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Zhongli couldn't exist without his usual double espresso in the mornings. His mind just wouldn't work if it didn't have coffee on his system.
His favorite place to buy coffee was always Dvalin's Coffee Shop. They did have one of the best coffee in town - had he tried others before, but none like Dvalin's.
He usually showed up at seven in the morning, five minutes after the shop opened. He ordered the same thing every day, just his coffee. Only on Wednesdays, he would add two little chocolate cookies to share with Aether and Lumine, the twins that used to ride the train with him on that specific day of the week. His cup of coffee would be empty by the time he got down the train, and then his mind would be in the perfect shape to teach Economics at the National University of Liyue.
But even after two years of the same routine, buying his coffee on Dvalin's every morning, he had never met the owner of the shop. He always got to talk with Noelle, the barista, and sometimes with Barbara, the young girl that always got his fresh cookies ready for him to take away. Both girls were well mannered and really quiet, so Zhongli always associated peace with the coffee shop. His routine was always as peaceful as his visits to the shop - the train was always empty because he rode it early, and his classes were quiet and full of respectful ears that listened to every word he said as if it were the truth about the universe.
That's why he got completely shocked when on a random Monday he entered the coffee shop and got welcomed with pure chaos.
There was actually a coffee machine that caught on fire - Noelle was nowhere to be seen, probably trying to get the fire extinguisher. Barbara was crying in a corner, watching the smoke going to the roof. And then, right in front of the machine on fire, a boy with black and blue hair, screaming and cussing at the machine's creator, god, the antichrist and every creature from beyond. He was… screaming at the fire. Nothing else. His voice was… something very unusual, with some sweet and high undertones, and it made Zhongli's nape tingle.
Zhongli, being already on his thirty but having what people called "an old soul", he didn't panic at all. He walked to Barbara, patted her blonde hair, and smiled at her.
"Where's the extinguisher?"
Noelle did her entry from the kitchen with the item herself and went to the coffee machine behind the marble counter to shut the fire. She did it successfully in just a few seconds, and then the coffee shop caught a heavy silence of the people assuming what had just happened.
"Noelle, you are the coolest person in Mondstat!!! You are like a knight coming to save us all!" The guy exclaimed.
"Thank you, Venti, I just did what was expected."
"I didn't think of that."
"I know you didn't." She wasn't being mean at all, it was just a fact; Noelle didn't have any kind of evilness in her. "Next time, please let me make the coffee. We don't want it to catch on fire again."
"Yeah, that's probably for the best! Every time I come in here, something bad happens!"
"That's because you don't know how to be quiet." This time it was Barbara who spoke. "And also you don't know how to greet our guests properly. Mr. Zhongli, I'm sorry that you had to witness this. As you may know, this doesn't happen often."
"From my own experience, I can confirm that it never does. What exactly happened?" Zhongli asked this while looking at the Venti guy. He seemed so young, his two braids a little loose with the shades of blue at the end of them. "Are you a new employee? I've never seen you before."
Venti laughed a little and shrugged. "I'm not new", he said, smiling at him. "I just don't know how to make coffee, if this can confirm it."
"It does," Noelle said, cleaning the machine. "Please never try it again."
"And you thought the fire would extinguish if you yelled at it?", Zhongli asked.
Venti's face reddened, but he said nothing. Zhongli thought it would be impolite to ask who Venti was then, so he just sighed and looked at his watch. He was going to miss his train if he waited a bit more, so he had to ask: "Is it broken?"
"No, it's fine" Noelle said. "Just a little hot. I'll make your coffee right away, Mr. Zhongli! You won't be late, I'll make sure of that."
Barbara got behind the counter and whispered softly in Venti's ear "He's our usual, so can we gift him some chocolate cookies? I know he likes them."
That beautiful laugh again, Venti looked at Barbara and nodded. "Of course". Then he turned to Zhongli. "Mr. Zhonmi, we would like to give you your order for free today. And with some cookies!"
"It's Zhongli - and it's alright, I would like to pay for it anyways. Noelle and Barbara always work hard."
"Right? They do! They're the best! This shop would be nothing without them. I'm so glad I got them to work here!"
Zhongli looked at him a bit surprised. "Are you the gerent?"
Venti laughed. Zhongli thought he could get used to how bright this man was.
"No, I'm the owner!" He said cheerfully, and received the mora that Zhongli left on the counter. "I know I look younger, but I'm actually thirty! That's enough to own a coffee shop, right?"
"Any age, actually, could be adequate. I just didn't think of it because I've never seen you before."
"And that is such a shame! A handsome guy comes to my coffee shop every day. And I've never met him! That's terrific."
Zhongli let out a chocked laugh. This man was a little shameless, but he actually liked it.
Venti leaned on the counter, all smile and bright eyes. Zhongli couldn't help it, he got closer, he wanted to see those emerald eyes from close.
"Well, now that we've met, we could see each other again soon" Zhongli said lower, so Noelle didn't hear him. "I come here every day at the same hour."
"That's good to know. I don't mind waking up earlier to meet such a handsome man."
"I'll see you soon, then."
Venti nodded, and Zhongli smiled before walking away. He got to the door of the shop, but before he could step outside. "Mr. Zhongli! You forgot your order!"
This time, Venti was at Zhongli's side of the counter, with his usual cup of coffee in hand and a bag of fresh baked cookies.
"Next time I will write my number in the cup, so don't throw it away so easily!" He said in his cheerful voice, and handed him both things.
"I will remember."
They smiled at each other.
"Please have a wonderful morning Mr. Zhongli! I'm hoping to see you soon!"
"You too, Venti. See you soon." He peeked over Venti's hair, Noelle and Barbara were watching them from the kitchen's door, whispering something between them. "Don't let this beautiful man get involved in some accident again. I'm counting on you, young ladies."
"Leave it all to us!" Noelle exclaimed with joy. "We'll take care of him. Have a great day, Mr. Zhongli!"
"I will, thanks. See you next time." He made eye contact with Venti again and winked at him, even if he was a bit rusted in that matter. "Goodbye."
Venti waved with a big smile, and Zhongli left the coffee shop feeling the wind on his face being a little bit warmer than every other breeze he felt before in his whole life.
He couldn't wait to come back the next morning to see that refreshing and beautiful man again.