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Ajax looks at his reflection in the restroom mirror. Tonight, he’s dressed formally, wearing a three-piece suit and his ginger hair slicked back. But he heaves a deep sigh, as if he didn’t want to be here. In fact, his mother has coerced him to attend this formal meeting.
“I don’t want to hear any more excuses from you, son. You’ve rejected every marriage proposal offered to you back in Snezhnaya. Why? Are Liyuen beauties so incomparable? In that case, let’s find someone from there and put an end to this reckless single life of yours. Expect me to arrive in Liyue this weekend. Do NOT fail to show up.”
She has said— threatened him— just a week ago over the phone. Ajax doesn’t agree that the life he has right now is reckless. If anything, he’s perfectly fine. But apparently, his mother doesn’t share the same sentiment. Not to mention how she keeps reminding him that he’ll turn 25 in two months. But, he’s still young. He has friends who are over 30 and still aren’t married yet. Why is it such a bother for his mother when he himself doesn’t think so?
Be that as it may, he can’t say no to his mother’s demand and keep being such a disappointment. Therefore, he—albeit reluctantly— agreed to attend this meeting. He has no idea who the other candidate will be this time around, but he couldn’t care less. He’ll just reject again, very nicely, if needed .
The door of the stall behind him is opened and Ajax’s eyes bulge out of their sockets when he sees who the person is. He turns around, “Zhongli! What are you doing here?”
“Childe? What a coincidence. What are you doing here yourself?” Zhongli frowns, approaching the sink to wash his hands.
“I, uh… got a business meeting here. You know, the usual. Haha…” Ajax laughs awkwardly, not sure why he had to lie, “And you?”
There’s a short pause before Zhongli replies, not looking Ajax in the eye, “Same.”
Zhongli’s one word answer doesn’t register to his brain straight away, because Ajax’s focus is placed elsewhere. To be exact, Zhongli’s attire. The older man looks handsome in his brown turtleneck, with a gray coat over it, and a pair of black dress pants. It’s not until Zhongli clears his throat, does Ajax shift his gaze back up to those amber eyes.
“Well then, if you’ll excuse me. My… client is waiting,” Zhongli nods, leaving the restroom first.
Ajax walks back to his table, where his mother and his potential partner are waiting. His head hangs low, like a lamb to be slaughtered. He hears his mother call out to him. Ajax sighs again, before he masks his unwillingness with his fake grin.
“Apologies for the—” only then does Ajax finally land his eyes on the person sitting across from his mother, whose back is facing the redhead, “— wait…”
‘No way…’ Ajax thinks.
“Zhongli??”
The person turns his head around, looking as surprised as Ajax does.
“Childe??”
“Oh? You two know each other already?” asks Ajax’s mother, and both of them look at her. Confusion is shown on their faces and a string of questions are on the tip of their tongues.
“Mother, what’s the meaning of this?” Ajax responds to his mother’s question with another, not realizing that he’s still standing.
“Ajax, why don’t you sit down first?” she smiles dangerously, aware that her son starts drawing attention from the other patrons.
Ajax complies, sitting beside her mother, across from Zhongli who remains quiet.
“Ajax, this is Mr. Zhongli, your spouse-to-be. Would you like to review his profile?” The woman hands him a black leather folder that presumably contains Zhongli’s profile.
“I believe there is no need,” it’s Zhongli who has spoken, “Right, Childe?”
Ajax nods profusely, “Mother, why don’t you explain to me why it’s… why Zhongli is here instead? Is this a prank?”
“Prank? What are you talking about, Ajax? Mr. Zhongli is here tonight because he’s agreed to the marriage proposal his sister—Miss Ningguang— offered him. I’ve been in contact with her for weeks now, searching for the best candidate for you. Now, where are your manners?”
Ajax’s mouth opens and closes again. He directs his attention to Zhongli, “Did you know? That it was me? Did you?”
“I must admit I did not,” answers Zhongli thoughtfully, touching his chin.
“So, if it turned out not to be me, you’d still agree? After all of my advances toward you?”
Ajax looks upset, while his mother stares at him in bewilderment. But before she could ask anything, Ajax continues, “Mother, he’s the reason I rejected all those proposals. It’s him who I want.”
“Why, isn’t that nice? One problem solved,” comments his mother.
“It’s not! You don’t understand!”
Then, Ajax flees from the dining hall out to the balcony, leaving his mother perplexed. But Zhongli quickly excuses himself and runs after him.
“Childe…” Zhongli approaches him slowly.
“No, please…”
“Childe, you’re being dramatic.”
Zhongli arrives behind him and turns the redhead around to face him.
“I’m sorry about my answer. But you should understand where I came from. I’m already 35, Childe. And your advances were just… well, advances . I wasn’t even sure if you’re serious or not.”
“But I am. It might seem like a push-pull situation, and I get that eventually you’ll get tired, but I’m doing this with this goal in my head that I will ask for your hand, if you’ll have me.”
“Oh, Childe…” Zhongli’s heart is touched by the confession. He pulls the redhead into a hug, “You’ve kept me waiting for so long.”
Ajax’s arms circle around Zhongli’s tiny waist, nose buried in the crook of the older man’s neck.
“So, it’s a yes?” he mumbles against Zhongli’s skin.
“What else could it be? You silly child.”
Zhongli lets out a small laugh, patting Ajax’s head soothingly.
“We should probably explain this to your mother.”
“Uhn. You’re right.”
They part and Ajax stares into Zhongli’s eyes, “It’s not a dream, though, is it?”
Zhongli smiles and flicks Ajax’s forehead.
“No, it’s not. Let’s go.”
And they both return to the dining hall. The sound of Ajax’s mother scolding him in public echoes through the night.