Work Text:
JackSparrow: heyyyyy ;))
StarJade: morning!
JackSparrow: hows my girlfriend doing??
StarJade: super refreshed after grading homework all night
JackSparrow: lmao, sucks- i mean i cant relate seeing as all i did last night was get drunk lmao
StarJade: wow, Sparrow. Wow. Were you at least healthy with your consumption rate?
JackSparrow: no i chugged 13 bottles at once
StarJade: sometimes I worry for your health: physically, but especially mentally
JackSparrow: just another sign that u love meee you yourself said in yor bio that you like people with wild sides
StarJade: ..true
JackSparrow: love you too Jade <33
StarJade: love you too.
At first, NIngguang had been very hesitant and reluctant to start online dating.
Her friend had recommended it to her, but she thought of it as dangerous. Especially with how people could catfish or rip off people who genuinely fell in love with them. Although, after she set up an account on a particularly lonely night, she began to get invested.
Describing herself, taking the best picture, expressing the things she loved. At first, she actually got a great many people interested: most all of them men, and a large amount opening a chat by complimenting her body. She immediately rejected them.
Those who started by saying hi, she gave an opportunity. Some of them started asking for money or sex after a few days, so she blocked them. Then it came down to those few people wanting to actually get to know one another.
Strangely, though, some of the nicest men who asked her out were the ones she rejected. She just didn’t feel attracted or attached. Maybe they wanted to start dating within a week, or wanted to get to be friends for a year first: from wide ranges of people, she rejected them. Until she found JackSparrow.
She was the first woman to open a chat with her. Ningguang browsed her profile, and found her incredibly attractive immediately. That wasn’t the best part, though. Unlike everyone she’d met before, Sparrow wasn’t boasting about some gym workout routine, or listing in bullet points their hobbies.
‘Me: lives on a boat, has an eyepatch, loves women, single mother, ready to mingle
Other ppl: nahhh too gay for me lmaoooo’ was Beidou’s opening paragraph on her profile. It was funny, and different, yet still explained who she was in many ways. It was intriguing.
They started chatting and got really close. Ningguang stopped accepting chat requests from other people and kept solely to JackSparrow. Eventually, they got each other’s numbers, and they both deleted the dating app. Ningguang would come home from work expecting a message from her texting buddy with optimism every day.
They chatted for eight months until Beidou asked to be Ningguang’s girlfriend. A week ago, that was. Ningguang couldn’t be happier.
JackSparrow: ning, as a teacher, have any advice on what to say to my sons teachers on conference night??
Ningguang glanced back at her phone, smiling slightly. She was just about to leave her house and begin the route to school.
StarJade: lead with something optimistic and welcoming, like “glad to be here” or “looking to help in any way possible”. Also avoid insulting them
JackSparrow: thankssss
StarJade: are you nervous?
JackSparrow: yeah. ive never gone to these, but my little baby said he really wanted me to come bc he had some kind of project he couldnt bring home that he wanted me to see
StarJade: awww, he’s so sweet!
JackSparrow: just how i raised him! anyway, you have conferences too, right?
StarJade: yeah
JackSparrow: we never got too detailed with where we live and personal info other than names and jobs and shit, so wouldnt it be funny if we met tonight at conferences?
StarJade: that would be quite the coincidence
JackSparrow: literalllyyy. seriously though, we should set up an irl date whenever youre comfortable meeting in person
StarJade: maybe after conferences are over and i’m stress-free
JackSparrow: sounds great!
Ningguang sighed. She wanted to meet Beidou, she really did. Ningguang only knew a bit about her appearance: a face shot and a random context-less image of her bare feet: and Ningguang was dying to see the rest of her. She wanted to know her smile. But she was too nervous: what if JackSparrow was an old man who sent photos of his sexy daughter or something just to lure her in?
