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Chapter Text

Shi Qingxuan has a great idea. Just like all his great ideas, he needs to enlist the help of his best friend.

And that is how his best friend, He Xuan, finds himself sitting across Shi Qingxuan at a popular café nearby campus. He Xuan looks at the food on the table and at Shi Qingxuan innocently battling his eyelashes at him and crosses his arm.

“Eat up, He-xiong!” Shi Qingxuan chirps. “I ordered seconds for you!”

“…” He Xuan suspiciously eyes him and starts on his second serving. Halfway through the meal, he says, “… Spill.”

Shi Qingxuan pouts as he mimes being struck in the heart. How cruel! Can’t he just be innocently wanting to have a nice dinner with his best friend in the whole wide world? He voices out as much, giving He Xuan puppy eyes.

When he sees that He Xuan’s suspicious glance isn’t letting up, he sighs dramatically before saying, “Well, if you must know… I realised I have a talent.”

“For what?” He Xuan asks dryly. “Bad ideas, roping me in them, and pissing off your brother?”

“He-xiong!” Shi Qingxuan whines. “My ideas are great! And it’s so easy to piss ge off that I don’t need a talent for that… Why, I pissed him off by leaving the house like this!”

He gestures to himself. Since he is having a nice meal, he dressed up for the occasion, donning a flowy white dress and adorning his hair with matching ribbons. He even left his hair loose and curling around his shoulders, and put on lipgloss! Shi Wu Du took one look at him leaving the house and looked as if he was having a stroke.

He Xuan raises an eyebrow.

“I look beautiful!” Shi Qingxuan proclaims. “Female clothing, male clothing, does it matter?”

Then the waiter stops by their table and places a bowl of parfait in front of Shi Qingxuan. Shi Qingxuan quizzically stares at it – he hasn’t ordered dessert, not yet at least!

“On the house,” the waiter says with a wink. “For a lady as beautiful as yourself.”

“Thanks!” Shi Qingxuan says, never one to turn down a free meal. Once the waiter leaves, Shi Qingxuan smiles vindictively at He Xuan as if to say ha! He is beautiful! Take that!

“Anyway.” Shi Qingxuan places his arms on top of the tabletop after pushing the parfait to a side. “You are half right. I do need your help for this great idea to utilise a talent that has been hidden all my life until now. Please, take a look at Exhibit A.”

He Xuan begrudgingly plays along with Shi Qingxuan, turning his head to look at Exhibit A – where a couple dressed in white and red sits a few tables away.

The taller guy – a handsome man with silky black hair and snow-white skin, dress sharply in a red button-down and black formal trousers – is feeding a spoonful of sundae to his date. His date, a soft-looking guy with short, fluffy brown hair, looking like the taller man’s opposite wearing an oversized white jumper and loose slacks, blushing as he eats the sundae.

“San Lang,” the man in white says. “You eat too!”

The man in red smiles. “Only if gege feeds me.”

He Xuan watches the two of them feed each other for a while before his mouth twitches.

Those two are Xie Lian and Hua Cheng, and they are the cutest couple in campus. Xie Lian is one of Shi Qingxuan’s many friends – as a business major and social butterfly, Shi Qingxuan became friends with almost half the student population after his first year in Tian Guan University. He Xuan is the only one he deems as a best friend; and Xie Lian is another he deems a good friend (the best is only He-xiong, though!)

In his second year of University, during a dreadfully dreadful General Education class, Shi Qingxuan had the fortune of being blessed with Xie Lian as his assigned project groupmate. Projects were tough, but less with your good friend!

But unfortunately, right after class, a tall, scary-looking Freshman dressed in red with a menacing glare approached him, demanding to change project groupings with him. Turns out, that Year One is Xie Lian’s Middle School junior, Hua Cheng, and he wanted nothing more but a chance to reconnect with his gege – even if it’s doing a dreadfully dreadful project together.

Shi Qingxuan could sense the pining and long-held puppy love, so he instantly agreed, keeping it a secret from Xie Lian and watched from the side-lines as the two connected and became fast friends. Shi Qingxuan knows entertaining ways to pass time when he sees it, so he helped Hua Cheng: from inviting Xie Lian to outings only to cancel on him, leaving Xie Lian all alone…. And for Hua Cheng to appearing to save the day and whisk him off on adventures.

Now, one year later, the two are finally an item and super in love. Shi Qingxuan always feels a swell of pride when he sees the two frolicking in campus being all lovely-dovely.

“Behold,” Shi Qingxuan says with a flourish. “My masterpiece!”

He Xuan does. Shi Qingxuan, taking out his phone to take a photo of his free parfait, fails to see Hua Cheng glaring at He Xuan while Xie Lian was busy calling for the bill. He Xuan slashes a finger in front of his throat threateningly.

Shi Qingxuan looks up from his photo, and beams at He Xuan who stares back at him impassively.

“I realised that this is where I’m skilled in… As a matchmaker!” Waving his spoon like he’s making a decree, Shi Qingxuan declares, “I decided that this year, before my final year in Tian Guan, I am going to dedicate myself to matchmaking people!”

He Xuan raises an eyebrow, as if asking how it concerns him.

“And He-xiong, as my best friend in the whole world, I’m going to need your help!”

“Who is your best friend,” He Xuan retorts automatically. “Why do you even need my help? You know more people than me.”

“You know hacking!” Shi Qingxuan says in a hushed whisper. “To facilitate matchmaking, of course I’m going to need those skills!”

“No,” He Xuan says. “I don’t care enough about other people, much less than love lives.”

“You’re my best friend, He-xiong. My best friend!!”

“No.”

“… I will treat you to two buffets.” Shi Qingxuan holds up two fingers, waving them around and watching the light catch on his rings. He Xuan’s eye twitches. “Two of the best and biggest buffets of your choice.”

He Xuan paused. Then in a low voice, he mutters, “… Get your wallet ready, Shi Qingxuan.”

And that was the start of Shi Qingxuan’s greatest idea to date, Operation: Matchmaker, Matchmaker.

With his best friend on board, his plan is already half in motion. Shi Qingxuan cackles as he opens a fancy notes application on his phone (one that he purposefully downloaded for this pet project of his) and begins typing.

Across the table, finishing Shi Qingxuan’s parfait leftovers, He Xuan crosses his arms and gives him a level stare. “So, what now? I presume you didn’t choose this place just to ask me for help.”

He is right. Usually, when the two meet, it’s either at the on-campus coffeeshop He Xuan works shifts at, or at a nice bar near school so Shi Qingxuan can get tipsy on student-discounted cocktails while He Xuan munches on bar snacks. It is indeed unusual for Shi Qingxuan to ask He Xuan to meet him at a café, however nice the food or pretty the décor is.

“He-xiong!” Shi Qingxuan gasps. “You’re so smart! This is why you’re my Cupid Number Two.”

“… I’m leaving,” He Xuan threatens. He doesn’t.

In reply to He Xuan’s question, Shi Qingxuan points at the table directly behind Xie Lian’s, where two guys are alternating between glaring at each other and Hua Cheng, not too discreetly hiding their faces behind a menu. One of them, a strong-looking guy with tan skin and brown hair sweep back in a bun, stuffs his hands in his brown hoodie while saying something to his companion. His companion, a slender guy with pale skin contrasting with his long black ponytail and black clothes, scowls, twisting his delicate facial features as he does so. At the same time, both of them lower their menu and glare daggers at Hua Cheng.

The two were Xie Lian’s middle school friends: Feng Xin and Mu Qing. At first glance, they seem to be unlikely friends – Feng Xin is the star of the basketball team. Xie Lian is the golden boy, both a basketballer and an intellect majoring in Political Science, and kind to everyone he meets. Mu Qing is the smart scholarship student with a double degree in Literature and Business, juggling studies with working shifts at the same coffeeshop as He Xuan.

But the three of them, despite being extremely different, are extremely close. Around campus, they are always spotted together and stuck to each other – unless Xie Lian is on a date with his boyfriend like now.

“I,” Shi Qingxuan declares. “Am going to matchmake them together.”

He Xuan raises his eyebrow. “They can’t stand each other. Everyone in Coffee Roasters knows that. Half the school too.”

As in on cue, they start to fight over the last bite of the brownie on the table.

“I beat you for the Business Analytics class last week!” Feng Xin hisses.

Mu Qing rolls his eyes. “By a mark! I had the disadvantage of having my paper on Li Bai on the same day, so we’re technically even.”

“Are you showing off your double degree?”

Mu Qing looks as if he is going to stab Feng Xin with his fork. “Not everyone can afford studying in Uni without a scholar – ”

At the commotion they are making with their hissed whispers, Xie Lian starts to turn his head. Feng Xin quickly pretends to drop his fork, and both Feng Xin and Mu Qing bend their bodies to grab at it, hiding out of sight from Xie Lian.

He Xuan rolls his eyes when Xie Lian turns back to Hua Cheng and resumes staring at each other with hearts in their eyes. “Idiots.”

“In love!” Shi Qingxuan argues. “It’s all part of the sexual tension, He-xiong.”

For extra conviction, he throws in a wink. He Xuan does not look convinced.

Back at Xie Lian’s table, the two begin to walk towards the cashier as Xie Lian says, “I got to go back soon, San Lang. Today’s Movie Night and Feng Xin and Mu Qing won’t be happy if I miss it with them…”

In the background, Feng Xin and Mu Qing scramble to get the check while hiding their faces with whatever objects they have in hand. The backdoor chimes as two figures clutching their phones and caps to their faces make a run for it. Xie Lian remains oblivious to his best friends high-tailing out of the café, too absorbed in Hua Cheng’s eyes.

