Work Text:
Humming to herself, Hu Tao strolled down the busy nighttime streets of Liyue. Bright lantern lights illuminated the stone paths, bustling with people. Weaving her way through the crowds, the funeral director made a beeline for Mingxing Jewelry. Luckily, a customer was already leaving the store counter as soon as Hu Tao approached it.
“Oh, hello Director!” Xingxi said with a wave.
“Hey, Xingxi!” Hu Tao replied. “I’m just checking to see if my order is ready.”
“I believe it is… let me check in the back for you,” Xingxi turned and moved into the back of the store, peeking around shelves and rummaging through boxes. After a minute of looking she pulled out the item Hu Tao ordered. “Here it is.”
Hu Tao peeked at the item in Xingxi’s hands, a satisfied smile forming on her face. “Ah, it’s perfect! Do you think I can get it wrapped? It’s a gift, after all.”
“Of course, that will only be a couple of hundred extra mora,”
As Hu Tao dug through her pocket for mora, Xingxi went to work wrapping up the item. The store clerk moved swiftly yet tactfully, making sure the gift was wrapped as neatly as possible. She slid the gift box across the counter, with Hu Tao sliding a few coins in exchange.
“Thank you so much!” Hu Tao grabbed the box and turned to leave.
“Wait,” Xingxi stopped the director in her tracks. “Before I forget, there are some unpaid tabs left for Wansheng Funeral Parlor… are you able to pay those off now by chance?”
Hu Tao spun back around on her heels, trying to hold back a smirk. “Sorry, I can’t right now… but don’t worry, I’ll have those sorted out by tomorrow. See ya!”
Xingxi nodded as she watched Hu Tao walk away from the counter. With her gift in hand, Hu Tao quickly made her way back to the Wansheng Funeral parlor.
Zhongli breathed in the afternoon air as he leisurely strolled toward Wansheng Funeral Parlor. He was just coming back from the errand Hu Tao sent him on earlier. She emphasized it wasn’t a matter to be rushed, so he took his time coming back to the Parlor.
However, the man wasn’t dense. He knew the Director sent him on this meaningless errand so that she had time to prepare something for his birthday. Zhongli had spent far too long in this world, he’s had thousands of birthdays at this point. The occasion had long lost its importance to him, but that didn’t stop the people around him from trying to make it special. And as long as he knew Hu Tao, she was the one who tried the hardest every year.
Pushing open the old wooden door, Zhongli entered the Funeral Parlor. Streamers were strung all throughout the lobby, bringing pops of color into the plain room. Several paper lanterns hung from the ceiling, each emitting a soft light.
He couldn’t help but chuckle as a sense of irony washed over him. The irony of a birthday celebration, the celebration of another year in life, being held in a Funeral Parlor. But as this was the place he and Hu Tao spent the most time together, it made sense for them to celebrate here. Before Zhongli could get too lost in his rumination, a figure jumped infront of him.
“Happy birthday Mr. Zhongli!!” Hu Tao shouted, pulling the string to a party popper and sending confetti everywhere.
“Ah, what a pleasant surprise, Director Hu,” Zhongli said with a warm smile.
“Come, sit, sit!” Hu Tao grabbed onto Zhongli’s sleeve, gently pulling him over to a bench. “I have a couple of surprises for you!”
Zhongli followed the Director and sat on the bench as instructed. There was a small table set with a cake in the middle. The desert had frosting sloppily slathered on it and colorful sprinkles spread out on it. About a dozen unlit candles were also stuck into the top of the cake. Next to it was a gift box, wrapped with golden paper.
“Did you make this?” Zhongli asked, studying the cake.
“Well, I had Xiangling make the cake itself… but she let me decorate it,” Hu Tao replied.
“Hm, I can see that,” Zhongli tilted his head to the side, watching as Hu Tao used the power of pyro to light the candles.
Hu Tao began to hum to her own made-up birthday tune as she finished lighting the last candle. She took a step back and looked at Zhongli expectantly, watching as he leaned forward and gently blew on the candles.
“Did you make a wish?” Hu Tao asked as she rubbed her hands together excitedly.
“Of course I did, How could I forget?” Zhongli chuckled.
“I wished for another wonderful year with you by my side,” the former Geo Archon thought to himself.
Hu Tao grinned in response, reaching over to pick up the gift box. “Before we eat the cake, I want you to open this!”
With the box presented before him, Zhongli took it into his hands. He turned to examine his gift, shaking it a bit in his hands before beginning to slowly unwrap it. Carefully pulling the paper along where it was folded, he freed the cardboard box from its wrapping.
Opening the box revealed a slim brown leather wallet. Intricate geometrical designs were engraved along the outside, with a golden zipper keeping the wallet closed. From one corner was a brown loop, just big enough for him to slip his wrist through.
“It’s a wallet!” Hu Tao beamed. “Now you can carry your mora with you wherever you go.”
Zhongli’s mouth formed into a warm fond smile, rubbing his gloved thumb over the wallet’s exterior. He took the zipper and gently pulled it open, examining the inside of the empty wallet.
“It doesn’t come with any mora?” Zhongli asked genuinely.
“No! You have to put in your own mora, silly,” Hu Tao giggled.
“Oh, well it’s wonderful… thank you very much, Hu Tao…” Zhongli looked back up at the director.
“You're welcome! Now let's eat,” Hu Tao took a knife from the table and cut two equal slices, placing them each on their own plate. She handed one plate and a fork to Zhongli while she took the other for herself. Sitting down next to Zhongli on the bench, she began to dig into her slice.
The two of them sat in silence as they ate their dessert. By the time Hu Tao had finished her cake, Zhongli was still picking small pieces from his half-eaten slice.
“Once you’re done with your cake, there's somewhere I want to take you,” Hu Tao said as she stood up from where she sat, her smirk on full display.
“And where would that be?” Zhongli asked after swallowing a piece of cake.
“To Mingxing Jewelry. So you can bring your new wallet and pay off all the tabs you’ve been wracking up…”