Ningguang silenced her phone and put it in her bag, walking outside. She headed across the street, where she was lucky enough to have a bus stop. Boarding the public transport, she felt her phone buzz. Her heart skipped at the chance of it being from Sparrow. When she opened her phone, it was indeed from her girlfriend.
JackSparrow: forgot to wish you gl!
StarJade: gl to you too! love you :)
JackSparrow: acronyms and emojis? lovin this wild side of yours, Jade ;)))
StarJade: sexy, right?
JackSparrow: def
Ningguang chuckled to herself, leaning against the wall of the bus. Over text, she was a pretty mellow version of herself. She was incredibly formal at work and around other people, but rather relaxed and kind to her students when needed. She did have a wild side; but it hadn’t shown itself since high school. If it did have to resurface, she knows she’d do it for Beidou, who would accept and encourage it for sure. That crazy girl.
Ningguang sometimes wondered how it would be to live on a houseboat, living alone with your six year old, working here and there for shipping companies. But she wouldn’t give up her job for the world; she loved her kids too much.
Finally, the city bus reached the school stop, and Ningguang stepped off. Today was going to be a long day.
—
“Thank you for your time,” Ningguang nodded politely.
“No problem,” a kind mother smiled. “I’m glad my little Gorou has been able to socialize a bit more.”
“Mooom don’t tease me,” the brown-haired boy complained.
“Worried I’ll embarrass you in front of you in front of your cute friend over there?” Gorou’s mother glanced at Kokomi, who sat in the corner with her dad, working on paperwork for an upcoming field trip.
Gorou pouted and pulled his mom out of the room. Next, in came a person Ningguang hadn’t seen before.
She strutted in with confidence, immediately catching Ningguang’s eye. She wore a nice maroon suit, and her hair was all loose, hanging over her shoulders. Ningguang couldn’t help but recognize her, although she couldn’t put a name on her.
“Hi there,” the woman sat down.
As she sat, Ningguang noticed Kazuha, the shyest boy in the class, hiding behind his mother. Ningguang shot him a smile, knowing that he was always nervous when seeing other people, even if he knew them well.
“You’re Kazuha’s mother?” Ningguang asked.
“Yeah,” the woman smiled.
“Well, I have to start with how amazing he is at his language sessions! His poetry, which I was surprised he knew existed, is amazing, even compared to fifth graders,” Ningguang smiled lightly.
The mother smiled at her boy, patting his head.
“Always had a knack for rhyming!” she grinned.
“Alright, Kazuha, I think you can go play with Venti now,” Ningguang prompted.
Kazuha nodded and ran off to the back of the classroom where Venti was chatting loudly with Albedo, Collei, Amber, and Xiao.
“Now, despite his talent, I have found it a bit concerning that he refuses to socialize. During group projects, he does his portion completely independently and doesn’t communicate. Once he did open up and gain a few friends, he stuck to them rather closely, however,” Ningguang began.
The woman nodded, paying close attention. Ningguang couldn’t help but notice how familiar her eye was- where did she know this face from?
“He has grown a close attachment to one student named Tomo in particular. Tomo was subject to bullying from one of the other students and ended up in a fight, and ever since, Kazuha has been highly protective of him. His loyalty is remarkable, although he still won’t communicate with many others,” Ningguang added. “Nevertheless, he has begun to become popular among other boys, and Tomo has been encouraging him to socialize.”
The woman smiled, nodding.
“Now, let’s talk about grades. He excels in most subjects, I believe it might be an option to enroll him in advanced language classes. However, he struggles with math,” Ningguang pulled out a few papers. “His brain works differently than the others: he likes being alone, yet loves sports with others. He excels with rhyming and words, but he struggles to understand numbers. I was wondering if he has any mental disorders, or if you have seen signs of any?”
Kazuha’s mother grew slightly concerned, glancing at her kid, who was letting Venti braid his air while he listened to a playful argument between Collei and Amber.