“Gege, you should just move in with me.”

Xie Lian laughs. “Not unless those two want me out! I’m afraid they’ll destroy half the house if I’m not around.”

The two continue chatting as they leave the café. Shi Qingxuan turns back to He Xuan, clapping his hands against the tabletop. “See! If Feng Xin and Mu Qing gets together, then Xie Lian can move in with Hua Cheng! The world will be at peace with two more happy couples.”

“That’s not my problem,” He Xuan says dryly.

Shi Qingxuan holds up two fingers, as if to say: do it for the two buffets, best friend of mine.

He Xuan sighs a long-suffering sigh. “… What do you want me to do?”

Shi Qingxuan smiles, battling his eyelashes as he says sweetly, “Can you help me access the school system and get copies of their timetables and school schedules?”

The next day at after school, Shi Qingxuan waits at a bench nearby the basketball court where the basketballers trains. Shortly, He Xuan appears, taking a seat and wordlessly handing over a bag of skittles Shi Qingxuan asked him to pick up.

“He-xiong,” Shi Qingxuan says excitedly as he shares his skittles with He Xuan. “Did you get it?”

He wiggles his eyebrows for the extra dramatic flair. He Xuan sighs and flips open his phone, and instantly, Shi Qingxuan’s phone pings with a notification. Opening his WeChat and scanning through the document He Xuan sends over, he quickly scans the schedules of the two he is planning to matchmake together.

“Ah ha!” he cries as he finds a common gap in their schedules. “This Thursday both of them have no classes, no clubs, no shifts!”

“That was fast,” He Xuan idly comments as he pops a yellow skittle into his mouth.

“Of course!” With HR classes he takes and projects that require planning big events, Shi Qingxuan is able to do scheduling with practiced speed. Pausing to run over his own schedule and He Xuan’s in his head, he asks if He Xuan has to work on Thursday.

“No,” He Xuan says. “Thursday’s shift is Yushi Huang and the boss himself.”

“Great!” Shi Qingxuan says. “He-xiong, let’s go Disneyland! My treat!”

As he was saying that, he is already booking the tickets online. With a few taps, he pays for four tickets, and smiles smugly. His plan is in motion already! With his luck, Feng Xin and Mu Qing will end up at Disneyland, spend a day of magical fun together, realise their feelings bursting under all that sexual tension, get together, and live happily ever after. Of course, as their matchmakers, Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan will go there and spy on them discreetly throughout the ‘date’.

He Xuan clicks open his WeChat and shakes his head as he looks at the ticket that Shi Qingxuan forwarded him. “How are you planning to give them the tickets? Go up to them and tell them your plan of getting them to ‘spend a day of magical fun together’?”

Shi Qingxuan smiles. “I have a plan.”

His plan is simple: get He Xuan to craft and create an email looking as if it’s from the café they all ate at yesterday, congratulating Feng Xin and Mu Qing for winning a lucky draw at the café. Since they were their 800^th customer, they get tickets to Disneyland!

He Xuan sighs as Shi Qingxuan details his plan, but takes out his laptop and begins typing. Shi Qingxuan internally punches the air – he really had the best friend in the world wide world!

As He Xuan crafts the email, the basketball training ends and the basketballers begin to trudge off-court and disperse.

Hua Cheng claps as Xie Lian walks towards him with Feng Xin hovering behind. “Gege, you played beautifully.”

Xie Lian smiles bashfully. “Thank you, San Lang, but your skills were just as good as mine back in Middle School. You should try out next semester!”

“Only if gege gives me private coaching~”

Feng Xin shivers at the display of very public affection and hovers a bit further away from the couple. Mu Qing, who has been standing as far away as possible from Hua Cheng at the side-lines, comes forward to fuss at Feng Xin.

“Look at you,” he says harshly. “Sweating like a pig!”

Then he gives Feng Xin a towel and a bottle of water. Shi Qingxuan glances at He Xuan, catching his eye and nudging him.

Shi Qingxuan is in the middle of chatting with He Xuan (it is more of a case of He Xuan listening while Shi Qingxuan excitedly details his day, his classes, his teachers), when the captain of the basketball team approaches them.

“Qingxuan!” Shi Wudu, Shi Qingxuan’s brother by a year, calls. “It’s time to go home.”

Shi Wudu is tall and imposing figure, excluding authority both in his classes and on the basketball court. He shakes his head at Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan, making no move to mask his displeasure. He sniffs at He Xuan, sneering at his messy hair and gold earrings.

Shi Wudu always stares at He Xuan like he is one step from whisking Shi Qingxuan away. Shi Qingxuan is an adorable baby brother, but He Xuan is his best friend in the whole wide world! Of course he doesn’t look at Shi Qingxuan the way his brother worries about.

“Okay!” Shi Qingxuan springs to his feet and quickly starts to chase after Shi Wudu’s retreating back. “Bye, He-xiong! I’ll text you later! See you for our daaaate!”

As he shouts at He Xuan over his shoulder, he throws in a wink. He Xuan looks away from Shi Qingxuan, and Shi Qingxuan giggles.

“He-xiong!”

In a blink of an eye, it was Thursday, and a day of fun in Disneyland meant that Shi Qingxuan is wearing his beautiful female clothes again. He spots He Xuan waiting near the entrance and waves.

He Xuan looks a little more dressed up than he usually is, with his chin length hair in its usual scruffy ponytail, wearing a black button-down and black slacks. (He-xiong is the only one he knows that wears black clothes to Disneyland!) His gold earrings are the only thing in his ensemble that has colour – a stark contrast to Shi Qingxuan’s pastel green overalls, white top, and cute yellow sneakers.

“He-xiong!” Shi Qingxuan cries as he jogs up to He Xuan. “You look good! Let’s take a selfie!”

Begrudgingly, He Xuan lets Shi Qingxuan huddle up to him. Shi Qingxuan winks at the camera, holding his fingers up in a peace sign. After complaining that He Xuan didn’t even smile that much, he uploads the photo in his WeChat moments before tugging He Xuan towards the ticketing gantry.

“So what’s your plan?” He Xuan asks as they step into Disneyland.

Shi Qingxuan stops and stares at the booth selling Mickey Mouse ears right by the gantry. His fingers twitch as he stares distractedly at them, thinking how they would look in his hair, how they would compliment his outfit, how it was a quintessential part of the whole Disneyland experience…  

“Huh?” Shi Qingxuan blinks before laughing sheepishly. “Sorry, I wasn’t listening…”

“They will both be here,” He Xuan repeats, referring to Shi Qingxuan’s ‘pet project’. “But they might not spend time together.”

Shi Qingxuan taps his fist against his other palm. “Not a problem!”

He approaches a part-timer, a small but cheery looking girl at the gantry. Her nametag says ‘Banyue’, and with an easy smile, a bullshit explanation, and a generous tip later, he manages to get her help. Passing her two cards he specially printed for today, he shows her pictures of Feng Xin and Mu Qing, and she promises to pass the cards to them the moment they enter.

Shi Qingxuan skips back to He Xuan, pleased with his negotiations. He Xuan wordlessly hands him a pair of Mickey ears, and he stares at them before beaming from ear to ear.

“How did you know I want these?” Shi Qingxuan chatters as he places them on his head, opening his phone’s camera to check how they look. He opens WeChat, ready to transfer the money for it to He Xuan when he shakes his head.

“From me,” he says firmly. “Take it. You paid for the tickets today anyway.”

“He-xiong!” Shi Qingxuan cries, latching onto his arm. “You’re my best friend!”

He Xuan scowls. “No.”

Shortly, Feng Xin and Mu Qing arrive. Shi Qingxuan quickly hauls He Xuan with him and they duck out of sight behind a Frozen standee.

“Huh, they arrived together…” Shi Qingxuan says, but he is pleased by it. This new development makes his plan better!

They peer over the standee, watching as Banyue hands them both the cards. Feng Xin and Mu Qing read over the cards, determination dawning on their faces as they glare at each other. Swiftly, they each took up a map of Disneyland and head towards the River Safari Ride.

“… Do I want to know?” He Xuan asks, referring to the cards.

Shi Qingxuan tells him either way. The cards he specially designed and printed on good quality paper detailed a fake Disney event, staging a fake competition between selected serial numbers on the Disneyland tickets. Those selected will have to play the given rides and games, and whoever earns the most stamps will win!

Feng Xin and Mu Qing are both equally competitive, and their rivalry is as famous as their bickering. Shi Qingxuan’s fake event is quite genius, if he says so himself – what better way to get two rivals to spend a day of magical fun together?

Shi Qingxuan drags an unwilling He Xuan along as they spend the next few hours watching and stalking the pair as they go on simple rides together. Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan didn’t even need to put in extra effort to hide themselves, as the pair are too busy with picking fights with each other.

“Did you just jab me?!” Mu Qing demands at the Bumper Cars, rolling his eyes as he mutters something about jocks.

“Ow! Motherfucker! That was my foot!” Feng Xin howls at a particularly thrilling Simulation Ride. 

“…” Shi Qingxuan hopes he isn’t wrong in his selection of couples to matchmake.

Even at the carnival games aisle, Feng Xin and Mu Qing seem overly competitive, racking up points and racing to be better than the other. Unsurprisingly, Feng Xin wins at the basketball booth.

“Now that’s unfair,” Mu Qing says as he rolls his eyes. “Where’s the idiom competition at Disney? I’ll win that, for sure.”

“Nerd,” Feng Xin says.

Then he shoves the donkey plushie he won from the booth in Mu Qing’s arms. Mu Qing splutters, at a loss of words, and mutters something about how stupid the donkey is. But his arms tighten around it as he hides half of his flushed face in it.

