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It was a peaceful day, too peaceful.
Zhongli had returned home from a long day at school. He ate some leftovers, took a shower, changed into something comfortable, sat down at his desk, and began studying. He had an upcoming test and needed to study in order to maintain his position as the highest-performing student.
He read through the textbook, highlighting important points, and took notes on a separate piece of paper. The room was quiet, with only the sound of his pencil on paper and the occasional passing cars outside.
However, his peaceful studying was abruptly interrupted when his younger sister, Hu Tao, burst into his room.
"Zhongli! Can you please take me to a concert?!" the little girl pleaded.
Hearing her request was shocking. It wasn't often that he saw his little sister so desperate for something, especially for a concert of all things.
"I would take you, but I need to study. Ask Ganyu or Xiao to accompany you. I'm sorry," he replied, giving her a small sad smile.
"I already asked them! Ganyu said she couldn't because she had a date, and Xiao simply ignored me," she frowned.
"I'm sorry, Hu Tao, but I can't. Like I said, I need to study," Zhongli said firmly and returned to his work.
"Please, Zhongli! You're my last hope! Besides, you don't even need to study. We all know you're going to pass!" Hu Tao pleaded, almost begging on her knees.
"Please, let me study in peace," he started to tune her out. He couldn't afford to lose any of his precious study time.
"Please! Just this once! I really want to see Tartaglia perform here in Liyue. I'll do anything! Please, you're my only hope!" she cried.
Zhongli sighed, adjusting his glasses that were slowly sliding down, and placed his pencil on the desk.
"Okay, fine. I'll take you to the concert, but you have to do my chores for the rest of the month," he said, and Hu Tao beamed at this.
She shot up from her knees and side-hugged him, expressing her gratitude. "Thank you! This is why you're the best brother ever! I love you so much!"
"I love you too."
It was the day of the concert.
There he was, waiting in line to watch a singer perform, someone he didn't know anything about, with his little sister. He was starting to regret saying yes to her.
"Hurry up, stupid line! I don't have all day!" Hu Tao complained.
"Hu Tao, we can't do anything about the line," he said, letting out a long sigh.
"I know, Zhongli! I'm just soooo bored," she drawled, shaking her head.
"I should've stayed home," he muttered. He could have been doing more productive things at the moment, like studying. However, he had to let Hu Tao have her way, like always. He needed to start saying no to her, but he just couldn't. Being the oldest child made him weak in the face of his younger siblings.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally made it past the main entrance and security. A huge stage came into view, and Hu Tao ran to their seats, which were near the stage, giving them a perfect view of the singer.
As much as he didn't want to be there, he was happy to see his little sister so excited to see her favorite singer perform. He liked seeing her happy.
They didn't have to wait long before a man walked onto the stage. The crowd erupted into screams and cheers, making his ears ring. He turned around and saw that the arena was filled to the brink. Most of the attendees were children with their parents and teenagers with friends. He even saw some adults in the crowd.
After a brief pause caused by someone coughing into the microphone, the room fell silent as everyone turned their attention to the man on stage.
"Sorry! What is up, Liyue?!" the man exclaimed, prompting the crowd to erupt into cheers once again.
"I'm glad you guys are doing well! Before we start, I want to let you know that after tonight's show, I'll be meeting with those who managed to purchase a ticket for the backstage experience!"
"However, there's only a limited number of tickets available, so you'll have to act fast and secure yours before they're all gone!" He flashed a smile, followed by a breathy laugh.
"Zhongli! Did you hear that?! Can we please buy tickets?" Hu Tao pleaded, her excitement palpable. Zhongli sighed, he’s never regretted something this much.
"Well, I suppose we can, but in return, you'll have to do my chores for an additional month," he said, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. He couldn't resist the chance to bargain.
"Fine, I'll do it," she conceded, rolling her eyes while a faint smile tugged at her lips.
After the show ended, Hu Tao grabbed Zhongli's wrist and sprinted to the ticket booth, leaving him dumbfounded by her sudden burst of speed.
