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Chapter Text

Zhou Zishu stares from one photograph to the other. There is something he’s missing here, and it sits right at the tip of his tongue, but he can’t for the life of him put words to it. These cases must be connected somehow, there is no way two people vanish in the span of three weeks and it’s completely unrelated.

Maybe…

Maybe…

Zhou Zishu can feel the grand breakthrough coming to him, he can feel the solution of the problem take shape in his head, Just one more push and I’ll have it figured out, he thinks and

BANG!

The door to his office bursts open and effectively startles Zhou Zishu right out of his deductions.

“Gods fucking damn it!” he yells as one of the photographs crumples in his fist. But his curse gets completely drowned out in a pitiful wail.

“Zhou-ge!”

Muttering a few more curses just for good measure Zhou Zishu glares at his good-for-nothing “friend”, who he now considers stripping of that title.

“What do you want, Weining?”

“Zhou-ge!” Cao Weining says with that pleading expression that always makes him look like a puppy that’s been left in the rain. “You have to help me or I’m going to die.”

Then perish, Zhou Zishu thinks, but because he is not one of those people who can resist Cao Weining’s puppy-eyes, he doesn’t say it out loud. “What happened? Did you forget your keys again?”

Zhou Zishu lockpicked the door to Cao Weining’s apartment no less than 14 times since the young man moved in two years ago. It’s good that he finally tries to live on his own instead of in his uncle’s huge mansion, but Cao Weining is, as they sayy, an absolute human disaster in desperate need of someone to take care of him.

“No!” the human disaster in question now says and slumps down on one of the chairs normally reserved for Zhou Zishu’s clients. “It’s about A-Xiang!”

Ah, of course it is. Gu Xiang is on top of the list of people who could take care of Cao Weining. He has been pursuing the young lady for the better part of a year now, but so far hasn’t been able to convince her that he’s potential boyfriend material instead of just a cute little accessory to take along. Cao Weining’s weak game and Gu Xiang’s obliviousness-bordering-on-callousness are a horrible match, and unfortunately Zhou Zishu is forced to witness this drawn-out car crash of a courting attempt.

“Are you serious? Honestly Weining, why don’t you simply tell her about your feelings?”

“But what if she doesn’t feel the same and I ruin our friendship?” Cao Weining says immediately – his go-to response to this question. Zhou Zishu doesn’t even bother to refute him anymore.

“Whatever. Well? What is it then? Has she made another comment about what an idiot you are?” (That’s Gu Xiang’s favourite term for Cao Weining and honestly? At this point Zhou Zishu doesn’t disagree.) “Or did she gush over her boss again?” (Apparently one of her favourite past times and one of Cao Weining’s greatest perils.)

“That’s not it…” Cao Weining sniffs. “She invited me on a date!”

“Ah? Then where’s the problem?”

“The problem is that it’s not a date at all!” The wail is back and Zhou Zishu despairs. He’s one of the city’s finest private investigators, but the case of Cao Weining’s mental processes would remain forever unsolved.

“Weining. Xiao Ning. I beg you. Please explain your problem cohesively and in chronological order so that even a simpleton like me can understand.” Zhou Zishu even makes use of the voice normally used to calm down hysteric clients. It seems to help a bit and Cao Weining nods.

“So, do you remember that I helped A-Xiang out when her flat was flooded?”

Oh, does Zhou Zishu ever remember. Gu Xiang stayed at Cao Weining’s appartment for three days and two nights while her own was being cleared of water, effectively sending Cao Weining into a frenzy. Not an hour passed where Zhou Zishu didn’t receive a panicked text about one thing or the other. So, yes. Zhou Zishu remembers.

“And I told her she didn’t need to pay me back for that because I was happy to help. And I thought that was it! So, when she asked me if I would like to go to dinner with her in the city’s most expensive restaurant…”

Slowly, the case takes shape in Zhou Zishu’s mind.

“You thought she invited you out on a date when in reality she only wants to repay a favour.”

Cao Weining nods. “But that’s not why I’m a bit worried.”

Zhou Zishu snorts. A bit worried, says the man currently having a huge breakdown. “Then what is it that could unsettle such an unshakable and calm person such as yourself?”

Cao Weining swallows heavily. “The dinner…the dinner was originally for only her and her boss, and she just invited me along.”

“Oh,” Zhou Zishu says. “And you’re worried about encountering her boss?”

“Worried? Zhou-ge, A-Xiang told me a lot about that man, and he seems like the most frightening person in the city – no, the country – no! The world! I can’t spend an entire evening with him! And he’s incredibly important to A-Xiang! What if he hates me and then she will hate me, too?”

Zhou Zishu frowns at Cao Weining’s shameless exaggeration. Then again, Cao Weining is also afraid of his own boss, who happens to be his uncle. “Then just cancel it.”

“Zhou-ge! I can’t just cancel a dinner with A-Xiang!”

“Then what do you want me to do? Burn down the restaurant?” Zhou Zishu frustratedly throws up his arms – he has a case to solve, gods damn it!

“Please come with me!” Cao Weining blurts out. Zhou Zishu stares at him.

“You want me to come to your date with you?”

“It’s not a date! And I already asked A-Xiang, she said ‘the more the merrier’.” A sad expression appears on Cao Weining’s face and Zhou Zishu’s anger evaporates. His friend is truly pitiful.

“Look, Weining, I have an important case at the moment…”

“Remember when I helped you that one time you got into trouble with my uncle because you solved one of the polices cases?”

At least Cao Weining has the decency to blush at this blatant coercion. Suddenly Zhou Zishu finds him not pitiful at all anymore. Damn him and his good-naturedness that puts everyone else in his debt.

“Fine. Fine. Whatever. But we’re even after this.”

“Thank you, Zhou-ge! The dinner is tomorrow night, please fetch me at 8PM, I don’t have a car.”

Before Zhou Zishu can say anything else, Cao Weining has already skipped out of the room. Zhou Zishu groans. Whatever has he done to deserve this?

-

Zhou Zishu, best private investigator of the city (certified and self-proclaimed) is at a loss. He has years’ worth of experience with chasing down information, but he can find absolutely nothing about Gu Xiang’s boss. He knows from Cao Weining that the man is called Wen Kexing and is a philanthropist (self-proclaimed, not certified) who heads a business concerned with giving a home to those with no other place to stay. Sure, there is a lot to find about said business, if not its director. It’s called Ghost Valley (a bit macabre if you ask Zhou Zishu) and has been around for about 4 years now. The board consists of multiple people whose names and identities are nowhere to be found, and the only thing known of their master is his name. It’s very frustrating, but at least it gives Zhou Zishu, whose curiosity knows no limits, one thing to look forward to about that dreaded dinner. Which he is currently getting ready for.

He opted for a dark blue dress shirt and black slacks, hoping to strike the perfect balance between casual and formal. He used to be pretty good at dressing up, back when he was still a bodyguard, but over the years as a private investigator, his fashion sense has deteriorated. As has his eyesight, he thinks begrudgingly as he wipes his glasses for the third time this evening. Just as he perches them back on his nose, his phone alerts him to a new message, making his fingers slip and leave another smudge on the glass.

Weining (19:23)

Zhou-ge!!!! Where are you????? We’re going to be late!!!!

Zhou Zishu stares at the flock of punctuation marks (one of Weining’s worst habits) and rolls his eyes. It’s not as is a little tardiness will immediately make Gu Xiang scorn Cao Weining. Then again, her boss is probably of the time-is-money kind, given that he’s a businessman. And so Zhou Zishu leaves his glasses smudged and hurries out of his apartment and to his car.

Sometimes he misses having the luxury of a company car, especially during the hot summer months. His own old set of wheels comes without AC, SAS, and several other acronyms that would make life significantly easier. But a car is still a car, and since he’s the only one in their friend-group consisting of two, it finds a lot of use.

“Zhou-ge!!!” Cao Weining yells as he yanks the door open, and Zhou Zishu can practically hear all the exclamation marks. “You’re finally here! How do I look? Do you think the suit is okay? Or too much? Or maybe not enough? A-Xiang–“

“Will probably appreciate that you opted for something that accentuates your waist,” Zhou Zishu says, hoping to shut Cao Weining up with reassurance and flattery.

“Oh, okay, I’m glad then.” He slides into the passenger seat and pulls at the seatbelt, which is always stuck. “I’m super nervous, Zhou-ge.”

“I can tell,” Zhou Zishu says and offers a handkerchief. “Wipe your palms. If you want to, I can guide you through meditation on the way.”

“Zhou-ge, you’re just…the best.”

Zhou Zishu sighs. Yes. Yes, he is.

-

Zhou Zishu will happily stop being the best if that means he can turn around and spend a nice evening at home. His car is very out of place among the many luxury brands that occupy the restaurant’s parking space. They arrive only 13 minutes late, courtesy to every single traffic light being red, and by the time Zhou Zishu turns off the car Cao Weining is a bundle of nerves.

“A-Xiang’s boss is going to think I’m some incompetent idiot!” he says and grabs Zhou Zishu’s arm. “He’s going to forbid her from ever seeing me again!”

“Cao Weining. Calm down. This is not a Wuxia drama. He can’t tell her what to do and he’s not going to murder you for being late. I’ll just say that it’s my fault. He can murder me then, if he’s so inclined.”

Instead of saying something a true friend might have said, like “No, Zhou-ge, don’t take the blame for me!” Cao Weining nods enthusiastically. “Yes, thank you, Zhou-ge! Alright, come on, we have to hurry!”

Wiping his palms one last time, Cao Weining jumps out of the car and all but runs towards the restaurant’s entry. If he continues like this, Gu Xiang’s boss is still going to think he’s an incompetent idiot, Zhou Zishu thinks and hurries after his friend to make sure he doesn’t embarrass himself too much.

The restaurant’s inside is very much like its outside – expensive, lavish, not really to Zhou Zishu’s taste.

“Can I help you?” A waiter asks them as they enter.

“Yes we’re here with A-Xi – Gu Xiang,” Cao Weining says. The waiter checks a list and shakes his head.

“There is no Gu Xiang here.”

Cao Weining stares at the waiter like he has just been told that incompetent idiots are not allowed on the premises.

“Wen Kexing,” Zhou Zishu provides from behind him. “He meant to say we’re here with Wen Kexing.”

“Oh, I see! My apologies, Sirs, I will bring you to Director Wen’s table immediately.”

The journey to Director Wen’s table leads them through the entire restaurant, up the stairs, and to the door of a private room.

“Here we are. Please enjoy your stay and, should you request anything, simply ring the bell,” the waiter says with a bow and leaves them alone.

“Zhou-ge, I think I’m going to die,” Cao Weining mutters.

“If you died each time you thought you would, I’d been standing here with thrice-reanimated corpse now,” Zhou Zishu says dryly and gestures to the door. “Well? Won’t you go inside?”

“Can’t you–“

“No.”

Cao Weining cringes. “Okay. Alright. This is fine.” He takes a deep breath, then another one, and a third. Then he finally knocks against the door and pushes it open. The room behind is furnished in a classic style and looks like they stepped into the Wuxia drama Zhou Zishu just denied this was. In one of the corners stands a small well that fills the room with the sound of sloshing water, joined by gentle music that plays in the background. In the middle stands a huge round table already filled with many dishes, and at that table sit –

“Cao Weining! Finally! Where have you been?” A young woman in a purple dress jumps to her feet and points at an anxious Cao Weining. “Why are you so late?”

“Sorry, A-Xiang, it was the traffic, I promise we would have been punctual otherwise!”

Gu Xiang crosses her arms and huffs. “Well, at least you’re here, or I would have lost the bet.”

“Bet?”

“Well, yeah! Laoban said you were too afraid to come and chickened out at the last second.”

At that, another person stands from the table and saunters over, hands clasped behind his back and a smug grin that’s just a bit too wide on his face. “Colour me pleasantly surprised.”

Cao Weining immediately bows, and Zhou Zishu is surprised he doesn’t go all the way and prostrates himself. “It a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Director Wen!”

“Please,” the other drawls and his smile turns slightly condescending. “We’re among friends here, just call me Wen Kexing. I’m happy to finally meet the person A-Xiang speaks so highly about.”

Cao Weining bows again and Gu Xiang snickers. “It’s fine, Weining, you can stop! I’m hungry, let’s eat.”

“Wait, A-Xiang!” Cao Weining yelps as he’s already being pulled to the table. He points at Zhou Zishu. “That’s my friend, Zhou– Ah!” He stumbles when his foot catches on a table leg and almost falls to the ground. Only the support provided by Gu Xiang’s shoulders prevents him from doing so.

Zhou Zishu sighs and steps into the room. Wen Kexing, still smirking at the two disasters at the table, turns around to face him.

Zhou Zishu is pretty sure that his own expression, whatever it might have been, isn’t quite as neutral anymore.  

Wen Kexing is, to put it mildly, quite attractive. Not that appearances is something Zhou Zishu really cares about, but Wen Kexing is so blatantly beautiful that one can’t help but notice. Long silken hair spills over broad shoulders, a tight red verst perfectly accentuates a trim waist, and his face looks like what one usually sees in skin-care advertisements. Frustratingly perfect, that is. The only thing that puts a damper on the whole image is the man’s expression. The smirk might be gone, but it has been replaced by something that looks suspiciously like a leer.

“Well, well. I’m very pleased to make this gentleman’s acquaintance,” he says and offers his hand. Zhou Zishu finds his entire person incredibly, irritatingly distracting. He still takes the hand because it’s the polite thing to do. Wen Kexing’s slender fingers wrap around his own and he gives a light squeeze.

“Zhou Xu,” Zhou Zishu says and realises a second too late that he has accidentally given the cover name he’s been using for his latest case. It’s Wen Kexing’s fault, really, for being so damn distracting.

“Zhou Xu? Hm. Is it alright if I call you A-Xu?” Wen Kexing voice drops, and he gives Zhou Zishu a very obvious once-over. “You can call me whatever you like.”

Zhou Zishu stares at him. What else is one to do in a situation like this? It isn’t that he hasn’t been flirted with before – especially back when he was still a sharply dressed bodyguard – but this is on a whole other level. Somehow, Zhou Zishu thinks it should make him uncomfortable. Somehow, it doesn’t. He swallows and tries to look as disinterested as possible.

“Alright. Lao-Wen.” He pushes past Wen Kexing, only to see that Cao Weining and Gu Xiang have already taken their seats at the table, leaving two chairs next to each other for Zhou Zishu and the personified irritation known as Wen Kexing.  This is going to be a long night.

-

Might as well make the most of it, Zhou Zishu thinks as he refills his glass with incredibly expensive wine, if I’m forced to sit in a fancy restaurant with some of the worst company imaginable. Not only is there Cao Weining, who is constantly torn between gazing fearfully at Wen Kexing and making heart-eyes at Gu Xiang. No, there is also Gu Xiang, who couldn’t possibly be more oblivious to said heart eyes, and her unhinged boss who basically revels in the fearful looks.

“Cheers!” the unhinged boss says and raises his glass at Cao Weining, who shoots a pleading look in Zhou Zishu’s direction. Serves you right, Zhou Zishu thinks and ignores him. Cao Weining takes up his glass with the expression of a man forced to drink poison and takes a tiny sip.

“Ah, Xiao-Ning, is the wine not to your tastes?” Wen Kexing asks innocently and raises an eyebrow.

“No, it’s very good! Really! I just…I can’t drink much…”

“We’re among friends tonight, aren’t we? No worries, we won’t leave you drunk on the sidewalk,” Wen Kexing says and Zhou Zishu has the distinct feeling that, were he not here, Cao Weining would definitely end up drunk on the sidewalk.

“Laoban!” Gu Xiang says and crosses her arms. “Why are you torturing him?”

Wen Kexing’s eyes soften a fraction when he turns towards her. “I’m doing this for you, A-Xiang. After all, I have to make sure your future boyfriend is a good person.”

Cao Weining’s face adopts the colour of Wen Kexing’s vest, but Gu Xiang doesn’t seem bothered in the slightest. “Boyfriend, which boyfriend?” she says carelessly and takes a lobster dumpling. “And he’s a police officer, of course he’s a good person.”

“Which boyfriend, she asks.” Wen Kexing says with something akin to malicious glee and smirks at Cao Weining. “Well. Do police officers earn a lot of money? A-Xiang is a very accomplished Personal Assistant, after all, and I wouldn’t want anyone to try and leech off of her.”