Hmm. Maybe it was not a loss cause after all. Shi Qingxuan brightens up, and whips out his phone to key in the progress in his app.

Lunchtime comes, and Feng Xin and Mu Qing decide to take a break. They sit side by side on a bench at the designated eatery spot, sharing churros in what seems to be an amicable silence.

Shi Qingxuan looks at them and the churros forlornly, sitting a few benches away hiding his face with a pair of sunglasses. He is about to lament the hard, hard life of a matchmaker and cry behind his sunglasses when He Xuan appears holding onto churros.

Shi Qingxuan immediately stops moping. “Oh He-xiong… Man after my own heart! Marry me!”

“… You don’t mean that.” He Xuan aggressively tore off a piece of the churro and munches it.

After the churros and a lunch at KFC (Shi Qingxuan wanted to queue for the merchandise promoting some very pretty looking manhua but He Xuan points out that Feng Xin and Mu Qing are leaving, crushing Shi Qingxuan’s hopes), Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan follow the pair to a scheduled sea animal show.

During the meet and greet time with the adorable sea creatures, Shi Qingxuan thoughtfully hums. “Huh. You know, He-xiong, Feng Xin and Mu Qing actually seem pretty close. With how they fight and how worried Xie Lian usually is over them, you’d think they be tearing each other’s bones out by now!”

Mu Qing is having a stare down with a seal, who majestically perches as he unblinkingly looks at the man. Feng Xin, guffawing at the sight, uses his phone to snap photos. Mu Qing blushes, breaking the eye contact with the seal as he yells at Feng Xin to cut it out.

“You call that close?” He Xuan asks, scoffing at the display.

“He-xiong!” Shi Qingxuan exclaims. “Mu Qing is like you – behind gruff words, he is actually very nice!”

As if on cue, the seal splashes water at Feng Xin.

“FUCK!” Feng Xin yelps.

Mu Qing scoffs, but took out a handkerchief and helps Feng Xin wipe his face. Shi Qingxuan nods in approval before turning to He Xuan and beaming.

“Besides, when I’m at the coffeeshop, I always see Mu Qing giving Xie Lian and Feng Xin free coffee! It proves that he’s nice under all that gruff.”

“That doesn’t mean anything,” He Xuan says. “I give you free coffee.”

“See!” Shi Qingxuan says. “It’s because you are nice to me! That’s why I loooove you, He-xiong!”

He Xuan turns away, intently studying the map of Disneyland in his hands. Shi Qingxuan pouts.

Before they knew it, the day spent at Disneyland is coming to an end. Shi Qingxuan hides behind a plant with He Xuan, looking at Feng Xin and Mu Qing standing at the entrance to the Tunnel of Love – the last item of the fake event Shi Qingxuan fabricated.

Mu Qing pales as he stands at the entrance.

Shi Qingxuan strains his ears as Feng Xin murmurs, “We don’t have to do this.”

Seeing Shi Qingxuan’s confused expression, He Xuan explains, “He’s scared of the dark.”

He does not elaborate, but Shi Qingxuan can guess that he probably found out during work at the coffeeshop.

Mu Qing rolls his eyes. “You want to win without me? Fat chance.” Then he pauses, his face softening. “… It’s okay.”

Feng Xin gives him a cocky grin, as if to comfort him. “Yeah, I’m here anyway. Nothing will happen to you.” He puffs his chest out in pride.

“Muscle head,” Mu Qing says, but his words have no bite to them.

As Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan watch the two enter the ride, He Xuan asks, “You don’t want to go on this ride?”

“Nah, it’s okay!” Shi Qingxuan says. “He-xiong, you should go on the Tunnel of Love with someone you love! Save your Tunnel of Love ride.”

He winks, but He Xuan looks pained before he turned away.

The two of them went to the back of the ride, where a photo booth is stationed at the souvenir stall. The photo booth displays photos of people inside the ride, and Shi Qingxuan is peering at the photos flashing by on his tiptoes, trying to find Feng Xin and Mu Qing.

“Hey!” Shi Qingxuan excitedly grabs He Xuan’s arm as a photo flash by. “They’re coming up! This is the couple that went in before them!”

The next photo that comes on is indeed of Feng Xin and Mu Qing. What Shi Qingxuan does not expect to see, however, is Feng Xin’s arms around Mu Qing and Mu Qing tightly holding onto his shirt, as the two of them are caught on camera in what looks like an intense making out session.

A random passer-by lets out a low whistle. “Frenching in the Tunnel of Love?”

Shi Qingxuan gasps, all but jumping up and down as he shakes He Xuan’s arm. “He-xiong! It worked! IT WORKED! Oh my God Feng Xin must have kissed Mu Qing to distract him from the ride! But my matchmaking worked! I’m amazing!!”

He Xuan sighs, and quickly yanks Shi Qingxuan with him behind a souvenir shelf. Not a minute later, Feng Xin and Mu Qing exits from the ride and walks into the souvenir stall. They look like they usually do, not holding hands or standing closer than usual, but Mu Qing’s lips seem a bit bruised while Feng Xin has what seems like red mark on his neck.

“Hey,” Feng Xin says, tugging Mu Qing by the ponytail towards the direction of the photo booth. “Let’s go see.”

Mu Qing splutters as he sees the photo of them locking lips in the middle of the ride.

Feng Xin, however, only grins. “Wow! That’s a nice photo. Let’s get it as a keepsake for our 6-month anniversary.”

?????

?!??!?!?!

6 months anniversary?!

Mu Qing only blushes, gently punching Feng Xin in the shoulder as he buys the photo and places it in a nice Disney-themed frame, tucking it under his arm.

He Xuan snickers. “Well, guess they were long together before you played matchmaker. Guess you aren’t that amazing after all.”

As if to rub salt in Shi Qingxuan’s wound, Feng Xin and Mu Qing start to hold hands. Couldn’t they have held hands earlier, before they even got to Disneyland?!

Shi Qingxuan is still in shock. “??? WHAT?!”

Operation: FengQing - success (?) 

Chapter Text

It is a great day and another day for Shi Qingxuan to excel in his role as matchmaker.

At a table tuck discreetly in the corner of Coffee Roasters, the popular on-campus coffeeshop that He Xuan (and Mu Qing) works part time at, Shi Qingxuan sips his drink. He watches Xie Lian at another table check his email and counts to five.

Xie Lian pales. Feng Xin glances up from his laptop quizzically, and at the same time, Mu Qing finishes his shift and walks over to them.

“When were you two going to tell me?” Xie Lian asks in lieu of a greeting. Feng Xin and Mu Qing freeze, looking like two deer caught in the headlights.

Shi Qingxuan hides his smile behind his cup. Surreptitiously, he deletes all traces of the email he sent Xie Lian a few minutes ago – but not before saving a copy of the Tunnel of Love kiss into a folder. Just for future purposes, if the need ever arises.

“I mean,” Xie Lian continues rambling back over at his table. “I knew you both had crushes on each other since High School. But to get together and not tell me…”

A flush crawls from Mu Qing’s neck to his face as he makes an indignant sound of surprise. “W-Wasn’t he dating Jian Lan then?!”

Feng Xin makes a louder indignant sound. “You were so rude to me back then! Jian Lan was nice to me and I thought I had no chance with you. Really now, is that how you treat your crush? I must be fucking blind to fall for an idiot like you…”

Mu Qing looks like he is torn between choking Feng Xin with his bare hands or pinning him to the ground and kissing him senseless. In fact, they both look as if they are going to strangle each other (in more ways than one). Xie Lian shakes his head, sighing as he takes out his phone. Shi Qingxuan cranes his neck a bit, and sees that he is texting his ‘San Lang <3’.

The three of them exit the coffeeshop, the sound of Feng Xin and Mu Qing’s bickering punctuated by Xie Lian’s mediating drifting out with them. Shi Qingxuan busies himself with updating his app (idiots in love remain idiots even in love, he types sagely) and almost startles upon seeing He Xuan coming up to him.

“He-xiong!” he cries. “You finished your shift already?”

In lieu of a reply, He Xuan takes a seat across Shi Qingxuan and hands him a Frappuccino. Shi Qingxuan squeals as he spots the pumpkin spice decorating the whipped cream. He spends the next few minutes raving poetry about how He Xuan treats him the best, before gearing himself into ‘Matchmaker Mode’.

“Following the success of Feng Xin and Mu Qing,” Shi Qingxuan says, ignoring He Xuan’s raising eyebrows and unimpressed expression. “I decided that it is time for me, matchmaker extraordinaire, and you, my trusty partner in crime… to take on our next case!”

He looks towards the direction of the counter where a willowy girl with long dark hair and soulful green eyes is working. That is another one of He Xuan’s work buddies, Yushi Huang, a quiet but oddly respected Year Four.

Shi Qingxuan checks the time on his phone, and on the mark, the door chimes as new customers enter. Shi Wudu walks in with one of his good friends, the no-nonsense Ling Wen.

“Ge!” Shi Qingxuan waves excitedly.

Shi Wudu takes one look at him sitting with He Xuan and wrinkles his nose, grumpily reminding Shi Qingxuan that they have dinner with their parents tonight before leading Ling Wen to an empty table far away from Shi Qingxuan’s.

He Xuan waits for them to go out of hearing range and quirks an eyebrow at Shi Qingxuan. “You want to pair Yushi Huang together with your brother? Or Ling Wen?”

“Of course not! They don’t know Yushi Huang – not directly, that is.”

As if on cue, the door chimes again, and a guy all but struts in. His amber hair, a combination of hair-dye and spending time in the sun, is slicked back, giving him the look of a rugged surfer. He wears a maroon varsity jacket over ripped jeans, and walks around with a measured confidence.