“I haven’t seen many signs, no. I believe he was just a bit neglected as a child. You see, he’s adopted, and I don’t know what happened to him in his past. I’ve been his mother for four years now,” she mentioned.
Ningguang watched as the mother spoke. She was incredibly caring about her son- not like the other parents. She seemed to know a lot about her kid and they both seemed really close. It reminded her of Beidou. Shit, wait. Now that she has that in her head, she can see a resemblance.
Beidou had a son in second grade. Beidou wore an eyepatch. Beidou favored a red color scheme. Beidou had long brown hair- but then again… Beidou online seemed a lot more carefree and wild. This version of her was a lot more professional. Could it really be her?
“Besides that, Kazuha is a model student,” Ningguang smiled. “While shy, he’s been slowly opening up more to the others. He has become close with Gorou, another rather shy classmate. Heizou, a rather intelligent student, has been helping him become a bit more carefree.”
The woman nodded, smiling.
“I do have concerns with Scaramouche, however. Has he ever mentioned him?” Ningguang questioned.
“Yeah. Once he gets home, he always starts talking about his friends,” She nods.
“Scaramouche is known to be a troublemaker. He has been in a multitude of fights, and tends to lash out at even his mother. He isn’t a fair player and tends to start arguments with his sister in class,” Ningguang sounded concerned. “I’m afraid of what will happen if Kazuha continues to be under his influence.”
“Personally, I don’t mind. I mean, Kazuha’s fine on his own. When we’re alone on the boat, he climbs ropes and steers the ship all alone, and he knows how to wield a knife. He knows how to keep himself moral and kind, and he knows how to take care of himself and meditate,” she explains. “If anything, Kazuha will help Scaramouche become a better person.”
Ningguang sighed. This woman was stubborn- but she couldn’t help but admire it. Not often did parents speak up for their children.
“He’s playful when he wants to yet knows when to take time to himself- I think he knows himself very well for a seven-year-old,” the mother finished. “There’s no way he’d let anyone influence him.”
Now, this was starting to sound like the JackSparrow she knew. Still- she hasn’t sworn once, and hasn’t been joking a lot. She was about 50% sure this was Beidou.
“Well, if that’s settled,” Ningguang fake smiled. “All we need to discuss is payment for the upcoming field trip.”
“Oh, he’s not going,” she shrugged. “He told me that he isn’t comfortable in buses and he finds no interest in touring the capital.”
“But it is important for children to experience different places and routines,” Ningguang protested.
“Trust me, Kazuha has gone on quite a number of adventures. We live on a boat,” the mother said. “Besides, 90 dollars for a three-hour-long political-themed trip: that’s ridiculous.”
Ningguang sighed. She always got ticked off by mothers like this. But then again, she was being rather reasonable. The two women stared at each other for a moment, deciding on their next courses of action. Ningguang decided that this conference should be over.
“Kazuha! You and your mother have to get going now,” Ningguang called over the mother’s shoulder.
Kazuha glanced over and nodded, waddling over to his mother.
“Okaa-san, do you like my hair?” Kazuha asked his mother, giggling quietly.
“Of course darling,” the mother- Okaa-san? Was that her name?
Then again, Kazuha used to live with a Japanese family before being taken in by his mother. From this, Kazuha was stuck with a few Japanese words in his vocabulary. It might just be that.
The woman took Kazuha’s tiny hand and led him towards the door, complimenting the absolute mess of braids Venti had created in Kazuha’s hair. Ningguang sighed as the two left, staring at the ceiling for a second. She was confused. Could that really be Sparrow? Or was she just a strange mother who happened to be single, live on a boat, and be going to conferences this week?
Ningguang decided that that woman was too professional to be Beidou, and ruled it out entirely.
—
JackSparrow: the conferences did not go well
StarJade: same
JackSparrow: i hate it when people tell me how to parent my own damn kid
StarJade: was there a good reason?
JackSparrow: nope.