“I-I earn money!” Cao Weining blurts and looks to Gu Xiang. “I wouldn’t leech off of A-Xiang.”

“He’s just teasing you, idiot!” Gu Xiang says and puts an entire abalone into her mouth. “Laoban! I already told you Weining is my best friend, why are you still testing him?”

At the words “best friend”, Cao Weining looks like Gu Xiang just stabbed him with her fork, and Wen Kexing looks like he witnessed it. With a pleased smile, he takes a sip of wine. Zhou Zishu feels a bit sorry for poor Cao Weining, even though he is the whole reason Zhou Zishu is currently suffering in this restaurant. The pity vanishes as soon as Wen Kexing turns towards him.

“So, A-Xu, what do you do for a living. Oh wait, let me guess,” he says and leans in like the concept of personal space is something he doesn’t consider important. Zhou Zishu reaches for another piece of beggar’s chicken and tries to ignore the pleasantly floral fragrance that wafts over from Wen Kexing.

“Hm, with looks like that my first guess would be that you’re a model, but you seem too honest and down-to-earth for that. Those glasses make you look very scholarly, though. Maybe a professor?”

Zhou Zishu grunts and shoves chicken into his mouth.

“No? Then maybe you work with your hands?“ Wen Kexing’s fingers brush the back of Zhou Zishu’s hand with a feather-light touch and he almost drops his chopsticks. “These hands look very much like they’re capable of grand creations. An artist, perhaps?”

Zhou Zishu risks a quick glance at the man’s face, just to glare at him, and is faced with a half-lidded look that’s an invitation as much as it is scandalous.

“And what about you, Lao-Wen?” Zhou Zishu says, ignoring the heat that’s creeping up his neck. “From your whole demeanour I’d say you’re the owner of a sleazy night club.”

Wen Kexing’s eyes widen ever so slightly and then he bursts out laughing. “A-Xu! Good looking and funny! What a catch you are.”

Zhou Zishu rolls his eyes and grabs his wine glass again, if only to stop having to look at that irritating and frustratingly perfect face. Oh, Cao Weining is so going to pay for this.

“But unfortunately, your guess is wrong. I do know the owner of a very delightful nightclub, though. I’m sure she would welcome us with open arms, should you wish to continue the night in another establishment.”

“No thanks,” Zhou Zishu says. “I need to get up early tomorrow.”

“A job that requires one to get up early…a baker maybe?”

Zhou Zishu can’t help but snort at the image of himself in an apron and covered in flour. “You tell me yours, I tell you mine.”

“Deal!” Wen Kexing says and Zhou Zishu feels like a rabbit that’s been caught in a snare. “As A-Xiang might have told your police-officer friend, I’m a philanthropist. I live to help other people.”

Zhou Zishu stares disbelievingly at him. “Philanthropist is not an occupation.”

“But it’s true!” Gu Xiang butts in from across the table. “It’s literally what he is!”

Cao Weining looks from her to Wen Kexing to Zhou Zishu. “Zhou-ge, if he says he is, then it must be true,” he says in a transparent attempt at earning some points. Zhou Zishu glares at the traitor he once called his friend. Then he shrugs.

“Whatever. If Lao-Wen is a philanthropist, then I’m a helper of the helpless and a seeker of the lost.”

Wen Kexing seems speechless for a moment, but before Zhou Zishu can consider it a win, he opens his mouth again. “And you’re sure you’re no poet, A-Xu?”

“H-he’s a private investigator,” Cao Weining stammers with his extraordinary ability to be a traitor.

“Aw, I didn’t know we were dining with a spoilsport,” Wen Kexing says and throws Cao Weining a pointed look. “But I do appreciate the directness. Cheers.” He raises his glass and Cao Weining scrambles to join him. This time, he empties it, and his cheeks turn slightly pink. Zhou Zishu decides to take pity on him, despite his many betrayals this evening. Also, his curiosity demands to be satisfied.

“So, Lao-Wen. Now that you know what I do, don’t you think you owe me a direct answer as well?”

Wen Kexing’s entire bearing shifts from mildly threatening to whatever it is he has going on when he talks to Zhou Zishu. He tips his head back, brushes silken hair from his face, and smiles.

“Do you mean your private investigations into my person have yielded no results?”

Zhou Zishu bristles. “Who said I looked into you? I have actual cases to solve.”

“Oh?” Wen Kexing tilts forward again, lays his chin on the back of his hand, and looks at Zhou Zishu from underneath long eyelashes. “Do tell! I love a good detective story.”

“It’s confidential,” Zhou Zishu grumbles and tries to ignore the fact that the colour of his face probably resembles Cao Weining’s by now.

“What a pity,” Wen Kexing sighs and takes a crab leg from his plate. Without breaking eye-contact, he lifts it to his mouth and wraps his lips around it, sucking the oil from the shell. Zhou Zishu wants to be shocked at so much shamelessness, but his treacherous body finds the display rather intriguing. Wen Kexing pulls the crab leg out of his mouth and licks his glistening lips. Zhou Zishu crosses his legs.

“Do you think you could tell me if we were a little…closer?” Wen Kexing voice has turned into a purr.

“Laoban! You’re so embarrassing! Ew!” Gu Xiang says and grabs a crab leg on her own, wasting no time in cracking it open. Zhou Zishu cringes.

“A-Xiang, you shouldn’t talk like that to your boss,” Cao Weining says with wine-induced courage.

Gu Xiang turns to him with obvious indignation. “You’re taking his side?”

“Uh-oh.” Wen Kexing looks positively delighted.

“No! No, of course not! I’m by your side. Always. If you’ll have me…”

“On your side,” Gu Xiang says. “It’s ‘I’m on your side’, not ‘by your side’”.

Wen Kexing laughs and even Zhou Zishu can’t help but smile.

“No, A-Xiang, I mean…”

“Anyway, pass me the pork belly.”

“Aren’t they precious?” Wen Kexing asks as they observe Cao Weining sadly pass over the pork belly.

“Strangely so,” Zhou Zishu mutters and shakes his head. “They’re not going to make it without help.”

“Oh, definitely not. A-Xiang won’t believe anyone likes her unless explicitly stated.” There is a fond note in Wen Kexing’s voice as he observes his PA.

“You’ve known her for long?” Zhou Zishu, certified investigator, knows an opening when he sees one.

“Hm. Known her since she was a bratty teen. Not that she’s not bratty anymore, but she’s also loyal and reliable.”

“Cao Weining is the same,” Zhou Zishu finds himself saying.

“Are you trying to sell me your friend?” Wen Kexing grins. “Don’t worry. From what I’ve seen, he’s at least somewhat worthy of A-Xiang.” He sighs and takes another sip of wine. “I guess I can tolerate him. If he manages to win her over, that is. And now tell me, A-Xu–” Zhou Zishu senses danger “–what does one need to do to win you over?”

“Tell me about one’s profession,” he says without missing a beat. Wen Kexing laughs and one of his hands lands on Zhou Zishu’s thigh.

“A-Xu, ah, A-Xu. It’s important to maintain a bit of mystery at the beginning of a relationship, don’t you think?” His eyes are strangely intense as he gazes at Zhou Zishu and there is a glint in them that is very intriguing.

Zhou Zishu finds it hard to form words when there are slender fingers stroking his thigh, and it doesn’t help that he can’t seem to break eye-contact with Wen Kexing.

Distraction presents itself mere seconds later in form of a loud yelp from across the table. Cao Weining has slipped off his chair and landed face-first in Gu Xiang’s lap. Zhou Zishu momentarily snaps out of his daze and jumps up to aid his friend. To his surprise, Gu Xiang waves her hand.

“No worries, I’ve got him,” she says, and then she grabs the fairly tall and muscular Cao Weining by the shoulders and lifts him to his feet like he weighs nothing. “What?” she asks when Zhou Zishu stares at her. “I’m taking him home. This is the perfect chance for me to repay him for that one time he let me stay at his place.”

“A-Xiang! I already told you, I- I don’t want you to repay me! Between us, there is no need for debts. I already consider you my family!” Cao Weining protests, but the weight of his words is slightly lost in their slurred delivery.

“Alright, alright, we’re family,” Gu Xiang says and slings one of Cao Weining’s arm over her shoulders. Unfortunately, the person she attempts to help seems unwilling to assist her in any way.

“A-Xiang,” he says from where he’s hanging from her shoulder. “A-Xiang. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You’re so kind and smart and funny and strong and…” he stares at her with wide eyes, “perfect.”

Finally, the faint hint of a blush appears on Gu Xiang’s face. “What are you talking about? Two glasses of wine and you’re already like this…embarrassing…”

“A-Xiang,” Wen Kexing says and stands up as well. “I think it’s high time you get him home and sober him up. I feel like you’ll have some things to talk about in the morning.”

Gu Xiang looks from the human baggage she’s carrying to her boss. “Got it, Laoban. Sorry for kind of messing up the dinner you planned.”

“Messed up? A-Xiang, it literally couldn’t have gone any better.” Wen Kexing steps next to Zhou Zishu and shoots him another one of those looks that make him feel like he’s a delicious meal and Wen Kexing is a starving man. “I owe you.”

Gu Xiang says something else, but Zhou Zishu doesn’t quite catch it because Wen Kexing’s presence is really fucking loud. A moment later the door to the room closes and the two of them are left alone.

There is a beat of silence.

“And that’s my good deed for they day done,” Wen Kexing says.

Zhou Zishu snaps out of whatever daze he has been in and frowns. “What good deed?”

“Why, bring two loving souls together, of course.”

“All you’ve done is made Weining drunk.”

“As I said.”

Zhou Zishu shakes his head and looks towards the door. “Well, I think the evening is officially over, right? Then I thank you for the invitation, Director Wen, and excuse myself to –“

A hand curls around his upper arm and turns him around. Wen Kexing is right on front of him, too close again and looking too pleased with himself.

“And you’re sure you don’t want to go to that nightclub?”

“I’ve literally never been surer of anything in my life,” Zhou Zishu says because nightclubs and nightmares are the same thing to him. Too much noise, to much body contact, too little control.

“You wound me, A-Xu.” There is actual hurt in his eyes, but Zhou Zishu is pretty sure that this, as half of Wen Kexing’s personality, is an act. “Then maybe I can invite you somewhere else? A bar? A romantic walk in the park? My apartment?”

“You can stop it now with the mocking, we’re alone anyway,” Zhou Zishu says and gives Wen Kexing’s hand a pat before removing it from his arm.

“Who says I’m mocking? I’m completely sincere here. A-Xu, don’t tell me you’re not feeling this…connection between us.”

How he managed to make a completely normal word sound dirty was beyond Zhou Zishu, but he’s really had enough of this game.

“Look, I’m really tired and I still have a case to solve, so respectfully – good night.”

He gives Wen Kexing one last wave and a wry smile and leaves the room. He makes it about six steps down the hallways before he hears something behind him.

“Why are you following me?” he asks exasperatedly.

“This happens to be the only way out of the restaurant.” There is a very distinct smirk in Wen Kexing’s voice. “Ah, the awkwardness of saying good night and then walking in the same direction.”

Zhou Zishu shakes his head and simply moves on. This evening has been confusing enough as it is, and he desperately needs to be alone so that he can let out a heavy breath and maybe dramatically lean against a wall like they do on TV. Because the truth is, he does feel a strange connection to Wen Kexing. There is something about the other man that makes him want to get to know him better, maybe get a glimpse behind the persona Wen Kexing so confidently puts on display.

But he also knows that Wen Kexing spells trouble, and that he really has other things to focus on right now.

“- you can take me to your flat,” Wen Kexing is saying now and Zhou Zishu snaps out of his musings.

“Excuse me, what did you say?”

“I said, and if it’s too far then you can take me with you to your flat,” Wen Kexing repeats cheerfully and holds the door to the restaurant open for Zhou Zishu.

“Why would I do that?”

“A-Xu! I just told you! Didn’t you listen?” Wen Kexing gives a fake pout.

“I was distracted.”

“By the devilishly handsome man next to you?”

“By the sufferings of human existence. Now, what was it?”

Wen Kexing sighs dramatically and lays his head on Zhou Zishu’s shoulder. “A-Xiang took the car to drive her new boy toy home, and now I have no way of getting to my place.”

“Can’t you get a cab?”

Wen Kexing huffs affronted. “A-Xu, have you seen me?” He takes a step back and spreads his arms, presenting his neatly fitted outfit in its full glory. Oh, has Zhou Zishu ever seen him. He suddenly gets the strange urge to encircle Wen Kexing’s narrow waist with his hands, just to see how it would feel.

“So?” he says instead of doing something ridiculous.

“I’m basically an open invitation for muggers and kidnappers. What if something happens to me on the way home? What if you read on the news tomorrow “Handsome philanthropist kidnapped because he was all alone”? Could you ever forgive yourself, A-Xu?”

“I think I could, yes.”

“So harsh!”

Zhou Zishu wonders if there has ever been a man more irritating than Wen Kexing. He walks past him and then pauses when he doesn’t follow.

“Well?”

Wen Kexing’s eyes widen. “Well…what?”

“Are you coming or not? My car is over there.”

A smile spreads over Wen Kexing’s face, turning his eyes into crescents. It looks very endearing and makes Zhou Zishu wonder how other honest expression would look on that face.

“I know you cared, A-Xu!” Wen Kexing falls into step next to him and links their arms. “Yours or mine?”

“Ah?”

“Apartment. Mine has a fantastic view over the city, and I have king-sized bed. And a hot tub, if that’s something you’re into.”

“That’s great!” Zhou Zishu says. “I’m sure you’ll spend a restful night in that king-sized bed while I spend a not-so-restful one in my peasant-sized one.”

“I see where this is going.”

Zhou Zishu really doubts that, and he doesn’t want to give Wen Kexing any more validation, but it’s late and he’s tired, so he still asks, “And where, pray tell, great Director Wen, is this going?”

“You’re making me court you. Good. Very good. I’m more than happy to put in a little more effort.”

“This is literally the opposite direction of where this was going.”

“Give me your phone, A-Xu.”

“What for?”

“Well, how else are we going to contact each other?”

Zhou Zishu turns around to him, ready to end this once and for all – and falters.

Wen Kexing wears his typical slightly suggestive smirk, but there is something in his eyes, something that looks suspiciously like insecurity. Zhou Zishu sighs and digs out his phone.

-

Two hours later, when he lies in bed and is just about to turn off the lights, his phone announces a message.

Lao-Wen (00:39)

I hope you got home safely, A-Xu. Thank again for dropping me off. I’ve had a lot of fun with you today.

Zhou Zishu stares at the screen. He’s tired and needs to get up early and really just should go to sleep.

Me (0:42)

Got home safely. It was nice.

Lao-Wen (0:42)

So when are you free? There is this amazing traditional restaurant I think you would really enjoy, and I owe you for driving me home :)

Me (0:44)

No need. It was no trouble.

Lao-Wen (0:44)

But A-Xu! I really want to! We can gossip about A-Xiang and her idiot and I can tell you about what it is I actually do for a living~ ;)

Me (0:45)

Fine. Alright. Thursday, 5PM.

Lao-Wen (0:45)

[typing]

Chapter Text

Bright sunlight filters through a crack in the curtains and hits Zhou Zishu right in the face, effectively rousing him from sleep. Not that he has been sleeping particularly well in the first place. Zhou Zishu blinks at his phone that lies right next to his head on the pillow like its college all over again. Somehow, a certain self-proclaimed philanthropist has managed to keep him awake until…

Lao-Wen (02:12)

A-Xu?

A-Xu?

I assume you’ve fallen asleep

I hope you have a good one, filled with nice dreams 😉 Who knows, maybe I’ll visit you in one of those 😉😉😉

Until 02:12. Yep. Definitely college all over again. Zhou Zishu groans and drapes an arm across his face, blocking out the sunlight and the memories of yesterday. One evening. He’s spent one evening with Wen Kexing, and the man has already firmly planted himself in Zhou Zishu’s mind like a particularly stubborn weed. It wasn’t even that enjoyable of an evening, what with Wen Kexing’s inappropriate comments and his casual touches and his irritatingly perfect face and his–

Zhou Zishu stops himself right there and sits up all at once. It’s Sunday morning and he has a case to solve, and it’s definitely not the case of alleged philanthropist Wen. He drags himself out of bed and straight to his coffee machine where be brews himself a double espresso in hopes that the bitterness will chase away even the last tastes of yesterday. While the machine is doing its thing, Zhou Zishu reorganises the papers he left on his table after Cao Weining so unceremoniously coerced him to the dinner yesterday. He briefly wonders if his friend is already up and panicking, considering this morning would find him with a hangover in Gu Xiang’s apartment. Zhou Zishu feels a hint of schadenfreude at that – if he has to suffer, then Cao Weining has to suffer at least twice as much.

