Chapter Text
They agreed to meet at the office. Well– Wu Suowei told Chi Cheng to either meet him or never see him again, so there wasn’t much of a choice.
When he finally got to the door of his office, his heart was already pounding and every nerve in him was screaming at him to turn back. Wu Suowei could see the outline of Chi Cheng’s body through the heavily tinted windows. His hand shook as he reached for the door handle, and he took a deep breath before pushing the door open.
Chi Cheng was pacing in front of his desk. At the sound of the door opening, he snapped his head up to meet Wu Suowei’s eyes.
He suddenly felt naked under that stare. Whatever bravery Wu Suowei had summoned fled the moment he stepped in. A part of him ached to just run towards Chi Cheng and never let go from his embrace—but he knew he had to stay strong. (Part of Wu Suowei felt smug as he took in the haggard appearance Chi Cheng had.) Were you hurting as much as I was? Did you sleep well without me? Did you miss me as much as I missed you? Were you too busy with Wang Shuo to care?
Wu Suowei puffed up his chest to summon as much courage as he could muster in his heartbroken state and walked towards Chi Cheng. Chi Cheng’s eyes were wide as if he couldn’t believe this was real; they scanned his face and body to take in as much detail as he could in a moment. Did you look at Wang Shuo like that too?
“Weiwei…”Chi Cheng croaked out; his voice shaking and unsure. Wu Suowei watched as his hands moved from his side and reached towards him before freezing midway. The sound of his voice was enough to make him cry again.
“I– I’m sorry. Chi Cheng, explain first? Please?” Wu Suowei begged, he doesn’t think he can last another moment without breaking down.
Chi Cheng let out a sharp breath before taking one of Wu Suowei’s hands in both of his. “It was my fault for not coming back that day. I knew you were uncomfortable with me leaving to meet him but I was selfish and I wanted closure. After we finished drinking, I chased him down. I was so fucking pissed at him. How dare he come back after leaving– I was afraid he was going to ruin another one of my relationships; I thought he came back because he knew I finally moved on.”
Chi Cheng lowered himself so he was on his knees while holding his hand.
“Why didn’t you text me at least? Why didn’t you tell me what was going on? I was left alone in your penthouse, thinking you went back to chasing your ex.” Wu Suowei could understand the anger of an ex coming back into his life. When Yueyue broke up with him, he was so irrationally upset that he projected that insecurity into his revenge plan. But if the same thing happened to him, he wouldn’t leave Chi Cheng in the dark.
Chi Cheng’s warm hands enveloped his own; both his thumbs stroked over the back of his hand to ground him. Wu Suowei’s chest hurt like there was a bruise being repeatedly pressed on. He was hyper-aware of the sharp clicks of shoes outside his door, threatening to burst into the room and find Chi Cheng on his knees in front of him.
“I know Wu Suowei, I should’ve told you where I was or what I was doing. I’m sorry for everything. That night, after I interrogated Wang Shuo on what truly happened before he left, I went to see Chengyu. Wang Shuo had faked sleeping with him to ruin our friendship because he was jealous; that’s the real reason why I didn’t come back that night. I don’t want to fucking say I was drunk because it just seems like an excuse to forget you when I didn't. Weiwei, I thought about you every second I was at that goddamn reunion.”
Oh.
Oh.
That’s why he didn’t come back. His relationship with one of his closest friends was finally repaired. Wu Suowei could feel guilt gnawing at his heart. How could he be so selfish? Why would he put Chi Cheng’s feelings into question?
Chi Cheng had always been too good at reading his emotions. “Weiwei, please don’t blame yourself. I left to meet a fucking ex when you were insecure in our relationship. You knew how much Wang Shuo used to mean to me, and I was still stupid enough to leave you alone for the whole night.”
