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"Tao… Taotao…"
The sleeping director could hear her dearest lawyer's voice amidst her slumber, but she thought she could make a 'plea bargain' with her. Of course, Hu Tao's one to wake up early, but she always wanted to sleep in whenever the night before would be extra tiring.
"Five… five more minutes… Yanyan…" she muttered with a playful snore, earning a soft giggle from her partner.
She'd wanted just a few more minutes of shut eye, until her nose picked up something fresh and delicious. It smelled divine, and if love could be translated into another form of odor, then that's what her senses registered.
Phooey, seems like Hu Tao's plea bargain was stricken off the court record. Slowly rising up and lazily yawning, she rubbed her eyes a bit before finding the source of that wonderful smell and her dearest. Turning to her left, she was greeted by a soft 'Good morning, my Director Hu' from her bathrobe-donned partner and a sumptuous meal on a tray, as if she's been presented by a meal that'll knock the pants off the best connoisseurs from Xinyue Kiosk or Liuli Pavilion.
"W-woah…" Hu Tao definitely got her energy back just from the sight alone.
Hu Tao thought about this lovely gesture for a bit. The last time anyone's ever done this for her was her late grandpa whenever she'd get sick. That was, like, years ago. Now, in her newly-wedded life, her dearest wife's done the same. The director's heart started feeling all mushy and warm inside, and it's something that she needed Yanfei to feel as well.
She's definitely got to return the favor. Luckily, Yanfei birthday's coming up soon. That'll be sure to surprise her.
But, what dishes could rival an adeptus-style cuisine? Hu Tao knew Yanfei learned from the best adeptus. Giving it some thought, she decided to take some cram cooking classes from a certain culinary goddess real soon.
And she knew just who to go to.
"I-is for me, Yanyan?" she coyly added, index fingers fiddling with each other while softly looking at her eyes.
"Do I see any other Taotao's here?"
Hu Tao giggled. "No, Your Honor."
"If there are no objections," the lawyer drew her partner's hand closer to the tray, "then it's time for our verdict: let's dig in, my love."
"Xiangling! Xiangling!"
"What? What?"
"We have to cook, Xiangling!" Hu Tao showed her some baking powder and blue sugar, shaking the pouches pretty roughly. "We have to cook!"
Xiangling rubbed her brows, smiling, but clearly disappointed at Hu Tao's attempt at a joke. "How long were you waiting to say that?"
"Since I read that weird-ass crime novel Xingqiu borrowed from two Mondstadt alchemists."
"In that case, if you do so much as wreck my prized wok while cooking, prepare yourself for the worst possible punishment, Hu Tao."
Suddenly, the air around the two became chokingly heavy.
"Ha-ha, I was kidding, Tao."
The director broke cold sweat. She knew better than to mess with this cooking extraordinaire and her utensils. "Ah, r-right on, Xiang—"
"Or was I?" The chokingly heavy air returned. Hu Tao now knew to be extra careful with everything around her when cooking. "Anyways, let's cook, Hu Tao!"
And so, they did. Unsurprisingly, quite intensively, too.
Since Yanfei's breakfast-in-bed surprise for Hu Tao went off without a hitch, the latter immediately contacted Wanmin Restaurant's Xiangling. If there's someone who has a shot to rival even Rex Lapis' personal cook, it's definitely her. Heaven knows how far Xiangling's culinary skills have taken her these past few years.
That said, Hu Tao's been cram-studying under Xiangling for days, and while there were several occasions where the former burnt and charred some food here and there, Hu Tao was still progressing at an unnatural rate.
From the most basic of three-day meals to buffet-style food, not to mention 'exotic' dishes and desserts, Hu Tao was thrust into different culinary styles and practices, even to the point where she became Xiangling's right-hand woman in her restaurant for the time being.
When Yanfei'd pass by to look for Hu Tao, though, the latter'd quickly hide so as not to spoil her surprise. Close shaves here and there, too.
Of course, before letting her dearest wife taste her cooking, she'd have to hear others' opinions as well. Xiangling did say even the craziest of dishes made from the weirdest of ingredients will still have to end up being tasted and criesides Xiangling, Hu Tao decided to let some of her friends taste her cooking, letting them swear to secrecy not to tell a certain adeptus lawyer for now.
"Woah, this has got to be the best ice cream I've tasted since I last went to Inazuma!" Chongyun commented.
"Hm, the salty freshness of the seas… the distinct flavor of creatures underwater… Your cooking truly is amazing, Hu Tao, and that's an understatement," Xingqiu commented.
"Such nostalgia. This ascetic yet savory meal reminds me of the time I shared with friends long passed, Hu Tao. Pairing this with your choice of drink to stimulate the taste buds, your genius in the culinary arts have sharpened; your grandfather would be proud, and Xiangling has taught you well. It also reminds me of a certain friend who'd frequently cooked for me a long time ago… Say, would you like to be my personal cook one day? I'll have Childe deal with the ingredients and relevant expenses," Zhongli commented.
Hu Tao was surprised. Sure, there were strange ingredients added and minor arguments between the two friends about said ingredients, but she came to realize Xiangling's godlike skills aren't to be questioned.
I knew Xiangling was a prodigy, but damn, she's too good — way too good! Rex Lapis' personal cook must be shaking in their boots! Just as she thought of that, Guoba sneezed out some embers, burning a few leafy greens that lay at the side.
At last, the day 'graduation' has come. Just in time for Yanfei's birthday tomorrow, too. Before Hu Tao left for home, the teacher and student had little conversation.
