Chapter Text
“…so you got me more paper fans for my birthday.”
“Yes.”
Lin Chen eyes the terr– fine, okay, the beautifully-crafted box sitting open on his desk. “A dozen fans, to be precise.”
“Yes,” Changsu says again, his face perfectly placid. “Why, is there a problem?”
No, only you, Lin Chen does not say. He skips the question of how somebody had even found out when his birthday is – moot point, really, given the person under discussion – and goes straight to the next. “What exactly were you thinking?”
“Well.” Changsu pours out the tea for both of them, prods one cup towards Lin Chen. “I wouldn’t want you getting lonely when I leave, now would I.”
There is a day when they’ll actually talk about that leaving. Today is still not it.
He raises the cup and one eyebrow. “And therefore you decided that I’d like the company of some fans?”
Across the table Changsu mirrors the action. “What, would you have preferred I get you a harem instead?”
Lin Chen tsks at him. “How many times must I tell you, Changsu, to speak of beauties with the elegance they deserve. Besides, my best girls might’ve gotten jealous, no less. Wouldn’t they?”
A chorus of cooing answers him from outside.
“Also Fei Liu might’ve accidentally spilled some ink on one of your spare fans,” says Changsu, still serene, and Lin Chen chokes on his tea.