“I– Chi Cheng, how can you still stand to see me when I have done nothing but lie to you? How can you still treat me with so much kindness?” Wu Suowei started to choke up, his eyes burning from unshed tears. He began to slide down onto his knees, leveling himself to Chi Cheng, and brought a hand to hold both of his.
“Didn’t you read the letter? Don’t you know what I’ve done?” He cried, shaking Chi Cheng by his shoulder. “I’m a terrible person.”
Chi Cheng didn’t speak for a moment, his eyes searching Wu Suowei’s for something he couldn’t identify.
“I know what happened, and I know what you did. I don’t give a shit about Yueyue. All I need to forget everything is for you to tell me if you truly loved me throughout all this time; even a moment of affection is enough for me.”
“I do– I lik– no! I love you. I think I’ve loved you ever since we held hands in the garden. I don’t know what my sexuality is anymore, but I like you and–”
Chi Cheng tugged him forward and kissed him. One of his hands came up behind Wu Suowei’s neck and grabbed the hairs at his nape while the other wrapped around his waist. They kissed like they had found an oasis in a desert—considering—they haven’t seen each other in nearly a week, it might as well be. For a solid few minutes, Wu Suowei’s mind had gone blank. Only focusing on the hot glide of Chi Cheng’s tongue in his mouth and the hand roaming downward dangerously.
Until the door slammed open and Gangzi rushed in. “Boss! Did you finally manage to talk to Wu Suowei?” He scanned the room at eye level before dropping his gaze at the kneeling couple on the floor. Gangzi’s mouth dropped open as Wu Suowei squeaked and attempted to push Chi Cheng away. It didn’t work. In fact, Chi Cheng gave him a smug look before pushing his head into the crook of his neck to hide Wu Suowei’s embarrassment.
“Gangzi…” Chi Cheng growled threateningly. “Scram.”
“Ri—right, sorry boss.” The man bowed while shuffling out, but before he closed the door he whispered, “Congrats guys.” Then the sound of footsteps rapidly moving away.
Wu Suowei groaned into Chi Cheng’s neck, “Why does this keep happening?? By the time I finally see everyone again, I won't be able to look anyone in the eye ever again!”
-
After Chi Cheng helped Wu Suowei get his things back from Xiaoshuai’s apartment (with his shifu giving his boyfriend the stink eye and glaring every few minutes), they finally went back to the penthouse. As soon as Wu Suowei gave (read: dumped) his stuff with Chi Cheng to put away, he ran towards Xiao Cubao’s tank and took him out.
“Hi babyyy!” He cooed, Xiao Cubao voluntarily wrapped around his wrist. “I missed you.”
“If you hadn’t cried I would almost think you missed Erbao more than me, Dabao.” Chi Cheng said from his their bedroom.
Wu Suowei blew a raspberry as he carried Xiao Cubao into the room. “Maybe if you didn’t leave me, I wouldn’t act like this.”
Chi Cheng didn’t say anything for a few seconds, so he meekly added, “Too soon for jokes?”
He stared at Wu Suowei for a few seconds before shaking a finger at him. “You’re lucky you’re holding Xiao Cubao right now or else I would be fucking that sass out of you.”
Wu Suowei yelped and backed away.
To be honest, Wu Suowei still couldn’t believe that he was back in the same place he left almost a week ago. This time with no misunderstanding dragging behind their relationship. He was finally free from the guilt of Yueyue and the insecurity towards Wang Shuo. As he held Xiao Cubao close to his heart while they watched as Chi Cheng put his clothes back into the closet, Wu Suowei realized how domestic all of this was.
How much he wanted this for the rest of his life.
He wanted to wake up with Chi Cheng curled around him like an octopus. He wanted to watch Chi Cheng cook for him. He wanted to spend another new year at his mother’s house. He wanted to go on double dates with Xiaoshuai and gossip while their boyfriends talked about whatever.
He wanted to live in peace with his new found family of three.
He wanted this.
They weren’t perfect, and they likely will never be.
But regardless, Wu Suowei chose love.