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To celebrate the end of exams, the Yu Qing team decides to go out for ice cream together. The lead up had been particularly grueling with having to balance extra study sessions with continued training. It’s a well deserved treat; Yan Zhiming doesn’t make any comments about how the extra calories might impact their training, and Siyang nods with a small smile at the suggestion. They even invite Qi Ying as a thank you for helping Lu Xia with his revision.
The walk to the café is filled with the usual distractions. Qiao Chen and Baiyang start fighting about which ice cream flavour is the best; Qiao Chen claims it’s Rocky Road because it’s jam packed with lots of yummy things; Baiyang staunchly defends Rainbow Sherbet (he doesn’t give a specific reason, only saying that it’s the best and that’s that).
The group takes a seat at their table and peruses the menu. Zhuo Zi’s eyes seem to light up as he spots something rather unique on the menu. Yan Zhiming is busy jotting down notes and making calculations, but no one is quite sure what it is he’s working out. Jiale spots something on the menu that brings a spark to his eye, his lips breaking out into a huge smile. He waves Dayong over, pointing to it, and is rewarded with a questioning look. They have a silent conversation before Dachi gives him a smile and a small nod. The entire non-verbal exchange doesn’t go unnoticed by the more observant members of their group: Zhiming turns his page and starts making fresh notes, Zhuo Zi is smirking, while Mu Siyang merely arches an eyebrow up at Dayong, who doesn’t notice because he’s still “talking” with Jiale.
The waitress comes to take their order, starting with Siyang who is sitting at the head of the table (he doesn’t do it on purpose; it just seems to happen all the time).
“One scoop of green tea ice cream, please.”
With a nod, she moves on to Zhuo Zi, who is sitting to the captain’s left.
“I’ll have a scoop of the habanero on a sugar cone, please.” (If Siyang makes a slight choking sound, no one mentions it.)
Next is Yan Zhiming who orders a concoction that has the waitress doing her best to keep up with everything he’s listing: 17% green tea (antioxidants), 10% habanero (spice temporarily accelerates metabolism), 38% papaya sorbet (vitamin C), and 35% unsweetened dark chocolate (high in flavanols). The second years show no surprises, ordering their aforementioned favorites while arguing the whole time about the superiority of their choices. Lu Xia chooses grape sherbet while Qi Ying goes for birthday cake. He Xinglong opts for French vanilla after noticing that there are flecks of real vanilla bean in there, so he knows it’s going to be good. The waitress makes it down to the end of the table where the Golden Partners are sitting across from each other. Jiale looks exceptionally pleased to give his order.
“The seasonal special, please!”
The waitress pauses for a moment before looking at him archly.
"The seasonal special is for two." She makes a vague motion to the words on the menu that say "Couple's Special".
"Yeah, exactly. For two." Jiale gestures between him and Dachi. The expression on his face makes it clear he's not sure what the fuss is about. Jiale is totally oblivious to the fact that the entire team is staring at him and Dachi at this point. Qiao Chen's jaw looks like it has come unhinged, Ah Yan is writing furiously, and Qi Ying is giggling behind her napkin.
The waitress turns to regard Dayong, but the vice captain's expression gives nothing away. He has a rather serene look about him as he gives the waitress an easy smile, like he's used to this sort of thing.
"If you could please bring some extra napkins," Dachi looks back at Jiale with a teasing glint in his eye. "He can be a messy eater sometimes."
For a split second Jiale looks completely affronted, but that dissolves into an indelicate snort of laughter when Dayong winks at him. The waitress looks between the two of them, realizes they've totally forgotten that she's there, and decides this is the perfect time to take her leave.
"Dachi, you're the worst," Jiale says with no small amount of affection, and it's quite clear he means the total opposite of his words.
The sound of Mu Siyang clearing his throat brings the Golden Partners out of their little world, and everyone looks to their fearless leader.
“I wanted to commend everyone on their hard work these past few weeks as we all helped each other through another exam period. Special thanks to Ah Yan for preparing extra materials for everyone, Xinglong and his family for keeping everyone fed during study sessions, and Qi Ying for helping with those sessions as well. Let’s all keep this team momentum going as we aim to bring home the National Championship.”
The team cheers heartily in response to Siyang’s little speech, but in the end that doesn’t distract Qiao Chen from asking what is probably on everyone’s mind.
“So, xuezhang,” Qiao Chen looks from Jiale to Dayong back to Jiale. “Is there some kind of meaning to you two sharing the seasonal special?”
Everyone seems to lean forward just a little more as Dayong raises an eyebrow up as if confused, and Jiale blinks.
“Some kind of meaning?” Dayong really does sound puzzled, but Jiale jumps in to answer.
“Uh...duh. Qiao Chen, isn’t it obvious?!” Jiale rolls his eyes as if can’t believe Qiao Chen can’t figure things out. Everyone’s eyes widen a fraction as they lean in even more, waiting to hear what Jiale has to announce.
“It means I finally get to try the strawberry mochi flavour that I missed out on last year, and even better, this year it comes as a sundae with marshmallow fluff and crushed cookie bits!!”
The second years fall over themselves while Lu Xia simply pulls his cap over his eyes while muttering “You still have a long way to go.” All eyes then turn to Dachi to see if he has any more to say on the topic, which he doesn’t; he continues to smile his beatific smile at Jiale, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he is now the centre of attention.
“You complained to me for weeks after you missed out on it last year. I’m glad I won’t have to hear any belly-aching about it this time around.”
Jiale sticks his tongue out at Dachi, and the others feel like the Golden Partners are back in their own little world. Zhuo Zi leans back in his chair and shakes his head, and for some reason it looks like Siyang is trying to hold in his laughter.
Everyone’s order arrives before long and the topic of the Golden Partners’ are-they-aren’t-they relationship drops away as everyone enjoys their treat. Zhiming invites anyone willing to try out his carefully crafted combination, but only Zhuo Zi takes him up on the offer (Zhuo Zi proclaims it very tangy, but no one wants to confirm if he's right).
Baiyang and Qiao Chen can't help turning things into a contest, and they race to see who can finish the fastest, earning them both a spectacular case of brain freeze. While recovering, Qiao Chen turns to ask Jiale about the strawberry mochi flavour he'd been coveting for the past year only to be struck speechless at the sight of Dachi feeding Jiale a mouthful of sundae. Jiale catches the junior's flabbergasted expression.
"What is it, Qiao Chen?" The acrobat regards his teammate for a moment before coming to a realization. "Oh! I know, it's crazy that Dachi doesn't like marshmallow whip, right? I couldn't let it go to waste though, so I said I'd eat it for him."
Half the regulars look like they are about to fall out of their chairs, which Dayong completely misinterprets.
"It's not that crazy. I mean, it's just SO sweet. It's more than I can handle, really."
Zhuo Zi finally chuckles out loud. "Oh, Chi Dayong," he says with the kind of fondness one might bestow on a little puppy. "Never change."
The Golden Partners look thoroughly perplexed by everyone, but only shrug and return to their ice cream. Everyone takes this as their cue to do the same, and they spend the rest of the time chatting about tennis gossip.
With the ice cream devoured and the dishes all cleared, the waitress return to settle the bills. When she places a receipt next to Dayong and starts to walk away, Jiale stops her.
"Excuse me, Miss, but what about mine?"
She blinks, seemingly nonplussed, and responds with a totally straight face, pointing her pen in Dachi's direction.
"Your boyfriend isn't paying for you?"
Zhuo Zi wishes he had his camera to capture the looks on Jiale and Dachi's face.
FIN