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He Jiajia doesn't even like weiqi, a fact he keeps reminding himself of while looking at his life, which is somehow full of weiqi players. He's like the weiqi player whisperer. Wherever he goes, he just somehow collects them - not even his job is safe.
And they're all weird.
Not in a bad way - He Jiajia doesn't suffer fools - but he suspects that weiqi does something to the brain that eludes him. Xiangqi definitely never made him act like this.
When Bai Xiaoxiao had invited him to this picnic, he had known who'd be there. It was his own fault. He blames the fumes of the nail polish she had been carefully putting on his nails that day. It's not his fault, he had lost a bet. How could he have known that Fang Xu had been on a winning streak? He doesn't care about weiqi. He doesn't keep track of any professional games - except Shi Guang's of course cause that's what you've got to do when you're friends - and he had only vaguely remembered Fang Xu's name because of some scandal or something. Bai Xiaoxiao had just smiled and not said a thing, which he's not sure should be considered cheating or not. At least the black nailpolish had looked badass.
Now he's sitting cross-legged on a clichéd red and white chequered blanket under a tree in a park like in a movie or something and is looking at all these weird people around him he somehow calls friends. He really wishes that Wu Di was here, too so he could have someone normal to roll his eyes at... but thinking about it, Wu Di would probably just smile at all of their antics like an indulgent big brother and quietly sip at his tea.
Still better than whatever is going in front of him on the other side of the blanket. He'll personally drag Wu Di from whatever other appointment he'll have inconvientely scheduled next time.
This time he'll just have to look at Shi Guang trying to convince Yu Liang that the blanket they're all sitting on is somehow a weiqi board, while the other just looks at him with one raised eyebrow and a look in his eyes as if Shi Guang is both the worst and best thing he's ever seen. There is lots of space on the blanket and yet there is basically none between them, their shoulders bumping while Shi Guang is excitedly pointing out some kind of move some of the bowls on the blanket are supposedly representing.
He Jiajia can actually see it if he tilts his head and squints a bit, which somehow doesn't make the whole thing any better. He's not going to say anything, though. Better not encourage it, otherwise Shi Guang will start playing weiqi with the dishes.
Yu Liang seems to have come to the same conclusion and just doesn't say anything, not even when Shi Guang plucks the bottle he'd been drinking from out of his hand to take a swig, completely ignoring the exact same kind of bottle sitting next to him in the grass.
He Jiajia is staring. He knows he's staring. He knows that Jiang Xueming is staring, too.
He vividly remembers the first time Shi Guang brought Yu Liang to one of their group outings. The look in her eyes when Shi Guang told them that Yu Liang may look like a polite person but actually keeps stealing his blanket at night. The slight hitch in her voice when she asked if they were still living together. The frown around her mouth when Shi Guang just snorted and said it was just really convinient because that way they could play weiqi together every day. Yu Liang had just hit him over the head while having that fond look in his eyes that He Jiajia and Bai Xiaoxiao had later dubbed "the Shi Guang face" on one of their very secret late night fastfood runs. Shi Guang had smiled and Jiang Xueming's face had fallen completely.
Now she looks more annoyed than hurt. Maybe a bit wistful. Gu Yu is sitting closer to her than he did the last few times he's seen them. He Jiajia figures that in aproximately five years, he'll have the courage to take her hand. He might have to do something about that soon. He doesn't want to live in a soap opera. He works in a hair salon. If he wanted romance drama, he'd listen to the aunties complaining about their daughters not having boyfriends yet. He makes a mental note to consult with Wu Di about this.
He's very thankful to the person who just arrived and is sitting down next to him. Finally some distraction from those two very different but nonetheless extraordinary weird mating rituals going on in front of him. Hong He is looking better than he has in a long while. There are still dark shadows under his eyes, but the constant crease between his eyebrows is gone and he's smiling faintly. He Jiajia decides to forgive him the bright red lobster plushie looking out from his bag cause he figures it's some kind of inside joke and whatever makes Hong He feel better is fine with all of them.
He notices how Shi Guang's eyes instantly brighten when he sees his friend and Shen Yilang is reaching from behind a brightly smiling Bai Xiaoxiao to touch Hong He's shoulder.
They're finally all here, well except Wu Di which he vows won't happen again no matter whose family member's birthday it is next time.
He Jiajia doesn't know how this has become his life, but he's very sure it's somehow Shi Guang's fault. He dragged them all into whatever this is with his enthusiasm and determination. He Jiajia is not complaining. He likes these people, even though they're weird. He hadn't expected it to work when they all met each other for the first time, but now he looks at them and gets this warm feeling inside that he'll never ever tell anyone about.
Next to him, Bai Xiaoxiao is holding out a bowl of grapes for him with a knowing smile and a wink. Her other hand is holding on to Shen Yilang who is talking quietly to Hong He who has moved closer to his old friend, leaving the lobster behind to stare at He Jiajia.
Over on the other side Gu Yu is actually cutting some apples for Jiang Xueming now while she's shyly playing with a strand of her hair. Maybe three years then.
Shi Guang is still prattling on about something weiqi related, while stealing food from Yu Liang's plate with one hand and craddling the fan he apparently takes everywhere now gently in the other. He Jiajia assumes that's another insider thing. Maybe he should ask Yu Liang if Shi Guang even sleeps with it on his pillow. Just for the reaction.
Bai Xiaoxiao has already announced that they'll all take a picture together later and that she'll send copies to all of them. He Jiajia might actually put it on his fridge. Just as a reminder to get some friends who have never touched a weiqi stone one day. Maybe.
He pops two grapes into his mouth at once. They're sweet.