StarJade: well, as least you don’t have to deal with annoying stubborn parents who dont listen to advice
JackSparrow: conferences are shit. Idk if im ever going to one again lmao
StarJade: i wish i had that option
JackSparrow: if youre ever pissed at random parents, you can always come over and relax with me!
StarJade: maybe in the future
JackSparrow: okay. love you baby ;)
Beidou glanced at Kazuha, who was sleeping in the passenger seat of her car, tangled in his seatbelt. That teacher sure was something. And it started off so well! She was actually beginning to think she was sexy until she started insisting Kazuha went on a trip.
Beidou checked her phone again, but Jade didn’t answer. She must be busy. Knowing driving with a toddler in shotgun and texting while driving was probably illegal, she put her phone away and paid attention to the highway, which she was going 70 mph on.
Next semester, she’d go to conferences again, and she’d tell that teacher how amazing Kazuha is without needing to be corrupted by politics! Beidou sighed. She doesn’t usually get worked up about things like this. She calmed herself down to the point where she realized she was probably in the wrong. Why did she lash out?
Especially at such a beautiful and kind woman… she cursed at herself. It was a common occurrence for Beidou to say things she regretted just an hour later. Sometimes they kept her up at night, as she’d re-imagine the situation, pretending she’d said something smarter or more appropriate.
—
It was the next semester.
Beidou held Kazuha’s hand as she walked into the elementary school. Many other children and parents milled by, heading off towards random classrooms. After entering the second grade section of the school, Beidou entered Kazuha’s classroom, not bothering to read the teacher’s name written on the door.
Ningguang and Beidou had been dating for half a year now, yet they still hadn’t met. Beidou was starting to get annoyed with Ningguang’s excuses: Jackie, why don’t we wait until the school year’s over? Or: Sparrow, I can’t come tonight as planned, some of the kids need help. One time she even said ‘Beidou, I can’t meet you for another month, I’m busy’. It was so vague, Beidou was getting close to angry.
So, therefore, already in a bad mood, she entered the classroom of Kazuha’s teacher. She had decided that she wanted to renew their relationship. She’d been mean, and hadn’t stopped thinking about how she wanted to fix that. Jade’s polite influence was rubbing off on her.
Upon entering the classroom, Kazuha tugged on Beidou’s sleeve with his free hand, reaching across his chest. Beidou looked down, and her son pointed over to where Scaramouche, Heizou, Venti, Xiao, and the new transfer student, Aether, were conversing. Beidou nodded at him, and Kazuha took off waddling towards them.
“Welcome, Ms. Kazuha’sMother,” the teacher greeted.
Beidou nodded and sat down at the chair opposite the teacher’s desk. A nametag announcing her last name read something in cursive; but Beidou can’t read cursive, so she gave up trying immediately.
“I’d like to start this with the elephant in the room,” Kazuha’s teacher glanced at Kazuha. “You received our emails, I hope?”
“Of course. And the call home,” Beidou nodded.
“It was incredibly out of character for him, being such a sweet boy,” she sighed. “But Kazuha getting into a fight is a potential gateway to him increasing such activities as he ages.”
“...Did he win, though?” the boat-dweller asked.
“Why, yes, but-”
“Then I see no issue,” Beidou shrugged, reminding herself not to get mad at the teacher. “He told me he was defending his friend, right? Did the attacker get in trouble?”
“Hu Tao did receive a suspension, yes,” the teacher nodded. “...and yes, I can see your point of view.”
Beidou smiled lightly. It seemed this woman was trying to make amends as well.
“Anyway- just remember to remind him that violence is never the only option- seeing as he writes poems of freedom and peace, I assume you’ve told him this already, though?” the teacher smiled back.
“No, he was watching My Little Pony and figured it out himself,” Beidou chuckled. “It’s probably why he keeps calling his friends magical.”
