Chapter Text
It’s not that Zhan Yao hated his job…it’s just that he wasn’t too entirely fond of it. You see, he worked as a server at a local establishment that served both as a host and hostess club as well as a bar. Working at the bar part was fine, he didn’t mind that part all that much, but when he had to serve drinks to the host side of the bar, that’s when he found things to be unfavorable. It wasn’t like he disliked serving drinks, he did however dislike it when some of the drunker customers decided to feel him up. Unfortunately, that was the just the consequences of working at a place like this. One night, as he was wiping down tables, the front door opened, the bell signaling a customer.
“Hey Zhan, it’s your boy!” another server called out. Zhan Yao tsked and looked up from cleaning to see a tall man with light skin, brown eyes, and short red-brown hair dressed in an all-white suit standing at the entrance of the bar.
“He’s not my boy, Ma Han!” he shouted, glaring at the server who called out to him. The other server, Ma Han, just laughed before she pointed to the man in white.
“Go to him, lover boy” she teased. Zhan Yao glared at her.
“Fuck off” he growled before he walked over to the man in white.
“The usual?” he asked. The man smirked.
“Of course” he replied. Zhan Yao nodded and led the man over to the host side of the bar, motioning for him to sit on one of the couches. Once he was sitting, Zhan Yao headed over to the bar and made a quick glass of brandy before walking back and handing it to the man.
“You’re late. Work run over?” he asked as he sat down across from the man. The man, Bai Yutong, hummed.
“Yeah. Sorry” he apologized. Zhan Yao huffed.
“It’s fine, I’ve been busy” he replied, just as he noticed blood on Bai Yutong’s cheek and lip.
“Aish…you got into a fight again, didn’t you? Stupid Mouse” he grumbled as he reached into his waist apron and pulled out a small cloth, standing up and walking over, sitting down beside Bai Yutong, reaching out to dab away the blood. Bai Yutong hissed and flinched away, making Zhan Yao reach out and grab his face.
“Stop moving, Mouse. I can’t clean it if you keep moving” he scolded. Bai Yutong huffed.
“Someone’s cranky tonight” he mused. Zhan Yao shook his head as he continued to clean Bai Yutong’s face.
“’M not cranky. It’s just been a long day” he murmured. Bai Yutong glanced at him but said nothing and allowed Zhan Yao to continue cleaning until the blood was gone. When Zhan Yao pulled away, Bai Yutong reached up and grabbed Zhan Yao by the wrist, making Zhan Yao flinch.
“Someone touched you again, didn’t they?” he murmured, making Zhan Yao huff.
“So what if they did? I’m not some damsel, Yutong, I’m not going to break” he grumbled. Bai Yutong tsked.
“You shouldn’t be allowing this sort of behavior to happen” he scolded as he gently rubbed the inside of Zhan Yao’s wrist with his thumb. Zhan Yao sighed.
“It’s not like I can do anything about it. They’re drunk. And I’m not subjecting Ma Han or any of the other servers to something like that, so I’ll bear it” he murmured, lowering his hand but not pulling it away. Bai Yutong frowned.
“You shouldn’t have to though” he murmured. Zhan Yao said nothing and the two of them stayed silent until one of the patrons held up a glass.
“Hey waiter! Refill!” they shouted. Bai Yutong looked up, glaring, when Zhan Yao placed a hand on his knee.
“It’s fine. It’s my job, anyways” he murmured before he pushed himself to his feet, walking over to the patron.
“My apologies for making you wait, sir” he apologized, taking the glass from the man before heading over to the bar to refill the glass. When the drink was refilled, he walked back over to the patron and placed the glass before him.
“Your drink, sir” he stated. The man huffed and took his drink, taking a sip before smiling.
“Ah, now that’s the good stuff!” he declared before he reached out and slapped Zhan Yao’s ass. Zhan Yao flinched and Bai Yutong sat up straight, eyes wide, but Zhan Yao said nothing and dipped his head before walking back over to Bai Yutong.
“Sorry you had to see that” he murmured. Bai Yutong growled and clenched his hand into a fist.
“You just…let them do that?” he growled. Zhan Yao shrugged.
“I can’t fight back” he replied calmly. Bai Yutong shook his head.
“But why?!” he exclaimed. Zhan Yao looked him in the eyes, a sad smile on his face.
“Unlike you, Bai Yutong, I cannot fight back and not face repercussions. If I fight back, I will get fired. If I stand up for myself, the customer will complain and I will get fired. My reputation will be ruined and I will not be able to work in a place like this or anywhere else for because many well-known people come here. Celebrities, politicians, government officials. Do you see now? If I do anything other than stay silent and take it, I. Will. Get. Fired” he spat. Bai Yutong looked at him before he smirked.
“No, you won’t” he declared. Zhan Yao frowned.
“What are you talking about?” he demanded. Bai Yutong smiled as he leaned forward, getting into Zhan Yao’s face.
“You won’t get fired if you’re under protection. Under my protection” he explained. Zhan Yao’s eyes widened.
“What does that even mean?” he demanded. Bai Yutong smiled.
“It means, no one will try to touch you inappropriately ever again” he whispered. Zhan Yao blinked before he huffed and shoved Bai Yutong away.
“Thanks, but no thanks, Mouse. I can deal with this myself” he stated before he stood up, as more customers had just come in and needed someone to seat and serve them. Bai Yutong watched him work before he smiled and leaned back in his seat.
‘I know…but it’s the least I can do’ he thought to himself. All throughout the evening and into the night, Bai Yutong sat on the sofa, ordering drinks every now and then, but he never left. He just sat there, keeping an eye on Zhan Yao the entire time until the last customer left and Zhan Yao was cleaning up.
“You’re still here. Why?” Zhan Yao called out from where he was wiping down the bar. Bai Yutong looked over at him and smiled before he pushed himself up and walked over to the bar, leaning against it.
“Don’t lean there, asshole, I just cleaned it” Zhan Yao snapped. Bai Yutong chuckled before he hummed.
“Just watching over you. Like I said, I would protect you” he explained. Zhan Yao sighed.
“And I explained to you, Mouse, I don’t need your protection. I’m perfectly fine” he stated. Bai Yutong chuckled.
“I know, but still” he replied before he leaned forward and pecked Zhan Yao on the nose.
“You’ll thank me later, Cat” he purred. Zhan Yao blinked, too stunned to say anything as Bai Yutong chuckled before turning and exiting the bar. Zhan Yao blinked again before he shook his head and clenched his hands into fists.
“BAI YUTONG!” he roared.