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"Hey girlies!"

As you heard a familiar voice you turn your head to the direction where it came from, assuming it was your friend that you had just chatted with.

You see Childe waving with a big smile on his face walking closer to the table that you three had occupied, ofcourse trailing behind him are none other than Kazuha and Scaramouche. Kazuha seemed rather nervous but he didn't show it and kept a small smile on his face while the other male looked like he didn't even want to be here in the first place.

As the three males reached the table both the other ladies that we're conversing earlier had stopped and turned their attention to the ginger male.

"Greetings Tartaglia." Ningguang said as the said male nodded. "Nice to see you too Ningguang!"

'Huh no honorifics?'
you thought. Usually people would refer to her as 'Lady Ningguang' except for those who she allowed to call her by her name without the honorifics, seems as both Childe and Ningguang personally know each other.

"Mind if we join you three?" He questioned, ignoring both the purple haired and indigo haired's glare.

Ningguang nodded in response, "You may join us." With that the trio situated themselves with their seating, Childe seated next to Ningguang as Keqing was right beside her. Leaving both Scaramouche and Kazuha to sit next to you.

"What do you want from Lady Ningguang?" Keqing straightforwardly asked with narrowed eyes, she found it unusual for Childe to approach them so casually without any hidden intentions.

Childe lightly chuckled, "My, aren't you quite the wary type."

"Answer." Keqing sternly stated glaring at the male who just grinned.

"Can I not want to have a conversation with Ningguang over here?" Childe asked crossing his arms as he raise his eyebrow. He was quite amused with Keqing's actions, she was like a bodyguard for Ningguang. He had heard about this certain purple haired female through some connections he had, from what he had gathered she was always near Ningguang's side, always assisting and helping her any way she can. He also knows alot of other personal stuff about her but he wouldn't dare use these information for blackmail.

"No-"

"Keqing," Ningguang spoke up cutting her off before she can continue.

Keqing clicked her tongue and turned away. Ningguang turned to Childe, "Though I agree with Keqing's statement, is there any reason you came up to us?"

"Nothing in particular, we wanted to just join you three for more fun." Childe indicating at the word 'we' which caused Scaramouche's eye to twitch as he glared at the male.

"You mean you." He immediately rephrased, pointing at Childe as the male just laughed.

Ningguang hummed. She then turned her attention to the platinum blonde male who had kept quiet. You who noticed her stare at Kazuha lightly coughed which didn't work as she kept her eyes on him.

Kazuha who was aware of her stare stayed calm and unmoving, giving her a stare back looking through her eyes to determine what she wanted as she looked like she was trying to say something.

You noticed her demeanor and even though you weren't the one getting stared at you got quite uncomfortable as you turned your eyes to Kazuha seeing him stare back at her.

Wanting to help Kazuha out of this, "Ning-"

"How's Beidou?" she inquired cutting you off earning a shocked face from both you and Keqing.

"She's been alright." Kazuha replied almost immediately, it seemed that he already knew what Ningguang wanted to ask.

"Hm, not enough. Why not give me a whole explanation to what she's been up to?" Ningguang further asked crossing her arms.

"She's been doing good lately that's all I can say." Kazuha replied, rather avoidant of speaking more as he continued to not break his stare away from Ningguang.

"Why? Can I not know how my dear friend is doing?" Ningguang asked, "Or is it that you are still following the favor she asked of you to do hm?" She added.

"Apologies Lady Ningguang, but Beidou needs more time." Kazuha smiled hoping that Ningguang doesn't ask him further or else he'd have to leave this gathering early which he didn't want to as he'd just arrive.

Ningguang sighed shaking her head, "When is she going to talk to me again... It's been months." she forlornly said.

"She'll soon show herself, no need to worry." Kazuha said.

"I hope she does if not I'll never sponsor whatever plans she has in mind in the future." Ningguang closed her eyes after she had said that making Kazuha chuckle nervously.

