Work Text:
(i.)
Hu Tao was never a shy one to comment on other people of what they have; beauty, kindness, compassion - Hu Tao would shower them with what she was thinking, and would not waste a second on praising their everything. Hu Tao would comment their choice of clothing, their manner of speaking.
By the time the news swept on Liyue Harbor of the new replacement of the Yanshang Teahouse owner who’s said to be passed away, Hu Tao was looking around out of curiosity. Knowing Yanshang as one of the prime places in Liyue for gambling entertainment and the likes, Hu Tao had imagined a burly man in mid-forties who reeked of alcohol and their pockets filled to the brim with pocket Mora. Zhongli Xiansheng did say something about the late owner as an ‘unsavory individual’, to the point Zhongli never paid a visit to Yanshang Teahouse and mostly lounged in comfort of storyteller in either Heyu or Third-Round Knockout.
Hu Tao wouldn’t expect the one who replaced the old owner was a beautiful, gorgeous, well-endowed woman. Her black hair was neatly cut in a simple bob, she also got a beauty mark on her chest. She wore a snow-colored fur coat over her shoulders, a contrast to her shadowy look and perhaps personality, likely not a Liyue-made article of clothing, so to speak. A Hydro vision strapped on her left leg, glinting as she walked. She was an eye candy, something Hu Tao couldn’t put away from her mind.
Then again, Hu Tao slightly hoped she got better to hide how long she was staring. When their eyes met, Yelan smirked as though she had known all along that Hu Tao was gawking in her direction. When their eyes met, Hu Tao was awestruck, Yelan got brilliant emerald-green eyes, contrast to her dark and slightly red eyes. There, Hu Tao felt a tug inside her chest, a comfortable sensation she couldn’t name.
“I’m sorry, Little Butterfly, but we’re not open yet,” came a honeyed, amused chuckle from those curled lips. Hu Tao thought her voice would be slightly high-pitched, but oh how wrong she was. “Do come back when we’re already back in business.”
With a flair, Yelan departed from her spot to greet her staff inside the perimeter, much to Hu Tao’s dismay. Hu Tao pretended to walk away, stealing glances to Yanshang Teahouse, thinking the door might open again at any second.
Hu Tao giggled to herself. Why, how can she be so curious about this particular lady?
It seemed that she would indeed heed to the suggestion: coming back to Yanshang Teahouse once it reopened. Hu Tao couldn’t wait to see the beautiful lady again, and perhaps answer the slight tug inside her heart in the process.
(ii.)
It was not the first time Yelan got an admirer - not to boast, but she could say that most of them were handful rather than not. And most of them, they wanted her head instead showering her with praises and gifts, so such a notion from this admirer was a great change.
.
Let’s name her as ‘the admirer’ for now, shall we?
.
Yelan remembered her meeting with said admirer fondly now, as when she thought back, it was a rather cute encounter. Their eyes met, simply like that; Yelan knew from those smoldering gazes that she was perhaps enamored, and Yelan hardly wrong when she evaluated a person.
“Miss Yelan, that person came again,” one of the staff rang. “Today she brought a plate of Li cuisine.”
Yelan was back late from one of her expeditions, and the notice brought a grin to her face. She was here, huh , Yelan wistfully thought as she took a gander on the building on elevated ground of Feiyun Slope near her.
Yelan told the staff to put it on the table along with tea for it. A small smile played on her lips, thinking what it would be. The last time, the admirer got her Tianshu Meat, which was tasty despite the odds of the meat being too soft. Technically, Yelan thought it was a prank, but the food tasted good, nonetheless. She could feel the love put in it, also not to mention the admirer might already be busy enough as it is.
The Teahouse staff brought Yelan a heated Cured Pork Dry Hotpot and a barley tea to accompany the meal. This time, the meat was sliced thinly along with the matsutake, and the bowl seemed to be filled more with veggies rather than meat, but it promised to be delicious.
Yelan clasped her hand in praying and thanking the chance, enjoying the hearty meal to the fullest.
Perhaps she needed to pay a visit to the front porch of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for a small bouquet of flowers.
.
