Art: @lyoo_lyoo on Twitter

A/N: I've been searching for an idea for a chapter. And I've got one. I saw the original design for Xiao. (I call him "Red Xiao.") And he's more open, and kind of like Xiwangmu/(Y/N).

So enjoy. Personality switch. And a little flirty Xiao.
╰(*'︶'*)╯♡

"Why do you keep visiting me? I told you to leave me alone." Y/N seemed rather agitated than annoyed.

"Hm? Well, because you're just too interesting to leave alone." His eyes held ulterior motives. But his actions were certainly more straightforward, as he managed to slide an arm around her waist. While she slammed her bottle of wine harshly on the table.

"What do you think you're doing, Xiao." Her glare was rather piercing than cold. She looked very, and I mean very upset. And Xiao held his hands up in a mocking surrender. With a chuckle.

"Can't you spare a bit of touching?"

"No." She turned her head away from the flirty adeptus with a huff.

"But I have your favorite food~" He held up a plate of f/f. (Favorite food.) She could smell it from a mile away, and turned back around. Eyeing him up and down in case he was planning something else, then stole the food.

"Speak."

"No need to tell me twice, Y/N. I've noticed you allow me to give you food offerings, but not being around me. Why is that?"

"I just like the food." She munched on it some more.

"So you like my taste?" (Chapter 2 flashbacks)

"...maybe."

Xiao held a smile, while adoring the other's features. He liked being around them, if it wasn't obvious. But she doesn't like his very open attitude, as she feels like she's being mocked all the time.

"Could you play me that flute again?" Xiao inquired. And held up her flute.

Y/N glanced up from her food and stared at his hand that had her wooden instrument.

'When did he take it?'

"No." She refused again.

"Could you play it please? It calms me down a lot, and you know the darkness doesn't fade away on its own all the time."

"..after I've finished eating. Then I'll play it."

Few more food munches later, she wiped her mouth after drinking from the wine bottle again. Some vintage wine from Barbatos, because he owed her from last time when he was being attacked in Mondstadt by cats. And his... cat. Allergies.

Y/N didn't enjoy playing in front of people like the bard, Barbatos, and being in so much attention. But being able to play some music has its perks. Even though she doesn't enjoy playing with people around, she makes an exception for Xiao. He has his own problems despite his care free open nature. Being all smiley and flirty....

Even the first few notes calmed Xiao down. That's how effective it is. Music seems to just calm him down for some odd reason and he's not complaining of course.

"Are you happy? Now leave. It's for your own good." She shooed him away.

"Nope. I'm not leaving. I came all the way here to even give you a food offering. I'm not heading back until I get something in return as a 'thank you.'" He slumped down in his seat.

"I already played you a song, what else do you need?"

"That was a small fraction of the appreciation that I deserve."

"Then what else will make you leave?"

"Why don't you spend some time with me today."

"...go save some Liyue people on your way. I'm busy."

Xiao had a small pouty face now. His suggestions are going in vain. Right down the drain.

"Then I will not leave your side until you spend some time with me outside." Oh he's persistent when it comes to Xiwangmu, or Y/N. Very. And she knows that well.

Y/N didn't want him to stick to her 24/7, and decided to just try and make him leave by accepting his request. Which would probably be quicker.

The two walked around a lot of places. And Xiao tried to drag her into Liyue Harbor with him just for the fun of it. But she wasn't feeling it either.

"Xiao. This isn't some petty date. Let's go somewhere else."

"Oh? Who said it was a date? Did you assume it was?" He had a mischievous smirk, as his face got a little too close to hers. And Y/N turned red because of the assumption she made, and abruptly looked everywhere but his eyes. Meanwhile, Xiao was enjoying this. And liked to tease her whenever he could, and nitpick.

"W— we're going someplace else. Other than this bustling area."

'Tsundere. She's not honest at all. But that's cute.' A/N: (Oh how the turns tabled.)

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There was a cart that was suddenly attacked by a huge mitachurl near Qingce village. And a few more hilichurls, and some more... Xiao put his mask on, while Y/N followed to check on the person in the cart.

There was an old man driving the cart, and it seemed when the cart fell over he hit his head and became unconscious. Y/N carried the old man on her back, and released the horses from the reigns. Xiao was busy dodging and doing his anemo tricks, as his powers slowly ate his health.

"Xiao. Don't overdo it." She faced the other way, facing the way to the nearby village.

"I'll keep that in mind." He smirked under his mask, while he fought them all off. And killing them one by one.

Someone in the village saw her carrying the old man. And rushed over because it seemed they were waiting for their grandpa to return from their merchant duties.

Y/N rushed back to Xiao to see him slightly panting, from the 'dark power' he used to fight all of them off.

"How's that old guy?" Xiao turned around to see her.

"He's fine. Someone took him to treat his wounds. I'm much concerned about how you're doing at the moment."

