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It was known to everyone in wanghu inn the moonlit rendezvous of two lovers, the tune of the flute, sometimes a duet, and a plate of finished almost tofu at the kitchen.
Verr goldet knows this very well, in fact, let's the bard enter the inn without a doubt despite her hesitation when they first met.
After the first day of shock when she saw Xiao relax and tilt a slight smile plastered on his face followed by the bard's laughter filling the air, she mentally noted to invite the bard more often. After all, It's not everyday you get to see the Conquerer of Demons succumb himself to relaxation rather than keeping watch at the harbor all night. Years of managing the harbor, witnessing Xiao bloodied injured every night from all that fighting of hilichurls or whatever more dangerous creatures are out there and rejecting her offer for medicine when he clearly needs it. Verr goldet is more than grateful to see Xiao finally giving himself something he long for deserves.
So whenever the two engulfs in moonlight at the balcony of wangshu inn, she stuffs up the papers in her bag and heads back to her room. She knows the two deserves their privacy, and she was also too tired for the whole day shift. The bard can definitely take care of Xiao like no one else can.
"Xiaooo~ mind listening in to one last song?" settling down his lyre, Venti riverts his attention at the yaksha who seemed to have his eyes closed and arms crossed when he was singing tunes of the land in mondstatd.
Xiao, despite being a liyuen, continued to indulge him either way, no matter what venti sings about, it seems to calm his nerves, and lightens a part of him, like finally being kept close, like a blanket during a snow storm. He opens one eye for venti and ended up opening both after such glowing sight of the other.
Venti's eyes seems to reflect more on this lighting, the moon light shining on to his face, making each part of venti's physical appearance clearer, the soft smile on his plump lips, the apple like cheeks, and his magestic gem like eyes. Xiao couldn't help but to stare mouth agape at the sight, he silently apologized to Rex Lapis for claiming that liyue sights cannot compare with the beauty in front of him.
Venti may be in his human form, but Xiao believes no human can ever be a view of awe than the one in front of him.
"Earth to Xiao?" hands waves Infront of him with venti's fond giggles.. "I was asking you a question..however.... It seems like my beauty has captured my dearest adeptus' thoughts yes?"
Snapping out of it, which took Xiao lots of restraint, a pink dust of shade coats his cheeks and he mentally curses on how he can't find an excuse to escape this like blaming the hot scorching heat of liyue when they're in a breezy night at wangshu inn.
Clearing his throat he replies " Yes.. you have" normally Xiao would have brushed it aside, years of venti's teasing, he felt as if he gradually became immune to it, knowing well how to brush it off and find excuses to hide his flaring cheeks and a smile creeping it's way in.
Tonight, Xiao decides, he's going to let himself indulge the bard, the god, his friend, his lover, Venti.
Venti seems to have caught off guard by his answer, eyes flicking back and forth at him and the floor of where they're sitting on.
"W-why thank you Xiao" plucking out the Cecilias on his cap, he carefully places it in Xiao's palms and looks straight in his eyes with gentleness he had always offered the yaksha. Venti tried his hardest to mask the hint of nervousness and anxiety in his bones after such a courageous statement from Xiao.
Venti yearns so much for this, and when it's finally Infront of him, he seems to get anxious that he might melt away, feel too much, where he wakes up and everything is just a dream.
Although it's been a long time, since they proclaimed their love for one another, was it months? Was it years? Venti had always cradled Xiao in his arms like he could lose his anytime. If he could only convince Xiao to run away from his responsibilities and travel the whole teyvat with him then he would. Yet venti knows well that Xiao genuinely cares for the safety of liyue, and who would want to strip that away from him when it's all he wants. As the god of freedom, he always made sure to respect Xiao's decisions and encourage Xiao to decide for himself than let others tell him what to do.
If it what makes Xiao happy then Venti will gladly oblige, he could stay at wangshu inn every night for the rest of his life with his beloved and that's all what matters.
Realizing he have been holding onto Xiao and the Cecilia without any words coming out of his mouth, he stares at those mesmerizing golden eyes and he seems to have forgotten his words again. Funny right? Venti who strings his words gracefully has been struck speechless by a beautiful adeptus' Infront of him.
"I know Venti" Xiao mumbles "I can tell what you're thinking" using his left hand Xiao couldn't help but hide the crease of smile on his face and look away from the staring eyes. He felt so seen, yet he doesn't really feel the need to hide himself, he was just feeling all these kind of butterflies in his stomach that he can't seem to help but be embarrassed. He swears, Venti has some kind of spell in him and he doesn't know about it.
"So are you up for last one song?" Venti cheeky smile crept back up from the rare sight of the adeptus' and so who was Xiao to say no? If venti offers his voice and songs for Xiao for a lifetime without pause, Xiao would have still agreed with it.
"Of course" he replies and venti plops back in properly at his side, reaching out somewhere for his flute and shows it to Xiao.
"It's been a long time since I played the flute, and I know you really love the instrument so I wrote something for you" he beams, he must have worked really hard for this.
"This is only for you Xiao, and no one else" there it is again that feeling Xiao can't seem to get ahold of but has always been around since Venti came to his life is present again. This time Xiao embraces it, indulges himself and smiles in return.
And after that smile, the tune of the flute follows, dancing around wangshu inn below the moonlight and there Xiao over and over again, falls in love with Venti.