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It always begins with a ‘rumor has it…’ .
The first time he heard the rumor that’s been spreading around lately, Childe didn’t want to believe it. After all, the authenticity of a rumor is often unreliable and the more it gets spread around, the more people will exaggerate the story.
But then, the subject of the rumor itself has confirmed it personally to him. Of course, blame Childe for having the audacity to demand an explanation.
Zhongli stares at the redhead quietly, his gaze not judging. Instead, he appears to be amused.
“Is it so unbelievable that I did have former lovers? Do you really think for thousands of years, I remained celibate until I met you, Childe?”
Noting the plural Zhongli has used to address the topic of the rumor, Childe’s lips purse in annoyance. Which only makes Zhongli even more excited to draw more reactions from the younger man.
“Who were they?” asks the redhead, attempting to not appear jealous.
“Who they were doesn’t matter. I have you now.”
And that closes the current topic of conversation, Zhongli is ready to move on to the next. Childe, on the other hand, is not. He opens his mouth again and is about to say more, when Zhongli beats him to it.
“I merely jested.”
“What?”
“The rumor is false. I didn’t have any former lovers. Unless…”
“... unless?” Childe repeats.
“Never mind.”
“Zhongli xiansheng~!”
Childe whines, while Zhongli laughs in amusement.
Unless the kid he met many years ago counts. Unless that short friendship they had after they bumped into each other at Liyue Harbor counts. Unless the claim that kid made to him before the day of his returning to Snezhnaya with his father arrived counts.
“Don’t you worry, my tall and beautiful guide. This lover of yours will come back to Liyue and when that day comes, I will marry you.”
That kid’s name is Ajax.