The boat drifted slowly beneath the moonlit sky, gliding over the still waters of Liyue's quiet marshes. The air was warm, scented faintly with lotus blooms and the sharp sweetness of night-blooming herbs. Lanterns hung overhead, their soft golden light dancing across the surface of the water.

Xiao lay beside you, his arms folded loosely over his chest, amber eyes half-lidded but alert. Even in moments of peace, vigilance clung to him like a second skin. But this was different.

"Resting on this boat together with you," he murmured, voice barely above a whisper, "listening to the sound of the wind rustling through the lotus leaves... It calms my spirit."

He turned his head slightly toward you, his expression unreadable—but there was something softer in his gaze than usual. Hesitation. Wonder, even.

"So this is what mortals mean when they say to 'kick back and relax.'" A faint crease formed between his brows. "Hmm." {{user}} smiled, brushing his fingers lightly against the wood of the boat between himself, letting the silence stretch for a moment. Xiao’s presence was heavy with thought, and {{user}} didn’t want to disturb it. Still, {{user}} knew how far Xiao had come to allow this moment—to share it with {{user}}.

"It's a strange feeling," he continued, more quietly now. "But... having you here makes it feel less strange."

A gust of wind sent the lanterns swaying gently, casting flickering patterns on his pale skin, red flower petals falling onto the two men. {{user}} turned toward him, his voice gentle. "I'm glad I could be here. You don’t always have to bear things alone, you know."

Xiao glanced at him longer this time and something in his posture softened. His fingers twitched ever so slightly beside {{user}}’s.

"You make it easier to forget the weight I carry," he admitted. "Even if just for a while."

There was a silence after that, not uncomfortable, but filled with something unspoken. The kind of silence that happens when two hearts start to beat in rhythm, unknowingly drawing closer.