Dethroned at Last

One morning, Xiangling was resting when she heard the twins talking about Bennett. "Bennett was amazing last night!" remarked Aether. "He might even be better than Xiangling!" replied Lumine. Xiangling wasn't asleep then. "Who, Bennett being better than me, please even though I have respect for the boy, I'm older, faster, stronger, and is the most experienced of us all" she said importantly. "If you're the most experienced, they why do you keep on getting sick?" giggled Hu Tao. "It's called alteration, maybe you should learn a thing or two" snapped Xiangling. "Alteration, by my understanding, it seems that you're dealing with altercations with the weather" continued Hu Tao. Xiangling just snorted rudefully as she was getting ready to climb the hill once more. Xiangling had a cold for the past few weeks, her nose had been stuffed up so much that she was releasing smoke, it poured everywhere around everyone, this had Amber a bit concerned. "Now Xiangling, remember to be extra careful when doing your jobs, I don't wanna get any complaints about people or things being covered in smoke" she said. "Excuse me Amber, but why did you drive in your car today?" asked Hu Tao. "Because I need to head to Fontaine to deal with some important stuff, and the train may cause me to be late, so that's why I'm putting Bennett in charge!" Bennett blushed modestly. "Oh Amber, thank you very much, I'll promise to keep everyone in order" he said. "I know you will" smiled Amber. "Well off I must go, see you all later" Amber said while rushing to get to her car. "Alright Xiangling, all you need to do is to deliver some crates up the hill" announced Bennett. "Come on Bennett, you know I don't like delivering crates, why can't Hu Tao or Yoimiya do that for me" groaned Xiangling, while Yoimiya came beside her feeling rather cross. "You know, Xiangling, why don't you think about something or someone else for a change, then maybe you'll be surprised on how much better you'll feel" "Sorry Xiangling, those are Amber's orders, you must follow them" "Alright, alright" gave in Xiangling. Xiangling had to go to Fontaine to deliver the goods, she was fuming so much that she released smoke from her ears and it blew everywhere. Presently, Amber arrived and when she got out, the smoke covered both her and the car. "Alright, I did it!" said Xiangling while trying to regain her composure. When she arrived back at the hideout, Bennett told her that Amber sent him a message, it was short but stern. "Xiangling, Amber says that you covered her entirely in smoke and ruined her clothing on purpose" he said. "What!" exclaimed Xiangling. "I did not mean to do that, I was being extra careful!" "Sorry, that's what Amber said, hopefully she'll understand" said Bennett quietly. Xiangling sat by her tent feeling both sad and scared. Xingqiu then came to comfort her. "Hey Xiangling, I know you didn't mean to do it on purpose, but you do need to be checked about your smoking issues, I don't want you to overwork yourself" "I'm alright Xingqiu, it's just-" "Just what?" replied Xingqiu. "I don't want to be retired from working because of a stupid mistake I did!" she said while almost shedding a tear, Xingqiu said nothing. "What do you mean?" he said at last. "Over the past few days, the others had been talking about Bennett and was throwing around the idea that he could replace me one day, and I just don't want that, I need to be important to everyone else, and if that means that I have to suffer through hell and back just to do it, then so be it" Xiangling vented, leaving Xingqiu speechless. "I don't know what to say" he said. "No need to comfort me, I can't do anything about it, I'm just waiting for that day to come" finished Xiangling before heading off to sleep. Next day, Xiangling woke up being depressed when Hu Tao bustled up. "Get up, Xiangling, there's been an accident, Yoimiya's crates have caught a fire, we need to go help" she warned. "Right, but we need Xingqiu too, where is he?" asked Xiangling. "I don't know, but we mustn't waste anytime, get those buckets from the shed and fill them with water" informed Hu Tao. Through Xiangling's heavy smoke and Hu Tao's light steam, they gathered enough buckets of water to put out the fire. "I uh, apologize about the smoke, but we needed to put that fire out fast" said Xiangling while looking right into Hu Tao's eyes. "Thanks, you two, and especially you, Xiangling, sorry I was so rude earlier" said Yoimiya. "That's alright, just glad that you're ok" finished Xiangling. When Amber came home, she had an announcement specifically for Xiangling. "Xiangling, I know that you are my best worker here, but due to your recent health problems, you've been making your trips quite late" Xiangling soon realized what she was saying and remained silent. "And I've been thinking that since Bennett is-" "Bennett is more reliable and is usually on time rather than me, so if he were to take my place, it wouldn't take as long" Xiangling said at last. "Right, I'm glad that you're understood" said Amber firmly. "It was nice working with you all, but I don't need to overwork myself, I'll miss you all" said Xiangling endearingly and gave everyone a hug, and gave Hu Tao the tightest one of all. When Xiangling went back to her restaurant, she was surprised to see Xingqiu walk in. "Xingqiu, what are you doing here instead of working and where were you?" she gasped. "Well Xiangling, while you were working, I was talking to your father about some of the changes we should make of the restaurant" Xiangling was puzzled, then Xingqiu pulled out a paper and gave it to her. "Dear Xiangling, starting by today, you now have full ownership over the entire-" Xiangling paused then looked at Xingqiu. "Yep, and also, I'm gonna be your co-worker, isn't that nice?" Xiangling dropped the paper and spun around hugging Xingqiu. "Thank you so much, Xingqiu!" "Why did you go through all the trouble to do this and not tell me?" "Well because you've inspired me so much, Xiangling, and I wanted to make it up to you, and after our conversation a few days, that's what led me to do this, and also because you're my friend, Xiangling" Xingqiu finished sweetly. Xiangling kept hugging him and was crying so much that she made Xingqiu though that she was becoming a Hydro.