"Ningguang. That woman is married to her work alright." Beidou remarks.

After the great coincidence of having her presence as it was mentioned, the group went straight for Ningguang's place, the complacent lady taking the wheel this time around.

"Are you alright with leaving the restaurant all of a sudden?" (Y/n) asks Xiangling. Xinyan came along with them too.

"The employees can handle themselves there just fine. Besides, they have Guoba!"

"A lot of faith you got in an animal to run a business." Childe commented.

"Don't be rude, Guoba is a better waiter than you ever were! Guoba pays attention to the job, unlike you. Always abandoning your post to flirt with (y/n)." Xiangling crosses her arms. A small grudge was left behind having to bare witness to the two always flirting in the kitchen when she was around. Had anyone given an award for the greatest third wheel, the brilliant chef would've gotten it.

"Ahaha..." The married two chuckle awkwardly.

(Y/n)'s phone lets out a single buzz. Taking it out she sees a message from Teucer.

(Not so lil) Teucer

Teucer: I talked things out with my girlfriend, turns out she was upset because I forgot about the date we had planned, hehe...

How could you forget about your own date!? :(Y/n)

Teucer: I missplaced Mr. Cyclops inside the house and spent so much time looking for him that the date slipped my mind.

You forgot about your own date because of that old action figure??? Did you tell her that? :(Y/n)

Teucer: I did, she found it funny and started laughing. Lmfao

Teucer: Oh and Venti told me I shouldn't tell you this but the café caught fire :/

? :(Y/n)

×_× fucking how :(Y/n)

Teucer: Venti was drinking in the kitchen and spilled some of his alcohol on the floor. Then when he was trying to light the stove he dropped the lit match by the puddle of alcohol and the fire started.

None of you didn't do anything to stop the fire? And where is Xiao? I thought Childe asked him to help out? :(Y/n)

Teucer: Venti was too drunk to stop the fire, I kinda freaked out, the rest were busy. Xiao? Xiao was there for like an hour then started mumbling about humans being strange creatures then left long before the fire happened.

Just close the café. Until Childe and I get back. :(Y/n)

(Y/n) puts her phone away and stares straight forward, blankly. Her dead eyes watching the surroundings change while the car continues to move, but inside the blood rushed away from her head making her pale.

"I'm sure the café didn't end up in a horrible condition, I'm sure the café didn't end up in a horrible condition, I'm sure the café didn't end up in a horrible condition..."

"Sweetheart, did something happen?" Childe asks his wife.

"Oh yeah, no. Nothing at all. Our café just caught fire that's it really. Who would've thought!"

Beidou lets out a prolonged whistle.

"Looks like you won't be getting a break even once you get home." Barbara breaks out a cold sweat. "Alas, I won't be suffering the tension between these two alone this time!" She clasps her hands together, thankful for the presence of others.

"I'll deal with that, no need to stress yourself even more." Childe pats (Y/n)'s head. To her surprise, he doesn't display any anger, only gazing at her lovingly.

"Okay."

Once they arrive at Ningguang's personal palace. Because it is so grand it makes Childe look like a circus, the first thing to happen was five minutes of everyone but Beidou exchanging amazement.

"She's worked twenty-four-seven to achieve this. Legend says if you ever have a dream where you work yourself to death it's the goddess Ningguang blessing you with good work ethic. Just kidding!" Beidou chuckles.

"It feels like my identity is being threatened." The filty not-so richest man sulks.

The filthy not-so-richest-man continues to sulk as they enter the territory through a short process of validating Beidou's identity through voice. Ningguang is extra cautious when it comes to thieves, or people desperate for money like Zhongli but to the extent of assassinating the person first. Then taking their money.

"So what brings you all here? Ah of course, it's about your missing friends isn't it?" Ningguang enters the large, well decorated lounge the group waited in. She curls a portion of her silky long white hair between her fingers, her other hand by her hip. Both intimidating and eloquent, although (Y/n) didn't know much about her, she already admired this workaholic.

"We... We're here for uh, uh what did we come here for again." (Y/n) panics, warmth rushing up to her face.

"My wife... Again, another woman makes her blush... Oh, my wife." Childe turns his face away from everyone dramatically, and no one bothers to console the poor husband's woeful distress.

"Ahahaha! No need to look so shy around me, I've been waiting for you all to come by for a while now." Ningguang's laugh is short, and humble. She places her hand beneath (Y/n)'s chin and gently lifts the sheepish lady's head up.
"You must be (Y/n), Everyone talks about you so much. Zhongli, Dainsleif, Lisa, those three go on and on about you. A fun person you must be."

"It sounds like they told you about all my cringy, embarrassing moments."

"Ningguang, don't you have something to attend to in a bit?" Beidou clears her throat.

"Right. My apologies but we'll have to make this quick since I'm rather busy. I've looked into the disappearance of Zhongli, Baizu, and Qiqi. With the help of the information that Jean, Lisa, and Dainsleif gathered, and the things I have found out myself—" Ningguang stops for a moment, to her everyone seems to be choking on anticipation.

"It looks like Baizhu and Zhongli are prisoners in a foreign country."

"And Qiqi?" Barbara asks.

"I don't know. While looking into things, a contact helping me found Zhongli and Baizhu on a list of prisoners. Dainsleif already went to the country, I'm going to follow after I finish with the things I need to do here.

If you all wish to, you may come with me. We'll take my Business jet."

"Business jet? Pfft that's nothing real-"

"Childe!" (Y/n) hushes her husband. "I'm okay with that! But how long will it take you to finish the things you have to do?"

"About three days."

"Three days, and that does include you sleeping. Right?" Beidou raises a brow.

"It does, you don't have to worry so much for me."

"Hmph." Childe continues his sulking, purposely looking at his wife then looking away with a pout once she notices him.

"Oh my god Childe you aren't a damn kid anymore. I swear if you keep acting like this I'll pluck out your eyeballs and make you eat them." She threatens.
  
Childe returns to her side and wraps his arms around her waist. "My wife."

"It's nothing for you to worry about, weird dude. Ningguang is married to her job. And I wouldn't let her go off and start flirting with other people." Beidou takes Ningguang's hand and lifts it up to her face. Planting a small kiss on the back of her hand.

"Beidou..."

"Why do I always have to bare witness to PDA!" Xiangling throws her hands into the air.