It's been two whole months that Beidou haven't shown herself to anyone in school, people thought that she dropped out and moved somewhere else due to personal problems. But as it turns out she was still somewhere in the city where she had full contact with Kazuha, the only person she's been talking to and it seems that Beidou wanted only Kazuha to know what she's doing and told him to not inform Ningguang anything about her for the mean time. You swore there was something going on between these two girls.

"Well! How have you been Ningguang?" Childe asked hoping to direct the topic somewhere else as he noticed Ningguang's shift of mood.

She sighed and answered his query, as they we're now talking again with you conversing with them as well you felt a vibration from your phone.

Immediately fishing out your phone hoping it was the person you we're waiting to text you but got slightly disappointed when you saw it wasn't him.

Nonetheless you opened the message and replied.

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ManEatingSpider🕷️
4:59 pm

ManEatingSpider🕷️
Hello
Is this y/n?

Y/nn
huh
who the hell are u
man eating spider???

ManEatingSpider 🕷️
Pardon?
Man eating what?

Y/nn
I'm scared
who r u

ManEatingSpider 🕷️
Oh apologies
It's me Albedo

Y/nn
oh..
OH
HEY ALBEDO

ManEatingSpider🕷️
Hm I'm guessing I got
the right contact then, y/n?

Y/nn
Yes! The one and only 🥰
But why the hell is your
name 'ManEatingSpider'??

ManEatingSpider 🕷️
I'm not sure myself..
Did you perhaps change it this way?

Y/nn
uhm
I don't remember...

ManEatingSpider🕷️
I see
So you have no clue as to
why you named me this?

Y/nn
u h
No?
I was probably up til like
3 am and my brain wasn't in
the right mind and ended up
naming u that...

ManEatingSpider 🕷️
hm
Well is it bothering you
as of now?

Y/nn
H M
Not rlly...
Wait aren't I supposed to ask
you that??

ManEatingSpider🕷️
Perhaps, but I don't mind

Y/nn
If you don't mind then can I
change it?
It's gonna be better than
the one you have rn <33

ManEatingSpider 🕷️
Go ahead

Y/nn
Alright done 🤭

MyPrince👑
hm?what did you change it to?

Y/nn
'My Prince'
With a crown emoji
cuz u deserve it sir

MyPrince👑
Interesting

Y/nn
I'm not slash jay okay
It's true 💃💃

MyPrince👑
Slash jay?
I'm quite unfamiliar with that term

Y/nn
Oh it's means joking
So I'm not joking 🤭

MyPrince👑
Alright...
Ahem anyways

Y/nn
Look who's avoiding this

MyPrince👑
Do you recall that I invited
you to join me in the
Windblume Festival?

Y/nn
Huh
Oh yeah

MyPrince👑
I have gotten more news about
the said event and I wanted to
relay it to you

Y/nn
Oooo
Tell me
I'm excited!!

MyPrince👑
Alright
It had been announced that it's in
a few weeks from now

Y/nn
Oh wait rlly??
Wow

MyPrince👑
Mhm
Apparently there are more
new events upcoming compared to last year's Windblume Festival

Y/nn
Damn
More events more rewards to win
Do u know one new event??

MyPrince👑
Yes
It's something related to wine?

Y/nn
Wine?...
Don't tell me 😟

MyPrince👑
Hm?Something the matter?

Y/nn
If there's wine involved then there's
Venti that'll be revolved 🧍‍♀️

MyPrince👑
Venti?
I seem to be familiar with
that name..

Y/nn
He'll definitely attend won't he
Istg him and his wine addiction

MyPrince👑
Oh I recall now
Venti's the one that got
banned from Diluc's tavern

Y/nn
Yes him!
Sucks to suck getting banned 😹

MyPrince👑
Hm it does 'suck'

Y/nn
😟
I think I'm such a bad
influence now

MyPrince👑
I beg to differ
But back to the topic
Will you still be able
join me?