That is Pei Ming, the notorious skirt-chaser playboy extraordinaire in his final year of University, who also happens to be another one of Shi Wudu’s good friends. Since the first year of University, Shi Qingxuan’s brother has been close to Pei Ming and Ling Wen, but he does not know either of them well enough beyond Pei Ming being a basketballer and Ling Wen being from the Literature Club.

“I want to pair dear Xiao Huang,” Shi Qingxuan says, ignoring He Xuan’s mutters on how she’s older than them and how disrespectful Shi Qingxuan’s address is. “… With Pei Ming.”

If He Xuan’s eyebrows raise any further, they would fall off his forehead already.

“Yo~” Pei Ming says with an easy grin to Shi Wudu and Ling Wen. “Sorry I’m late! Drinks on me.”

Shi Wudu sighs. Ling Wen nods. “Iced coffee. Black. No sugar.”

Pei Ming flashes them two thumbs up and goes over to the cashier, leaning an arm against the counter. Yushi Huang appears from behind the coffee grinder, politely asking for Pei Ming’s order.

Pei Ming takes one look at the cashier on duty and his face pales.

That is a piece of history that Shi Qingxuan knows. Before their first year of University, Yushi Huang’s father’s insurance company, Rainy Days, made headlines for being a corrupted company, and the week’s news was filled with her father being hauled off to jail. Their stocks plummeted, their employees left, customers demanded a refund – until the company went bankrupt. The very person that exposed Rainy Days was Pei Ming’s father, CEO of the rivalling insurance company, Ming Guang: Your Light in Darkness.

With that, during the first year of University, Yushi Huang went from the rich young miss of a thriving company to a poor, quiet sixth child of a family struggling to make ends meet. Every time Pei Ming catches sight of Yushi Huang, he will look guilty and flee.

At the counter, Pei Ming fumbles with his phone, stumbling over his order. When Yushi Huang pushes the QR reader over for Pei Ming to make payment, he nearly drops his phone. Then he flees back to his table, almost forgetting his drinks.

“They will never work out,” He Xuan says. Even He-xiong that doesn’t care about run-of-the-mill gossip is aware of the Pei Ming Yushi Huang scandal!  

“But I succeeded with Feng Xin and Mu Qing,” Shi Qingxuan argues.

“They don’t count,” the party-pooper He Xuan answers. “They were already together.”

“Trust me! They are a match made in heaven. Now, He-xiong, this is what I need you to do…”

The next day in Shi Qingxuan’s elective business class, the teaching assistant reads out the project groupings.

“Shi Qingxuan, Feng Xin, and Pei Ming.”

There is a slight commotion as the class breaks out in their assigned groupings. Dragging a chair to where Feng Xin and Pei Ming are, Shi Qingxuan greets his new groupmates excitedly.

“Huh,” Feng Xin muses. “How rare for them to group people of different years together.”

Shi Qingxuan hopes he smiles in an enigmatic way. Discreetly, he takes out his phone and texts He Xuan.

‘He-xiong! Your hacking is flawless!’

The reply was instantaneous. ‘When is it never?’

Shi Qingxuan, after much begging and reminding He Xuan of the buffets, got He Xuan to hack into his teaching assistant’s system and assign the three of them to be in the same project group for their common class. Being in the same group will mean more time with Pei Ming, and more time with Pei Ming means that Shi Qingxuan will have more time to continue with his matchmaking efforts. He rubs his hands together in glee.

Under the guise of being on the ball for the project, Shi Qingxuan suggests, “Let’s discuss the project after classes today! Shall we go Coffee Roasters?”

Feng Xin immediately agreed. “I got to pick up my roommate after his shift.”

Shi Qingxuan gloats inside. He knew that grouping with Feng Xin as well will help his mission!

“You mean your boyfriend?” Shi Qingxuan wiggles his eyebrows.

“How the fuck did you know – ”

Pei Ming whistles. “Wow, Feng Xin, you bagged Mu Qing already? I knew him appearing after basketball is not out of just friendship.”

“…”

At the coffeeshop after classes, they are greeted by the sight of Yushi Huang on shift again.

“Just my luck…” Pei Ming mutters to himself.

Shi Qingxuan catches his muttering and smiles. Other than getting He Xuan to hack, he also got He Xuan to send him a copy of Yushi Huang’s work roster. That way, he can plan for project meetings to be at the coffeeshop when Yushi Huang is on shift! Seeing each other more will give more opportunities for Operation: PeiHuang to succeed, won’t it?

Over at the counter, Feng Xin is in the middle of flirting (fighting? Shi Qingxuan can’t tell) with Mu Qing, who is also on shift. Shi Qingxuan urges Pei Ming to order the drinks, nudging him to the front where Yushi Huang is on cashiering duty.

“Hi Pei Ming, Qingxuan,” Yushi Huang says professionally. “May I take your orders?”

Pei Ming stumbles with his words. If he is holding his phone, he would probably fumble with it like last time. As Mu Qing makes their drinks, Shi Qingxuan pretends to be engrossed with scanning their surroundings to find the best table.

After a minute of silence as they wait for their drinks, Pei Ming forces himself to make conversation. “… Do you work shifts a lot?”

“Yes,” Yushi Huang says airily.  “My final year workload is surprisingly light with only my thesis, so I have time to be there.”

Pei Ming does not say anything in reply. He looks as if his fight or flight instinct is kicking in (again).

Shi Qingxuan immediately jumps in. “Yushi Huang, aren’t you majoring in environmental studies? Our project for our business class is about agriculture!”

Yushi Huang hums politely in reply, and Pei Ming continues looking like he is going to bolt.

Shi Qingxuan tries to remain optimistic.

The next few weeks of the project together are tough. Since they have ten weeks to finish the project, they meet up about twice a week at Coffee Roasters, and Shi Qingxuan tries his best to purposely picks days when Yushi Huang is having shifts.

Despite being on matchmaker mode, Shi Qingxuan does put in effort for the project. He likes to play hard, but he works hard too! (It’s kinda hard not to, with his brother majoring in the same course with exemplary grades and his teachers always looking at him with expectations set by his brother.)

Sometimes when he’s close to pulling his hair out in frustration or tiredly slumps over his laptop, He Xuan will appear with a coffee in hand. Shi Qingxuan will gush over how nice and kind and how he’s the best friend in the whole wide world, but He Xuan will always remind him it’s to make sure he doesn’t die before repaying him with the buffets.

Sadly, Pei Ming and Yushi Huang don’t make any progress. Until one day, when they are putting their heads together and stuck at a part pertaining to farmers, Shi Qingxuan calls out to Yushi Huang who was in the midst of clearing the tables.

“What do you think, Yushi Huang?” Shi Qingxuan asks. “I’m sure you can offer a bunch of Business majors a new perspective.”

She pauses, looking over his screen, deliberating over her words for a second before speaking. “Maybe tweak the proposal with more emphasis on the farmers and less on corporations. Some farmers are very wealthy and have the financial means to support funding.”

Shi Qingxuan claps and thanks her. She smiles back before going back to clearing the cups.

Pei Ming hisses at him. “Don’t ask her for help anymore!”

“Why not?” Shi Qingxuan asks, perplexed.

“She’s already so busy,” Pei Ming says. “Don’t add on to her workload.”

He stares at her retreating back with a gaze of pity and sighs heavily.

It is a start, Shi Qingxuan thinks to himself as he keys in the progress in his app. But he wants Pei Ming to look at her with love and longing, not guilt and remorse.

As the days go by, when Pei Ming really wants to focus on his part of the project and crunch away at work, he elects to sit at a table by himself. Nothing personal, he assures Shi Qingxuan and Feng Xin. It’s just that he concentrates better alone.

Once, on a particularly stressful day, after a consultation with their teaching assistant that bashes their work so far and a looming preliminary submission, Pei Ming goes sit at a corner (Shi Qingxuan calls it his emo corner) and mutters darkly to himself while typing furiously.

“UGH!” Pei Ming screams at his laptop.

Shi Qingxuan is about to go over and be a good groupmate when he spots Yushi Huang making her way over. Thinking that this is a sign from God and a way to push his (admittedly, stalemate) operation, Shi Qingxuan watches the show unfold in front of him.

“Are you okay?” Yushi Huang asks, gently laying a hand on Pei Ming’s shoulder.

Pei Ming visibly stiffens, but does not give in to his instinct to flee.

Instead he stiffly nods. “… Just a deadline and a tough TA to impress.”

Yushi Huang hums thoughtfully. “Maybe you need to take a break and look over it with fresh eyes. Too much work will hinder productivity at times.”

“Why are you so nice to me?” Pei Ming says, teenage angst lacing his tone.

Alarm bells blare in Shi Qingxuan’s head. He is about to leap up and salvage what he could when He Xuan, standing at the other end of the counter, shoots Shi Qingxuan a look.

“Their affair, not yours,” he murmurs. “Don’t meddle this time.”

Shi Qingxuan reluctantly heeds his advice. Forcing himself to not intervene, he watches on as Yushi Huang makes a sound of surprise.

“My father caused your family to lose everything,” Pei Ming rants, long forgetting about his work. “My family caused you to drop from a young miss to a student struggling to juggle studies and a part-time job. You moved from a big house to a small flat. Your brothers, once young masters, are now working as interns in big corporations as lackeys for people in positions they should be in.”

(Throughout his rant, Shi Qingxuan pretends to be engross in conversation with He Xuan standing at the other end of the counter-seat he and Feng Xin are occupying. Feng Xin stays in his seat, banging his head along to the beat of whatever rock music he is listening to through his earphones. )

Yushi Huang merely smiles. “Please wait.”

