Chapter Text
"Mu Qing- Feng Xin- Wai- STOP FIGHTING!" Xie Lian snaps, grabbing a hold of Mu Qing rather than Feng Xin, as if Mu Qing had started the fight. Mu Qing's chest immediately begins to sting at that thought, tears and blood running down his face. He wriggles out of Xie Lian's tight grasp, breaking free and running in the other direction.
"Mu Qing!!-"
When Mu Qing goes to work the next day to start his morning shift, he doesn't know why he's shocked to see both Xie Lian and Feng Xin waiting outside for it to open up. Because of course they're still friends. Of course they'd discuss where he works. Of course. No matter how hard he clearly tries to stay away from them, they always come back. Can they not take a hint?! In all honesty, he debates turning around and walking the other way back home. Alas, that would mean losing out on crucial funds necessary to survive the rest of next month when he gets his check at the end of this month. This job paid him by the month, whereas his other one gave him checks weekly, just in smaller amounts. (well, not including tips). He groans aloud, but quietly as he creeps down the street to the other side of the building, entering through the staff exit instead. he heaves a sigh of relief upon seeing He Xuan inside.
"Sorry man, you're opening up today." Mu Qing mumbles, quickly getting everything needed ready and cleaned up whilst He Xuan moved to go and open up. Mu Qing goes from table to table, wiping each one down before finally heading behind the counter, awaiting with dread coiling in his gut for the two outside most eager for some coffee.
It doesn't take nearly as long as Mu Qing hoped for He Xuan to allow the first two inside. Xie Lian's eyes practically sparkling as he sees Mu Qing behind the counter, scowling at them both.
"Mu Qing-"
"What would you like to order?" Mu Qing forces out his best 'customer service' voice he can muster up at the two, glaring daggers at Feng Xin for even saying his name.
"Wh- Mu Qing! Let m-"
"WHAT. would you like to order." Mu Qing puts heavy emphasis on a few words, rather passive aggressively. It sounds more like a statement than a question.
"Mu-" Feng Xin's fists begin to clench.
"Feng Xin.." Xie Lian interrupts, just frowning with a head shake.
"but-"
Mu Qing is looking impatiently at the two.
"One iced latte with a double pump of cream for me, and one black coffee for Feng Xin please." Xie Lian cuts off Feng Xin once more, brows furrowed in a way barely noticeable, but hinting towards irritation.
It takes Mu Qing around five minutes to prepare both and no other customers come in. When he looks over at the two, ready to shout their names out, he spots them both whisper-arguing at the back of the café. He raises a brow at the two, unimpressed, before grabbing both drinks and walking over silently, startling both as he places their cups on the table.
"Stop arguing. I'm afraid in this establishment you will be kicked out for it if you cause a disruption." He huffs, walking away. He knows he's being unnecessary as they weren't even causing that big of a disruption, but if he's being honest? He couldn't give two flying fucks. What was unnecessary was them two practically stalking him ever since they found out he's here. As in, there's NO way its a coincidence that Xie Lian was heading over to the EXACT small business- well, boutique that Mu Qing worked at AFTER Feng Xin found out this is where he lives. It's just not. Afterall, Xie Lian isn't exactly a lowlife like he is, so there's no way he's going to go to a small boutique owned by a 'lowlife'. its just.. not normal for someone of his stature.
Mu Qing gambles the risk of looking over towards the two and being spotted, which.. he definitely did get spotted. Because the two are openly staring at him whilst discussing something. He snaps his head back down at his hands, walking over to the other side of the counter, speaking with He Xuan and choosing to pointedly ignore looking in the other twos direction.
"Say, actually, you always get here before me. Well.. usually, anyway. Its like you live in this place." Mu Qing states to He Xuan as he hoists himself up onto one of the counters that are mainly just there to fill space.
"Oh, its because I live over the road. Like, directly over the road. I try to come in early to sort most things out before you get here.. because, well, you usually get here like a few minuets before opening. That's not to say that's on you, its just how things are." He Xuan responds, leaning back against the counter.
"Oh- I- thank you?? I think?" Mu Qing just mumbles, taken aback.
After around half an hour of mostly just sitting around with the occasional idle chatter, a customer finally walks in, which elicits a reaction from He Xuan, which in turn causes Mu Qing to turn his head to look at them from where he's propped himself on the counter.