His coffee machine alerts him to his well-earned espresso and Zhou Zishu forces his mind back to the actually important things in life. Like this case. Two people missing, a woman and a man, who don’t know each other and live in completely different parts of the city, but who both vanished within the span of three weeks and under the same nebulous circumstances. Usually, his first go-to conclusion would be that they were lovers who staged a particularly dramatic plan to elope, but excessive background checks proved that they have nothing to do with each other. The woman, Liu Qianqiao, 29, single, works as a financial advisor while the man, Deng Kuan, 21, single, works in a a coffee shop. Both come from respectable families and with seemingly perfectly normal lives. Zhou Zishu stares intently at their pictures as if that could miraculously get them to speak and tell him what happened. The photos, predictably, do no such thing, but instead his phone gives a sharp ring.

Zhou Zishu looks at the clock – who calls at 07:26 on a Sunday? – downs the last gulp of espresso, and pushes back his chair to get his phone from where he left it on the pillow. On his way from the table to the bed his mind takes a much longer journey that inevitable ends right in front of that damned Wen Kexing. Because who else is irritating enough to call this early? Zhou Zishu steels himself for flirtations and innuendos for breakfast, but when he looks at the phone screen it tells him that he was wrong.

“Good morning, Weining. How are you faring on this wonderful day?”

“Zhou-ge?” Cao Weining’s voice is nothing but a hissed whisper, but even like this Zhou Zishu can make out the panic in it. “Zhou-ge, where am I?”

“How am I supposed to know that? Have you gone spontaneously blind?” Zhou Zishu should not enjoy this as much as he does.

“I don’t think so? I mean, it’s still dark, but I’m pretty sure this isn’t my bed! It’s way too soft! Zhou-ge, I think I’ve been kidnapped!”

“Kidnapped and dumped on a soft and comfortable bed with your phone by your side? In all my years as a private investigator, this is the first time I’ve heard of an abduction like that.”

“But it’s possible?” Cao Weining’s whisper has increased in volume and Zhou Zishu doesn’t want him to wake up the owner of that soft bed. He sighs, a bit disappointed that his gloating at his friend’s suffering is cut short.

“No, Weining. It’s not possible. Unless Gu Xiang turns out to be a manic killer, you’re good.”

“Gu Xiang?” Ah. Now it’s a screech.

“Cao Weining, can you control your volume? Yes, Gu Xiang! You were drunk yesterday and she–“

Somewhere on Cao Weining’s side, a door opens.

“What happened? Do you need to puke?” a female voice asks and then there is a loud clattering sound that Zhou Zishu’s trained ears identify as a phone hitting the floor.

“A-a-a-Xiang? How – why – what are you doing here?”

“Ah? This is my apartment?”

“Your…what am I doing here?”

Zhou Zishu hangs up before his ears start bleeding. He really has chosen the densest idiot in the world as his friend, he thinks with some fondness. The fondness vanishes as soon as he looks back to the phone screen and sees that he has received a message during the call.

Lao-Wen (7:31)

Good morning, A-Xu! I hope you had a good night 😊

Did you dream of me?

Zhou Zishu considers renaming him to Bane of my Existence, then considers replying with an eye-roll emoji, and in the end he simply tosses his phone back to his pillow and turns towards the desk again.

Right. Case. Missing people.

He chases Cao Weining’s romantic plight and Wen Kexing’s stupidly pretty face out of his mind and forces himself to focus. He opens his laptop to check if any of his informants have sent new discoveries and finds an email from Han Ying telling him that he found a witness who saw Liu Qianqiao enter the Qinzhu office building two days before she was reported missing. Something about the name Qinzhu tugs on a string in Zhou Zishu’s memories, but he can’t quite make out the melody. He scrambles to get his phone again and dials Han Ying’s number.

“Leader!”

“I told you to stop calling me that.” Zhou Zishu sighs. For some reason, Han Ying has chosen to address him like he’s the head of some shifty underground organisation.

“Got it, Leader!”

“You–! Whatever. I just saw your mail. Is the witness trustworthy?”

“It’s a member of the beggar’s gang who I’m positive has been bribed sufficiently. I’d give him 96% credibility.”

Zhou Zishu hums and scribbles it down onto a paper. “Anything you have on the Qinzhu office building?”

“It’s your usual run-of-the-mill corporate skyscraper with multiple different office, but nothing shady as far as I know. They have a website where all businesses are listed, do you want me to check it out?”

“I’ll do that myself. Thanks, Han Ying. Good work. I’ll make sure to send you a bonus.”

“No worries, Leader, I’m happy to help!”

Zhou Zishu is pretty sure he can hear Han Ying salute. He hangs up and shakes his head at his phone, only to stop mid-motion when he sees that he’s received yet another message from the philanthropist who just won’t stop bothering him.

Lao-Wen (08:03)

A-Xu~ Look what A-Xiang sent me!!

Zhou Zishu reluctantly clicks on the photo that’s attached to the message because his pettiness has no chance against his curiosity. He snorts involuntarily.

The picture shows a sleeping Cao Weining in a king-sized bed with purple sheets. His mouth hangs open and someone, probably Gu Xiang, has drawn a “ZZZ” coming out of it. On the night table next to him stands the most garish lava lamp Zhou Zishu has ever seen, filled with glittering purple bubbles, and next to it lie some very ostentatious earrings that, for a change, are not purple, but brightly blue.

Lao-Wen (8:05)

Aren’t they sweet? Such a pity that they’re also both idiots.

A-Xu, do you want to bet who gets together first? Them or us?

Come on A-Xu, don’t leave me on read!

Aaaand that’s as much as Zhou Zishu is willing to take. He throws his phone onto the pillow and all but stomps back to his laptop.

Case! Missing people!!

He tries to shake the mental image of a smirking Wen Kexing, sprawled on his bed as he types the messages, out of his head – how does the man manage to bother him when he’s not even here? – and opens Qinzhu’s website. It’s as generic as they come, complete with an inspirational quote about hard work and everything. Zhou Zishu remembers passing the building before, a looming giant of a skyscraper, all glass and dark metal. He scrolls through the list of businesses that have their office there, stopping every now and then when a name catches his eye. Scorpion Holdings, Ghost Valley, Tai Hu–

Zhou Zishu pauses. Ghost Valley? He scrolls back up and clicks on the name. And sure enough, he is lead to the frustratingly bare webpage he already visited when he looked into Wen Kexing.

We take care of your worries.

What kind of stupid (and slightly menacing) slogan was that, anyways? It definitely sounds like something Wen Kexing would say. Zhou Zishu scoffs and clicks of the staff index, not really expecting anything to have changed. And sure enough, he is faced with a couple of generic placeholder icons and increasingly strange names such as Happy, Black&White, and Tragicomic. What in the deepest layer of Diyu is this even supposed to mean? Half convinced that Wen Kexing set up an entire company just to annoy Zhou Zishu in particular, he closes his laptop and rifles through his files for the umpteenth time. Liu Qianqiao and Deng Kuan’s photographs look back at him impatiently, urging him to solve the damn case. Well, what is he supposed to do? Stare at the pictures until a clue jumps at him miraculously?

Wait.

Wait.

Zhou Zishu holds the photo of Liu Qianqiao close to his face and examines the girl’s ears. Then he pushes himself up from his chair so abruptly that it gets hurled backwards and slams against the wall, possibly leaving yet another indent. But he doesn’t care because he’s already on his way to the bed to get his phone. His fingers almost shake as he opens his conversation with Wen Kexing.

“There you are,” he mutters into the emptiness of his room. “But how am I supposed to get… Weining!” Zhou Zishu is in such a hurry to call his friend that he presses the wrong button twice.

“Yes, hello?” asks a slightly shaky voice.

“Can you talk?” Zhou Zishu asks.

“Uhm…I already am?”

“No, you idiot, I mean, are you alone? Or is Gu Xiang there?”

“No I’m in my…in her guest room right now, I’m getting dressed. What is it, Zhou-ge, you sound a bit breathless?”

“I’ve got a new lead on the missing persons case. But I need your help.”

“M-my help? Right now? But A-Xiang is making breakfast for me, I-I mean, for us, she said she would prepare–“

“I need to you take the earrings that lie on the nightstand,” Zhou Zishu interrupts before Cao Weining can lose himself in a stammering explanation of what Gu Xiang is making him for breakfast.

The other line is silent. Zhou Zishu waits for two seconds. “Well?”

“You…you want me to steal A-Xiang’s earrings, Zhou-ge?”

“First of all, we’re borrowing them. Second of all, they don’t belong to her. They belong to the missing girl.”

“What??”

“Just do what I say, Weining!”

“Is A-Xiang in trouble? Zhou-ge, she doesn’t have anything to do with this! I bet many girls wear those earrings, it doesn’t mean she…she…she…”

“Weining, the earrings are blue. Literally everything about Gu Xiang is purple. Add to that the fact that those things look like they cost a fortune and that the victim was last seen entering the building where Gu Xiang works, I think there might be a connection. Just get me the earrings, Weining. I promise I’ll look into it more before jumping to any conclusions.”

“Zhou-ge…I don’t know…I’m police, and A-Xiang is just a normal girl, I can’t–“

“Weining.” Zhou Zishu adopts his gravest and most insistent voice. “You’re my only hope. Please. You still owe me for making me spend the evening with Lao – with Director Wen.”

Another moment of silence, in which Zhou Zishu holds his breath.

“Alright, Zhou-ge. But promise me you won’t put A-Xiang into prison. How am I supposed to marry-“

Zhou Zishu hangs up before Cao Weining has a chance to impart his future plans for marriage. Then he hesitates for a moment and stares down at his screen. Suddenly, he finds himself standing at a crossroads. He could either stay here and wait patiently for the evidence to come to him, or he could…

Me (10:23)

You wanna grab a coffee this afternoon?

Lao-Wen (10:24)

Oh? Why the sudden interest?

Do you miss me, A-Xu?

Can’t you stand the loneliness anymore?

Me (10:25)

Forget it.

Lao-Wen (10:25)

NO!!!

A-XU!

I would love to have a coffee with you, let me text you the address to my favourite place! My treat 😉

Yes, Zhou Zishu is very well aware that he has just made a terrible mistake, thank you very much. But there is no way Wen Kexing, or someone else from his shady organisation, isn’t connected to the case, and Zhou Zishu is determined to get to the bottom of it.

-

For the second time in two days, Zhou Zishu’s trusty old set of wheels clatters onto a parking lot occupied with luxury cars like a beggar barging into the Emperor’s palace. He gives them all a condescending look as he wonders which one belongs to Wen Kexing.

For some reason Zhou Zishu expected to visit a normal coffeeshop with a normal atmosphere, as if anything about Wen Kexing could ever be normal. Instead he, dressed in jeans and a leather jacket and with his hair not particularly kempt, enters an incredibly high-end café. Might as well go all out, he thinks, pushes his hands into his pockets and saunters into the room. Soft piano music drifts through the large space while hushed conversations are being held. How this could be anyone’s favourite place, much less that of the human incarnation of chaos that is Wen Kexing, was beyond him.

“A-Xu!” someone yells loudly, effectively drawing all attention to Zhou Zishu, who now finds himself scrutinised by about twenty upper-class snobs. Luckily, Zhou Zishu’s face has always been rather thick.

“Lao-Wen.” He says and approaches his table. Wen Kexing stands there dressed in a quite frankly outrageous red suit that seems to have drawn all colour from the rest of the tastefully minimalistic café. It’s perfectly tailored, of course, and matches his – is that eyeliner? Before Zhou Zishu can take a closer look at Wen Kexing’s eyes, he already finds himself in the man’s arms.

Zhou Zishu doesn’t even try to examine the warm feeling that envelops him together with Wen Kexing’s very pleasant smell before he pushes him away. Expectantly, Wen Kexing smirks at him.

“So good to finally see you again, A-Xu. I missed you so much.”

“We saw each other yesterday,” Zhou Zishu frowns.

“And every second spend in your absence is torture.”

Choosing to ignore this blatant teasing, Zhou Zishu sits down. He’s in a fancy café that he usually wouldn’t even look at twice and in the company of some very rich director – he has to investigate the menu to find the most expensive thing. Wen Kexing takes a seat as well, perches his elbows on the table, links his fingers, and places his chin atop them. Zhou Zishu can feel his gaze on him, so he resolutely keeps his eyes on the strange dishes he’s never even heard of before and their exorbitant prices.

“So, A-Xu.”

“Hm?”

“What lead to you bestowing your wonderful presence to me today?”

“Didn’t you say you were happy to see me?” Zhou Zishu asks absently (800 yuan for a single cup of coffee?)

“More than that! But I had the distinct impression that…hm, how do I say this…that you wouldn’t have been willing to see me again so soon without a very good reason. And that hurts my heart, A-Xu! It really does.”

Zhou Zishu glances up from the menu and of course Wen Kexing’s expression is one of mockery. He narrows his eyes and waves over a waiter. “I take this,” he says and points at the 800-yuan coffee.

“Black Ivory. Very good choice, Sir, coming right up,” the waiter says with a bow and strides away.

“Bold choice,” Wen Kexing grins. “Not many people value the fine taste of coffee made from beans already digested by elephants.”

Zhou Zishu stares at him. Surely, he’s joking. 9 times out of 10, Wen Kexing is joking, and he refuses to believe that this is the one where he isn’t. So he ignores the comment and leans back in his chair.

“I couldn’t help but wonder,” he says slowly because when you talk to Wen Kexing, you need to pay very close attention to your wording, “about the occupation you so vehemently refused to tell me about.”

“What you’re saying is that you couldn’t get me out of your head.”

“If that’s how you choose to interpret it. So. All I know is that you’re the director of some firm or organisation called Ghost Valley.”

“That’s correct,” Wen Kexing says merrily and gestures at a waiter to whisper something to him before turning back to Zhou Zishu. “And so dreadfully boring. A-Xu, why would you want to talk about my dull job. Let’s talk about something fun. Are you single?”

Zhou Zishu narrows his eyes. Slowly he begins to see the pattern in Wen Kexing’s diversion tactics.

“For each piece of information you give me, I’ll give you one as well.”

“Aiya, A-Xu. Why can’t we just talk like normal people on a normal date?”

“Because you’re not normal, and this is not a date.”

Wen Kexing sighs dramatically. “I have no chance against hardened private investigator Zhou Zishu, 29, single, living in SiJi Road 7.”

Zhou Zishu stares at him in shock, which apparently brings Wen Kexing immense joy. “What? You can look into me, but I not into you? I must say, I’m a bit sad that you gave me a wrong name.”

“I–“

Zhou Zishu’s attempt at justifying himself gets interrupted by the return of the waiter. “Your coffees, Sirs. And the cakes.”  Two elegant cups of coffee and two plates arranged with something that looked more like artwork than cake get placed down in front of them. Wen Kexing immediately takes a fork and destroys the art. Then he makes a sound that belongs in a bedroom and not a classy café, making the people around them turn around affronted.

“This is the reason why I keep coming back to this dull establishment,” he sighs and takes another bite.

“I’ve been wondering why you’d come here in the first place,” Zhou Zishu mutters and eyes his cake. He’s pretty sure there’s gold on it.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, just that you’re someone who doesn’t seem to enjoy something as…” he looks around at the clientele, “conservative as this.”

“One night spent together and you already know me so well, A-Xu.”

“Can you say anything without making it sound dirty?”

“I could try, but where would be the fun in that?”

Zhou Zishu shakes his head and takes a sip of coffee. It tastes…like coffee. Not like 800 yuan compressed into a single cup. He regards it with contempt, mildly disgusted at himself to even have ordered it. Then, “Yes,” he sighs.

Wen Kexing looks confused. “Yes…what?”