Then she disappears back into the storeroom.

Pei Ming buries his head in his hands. “… What did I do…”

Yushi Huang emerges back out holding a cup of tea and a… candycane? When he receives the items, Pei Ming looks equally as confused as Shi Qingxuan is.

“Do you remember, Pei Ming?” Yushi Huang says. “You gave this to me on the first day of school when I was sad.”

Turns out, on the first day of her University life, back when Yushi Huang was still adapting from her family’s fall from wealth, she was alone and friendless. Her friends, who clung to her wealth, all disappeared the moment Rainy Days’ scandal broke out.

To add insult to the injury, her worn backstrap broke then, sending the contents of her bag scattering. Some people snickered behind their teeth as the once-powerful daughter of the Yushi Company got down on her knees to gather her books.

Pei Ming, never one to turn away from a pretty face even on the first day of entering Tian Guan University, gallantly helped her gather her things. Seeing her solemn expression, he fished out a candycane from his bag and gave it to her, telling her to cheer up.

Back then, Pei Ming was still oblivious to her identity. Once he found out who she is, he looked as if he just murdered her whole family and spent the next three over years avoiding her.

“You are not your father, and neither am I,” Yushi Huang says. “I just know you as the boy who was kind enough to me, a stranger who was sad on the first day of school. I don’t hate you, Pei Ming. And I will never blame you for the consequences my family suffer as a result of their own doing.”

Pei Ming continues staring at her in silence, and clarity slowly dawns on his face. Shi Qingxuan holds his breath, wondering if this was the breakthrough God given him… Until suddenly the door chimes with an incoming customer.

“Pei darling!” In a flash, a girl with a beautiful face and thick black hair charges at Pei Ming, draping herself over his lap.

“Xuan Ji?!” Pei Ming exclaims before shooting Yushi Huang a fugitive glance. “… Don’t call me that, you know that we are not together anymore.”

“Pei darling, I’m sure you miss me the way I do,” Xuan Ji coos, stroking his cheek with one hand as the other curls around his neck.

Pei Ming tries to gently push her away but Xuan Ji is from the Floorball Team, and Shi Qingxuan has seen her muscles and abs hiding behind her (expensive) clothes before on court. 

Meanwhile, as Xuan Ji coos over Pei Ming who is still failing to get her off, Yushi Huang silently retreats back behind the counter and resumes her duties.

“There goes my plans…” Shi Qingxuan mutters before turning to He Xuan. “He-xiong, this is your cue to say wow! And ask me who is that!”

“Wow, Shi Qingxuan,” He Xuan repeats in a deadpan expression. “Who is that.”

“So glad you asked!” Shi Qingxuan says before explaining.

Pei Ming, a notorious skirt chaser with an even more notorious playboy past, has had many exes before. Xuan Ji is one of them. But unlike his exes that are aware that Pei Ming hops from relationship to relationship, one night stand to one night stand, Xuan Ji believes that she and Pei Ming have a connection beyond his usual ones, and has always pestered Pei Ming long after he broke up with her.

Snapping his laptop shut and throwing a farewell plus a promise to finish up his part of the project as soon as possible, Pei Ming quickly exits from the coffeeshop with Xuan Ji hot on his heels behind him. Shi Qingxuan shakes his head and sighs, devising ways he can remove Xuan Ji from the equation.

But before he can arrive at a suitable solution to handle the ex-that-won’t-leave problem in his matchmaking mission, the approaching project deadline soon demands his attention. The frequency of their meetings increases, and Pei Ming always suggests holding their meetings at the coffeeshop. Which is exactly what Shi Qingxuan wants.

However, he does not properly talk to Yushi Huang – which is not what Shi Qingxuan wants. Pei Ming always volunteers to order the drinks, only to end up fumbling and stumbling at the counter while Yushi Huang patiently takes his orders, oblivious to Pei Ming’s not-so-smooth attempts at conversation.

Shi Qingxuan is deciding if he should offer Pei Ming some love advice (ha! Dishing romantic advice to the biggest playboy on campus!), when Mu Qing comes over to their table.

“Here,” he says as he thrusts a plate of strawberry shortcake to Feng Xin. Mu Qing is a pretty good baker, and sometimes their boss allows him to use kitchen facilities to bake stuff to sell as the daily special.

Pei Ming smirks as he lifts his drink that Mu Qing delivered together with the cake. “We get table service now? It really pays to be on good terms with the staff.”

All of a sudden, Xuan Ji appears with an elegant-looking girl who has her hair braided in a complicated updo. At the same moment, Feng Xin feeds the strawberry on top of his cake to Mu Qing, while Mu Qing smears cream on Feng Xin’s cheek.

Feng Xin stops and stares at the two girls, his arm still around Mu Qing’s wrist. “… Jian Lan,” he says in a choked voice.

That girl is Jian Lan, Feng Xin’s flame from High School. Shi Qingxuan is not too sure of the details, but they broke up after a few weeks during the first year of University. Now, Jian Lan shares a dorm room with Xuan Ji.

“Oh,” she says as she looks at the two. “Congrats.”

Getting over the shock of his boyfriend’s ex catching them in a display of affection (?), Mu Qing says, “… You’re not surprised.”

“Back when we were dating, he always calls out your name during his sleep. Sometimes in bed as well,” Jian Lan says nonchalantly, as if she was simply telling them the weather.

Mu Qing looks simultaneously embarrassed and angry. Feng Xin looks as if he wants to die.

Then Jian Lan shrugs. “But I’m already over it. Don’t look so worried – we are different people now; I’m not going to be hung up over my High School boyfriend entering a new relationship. Well, last long, you two!”

Shi Qingxuan nods wisely before opening his app to take notes.

He Xuan, who has no shift today but still sitting beside Shi Qingxuan doing his own work (‘He-xiong must really like the Wi-Fi of his workplace!' he thinks), stares incredulously at him. “How is this relevant to your matchmaking project?”

Shi Qingxuan ignores him.

“Xuan Ji,” Jian Lan says. “I’m going to order now.”

Xuan Ji, busy pestering Pei Ming who looks as if he would rather be anywhere but there, barely acknowledges her words.

Unexpectedly, Yushi Huang appears at their tableside – and promptly spills a cup of cold brew on Pei Ming.

Xuan Ji leaps up. “Oh my God, are you stupid?!”

“Hey!” Pei Ming barks. Xuan Ji jumps at his raised voice. “Don’t say that – do you think she intentionally did that? It was an accident!”

“Oh dear,” Yushi Huang says, looking as aloof as she usually is. “Please, come to the storeroom with me. My co-worker is the same size as you; you can change into his spare shirt.”

Xuan Ji huffs as Yushi Huang ushers him into the storeroom. She comes out not a second later, busying preparing Jian Lan’s order. Once both girls get their drinks, they leave the coffeeshop, Xuan Ji grumbling the whole time.

“Pei Ming,” Yushi Huang calls towards the storeroom. “You can come out now.”

Pei Ming comes out wearing He Xuan’s shirt.

“Yushi Huang,” he says, sheepishly clearing his throat. “Thank you. Xuan Ji, she… She’s someone from back when I was young and foolish and playing around with girls’ hearts.”

(“Isn’t that just last semester?” Feng Xin mutters and hides his statement with a cough.)

“But… I’m starting to realise that it was not nice of me to hurt people the way I hurt Xuan Ji. I’m a changed man now, I assure you.”

“Pei Ming,” Yushi Huang says with a kind smile. “I’m sure you had your reasons and you can easily turn over a new leaf by not engaging in any more frivolous affairs. Your past does not define you.”

Pei Ming sits back down at the table with Shi Qingxuan and Feng Xin, staring at them in awe.

“Dudes…” he says in an almost reverent whisper. “I have such a huge crush on her.”

Shi Qingxuan nearly punches the air in joy. Success! It looks like this couple will develop according to plan, after all. He catches He Xuan’s eye and gives him a wink.

Thus, Pei Ming begins to try to win Yushi Huang over.

He starts off with pick up lines. He swaggers with fake confidence to the counter, propping an elbow at the countertop as he shoots his most suave smile at Yushi Huang.

“You know,” he says. “Even though I’m in the basketball team, people say I ought to be in soccer. Because I look like a keeper.”

He pushes his already slicked back hair back.

Yushi Huang nods sagely. “I see. But I think Pei Ming is better suited for basketball.”

Pei Ming ambles back to the table where Shi Qingxuan and Feng Xin stare at him with pity in their eyes.

“Is that… rejection?” Pei Ming asks with shoulder slump in defeat.

“No,” Feng Xin says as if he is speaking to an idiot. (Shi Qingxuan thinks Feng Xin isn’t wrong.) “She just doesn’t get it. It was a bad pick up line.”

“Give compliments,” Shi Qingxuan benevolently suggests.

Pei Ming does.

“This coffee is so sweet,” Pei Ming says as he takes a sip from his mug. “It must be as sweet as its brewer.”

“Oh,” Yushi Huang says. “I’ll be sure to pass your compliments to He Xuan. He’s on barista duty today.”

“…”

Shi Qingxuan is not going to give up on Pei Ming. “You can write your number on your cup and give it to her. It’s a reversal of the usual coffeeshop cliché! It’ll be cute!”

Doubtfully, Pei Ming scrawls his number on his coffee cup and asks Yushi Huang for water as he passes her the cup.

“Are you sure?” Yushi Huang asks. “I can get you a new cup.”

“This is fine,” he says, shooting her what he thinks is a charming smile. (Shi Qingxuan begs to differ.) “Save the earth.”