“Miss Yelan, that person came again,” one of the staff rang. “Today she left a note of her poetry since I said you’re out of the town. She will likely recite it when she sees you.”
Yelan, however, could already picture the poem being read. The admirer had gifted Yelan with a ‘grand’ performance once, and she read it unabashedly against all those folks who’s busily playing cards or stacking betting chips. If anything, the admirer was happy that Yelan was her sole audience, for she clapped the loudest, or so the admirer claimed.
It was for the nth time the admirer gave her gifts with awful variability, which she was thankful about. At the end of the day, however, Yelan also said something along the lines of: ‘don’t get your hopes up’ or ‘I might not be able to return your kindness’ - not because she couldn’t give back a gift literally, but it was more to her lifestyle and her penchant to gamble with risk.
But then the admirer would grin wide and lower her six-sided hat, bowing while she admonished Yelan’s passive-aggressive way to push her away.
“Your smile is enough, if everything, Miss Yelan.”
And she would ceremoniously walk away, leaving Yelan to stare in her wake.
The admirer slowly had an effect on her, the one that Yelan didn’t once minded.
.
“Miss Yelan, that person came again,” one of the staff rang. “Today she dropped by and said hello, also saying for you to be safe on your travels.”
Yelan chuckled at how hasty her admirer was. Likely she was swamped with her own work but still made time to drop by Yanshang Teahouse and leave the message, only to find out that Yelan was not there in the perimeter. The receptionist staff should have noticed a plain amusement written on her face and minding their business.
The short-haired woman took a slight glance at the doors of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. At this time of the year, everyone paid a visit to their deceased families who were not able to return home, either from journeying from afar and dead, or going to a battlefield then lost. At such times, Hu Tao sometimes showed a little remorse on her visage. She was overly cheerful that you could spot when she was down and likely in a need for a respite. During that time, Yelan would silently treat her to tea, then she would stay until Hu Tao found her smile again.
It was unfair, perhaps, for an open person like Hu Tao to hope Yelan to bare herself forthright after Hu Tao showed her moments like that.
Then again, Yelan had always known to be careful; and she was trying hard not falling too deep.
.
Or, she likely failed.
“Miss Yelan, that person came again,” one of the staff rang. “Today she brought you a stalk of Glaze Lily, freshly picked, she said.”
True to the staff’s word, a stalk of Glaze Lily rested by the receptionist of Yanshang Teahouse, pristine as though the dew never once dissipated. The admirer seemed to pay attention that Yelan didn’t really like spider lilies because of the nuance behind it. It was sentimental, really, something Yelan disliked sometimes about herself.
No matter how much she had grown and left the past of her weakness and cowardice behind, the haunting days where she lost her comrades remained. She dislikes losing, both in her battles and her gambles. She also hates needless sacrifice. She loved the risk to herself, yes, but she would say no if it was about some stupid, so-called heroic action to die while there should be another options to choose when problem arise.
“I won’t bring red spider lilies to you anymore, but promise me this, Miss Yelan,” the admirer said those words, in which Yelan took to heart. “Promise me that you won’t be sad anymore. You can always come to me and tell me anything, okay?”
.
For each gift and each visit, Yelan accepted it wholeheartedly while shaking her head in amusement.
Hu Tao. The admirer. No one in the town is likely unaware of the young lady who’s also the 77th Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the one who’d likely decipher the Last Rites and spoke with the dead. Eccentric with a penchant for doing pranks and the likes, but also a notorious individual because of both her line of work and also how she carried herself. She might be not someone likable to the most Liyuean, but her work ethic would spell otherwise. It is how a true professional looks, distinguishing between work and daily persona was a feat, especially for someone so young to inherit the line of the most depressing kind of job available.
“Why are you here again, if not wanting to play?”
One night, Yelan happened to ask. The gifts and the humble praises aside, she wanted to know from the lion’s mouth the very reason the young Director hung around this Teahouse.
“At first, I wondered why you occupied the place after the last owner,” Hu Tao said plainly. “But then now I can name several reasons.”
Yelan quirked her brow, inquisitive hum followed.