“Yes, I’m single. There, I told you. Now tell me something about yourself.”

Wen Kexing’s eyes widen ever so slightly and some of the edge vanishes from his smile. “My ideal first date is with someone incredibly attractive who I’ve never met before and in the company of two absolute human disasters. So, last night was pretty perfect.”

Zhou Zishu rolls his eyes. “Can you be serious just once?”

“Only if you tell me why we’re here. Because, A-Xu, I genuinely like you. And I mean this. This is me, being serious.” Wen Kexing says, actually looking the part. But then, because he’s Wen Kexing, he adds: “And if you only want to play with my feelings, then I don’t know if my poor heart can handle it.”

Zhou Zishu considers him for a moment. Wen Kexing really is annoyingly pretty with his pale skin, dark eyes, and perpetual smile. A smile that now looks slightly strained. But there is no way he could be serious right? He might believe that Wen Kexing is simply someone to fall in love (or rather lust) quickly, if the person he’d fallen for was anyone but Zhou Zishu. Because what is there to fall for? His non-existent charms and overdue haircut?

“Alright, I’ll tell you. Even though you’re not particularly forthcoming or honest, that doesn’t mean I need to stoop to your level. Here.” He digs out his phone and opens the photo of Cao Weining.

“Yes, I’ve seen that. A-Xu, what–?”

“Look at the night table.”

“A-Xiang’s lava lamp? I’m aware that it’s very outdated and a bit garish, but–“

“Not the lamp. The earrings.”

“Do you want me to ask her where she got them?”

Zhou Zishu sighs and pulls out a photograph of Liu Qianqiao to slide across the table. Wen Kexing stops it before it can fall down. For a second he looks confused. Then his face hardens minutely. Zhou Zishu keeps a very close eye on his expressions.

When Wen Kexing looks up, there is no trace left of that playful smile. “So this is the case you’re investigating.”

“It is.”

“And I assume yesterday’s dinner was you chasing clues?”

“It was – wait, what?”

Wen Kexing laughs, but it doesn’t sound particularly amused. There is something in his eyes that looks almost like hurt. “And your invitation today was solely to interrogate me. No worries, Detective Zhou, we all have our little tricks. But I must say, playing with a man’s feelings like this,” he gasps and it’s faked, but the unhappy crease between his brows is real, “you truly are a master of your trade.”

Zhou Zishu rolls his eyes, determined to not be swayed by this display. “So you don’t deny that you have something to do with it?”

“I don’t deny and I don’t confirm. I’m sure if you really put your mind to it, you can find more clues, Detective Zhou. But I’m warning you. Do not drag A-Xiang into this.”

Zhou Zishu frowns at him. “This is no joke, Wen Kexing. If you abducted someone–“

“Oh, this I deny. Quite vehemently. I would never take anyone against their will.”

“Then what is it?”

“Sorry, Detective, I’m afraid we’re not close enough for me to tell you,” Wen Kexing grins and it’s a brittle thing that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Well, I better get going. I’m not dressed for an interrogation. But I did enjoy the first part of the…well. Meeting. See you around, A-Xu.”

And with that, Wen Kexing stands up gracefully, turns around (for some reason, Zhou Zishu imagines him doing so with a swipe of long sleeves), and leaves. All Zhou Zishu can do is sit there and stare after him, halfway out of his seat and with something that tastes like an apology on his tongue. Wen Kexing clearly has something to do with the case of two missing people and refuses to admit it, and yet it’s Zhou Zishu who feels like he has done something wrong.

-

Zhou Zishu lowers his head and buries his hands in his hair. For the past two days he’s been completely out of kilter, and without any discernible reason (There is a very good reason, a malicious little voice in his head says, but he shuts it up). He sleeps poorly and can’t focus on the case at all. Each time he gets out the documents, his mind wanders off without consent, seeking memories of Wen Kexing’s hurt expression. Zhou Zishu knows that all he needs to do is go to Cao Weining’s police-chief uncle and make him look into Ghost Valley, but for some reason he can’t bring himself to do it. But what he can do even less is approach Wen Kexing again to demand answers. He has lost count of how many times he held his phone in hand and thought about sending out a message. But what is he supposed to write?

I know you have something do to with the case, tell me, or else.

Wen Kexing, I’m sorry if I offended you somehow, but you should tell me the truth.

Hey, Lao-Wen. Haven’t head from you in a while, are you okay?

Zhou Zishu lets out a frustrated yell and pulls at his hair. Why does he even care? Wen Kexing is nothing but trouble, he barged into Zhou Zishu’s life and made it even more frustrating than it already was.

A strange noise from outside the door makes Zhou Zishu temporarily forego his self-inflicted torment because it sounds suspiciously like there is a fight happening. He has only a few seconds to consider before the door flies open and a furious purple storm sweeps through the office, coming to a halt right in front of his desk.

“What have you done to Laoban?” Gu Xiang hisses and glares so fiercely that Zhou Zishu honestly expects her to pull out a whip and beat him.

“What – I haven’t done anything, I haven’t even seen him these past days!”

“Exactly!”

“A-Xiang! A-Xiang, calm down, you can’t–“

“Oh, I can! Watch me!” Gu Xiang slaps away Cao Weining’s hand that landed on her shoulder as a weak mollification attempt. She digs something out of her pocket and throws it on the desk in front of Zhou Zishu.

“You told her?” he asks and looks from the earrings to Cao Weining.

“I didn’t, I really didn’t, I promise, Zhou-ge! She found out on her own!”

“That’s right,” A-Xiang says, slams both palm onto the desk and leans forward, which would have been a lot more threatening if she wasn’t wearing an overly-large purple sweater with a cartoon spider on it. “I knew something was wrong when this idiot continued to insist that he owed me and kept buying me gifts.”

“That wasn’t because of this,” Weining murmurs, but gets ignored.

“And then Laoban started being…being…super weird! He’s so sad all the time and he’s never sad! Did you get close to him just to investigate that case of yours?” She holds one of the earrings so close to Zhou Zishu’s face that he’s going cross-eyed.

“A-Xiang, please, this is all my fault,” Cao Weining says and gently tugs at Gu Xiang’s arm. “I’ve tried to explain! Will you listen to me? Please?”

Some of the fury leaves Gu Xiang’s face and she takes a deep breath. “Then explain!”

“I made Zhou Zishu go to the dinner. Because I was…I was a bit intimidated by your boss and didn’t want to meet him alone…”

Gu Xiang looked honestly baffled at that. “Why? It wasn’t like you were going to meet my father to propose marriage!”

Both Cao Weining and Zhou Zishu exchange a quick look, but Cao Weining valiantly continues. “Yes, no, I know. I just…am like that. But the point is, Zhou-ge didn’t try to deceive Wen Kexing in any way!”

“Oh? But he had you steal from me?” Gu Xiang crosses her arms.

“Look,” Zhou Zishu says and gets up from his chair. “This case is very important. Two people are missing, and their families need answers. I regret having employed unsavoury means, but it was the only lead I had.”

“Then why didn’t you just ask?”

“I did! I even invited Wen Kexing to coffee…more or less.” Zhou Zishu coughs. “Well, anyway, I didn’t think something like that would offend him. He seemed pretty unoffendable overall.”

“He’s still human! He’s not some emotionless ghost king okay?”

Zhou Zishu stares at her. The image of Wen Kexing sitting alone in a huge, blank office invades his mind and great, now he actually feels bad.

“I can tell you one thing,” Gu Xiang says and point at him. “There has never been any abduction or kidnapping, or whatever, okay? Laoban would never do anything like that, and if he did then I certainly wouldn’t help him.”

“Then tell me! Tell me what happened,” Zhou Zishu hates begging most of all, but his voice has taken on a desperate edge. This case turns out so much more complicated than expected.

“No.” Gu Xiang says loftily and turns around. “You can ask Laoban. And apologise while you’re at it. Pah, the likes of you…Always thinking you’re in the right without considering the other side. Do your job! Investigate!” And with a final dramatic flick of her hair, she strides out.

“A-Xia– Sorry, Zhou-ge, but I think…I mean–“

“Go after her,” Zhou Zishu sighs and waves. Gods know he has his own moral dilemma to deal with right now. When the door slams shut and heavy silence settles in the room, he takes his phone and stares at the black screen. He hasn’t done anything wrong, and he knows it. He and Wen Kexing aren’t even close in any way. They’ve met once. Well, twice now, but still. It’s not enough to justify that Zhou Zishu trusts him over the evidence he’s found. And yet. And yet it has apparently been enough for Zhou Zishu to somehow hurt Wen Kexing’s feeling. Must be a new record, even for him. Zhou Zishu takes a breath and unlocks his phone.

Me (14:43)

Hey.

We still meeting on Thursday?

There is no answer. Zhou Zishu groans. He hasn’t apologised in years, and he doesn’t know what exactly it is he’s apologising for, so what’s he supposed to do now? If only grandmaster of apologies Cao Weining was still here.

Me (15:24)

I think we have some things to discuss that are easier to talk about in person.

There. First step towards apologising taken. Still no answer. Zhou Zishu has expected Wen Kexing to hold grudges – he kind of looks like a man who could live his life on nothing but air to breath and vengeance to drive him – but he hoped to be proven wrong.

Me (16:09)

Look, I just want to clear things up, okay?

Zhou Zishu glares at his phone as if he could get it to announce a message through sheer power of will alone. Then he scoffs and throws it onto his bed. So what if Wen Kexing doesn’t answer? That’s one less problem in Zhou Zishu’s life. It’s not like he even liked Wen Kexing. That man is a menace and–

Zhou Zishu does not jump and run towards the bed when his phone announces a message. He absolutely does not.

Lao-Wen (17:02)

 A-Xu! I didn’t know you were so desperate for my attention!

Sorry, baobei, I was in a meeting.

But now I’m here

Of course we’re still meeting on Thursday!

Zhou Zishu swears he can feel his soul leave his body.

Me (17:05)

I changed my mind I never want to see you again

Lao-Wen (17:06)

Aw, don’t be like this, A-Xu!

I’ll even let you pick the restaurant

Me (17:08)

Alright.

Whatever.

I’ll text you the address later.

Lao-Wen (17:09)

[typing]

Chapter Text

Zhou Zishu never knew that he could feel both anxious and annoyed at the same time and yet here he is, sitting in his favourite restaurant (a very gracious word for the small noodle shop) and waiting for the man who so determinedly refuses to get out of his mind. And who is late. By – he checks his watch – 8 minutes now.

“Aiyo, look who decided to show his face again! How are you doing, Zishu?”

He looks up and wills the grim expression off his face to replace it with the smile the shop’s owner deserves.

“Hey, Auntie Liang. I’m pretty busy with a case lately. How’s business?”

The old lady wipes her hands on her apron and towers before of him, regarding him with a stern expression. “Each time you come in looking a little thinner, and then you say you’re busy and just…wolf down the noodles! Food is meant to be savoured, Zishu! As is life! You need to take a break every now and then, otherwise you’ll become unbalanced.”

“This Auntie is very wise. You should listen to her, A-Xu.”

Zhou Zishu and Auntie Liang turn around simultaneously, and Zhou Zishu is immediately on the verge of rolling his eyes again. There, in the door of this slightly shabby old noodle shop in a dingey side alley, stands a man who looks like someone copy-pasted him from a fashion magazine. Wen Kexing wears a deep blue suit with red accents and shades which he now perches atop his head.

Auntie Liang seems somewhere between shocked and fascinated, but Zhou Zishu puts on an act of indifference and turns away from the apparition that is Wen Kexing.

“You’re late,” he says and grabs the menu just to have something to occupy his hands with.

“And I’m terribly sorry for it! Please, A-Xu, let me make it up to you. I’ll do anything.”

Anything, mouths Auntie Liang and Zhou Zishu knows that he and the bane of his existence surnamed Wen are going to be the talk of the shop for the next two weeks.

“Just sit down. I’m hungry,” he grumbles.

“Zishu! Aren’t you going to introduce your…friend?”

He sighs. “This is the grand philanthropist Wen Kexing. Wen Kexing, this is Auntie Liang.”

“Very pleased to make your acquaintance,” Wen Kexing bows. “And I apologise for my get-up, A-Xu didn’t tell me where we were going, so now I’m slightly underdressed.”

Auntie Liang looks him and his impeccably tailored, very expensive-looking suit up and down and then she giggles like a schoolgirl. “Ah, don’t worry about it! I didn’t know Zishu had friends like you! Unless…” and her eyes narrow, “your one of those unsavoury informant characters?”

“What, me? No, I’m an honest worker!” Wen Kexing says and winks at her, making her giggle even more. Zhou Zishu reaches over and grabs Wen Kexing’s wrist, possibly (hopefully) creasing the carefully ironed sleeve, and pulls him over before things escalate.

“Two bowls of the usual please, Auntie Liang,” he says with a pronounced glare in her direction, which she completely misses because her eyes are glued to Wen Kexing. “Auntie Liang!”

“Yes, yes, I can take a hint! I’ll leave you two alone,” Auntie Liang says, not without another wink, and scurries back into the kitchen.

“Well, A-Xu, this is not what I expected, but I’m pleasantly surprised. I love the rustic charm of it!” Wen Kexing looks around appreciatively as if he were sitting in one of his fancy restaurants.

“No need to be condescending. It might not look like much, but the food is ten times as good.”

“A-Xu, you know me. I am always perfectly honest.”

They both look at each other and Wen Kexing’s smile slips a fraction. Ah yes. There’s a reason they’re here. Zhou Zishu clears his throat, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

“Well. Yeah. So.”

Wen Kexing raises an eyebrow. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Zhou Zishu snaps – he almost had it! – and takes a breath to calm himself. “Look. I’m. I’m sorry, okay?”

For the first time, Wen Kexing looks genuinely surprised. “You’re sorry?”

“For not being…well, perfectly honest. I should have been more direct about the investigation. I didn’t mean to hurt you or anything.”

Wen Kexing’s face goes from surprised to shocked and then to carefully neutral in a heartbeat. “Hurt? I’m not hurt. What are you talking about?” He tries for a laugh, but it’s too strained to be anything but feigned.

“You’re not?” Zhou Zishu asks disbelievingly. “But Gu Xiang said…“

“Ah?” Wen Kexing raises his eyebrow in a show of dismissiveness, but Zhou Zishu sees how his fist clenches atop the table. Wen Kexing quickly pulls it away. “You shouldn’t listen to her, she says a lot if the day is long.” His grin doesn’t reach his eyes.

Zhou Zishu frowns as he remembers the way Wen Kexing left the last time they saw each other, how disappointed and hurt he looked. And how he hasn’t contacted Zhou Zishu since. “So you’re not angry because I…” he searches for the fitting word and then settles on the one Gu Xiang used before. “deceived you?”

“Please!” Wen Kexing says and leans back, and Zhou Zishu is sure that, if he had a fan, he would snap it open and wave it lazily now. “I’m not one to hold grudges, especially not because of something so minor. And it worked, didn’t it?” His grin turns a little sharper.

“What worked?”

“You’re back for more. You’re still interested.” Wen Kexing looks smug, and it almost seems honest. But then Gu Xiang’s words echo through Zhou Zishu’s head.

And then Laoban started being…being…super weird! He’s so sad all the time and he’s never sad!

Zhou Zishu huffs. Alright. If this is how he wants to play it, fine. He ignores the fact that Wen Kexing is clearly lying, that behind his grin he hides feelings he obviously doesn’t want Zhou Zishu to see. It’s not like he wants to see, either. (Shouldn’t want to. They don’t know each other that well, after all.) So he let Wen Kexing have this.

“Alright. Well. I’m glad then. I still apologise. It was kind of a shitty thing to do, I guess.”

Wen Kexing leans forward and looks at Zhou Zishu from underneath his long lashes. “And I accept your apology, A-Xu.” His smirk turns honest, and Zhou Zishu feels something nudge his leg under the table. He scoots his chair back on instinct and glares at Wen Kexing.

“Don’t make me take it back.”

“Too late. I’ve already taken A-Xu’s apology to store it safely in my heart.”

Luckily, Aunty Liang picks this moment to bring them their food, otherwise Zhou Zishu might have thrown the chili oil in Wen Kexing’s grinning face – or done something even worse, like blushing or ducking his head.