Then Yushi Huang passes the cup to Mu Qing before heading inside the storeroom to do stocktake.

Mu Qing stares at the cup and the scrawled number, along with the badly drawn heart beside it. “Pei Ming. You know I have a boyfriend, right?”

God, is the notorious skirt chaser, the number one playboy of Tian Guan so absolutely bad at flirting!!

Somehow or another, amidst the late nights and Pei Ming’s no-good flirting, the three of them make it to project submission. Shi Qingxuan is quite proud of their work, if he says so himself.

Pei Ming bursts into the coffeeshop after his classes. Shi Qingxuan, who was across the counter chatting with the on-duty He Xuan, jumps over and ducks behind the counter. He pulls He Xuan down with him (ignoring his grumbles) as they peer over the countertop they are hiding under, and watch The Show.

“We’ve completed and submitted our project,” Pei Ming declares.

“Impressive,” Yushi Huang says. “Your hard work paid off.”

“I learnt a lot from you because of your help during the project.”

Yushi Huang sounds as if she is smiling. “I didn’t do much, but I’m glad I managed to help.”

“You did,” Pei Ming says. “And I want to continue learning from you. I want to learn more about the common folk from you. And about being humble. Being a better person. I want to learn more about you – because I… I like you.”

Yushi Huang keeps quiet, and Pei Ming hurries on. “Not because you’re hot! I mean, you are hot. Extremely. I think about you during classes a lot. B-But what I meant to say that you’re not just another conquest to me! I’m serious about you. I want to know about you: about what you think of, what you like, and everything about you.”

He takes a deep breath. “Yushi Huang… Will you- will you go out with me?”

Shi Qingxuan hears a soft chuckle from Yushi Huang. “May I have your order?” she asks.

‘???’ Shi Qingxuan thinks to himself, staying out of sight under the countertop. This is not an answer he sees coming.

From his viewpoint, Pei Ming looks flabbergasted. He composes himself enough to say, “… My usual, please.”

With practiced speed, Yushi Huang makes his drink and slides it over the counter. Pei Ming takes it, turns it in his hand and his breathing hitches.

Shi Qingxuan peers as much he can without exposing himself, He Xuan pulling his wrist to tug him out of sight. He cranes his neck and sees a string of numbers neatly written on Pei Ming’s cup with a flower drawn beside it.

The barista writing her number on the cup for the customer she has the hots for! What a cliché! Shi Qingxuan absolutely loves it. His fingers twitch with the urge to key this update in his app.

Meanwhile, over the counter, Yushi Huang leans over and kisses Pei Ming’s cheek. “I knock off at 5 today. See you, young master of Ming Guang holdings.”

Pei Ming nods in a daze. Yushi Huang smiles before turning to the rest of the line. “Next, please!”

The moment Pei Ming exits from the coffeeshop, Shi Qingxuan leaps up. (Yushi Huang does not bat an eye at his sudden appearance. Thank God for Xiao Huang.)

“It’s a success!” he cries, throwing his arms around He Xuan.

He walks around the counter and heads over to his belongings, excitedly updating the progress and closure of his second (third, if you count in Hua Cheng and Xie Lian) pair in his app. In his haste to update his app, Shi Qingxuan misses He Xuan looking away, his bangs hiding his red ears.

“What the hell!” a familiar voice wails at the table behind Shi Qingxuan’s.

Xuan Ji sobs, pounding her fists against the tabletop. “How could he?! I loved him… for years… watch him as he chases after women… thinking he will come back once he realises what a match we are, all the men I rejected for him… But he goes for her!”

Yushi Huang, over the whirl of the coffee grinder, thankfully does not hear Xuan Ji. Jian Lan, who has been silently patting Xuan Ji’s shoulder in comfort, abruptly stops.

“Listen!” she says firmly, grabbing hold of Xuan Ji’s shoulders and stares into her eyes unblinkingly. “You are worth more than that skirt-chaser. It’s his loss for not seeing what a catch you are! But you ought to love yourself more than some guy who won’t give you the time of the day. Because you are deserving of the same love you poured into him for all these years!”

Xuan Ji’s mouth falls open in shock as she stares at her roommate.

Jian Lan stands up with a flourish. “Come, Xuan Ji. It’s Ladies Night tonight – let’s hit the clubs, get wasted on cheap alcohol, and dance the night away! Fuck men!”

The two of them walk off, Jian Lan’s arm around Xuan Ji’s shoulders. Shi Qingxuan sees the way Xuan Ji is staring at Jian Lan – as if seeing her roommate in a different light for the first time.

‘Hmm..’ he thinks to himself. Then he updates his app.

Operation: PeiHuang – success!

Side unexpected operation: XuanLan (JianJi?) – also a success!

Chapter Text

He Xuan sits across Shi Qingxuan at the café where the very whole matchmaker project started from. He crosses his arm and looks at Shi Qingxuan knowingly.

“So?” he asks. “Who are the new unlucky people this time?”

“He-xiong,” Shi Qingxuan says. “Do you prefer men or women?”

“It doesn’t matter,” he replies easily before his eyes narrow into slits. “… Wait.”

Shi Qingxuan snaps his fingers. “That’s right, He-xiong! You are the new lucky person!” He fixes He Xuan with what he hopes is a charming and reassuring smile. “You spend the most time with me, and I was thinking about it and realised…”

He Xuan looks as if he was holding his breath, sitting at the edge of his seat as he waits for Shi Qingxuan to continue.

“… That it is up to me to ensure your lifelong happiness!”

He Xuan deflates.

“No worries, He-xiong! It is my duty as your best friend in the whole wide world.”

He Xuan only sighs.

Thus, Operation: He Xuan x ??? begins.

Shi Qingxuan starts by first forcing He Xuan to sit in different places next to different people during classes they share together. Shi Qingxuan picks a variety of people – shy guys, confident girls, shy girls, confident guys… But from his position at the other end of He Xuan, he can tell that He Xuan is not interested at any of them at all.

“I don’t get it!” Shi Qingxuan says as he throws his arms up during lunch after a week of trying. “That’s the seventh person you didn’t even glance at! What kind of person are you even looking for?”

He Xuan looks at Shi Qingxuan silently and fixes him with an impassive expression. At that moment, Hua Cheng waltzes by with Xie Lian beside him, while Xie Lian waves to them.

“We can’t help but overhear,” Hua Cheng says breezily. “Maybe for someone as gloomy and quiet like black waters, He Xuan needs someone the opposite... A social butterfly. A ray of sunshine. The life of every party.”

“San Lang…” Xie Lian says, nudging Hua Cheng.

Shi Qingxuan snaps his fingers and furiously types his new idea into his app. “You are right! I got it!”

But while he ‘got it’, the school didn’t. He had wanted to drag He Xuan for a party that very instant, only to be crushed by He Xuan reminding him of the upcoming term tests that require their studying.

With a heavy sigh, Shi Qingxuan resigns himself to the life of a University student. Woe is him! Because he likes to play hard and conveniently forgets to work hard until the very last minute, he shows up at the front door of He Xuan’s dorm the night before his paper.

“Hello,” he greets as He Xuan opens the door. “It’s me again. It’s that time of the semester.”

He Xuan rolls his eyes, but steps aside for Shi Qingxuan to sweep into his dorm. As a Year 3, He Xuan has the privilege of staying in a single room. Since Shi Qingxuan stays off-campus in an apartment with his brother near their family home, and since Shi Qingxuan is fond of pulling last minute all-nighters, he has been a frequent guest in He Xuan’s dorm throughout tests and exams he has over his years in University.

As the hour ticks by and the day turns into night, Shi Qingxuan is close to burning his textbook. He pounds his fists against He Xuan’s table he is camping at. Why do Business majors need to study theory? Isn’t it common sense when it comes to dealing with people? Why does he need to memorise the words of dead people??

He lets out a frustrated wail and blinks when a blanket is draped over his shoulders. He glances up and sees He Xuan thrusting a mug at him.

He takes a sip. Hot chocolate! He could cry!

“He-xiong!” he says, his voice thick with emotion. Suddenly, his daunting amount of readings don’t seem so daunting anymore. “Whoever who dates you will be the luckiest person in the whole school. No, the luckiest in the whole wide world!”

“…” He Xuan cautiously steps a seat opposite Shi Qingxuan. “You can be lucky too.”

Shi Qingxuan laughs. “I already am! Because you are my best friend!”

He Xuan sighs, reaching for his notes.

“He-xiong, I mean it. I am going to be so jealous over whoever that is lucky enough to have you.”

He Xuan does not glance up from his notes, but his hand holding his pen stills.

“… Study,” he commands.

On the outside, Shi Qingxuan pouts at He Xuan before tackling his materials, fuelled by hot chocolate. On the inside, he thinks to himself that he really means what he says! Whoever who ends up dating He Xuan is very lucky.

At that note, his stomach twists uncomfortably. Forcing himself to not dwell too much on it, he makes himself study for his term tests.

At long last, the term tests come to an end, and Shi Qingxuan drags He Xuan to a party the very night. It is hosted by the popular and hyperactive Quan Yi Zhen, a junior in school who is known for his lively parties where everyone of all years and majors mingle. It is the perfect party for He Xuan to meet his ray of sunshine in, Shi Qingxuan plans to himself.

To celebrate his freedom from the shackles of tests, Shi Qingxuan dresses in a white, off-shoulder top tucked in a high-waisted denim shorts, and tops off the ensemble with a choker around his neck and black boots.

“Do I look cute in this?” Shi Qingxuan asks as he twirls a strand of his hair around his finger.

“You look like you usually do,” He Xuan says simply.

