Chapter Text
Gao Tu came back towards the counter with a small basket filled with a variety of chocolates.
Mind in conflict
‘But Wenlang can't even stand the taste of saccharinity on his tongue.’ Because Gao Tu knew
Rather, he stood struck for a second, taking another look around the shop. The group of Alphas is gone, and Wenlang is leaning against the counter just aimlessly scrolling on his phone.
The loud remarks were gone.
The havoc they promised was nowhere in sight.
Just Iris. Saturated in the air
Gao tu spoke in his low voice, “Wenlang? The chocolates you wanted,” and just extended the basket to him so he could pick which ones he wanted.
Wenlang just sighed in mild annoyance and dumped the entire basket into a separate bag, opened his wallet, and placed some bills on the counter.
“The payment," Wenlang said as if it explained everything.
To Gao Tu, it didn't. There were several 100 yuan bills on the counter that were at least thrice, if not quadruple, the original price of the chocolates.
“Wenlang– The chocolates don't cost that much-, Let me just–” Gao Tu tried to reason.
“Just keep the remaining to yourself. You will scan every piece and calculate, and then hand me every penny back, and it's already past your shift. It's not like you will get paid extra for being scrupulous," Wenlang said with agitation in his tone.
Gao Tu simply nodded and picked the bills.
“Now don't stand here, go take off this stupid jacket, I will drop you off.”
“No, No– You are already patient enough. Besides, I have to close the shop, and it might take some more time, and then I have to–” Redirection.
“Gao Tu, I am standing outside the shop. Do your thing and meet me outside. I am walking you back. Clear?” Annoyance that covered concern
“Clear,” A soft voice that gave gentle submission.
Gao Tu closed the shop and walked out, and true to the words, Wenlang was standing by a random streetlight, flickering its last light, looking mildly annoyed, which was -to be fair- his default expression.
Wenlang looked up from his phone to Gao Tu, who was back in his school uniform and a school bag in his hand. The eyes tired. Beautiful. Movements slowed by the entire day of hustle. Elegant. Eyes glanced at Wenlang. Looking divine.
Wenlang simply walked to Gao Tu, and they both started to walk side by side.
For a second, no one said a word. Just the last rays of the dying sun and occasional rustle to fill the silence.
“Stop acting like a doormat. It looks pathetic. Learn to break an ego or two,” Wenlang finally blurted out in the silence.
Gao Tu's ears turn a little red at the sudden censure. Cute. but said nothing. Simply kept walking with his head down.
“Do you have selective speech or something? I am talking to you, and you are just listening and listening. Might as well talk to a wall.” Wenlang was at his wits' end.
Gao Tu looked up at Wenlang. Not those damned bunny eyes. And stuttered a response, “I-i am sorry. I just don't know what to say–”
“Anything?! You can talk my ears off over a stupid math spreadsheet, but not a basic human interaction? Are you dumb?!”
“I just thought that you wouldn't want to talk to me outside school–” His voice turned feeble by the end.
“Then you really are dumb. Agh- Whatever. Just talk to me when I do. Okay?!”
A nod
“And why are you working late in the first place? Look at yourself. Looking like a starved, dehydrated zombie lurking.”
You could rival the moon.
“Ah- It's just- I–”
“Whatever, drink this.” Wenlang thrust a honeysuckle tea bottle in his hand.
“But... It's yours–” Gao Tu refused.
“Yes? And I am giving it to you. I bought two, and I don't want to waste the other,” Wenlang grumbled in annoyance.
After that, Gao Tu simply nodded and started taking small sips of the soothing tea.
He even drinks like a bunny.
“Thank you, Wenlang.” A soft voice,
A hum of acknowledgment.
+++
They kept walking until Gao Tu’s house came into sight.
A small apartment which looked like it belonged to a goddamned horror fiction rather than something fit for living.
Painted chipped off. Street lights flicker anonymously. Water drips from certain leaks.
Gao Tu stiffened beside Wenlang as he looked over the place where Gao Tu was supposedly living. So he stayed quiet.
“I will head in now,” Gao Tu said in a hurry and walked past Wenlang to get inside and probably combust in flames.
“Gao Tu” Wenlang stopped him dead in his tracks.
Gao Tu slowly turned around, not looking at Wenlang, “Yes?”
“Take these with you,” Wenlang simply extended the bag that was filled with chocolates.
“But these are yours, and you paid so much for them, and I can't possibly–” Gao Tu started to stutter.
“Gao Tu, do you always become so skittish when someone is within your 50-meter radius?!”
That calmed Gao Tu for a second.
“Just take these, I don't like chocolates that much to eat this entire bag myself.”
Gao Tu finally caved and took the bag, but stood rooted in his place.
Finally, he took out a bar of some cheap, heavily processed chocolate and gave it to Wenlang.”Eat one? I feel bad taking all of this already, so eat one with me?”
Wenlang looked away from his dangerously pleading eyes and grumbled a little bit in annoyance, but took the chocolate bar and ate it in three bites.
“ Go to Sleep, you look like a vampire’s lost cousin,” Was all Wenlang blurted before briskly turning around and walking into a random direction, leaving Gao Tu standing with a bag full of sweets and a heart brimming with confusion.
“I shouldn't have asked him to eat chocolate with me. He must be so mad at me,” Gao Tu berated himself and walked to his apartment dejected.
“Holy Shit!” He gasped as he slumped against a random wall.
“Fuckfuckfuck, What was I thinking?!” Take big gulps of water to calm himself.
But he looked adorable, pleading. I would have swallowed rocks if he had asked like that.
Zhong, Repair the streetlights on the Jianshe road, Block-7, and there will be two people always watching over the residents in room number 291, and vacating a room in the school dormitory. Details to be discussed later.