“I want to know more,” Hu Tao said, pink dusting her cheeks. “About you.”
Now that was the least of her expectations, although not impossible . Yelan found herself swallowing hard.
Hu Tao has always been one to be forward, to be truthful, to not be ashamed with her words and wants, but to hear whether Hu Tao was indeed interested in Yelan … Yelan didn’t know that she was not exactly ready to accept such a big heart.
A heart that likely knew more deaths that were painful than Yelan could ever experience in a lifetime or two.
“... About me?” Yelan couldn’t help but to laugh at the younger woman’s frankness. Took a while for her to form a cohesive reply. “While I might look like a woman of grace and mystery, you shouldn’t really get too close to me.”
“Oh? I take it my offerings have yet to suffice, then?” Hu Tao grinned.
It was the first time Yelan felt like grinning far too much that her cheeks were hurting, yet her heart was full, happy. “Well, I didn’t say that.”
They laughed in unison, both in acknowledgment and mutual amusement.
Yelan never let someone this far in her life, not after Ningguang, but she couldn’t help but wanting to spend more time and share more moments with Hu Tao.
(iii.)
When Hu Tao came by this time, Yelan welcomed her personally to Yanshang Teahouse. Yelan then ushered her to one of the private booths, far away from the drunkards and avid gambler tables. She then rang her staff to bring them tea, made a gesture for it to be the finest one of the season from the shelves. Hu Tao merely smiled, and didn't make any comment about it.
It was a fine night outside, crisp summer air with a hint of the coldness of the upcoming autumn of harvest and bounty. A fine night to visit Yelan, or so Hu Tao had in mind.
“What do you bring me tonight, mm?”
Hu Tao opened her arms, “Myself,” she found how Yelan tried to hide her blush quite interesting. It made her heart beat faster. “The best gift ever I could present to you, Miss Yelan.”
“Sweet-talker,” Yelan managed. Her tone was airy. “If you’re one of those Millelith, I’d punch you in the face, though.”
“I don’t mind?”
“Now, now, Little Butterfly, the night is still early for that kind of play.”
The accentuation got Hu Tao cackling. Yelan, of course, didn’t mind any harm. Hu Tao is pretty much well-accustomed to her jokes and sometimes self-deprecating notes.
“How about a little game, since we’re here tonight?” Yelan quipped. “Don’t worry, no money involved - but I’d like to propose another thing as a betting chip.”
Hu Tao crossed her fingers on the table, her eyes twinkling in glee, “Is it about trading away secrets?”
“Ah,” Yelan chuckled. Again, Hu Tao couldn’t get enough of that deep, honeyed voice. It was so addictive. “So you catch my drift.”
Hu Tao might not know exactly who Yelan really was, aside from the fact that she walked in the shadows of Liyue. Yelan always divulged less, and as once Xiansheng ever said to her, less is more . The less Yelan gave out about herself, the more Hu Tao would love to dig deeper.
This moment might be a golden chance to at least take a glimpse on the crack that composed Yelan’s persona - the person she clearly curious about and respected deeply.
Yelan produced a small cup and two six-sided dice from underneath the table they were in. A game of dice , Hu Tao wistfully thought, not something she had not seen before.
Yelan then showed her own hand, saying that there was no string attached or anything that proved her to be unlikely cheating.
“I don’t mind if you cheat, though.”
“Why?” Yelan rolled the dice between her fingers.
“You’d be the one who throws the towel first when the game gets boring.”
Yelan flicked the dice up to the air, then caught it faster than how Hu Tao might follow. Or rather, Hu Tao was awfully distracted by the movement of those long fingers and of those pretty, beguiling emerald-green eyes. “Aw, are you taunting me, Little Butterfly?”
“Hopefully not to incur your wrath enough to rig the game, m’lady.”
“You’re really a piece of work.” Yelan threw her head back as she laughed.
Yelan laid the two dice and cup on the table, then she explained the game rules.
The rules were simple: Yelan would roll the two dice then close the cup on it. Both of them then take turns on guessing the count of the dice numbers, odd or even. Of course, they couldn’t make the same answer. The one who lost would have to speak one of their secrets. Yelan didn’t state how many rounds they would stay, but Hu Tao didn’t mind sharing. She got enough things that many others wouldn’t have known, though she wanted Yelan to be the first person to listen.