When they arrived at the ticket booth, there was already a sizeable crowd, with approximately thirty people ahead of them in line. Fortunately, the line was moving quickly, and before long, they reached the stand and purchased two backstage tickets.
They had managed to secure the tickets before they sold out, much to Zhongli's relief. He didn't want to deal with a disappointed and sulking Hu Tao.
Ten minutes later, the sound of teenagers and children crying and wailing filled the air as they realized they hadn't been able to secure tickets. Zhongli sympathized with them but reassured himself that there would be another opportunity in the future.
Zhongli and Hu Tao made their way backstage, maneuvering through the frantic crowd of people competing to be the first to meet the singer. Eventually, they reached a security guard stationed at the entrance.
"I need to see your tickets," the middle-aged man requested.
They handed over their tickets, which the man briefly scanned before granting them entry. However, he informed them that only one person was allowed in the room with the singer at a time. Zhongli insisted that his sister go first.
He patiently waited outside, occupying himself by updating his parents on how they were and what they were doing. He also exchanged texts with his friends, Venti and Ei, making plans to meet up and catch up.
Before he knew it, ten minutes had passed, and Hu Tao emerged from the room, bubbling with excitement.
"I just met my favorite singer! This is the best day of my life! I even got a photo with him! Can you believe that?! I got a photo with Tartaglia!" she exclaimed, her face beaming with joy.
"I'm glad you had such a great experience, but let's leave now," Zhongli said, patting her shoulder and offering her a warm smile.
"No! You have to go in as well. Otherwise, the ticket will go to waste. So, go inside!" Hu Tao asserted, placing a hand on her hip and pointing towards the door.
Zhongli sighed in defeat. He could never win against his determined sister. He instructed her to wait for him there, not to wander off or get into any trouble.
"Hello! Was that your little sister?" Tartaglia inquired as Zhongli stepped into the room.
"Yes, that's my sister. She's a fan of your music, so I brought her along. How did you know?" Zhongli replied politely, flashing a smile. Tartaglia chuckled lightly.
"Well, she mentioned that you were next in line, so I kinda just assumed." Childe awkwardly trailed off as Zhongli took a seat on the couch beside the singer.
"Ah, that makes sense. I personally don't listen to your music or keep up with any news about you…" Zhongli awkwardly laughed.
"That's alright! We can just talk and get to know each other for now," Tartaglia suggested with a small smile.
"That works for me," Zhongli nodded, fiddling with his sleeve.
"How old are you?" the singer asked.
"I'm eighteen. And you?"
"I'm seventeen, but I'll turn eighteen in July. This might sound weird, but what's school like?" Tartaglia asked.
"I'm assuming you're asking because you're homeschooled due to your popularity?" Zhongli inquired.
"Yeah, I used to attend a regular high school in my hometown, but then fame happened, and I switched to homeschooling," Tartaglia confirmed, a hint of sadness detected in his voice.
Zhongli hummed in understanding. He sympathized with the boy, realizing that he had probably missed out on a typical high school experience due to focusing on music and singing instead. It must be a lot for someone so young to handle.
"School here in Liyue is great. As long as you follow the rules, you won't have any problems. I’m guessing you aren’t from around here?" Zhongli asked, feeling a pang of pity for the boy. He was young, popular, and homeschooled, meaning he likely didn't have many friends.
"I'm from Snezhnaya, but I moved to Liyue earlier this year because it's beautiful and warmer than home," Tartaglia revealed.
"Snezhnaya is indeed a stark contrast to Liyue. Do you miss your home?" Zhongli inquired further.
"It's a significant change, which is precisely why I moved here. I needed a change of scenery. I do miss home sometimes, but I believe this was for the best," Tartaglia spoke with a tender and soft voice.
"Oh, pardon my manners, but what's your name?" the singer added.
"Zhongli."
"What a lovely name, Zhongli. I'm Ajax, but you can call me Childe."
