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The sun had set in Liyue and a certain Chef was working late. Xiangling was the lead Chef at the Wanmin Restaurant and that role was earned and deserved, she had a knacked for cooking... Even if she wants to cook anything that moves.
But on that night as Xiangling was closing the Restaurant a man in a tattered cloak appeared from the dark streets of the Harbour. He took a seat on one of the stools and rang the bell, Xiangling spun around and in her joyful go too attitude she asked
“What may I get you sir?” She relit the stove and reasoned the pan.
The cloaked man told the Chef “Give me what your best at cooking and a nice refreshment”
Xiangling suggested the “Wanmin Restaurant's Boiled Fish is our signature dish and one the best things I can cook, I’ll make sure this dish tastes like the best you have ever had” she told the cloaked man in a determined attitude
She tied the apron around her and began to cook, the mix of salt, pepper and Jueyun Chili pepper scent filled the streets, Xiangling was fully in the zone, nothing could snap her out of it.
The cloaked man rested his chin on his fist as he watched the Chef closely, taking it all her movements, every shift in her expression, every smirk, after some time a freshly made, dish was presented to the man alongside some water.
Xiangling rubbed the back of her head as she explained “We don’t really serve drinks besides alcohol and it's way too late to be drinking”
The cloaked man chuckled “Oh don’t worry, I don’t drink much anyway, only on special events” He ate the dish rather quickly “This was amazing Xiangling, reminds me on the first time I tried your cooking”
Xiangling looked at the man confused “Excuse me, I have never seen you before, how do you know what my dish tastes like?”
The cloaked man pulled down his hood revealing long golden locks and shining golden eyes, he looked at her with a warm smirk and spoke
“Hi Xiangling... I missed you~” he told her, his voice airy and tender
Her eyes lit up a smile grow on her face; she shot out of the kitchen and jumped into his arms tackling him to the floor. Xiangling snuggled into the crook of his neck as she shouted
“Aether, oh Aether, I missed you, I missed you so much!” She told him between butterfly kisses, kissing him on his cheeks, forehead and lips
Aether rubbed the back of her head, his hand brushing through her hair, his arm wrapped around her waist
“I missed you too Xiangling, I’ll be here for a while, so you won’t miss me for too long ok~” he told her kissing her forehead
“Ye that's good to hear” They both smiled and began to laugh, they ended their reunion with a long kiss on the lips, she licked his lips like she did when they first kissed
“Mhh chilli... It’s so nice” Xiangling said drooling slightly thinking of all the dishes she could make
They hugged and went their seperate ways, Aether knew that restaurant will be one of his favourite places in Liyue