Art: @liyue_so_good on Twitter

Xiao came over the next day. And Xiwangmu had her flute in hand.

His eyes slightly widened. The flute she held was the exact same one the green bard had, when he played.

"...that flute..."

"I taught one of my long friend from Mondstadt some old Liyue music, and even let him borrow my flute. You might have encountered him before."

"Who's you're friend?" Xiao sauntered over to her.

"Barbatos. But he goes by Venti to the mortals. You get it?"

"Barbatos, Venti.. so that's his name..."

"I was right! You have met him before I presume."

"Yes, I have. The green capped bard."

"Sounds like him."

"Do I also, uh.."

"Also what?"

Xiao thinks he shouldn't get so attached, once he thinks about it. Because once he's attached, he won't be able to stop be UNattached. And doesn't want the karmic debt to hurt anyone, and corrupt them in the process. But despite thinking it over, it was futile. Useless. Her smile, her song like voice. And overall her kindness and openness in a way, makes it so hard to step away. Besides, he wants to know more about her.

On that note, in a way Xiwangmu seems easy to read. But the more closer you get with her, those thoughts are immediately out of the bag. It's all a facade, is what one would say.

"Xiao?" She called for him. Ripping him from his thoughts, as he moved his head back up to see her staring at him with both confusion and curiosity.

"Almond tofu." Xiao's voice was small. And lower than intended. He had a small embarrassed pout.

"Of course! That's what you want?" She stood up from the rock she sat on previously. "I'll go make some for you right away." Xiwangmu hummed. Then trailed back to Xiao.

"Also, feel free to play the flute while I'm gone."

Xiao was left near the pond. On a rock. With a flute. The more he looked around her mountain, the more he became engaged by the place.

There were gold talismans with ropes, around some places. Presumably to ward off demons. And by 'heavenly presence' she mentioned of, she might have meant the gold talismans. And these made a borderline, like barrier.

He looked at her flute. And held it in his palm, staring at its wooden figure. The carvings seemed intricate. And made well. He didn't know a lot of songs. But he can play the flute. Just not as well as the professionals who've played for a while longer lasting than he has. Xiao placed his fingers lining them up with the holes. And played. This time, he seemed to know what he was doing. Mind empty, and just played a tune. Perfect for a great Mountain view on the west side of Liyue. The music would crescendo, then decrescendo. And some notes would be held, as it wavered.

He looked around a bit more, and walked further into the forest of trees. There was one tree that stood out the most among the others. A tree with red leaves.

'Why is there only one red tree?' Xiao walked over to it.

"Xiao!" Xiwangmu called out. And walked over into the trees, and found him. "Did you play my flute?"

Xiao didn't know why, but he lied, and shook his head no. Maybe he felt embarrassment.

"Oh. Are you more interested in the tree?" She inquired, while putting the dish, and the utensil in his hands.

"It stood out a lot considering it is the only red leaves tree among the green ones." He took a piece of the tofu, and placed it in his mouth. The taste melted on his tongue along with the tofu.

"Yeah. You're right." She held the flute.

"Is the tree special?"

"Special..?" Xiwangmu asked herself that question. And shook her head. "...how about I play a song for you first." Her smile didn't feel happy. Her eyes didn't smile. Her eyebrows arched up in a helpless expression.

Xiao could tell. He seemed to be really good at reading expressions, or rather she can't hide them. Whatever the case, she just didn't seem genuinely happy, even though she smiled. And smiles are supposed to be happy, and fun.

"Sure." Xiao put the plate and spoon down on the ground.

The sound of the flute sounded exactly like the one in Dihua Marsh. He thought the same thing when he was playing. The flute sounded more composed, and 'used to' to it. The song felt different, but it made him feel at peace with himself.

Her playing stopped. As she stared at his smiling face. It was small. But a smile is a smile. And some smiles are happy.

Xiao looked at her confusion laced in his expression. "Is there something wrong?"