“Here you go, hand-pulled noodles with beef! You won’t find anything better in the whole city,” Auntie Liang announces merrily and places the bowls down with a flourish, then looks expectantly at Wen Kexing.

“Thank you, Auntie Liang,” Zhou Zishu says and gives her a pointed look. She ignores it, as she does Zhou Zishu’s entire existence, and instead smiles widely at Wen Kexing.

“I hope you’ll like the noodles, I’ve spend half my life perfecting the skill.”

Zhou Zishu can only stare wordlessly at so much injustice. Auntie Liang never smiles at him like that, she only ever scolds him for not taking good care of himself and for being a walking stick figure. 

Wen Kexing, of course, plays along and takes an exaggerated slurp of noodles. He chews and makes a ponderous face like the world’s worst actor. Then his expression lights up and he takes another mouthful.

“That tastes amazing, Auntie Liang! I can’t believe I’ve never been here before! I can taste the hard work that went into this! So good, so good! I’ll surely recommend it to all my associates.”

Auntie Liang laughs and waves dismissively. “Ah, they’re mediocre at best, not worthy of such high praise at all,” she says in a tone that indicates don’t you dare agree with me.

“No, they’re certainly the best I’ve ever eaten! A-Xu, you should have taken me here sooner.”

“Yes, you should have,” Auntie Liang says and as soon as she turns to Zhou Zishu, her glare is back.

“Yes, yes, I apologise for failing the both of you. Now, Auntie Liang, if you could…”

“Alright, alright, I know when I’m not wanted anymore. You let me know if you need a second serving,” she coos in Wen Kexing’s direction and leaves them.

“A-Xu, that’s the second apology I’ve received from you today. Don’t use them all up at once,” Wen Kexing smiles around his chopsticks. “Maybe I should hand one back to you. I apologise for not contacting you for three days, you must have been terribly lonely.”

Zhou Zishu stares at him.

He’s still human! He’s not some emotionless ghost king okay? Gu Xiang’s voice say in his head. He swallows down the harsh words before they have the chance to leave his mouth and instead rolls his eyes. “Sure. I’ve missed you terribly.”

“That was almost convincing! You need to work on your lying abilities, Detective Zhou.”

Zhou Zishu shakes his head and ducks his head to slurp some noodles and maybe also to hide his smile. For a while they eat in silence, but each time Zhou Zishu glances up inconspicuously he’s met with Wen Kexing’s gaze and a knowing smirk that spreads across the other’s features before Zhou Zishu can quickly look away again. After the third time, Zhou Zishu decides that it’s enough and that what he’s doing is ridiculous.

“How are you doing today?” he asks and immediately cringes. Small talk, really? You’re worse than Weining. But what else to talk about if not a case?

Wen Kexing looks at him like Zhou Zishu just asked if he was secretly a triad boss. Then he bursts out laughing. “I was just so-so, but now I’m amazing, thanks to certain company.” There is something very distracting about Wen Kexing’s honest expressions, Zhou Zishu thinks. It’s as if a disguise is being peeled back to reveal the man underneath who is, if at all possible, even more frustratingly beautiful.

“And how are you, A-Xu? Certainly a detective’s life is infinitely more interesting than that of a boring businessman. Did you get into any dangerous fights recently?”

“Sure. I was just involved in a rooftop chase before I came here, and yesterday I found myself kidnapped by an underground organisation,” Zhou Zishu says dryly.

“How thrilling! If I ever need heroic rescuing, I’ll make sure to give you a call.”

“I thought Director Wen was a philanthropist. Why would anyone want to hurt such a good person? Unless they have some dark secrets, of course.”

“Oh? I see Detective Zhou’s methods of interrogation have become a little more refined.”

Zhou Zishu cringes, but doesn’t deny it. He carefully places his chopsticks atop his bowl and looks at Wen Kexing. “I still have a case to solve, and you still have something to do with it. I wouldn’t need any methods if you’d just give me something. Especially if this is all a misunderstanding.”

Wen Kexing sighs heavily and leans back. “Isn’t my word that I haven’t done anything horrible enough?”

“We’ve known each other for 3 days, Lao-Wen. That’s hardly enough time to develop this amount of trust. Otherwise, you would just tell me the truth.”

“Touché.” Wen Kexing smiles wryly. “But A-Xu,” he reaches across the table and takes Zhou Zishu’s hand in his own (Such large hands, Zhou Zishu thinks stupidly as Wen Kexing’s long and slender fingers curl around his. He doesn’t know why he’s not pulling away immediately), “I do trust you. The problem is just that my opinion doesn’t matter in this case. Other people might not–“

“Zishu?” 

Zhou Zishu flinches back, pulling his hand out of Wen Kexing’s grasp. A young man enters the shop, dressed in running gear and holding a water bottle in his hand.

“Zishu, I haven’t seen you in ages!” Auntie Liang’s son, Liang Jiuxiao, beams and strides over. “How have you been doing?” He pulls Zhou Zishu out of the chair and into a fierce hug. Zhou Zishu gingerly pats his back and then pushes him away because he’s pretty much dripping with sweat.

“Good to see you as well, Jiuxiao, but maybe take a shower before you plaster yourself all over other people?”

Liang Jiuxiao laughs carefree – he’s never been one to care much about anything, really – and slumps down onto the free chair at the table. “Can’t I be happy that my shixiong has finally returned?” He slings an arm around Zhou Zishu again.

“Who is this energetic young fellow?” Wen Kexing smiles, but there is a very sharp edge to it.

“Ah. This is Liang Jiuxiao. We used to work for the same person.”

“That’s a lie! I worked for you, Mister Head-Of-Security.” Liang Jiuxiao protests and turns to Wen Kexing, completely oblivious to the mild threat that radiating off him. “We were both members of a security agency employed by Heli–“ Zhou Zishu clicks his tongue and gives him a stern look. “oops, that’s confidential, I guess! Well, we quit anyway. But Zishu apparently can’t get enough of putting himself in danger. I worry about him constantly!”

“Are you two close?” Wen Kexing asks in a tone that’s about as casual as his expensive suit and reaches for the condiments.

“Very!” Liang Jiuxiao beams and looks at Zhou Zishu which, courtesy of his arm still being draped around Zhou Zishu’s shoulders, puts their faces only centimetres away from each other. Wen Kexing smiles at him, a smile that’s as sour as his soup is going to be, what with the amount of vinegar he’s currently pouring into it without looking.

“How nice,” he says.

“Ah, I’m being rude again, right? Sorry.” Liang Jiuxiao lifts his arm from Zhou Zishu’s shoulder to offer Wen Kexing his hand. “Nice to meet you - ?”

“Wen. Wen Kexing,” he says and grips Liang Jiuxiao’s hand. “A-Xu’s…friend.” He gives Zhou Zishu a look so suggestive that even someone as slow as Liang Jiuxiao can pick it up.

“Oh. Uh…I see. Ahaha. Nice to meet you! Zishu, you didn’t tell me you had a –“

“No one has anything! Jiuxiao, why are you still sitting here? Go take a shower or help your mother in the kitchen,” Zhou Zishu says, and glares at Wen Kexing.

“Only if you promise to come around more often,” Liang Jiuxiao insists stubbornly.

“We will definitely come back for more delicious noodles,” Wen Kexing smiles and takes another bite. He almost manages to not pull a face at the overly-sour broth.

“Alright! Then I’ll leave first, see you two around,” Liang Jiuxiao chirps happily and runs off.

“How endearing,” Wen Kexing says at the same time as Zhou Zishu says, “You’re the worst.”

They look at each other and Zhou Zishu can’t help but respond to Wen Kexing’s grin with a small one on his own. “Eat your vinegar-soup, Lao-Wen.” He says and Wen Kexing laughs.

-

“What makes one go from head of a security agency to private investigator?” Wen Kexing asks after they left the restaurant and he offered to drive Zhou Zishu home in his outrageous sports car.

“Conflicting opinions with the employer. What makes one go from normal person to rich philanthropist?”

“Conflicting opinions with the rest of the world.”

Zhou Zishu shakes his head and pokes at a button on the touchscreen that is in the place where his car has a broken radio. A soft flute melody floats through the air. That’s how the rest of the ride passes – with the silence only disturbed by the calm flute and occasionally Wen Kexing’s voice as he hums along. It should feel awkward, but it somehow doesn’t.

“So, is Detective Zhou inclined to continue his investigation on a fourth date – excuse me, meeting? There’s still so much to learn about each other,” Wen Kexing asks as he parks the car in front of Zhou Zishu’s apartment complex.

Zhou Zishu huffs a laugh at this ridiculous man and his constant teasing. “You’re unbelievable.”

Wen Kexing stays silent and only looks at Zhou Zishu as if he expects him to say more.

“Well. See you around, Lao-Wen.” He gives Wen Kexing a little wave and opens the passenger door. Wen Kexing still doesn’t say anything. Zhou Zishu makes it halfway towards the building when he hears a voice behind him.

“I mean it.”

He turns around and Wen Kexing is standing next to his expensive car, looking a bit lost here in the shabby parking lot.

“I like talking to you. We understand each other.”

Zhou Zishu gives him a pointed look. “I think we could understand each other a lot better.”

Wen Kexing laughs wryly. “That’s what I’m saying.” He leans nonchalantly against his car, but Zhou Zishu can see the way his fingers are tightly intertwined with each other.

Wen Kexing is annoying, he’s inappropriate, absolutely insufferable, and a potential criminal. He demands trust without giving it, he hides behind a persona, he makes the alarm bells in Zhou Zishu’s head go wild.

Zhou Zishu wants to see him again.

“Fine,” he says, making sure to sound as exasperated as possible. “Fine. I’ll text you.”

And then he turns around before the wide smile that lights up Wen Kexing’s face can make him even more unreasonable.

-

“I-I think we’re really making progress!” Cao Weining proclaims eagerly and with such an honestly happy expression that Zhou Zishu can’t help but be mildly endeared. “She called me Weining the other day!”

“Well, congrats on the grand achievement,” Zhou Zishu says and it’s only a bit sarcastic. “I’m happy she’s finally realising what a good guy you are.”

“Ah, I don’t mind that. As long as she allows me to be near her and make her happy, that’s enough.”

Zhou Zishu wonders how someone like Weining even manages survive in this cruel world. He clasps his friend’s shoulder as they walk. “Never change, Weining. Never change.”

“Zhou-ge? What–”

“Oh, look. We’re here.”

Cao Weining looks around. “Where?”

“I told you I’d take you somewhere nice, didn’t I?”

“I thought you meant a restaurant! I was hoping it was the new one where they served steamed fried pork and– Wait. Wait, Zhou-ge. Is this…” His eyes widen as they travel up the tall, dark building in front of them. “This is the Qinzhu building!”

“It is indeed! Good eye, Officer Cao.”

“But why are we here? Zhou – ah, Zhou-ge, wait, where are you going!?”

Zhou Zishu is already approaching the building’s entrance. Sure, he and Wen Kexing are getting somewhat friendly with each other and Zhou Zishu believes him when he says he doesn’t have anything to do with the kidnappings, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to stop investigating. And considering the fact that Liu Qianqiao was last seen entering this very building, he has good reason for being here. Wen Kexing or not, something is still very strange about this case.

“I’m sorry, Sir, may I see your pass?” the security guard in front of the door asks with the stern politeness Zhou Zishu knows very well from his own days in the business.

“Sure. Here it is.” And he grabs Cao Weining by the shoulders and pushes him forward. To his credit, Cao Weining only stumbles minutely.

“Wh-what?”

“Your ‘pass’, Officer Cao,” Zhou Zishu says pointedly.

“Pass? Which pass?”

Zhou Zishu rolls his eyes. Leave it to Young Master Cao Weining to ruin a dramatic entrance.

“Your police badge, Weining, for gods’ sake!”

“My…OH! Oh, of course!” He finally catches on and fishes out his police badge.

“We’re investigating a case,” Zhou Zishu tells the security guard with a fake smile. “Classified police business.”

The guard looks very unhappy, but there isn’t anything he can do except for letting a flustered Cao Weining and a smug Zhou Zishu pass.

“You really are the best accessory, Weining, I agree with Gu Xiang on this.”

Cao Weining looks extremely uncomfortable, as a police officer who just illegally entered somewhere is wont to. “Zhou-ge, what are we doing here? If A-Xiang finds out she’ll be very unhappy!”

“That’s what worries you about this?”

“What else should there be? I’m happy to help you, Zhou-ge, I just don’t want A-Xiang to get angry.”

If Cao Weining were to claim second place on the list of the kindest people in the world, no one would dare to claim first.

“We’re not going to make anyone angry, Weining. Just say I forced you to come. I have something to investigate here.”

“Alright, Zhou-ge…if you’re sure…”

Cao Weining still doesn’t sound convinced, but that’s okay – Zhou Zishu strides through the foyer with enough confidence for the both of them. He approaches the reception desk and smiles at the woman behind it who is currently in the process of filing her already perfect-looking nails.

“Yes, can I help you?” she asks without looking up and a in tone that indicates her willingness to actually help goes towards zero.

“You can indeed. Have you seen this woman?” Zhou Zishu asks and places the photo of Liu Qianqiao onto the desk. The receptionist sighs heavily, as if Zhou Zishu just disturbed her during something incredibly important, and glances at the photo.

“Girlfriend ran away? Understandable, she’s way too pretty for you.”

Zhou Zishu gives Cao Weining a meaningful look and jerks his head in the direction of the woman. Cao Weining steps forward reluctantly and clears his throat.

“We’re from the police and are currently investigating a missing person’s case,” he says as if reciting it from a sheet, “please do your best to aid in the investigation.”

The receptionist, whose nametag says Du Pusa, looks Cao Weining up and down and her disinterested expression turns sultry. “Hm, police you say? How cute. Of course I’d be more than happy to help you, Officer-?”

Zhou Zishu is ready to step in and prevent Officer Innocent from being corrupted, but apparently Cao Weining did learn something over the years. “Please look at the photo and tell us if you’ve seen this person,” he says tonelessly, the tips of his ears brightly red.

Du Pusa rolls her eyes, mutters “Boring”, and snatches the picture. “Don’t think I’ve seen her. I can’t be bothered to look at every person who comes and goes. So I can’t help you. Unless,” and the half-lidded look is back, “You need help with that stick up your a-“

“Du Pusa. Are you scaring away guest again?” a bright voice comes from behind them. Zhou Zishu turns around and immediately all his instincts yell at him danger! A man in a black suit and with impeccably styled hair strides towards them, a jovial smile on his face that is all shades of wrong. His hands clasped behind his back and his steps light he looks a bit like a triad boss who has just learned that his last operation to subdue the city was a major success.

“Hello there. May I help you? Our dear Du Pusa tends to be a bit reserved,” he says, still with that unsettling smile and bows.

As much as Zhou Zishu wants to tell Cao Weining to arrest the man on the spot, as little reason he has to do so. And so he returns a smile that’s equally fake and says, “We’re investigating the case of a missing person who was last seen entering this building, if you would look at this picture and tell us if you’ve seen her?”

“But of course! How terrible that someone just went missing like that,” the man says in a bored tone others use to talk about the weather. He takes the picture and frowns at it, then looks up. “Isn’t she one of the Ghosts’…queries?” His expression becomes a strange mixture of joyful and malicious.

“Ghost?” Zhou Zishu asks and  quirks an eyebrow.

“Ghosts. Plural. A whole valley of them. The friendly bunch from floor 44. You know, the ones who proclaim–”

A loud Ding echoes through the empty foyer and an elevator door behind the man slides open to reveal – Zhou Zishu curses inwardly. Of course. Just his luck.

Wen Kexing’s eyes widen and his mouth opens, but before he can say anything, the person behind him already strides out of the elevator. “Cao Weining? What are you doing here?” Gu Xiang asks, looking like she hasn’t decided yet whether or not to be furious.

“A-Xiang!” Cao Weining yelps. “I – We, I mean, we’re investigating. Not you! Just…in general!”

Before Cao Weining can display more of his impeccable conversation skills, the black-clothed man gives a little wave towards the newcomers.

“Speak of Cao Cao, and he shall appear. Hello, Director Wen.” He directs his threatening smile at Wen Kexing, who seems entirely unperturbed.