“At least he isn’t watching brainless shows. I hear Hu Tao’s recent activity might stem from the fact that he watched Deadpool at five years old,” the teacher laughed back.
Oh god. Her laugh. She’d never heard her laugh. Why was it so angelic? Snap out of it Beidou, you have a girlfriend! Then again, your girlfriend won’t agree to meet up with you in person….
“Let’s move on, shall we?” she continued. “Kazuha has been becoming better in gym class, especially with Mr.Tartaglia’s new employment as the Physical Education instructor; he has been motivating a lot of the students to enjoy physical activities other than games.”
“That’s good,” Beidou nodded.
“He has a rather difficult relationship with Mrs. Raiden, however…”
They conversed for a while.
Beidou found herself enjoying the teacher’s personality. Her laugh is addictive, her smile, attitude, humor: they all showed themselves the longer they chatted. Beidou was really reminded of her girlfriend.
NIngguang, meanwhile, has been theorizing. After the last conference, she pulled up the only picture of Beidou she had; a close up of her face. Examining it, she memorized her details, ready to see if Kazuha’s mother was truly Sparrow, as she suspected.
After conversing with the other for so long, she has grown nearly completely confident that this woman was her girlfriend. Now, as the conversation is lulling, Ningguang decides it is time to confirm her suspicions.
“Are you perhaps JackSparrow?” Ningguang asked suddenly and bluntly.
Kazuha’s mother paused, eyes widened slightly. She then smiled, letting herself relax.
“Are you an online friend?” Beidou asked, playing with the other.
Ningguang leaned forward, reaching a finger to graze the bottom of Beidou’s chin.
“I’d say I’m a little more than that, Sparrow,” Ningguang said charmingly.
Beidou started laughing lightly. Then she realized how stupid she had been, and started laughing harder. Then she thought about the situation entirely and laughed so hard she might have fallen out of her chair.
Ningguang, meanwhile, found this contagious, and started laughing as well.
“Okaa-san? Are you okay?” Kazuha’s quiet voice suddenly interrupted their laughing fit.
“Yes Zoo, I’m fine,” Beidou reached down and pat Kazuha’s fluffy hair. “Sometimes even adults can be quite oblivious, is all. I find it amusing.”
Kazuha smiled and giggled a bit; he hadn’t seen his mother in such an intensely happy mood in a while. Kazuha then nodded and turned back towards his friends.
“Aw, he’s so sweet,” Ningguang smiled. “I can see now how obvious it was. You described him enough times that I should have been able to guess.”
Suddenly, Beidou started laughing again, this time a bit less like a howl and more of a bark.
“Are you okay?” Ningguang asked
“Yeah, you’re just totally hotter than you had looked in your head-shot,” Beidou grinned, making Ningguang flush. “Also, you’re so much more uptight and serious in real life!”
“Being assistant principal, in charge of a whole class of 2nd graders, and helping with my niece when her parents are out of the house has been quite hard,” Ningguang noted.
“You have a niece?” Beidou asked.
“Yeah. My adopted older brother, Zhongli, married a year ago. He adopted four kids; Xiao, Ganyu, Hu Tao, and Qiqi. Xiao, you may note, is one of Kazuha’s friends. Anyway, Qiqi, the youngest, often needs babysitting when Childe takes the olders out on the playground and Zhongil’s at work,” Ningguang ranted.
Beidou smiled, enjoying Ningguang’s voice.
“Hey- would you mind me taking you home after conferences? I heard you usually ride the bus, but I brought my car,” Beidou suggested.
“No, not at all!” Ningguang seemed happy. “It would be like a first date. With Kazuha watching in the back.”
“We’ll stop at a McDonalds and lose him in the play place. Then we can chat,” Beidou shrugged. “I do it all the time.”
“Some would call that irresponsible parenting. Playgrounds can be dangerous,” Ningguang pointed out.