For a moment, silence hung in the air. Childe awkwardly cleared his throat and asked about Zhongli's favorite color.
As Zhongli looked up and met Childe's gaze, he was captivated by the deep, crystal-clear ocean-blue eyes before him. It felt as though he were lost in those beautiful eyes, which adorned a face as if sculpted by the gods themselves. Delicate freckles dotted his cheeks, adding a touch of charm.
Without realizing, Zhongli blurted out his response.
"Blue."
And so, their friendship began to blossom.
Ten minutes flew by as they exchanged more questions, discussing their favorite foods and pastimes. They shared stories about their lives, delving deeper into their personal experiences.
"Your family sounds amazing," Zhongli remarked.
"They truly are! I wish I could see them right now, but I'm constantly busy. You should also take breaks and not work yourself too hard," Childe advised.
A smile graced Zhongli's face as he realized he no longer regretted accompanying Hu Tao to see Childe.
"I'll try to ease up on my work. And you should try to convince your manager to let you take a vacation and visit your family," Zhongli suggested.
"I will. Don't worry," Childe assured him.
Suddenly, an alarm went off, signaling the end of their time together. Had ten minutes really passed already? It felt like mere seconds since they entered the room.
"Time's up," Zhongli stated, preparing to leave the room. However, Childe's hand reached out and grabbed his wrist, pausing him.
"Um," Childe hesitated, as if contemplating something. He took a deep breath before speaking again.
"Can I have your number?" he asked.
Zhongli was taken aback by the request. He never expected to hear from Childe again, assuming their meeting was a one-time occurrence. Nevertheless, he retrieved his phone, hoping Childe didn't notice the picture of him and his siblings messily eating cake on the back of his phone case. He unlocked the device and gave his number to the singer.
"Let me send you a photo you can use for my contact profile!" Childe exclaimed, a few seconds later he got a notification from an unknown number.
It was from Childe. The photo displayed Childe winking at the camera, flashing a peace sign, and wearing a bright smile. Zhongli couldn't help but think how beautiful he looked.
Did he just say that out loud?
Embarrassment flooded Zhongli as he realized his slip of the tongue. Would Childe still want to continue talking to him after such a comment?
Childe stared at him with an expression Zhongli couldn't quite interpret. In a matter of seconds, Childe’s cheeks had grown red.
"I, uh... Thank you?" Childe responded shyly.
"Mhm," Zhongli replied, trying to regain his composure.
"You should go now. Your sister is waiting outside. Also, please don't share my number with anyone. It's my real phone number," Childe requested.
"I won't," Zhongli assured him.
"I’ll text you later," Childe said, turning off his phone and pocketing it.
After the concert had officially ended, Childe kept his word and texted him with a cheerful "hello!" and he replied with "it was nice meeting you :))". From that moment on, they couldn't stop talking to each other. Zhongli would wake up to a text from Childe and they would continue conversing until the early hours of the morning, becoming a daily routine.
As their friendship grew, Zhongli's family started to notice how attached he became to his phone and grew concerned. Despite his reassurances that nothing was wrong, they remained skeptical. When his siblings discovered he had been talking to Tartaglia, they were in shock and bombarded him with questions. Zhongli answered all their questions truthfully.
However, when Hu Tao asked if he liked Tartaglia, Zhongli was caught off guard. He quickly responded with a firm "No, we're just friends." But as time passed, Zhongli's feelings began to change.
Waking up to a message from Childe made him feel giddy and excited. His heart fluttered when Childe called him, causing a pleasant sensation in his stomach. When Childe sent him pictures and sought his approval, Zhongli couldn't help but blush. And whenever Childe checked up on him, Zhongli's heart skipped a beat.
Confused and unsure of his emotions, Zhongli turned to his best friend, Childe, for guidance. He expressed his feelings with explicit detail, leaving nothing out, in order to determine the cause of his reactions. He couldn’t say he felt like this for Childe, so he covered it up by saying it’s one of his classmates. He needed to figure out if he was allergic to his best friend or if there was something more.