"I'm fine. This is nothing." Xiao waved a hand in the air in dismissal, with a bit of sweat running down the side of his forehead.

"Hold still." Xiao was confused and stopped when he noticed she was wiping his sweat away for him. And stayed still the whole time, or Y/N might get upset for him not staying still when she told him to.

"Do you still want to continue going around?"

"I do—" He was interrupted by a cry for help. And immediately left. This happens often, whenever he heard a cry, he would be there as quickly and swiftly. Then leave just as quickly. Sometimes they would be in mid-sentences and he'll have to leave. He sometimes doesn't come back for 15 minutes because there were more. People just can't be safe around anything.

For the remainder of time, for 5-15 minutes she visited the funeral parlor in Liyue. To visit you-know-who. And Hu Tao would annoy her at times. But more annoyingly than Xiao does.

"Morax. I came to visit." Her monotone voice called out.

He seemed deep in thought and hadn't noticed her presence enter the room. Y/N just sat in the chair across from him, waiting for him to stop thinking.

'Please stop thinking.'

"Ah. Y/N. Nice seeing you here, did you enter right now?"

"No. About 2 minutes ago, Morax. You seemed quite deep in thought."

"I was trying to come up with ideas on the concept of mora, and keeping count of it."

"....." Y/N was not impressed. "Why don't you just go talk to your human bank account. I'm sure he'll lend you some mora. Solved." She said in a matter-of-factory way.

"Is that what they call... a sugar daddy?"

Y/N nearly fell out of her chair, almost hitting the hardwood floor, as her hanfu gracefully swayed as she moved ever so violently.

"Uh— what. What? What is your definition of um. 'Sugar daddy.'"

"A kind person who lends you mora when you need it most?" Zhongli looked very innocent when he said that. With the most wholehearted eyes.

"You're not entirely wrong. Oh my archons. Did you say that to anyone?"

"Say what to who?"

"Did you call anyone that?"

"Y/N it is rude to refer to someone as 'that.'"

"That is not what I mean!" She slammed her head in the table in frustration of this old guy.

Then Xiao appeared out of nowhere suddenly next to Y/N. And looked confused.

"What happened? Was there a massacre?"

"No. I was asking this man here if he's called someone a sugar daddy."

"Oh. That was your question? Why did you not say so?"

"A massacre is definitely going to happen if he continues acting like this." Y/N glared at Zhongli for being so difficult to talk to. I'd say he's not a bright one for this kind of stuff even though he knows so many about so many.

"Well this is interesting." Xiao sat down in the chair close to Y/N.

Y/N searched the room carefully as if expecting something to happen.

"What are you so worried for, Y/N?" Zhongli spoke up.

"Where's Hu Tao? I expected her to come and try to prank me..."

"Hu Tao is currently meeting a client while I am on rest at the moment." Zhongli sipped his tea in his little tea cup. A/N: (I suddenly remember that tea cup nursery rhyme.)

"Y/N! Why don't we continue our walk around Liyue?" Xiao had a smirk again, he seemed excited for the time being spent with her.

Y/N sighed. And Zhongli looked at the two curiously.

"You got Y/N to spend some time with you? I'm surprised."

"She's currently giving me her 'thanks.'"

"Enough chit chat. We'll be leaving then Zhongli. It seems I didn't have to stay for so long seeing Xiao back quicker than I thought." She stood up from her seat. While Zhongli nodded in acknowledgment. And Xiao followed her with a smile of his this time.

For the fun of it, they decided to pick some Lotus Heads at Luhua Pool. Y/N tripped on a crab that suddenly ran past her foot. And Xiao managed to catch her by the wrist while his other hand was holding the Lotus Head.

"Are you alright?" Xiao asked.

"Y-yes." She stuttered.

'I stuttered...'

"Oh, ohoho? Are you flustered, Y/N?" He pulled her close to his face still holding her wrist and supported her back while holding the Lotus Head still.

"Of course not. Stop speaking nonsense." She pushed him away. And Xiao only had a sly smile knowing he managed to make her flustered.

"No need to act so bashful. I know how to pull my strings."

Y/N glanced up at him with a side glance, in thought.

"I don't need strings to be pulled."

"Hm?"

"I don't need strings to be pulled in order to get me to react to your nonsense."

"Oh? Is that so. That's good to hear." He got close to her again, near her ear. "Then I guess I can continue flirting with you like this, no?" He backed away again, while sticking his tongue out a little. While Y/N put a hand over her ear with a glare. But her ears were red.

"You—"

Xiao ran as Y/N started throwing meteors at him. He decided it was a good idea to tease her though. :)

A/N: Hello, hope you liked flirty Xiao. It was sort of weird for me to change their personalities so I wasn't exactly sure on how to portray them in this chapter so it might be a little wonky. :)