“Ms. Ningguang, excuse the interruption, but I need help with calming down my class again,” Candace poked her head in the room. “I don’t know how they keep riling up. Kindergarteners won’t listen to me. Especially Diona.”
“Of course, Mrs. Candace,” Ningguang stood from her seat. “You go on to McDonald’s without me and text me the address, I’ll be done in an hour and ride the bus there.”
“Okay,” Beidou smiled. “See ya then, Ning.”
Ningguang blushed and turned to follow Candace towards where the youngest students resided.
—
Soon enough, Beidou is sitting in rickety metal McDonald’s tables, watching Kazuha climb high on the outside of the play place over a sign that says ‘no climbing’. Beidou anxiously waited for Ningguang, looking out the window and away from her kid, who a few employees were nervously watching.
Ningguang texted and said she’d still like a ride, but instead of her place, she wondered if Beidou was willing to bring her to the boat house Beidou resided in. Beidou accepted, saying she’d cook dinner.
“Mommy!” Kazuha yelled joyfully.
Beidou looked over to see Kazuha standing at the very top of the structure, his head touching the ceiling. Beidou watched proudly as her son balanced around on support beams and stood on top of tube slides, barefoot.
Kazuha had a habit of leaving his shoes around, claiming that they ‘confine, strangle, and squish my toes. They can’t breathe! Plus, after playing for a long time, my socks get sweaty, and it’s gross’.
Meanwhile, Ningguang just finished walking from the bus stop to the parking lot, and found herself laughing. It was easy to spot Beidou’s car: it was a rather old-looking truck with many boat stickers on the side, in addition to a flurry of poorly-placed maple leaves.
A washed-out design on the side looked like it had been drawn on with Sharpies; it resembled a boat with maple leaves for sails, and Ningguang could barely see the faintest drawing of Kazuha and Beidou both in the crows nest. For some reason, the steering wheel was up there as well, and they were driving the boat from up high.
Clearly these drawings were weathered by rain, probably about a year old. Ningguang smiles at the fact that they clearly weren’t purposefully scrubbed off. Beidou was such an adorable person sometimes.
“Sorry!” a sudden voice shouted.
Ningguang looked up to see an employee shoving Kazuha and Beidou out of the McDonalds. A moment after the door slammed, Kazuha started giggling, and Beidou began laughing. The two turned towards their truck and then paused when they saw Ningguang.
“Oh- Jade. Hi,” Beidou suddenly stopped laughing. “We totally didn’t get kicked out of McDonald’s or anything.”
“You’re a great liar, Okaa-san,” Kazuha whispered.
“Was that sarcasm? You’re seven, you shouldn’t know what that is,” Beidou whispered back.
“I hear the guys on FOX and CNN say stuff like that all the time,” Kazuha smiled.
“I told you to stay away from politics,” Beidou frowned.
“But they’re funnier than things like Spongebob and Octonauts,” Kazuha reasoned. “And I finished My Little Pony.”
“What are you two talking about?” Ningguang called over fondly.
“Nothing!” Beidou and Kazuha both said at once.
“Anyway, I’m assuming this is your truck?” Ningguang nodded at the vehicle she still stood next to.
“Yeah. Go ahead and take shotgun,” Beidou started walking over.
Kazuha huffed, obviously sad that he didn’t get the front seat, but walked towards the back doors without a verbal complaint. He seemed to be on his best behavior.
—
Kazuha, without being asked, set an extra chair at the table for two and began laying out plates and cups of water.
“He’s never this polite,” Beidou whispered to Ningguang as the two stood in the kitchen, watching Kazuha. “Usually he just sits and then scarfs his food, busses his dishes (50% of the time) and then runs back outside to climb a tree.”
“It’s probably because I’m here,” Ningguang laughs lightly.
The three began eating dinner, and Beidou laughed as Kazuha voluntarily bussed Ningguang’s dishes for her. He walked over to Beidou, who leaned down to his level in her chair. They cutely touched noses, making Ningguang smile, before Kazuha headed off to a separate room in the tiny houseboat.