As the line went silent, Zhongli feared that Childe had hung up on him. But Childe curtly said he didn’t know why he was acting like how he was. The conversation was cut short as Childe had to hang up due to his manager's request, leaving Zhongli feeling a sense of sadness.
That night, sleep didn’t come as easy to Zhongli as it used to be. He looked up at his ceiling as he pondered over the situation. He didn't receive a goodnight message from Childe, which was unusual. That made him feel uneasy, but why? He used to sleep just fine before he met Childe, why can’t he now? Was it because he was so used to Childe now?
It then dawned on him that his fluttering stomach, skipping heartbeat, and happiness were all linked to his feelings for Childe. He couldn’t sleep peacefully because Childe didn’t give him his usual goodnight text. Which may not seem like much but he waited for it everyday.
It became clear to him that he was in love with Childe, his best friend.
Months had passed, and Zhongli was still struggling to navigate his feelings. He found himself hopelessly in love with Childe and every time he thought he was ready to make a move, the fear of rejection came running towards him.
The thought of his best friend rejecting him because of these feelings he had terrified him. He didn't want Childe to distance himself from him just because of a crush he had. So, he decided to never confess his love to Childe.
He accepted that his love for his best friend would remain unrequited. Childe was famous and popular, while Zhongli was just an ordinary person. He convinced himself not to hope for their friendship to turn into something more.
childe <3
MY ALBUM IS ALMOST OUT
childe <3
JUST TWO HOURS LEFT
childe <3
I love this album
childe <3
I'm so excited!!
zhongli
I'm sure everyone will love your album
zhongli
Hu Tao will probably make me listen to it with her
childe <3
I hope you like it
zhongli
Anything you create is amazing
childe <3
Oh
childe <3
thank you
childe <3
:D
zhongli
No problem
zhongli
Hu Tao wants a sneak peek
childe <3
I would give her a little preview, but I can't :((
childe <3
This album is worth the wait!
childe <3
I can send her free merch though
zhongli
She'd appreciate that
zhongli
She says thank you!
childe <3
Your sister is so nice :''))
childe <3
She's my favorite
zhongli
Did I just get replaced by a 14-year-old??
zhongli
I see how it is
childe <3
WAIT
childe <3
NO
childe <3
YOU DIDN'T
childe <3
I SWEAR
childe <3
YOU WILL FOREVER BE MY FAVORITE
childe <3
NO ONE COULD REPLACE YOU
zhongli
I'm just joking, Childe
zhongli
We're each other's best friends
childe <3
Oh
childe <3
Well...
childe <3
Still
childe <3
You're my favorite
childe <3
You're staying with me forever
zhongli
I will stay with you forever
Tartaglia's new album, "Z + A," has been released! Here are the titles of the songs:
1. I Wanna Be Yours
2. Call Me Maybe
3. Enchanted
4. You Belong With Me
5. I Really Like You
6. You Are in Love
7. I Wonder
8. Pretty Boy
9. Paper Rings
10. Perfect
tartars hoe @tartagliasshoe: OMFG NEW ALBUM FINALLY! IT'S OUTT
his fav pookie @tartarsfavpookie: AFTER LIKE 8391838484 YEARS, HE'S BACK AND WITH A BANGER ALBUM
tartaglia<3 @childemylove: I LOVED PRETTY BOY SMMM, BUT OMFG, THE ALBUM NAME??? "Z + A"???? WHO'S Z?
NEW ALBUM @xiaomybeloved, replying to tartaglia<3 @childemylove: THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING! LIKE, WHO IS Z??
fuck off #emo @emotothecore: IDK IF IT'S JUST ME, BUT LATELY, CHILDE HAS BEEN ALL SMILEY AND SO HAPPY???
pandas @childespookiewookie, replying to fuck off #emo @emotothecore: NAH, CAUSE LIKE, ACTUALLY, HE HAS BEEN SUPER HAPPY LATELY. LIKE,???????