Shi Qingxuan pouts and starts scanning the party. At the couch, Yushi Huang and Pei Ming are sitting side by side, cutely chatting away. Because of the crowd and blaring music, they are whispering right in each other’s ears.

“He-xiong!” Shi Qingxuan cries over the din. “You should do that too! So when you meet someone you like, you can sweep – ”

“Like this?” He Xuan suddenly asks, his voice a hot breath against Shi Qingxuan’s ear.

He instantly forgets what he wanted to say. He forces himself to not shiver.

Shi Qingxuan starts to be hyperaware of how close He Xuan is standing to him, and the body heat is he radiating. Wow, He Xuan’s voice is so deep and low… This time, Shi Qingxuan cannot stop the shivers that run down his spine.

Despite the dim light of the living room, Shi Qingxuan realises that He Xuan looks especially good today – his black tank top shows off his slim toned arms, the denim jacket around his waist accentuates his hips… He Xuan is a Literature major, but he looks so fit! Is carrying heavy books a workout? Or does all the hacking he do train his arm muscles?

“Y-Yes… Exactly!” Shi Qingxuan says before cursing himself. What a fool he is! Why is he getting flustered? Why?? Has he been single for so long that he is now suddenly horny for his best friend? That is not cool, Shi Qingxuan!

In a bid to distract himself, he scans the room wildly once more – and zeroes in on the dance floor. Couples are already there dancing: he sees a giggly Banyue being twirled around by Pei Ming’s younger brother, Pei Su. In the middle of the dance floor is of course Hua Cheng, leading Xie Lian in an elegant dance more fitting for the royal ballroom than in the living room of a college kid throwing a party.

“He-xiong!” Shi Qingxuan tugs He Xuan by the arm. “Let’s go dance! We can scout the crowd!”

It is a good idea, Shi Qingxuan thinks to himself. He can distract himself from forbidden thoughts, scout the place for any potential people He Xuan might like, and let He Xuan stand in the limelight a bit.

And turns out, it is not a good idea. When they reach the dance floor, the music changes to a slow one, and He Xuan takes a step closer to Shi Qingxuan. He places his hands on Shi Qingxuan’s waist, and Shi Qingxuan desperately tries not to think about how He Xuan’s arm spans the width of his hip. He feels a bit wicked inside, and tries to not clutch onto He Xuan’s shoulder.

Trying to anchor himself, he looks up at He Xuan’s face. The dim lighting does nothing to hide the gold of He Xuan’s eyes, and if anything, the light reflecting off them only enhances their beauty. Shi Qingxuan is starting to feel all tingly inside again.

This is not good! He is a matchmaker, not a matchbreaker! And this is his best friend in the whole wide world!

The song ends and Shi Qingxuan spots a small, shy looking girl standing at the corner of the dance floor staring at He Xuan. He recognises her – she’s from the Literature club! And she always shyly glances at He Xuan when Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan go to the library. If his memory serves him right, her name has a ‘Miao’ – Miao’er? Xiao Miao?

Shi Qingxuan makes a move to push He Xuan into the Miao girl’s direction. “I think she’s in some of your Lit classes! You should dance with her, He-xiong! It’ll be fun!”

He Xuan pauses, looking at the girl and then back at Shi Qingxuan. “Do you really want me to dance with her?”

Shi Qingxuan nods vigorously, trying to look more convinced than he feels. “Of course! That’s what a party’s for!”

He Xuan walks to the girl and Shi Qingxuan darts towards the makeshift bar corner. When he looks at the dance floor again, the girl is dancing with He Xuan, looking as if He Xuan hung the stars up in the skies. Shi Qingxuan snorts – she better look at him like that! He Xuan deserves all the stars and moon in the sky.

He Xuan says something to the girl and she laughs. Shi Qingxuan feels an uncomfortable feeling in his gut. It is similar to the feeling he felt when he was studying with He Xuan, except ten times worse and ten times more bitter.

Was he jealous?? Of his best friend? That his best friend seems to be hitting it off with another person other than himself? Shi Qingxuan downs a shot and as he tries to shake off those horrible green-eyed feelings.

“Hey,” a voice greets. Shi Qingxuan turns to see a tall, buff-looking guy almost towering over him. The guy raises his beer cup in greeting. “What’s your name and what’s a pretty little thing doing by yourself?”

“Shi Qingxuan,” he says. He does not bother asking the guy for his name.

“Oh,” the guy says, undeterred by Shi Qingxuan’s snappy answer. “Shi? I didn’t know Shi Wudu has a sister as cute as you. Wanna dance?”

He grabs hold of Shi Qingxuan’s shoulder. Shi Qingxuan blanches, trying to shake off his hand. His touch is all wrong – it’s too rough, too heavy, too un-He Xuan.

“Woah dude!” one of the guy’s friend exclaims. “That’s no sister of Shi Wudu! Shi Qingxuan’s a guy! You can’t get lucky with him!”

He lets go of Shi Qingxuan’s shoulder like it’s hot. “Da hell, man? Why you dressing in women clothing if you a dude? Are you some kinda fagg – ”

In a flash, Shi Qingxuan’s vision is covered by a back of black. He-xiong! Shi Qingxuan would recognise that scent and back from anywhere.

He Xuan stands between Shi Qingxuan and the guy, and when he speaks, his voice is dripping with venom. “Finish that sentence, I dare you.”

“Oh look, he even has a boyfriend!” the guy laughs. “What are you going to do, punch me? Ha – ”

He Xuan punches him.

A hushed silence falls over the party crowd as everyone stares at the guy sprawl on the floor with his lights knock out.

Then Quan Yizhen whoops and raises his cup. “I was gonna throw him out anyway!”

The people cheer along and the party resumes as normal. Only, Shi Qingxuan does not feel normal. Even without the encounter with that guy, he was already feeling out of it. Now, he just isn’t enjoying himself anymore.

“Shi Qingxuan.” Then He Xuan pauses, gently taking hold of Shi Qingxuan’s shoulders. “Qingxuan. Do you want to go home?”

He nods.

When they exit the party, he blurts out. “I… told ge that after the party I would be crashing Xie Lian’s place. I can’t go home.”

He Xuan unties his jacket and drapes it around Shi Qingxuan’s shoulder. Then, he simply tells him that he can stay at his dorm for the night before they begin their walk to He Xuan’s dorm.

Inside his dorm, Shi Qingxuan immediately kicks off his boots and makes a beeline for the couch. He Xuan takes a seat beside him.

“I didn’t enjoy myself,” Shi Qingxuan says.

“It’s still early. Do you want to watch a movie?”

Wisely, using his part-time pay, He Xuan invests in a couch and a projector for his dorm. Shi Qingxuan nods eagerly. They have had fun movie nights together, and it looks like tonight will be no exception.

As the movie begins, Shi Qingxuan curls up his feet and sidles close to He Xuan. He Xuan mutters a single grumble, but shifts his arm to better accommodate Shi Qingxuan.

That night that was supposed to be wild party turned into a simple movie night for two. Surprisingly, Shi Qingxuan enjoys himself a lot more than he would have at a night out in town. Maybe he just doesn’t like crowds anymore.

Then he looks at He Xuan’s side profile, illuminated from the glow of the projector, and thinks maybe it’s another reason.

He Xuan quietly looks at Shi Qingxuan as Shi Qingxuan swipes another dumpling from his lunch. Shi Qingxuan only smiles brazenly, thanking whatever God he pleased before in his past life to award him with a friend who always orders a lot of food for his meals.

“Shi Qingxuan,” He Xuan says. “Did you spend all your allowance again.”

It was not a question, but a statement. Shi Qingxuan smiles cheekily.

“He-xioooong. You don’t understand – it’s a new makeup collection! I couldn’t resist! Anyway, the end of the month is in five days… I’ll get my allowance again soon!”

He Xuan looks unconvinced.

“I’ll just go home every day for dinner. Don’t miss me too much when I can’t join you after school!” Shi Qingxuan winks.

“…”

The next day, Shi Qingxuan is preparing himself for another lunchtime of drinking water and maybe mooching off He Xuan again when He Xuan thrusts a container at him.

Curiously, Shi Qingxuan opens it – and gasps when he sees a packed lunch.

“He-xiong!” he says. “You made fried rice for me??”

He Xuan scowls. “… I had leftover rice. Shut up and eat.” And he promptly turns to stuffing his face with noodles.

He Xuan’s words are nonchalant, but he gives Shi Qingxuan another packed lunch the next day. And the next day. And the day after the next.

“He-xiong!” Shi Qingxuan cries on the fifth day of being shoved a packed lunch. “You’re spoiling me!”

“Just so you don’t die of hunger,” He Xuan says as he opens his own portion. “You still owe me for your stupid matchmaking operation.”

Shi Qingxuan smiles fondly at He Xuan, his one and only best friend, the one who always goes along with all his whims. Truly, he only deserves the best! Shi Qingxuan will keep trying to matchmake him, until he finds someone perfect for He Xuan.  

A few nights later, Shi Qingxuan has dinner at home with Shi Wudu. Ling Wen, who was over doing some project with Shi Wudu, stays for dinner. The dinner goes well with amicable chatting and good home-cooked food – until Shi Wudu speaks.

“Qingxuan’s studies may not have suffered, but I don’t understand why he spends so much time with that He Xuan.”

“Let the boy have his friends,” Ling Wen says idly. “Remember when people talked about us being friends with Ol’ Pei?”

Shi Wudu rolls his eyes. “Pei Ming, despite all his… questionable past-times, is a respected student with exemplary club records. He can’t compare to He Xuan.”

“Ge, you’re wrong!” Shi Qingxuan can’t help but exclaim. “He-xiong is smart and kind!”

