Disheveled Hearts

Watching Lady Yun's performance, it was clear to see why the people of Liyue was so enamoured with her. Her beauty. Her movements. Her voice. Even Lizabeta had to admit the woman was enchanting. Her green eyes glanced up at the Archon sitting beside her. He was focused on the performance. Lizabeta shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She felt something in the pit of her stomach that she couldn't quite pinpoint.
As the performance ended, she joined in as everyone stood up and clapped.

"What did you..." Zhong-Li glanced down beside him only to find an empty space. His large hands stopped mid-clap, his glowing eyes frantically wandering about.

"Mister Zhong-Li. I'm quite elated that you were able to make the performance after all."

Zhong-Li's eyes snapped in the direction of the very familiar voice.

"Ah, yes. It's hard to ever miss one of your performances, Lady Yun."

"You flatter, old friend. Oh, but didn't you say you were bringing a friend with you? I'd love to get acquainted with the young lady who seems to have stolen your attention as of late. Where is she?"

Zhong-Li felt his body stiffen, his pulse race. He cleared his throat, averting from the obvious heat that rose to his cheeks. "I'm afraid...she was starting to feel ill. I had...Xiao escort her back..." Mentally, he cursed himself knowing she would hear past the obvious lie.

"Yet you stayed for the performance? Should you not have gone with her?" Yun asked, suspicion in her tone.

"You have known me long enough to know the ways of the heart aren't quite my forte."

Yun smiled. "Perhaps you could benefit from a lesson or two from my dear husband."

Zhong-Li groaned involuntarily.

"You're an unfamiliar face." Childe leaned against a building, his arms crossed over his chest.

Lizabeta stopped in her tracks. "Do you make it a habit of stalking strangers?"

"Stalking?"

"I recall seeing you at the performance just now."

"Hey now, hey now," he said with a laugh as he raised his hands in surrender, "I'm just being a good Samaritan. Allow me to show you around."

Lizabeta arched a brow at him. She looked around her, knowing she was lost. For all the time she was in Liyue, she mostly spent her time with Zhong-Li. A majority of her time was in Monstadt.
"I suppose...it wouldn't hurt to be taken on a tour. But any funny business and that's the end of you!"

Childe let out a hearty laugh. "You've got a lot of spunk for someone so short."

"You're just asking to never have kids."

"Take it easy now. So, who do I have the pleasure of showing around the city?"

"Lizabeta, and you are?"

"Childe."

"Childe?" Lizabeta tapped her bottom lip. "That name is oddly familiar."

"Oh? So you've heard of me!"

"You some famous Liyue tour guide or something?"

Childe's eyes darkened. "Much worse than that. I'm sure you've heard of the Fatui."

"So you're a Harbringer. That's why your name is familiar. Scaramouche has complained about you."

His eyes lightened again. "You've crossed paths with Balladeer and lived?"

"Yeah, of course. We're friends."

"Friends?!"

"Listen, you going to show me around or not?"

"You're intriguing. All right, let's get started then."

As the two walk, Childe points out the more significant buildings and the history behind them. He explains to her that it's always good to have a landmark as to not get lost so easily.

"What brings you to Liyue anyway?" Childe suddenly asked.

"Just visiting someone. He took me to the performance, actually."

"So why isn't he with you?"

"You're prying."

Childe laughed. "I don't mean to, just curious. Where exactly are you from? Clearly not from Liyue with a name like that."

"My father named me. He's from Snezhnaya, but I was raised in Sumeru where my mother was from."

"Hey now, looks like we're kin!"

"Eh?"

"Nevermind. Sumeru, though, huh? I hear the performers in Sumeru rival those of Liyue."

"I couldn't say. I've only seen two performers in Liyue."

"Yun is one of them?"

"Wouldn't that be obvious?"

"What did you think? Isn't she amazing? She works so hard at what she does. She's so kind and so gorgeous and just--"

"Someone has a bit of a crush."

"I'd certainly hope so. She is my wife, after all."

Lizabeta stopped in her tracks, Childe a short distance away from her. 

When he didn't sense her, he looked over his shoulder towards her, her cheeks as pink as her hair. "What's  wrong?"

"Lady Yun...is your wife?"

"I'm pretty damn lucky, right?"

"But...but...b-but Zhong-Li. She and Zhong-Li are dating. He brought me there to meet his girlfriend, right? That's Lady Yun, right?"

"Zhong-Li? Teacher Zhong-Li? Is that who you're visiting?"

"U-um, yes. He--"

Childe burst out in laughter. "No, no. Yun, Zhong-Li, and I are all friends. He even came to our little ceremony. Why would you think...ahhhh."

"Ah? Ah, what? What's with the ah?!" Lizabeta was starting to feel frantic.

"Lizabeta?"

Her body stiffened at the familiar deep voice behind her. She could feel her entire face heat up. She slowly turned around.

Childe rushed over to his wife who stood beside Zhong-Li. "You were amazing out there!"

Yun laughed. "You always say that." Her head turned towards Lizabeta. "You must be Liza! Zhong-Li has talked about you quite a bit. I hope my beloved here hasn't bullied you in any sort of way."

Zhong-Li rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Your name has come up in passing. I assure you she's exaggerating." His eyes narrowed towards Childe. "What have you said to her? She looks like she's about to cry."

"I was just showing her around! She seemed lost!"

"Who are you calling a crybaby?!" Lizabeta yelled.

"I...I-I didn't say that."

Yun seemed to glide to Lizabeta as if she was on ice, hooking her arm with hers. Lizabeta's lips pursed nervously. "Come, Liza! Let us have some girl time at the local teahouse. I've so been looking forward to meeting you."