WHO IS Z @xiaomylove: I JUST LISTENED TO ALL THE SONGS, AND THEY'RE LOVE SONGS!! "ENCHANTED" IS SO SAD???? LIKE, WTF, BITCH?
4NEMO!! @4NEMOFAVSSS: I LOVE "PAPER RINGS," IT'S SO CUTE!
FUCK YOU CHILDE @childeiscute: FUCK YOU, CHILDE. YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN. YOU'VE MADE ME EMO. I HATE YOU, BITCH.
STREAM Z+A @childeily, replying to FUCK YOU CHILDE @childeiscute: NO CAUSE ACTUALLY, BRO, THESE SONGS????? GMFUUUU
boo!! @hutaoness: THERE IS NO FUCKING WAY Z IS WHO I THINK IT IS
View All 569k replies
When Hu Tao barged into his room with her laptop and plopped down next to him, screaming about Childe's new album being out, Zhongli was confused but excited to hear it nonetheless.
As Hu Tao played the first song, Zhongli immediately sensed that it was a love song directed at someone. But to who? Childe had never mentioned being in a relationship, so he couldn't figure out who the songs were about.
After listening to all the songs, Hu Tao looked at him with a smile on her face. "I knew you two would come to your senses and confess! I can't believe he wrote an entire album for you!"
Confused, Zhongli asked, "What do you mean? Confessing? An entire album for me? I don't understand."
Hu Tao's smile vanished, and she seemed speechless for a moment. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"You're kidding, right?" she finally said.
Zhongli shook his head. "No, I'm not kidding. Childe didn't write an album for me."
Hu Tao looked exasperated. "Zhongli, you're the top student at your school. You can solve ten problems in under a minute, but you can't see that someone wrote a whole album for you? The album is called 'Z + A.' Who else has a Z in their name? You. And it's pretty fucking obvious that all these songs are aimed towards you!"
Zhongli was taken aback by her words. Could it be true? Could Childe have written an album specifically for him? The thought filled him with both hope and uncertainty.
Hu Tao's words made him consider the possibility that his friendship with the famous Tartaglia could be something more. The idea of Childe, a renowned figure, falling in love with Zhongli, the studious and unpopular guy, seemed both incredible and daunting. But maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for something more between them.
Childe had been doing numerous interviews in the past few weeks, and he was starting to feel bored and tired. Usually, he enjoyed talking and interacting with people, but now he just wanted to go home and rest.
During one interview, the interviewer asked about the theme of his album. Childe replied, "I wanted to make an album about my experience with love."
The interviewer then brought up the speculation among fans that the album was made for someone special. Childe smiled and confirmed, "Oh yeah, my album is made for someone very special to me. He’s probably watching this with his little sister. You can say he's pretty lucky." He chuckled, his smile lighting up his face.
When asked when fans could see this person, Childe replied, "Nobody knows who he is. Nobody will be seeing him for a while."
The reporter concluded the interview by asking if Childe and this person were dating. Childe answered, "No. Not yet."
After watching the interview, Zhongli felt a surge of hope. Childe had confirmed that the album was indeed about a guy he had fallen in love with. Childe even mentioned that the guy would likely be watching the interview with his little sister. It all made sense now—'Z + A' referred to Zhongli and Childe.
Childe didn't know anyone else with the letter Z in their name, and he had never mentioned talking to someone else. The pieces were coming together, and Zhongli couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.
He calculated his chances—60% for requited love and 40% for potential heartbreak. But he decided to hold onto the hope he had. There was a possibility, however small, that he could have a chance with Childe.
With this newfound hope, Zhongli resolved to see where their friendship could lead.
zhongli
hey
childe <3
hiiii
zhongli
can I come over?
zhongli
I need to talk to you
childe <3
it’s pouring outside
childe <3
is everything alright?
childe <3
did something happen?
zhongli
no, nothing happened
zhongli
I just really need to talk to you
zhongli
it's important
childe <3
oh, okay
childe <3
yeah, sure you can come over
childe <3
just be careful
childe <3
I’ll see you soon
zhongli
yeah, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes
That's all Zhongli needed. He pocketed his phone, grabbed a jacket from his closet, and headed downstairs. Hastily putting on his jacket and grabbing an umbrella, he noticed his family giving him puzzled looks, wondering where he was going in such weather.
