Xander led Ganyu to Wanmin Kitchen, the supper hour casting a cozy glow over Liyue's streets.
Lanterns swayed in the night breeze, their amber light pooling on cobblestones worn smooth by time.
The restaurant hummed with life, its open windows spilling the clatter of plates and savory scents.
Patrons turned as they entered, eyes widening at the sight of Ganyu crossing the threshold.
Liyue's Seven Stars secretary, half-adeptus and eternal sentinel, rarely graced such places.
Tonight, she trailed Xander, a man still new to their city's tapestry, sparking murmurs.
Whispers rippled—speculation about their bond, a curiosity tinged with awe.
Master Mao emerged from the kitchen, his apron dusted with flour, a grin splitting his weathered face.
"Honored guests! Sit, sit—I'll whip up something special," he boomed, bowing to Ganyu.
Xander claimed a table near the hearth, its warmth a balm against the harbor's chill.
He ordered a heap of grilled meats—skewers of boar, fowl, and lamb, dripping with spiced fat.
His B+ constitution laughed at excess; he could feast without fear of consequence.
Ganyu hesitated, her gaze lingering on the menu's verdant offerings.
She settled on two dishes—stir-fried lotus root and braised bamboo shoots, simple and green.
Her choice came after a quiet wrestle with herself, a qilin's restraint prevailing.
Xander bit into a mutton skewer, its juices bursting as he glanced at her.
"Half-qilin blood, right? Don't qilin ever crave meat?" he asked, curiosity sparking.
He chewed thoughtfully, pondering the nature of Teyvat's auspicious beasts.
"I'm not certain—qilin lore's a bit vague," Ganyu replied, her voice soft as dusk.
"I just… don't care for it," she admitted, eyes dropping to her plate.
"Thinking they were alive once—it unsettles me," she added, then paused.
"Oh—sorry, that might ruin your meal," she stammered, waving a hand in apology.
Her aversion wasn't preachy, just a quiet truth she bore alone.
"No worries," Xander chuckled, wiping grease from his chin with a grin.
"My old world had vegetarians aplenty—some far less reasonable than you," he said.
Ganyu's kindness shone; she abstained without judging his carnivorous glee.
He recalled zealots from home—meat-shunners who'd guilt-trip a butcher to tears.
They'd rant about ethics, chaining themselves to stalls, blind to human need.
Meat fueled mortals—protein and vigor for fragile, fleeting lives.
Ganyu, half-adeptus, drew sustenance from Teyvat's essence, grass a mere vessel.
She finished her dishes swiftly, delicate bites betraying a hidden hunger.
Xander signaled for more—qingtuan and jade parcels to tempt her resolve.
To onlookers, they seemed a pair in harmony, banter flowing over the table's edge.
Supper done, Ganyu rose, duty calling her back to Yuehai Pavilion's endless stacks.
Xander stood too, unwilling to let her trek alone through Liyue's shadowed lanes.
Her strength dwarfed mortal foes, yet chivalry tugged at his gentleman's core.
They walked in companionable silence, the city's nightlife dimming around them.
Stalls shuttered, their lanterns snuffed, leaving only the moon to guide their steps.
At Yuehai Pavilion's gate, he paused, the grand edifice looming in the dark.
"I've said it before, but—share the load, Ganyu," he urged, voice low and earnest.
"You've built Liyue for millennia—when did you last roam its streets for joy?" he pressed.
"Work and rest need balance; you and Keqing are stubborn as Geo Vishaps," he chided.
"Be diligent when it's time, but play when it's due," he finished, a maternal edge creeping in.
Ganyu blinked, her lilac eyes catching the moonlight in quiet surprise.
"I understand," she murmured, a faint smile softening her weary features.
She'd heard such pleas from Ping, from Liuyun—elders who saw her strain.
Now Xander joined their chorus, a new voice in her timeless refrain.
They parted, her silhouette vanishing into the pavilion's austere halls.
Xander turned homeward, the night settling thick and still over Liyue.
Streets emptied, the last stragglers vanishing into homes or taverns.
He reached his rental, its modest walls a sanctuary after the day's whirl.
Rest eluded him—Ganyu's company had lifted his spirits too high.
Their bond deepened tonight, a thread of trust woven tighter by shared moments.
A spark flared—why not unleash a second creation video now?
He'd idled yesterday, letting the broadcast lie dormant in his mental vault.
No promises bound him to daily updates; he was no slave to routine.
Yet the urge surged, a restless energy banishing sleep from his grasp.
He paced his room, the Shadowfang Blade humming faintly at his side.
Klee's plea from the last broadcast echoed—her chirped desire to shine.
The Spark Knight, Teyvat's darling, deserved her moment in his playful spotlight.
Her second creations abounded, a trove of chaos born from her tiny hands.
Xander himself had fallen for her charm, krypton-gold pouring into her full constellation.
His cherished daughter demanded a debut both adorable and grand.
He sifted through memories, a mental archive of Klee-inspired mischief.
A vision crystallized—a piece that'd capture her essence without a shred of malice.
He'd craft a spoof to warm hearts, not wound them, a gift for Teyvat's littlest star.
The decision settled, his mind ablaze with creative fire.
He'd weave her tale tonight, a burst of whimsy under Liyue's watchful moon.
Wanmin's flavors lingered on his tongue, Ganyu's smile a quiet fuel.
The broadcast loomed, a canvas for Klee's radiant, explosive joy.
***
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