“Wang Xie,” he says dismissively and turns towards Zhou Zishu. “And A-Xu! A much more pleasant sight! Not the person I would have expected to see today, but definitely the person I was hoping to see. Did you miss me so much that you wanted to fetch me from work?”

“Maybe for a nice trip to prison,” Du Pusa says from her desk where she started to file her nails again.

“Du Pusa!” the man called Wang Xie chides, but it’s more mocking that reprimanding. Then he taps his index finger to his lips as if in deep thought. “These kind officers are looking for a missing woman, and I think I’ve seen one of Ghost Valley’s little employees with her recently. Can you believe it? Hm, it might have been…” He turns towards Gu Xiang as if he has just noticed her. “Ah yes, this pretty young lady in purple is the one who brought her in! Officers, if you need more information, you best ask these two.” Wang Xie’s smile is all teeth, no honesty. “Ghost Valley often gets guests, so maybe you’ll find some other lost items in their offices.” 

“A-Xiang?” Cao Weining asks uncertainly. “What does he mean?”

But for once in her life, Gu Xiang’s doesn’t reply. She stands in the middle of the foyer and stares at Wang Xie furiously. Wen Kexing steps in front of her deliberately, his expression very calm and all the more dangerous for it. “I didn’t know scorpions were such meddlesome animals. Why don’t you focus on your own business, Wang Xie, maybe it would be a little more lucrative then.”

“Ouch,” Wang Xie says and grins. “I’m just doing my duty as a good citizen by helping the police.”

Zhou Zishu is quite sure that Wang Xie has never been a good citizen ever in his life and makes a mental note to look into the man’s business.

“Well, I better get back to work then. Make sure to keep the city safe, officers,” Wang Xie says with a wink and leisurely strolls towards the elevator Wen Kexing has just come out of.

“You–!” Gu Xiang storms after him, but Wen Kexing grasps her arm.

“Leave it, A-Xiang. You wouldn’t want to beat anyone up in front of your soon-to-be boyfriend, would you?”

“Boyfriend, which boyfriend?” Gu Xiang grumbles and brushes away a stray stand of hair.

“Your police boyfriend,” Wen Kexing says, and Gu Xiang’s eyes widen. She whirls around and stares at Zhou Zishu and Cao Weining as if she forgot they were even there.

“I didn’t beat anyone up!”

“I can see that,” Zhou Zishu says and smiles sweetly. “Well? I think some explanations are in order.”

“Definitely!” Gu Xiang huffs and crosses her arms, levelling a deadly glare at Cao Weining. “You said you trusted me, and then you still go and investigate after me? Good! Great!”

“A-Xiang, I didn’t…I really…I promise…” Cao Weining stammers and Zhou Zishu feels bad again for being the worst wingman in history.

“More empty promises? And I thought you were my friend! But you don’t even trust me one bit.”

“I do! Really, A-Xiang, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“A-Xiang, how about you take the car and drive Officer Cao home? I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about,” Wen Kexing says smoothly and steps next to Zhou Zishu to place a hand on his shoulder. “And A-Xu here can drive me home and get himself some explanations and whatever else he might want to do to me.”

“Once. Just once I want you to say something without making it sound dirty,” Zhou Zishu groans and rolls his eyes. “And don’t just tell everyone here what to do.”

“I’m literally her boss.”

“But not Weining’s!”

“Zhou-ge…I want to go with A-Xiang…”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Go with her then,” Zhou Zishu sighs because this is the least he can do for his friend. “And Gu Xiang. It’s not Weining’s fault. I forced him to accompany me here. Go easy on him.”

“Pah. We’ll see about that.” Gu Xiang says loftily and strides out of the foyer, Cao Weining following after her like a kicked puppy.

“Do you think they’re going to finally get it together?” Wen Kexing asks.

“I think you have other things to worry about.”

“Ah, A-Xu, can’t we just forget about all this? Let me invite you into my apartment, make you a nice dinner, and then we can–“

“Alright.”

“What?”

“I’ll let you invite me into your apartment. But I get to decide what we do there.”

For a second, Zhou Zishu thinks Wen Kexing is going to decline. Then he other sighs. “You drive a hard bargain. Well, if that’s what it takes.”

-

Wen Kexing’s apartment is, for the lack of a better term, special. It’s on the very top floor of a towering building and the living room features a tall window front that looks over the entire city.

“Quaint,” Zhou Zishu says dryly and eyes the luxurious red living room suite and the giant intricate chandelier hanging above it. The entire apartment looks like it has been designed for minimalism and furnished for extravagance. It’s very Wen Kexing.

“My home is your home. Quite literally, if you wish,” Wen Kexing says and spreads his arms with a flourish. “You’re welcome to stay for an hour or forever, whatever you prefer.”

“Depends on your answers. Lao-Wen. Tell me what’s going on.”

“You’re sure that is what you want to do? I promise you, behind that bedroom door over there lies a realm of infinite possibilities and…alright, alright, I’ll stop,” Wen Kexing says hastily after catching Zhou Zishu’s glare. “Will you at least sit down?”

Zhou Zishu decides sitting down isn’t too much of an acquiescence and takes the seat opposite of the window so that he can observe the city scape beyond. Wen Kexing, predictably, squeezes down right next to him so that their shoulders are touching. Zhou Zishu doesn’t budge an inch because that would be acquiescence.

“And you really don’t want to just exchange some funny stories from our lives, A-Xu?”

“Sure,” Zhou Zishu says and turns away from the window and towards Wen Kexing, only slightly startled by the sheer proximity of the other. It’s frustrating, really, that from this up close Wen Kexing’s face is even more perfect. Zhou Zishu banishes those kinds of thoughts from his mind and focuses on his real purpose here. “Tell me the fun story of how you definitely didn’t abduct two people.”

Wen Kexing heaves a heavy sigh and…relents. “Alright. You win. I’ve grown tired of this game, anyway. People like us shouldn’t have secrets from each other.”

“People like us?” Zhou Zishu asks with a frown.

“Soulmates!” Wen Kexing replies jovially and throws an arm around Zhou Zishu’s shoulder, making the distance between them go from slightly too close to basically sitting in each other’s lap. Zhou Zishu impatiently bats his hand away because he’s not going to be distracted this time.

“Then go ahead. What do you have to do with the disappearance of Liu Qianqiao?”

Wen Kexing turns uncharacteristically serious and scoots back slightly as if to create a safe space between them. “I took her away from her home.”

“That is literally what abduction means.”

“Is it also if she’s the one who begged for it?”

“What?”

“Have you looked into the families of the missing people?”

“Of course I have, that’s the first thing I did. But there is nothing about them. Deng Kuan comes from a normal middle-class family. They own a small business, and their son was even allowed to enter university. Liu Qianqiao’s parents are directors of a large firm and quite wealthy. She lived very well.”

“Ah,” Wen Kexing said and gave him a wry smile. “You’re very well informed, Detective Zhou. You know what’s going on on the outside. But you can’t look behind the scenes. This is not your fault of course. So let me tell you: Deng Kuan wasn’t allowed to enter university, he was forced to. Liu Qianqiao didn’t live well, she was made to look like she lived well. There are many people whose life seems simple and good on the outside but is actually very complex. Don’t you know something about that as well?”

Zhou Zishu stares at him. Wen Kexing is right, of course – Zhou Zishu’s life has been anything but simple, despite many being convinced that it is. He thinks back to his past, to Helian Yi and the things he’s done for him…Then he shakes his head. There is no way Wen Kexing can know about this.

As if reading his thoughts, Wen Kexing laughs. “Don’t worry. I didn’t uncover your whole past, A-Xu. But I can see it. You sometimes have that look in your eyes that tells me you’ve gone through hell to arrive on earth. I told you we’re soulmates!”

Zhou Zishu is speechless. He can only gaze into Wen Kexing’s eyes, searching for the usual hint of mockery but finding only honesty.

Wen Kexing continues. “We’re lucky. We’re strong. We managed to emerge here all on your own. But not all people can do that.” He sighs and tries to drown the seriousness in his eyes in a shallow smirk, but it doesn’t work. “Well, let’s just say I’m collecting some merits by helping those who can’t. I’ve not always been this great philanthropist you’ve come to know and love, and I need to do some good before I go down the Yellow Spring Road.”

Zhou Zishu swallows heavily and wills his voice to return. “So…” he clears his throat. “So what you’re saying is that you help people who – what, don’t have another way out?”

“Ghost Valley helps people, not just me. We have an expert for every problem.” Slowly, Wen Kexing returns from whatever strange mood has taken a hold of him and grins. “Our methods might not always be legal, but they’re definitely efficient.”

“So you’re responsible for both Liu Qianqiao’s and Deng Kuan’s disappearance?”

“Yup!” Wen Kexing says, popping the p. He crosses his legs, drapes his arms over the sofa’s backrest, and looks very much like the spoiled rich young master he’s always trying to pass as. “Deng Kuan’s parents wanted him to take over the family business. They took all his money and locked it in an account he didn’t have access to, forcing him to do what they want. I gave him enough to start his own life. Liu Qianqiao’s parents arranged a marriage between her and some rich CEO who’s honestly just a terrible person. It was a bit trickier because her parents have access to all kinds of tracking stuff. Auntie Luo crafted her a false identity and sent her to one of her safe houses for now. As soon as she’s able to support herself, she can go wherever she wants.”

“And Gu Xiang…”

“Ah, yes, A-Xiang was the one who found her. There are many ways to contact us, and A-Xiang thought of all of them. So I guess Liu Qianqiao forgot her earrings when she stayed at her place. Oops.”

Zhou Zishu feels slightly dizzy. It’s not like this comes as a total surprise – it was among the many possible theories in his mind – but the way Wen Kexing said it definitely does. What did Wen Kexing experience that drove him to start helping others to this extent? What did Wen Kexing do that convinced him he has to help others? And how did Wen Kexing read Zhou Zishu so easily?

Instead of posing any of those questions that could lead to dangerous answers, Zhou Zishu lets his detective-brain do the talking.

“Where do you even get the money from?”

Wen Kexing laughs and nudges Zhou Zishu’s knee with his foot. “Hah! A-Xu,” he says and gives him a look that explains absolutely nothing and doesn’t follow it up.

“Anyway, I guess it’s over now.”

“What do you mean?” Zhou Zishu frowns.

“Well, that you’ve found me out, of course! Surely you’re going to give the two families the answers they seek. Just make sure to say I operated on my own, I’d hate to get the rest of Ghost Valley into trouble. Especially A-Xiang. It’d be a pity if her budding romance was cut short. I’ll just treat is as karma catching up and making me pay my tab,” he says, way to jovially, and grins at Zhou Zishu.

Zhou Zishu’s frown turns into a glare when he catches Wen Kexing’s meaning.

“Do you really think so little of me?”

“Wh– I think the world of you, A-Xu!”

“Then what makes you think I’ll go and tell on you?”

Wen Kexing looks a bit stunned and that, at least, gives Zhou Zishu some satisfaction. He leans forward and raises his eyebrow at Wen Kexing.

“If you ever need help covering up tracks, give me a call.”

Now Wen Kexing looks very stunned. His mouth opens and closes a few times without words coming out of it. Then a wide grin spreads over his features. He immediately scoots closer again to return his arm around Zhou Zishu’s shoulder.

“A-Xu! You truly are the most remarkable person I’ve ever met. I’m afraid I can’t let you go again.”

Zhou Zishu rolls his eyes. “You’re that desperate to actually abduct someone, huh?”

“Abduction implies the involved party does not consent. Do you not consent, A-Xu?” His voice seems to drop with every word, and he leans in closer until Zhou Zishu can feel breath ghost along the shell of his ear. He shivers involuntarily. If he turned his head now, Wen Kexing would be right there, and he could…

Zhou Zishu stands up all at once, making Wen Kexing tilt to the side. “I’m leaving.”

“A-Xu! That’s completely unnecessary, didn’t I tell you about my king-sized bed? We can both fit in there easily!”

Zhou Zishu takes a deep breath, steeling himself for what he’s about to say. He turns to Wen Kexing with a pointed look. “Didn’t you say you wanted to court me, Lao-Wen? So, put in a little more effort.”

And with that, he strides out of the apartment, leaving behind a stunned Wen Kexing.

-

Zhou Zishu lies in his peasant-sized bed and stares at the ceiling, trying to make sense of what has transpired today. He would have made a lot more progress if there wasn’t someone constantly distracting him.

Lao-Wen (21:22)

A-Xu~

You’ve made me so anxious, how am I supposed to sleep now?

Me (21:24)

I made you anxious? How?

Lao-Wen (21:25)

I finally laid bare my soul in front of you and you simply left

What am I supposed to make of that?

Have you lost all interest?

Me (21:25)

You’re ridiculous. Didn’t I say I’d help you?

Lao-Wen (21:26)

Yes, but that’s on a business level. What about the personal level?

Is my soulmate still willing to meet with me in the future?

Me (21:26)

[typing]

Chapter Text

It’s still dark when Zhou Zishu wakes up. This is nothing new – he’s been experiencing various degrees of insomnia in the past. Back when he was working for Helian Yi he went days without sleep, and even after he quit not a night passed where he wouldn’t startle awake in the middle of it. It has gotten better over the years, but every now and then he still spends a night tossing and turning and plagued by nightmares that might be memories.

He turns to the side to check his alarm for the time, but a sharp pain shoots through his left shoulder as soon as he moves and makes him gasp in pain. That’s when he realises that everything is very wrong. Firstly, it’s the smell – the air is stale and stagnant, as if he spent the night in one of the homeless shelters he used to gather information in back then. Secondly, it’s his position. He’s not lying down at all, but sitting upright in a chair – wooden, judging from the sharp splinters that dig into his legs. And lastly, his hands are bound behind his back, which at least explains the pain in his shoulders.

Then, all clicks into place.

Zhou Zishu can’t help but laugh at the irony of the situation. He spent the past month trying to solve a kidnapping case that wasn’t one, only to now get kidnapped himself. For one crazy moment he thinks that this is a very elaborate plan by alleged philanthropist and actual menace Wen Kexing. But that thought gets scrapped quicky since not even someone as unhinged as Wen Kexing would to something this tasteless. He tries to remember the last thing he did before he found himself with bound hands and feet and a burlap bag over his head. (How old fashioned, he thinks, couldn’t they afford something a little less cliché?) He was with Cao Weining, who had locked himself out of his flat again, and with whom he then spent a relaxing afternoon in front of the TV while his friend talked about his progressing relationship. Which was neither progressing nor a relationship, but very entertaining. Then he picked up some groceries that would probably make his mother chase him through the kitchen with a cast iron wok because they consisted of nothing but wine and instant noodles. And after that, he…he…Zhou Zishu attempts to rub at his aching temples, only to be reminded that moving his hands is currently impossible. His plan was to head home and go over his newly acquired case again (this one a little less high-profile than the last, since the lost thing in question was not a person but a glazed necklace).

He didn’t arrive home, though.

No, there was the old man who stepped onto the road right in front of him, making him slam on the brakes and come to a stop just before hitting him. He got out of the car to check if the old man was alright and then…nothing.

But Zhou Zishu is experienced, he knows how these things go. One person serves as the distraction, at least two sneak up from behind and incapacitate the target. He did it himself once or twice, to those people who threatened Helian Yi’s plans. That leaves the question of why he has been kidnapped. He hasn’t made any major enemies lately, as far as he knows. Other than the guy who lost his fortune because Zhou Zishu exposed his illegal gambling activities, maybe. Oh, or the con-woman he forced to donate her “earned” money to a charity organisation. Well, maybe he’s made some enemies. But none of them should be mad enough to actually go and kidnap him.

As he continues to ponder his predicament, there are suddenly muffled voices coming from somewhere ahead of him. It sounds like they’re behind a door, and Zhou Zishu can make out three different ones; two definitely male and one somewhat indistinguishable. He doesn’t understand any of the words, but from the sound of it they are having an argument. Good – he can use discord among his captors to his advantage. Then suddenly the voices stop and the sound of a door opening echoes through the room, quickly followed by steps that approached the chair Zhou Zishu is sitting on. He braces himself, shutting his eyes in case the burlap bag gets pulled off. And sure enough, suddenly bright light flashes before his closed eyelids. The next thing he knows someone slaps him across the face hard.

“Wake up!”

Zhou Zishu moves his aching jaw and pries his eyes open, shooting the person in front of him a glare. “No need to get violent, I’m already awake.”

