Chapter Text
With one hand dragging the suitcase around and other bringing her phone close to the ear xiangling says, "Dad? Oh for archon's sake this is your 15th 'checking up on me' call within A DAY"
--Voice from the other side can be heard to which xiangling responds, "Well then, now I command you to refrain from wasting anymore of your time worrying about me, am I clear?"
"---"
"Yes, I will let you talk to Hu Tao once I reach there. Now then, I'll call you later Dad. Love you!"
Before the said person could say anything in response, xiangling hangs up and quickly switches off her phone.
Taking a deep breathe, she wiggles in excitement and charges forward to the train station.
~~~~~
"So how do you plan on living on your own when you don't even know the city well, Xiangling?"
The girl with long brown hair with a tint of red fading on the edges, unique eye pupils shaped like a blooming flower says sipping on to a juice pack.
"I'm still figuring out that part, I can't back down now Hu Tao. I've already filled in my registration form ahhh" Xiangling cries out, worriedly chewing up on her thumb nail.
Hu Tao and Xiangling have been best friends ever since Hu Tao once saved Xiangling from a big scary dog on her way back home from school, they were only 5 years old at that time. Now it's been more than 10 years to their friendship. Xiangling when first met Hu Tao, didn't actually liked her, since she was an oddball and pranked everyone the day she got transferred to their school. But after that incident Xiangling learned that Hu Tao is a way better person than she thought of her to be.
Almost an year ago, when kids of their age started planning about their future and courier they promised each other to study in the same University. Both already have decided it to be one of the known University for its diversity and skilled students, St. Tevyat. The University resided in another city that meant they had to move from their living places as well. Hu Tao got accepted first through some connections and had her aunt's place to stay for as long she wished, the problem emerged for Xiangling who got in late and doesn't really know the city well enough to live on her own.
With a hum in her voice Hu Tao suggests, "Why not come live with me then? I'm gonna stay at my aunt's place while she'll be away on her Vacation. It's pretty spacious and almost empty since she isn't the most materialistic person Heh."
Xiangling's eye brows shots up, almost accepting the offer but refuses "I'll be a huge inconvenience, it almost sounds like we're barging in to party while she's away."
"OH come on, you'll be more like an angel saving my takeout money!" Hu Tao tries to pursue her.
"...."
Now in some deep thoughts, Xiangling looks up at Hu Tao with a slight bit of worry in her eyes. At last she finally sighs in defeat
"Then the only thing left is to convince dad I guess."
"AH yay!"
Hu Tao sits up and hugs Xiangling with excitement of living together, so into the moment that she accidentally throws her juice packet in the air (to hug Xiangling). The unfortunate thing is, it never comes in contact with the floor, instead while Hu Tao and Xiangling are now giggling and discussing about their plans together, a tap land on Hu Tao's shoulder.
She turns around to find the said juice packet now to be graciously sitting on top of Xingqiu's head, some liquid dripping off his hair and stains of some on his sweater.
Xingqiu is Hu Tao's childhood friend and a good friend of Xiangling (through Hu Tao), both of them used to be neighbors at a young age. It's their savage pranking personality that tied them together in an amazing friendship, both have been found in detention or in teacher's office countless times. The only difference is Xingqiu is an honoured student, with his excellent performance in academics and is a known member of sword fighting club. Whereas Hu Tao is one of those backbenchers who mostly bunk classes and still manages to get above average, though she is the president of paranormal club which at the moment needs more students to join in.
She always tears down Xingqiu's elite demeanor and ruins his reputation, which Xingqiu doesn't mind since he enjoys her company and he would rather prefer people knowing his actual self then growing high expectations of him. Still, Xingqiu isn't the type to get angry easily infact it's a rare sight to see the noble prince of the class to be down or angry.
Even through the current situation he keeps his smile high upon his face (though the situation didn't matched) he says pointing towards his head
"I suppose this belongs to you, oddball?"
A drop of sweat and a smirk find it's way on Hu Tao's face as she tries to tease him back, "Well not anymore, it seems like you've already claimed it. Try it, carrots are the base ingredient of this flavor, I know you'll like it!"