"No. No, no." She shook her head quickly. "So, what would you like to hear about today?"

Xiao stared in the direction of the red tree.

"The red tree. Why is it the only red tree?"

Xiwangmu saw it coming.

"Right. The red tree. I knew you'd ask." She motioned for him to follow her to it. And sat down.

"This. Here. Is a birthday gift." She pat the thick tree trunk.

"Birthday?" Xiao slightly cringed. He wasn't interested in such mortal celebrations.

"I know what you're thinking. But Guizhong, insisted on a gift. I don't remember when I was first born into this world. But it's a gift from when I first became an adepti. By Morax."

Xiao's shoulders slumped as he sat in his spot.

"Those two continued. Each year they would give me something, may it be a flower. Or a rock." (Ahem, Zhongli.)

"Did it stop?"

"Well of course it did."

"What?"

"Guizhong passed on. It was lonely. Morax offered to still celebrate, but I refused. Because each time I would remember it would make me feel like crying again." Xiwangmu opened her hand to reveal a small ball of light. A star. Like when she crumbled the demon.

Xiao looked slightly sympathetic. He wanted to know, he did. But he would've known that some would be sad.

"You're just curious. Anything else?"

"Uh. Why red?" He asked again. Red, only reminded him of the blood of the people he killed. But the red on the tree was different. Not slaughter. But beauty.

"I like the meaning of the color red."

"Colors have meanings?" Xiao questioned.

The goddess nodded and laughed.

"Red, and the other colors have meanings. I don't know who came up with them though. But I will admit, not all of the meanings are good. Red can mean danger and sacrifices but it's more common for passion, love, and joy. And etc. Green, means good luck, health, tranquility, and jealousy." She explained.

"Maybe that's another reason. Why you're always in such good health most of the time. Oh but. If you hear voices inside of you, again. Feel free to come see me. I'll play a few tunes to distract you."

Xiao was reluctant.

"I don't—"

"Abadadad- don't you finish that. I know what you're gonna say. I'm not fragile, nor am I incompetent. Just let me do a few more things for you."

Xiao. Oh Xiao. He was swept off of his 'worry horse' if that makes sense.

"Now. Would you like some wine?" She held up a huge bottle.

"Do you... drink? All of that?" He was not expecting that.

"Why yes, I do. It's huge, I know. But it's one of the best in Teyvat. I approve, as the goddess of humanity."

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

Now. Xiao is a lightweight. He became drunk after 3 small cups of the dandelion wine.

"He's a lightweight. That's adorable." She pet his hair, laughing softly while drinking another cup. And her cheeks became red from the alcohol.

Xiao was still awake. Just drowsy. He hit his head on the table, as his consciousness kept slipping away.

Xiao was out COLD.

Zhongli came over to visit, and looked at the sleeping Xiao on the table, he almost slipped off the top.

"What did you do to Xiao?" He quirked an eyebrow at her.

"We drank some wine." She held up her cup in hand.

"Xiao drank?"

"I think he's warmed up a little."

"So, Y/N." Zhongli suddenly called. She hasn't heard her name be called in a while. Y/N or perhaps Xiwangmu, was slightly startled.

"Have you two been around each other?" Zhongli sat next to her.

"Ming, the usual cup for him." Y/N called softly. Ming nodded, and went off back into the shrine.

"Mhm. I made a deal with him. If he hung out with me everyday whenever he could, I would tell him about me. That simple. Seems he wants to know more about me." She sipped her wine again.

Now he was startled slightly.

"Wait, wait. Xiao? He does?"

"He's the one who approached me first. Well, I was naked that time."

Zhongli spit in his cup, and choked on the tea. As they talked to each other while Xiao slept on the other side of the table.

"Do you remember your birthday?" The question seemed to echo inside of her mind.

"No. I don't." Xiwangmu looked down at her cup. The only commemorative gift from her birthdays, are the small cups to drink wine from. Which is from Zhongli. And the red tree.

"You know? There's a date for the tree."