“He puts himself to bed these days,” Beidou repositions herself. “Anyway, now for the alcohol!”
Beidou spontaneously took a bottle of sake from a cabinet nearby and poured it into Ningguang’s glass. The two started drinking until they reached a point where they were slightly tipsy, laughing about random topics.
At that moment, they got to know each other. After so long online, they really enjoyed hearing each other’s voices, even if it involved a lot of ranting, however.
“So yeah. StarJade because I used to play roleplay games with my neighborhood and my main attack creates the star jades. In actuality, I just painted some stones yellow and chucked them at the neighbors,” Ningguang finished explaining.
“I chose mine because I cosplayed as Jack Sparrow once. I already needed an eyepatch after The Incident, and Kazuha had always teased me about being Jack Sparrow because I live on a boat anyway; thus it just sort of happened, and I stuck with it,” Beidou shrugged.
“What’s ‘The Incident’?” Ningguang tilted her head.
“It’s what me and Kazuha say to refer to this,” Beidou points to her eyepatch. “Yes, it’s real. Haven’t I already told you this story?”
“Nope,” Ningguang grinned.
“Okay, so basically, Kazuha had been working on a project involving scissors. He was running across the house with them, and I, quite admittedly, was stupid, and didn’t stop him. The scissors flew out of his hands and stabbed me in the eye,” Beidou laughed. “I was bleeding everywhere. It didn’t go deep, but it had lasting damage.
“I tried to calm him down, but he was hyperventilating, shouting things in English and bad Japanese about how sorry he was. He was crying and shivering while I patched it up, Googling how to take care of a stabbed eye. He’s coped with humor, but I know he still feels really bad about it, so we refer to it as ‘The Incident’ as a kind of caution,” Beidou finished.
“So that’s why he keeps telling Heizou, Tomo, and Scara to always be super careful with scissors. I thought he was just being silly when he said he ‘stabbed his mommy and now she’s a pirate’,” Ningguang mentioned. “It’s funny, though. The kids got more reckless after that because they wanted to be pirates.”
Beidou started laughing at that, and Ningguang smiled, joining in. After that, they continued to talk for a very long time- they’d finished their wine a while ago, but weren’t feeling very drunk at all. They were busying themselves in conversation.
Eventually, Ningguang got tired, and Beidou started setting up the pull-out couch, insisting Ningguang stay over. In the end, they both found themselves hanging out on the couch, sitting together.
“So if you hear weird noises, just ignore them,” Beidou was saying. “Because late at night, Kazuha will randomly wake up and decide to watch the stars outside. I gave up trying to stop him a few years ago.”
“He’s such a weird kid,” Ningguang smiled. “I love him though. I wasn’t going to say anything, but he is one of my favorite students. He’s incredibly intelligent and perceptive; with surprisingly deep thoughts and ideas. Yet sometimes, when I’m not looking, I can hear him being reckless and doing crazy things. I now know where he gets that from.”
Beidou laughed, her amusement shaking her body. After a few minutes, the two were just enjoying a bit of comfortable silence, until Beidou decided to make a move. The usually boisterous and rowdy character gently rested her head on Ningguang’s shoulder, a very tentative gesture.
Ningguang blushed, watching Beidou lace her fingers with Ningguang’s.
“Is it okay if I fall asleep here?” Beidou muttered.
“I thought I was the one who was tired,” Ningguang sleepily said. “And yes; more than okay.”
After ten minutes, Beidou was fully asleep, and Ningguang was drifting off. It felt all too perfect. A cute houseboat, a sexy woman, and an adorable kid: was this all going to become part of her life? Ningguang couldn’t believe how lucky she was.
Maybe dating apps aren’t complete bullshit, like how social media puts it. Ningguang closed her eyes and leaned against Beidou’s head, smiling to herself. Yes, she was definitely lucky.