Chapter Text
It was 10pm.
Shi Qingxuan was ecstatic that her brother let her throw a party like this, but was even happier at her outfit.
It was a beautiful dress, but of course she had nice yoga shorts on underneath.
‘Let’s do this!’ She thought, hyping herself up to party hard.
She also had her makeup done, and it made her look very appeasing to the typical jock.
Her doorbell rang, and she ran down the stairs shouting, “Comingggg!!” In a sing-songy voice.
She opened up the extravagant front door to find Xie Lian and Hua Cheng standing in the doorway.
“Hi XieXie!! I’m so glad you made it!”
Xie Lian smiled back, then gave her a hug.
“Hi Hua!! You guys can come in, I was just setting up the rest of the house. Gotta make it at least look nice before we destroy is hahah!”
Hua Cheng waved at her before shuffling inside closely behind his boyfriend, wearing a fake smile.
“It looks great! Where is your brother? Did he leave for tonight?”
“Yeah, he said that he had stuff to do. Mom and Dad are at the Islands, so we should be fine up until next week! You guys can head into the kitchen to help me out if you’d like, or you can chill in the living room. I have to make the cooler on top of setting up the drinks.”
“I’ll help out! San Lang, would you help out too? I promise I can make it up to you later if you really don’t want to.”
Hua Cheng brought his boyfriend close, whispering in his ear. Shi Qingxuan turned back around and started very slowly moving towards her massive kitchen.
“Hahah! Okay, okay, come on, let’s help out!” Xie Lian let out laughter the ripples through the large house like music.
Xie Lian caught up to Shi Qingxuan and they began walking to the kitchen.
————
It was 11:30 when more people arrived, shuffling all over the house, opening drinks and eating, making a mess of each room the occupied.
It was just after 12 when Xie Lian grabbed her arm, pulling her to the side. She sipped on her red solo cup while Xie Lian spoke.
“Hey, San Lang’s friend is planning on coming over, but she might not stay for too long. She doesn’t really like people, but I wanted to introduce you to her.” Xie Lian was speaking a little loudly, to be heard over the music, but he was still somehow gentle sounding.
“Oh, that should be fine!! Tell her that there are spare rooms upstairs, I don’t mind her staying in any of those!” Shi Qingxuan chirped back, eager to meet one of her best friend’s boyfriend’s friends.
“I’ll tell San Lang to message her, but no guarantees. She’s pretty anti-social.”
Shi Qingxuan took it as a challenge, “We’ll see about that!”
Xie Lian just smiled and fondly rolled his eyes while Qingxuan giggled.
They parted ways, and Shi Qingxuan made her way back to the corridor connecting the foyer and the living room, the place where the music was mainly coming from.
She started dancing, putting her drink on the stairs, away from where most of the people were.
She just danced the way she wanted to, having fun.
Eventually guys started dancing with her, but she pulled away after only a little bit, feeling uncomfortable.
She decided to grab her drink and get some air, a little warm from being in close proximity to so many people.
She stepped out into the night, leaving the front door open for others.
Surprisingly, no one else was in the front yard, so she sat down on the tree stump a good distance from the door.
She watched the sky as she relaxed, a slight breeze cooling her while also making her a tad too cold.
She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath.
She heard footsteps approaching, but what she didn’t expect when she opened her eyes to look at the person, was a beautifully tall woman, dressed in a short black dress, a short black puff coat, and heels, extending her already long and beautiful legs.
The woman looked very hesitant, and had an anxious look on her face, obviously not wanting to go in.
Shi Qingxuan stared at her for a minute, love struck, but snapped out of it.
She got up, putting her drink down and waved, “Hey! Wait a sec!!”
The woman turned to face her, a surprised look on her face.
Shi Qingxuan jogged to catch up to where she was, then stopped to pant in front of her, holding up a finger.
“Sorry…I had a little…to drink…haha.” She managed between breaths.
The woman said nothing, but her expression hardened a little, hiding some of her anxiety.
Shi Qingxuan finally caught her breath, and set on getting to know this beautiful woman, she introduced herself, “Hi! I’m Shi Qingxuan!” She said smiling. “This is actually my party, I just needed some fresh air haha.”
The woman’s eyes widened a little, but she didn’t reply for a long moment.
“I’m He Xuan. To be frank I kinda don’t want to be here.”
“I understand, there are a lot of people. You can stick close to me though! I have some spare rooms upstairs.”
“Thanks, but I don’t know.”
“Unrelated question, are you Hua’s friend? I bet he has something hanging over your head, but I can help you get through him!! But…” she said, looking down and crossing her fingers together. “You have to spend some time with me, okay?”