Y/nn
YEAH
I don't back out from a hangout 😋

MyPrince👑
Hm
I'll inform you more at another time
Sucrose and the others need
some help
I'll talk to you later y/n

Y/nn
Alrighty
Ttyl Albedo<33
MyPrince👑 reacted with 💛

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"Huh so you actually got asked out."
A voice next to you suddenly spoke making you jolt on your seat. Turning your head to whoever startled you, you see Scaramouche looking at you with a raised eyebrow.

"You fricking scared the hell out of me." you say holding your chest trying to calm down.

"So dramatic." He said rolling his eyes.

Shaking your head you looked back at Scaramouche glaring at him.

"What the hell do you want." he said noticing your glare.

"You where watching me text someone?" you asked still glaring at him.

"Yeah what of it." he answered.

"Couldn't you like not watch me chat someone?" you say,

"How? I'm literally sitting next to you." he said back.

"I don't know, look somewhere else maybe?" you scoffed as he glared at you.

He rolled his eyes once more as you shaked your head mumbling, "Seriously.."

"That was some lame flirting." he spoke making you deadpan at him.

"That wasn't flirting." you retort back.

"Then what the hell was that?"

"Complimenting duh"

"Then that's some lame complimenting."

"You're lame." you remarked making him glare at you this time.

"And to answer whatever you said earlier it's just a friendly hangout." you said as he scoffed,

"Friendly hangout they say." he mumbled enough for you to hear what he said.

"What? Can you repeat that?"

"I said nothing."

"Whatever." you shake your head tired of talking with him further.

You opened your phone once again but this time to scroll on your social media's as Scaramouche was contemplating wether to ask it or not.

He already knew you liked Xiao but feelings can change overtime when you lose hope, and for how Xiao was acting especially the stunt he pulled few weeks ago it would still be a miracle for you to still like the dude.

He was done with thinking it over as he clicked his tongue, "Do you like him?"

Surprised by the question you turn to him with eyebrows raised, "Who?.."

"Albedo who else?" he scoffed still had his arms crossed.

"What." you deadpanned, was this dude dumb or something?

"That's a yes?"

"No, he's my friend what the hell." you reply back which made him sigh.

'Xiao better thank me for this.'

"He's lying." he straightforwardly stated which caused you to get confused.

"What? Who's lying?" you ask Scaramouche as he removes his arms from his chest putting them on his lap.

"Xiao." he replied.

"What's he lying about?" you further asked, his blunt replies weren't helping your obvious confusion.

"Liking someone." he said as you got more confused.

"Huh?" seeing your baffled expression Scaramouche sighed deeply ruffling his hair.

"Xiao was lying when he said he liked Ganyu." he directly said while your confused expression turned into one of surprise.

"What..? But he told me-"

"That's why I told you he was lying." he cut you off.

"Why would he lie about that?" you narrowed your eyes at him.

"Because he backed out from what he was originally going to do." he said as you looked at him still.

"So...He doesn't like her?" you asked him making sure you heard him correctly.

"Exactly." you lower you head looking at the ground. So he was lying? Your efforts in getting them together was for nothing, absolutely for nothing?

"Then he doesn't like anyone?" you asked him.

"He does." he stated.

"Oh." you plainly said, "Do you know who-"

"Yes but I'm not telling you that." he yet again cut you off.

You looked back at Scaramouche noticing how he was already looking at you.

Seeing your expression he just sighed, "I can't tell you anything further, I don't want to expose him."

Understanding his desire to stay quiet about it,

"Say, you still like Xiao correct?" Scaramouche asked.

"Yeah." you muttered truthfully, even if you we're to lie Scaramouche would definitely be able to tell so you decided to say the truth.

Upon hearing your answer he then smirked,

"Then you still have a chance."

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A/N;
Hey y'all how u been doing??
Have a longer chapter than usual as compensation for the last chapter TT

I'm hoping to actually be able to write the chapters for the Windblume Festival when 3.1 is out so I can implement it here but I'll change some parts abit

Well I think that's all?
I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter and have a good day/afternoon/night!!<33

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