XiaoLan

XiaoLan is the het ship between Xiao and Yelan from the Genshin Impact fandom.

Canon
Currently, the only in-game interactions we see of the two are in the Perilous Trail archon quest. In the archon quest, Perilous Trail, as the group is about to ascertain their surroundings, Yelan hears somebody behind them, that being Xiao. Xiao explains that he came down from above as he had heard a noise. He tells the group that he's looking for someone and that they shouldn't be here, then disappears.

When the group is in a domain and find Xiao as an illusion, he tells them to get out of the domain, saying that something is wrong with it. Yelan says that if they could, they should have him regroup with them as soon as possible. As Xiao is about to explain, he disappears once again.

When they finally find Xiao, he is seen badly injured and is taken back to the camp. Xiao says that he doesn't want to be a burden but Yanfei and Yelan convince him to stay. Yelan tells Xiao to get some rest and that everything else could wait. Xiao does as he is told.

While Xiao, Traveler, and Yanfei are talking, Yelan is spying on them, listening in to their conversation. She then joins them and tells Xiao that she has seen some strange things also, objects that shouldn't be there, strange figures appearing then vanishing. Yelan says that she doesn't think any of it is real. Yanfei assumes that they're just illusions but Xiao explains to them how it isn't that simple.

Yelan tells Xiao that it seems like he knows a way out but Xiao says it's just a guess and that he isn't sure. Xiao says that if he uses all the energy he has, he may be able to tear a passageway out. Paimon asks Xiao if when he says he's going to get everyone out, he means he's going to stay there. Yelan tells Xiao that he can't be serious and that they have no guarantee that his plan will succeed, or if it's even safe. Xiao tells her that "if you fear sacrifice or failure, you can never be victorious". Yelan argues that she knows very well that you should never bring up extreme measures until the very, very end and Xiao does not say anything back.

Yelan continues, saying that if Xiao doesn't know if his self-sacrifice is going to pay off, all he's doing is hurting morale. She says that if Xiao was so determined to end it all, he wouldn't have given them the opportunity to share their opinions and she says that she doesn't buy his "oh-so cold and ruthless" act. Yelan steps closer and tells him that it's not time for drastic measures as there could be a hidden passage they haven't discovered yet. Xiao asks Yelan that what if there isn't and in the end he'll be too weak to sacrifice himself. Yelan tells Xiao that there's no difference between sacrificing him and trying to find another way out in terms of success, so they shouldn't be rushing into a risky course of action.

Yanfei is later talking to the traveler, telling them that if Yelan hadn't spoken out, Yanfei isn't sure Yelan would've gotten through Xiao. She says that self-sacrifice is something Yelan feels strongly about as she has lost comrades before, and has been rescued herself.

They later find the Fantastic Compass and while Paimon is freaking out over being stuck in the chasm forever, she knocks it down. As Yelan is about to pick it up, Xiao does so instead. They find out that the Fantastic Compass needs a mortal and an adeptus to combine their power so it can be fully activated. Yanfei says that lucky for them, they have a full adeptus (Xiao) and a human with training in the martial arts (Yelan). Traveler asks if that means Xiao and Yelan would need to cooperate. Yelan says that all of them should have a quick break and that she and Xiao would give it a try once they're ready.

After everyone has had a rest, Yanfei asks Xiao and Yelan how they are. Both Yelan and Xiao say that they're ready. Yelan and Xiao glance at each other before combining their powers. Xiao tells them that he would maintain the energy flow and Yelan says "Understood." As Xiao continues to maintain the energy, he starts losing strength, and as they start to realize that Xiao is going to try sacrificing himself, Yelan reaches out to him, worried.

All of them were able to get out safely, including Xiao as Zhongli had saved him. Yelan says she knew what he was thinking but steps closer to him and says "never mind" since she knows she can't talk him out of a mindset that's been built up over a lifetime. Yelan tells Xiao that she doesn't think they were ever going to reach an agreement over the final strategy but says that it was thanks to him that they all managed to escape and thanks him for saving them. Xiao says that he wouldn't have been able to do it on his strength alone. Yelan says not to mention it.

Quotes
"The elders in my clan once said that we must always show the utmost respect to the Vigilant Yaksha. Apparently, the only time that our ancestor would gain some temporary relief from his insanity was when passing by the Wangshu Inn. It must have been the comforting effect of his presence that wards off evil spirits. That said, if I ever have the honor of fighting side by side with the Conqueror of Demons, I will focus only on the mission. I cannot let myself be distracted by concerns about his status."

- Yelan's About Xiao voice-line "I've heard that she once investigated The Chasm, following the trail of the Millelith. If she can investigate mysteries like that on her own, she must be someone of rare skill."

- Xiao's About Yelan voice-line

Fanon
After the Perilous Trail quest/event was released, people started shipping Yelan and Xiao. Shippers liked the idea of Yelan being the "hot and flirty girlfriend" while Xiao was the "short and pathetic boyfriend". Most shippers head canon the two as bi4bi, meaning both of them are bisexual. Romantic XiaoLan has over 50 AO3 fanfics. XiaoLan is rivaled and overshadowed by ships like XiaoVen, Xiaother/Xiaolumi, Shenlan, and YanLan as a lot of people saw the two having a mother-son dynamic, although others have argued that people only saw it that way because Xiao is short.

Fandom
FAN FICTION