He Xuan sighed, but held out her hand, “Fine, take me upstairs away from people. I’m just hungry, okay? Can I have some food?”
Shi Qingxuan widened her smile, taking He Xuan’s hand in her own. “This way, and I’ll get you whatever food you want!”
He Xuan rolled her eyes but hesitantly let herself be dragged inside.
————
He Xuan sat on a foreign bed, in a foreign room, led by the very girl she liked yet was still jealous of.
It wasn’t the exact scenario she thought of in her head when she thought of them alone together, but she’ll gladly take it.
“He-Jie!! I got you what you wanted!” Shi Qingxuan spoke airily. “The dip went missing though, goddamn scoundrels will take whatever.” She turned fake angry, pouting.
“…yeah…”
‘God, I’m a fucking idiot. I’m so bad at this!!’ He Xuan reprimanded herself.
Shi Qingxuan handed her a large bowl full of a mixture of snacks, and He Xuan bathed in the little bit of contact their hands exhibited.
“Are you sure you don’t want any drinks? I made sure that we made them all taste good.”
She shuddered at the thought of overwhelmingly sweet liquor. “No, thanks. I don’t like that stuff.”
“Wow! I guess He-Jie is no lightweight! Haha!”
He Xuan shoved a handful of chips into her mouth then talked, feeling a little stressed, “You’d probably be…” she chewed a little more, swallowing then continued. “You’d probably be surprised.”
Shi Qingxuan laughed, her mouth open but covered with her hand. It was like music to He Xuan’s ears, and she was glad she put on makeup.
“Okay, but seriously He-Jie. I want to get to know you! Like what are your interests, what schools you’ve gone to, all the boring stuff before we actually start talking hah.”
He Xuan debated on telling her, but eventually decided to try acting normal. Like she totally didn’t know Shi Qingxuan.
“Fine, what do you specifically want to know?”
“Yayyy!! Okay okay so…” she thought for a moment, tapping her chin. “How do you know Hua Cheng? I’m realll interested in how someone like you knows him haha.”
He Xuan thought for a second, then told her. “I met him in middle school, I was going through a bit and he helped me out. We sometimes get along, but mainly just because he forces me to do stuff with him. Talking about some dumbass debt I owe him cause he helped me ‘figure myself out.” she held up finger quotes, annoyed.
Shi Qingxuan smiled sympathetically at her, reaching her hand closer towards her on the bed. “Well, hey, I’m here for you if you want to complain. I have a few bones to pick with him myself! He’s quite rude to be honest.”
He Xuan did her best to not pull back, trying to play it off, “Wow, that’s harsh.”
Shi Qingxuan pouted at her, brows furrowed.
He Xuan felt paralyzed.
“He-Jie is so unkind!” She crossed her arms, and looked away.
He Xuan found her incredibly cute, but had to snarkily reply. “Yet your still here.”
Shi Qingxuan dropped her hands on the bed, turning back to He Xuan and smiled at her.
“Maybe your not that bad.”
“Dream on.” She sneered at Qingxuan then looked away.
“Okay, so next question…what school did you go to-“
She gets cut off by the sound of her phone ringing.
It hummed a classical piece, He Xuan noted.
“Sorry, my ge is calling me, be right back!” She stood and ran out of the room, making He Xuan’s ankles hurt from just watching her.
————
Shi Qingxuan jogged as fast as she could outside, not wanting her brother to think of the party.
“Hi ge!” She panted.
“Qingxuan, how is the house? Is everything okay- why are you out of breath?”
“Everything’s good ge!! I just forgot something outside and I was looking for it.”
“Ugh, whatever. I’m going to be staying here for two days instead, I think it’ll help me work.”
“Alright, sounds good!”
Shi Qingxuan heard noise from over the phone, then a voice separate from her brother’s.
“Ah, I have to go-“
“Ge, who’s there?”
“No one, bye Qingxuan, goodnight, stay safe.”
Before she could say anything, he hung up.
‘Gosh, maybe my bro finally got some friends, no more bothering me haha.’ She thought to herself.
She started walking back to the house, putting her phone in the pocket of her yoga shorts.
She got inside, and decided to get herself another drink.
She walked past everyone dancing in the large open space to the smaller occupied kitchen.
She got her drink and told the couple harshly making out on her counter to get a room.
As she walked up the stairs, some greasy guy hit on her, and she ignored him promptly, and continued to climb.
Once she knocked and came into the room, He Xuan sat back down on the bed.
“Hi, sorry, I wanted to get another drink. My brother can be really helicopter-like haha.”