Before him stands an older man with grey hair and an unflattering patchy beard that’s probably supposed to look dignified in some universe. Behind that guy are two more; one looking like he came straight out of the catalogue for boring businessmen, and the third quite young and coming from the same catalogue, but the “pretty boy” section. The backdrop to this scene is a small room with concrete walls, a door, and a bare lightbulb that dangles from the ceiling.

“Good,” the one in front of Zhou Zishu sneers and glares down at him. Zhou Zishu is pretty unimpressed, considering he’s been the subject of much sterner and more intimidating expressions before, including that of the mistress of fierce glares, Gu Xiang. “Then I hope you’re feeling talkative on this wonderful night because we’re going to have a nice little chat.”

“My mother taught me not to talk to strangers,” Zhou Zishu smiles, earning himself another slap to the face. He can feel something sharp against his cheek, probably a ring.

“I don’t think you’re in the position to make jokes,” his captor spits (literally and much to Zhou Zishu’s disgust). “If you want to keep that pretty face of yours like it is, then only open your mouth to answer questions.”

Zhou Zishu raises an eyebrow at him. He’s quite adept at silent provocations as well. From the moment he laid eyes upon these three people, he knew they’re the kind that love to showcase their power. And nothing gets someone like this more riled up than having that power trampled upon. So all Zhou Zishu needs to do is to be as disrespectful as possible to get them to make a mistake and give him an opening to flee. He already noticed that the ropes around his wrists were rather sloppily tied.

“Get on with it, Mo Huaiyang,” the young guy says and gets a glare from his friend for that.

“We said no names, you fool!”

“What does it matter?” young guy pouts as if to underline just how punchable his face looks. “It’s not like he’s getting out–“

“Shut up, Yu Qiufeng!”

Zhou Zishu grins at these three failures of kidnappers, if only to aggravate them more. The one called Mo Huaiyang reacts immediately by slapping him again and then leaning in, hissing right into Zhou Zishu’s face.

“I know you’re one of Wen Kexing’s little pets, and now you’re going to tell us a little about your master.”

Wen Kexing. Of course it’s Wen Kexing because the man apparently aims to be the source of every single problem in Zhou Zishu’s life.  

“I’m sorry to disappoint, but I’ve known Wen Kexing for about three days and know next to nothing about him.”

“Oh, come on,” Yu Qiufeng drawls and smiles smugly, looking more and more like he’s asking for a beating. “We’re not stupid. Wen Kexing can try and hide his preferences as much as he likes, we still know his type.”

“Preferences?” Zhou Zishu frowns. “Type? What are you talking about?”

“You can drop the act. We’ve had people follow Wen Kexing and we know he frequents rather…questionable establishments.”

The first thing Zhou Zishu thinks is Wen Kexing, you bastard, quickly followed by They think I’m a prostitute, what the fuck?

“What the fuck?” he says.

“We saw it,” the only one who hasn’t had his name dropped yet says. “Not only did you have dinner with him and one of your friends, but you also went to a café with him afterwards, and later you even entered his apartment. Clearly there is something going on.”

Zhou Zishu wants to deny it but honestly? He isn’t sure how. From the outside it definitely looks like there is something going on. Whatever he can say now would only confirm that he has some sort of knowledge of Wen Kexing.

“Why do you even want information on him?” he asks instead, opting for playing dumb. “He’s just a normal businessman. Nothing special about him.”

“Liar!” Mo Huaiyang spits. “We know exactly that what he does with that ridiculous organisation of his. Not only is he constantly disrupting the work of honest businessfolk like us, he also does plainly illegal things and tarnishes the reputation of Qinzhu building with his outrageous behaviour!”

“Honest businessmen,” Zhou Zishu echoes and looks the three men up and down. “So what you’re saying is you’re here to get some dirt on the competition?”

“Competition? Pah. That man is a mere bug, not worthy to be called competition. But bugs are bothersome, and he mustn’t be allowed to continue!”

“If you’re so sure that he’s doing illegal things, then what do you need me for?”

Yu Qiufeng grins and steps closer. “He’s stupidly secretive about everything he does and careful to not leave any traces. But now that we have you here, I’m sure you’ll be able to help up gather evidence.”

Zhou Zishu scoffs. “You could have just asked, you know? Even though I’m not sure why you would think an…” he clears his throat and glares. “alleged prostitute has any relevant information. But now that you’ve been so rude and even kidnapped me, I think I’ll pass. No evidence for you, gentlemen.”

“I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this,” Mo Huaiyang says solemnly. “After all, we could have had a normal conversation.”

Zhou Zishu wants to say that any normalcy gets taken out of a conversation as soon as one of the parties is tied to a chair, but he stops himself. Arguing with idiots never yields results.

“Huang Daoren. Your turn.”

The third man, finally having his name dropped, pulls up his sleeves as he steps forward.

“What, a pencil-pusher is going to get his own hands dirt-“ Zhou Zishu isn’t even allowed to finish his mockery before a fist hits him against his temple. Stars flash up before his eyes and he chokes out a gasp. His head is throbbing and a dull pain spreads over the right half of his face.

“You can either tell us what we want to know, or we can keep on going until you feel ready. Your choice,” says the voice of Mo Huaiyang. Zhou Zishu would very much like to glare at him, but his sight is somewhat blurred, and he isn’t sure where exactly the man is standing.

“Don’t– don’t you think this is a little cliché?” he manages to choke out. The next hit connects with his jaw. He feels the coppery taste of blood fill his mouth when he bites down on his tongue. Okay, no talking while he’s being beaten up.

“Huang Daoren is a professional kick-boxer, he can go on like this for a long time,” Mo Huaiyang says. Zhou Zishu’s sight has finally cleared up enough that he can level a disdainful look at him.  

“Then I guess we’ll see who of us has more stamina.”

Huang Daoren pulls his fist back again and Zhou Zishu braces himself for another impact when loud voices come from beyond the door. Muffled shouts something that sounds suspiciously like an ensuing fight make everyone in the room pause for a moment as they listen.

“Yu Qiufeng, go have a look at what’s going on out there. I’d hate to be disturbed.”

Zhou Zishu wonders if somehow Cao Weining caught wind of the abduction and mobilised the police department. Which would put him in Cao Weining’s debt yet again, and this time he is pretty sure his friend is going to make him stage a romantic dinner for Gu Xiang or something equally cringe-worthy.

Yu Qiufeng approaches the door and reaches for the handle, but before he can even touch it the door flies open inward and hits him square in the face, making him stumble backwards and fall onto his back.

Zhou Zishu and his remaining kidnappers gape at the doorframe in which a petite woman in an elegant purple dress stands, leg still halfway raised from kicking the door open.

“Gu Xiang?” Zhou Zishu asks disbelievingly. Of all people, she is definitely the last one –

“A-Xu!”

Ah yes. That’s a bit more like it. Wen Kexing, dressed in a dark green suit with a stitched-on leaf pattern, pushes past Gu Xiang and strides towards Zhou Zishu. Mo Huaiyang steps into his path, but Wen Kexing only has a mildly disinterested glance to spare for him. “A-Xiang,” he says, and Gu Xiang jumps forward. How she can move that fast in her long flowing dress and with high-heels on is a mystery, but she’s in front of Mo Huaiyang in a flash. With a very well-aimed kick to his stomach she makes him bend forward, and then slams her knee into his face with full-force. Judging from the noise, she either broke his nose or loosened all of his teeth. Maybe both. He falls down unconscious, but Gu Xiang’s isn’t there to witness her victory as she has already moved on to Huang Daoren. She hits several points in his chest area and then kicks his legs out from underneath him which what looks like proper martial art movements. He’s on the ground in a matter of seconds and Gu Xiang isn’t even winded. Zhou Zishu has only a brief moment to appreciate her skill before his whole line of sight is claimed by Wen Kexing, who falls to his knees before him and carefully takes Zhou Zishu’s face into his hands.

“A-Xu? A-Xu, are you alright?” He brushes some stray strands away from Zhou Zishu’s forehead and then trails a hand to his lips to rubs carefully at the blood there. The gesture is so gentle that Zhou Zishu’s heart makes a stutter that has nothing to do with the adrenaline that’s now slowly leaving his system.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. They’ve barely had a chance to hit me before Gu-guniang’s heroic rescue.”

“A-Xu, you’re not fine! Your beautiful mouth is bleeding, we definitely need to take care of that! And this is my heroic rescue, A-Xiang wouldn’t even be here without me.”

“I didn’t see you single-handedly beat up these idiots,” Zhou Zishu says, lips brushing Wen Kexing’s thumb that still lingers against his mouth. He tries to bat it away, but his hands are still bound.

Wen Kexing huffs. “I could have done it. But what do I pay my bodyguard for if not to do the dirty work? Here, A-Xu, let me take care of the bonds.”

Instead of walking around the chair to untie Zhou Zishu’s hands, Wen Kexing reaches around him and embraces him tightly while his nimble fingers make quick work of the rope. The rope falls away, Zhou Zishu’s hands come free, but Wen Kexing doesn’t let go of him. Instead his turns his head a fraction so that his nose brushes the side of Zhou Zishu’s neck.

“I was so worried A-X. You owe me for making me this worried,” he mumbles and Zhou Zishu can feel warm breath ghost against his skin. He slowly, carefully lifts his hands. But before he has decided whether he wants to give Wen Kexing’s shoulder a reassuring pat or return the hug, a sharp gasp comes from the direction of the door. Zhou Zishu’s head snaps up and Wen Kexing whirls around, but in the door stands only Cao Weining.

 “I…I called back-up but…” he gestures around. “They’re all unconscious already?”

“Sure,” Gu Xiang says as she straightens her dress, the still bodies of the kidnappers at her feet. “Even my grandmother could have taken care of them.” She lifts her foot and places it casually onto Mo Huaiyang’s back and then leans her entire weight on it. “It was nothing.”

“A-A-Xiang? You beat all these men up?”

“What?” she asks defiantly and crosses her arms. “I bet I could get you onto your back in five seconds or less.” (Very true, thinks Zhou Zishu, you just have to say the word.) “Don’t look down on me just because I’m a woman!”

“I’m not…I would never…Ah, to hell with it!” Cao Weining steps forward and reaches Gu Xiang in two long strides, but he doesn’t stop there. He walks right over the body of Mo Huaiyang and pushes Gu Xiang backward until her back hits the wall. Then he kisses her square on the mouth.

Even from his rather faraway vantagepoint, Zhou Zishu can see that it’s a very chaste kiss. And sure enough, after .5 seconds Cao Weining’s face adopts a shade of red that has yet to be named and he steps back. “Sorry, I didn’t…I shouldn’t have…but I–“

That’s as far as he gets before Gu Xiang grabs his shoulders and pulls him back in to kiss him in earnest. Zhou Zishu stares at them, finding the scene a lot more surreal than his kidnapping.

“Ah. A-Xu. We lost. They got together before us.” Wen Kexing says severely and glares at the two as if their happiness insulted him on a personal level. Zhou Zishu scoffs at so much pettiness and makes to stand, but apparently he underestimated the head injury he sustained. The world tilts to the side as soon as he moves and he can feel his legs give out underneath him.

“A-Xu!” Wen Kexing catches him around the waist before he can crumple to the floor. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Zhou Zishu mumbles and tries to push him away, but Wen Kexing stubbornly keeps his hands where they are, warm and pleasant and secure on Zhou Zishu’s waist. “I’m fine, Lao-Wen, it was just a little hit to the temple. I simply need to lay down and–“

“Your temple?” Wen Kexing gasps, sounding so shocked as if Zhou Zishu just announced that he has only three years left to live. His hands leave Zhou Zishu’s waist to wander up and gently run through his hair. “A-Xu! You’re bleeding!”

“It’s a head wound, they always–“

“A-Xiang! I’m taking A-Xu home, make sure the police give these jerks the punishment they deserve.”

Gu Xiang waves her hand without letting go of Cao Weining and Zhou Zishu is honestly worried that they’re running out of air. But that quickly becomes the least of his worries because before he can do so much as protest, Wen Kexing scoops him up into his arms and carries him towards the door.

“Lao-Wen, have you gone completely mad now? Wen Kexing, what are you doing?” Zhou Zishu struggles in his arms, but that only causes Wen Kexing to hold on to him more tightly.

“I believe a certain someone allowed me to court him. What’s more romantic than carrying the lovely prince to safety?”

“I can and will end you, Lao-Wen, if you don’t immediately – Wen Kexing!” Wen Kexing kicks the door open (Zhou Zishu refuses to admit that okay, that’s kind of hot) and strides into the hallway beyond. Apparently, they’re in some sort of abandoned office building – the kidnappers probably researched most cliché way to abduct someone on baidu – whose guards all lie knocked out on the ground. To Zhou Zishu’s horror, they make it about halfway to the exit when a group of police officers barge into the building, several of which he knows because they’re friends of Weining’s. They stare at them with open mouths as Wen Kexing strides past them with the confidence of a general who just saved the Emperor’s fragile daughter from the enemy’s clutches. In a few minutes, the same officers are going to enter a room with several unconscious bodies on the floor and a kissing couple in the corner, so they’ll probably forget about the guy being carried away by walking fashion icon by then.

Wen Kexing doesn’t let go of Zhou Zishu even as they leave the building, and he also doesn’t let go of him as they cross the busy main street to reach his car. Several people stare at them and Zhou Zishu decides that there can’t possibly be anything left of his dignity, and so he gives them a wave and a grin as he’s being carried past them. Wen Kexing opens the passenger door of his car and carefully lowers Zhou Zishu onto the seat. As soon as he’s out of danger of being dropped, Zhou Zishu smacks Wen Kexing’s chest.

“You absolute menace, Wen Kexing! You’re going to pay for this.”

“I’ll gladly pay A-Xu with my body,” Wen Kexing grins and quickly closes the door before he gets hit again.

“No shame, no decency, no class, worst courting ever,” Zhou Zishu says when Wen Kexing sits down behind the wheel. “I’m rating you a minus three out of ten.”

“A-Xu! I heroically saved your life, I think that’s worth at least a nine!”

“How did you even know where I was?!”

“A-Xiang and I were at a charity gala when one of my informants sent a message that she saw you getting dragged into Mo Huaiyang’s car,” Wen Kexing says as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“You have informants following me?”

“I have informants following Mo Huaiyang. That asshole has been trying to find dirt on me ever since I caused his firm’s bankruptcy, and I like to be one step ahead of my enemies.” Then he suddenly turns serious and reaches over to brush his fingers against Zhou Zishu’s cheek. “A-Xu. You got hurt because of me. I’m so sorry. I’ll definitely make it up to you.”

Zhou Zishu slaps his hand away. “Not your fault,” he says, not to reassure Wen Kexing but because it’s the truth.

“But it is. A-Xu, I’ll do anything you want. And I mean anything. Even if you want me to strip down and–“

“Will you shut up?”

“Ah?”

“You said you’ll do anything. Don’t talk for the next 20 minutes and I consider the debt repaid.”

He glances at Wen Kexing from the corner of his eyes, seeing how the other opens his mouth and – closes it again. The rest of the car ride passes in blessed silence.

-

“Very cosy,” Wen Kexing says dryly as he carries Zhou Zishu over the threshold of the latter’s flat and takes in the mess beyond. Despite Zhou Zishu’s protests that it’s completely unnecessary, Wen Kexing insisted on accompanying him home. Zhou Zishu resigned himself to his fate and didn’t struggle as Wen Kexing scooped him up again because it was pointless to argue with Wen Kexing (and definitely not because it felt good to be held by strong arms, pressed against a firm chest, and enveloped by a pleasant scent).

“It’s cosy enough,” Zhou Zishu says and pokes Wen Kexing’s cheek. “Now let me down, I need to clean the wound.”

“Absolutely not,” Wen Kexing says and carries him over to the couch to lay him down so gently as if Zhou Zishu were made from fragile porcelain. “Tell me where your first-aid kit is.”

“Lao-Wen, this is ridiculous, it’s literally just a tiny– OW, what the fuck?“

He kicks in Wen Kexing’s direction and shields his temple with a hand to prevent Wen Kexing from poking at his wound again.

“Who allowed you to crawl out of the dark valley you should be confined in? You’re an actual threat to my sanity!”