“Why are you in a hurry?" Ganyu asked from behind him.
“I need to take care of something real quick. I'll be back before dinner," he replied, giving her a small smile before leaving.
Today, he would finally confess his feelings.
When Childe opened the door for Zhongli, he could see that Childe had just gotten out of the shower. He was wearing a flimsy white shirt, some sweats, and his hair was still wet.
They stood there, gazing at each other, as if time had frozen. Zhongli had intended to confess his feelings, but now he was getting cold feet. Maybe he should just leave, come up with a feeble excuse and forget about Childe. He should bury these feelings and move on with his life.
But deep down, he knew he couldn’t do that. He didn’t want to leave Childe. He wanted to stay with him forever, to live a happy life together. It may sound cliché, but is it wrong to want that?
He had thought their relationship would be nothing more than a friendship. Yet here he was, completely infatuated with his best friend.
He had fallen in love with a famous singer.
Love was something he never expected to happen to him. He had always prioritized his studies, dedicating himself to his academics.
And then Childe entered his life, and everything changed. He became enamored, wanting nothing more than to bask in Childe's warmth.
Zhongli, the unpopular guy who only cared about his studies, had fallen in love. He had fallen in love with his best friend.
He was in love with Childe.
"Zhongli, come in before you catch a cold," he heard Childe say, but all he could think about was how much he longed to kiss him.
He opened his mouth, but the words he had planned to say didn’t come out. He probably looked like a fool.
Taking a deep breath, he finally asked the question, "Can I kiss you?"
Everything froze for a moment. Childe's face flushed with a light pink hue, and his mouth hung open.
"Please," he added, seeking Childe's consent. With a hesitant nod, Zhongli raised his hand and gently ran his thumb over Childe's lips. He leaned in carefully, his breath quickening. They were so close that his breath brushed against Childe's face.
And then their lips met. Childe froze for a moment , but then he kissed him back. Childe's lips were softer than he could ever imagined, like biting into cotton candy. They tasted sweet. He felt weightless, oblivious to the raindrops hitting the umbrella or the cool air on his skin. All he could feel was Childe.
The kiss was slow but was full of love. Zhongli felt Childe's hand slide into his hair, and suddenly, everything fell into place. It was like solving a puzzle. Zhongli thought he had all the pieces, but there was always something missing. That missing piece was the person he was kissing.
Childe.
Then they parted, the kiss felt both too short and yet so long. Zhongli rested his forehead against Childe's and gazed into his ocean-blue eyes. They remained like that, lost in each other's gazes, two love-struck fools. Zhongli gave Childe's lips a gentle peck, and then they both bursted into fits of giggles.
When their laughter subsided, Childe spoke up, "Did you come over just to give me a kiss?"
"Not exactly. I wanted to ask if you made an entire album for me," Zhongli replied. When he saw Childe's face turn red, hiding his face in Zhongli's chest, that was all the confirmation he needed.
"That's incredibly adorable. I never imagined I would be the inspiration for an entire album," Childe laughed, his fingers played with Zhongli's hair. The fact that Childe dedicated a whole album to him meant he must love him dearly.
"Are we officially dating now?" Childe asked looking up at him, and Zhongli bursted into laughter.
"Of course we are! I just kissed you and you made a whole album for me, so now we're officially dating," Zhongli breathlessly replied. He had never laughed this hard before.
Childe gave him another peck on the lips and smiled. That smile made the butterflies in Zhongli's stomach multiply. He vouched to make Childe smile and laugh every day for as long as they live, until death do them part.
"I love you," Zhongli said.
"I love you too," Childe replied, sealing their newfound love with a promise.
Fin.