Chapter Text
hu tao had developed some... peculiar feelings. specifically, ones that involved the beautiful - no, radiant musician that performed around these parts. her name was xinyan, and hu tao just happened to be her biggest fan.
one thing she was sure of? it wasn't just the music.
today, hu tao had commissioned a certain rock singer to play at one of her funerals. meng was worried, scared that the happiness and excitement radiating from the girl's very being would spoil the whole event. hu tao nervously calmed him down, letting vague reassurances spill from her lips. the brown-haired man stopped for a moment, realising that someone else was feeling just as scared as him.
"um, director hu? are you... alright?"
hu tao snapped her head back at him, a million emotions playing across her features. meng looked at the picture in her hand, and a smirk formed on his face. he knew exactly what the director was worried about.
"ah, i see now. it's that girl, isn't it?"
no reply came from the director. but due to her reddening complexion, his suspicions were immediately confirmed. the poor director looked ready to die of embarrassment, and it only provoked a fit of laughter from the funeral worker. he beckoned her to sit down. with a knowing look, he asked her to tell him all about this girl. letting out your feelings is the best way to control them, no?
and so, the ever-energetic hu tao confided her feelings for the bold, bright and beautiful xinyan. as meng watched, her eyes lit up and her lips brought forth an enchanting memory of the other girl. from their first meeting, to hu tao suddenly becoming enamoured with her music, and even, once or twice, xinyan bringing the flustered funeral director up to the stage as a tribute to all her support. when that happened, all poor hu tao could think to say was to advertise the wangsheng funeral parlour and then stare wildly into xinyan's eyes, earning a jovial laugh from the performer. confiding this to meng, she groaned and hid her face in her hands, while he let out howls of laughter at the prospect. a soft giggle also resonated from the door, which held the smiling face of xinyan.
hu tao's face paled instantly, her mind running wild. the girl she had been telling meng about was there, standing right in front of her. how much had she heard? but - more importantly, did she feel the same?
the girl stepped out of the shadows, a large smile crossing her face. "you know, i thought it was really cute when you did that. there's no need to be embarrassed."
hu tao could barely get anything past her lips. "h - how much did you hear?" her heart was beating almost out of her chest, such was her distress.
"oh, only enough to know that you feel the same."
at this point, meng tilted forward in his chair. it was getting interesting in this small room of wangsheng funeral parlour.
xinyan walked out of the shadows, the light of the fading sun playing across her face. she smiled, softly, and sat down.
"i loved you since i first met you. you were just trying to show the world the beauty of your craft - and you were so happy about it, too! it was cute, a stunning girl like you telling the world to find joy in death. and as i listened from backstage, i realised that i'd never seen it that way. i wondered, what else had i missed? you looked like you would know anyway, i always thought you were really smart. then, after the show, i remember introducing myself. honestly, that was the most shy i'd ever been!" xinyan let out a quiet laugh as she continued, "then, i started seeing you at more and more of my concerts, and eventually gained the courage to invite you onstage! it was cute, what with you being all flustered like that. actually, i was really excited, thinking we had finally started becoming friends, hehe. then, when my manager gave me the invitation, i couldn't wait before coming over here. you understand, don't you?"
poor hu tao was at a loss for words. not many people were interested in her, working in a seemingly unforgiving and horrible job like this. but, xinyan was. and so, nervously stepping forward and placing her hands on the other girl's shoulders, she kissed her. on the lips.
she was even more flustered when xinyan, not breaking the kiss, pulled her in for a bone-crushing hug, enveloping her in the affection she needed. when they pulled back, their cheeks stained with red, xinyan told her,
"well, um, i was wondering, if you'd like, there's a holiday coming up. i'm off work, but i know a couple nice places we could go to celebrate?"
"if - if you celebrate, that is. you don't have to come. am i scaring you? i do that sometimes. a lot of people say i -"
hu tao, having regained some confidence, quietened her with another kiss, and then whispered a confirmation on her lips.
"sorry, i don't speak often. but - i'd like to celebrate with you, and i hope we can finally get to know each other. fear hasn't got us anywhere, has it?"
she blushed, but her expression took on a lopsided smile. she held xinyan's hand, and they walked out of the office.
"ready for the funeral?"
"ready."
and they left, laughing, as any unpleasantness melted away before their very eyes. this was the last funeral of the season, and of the year. and hu tao couldn't wait to start the next one with the beautiful musician that she loved - and that loved her right back.