"Qingxuan-"
"Helloo!!!!" The woman responds cheerfully, leaning over the counter to press a kiss against He Xuans cheek. "damnn, I didn't know you looked this good in your uniform. You should wear it more! Anyway, you know what I want because I always get you to make it anyway so id hope you remember it off by heart but its fine if you d-"
"Qingxuan. I know. go sit down. I'll bring it over to you when its ready." He Xuan responds calmly, earning another kiss onto the cheek, which leaves two bright red kiss marks on the side of his face as the woman moves to go sit.
"..so, whos-" Mu Qing starts.
"My girlfriend" He Xuan responds gruffly, working on the order after wiping the kiss marks.
"ookay." He looks over to where the woman went and sat down, pausing as he realises its with them. fucking damn it. is there no escape? he notices Xie Lian point over at him and 'Qingxuan' looks over. he scowls, sticking two fingers up at him, turning to busy himself with something. ANYTHING else. He Xuan gives him a weird look, raising a brow. Mu Qing refuses to look over, deciding to busy himself by double cleaning their supplies.
After a couple minutes, He Xuan comes to join him, drying off the supplies as Mu Qing washes them.
“So.. whats up with you then? Who are they?” He asks after a moment
”Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Theyre just.. a couple of stalkers. Yeah.” Mu Qing grumbles in reply, acting like he hadn’t noticed the faint recognition in He Xuans eyes anyway when he saw Xie Lian. How does He Xuan even know Xie Lian..? Isnt he supposed to be.. like, not of their status? Infact, once he rinses the final mixer piece, he turns to He Xuan with narrowed eyes, then turns to enter the back.
Unsurprisingly, He Xuan follows him in after around 10 minutes.
”..someone ordered a strawberry and blueberry icecream mix-”
”How do you know Xie Lian?” Mu Qing interrogates immediately, cutting He Xuan off. He pauses, Mu qing turns to look at his co worker.
”oh, uh. I met him once in the library..” He Xuan replies. His face wouldn't otherwise suggest he’ lying, but Xie Lian? Going to the Library? Yeah, not exactly common. He could be telling the truth, but Mu Qings more interested in the fact he actually admitted to knowing him.
”…Okay.” He mumbles suspiciously, then moving to get out the ice cream tubs and a glass cup. Two scoops of strawberry, once scoop of blueberry. Then he shoves them back in the freezer. He grabs the pre-cut lemon slice and pushes it into the top of the cup, and then gets the cheap disposable plastic spoons that they serve them with. Theyd had too many people take the actual spoons in the past, and now no longer bother.
“Go, give this.” He Xuan leaves in silence with the cup. Mu Qings hovers in the back, thoroughly on edge, pacing slightly. He knows they probably wont try speak to him again now until after his shift, yet he cant help the feeling of anticipatory dread pooling in his gut that feels like he just ate bad yogurt. Of course, he cant avoid them forever, and it seems petty if he tries to. Its just.. what would he even speak to them about? What IS there to speak about? They haven't been friends in a long time. But that’s life. At least his life anyway. He heads back out, pausing at whos there. Ah, shit. He walks over to the counter stiffly. Its their boss, Pei Ming. Its not that he dislikes him, its that.. hes a bit.. eccentric. Especially when its so early. Thanfully he seems to notice the less than chatty mood Mu Qings in and just sends him a smile before moving to sit with someone who resembles Qingxuan. Someone who He Xuan is staring daggers at. He raises a brow himself at that, before sighing. Theres no customers around, and he glances back over at Xie Lian and Feng Xin.
(a time skip because i cba)
5:49pm- Mu Qing exits whilst narrowly avoiding Xie Lian and Feng Xin
7:00pm- Mu Qings second shift ends.
Mu Qing sighs, bored out his mind as he travels down the block of flats and apartments, eventually reaching his own. Its dark, too dark to see much in the dim lit hallway. The neighbours always seem to complain whenever the hallway light gets turned on once it reaches too late. Specifically the old lady down the hallway who's face wrinkles oddly resemble a pug. As hes reaching his door, he nearly trips, cursing in surprise and messily regaining balance. He unlocks his apartment door and opens it quietly, picking up the small parcel outside his apartment with confusion and heading inside, closing and locking the door behind him. Once in the living room he flips the light on, sitting down with the square parcel in hand. It’s addressed in his name and such.. its just, he never ordered anything. He hesitantly and gently opens the box, finding three things inside. One, a red and white scarf on top of everything else like a cushion. Two, a note. A note in handwriting he doesnt recognise that reads; ‘a gift, because someone said you might need it’. And three?
Three-
Three: The medicine his mother needs that he didnt have enough for.