Chapter Text
Autumn has arrived, and everything appears to be beautiful and dry. Everything appears to be lonely and silent. You wonder where we are? It’s a cemetery. It’s really far away from Liyue itself.
“I found you…” A ginger-haired man finally discovered the grave he had been looking for. He then pours water and flowers on the grave. He was sitting next to the grave's tomb.
“Hello… Guizhong… Finally we met…” He smiled. “I apologize for my sudden visit to you. My name is Childe… or Tartaglia, whichever of those names you want to call me.”
Childe closed his eyes, sighing, “Guizhong… What a lovely name for someone who tragically died far too soon. Your Zhongli is missing you, you know?” Childe giggles, remembering his beloved one. “Guizhong… Every day, every night, he always thinks of you. He never misses one day, even when we are together. You are irreplaceable in his heart. I'm fine with it because I understand him.” Childe began to stroke the tomb, attempting not to cry. He trembled.
“Every affection he gave me, he saw you in me. When he called my name, he only remembered you when I called his name back. Everything I do, he only sees you in me,” Childe finally feeling breakdown, he cried silently. “He never saw me, Guizhong. In his eyes, I'm just someone who is used to being projected as you. I thought I would be fine since I only want him to be by my side, even if he saw you in me. But now, I don’t know. I want him to see me as ‘ me ’. For once… Please…”
“Zhongli, Zhongli! Look, a flower!” I pointed out the beautiful flower on my head. Zhongli was stunned when I looked at him.
“What’s wrong? Is everything okay?” I asked, didn’t want him to be disgusted by looking at me with a flower on my head.
“No,” he answered, smiling. “It suits you, my dear.” He kissed my forehead, and we both laughed and giggled.
He kisses me, hugs me, and embraces me, as lovers do. I thought we were in love. I thought he loves me for who I am. I thought… he saw me… as his beloved one.
“Guizhong…”
Guizhong….
Guizhong…
Every night, he called your name. Every day, he murmurs your name.
He doesn’t remember me… He only remembers you. Guizhong, he mistook my favorites for yours. There were several events that I can reveal.
“This flower suits you, my dear… Isn’t this your favorite flower?” Zhongli places a yellow flower in my hair.… I don’t like the color yellow…
“But, Zhongli…”
“What is it? Look, it suits you so well. I hope I can see you more with it. You are the most beautiful person I've ever seen, dear.” He only saw you in me with the yellow flower.
“Childe, I saw a beautiful necklace and I immediately bought this for you. May I?” I nodded, and he assisted in putting the necklace around my neck. It's a gold necklace with a brown crystal.
“It’s beautiful… I love it, Zhongli! I love you so much!” I hugged him, giving him the biggest smile I had.
“I’m happy that it suits you, my dear…'' He hugged me back, gently stroking my hair. But then I noticed that this necklace resembles Guizhong's necklace. A gift from Zhongli to Guizhong. Just like what we did.
Days by days, weeks to weeks, months to months, years by years… I’ve had enough enduring this. I’ve had enough pretending I’m strong in front of him. I feel childish, but I don't want to become even more childish as a result of this.
“Zhongli… Morax… Do you really love that woman so much?” I stroked his cheeks while he slept. “You love her so much that you can't see me as anything other than her? Why are you so cruel?”
“What should I do now to you, Zhongli? Should I stay by your side forever, keeping this broken heart, knowing you will never love me? Answer me, Morax…”
“Am I just a mortal who just passed by in your life who resembles your lover?”
“I am sorry for my sudden tears. It must be uncomfortable for you to see his mistress here, complaining about this to you. I must be insane… Thank you for listening, Guizhong…” Childe then wipes his tears and leaves.
He leaves a murmur for Guizhong and Zhongli, “Tell him I said hello and goodbye. Because, in his eyes, you are still alive.”
Meanwhile on the other side, the consultant saw a farewell letter on his desk. A farewell letter from Childe.