern Rite Festival's being freakin’ AMAZING, thanks to each and every one of YOU!”
With just that line, the entire crowd erupted in cheer, much to Keqing’s awe and wonder. She heard of Xinyan before – in fact, she had even caught one of her impromptu shows once already, and even decided that she enjoyed the young woman’s music – but to think that this sole, lively girl – not a member of the Qixing, even – could somehow amaze such amount of hype and passion from the people of Liyue, that they would all swarm together just to see her show...
...it was downright humbling.
Keqing was amazed.
“But I’m not about to let it go without giving in my own contribution to it all!” Xinyan declared, giving them all another loud riff from her guitar, the entire port vibrating under its power, so much so, Keqing found herself worrying the entire structure would crumble under the collected weight of so many people. “You people've done so much... so...! This here’s my gift back to y’all!”
Once again, the people were all cheering, jumping and clapping for the concert that was about to start.
“LIYUE HARBOR!!” she called again, “Are you ready to ROCK!?
The crowd exploded in a loud “YEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHH!”
“I CAN’T HEAR YOU!”
This time, Keqing joined the into shouting: “YYYEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”
And like that, the show started, with Xinyan wasting not even a second in delivering the type of music that these people were excited to listen. Her first song started with an amazing explosion, and it only built from there, the entire crowd soon joining in singing along, clapping to the melody, and/or dancing to the crazy rhythm in the middle of the gathering.
Most surprising of all, especially to herself, was that Keqing joined the dancing as well!
She hadn’t thought about it, she wouldn’t even consider it in any other situation, but... to the Abyss with it! She was so caught up in the moment, so enraptured by Xinyan’s amazing sense of buildup and rhythm, delighted by the passion behind the action and the lyrics, that her body just acted before she even gave it a rational thought! No matter what, she just wanted to be a part of this!
“Go, Xinyan!” she cheered at the top of her lungs as she gave it all to her dance and shared in the fun of the show. After all, if people coming together to make the most of it wasn’t at the very heart of the Lantern Rite festival, then what even was!? “ROCK THE WORLD!!”