He Xuan just sat on the bed, playing with her fingers.
“Let’s pick up where we left off! As long as you’re okay with that, right He-Jie?”
She kept her head down, looking at her hands. “…yeah.”
Shi Qingxuan came over and sat next to her on the bed, still allowing space, but wanting to be close to her.
“I don’t remember what question I was asking, but whatever. Uhmm…” she bit her lip while thinking, earning a glance from He Xuan. “Ah, what do you like? Like, anything.”
He Xuan looked back up, thinking. “I guess I really like food, I dunno. I don’t really think about it that much.”
“I get it, what foods do you like? I really like easy stuff to make, like Mac n Cheese.” She lifted her cup to her lips.
He Xuan cocked her brow, finding it funny that a rich girl liked cheap food.
“I like pretty much everything. Accept for Xie Lian’s cooking, I cannot handle that stuff.”
Shi Qingxuan has to cover her mouth, almost spitting out her drink.
After a minute of coughing, she finally calmed down but giggled.
“I couldn’t agree with you more, I love him but it’s awful.”
He Xuan laughed a little herself, covering her mouth.
Shi Qingxuan stared at He Xuan for a moment, enamored with her. She looked gorgeous already, but even better when she smiled.
She wanted more.
She wanted to be the reason why she was happy and smiling.
He Xuan’s face returned to its stone self, and Shi Qingxuan snapped out of her reverie.
“I’m really sorry I’m taking your time away. I’m sure you wanna go and party, and you should. After all it is your party.”
Shi Qingxuan was a little surprised at the words, but reacted quickly.
“Hey, I wanna spend time with you. Yeah sure, parties are cool, but I find you even cooler He-Jie. If you want to leave, I won’t argue with you, I know this isn’t really your ideal space.”
Shi Qingxuan reaches over after a moment, letting her words sink in. She grabs hold of He Xuan’s hand, and looks into her eyes.
“I would love for you to stay, but I know you aren’t comfortable.”
He Xuan squeezed Shi Qingxuan’s hand, meeting her eyes.
“Can I have a picture and your phone number? So we can keep in contact?”
He Xuan thought for a second, wanting to not seem too eager. “…fine…”
She took Qingxuan’s phone, and punched her number into the dial pad.
“Okay, get in frame!!” Shi Qingxuan said as she quickly pulled out her phone camera.
He Xuan rolled her eyes, but made sure she would be in the picture.
Shi Qingxuan closed her eyes and flashed a toothy grin. He Xuan looked to the side but kept her face forward, making herself look partially annoyed.
“He-Jie, you look beautiful in this! But also like you’re suffering.” Shi Qingxuan pouted at He Xuan, making herself look extra sad.
“I’m unsure of what you mean, I am suffering.”
Shi Qingxuan’s face changed, to one of actual concern.
He Xuan rolled her eyes, “You are insufferable.”
Shi Qingxuan gasped, then swooned backwards onto the bed.
“You, you’ve killed me!”
“Oh shove it, your gunna crush the chips.”
He Xuan swiftly grabbed the bag, but tossed it to the other side of the bed.
Shi Qingxuan just looked up at her, smiling.
“I really should get going. I’ll just get Hua Cheng to give me a ride. Thanks for tonight.”
Shi Qingxuan sat up, grabbing He Xuan’s hand while she tried to walk away.
“Wait, He-Jie I could give you a ride!! I have my license-“
“It’s fine, I’d rather just have that asshole drive me. No offense I guess.”
Shi Qingxuan’s smile fell, but she still loosely held on to He Xuan’s hand.
“…okay He-Jie. Can you just promise me one thing…?”
He Xuan turned around, holding Shi Qingxuan’s hand back.
“Make it quick, I really don’t wanna smell like beer.”
Shi Qingxuan smile picked back up, gripping He Xuan’s hand.
“Promise me I’ll see you again.”
He Xuan was shocked by her request, but let herself smile.
“Of course. Bye Qingxuan.”
Shi Qingxuan stood up, and hugged He Xuan.
Standing up in her borderline heels, she was almost as tall as He Xuan. Of course He Xuan didn’t have her stunning heels on.
He Xuan just patted her on the back, wanting to savor this moment and not miss any second of it.
Shi Qingxuan eventually pulled away, fixing her hair.
“I’ll see you out, I can probably fetch Hua Cheng for you.”
He Xuan Looked at her, grabbing her high heels from the floor, “That’d be nice. He never answers his phone unless it’s his gege.”
Shi Qingxuan giggled, then walked to the door, closing it behind her as she left.
He Xuan left not long after, Hua Cheng “subtlety” being very salty.
_____________________