"See, Hu Tao? And this is just within a few days. Who knows what'll happen if you trained under me for a year. Maybe you'll surpass me… not!"
"Nah, I'm not a cooking savvy like you, Xiangling. I doubt anyone's gonna be better than you."
Xiangling chuckled. "If you weren't dealing with Wangsheng, I'd make you my assistant."
"Eh, no thanks Xiangling. Sure, cooking's nice and all, but it sure isn't my calling."
"Aw, well… If you change your mind, my restaurant door's open for your reconsideration."
Hu Tao giggled, pulling her eyelid down. "In a million years, nyeh! See ya, Xiangling! And, thanks again!"
"Good luck, Tao! Send my regards to your wife, too!" Waving each other good-bye, the director happily skipped back home.
On her way back, though, a mischievous plan started brewing up in her head. If she's gonna surprise her dearest with a breakfast-in-bed for the first time, she's gonna have to do it while leaving an epic first impression. Make the best memories, her grandpa would tell her then.
Oh, I'll make the best of best memories for that smartass lawyer, alright. I just got the plan for her, hee-hee.
Shuffling between the realm of slumber and waking consciousness, Yanfei seemed to pick up something fresh and sizzling. Something that reminded her when Granny Ping would greet her awake with a small meal on hand in her youth.
Granny's dishes? Wait, no. I'm not living with her. If so, then… process of elimination… understanding the context… got it.
All mysteries have been solved, and one truth remains — it's her dearest wife, Director Hu Tao. No contradictions there.
"Yanyan… Wakey-wakey, birthday girl."
"I'm up. I'm up."
Fixing her hair and rubbing her eyes a bit, it took a bit before she could make out her surroundings. A pleasant and colorful meal was presented on her lap as she sat up on the bed. The food was sizzling, and a fresh, savory smell from it, too. It must've been recently cooked.
Yanfei gasped. A small commemorative cake — no, birthday cake with pink designs sat beside the dishes; there's even a carefully drawn picture of her and Hu Tao under the characters 生日快乐.
The lawyer couldn't help but tear up, quickly wiping them away so as not to spoil the mood and effort of her dearest partner.
"Aw, tears of joy, hm?" Hu Tao cooed.
Yanfei chuckled, setting the tray on the bed while trying to maintain her composure. "Well, well. I have to say Tao… T-Taotao?!"
"Why so shocked? Don't you like my birthday surprise for you, Yanyan~?" Yanfei's face couldn't turn any redder. Her wife stood before her, with only the thin fabric of her apron covering her entire front. How sly of her, teasing the lawyer by fiddling the straps that kept the apron from falling. The flustered lawyer instinctively covered her face out of embarrassment. "Last chance to look at me, Yanyan~"
Slowly uncovering her face, Yanfei's head was still spinning with multiple thoughts and emotions, this being the first time Hu Tao did a trope that could only be read in novels. Gulping, Yanfei managed to compose herself, a bit.
"I, ahem! I-I love it, Taotao. Uh, yes, but… um… verily, I… uh…"
Hu Tao giggled as she leaned closer to Yanfei and cupped the latter's chin. "How about a little breakfast before you compose yourself some more?" Yanfei was trapped under her alluring spell, unable to think of any rebuttal. What else could she do but yield to her wife's offer?
Tasting Hu Tao's cooking, Yanfei couldn't believe herself. She could feel that the food was carefully cooked and designed; each nibble and each lick of even the smallest of pieces registered the artisanship of the cook. This sure reminded her of Xiangling's dishes, but it felt… way more Taotao-y than it was Xiangling-y, for lack of a better description. That was when Hu Tao revealed that she'd been taking cram cooking classes, but it's as if it wasn't even a result of a few days' worth of practice and learning.
"Hee-hee, the power of love can do wonders, Yanyan. But, I think you knew that already, no?" Hu Tao commented. "If it's for my wife, then even the most, hellish, most toiling and most laborious of tasks, I shall gladly bear as my cross."
Yanfei couldn't help but tear up once more at her poetic comment. She couldn't voice her reply at that moment, but she would definitely do the same for her Hu Tao.
The small banter between the two wives continued, with the more playful one of the two dropping some teases for the more serious one to lighten the mood. The food did taste so much better whenever the two'd talk.
Finishing their meal and setting aside whatever needed to be set aside, Yanfei decided now was the time to express her gratitude. It would be a criminal offense to leave her dearest Taotao without any expression of gratitude, she felt.
"Taotao…"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you… This has got to be the best birthday I've ever had." Yanfei pulled Hu Tao into her tight embrace.
"Anything for my dearest, Yanyan." Suddenly, Hu Tao's trademark pranking face returned. "But, I bet you'll love the main course of this meal."
"The 'main course'?" What could be even mean? "We're already done with breakfast, Taotao, so—"
All too quickly, and still in their embrace, the director landed her back on the bed and led the lawyer's hands to the straps of her apron as both their wet lips met each other.
"That would be me, Yanyan," she said, suddenly putting on a pleading face. "Go wild, my love. Let your unhinged adeptus instincts loose. Enjoy your birthday to the fullest!"
The image of this version Hu Tao burned into Yanfei's eyes. Yanfei then felt a fire inside her burn, one mainly fueled by her genuine feelings for her wife, but at the same time mixed with her adeptus blood craving for something, or rather, someone. Slowly but surely, her cool and collected mind of logic and reason was replaced by something fiery and passionate.
Oh, this sure was one breakfast Yanfei would never, ever forget.
Just as the lawyer got closer to the director, the latter whispered something into the former's ear.
"I cooked up the best birthday for you, my Yanyan~"