If, and Only If || (Xiao x Reader)

七

Obviously Xiao beat them up. And in the meantime Xiwangmu decided to saunter over to them, because she felt left out by just standing on the side.

The two put their hands together in a begging way.

"P— please my heroic friend! And adeptus buddy! Have mercy!"

"The letter is drivel anyway! It's not worth an armed conflict... just take it!"

"That didn't even last a minute." Xiwangmu huffed.

"How about that— Paimon knew it all along! Let's see what they wrote!"

They looked at the letter.

Xiao looked up. "I see.. then let us send these two to the meeting. The sender may be plotting something truly diabolical for the Lantern Rite. It seems they want to burn down the entire city." He pointed to the Aether and Paimon.

"Great, everyone's happy. You're good, we're good. However... these two don't look anything like us."

"It'll be fine. When we're in disguise, no-one will be wiser." Paimon smiled.

"It still seems like a long shot to me, but... with the help of an adeptus, hopefully everything will turn out fine..."

"Well, the safety of Liyue is in your hands now. Good luck— even the Treasure Hoarders don't want to see the city burned to the ground."

"Then it is settled." Xiao attempted to leave with Xiwangmu, but Aether stopped them.

"What is it?"

"Next time we meet..."

"Huh?"

"Let's make it somewhere with a view of the Mingxiao lanterns." Aether offered.

"I'd like to—" Xiwangmu was cut off this time.

"...I am not partial to crowded areas. Especially at this time of year. When this matter is resolved... come to Wangshu Inn. In previous years, the Mingxiao Lantern has been visible from there." And Xiao disappeared into thin air.

"Huh!? Wait—"

"He vanished! Did he go back to Wangshu Inn already?" Paimon asked. When they turned to Xiwangmu, she was gone too.

"Huh!? Y/N is gone too!!" Paimon yelled.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She was on the patio top roof of Wangshu Inn next to Xiao, together looking at the sunset.

"Wanna know something?"

Xiao looked up at her.

"I found out, that my birthday was on the day of the Lantern Rite festival when they all release the lanterns." She turned her head to him.

"Is that so..?" Xiao mumbled, while his hand was on his left cheek resting his elbow on the railing.

"Yeah. Morax told me. You know the red tree I have in my forest? There was a tag with a date, and a message from Guizhong. Although I couldn't read all of the date so I asked Morax about it." She took out the said tag, she keeps as a commemorative, or 'lucky charm' inside her hanfu. Taking it everywhere she goes.

"Happy birthday..." Xiao said with a very very small voice.

"What was that?" Xiwangmu smirked.

"I said Happy Birthday.." His ears and face started getting red again, in embarrassment. And she laughed. He actually asked Morax about it yesterday when they met, and so he already knew about it. Xiao brought out a butterfly made out of leaves. And placed it on her open hand. The same way she did when giving him the jar with a star.