As soon as she mentions carrots, Xingqiu without moving his face an inch from her yeets the packet into the bin as she tries to hold her laugh in, but fails.
"PFFT-"
"Oh, is something funny about this situation?"
"Surely is, did you seriously believed that there can be carrot flavoured juices?! Look at your hair it's all messed up now Ahaha-"
That's when Xingqiu grabs her by the arms, bends over and rubs his head on her jacket ruining Hu Tao's favourite jacket with in seconds.
"OH YOU DID NOT JUST DO THAT, YOU LITTLE-"
As Hu Tao shouts, they both tangle themselves up in a cat-dog fight.
Xiangling sighs with a small smile, being pretty used to them causing chaos everywhere they're together, she already knows they will end up in the teacher's office again and thus leaves them at their best game.
~~~~~
Finally Xiangling reached Hu Tao's place, ignoring the fact that she accidentally got on the wrong station and had to walk for a long while.
"Finally!! you're here, I thought you got kidnapped or something. You didn't even had your phone on! I told you I should've picked you up but-"
Hu Tao blasts out all her worries on tired Xiangling when she gets cut off by Xiangling. "Can we please do this some other time? I think I twisted my ankle while walking.." with a clue of pain in her voice Xiangling pleades.
Hu Tao without wasting another minute takes up Xiangling's suit cases and brings her in, putting her stuff aside she says, "I'm pretty much done with putting everything away, I'll get some groceries and medicines just incase and a warm wrap for you."
She takes up her jacket from the stand adding, "I know we won't be able to move the furniture in so I hired some labor to move it in, they'll be here any moment. You stay right on the couch, they'll leave after putting everything in. So no need to take up anymore stress!!"
Hu Tao leaves Xiangling with her now swollen ankle and a hot pad on in, still hurting pretty badly. Xiangling is thank full for such a good friend.
Within 5 minutes of Hu Tao leaving, Xiangling heard a knock on the door. Hopping on one foot Xiangling opens the door.
A person wearing labor suit gestures her to let him in to move all the furniture already holding a big cardboard box in his arms.
"Oh yes, you're the guys Hu Tao hired, right?"
"..."
Without saying anything he hands her a paper which says the name of the person who hired the labor 'Ms. Hu Tao'.
I guess that's his way of saying 'yes'?
Xiangling thinks to herself and adds.. "Ok then, please be careful with the boxes and furnitures."
While she looks behind the guy expecting to see his coworkers but finds there to be none..?
"Mister, where are your coworkers? It'll take a lot of time for a person to do this alone"
Ignoring Xiangling's genuine worry he moves out to bring more boxes in.
Hmph! Rude enough
Xiangling pouts to herself..
Well suit yourself then!
And goes back to be seated on the couch as earlier hopping on one foot.
Having nothing to do, observing the labourer she suspects him for coming alone, but he doesn't seem to have any bad intentions as he's busy bringing the stuff in.
As she stares at him, she learns his young features hidden under a cap and a black mask he's wearing. Even though his build up is fine for a labourer his height isn't really that tall, barely inches above Xiangling. His hair is nicely tucked in the cap from being seen, it's hard to make out anything without seeing his face. The only thing that's revealed is his golden amber eyes..
pretty..
She thinks to herself and immediately gets embarrassed for thinking of a stranger that way.
Suddenly, while the guy is keeping one of the boxes on the floor, he might have bent a little too much as one of his hair locks comes down from the cap making Xiangling even more curious. Even thought his hair seemed to be in a dark hue, the lock was particularly of light teel blue hue at the end. For a second Xiangling thought that the worker is a young guy, suddenly finding herself too invested into finding out about why the man's hiding his face...when he suddenly drags her out of her train of thoughts, giving her a form to sign in confirmation that the work has been done. And so she does.
He leaves quietly taking the document with him while Xiangling's still dazed.
Just a few seconds after the worker had left, Xiangling wonders
he..never mentioned his name