Shi Wudu scoffs, and is about to say something when Shi Qingxuan interrupts.

“He does well for his grades – enough to keep up with Mu Qing who is a scholarship student double majoring. On top of that, he works shifts at the coffeeshop.

“He may be selective with the people he's around but that’s because he pours in all his effort and heart into his close circle of friends. He’s the best friend in the whole wide world! I know so many people, but only He-xiong goes along with all my whims. He’s so nice and so kind to me, always encouraging me silently, giving me food, taking care of me…”

With a start, Shi Qingxuan stands up from his seat, his heart pounding against his ribcage furiously.

“Qingxuan!” his brother barks. “Sit down and finish your dinner!”

“I’m in love with He Xuan!” Shi Qingxuan gasps.

“Yes, and?” Ling Wen says calmly as if he just said something as established as his family name.

“I got to go!” he says, already walking towards the direction of his bedroom. Oh my God, Shi Qingxuan is an idiot – playing matchmaker, meddling with other people’s love lives, even trying to set He Xuan up… The answer is there, right in front of his eyes!

“Where are you going?!” Shi Wudu calls exasperatedly, trading a long-suffering look with Ling Wen.

“I need to update my app!”

The next day, the moment he wakes up and gets ready for the day, Shi Qingxuan makes a beeline for coffeeshop. It is a Saturday, and there aren’t that many people in the coffeeshop, but He Xuan stands behind the counter on his morning weekend shift.

“He-xiong!” Shi Qingxuan says breathlessly as he catches his breath, leaning against the counter. “I have… something very important… to tell you.”

He Xuan raises and eyebrow. “… It’s a Saturday and I’m tired. Spit it out.”

“It’s worth your time,” Shi Qingxuan promises. “I finally found someone to pair you with!”

A dark expression flitters over He Xuan’s features.

(‘God,’ Shi Qingxuan thinks to himself. ‘He-xiong is very handsome, isn’t he?’)

“You want me to be attached so badly?” he quietly asks.

“Huh?”

A scowl makes itself on He Xuan’s face, twisting his handsome features into something more terrifying. With a start, Shi Qingxuan realises that He Xuan is angry at him – He Xuan has always been annoyed at most by Shi Qingxuan’s antics, and Shi Qingxuan has seen him angry at other things or people before.

But never at Shi Qingxuan.

“Shi Qingxuan,” He Xuan says lowly, throwing his dishrag against the counter. His voice is controlled, but the anger in his eyes betray his feelings. “I’m sick of being your pet project. And you always trying to get me together with someone. But I’m not like you – people don’t, and won’t, like someone like me.”

No, no! He Xuan is getting it all wrong. And of course people like him – there is someone just here, who likes (no, loves) He Xuan the way he is and because of the way he is.

Shi Qingxuan opens his mouth to protest as much.

But before he can get a single word in, He Xuan holds up a hand. “Save it.”

He turns away, taking a step away from Shi Qingxuan and about to retreat into the back of the store. About to retreat away from Shi Qingxuan. He feels as if He Xuan is slipping out of his fingers.

“He-xiong!” Shi Qingxuan cries, ignoring the stares of the people in the coffeeshop. “He Xuan! The one I wanted to pair you with is me!”

He Xuan freezes on the spot. He does not turn back to face Shi Qingxuan.

Shi Qingxuan is not deterred. He is on a roll and he will make his feelings clear, if it’s the last thing he’ll do! “It’s me! I’m the one whom I’m trying to matchmake you with. I like you, He-xiong! No, I love you! It’s always been you: my best friend who goes along with my every whims, who listens to everything I say, who helps me even when I’m at my lowest.”

He Xuan’s finger twitch.

“I may not deserve someone as great and wonderful as you,” Shi Qingxuan continues on. “But I really, really love you with my whole heart, and I promise I’ll always my best to make you happy. Because someone like me, likes someone like you.”

He stops for air, and with a start, realises that the coffeeshop is quiet and almost all eyes are on him. For a rare moment in his life, he feels embarrassment, and squeezes his eyes shut.

Then a cool and familiar hand grab his wrist, and before he knows it, he is dragged forward. When he opens his eyes again, he sees that he is in the dim storeroom of Coffee Roasters, and he barely registers He Xuan’s face in front of his before his vision is obscured again.

The sensation of a pair of lips on his makes it to the front of his brain. With a start, he realises that He Xuan, his best friend in the whole wide world, is kissing him. Kissing him!  

All rational thoughts fly out of his brain as He Xuan deepens the kiss, making Shi Qingxuan lose the ability to form coherent thought. He Xuan, with one hand against the wall bracketing Shi Qingxuan, uses his other hand the grasp Shi Qingxuan’s chin as he hungrily demands for more.

Shi Qingxuan parts his lips, happy to oblige, before running his fingers through He Xuan’s scruffy ponytail, giggling at the sensation. He Xuan kisses him harder, and he stops giggling, his arms tightening around He Xuan’s neck in a desperate bid to anchor himself.

When they finally, finally part, Shi Qingxuan takes ragged breaths of air while He Xuan looks at him, leaning his weight on the arm against the wall, his gold eyes glinting with what looks like a hint of smugness.

(‘He-xiong can kiss!!’ Shi Qingxuan thinks to himself. ‘How did he learn that?!’)

“He-xiong…” Shi Qingxuan gasps. He keeps his hold on He Xuan’s shoulders, afraid that if he lets go his jelly legs will betray him. “It’s not very professional… of you… to be treating your customers like… this.”

He Xuan scoffs. “Shut up.”

And if another shiver makes it way down his spine from He Xuan’s mean tone – well, Shi Qingxuan is a very simple human after all.

“… Though,” Shi Qingxuan says, uncharacteristically shy. “It’s okay, if you do this with your boyfriend?”

He Xuan keeps quiet for so long that Shi Qingxuan begins to feel a bit awkward.

“Wahahahaha,” he says. “I mean, if you’ll have me? If not it’s okay, we’ll still be best friends, and I’ll just leave….”

Shi Qingxuan tries to awkwardly shimmy out of the storeroom, but He Xuan’s hands shoot out as quick as lightning, grabbing him by the wrists.

“Dream on,” He Xuan says.

Shi Qingxuan’s heart does a hopeful little lurch. “He-xiong…”

“You are a fool,” He Xuan declares. “Calling me your best friend and oblivious to the way I look at you.”

He Xuan’s eyes rake over Shi Qingxuan, and for the first time ever, Shi Qingxuan notices the way He Xuan looks at him. And it’s definitely not the way a best friend does.

Then He Xuan’s eyes soften. “But you are my fool.”

For once, Shi Qingxuan finds himself at a loss of words. He could only squeal, and He Xuan scoffs before gently cupping his cheek.

Then Shi Qingxuan didn’t need to speak, for He Xuan kisses him again. And again.

(And again for a long while, until Mu Qing clears his throat and raps his knuckles against the metal cabinet. “I covered your shift long enough, you owe me the next time I have something on.”)

And hence, Shi Qingxuan successfully matchmakes He Xuan – with himself. Operation: Beefleaf (because He-xiong likes to eat beef and Shi Qingxuan’s personality is as carefree like a leaf blowing in the wind!) is a success!

Their first date took place at a nice, obscure buffet place of He Xuan’s choosing (because Shi Qingxuan did bribe him with two buffets). Their second date was also at a buffet place. Then their subsequent dates were all over the place, and after a while, Shi Qingxuan stopped counting – because what matters was that he is with He Xuan, and not where they go or what they do.

Finally, they reach the end of the school year. Shi Qingxuan looks over his notes app on his phone before looking over the campus where students mill around, saying their goodbyes as they go back home for the break.

Hua Cheng looks happy, and that’s because Xie Lian agreed to go with him on a short summer vacation. Hua Cheng and Xie Lian walk towards his (flashy and red) car, while Hua Cheng promises Xie Lian a vacation he will never forget.

“Any time with San Lang is unforgettable,” Xie Lian idly says before he catches himself.

As Xie Lian’s face floods red, Hua Cheng chuckles. “Gege, you will be the death of me.”

Meanwhile, as far as they could humanly be from the pair, are Feng Xin and Mu Qing. Their arms are filled with boxes as they load their stuff to bring back home unto their car. As usual, they are squabbling.

Then Feng Xin places his box down and suddenly hugs Mu Qing. “I will miss you. Asshole.”

“Idiot,” Mu Qing says, but a flush creeps from his face to his ears. “… I’ll see you soon. My mom says she can’t wait to see you again.”

At the park, Xuan Ji and Jian Lan are holding hands. Just across the tree in front of them, Yushi Huang cradles a black cat that is in the middle of hissing at Pei Ming, while Pei Ming carries an armful of boxes to his car.

“Thank you, Pei Ming,” Yushi Huang says as Pei Ming loads the boxes in. “Love you.”

The cat hisses. Pei Ming’s mouth falls open. He looks as if he is a mortal finally ascending.

Shi Qingxuan smiles at the various couples and locks his phone, thinking, ‘All in a day’s work!’

Then a voice becomes from beside him. “Admiring your great idea?”

Shi Qingxuan knows that voice from anywhere.

“He-xiong!” he cries before flinging his arms around him and kissing him.

“… Shameless,” He Xuan says as they part, but his arm tightens around Shi Qingxuan’s waist.

He smiles. “Look at all the happy couples. Us included! I guess I really have talent!”

He Xuan raises an eyebrow, but he remains beside Shi Qingxuan. Shi Qingxuan continues beaming, taking out his phone and typing in closing remarks.

Operation: Matchmaker, Matchmaker – success!!