At a glance, it seemed like a fair, easy game, but then anyone who’d choose first would hold the stake to others. It was strictly 50:50, a yes or no kind of question.
“Ready?”
“Ready.” Hu Tao said with utmost conviction, then Yelan rolled the first round.
She closed the cup over the dice, again faster than how Hu Tao could follow before the rolling stopped. After what felt like seconds of anticipation and deliberations, Yelan flitted at Hu Tao.
“Pick yours.” Yelan extended her other hand to offer Hu Tao the handicap.
“... Odd?” Hu Tao decided, unsure.
“Even for me, then.” Yelan let out a pointed smirk.
Yelan pulled the cup away. The dice showed both three - which meant Yelan won.
“I see that this round’s mine,” Yelan said, sporting a smug smile that knocked Hu Tao’s breath away. A taste of victory fueled her, it showed from her grand gesture of shifting her legs beneath the table and stretching herself on her seat. Her ampleness in full berth. “So, out with it, Little Butterfly.”
Hu Tao regained her composure, rolled her eyes before thinking of what to start. She should begin with something small. A small secret. After all, she was facing the master gambler herself.
“I can see ghosts.”
“Ah,” Yelan nodded vehemently. “Coming from you, I think it bears a great importance, but I pretty much don’t want to pry further.”
“Or that you’d steal the Funeral Parlor's well-kept secret?” Hu Tao winked.
“Archons, no ,” the short-haired woman laughed hard. “Or you’re saying that I can open my own Funeral business after this?”
“Oh, I should be more competitive then~”
Hu Tao refilled their respective tea cups before Yelan moved to the next round, the shrill laughter still on both of their lips, dancing merrily.
Yelan repeated the same flick on the dice, then closed the cup before the roll stopped. With a clue of showstopper clanking inside the cup, another beat of seconds followed as they both concentrated on the cup. Yelan voiced her own choice now as Hu Tao spoke first at the last round.
“Even.” she said without thinking twice. Hu Tao whistled at her swagger.
“No second guessing, Miss Yelan?”
Yelan shrugged, “Nope.”
“Then, odd for me.”
On the big reveal, the right dice showed five, and the left dice showed two. This round, Hu Tao grabbed the bag. The Director pumped her fist in the air enthusiastically.
“Yay! I won!”
“Beginner’s luck, huh,” Yelan grinned. “Surely you don’t ask the spirit or ghost to look at the cup’s content?”
“‘Course not, as if I can do that!”
“Then, let’s see … my first secret that I’d give …” Yelan pondered for a bit, thinking longer than Hu Tao did. “I’m a close friend of Tianquan, and no, not bluffing. I knew her before she became the Tianquan.”
Hu Tao blinked at that, “I … think I can guess that much?”
“Oh, you can?”
“I mean, if anyone can be there to give you leverage and let you work on your own volition, Tianquan should be the first person, no?” Hu Tao spun her logic. “I mean, she is the law.”
“Good thinking there, Little Butterfly, I see you in a different light now.” Yelan crossed her arms, clearly amused.
“Really now?” Hu Tao beamed. “Or you simply said that to feed on my ego?”
“You can take it as whatever,” Yelan replied. “I’m serious to say that you’re good - good at this game and good at putting your head in use.”
Hu Tao blinked owlishly. Did Yelan just praise her? Yelan was never one to speak of her mind so … so truthfully. Well, perhaps she did, but it was either in a roundabout way or coating it with flowery words enough to likely hide her bashfulness.
“Shall we do more rounds then?”
Hu Tao offered, pointing at the cup. Yelan chuckled in response.
“Bring it, Little Butterfly.”
They rolled out more rounds, then giving out more teensy bits of secrets in return. Pots refilled and laughter didn’t seem to die down for even the slightest.
Hu Tao shared about some stupid occassion happened with herself and her late grandpa. She also told about how she hides the 75th Director hat once during an important ceremony that she got an earful from everyone about. Yelan didn’t chalk it up as a prank, nor did she say whatever Hu Tao did was bad. Rather, Yelan laughed together with her, or praised her tricks - again with Yelan and being honest, Hu Tao was sure her heart couldn’t take it for the night if that keeps up.
In return, Yelan told about how she lived near Chasm before because of her family. Yelan didn’t divulge on the juicy details, of course, leaving it open-ended for Hu Tao to arrive at conclusions on her own. She then shared of her love toward spicy food in general, she would munch Jueyun Chillies when bored, or adding too much spice in her meal enough that the person sitting beside her would pinch their nose and go teary-eyed. Later on, they would complain to Yelan about unsavory mealtimes. Yelan would shrug and ignore them.
The night was late when Hu Tao lost count of the stories they shared and the rounds that have passed. It was when Yelan paused to look at Hu Tao in her eyes. Yelan rested her chin on her palm, her fingers absentmindedly threading on the dice.
Hu Tao couldn’t really put the emotion beneath those eyes then. It was as though Yelan said something unspoken, and hoped Hu Tao would understand while she couldn’t put it into words. Hu Tao then offered her hand on the table, in which Yelan clasped in return. Their fingers entwined, like a cool river met with lapping flame, it extinguished everything around them but themselves. The younger woman gazed on the older woman’s face, searching.
“For this round,” Yelan eyed her face, specifically her lips. Or, was it Hu Tao’s imagination? She perhaps was tipsy because of the surroundings and the intimate touches. Or was she not? “How about the winner gets to initiate the kiss between us?”
Silence, before Hu Tao coughed awkwardly.
“No?”
There was a slight pout coming from Yelan, uncharacteristic of the valiant woman Hu Tao had known gambled the night between the odds and the evens.
“Are you sure?” Hu Tao squeezed at their conjoined fingers.
“Never been so sure.”
“Then …”
Hu Tao was the one to flick the dice this time, Yelan watched the two cubes dance on the table, waiting for the right moment to cover it with the cup. Both of them likely at a trance with different things entirely as Yelan almost, almost lost the momentum, but she covered the dice faster than Hu Tao was aware. Hu Tao inhaled deeply, while Yelan waited for her with bated breath.
“Odd.” Hu Tao called, the most firm call she had for the night. She, too, never was so sure.
“Even.” Yelan replied, then she opened the cup for the answer.
The right dice showed one, while the other showed six. Hu Tao won. She had won. She got to kiss Yelan. Well , uhh, if she lost, she also still got to kiss Yelan, but this-
Hu Tao wet her lips, eyes drawing away from Yelan’s expectant eyes. She must be red as Jueyun Chilli right now, she didn’t need to ask Yelan for confirmation. The short-haired woman, however, didn’t hurry her. Instead, Yelan stroked a thumb on her hand, drawing soothing lines and circles. The tension between them was palpable, their distance was ideal, everything was almost so perfect that it sent her world spinning.
The Director was the one to break their entwined fingers, for her to wind against the perfectly-sculpted jaw, caressing on the soft cheeks, claiming the kiss out of the lady’s lips, and blowing her breath to feel Yelan’s.
The kiss itself was chaste, tasted like a dream. A dream that Hu Tao forever wanted to cling to and not let go. She liked how it burns on her own lips in return, also likely will be burned in her memory for days and perhaps weeks to follow. It was akin to welcoming self on something forbidden, like walking on the halls of No Return.
Yelan sighed, a soft sigh that Hu Tao could feel vibrating to her skin as she was lingering close.
“So, how was it?”
“Spicy,” Hu Tao didn’t lie. “And tea. Though we drank the same tea.”
Yelan’s chuckles darken. A rumble to Hu Tao’s chest then down to awake butterflies on the pit of her stomach. “Must be my dinner, then, my bad.”
“It wasn’t that bad, honest.”
“Then,” Yelan smacked on her lips. “Would you like seconds, Little Butterfly? Don’t worry, no gambling needed.”
Hu Tao could say her blushing was spreading to the tip of her ears now, she was basically, positively , caught red-handed.
As though she would refuse the offer.