Wen Kexing only gives him a pointed look.

“Whatever. The kit in the bathroom,” Zhou Zishu grumbles.

Wen Kexing’s raised eyebrow immediately lowers and his lips pull into a smile. “Thanks, A-Xu!”

Zhou Zishu would probably be a lot more annoyed if that smile weren’t so radiant.

A few minutes later he finds himself sitting next to Wen Kexing on the sofa, his arm in the other man’s lap as Wen Kexing dabs soothing ointment on the raw skin of his wrist.

“A-Xu…does it hurt?” There is a soft, almost insecure undertone in Wen Kexing’s voice that makes Zhou Zishu look up to see if the expression matches that tone, but Wen Kexing’s face is hidden by a curtain of hair.

“It’s fine.”

Wen Kexing hums, uncharacteristically quiet. He cradles Zhou Zishu’s hand in his and lifts it up as if to examine it more closely. The next moment his lips brush against the marks the bounds left on Zhou Zishu’s wrist, featherlight and gentle.

“I’m sorry, A-Xu,” Wen Kexing murmurs against his skin. “I really am.”

Zhou Zishu stares at him, unable to move, speak, or even think. Wen Kexing glances at him from beneath his lashes and then lowers the hand again, draping in back in his lap.

“I’ll make it up to you, okay?”

“I–“ Zhou Zishu’s voice is hoarse and he clears his throat, snatching his hand back like that could give him back his self-control as well. “Stop joking. I already told you. It wasn’t you who hurt me but those three idiots. You already saved me, so technically I’m in your debt.”

“Then let’s say we’re even. There’s no need for any debt between us soulmates anyway, right?” Wen Kexing says. His smirk doesn’t quite reach its usual menacing quality, but at least it’s a smirk.

Zhou Zishu absentmindedly rubs at his wrist, not sure if he’s trying to erase the feeling of Wen Kexing’s lips or engrave it into his skin. Then he scoffs, just to get back some normalcy. “Pah, stop it with your soulmate nonsense! Barely a week and you already talk of soulmates, are you always that easy?”

“A-Xu, how can you say that?” Wen Kexing asks indignantly and he’s almost back to normal now. He takes a ball of cotton out of the first aid kit and scoots closer, gesturing for Zhou Zishu to lean forward as well. “I’m interested in one person and one person only, and that is you.” He takes Zhou Zishu’s chin between thumb and index finger and starts cleaning the blood at his temple. Zhou Zishu looks everywhere that isn’t Wen Kexing’s dark eyes, or his prominent nose, or his curved lips. People should not be allowed to look this flawless.

“One person and one person only? Who are you trying to fool, Philanthropist Wen? Those men thought I was a prostitute,” Zhou Zishu says and can’t help the accusing tone his voice adopts. “Your prostitute!”

“Ah yes, makes sense,” Wen Kexing nods as if it’s something completely reasonable and continues to dab at Zhou Zishu’s temple.

“You– shameless,” Zhou Zishu hisses and absolutely does not think about Wen Kexing in bed with some faceless stranger.

Wen Kexing’s lips curl into a grin like he knows exactly what Zhou Zishu is thinking. “A-Xu, which gutter did your mind wander into, hm? I mean it makes sense because one of Auntie Luo’s safe houses is disguised as a brothel and I frequently check up on it. I can’t believe you’d think I hire prostitutes!”

Zhou Zishu glares at him because he can’t reply without admitting that that’s exactly what he has been thinking.

“Of course not! Do I look like I need to pay to have sex?” Wen Kexing says with mock indignancy and leans back a bit to spread his arms, showcasing his perfectly tailored suit that favourably clings to his form. Zhou Zishu’s traitorous eyes wander down Wen Kexing’s chest into his lap, and he can feel his ears heat up.

“You’re the worst, I wish I was still with those three kidnappers! At least they had some semblance of decency,” he hisses and stands up while the last remnants of his dignity are still intact. Unfortunately the world hates Zhou Zishu, and a sudden bout of dizziness assaults him, making him sway in place.

“A-Xu!” Wen Kexing calls with a smirk audible in his voice. “A-Xu, don’t be mad, ever since we met there’s been no one on my mind but you!” And then two arms wrap around Zhou Zishu’s waist and pull him back against a firm chest. “A-Xu,” Wen Kexing says again, his voice right next to Zhou Zishu’s ear. “Careful. Don’t fall.”

“I’m fine,” Zhou Zishu says and slaps at Wen Kexing’s hands, only for the other to tighten his grip. “You – what are you doing?”

“It’s called courting, A-Xu. I have a permit to do so.”

Zhou Zishu almost feels the words more than he hears them when Wen Kexing’s lips brush against his ear. This is ridiculous, Zhou Zishu is a grown man and not some blushing teenager, and yet that’s exactly how he feels in Wen Kexing’s arms.

“Did your mother never teach you that the first step to courting is an invitation to a nice restaurant?” he says and struggles a bit in Wen Kexing’s arms. Not because he actually wants the other to let go, but because he doesn’t want to give him the satisfaction of thinking his dumb flirtations work.

“I think we’ve made it past the proper courting order when I heroically rescued you from kidnappers, Prince Zhou.”

“Out of the frying pan and into the fire,” Zhou Zishu says. Wen Kexing finally lets go of him, giving Zhou Zishu the opportunity to turn around and point accusingly at him. “You’re a lot more dangerous than those three people!”

“Do you find danger attractive, A-Xu?”

“I can’t deal with you.”

“I’ve been told I’m an acquired taste.”

“I’m a picky eater.”

“Would you like a small sample?”

“I would like you to leave me to sleep and recuperate in peace.”

“I’m not stopping you. Do you need help undressing?”

Zhou Zishu sighs. „Clearly I can’t win against the master of shameless bantering. But honestly, Lao-Wen, I’m tired.”

Wen Kexing’s grin softens into a smile and he nods. “Alright. At least allow me to clean this up, then I’ll go home.” He gestures to the medical supplies.

“Fine. But be quiet. And shut the door when you leave, I don’t want to get robbed just after the kidnapping.”

There is a strange feeling in his chest when Zhou Zishu closes the bedroom door behind him. A part of him wants to go back out and tell Wen Kexing to stay the night. Another part of him is mortified at the first part and would like to tell it to stop being ridiculous.

-

Zhou Zishu wakes up to light flooding the room and a strange smell wafting through the air. He rubs at his eyes and sits up. Briefly he wonders why his head feels like he drank three bottles of wine all by himself. Then he remembers the events of yesterday. It feels bit unreal now, like something he saw on TV instead of having it experienced himself. He stretches languidly and resists the urge to flop back onto the sheets. There is still the incredibly important case of the lost glazed necklace and he has to –

He stills.

There’s a noise in his apartment.

Something clanks, followed by a sharp hissing sound. More kidnappers, is Zhou Zishu’s first thought, but these ones must be even worse than the last batch if they make such a ruckus in their prey’s flat. He carefully peels himself out of the blankets and pads bare footed over to the door. No voices come from behind it – maybe only one person then. Is he actually being robbed? Instead of the eight sufferings of human life, does he have to go through the eight crimes? Slowly, carefully, and without a sound he opens the bedroom door and peeks into the living room. It’s empty, but there is definitely someone in the kitchen, if the pleasant smell and the cheerful tune that is being whistled are anything to go by. Zhou Zishu’s detective brain reaches the only possible solution. But…but it can’t be.

He glances around the corner and has his suspicion confirmed, only that his suspicion has in no way prepared him for the sight in front of him.

Wen Kexing, hair piled up into a ponytail and expensive suit covered by the apron Cao Weining once gifted Zhou Zishu (I can’t cook, but at least I can look professional while failing, it says, bought after Zhou Zishu somehow managed to scorch congee), stands in front of the little-used stove and currently piles youtiao onto a plate. He looks up at the sharp gasp Zhou Zishu makes.

“A-Xu! Good m– ah.”

His eyes travel down Zhou Zishu’s body, who becomes very aware of the thin shirt and the shorts he’s wearing. “What?” he snaps. “Did you expect me to sleep in long robes? And why are you still here, didn’t I tell you to go home?”

Wen Kexing drags his gaze up Zhou Zishu’s body again and finally meets his eyes. “Aiyo, A-Xu, how could I bear to leave you alone? What if something happened?”

“So you simply invited yourself to sleep on my couch?”

“I would have preferred your bed, but I wasn’t sure if I was allowed.”

“And then decided to make breakfast in the morning?”

“Isn’t cooking the very definition of courting? I hope you like tofu pudding.”

Zhou Zishu slumps down at the table. “I’ve never met anyone as irritating as you.”

“Thank you!” Wen Kexing beams and stirs through a large pot. “But A-Xu, why do you have no ingredients whatsoever in your cupboards? I had to go and buy everything.”

So Wen Kexing slept on his tiny and uncomfortable couch and then got up early to buy ingredients to cook the breakfast that he was now serving Zhou Zishu.

“You – you…alright. I admit your courting might be worth a seven now.”

Wen Kexing laughs and sits down opposite of Zhou Zishu. “Just wait, A-Xu, give me a week and it’ll go up to an eleven.”

“Well. Thank you. For,” Zhou Zishu gestures around, “everything, I guess.”

“No, thank you, A-Xu, for blessing my eyes with such wonderful legs so early in the morning. I bet they’d look even better wrapped around–“

“Why do you always have to ruin everything by opening your mouth?”

“Do you have better things I could do with my mouth?”

Zhou Zishu chokes on a mouthful of tofu pudding. “Yeah,” he manages after he stops coughing. “Like eating.”

Wen Kexing looks way too happy with himself as he dunks a youtiao into the tofu pudding and eats it in the most suggestive way possible. It probably says a lot that Zhou Zishu doesn’t even blush anymore. He’s definitely had too much Wen Kexing-exposure recently.

“This is actually good,” he says instead of paying too much attention to Wen Kexing’s mouth. “Where did you learn how to cook?”

“It’s one of the many skills I taught myself. I’ll gladly cook more for you, A-Xu. Judging from the state of your kitchen, you live from take-out alone.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” Zhou Zishu mutters and takes another youtiao.

“But why settle for less if you could have. Well. Me,” Wen Kexing says with a wink.

“Complete and utter chaos you mean?”

“I’ll be whatever you want me to,” Wen Kexing says, purrs more like, like the cat Zhou Zishu never got because cats are too headstrong and too domineering.

I want you gone, Zhou Zishu could have said. What comes out of his treacherous mouth is: “I want you to just be yourself. Everything else is no fun.”

Wen Kexing’s smile freezes, as does his entire body, giving him the appearance of an especially beautiful painting. Zhou Zishu doesn’t know how he did it, but somehow, he rendered the great Wen Kexing speechless.

“A-Xu…A-Xu, you can’t just say things like that!” Wen Kexing eventually rasps with a breathy voice.

Zhou Zishu just shrugs and empties his bowl, making sure nothing of the delicious tofu pudding goes to waste. “I hate to admit it, but you’re actually not all that bad to be around,” he says as nonchalantly as he can. The truth is that there is something about Wen Kexing’s presence that sets Zhou Zishu at ease. For all his inappropriateness and teasing and his irritating character, Zhou Zishu also feels like Wen Kexing is someone he knows. Which is stupid because he doesn’t. They’ve known each other for barely a week, and yet he feels closer to Wen Kexing than he does to most of his long-time acquaintances.

“A-Xu…” Wen Kexing swallows. “Does that mean…does that mean my courting gets a ten out of ten?”

“Hmm…let’s make it a nine. I wouldn’t want you to lose all motivation.”

“A-Xu, ah, how could one ever lose motivation when you’re concerned?”

“Sweet talker. Don’t think your silver tongue is going to work all the time.”

“Oh, I’ve been told my tongue is really quite impressive. Want me to show you?”

Zhou Zishu narrows his eyes. “Sure,” he says, and it comes out as a challenge.

Wen Kexing and his silver tongue are stunned, and he stares at Zhou Zishu with wide eyes. “You mean–“

A loud and obnoxious ringing sound makes the crackling tension disperse. Wen Kexing visible deflates and glares in the direction of the offender. Zhou Zishu’s phone is unimpressed and keeps ringing while its owner isn’t sure if he’s supposed to be annoyed or relieved. He picks up all the same.

“Hey, Weining.”

“Good morning, Zhou-ge! How are you?”

“I’m fine. They didn’t really hurt me yesterday. What about you, are your lips sore already?”

“My li- Zhou-ge!” Zhou Zishu has no idea how he does it, but Cao Weining audibly blushes. “Zhou-geee,” he whines.

“What? I’m congratulating you, Weining. Are you at Gu Xiang’s now?”

“No, of course not, that would be…” he blushes even louder, “but we’re going to meet for dinner today!”

“Well, well, look at that! She’s making you court her as well.”

“As well?”

“Nothing. Why are you calling? I guess you didn’t just want to brag about your romantic success?”

“Ah, no! I’m supposed to tell you that my uncle wants you to come to the station and give a statement about yesterday.”

“I see. Tell him I’ll be there in a bit.”

“Alright, I–“

Wen Kexing picks this moment to let out a very loud and very indecent moan. “A-Xu, come back to bed, I’m getting lonely!”

Cao Weining makes a noise that sounds like he just got punched. “Zh-zh-zhou-ge???”

Zhou Zishu simply hangs up, which is probably not the best course of action to avoid rumours.

“What are you, twelve?” he hisses and glares at Wen Kexing.

“Nothing bad about staying young at heart.”

“Out with you, you absolute menace. I have to get ready and give a statement on the kidnapping. And maybe harassment.”

“Aiyo, A-Xu, don’t make me lose to Cao Weining! He’s already gotten a kiss, I want one, too.”

“Well, he deserved that kiss, what after years of pining. A few days or weeks more won’t kill you.”

“Weeks? I will definitely die, please save me, A-Xu!”

“Out with you, I said.” Zhou Zishu pulls Wen Kexing to his feet and pushes him towards the door. “I need to get dressed. And no,” he adds before Wen Kexing can even open his mouth. “I do not need your help.”

Wen Kexing has the gall to pout and look cute while doing so. “Alright, alright, A-Xu. I’ll leave, but only if you promise that we go to dinner as well.”

“Fine, fine. We can meet at Auntie Liang’s this evening if you want.”

“Of course I want. I’ll spend the whole day looking forward to seeing you again,” Wen Kexing says as they reach the door.

“You do that. And, Lao Wen?”

Wen Kexing pauses, his hand already on the doorknob, and turns around. Zhou Zishu realises how much taller than him Wen Kexing is when he has to stand on his tiptoes to reach the other’s lips. So that’s what he does. He pushes Wen Kexing against the door, stands on his tiptoes, and plants a firm kiss on Wen Kexing’s lips.

It takes less than a heartbeat for Wen Kexing to react.

The next thing Zhou Zishu knows is that he’s the one being pinned against the door by Wen Kexing’s body while his mouth is being thoroughly ravished. It’s a very good kiss, which comes at no surprise at all – Zhou Zishu spent more time than he would ever admit focused on Wen Kexing’s lips, and they’re very kissable. The kiss is turning more and more heated, and Zhou Zishu knows that if they keep going now, there is no way he’s going to make it to the police station today. Or anywhere that isn’t his bed, really. And so he gathers up all his self-control and pushes Wen Kexing back.

Wen Kexing looks positively sinful, his hair mussed, his lips spit-shiny and red, and a look of pure hunger in his eyes. “A-Xu,” he says, voice husky, “You–“

“Something more for you to look forward to,” Zhou Zishu says and licks his lips. “Now scram before I make you.”

Wen Kexing looks like he would like very much for Zhou Zishu to make him, but he still leaves without another complaint. For a moment, Zhou Zishu simply stares at the closed door. Then he grins. Wen Kexing isn’t the only one looking forward to tonight.

-

Lao-Wen (03:16)

A-Xu~

I’m so happy

Me (03:17)

Ridiculous is what you are

Lao-Wen (03:17)

That’s not what you said half an hour ago 😏

Me (03:18)

Ugh

Lao-Wen (03:18)

[typing]

“Lao-Wen, don’t you feel silly?” Zhou Zishu asks the man whose head is currently pillowed comfortably on his chest.

“Why?” Wen Kexing asks innocently and blinks at him.

“Why are you texting when you could just talk to me?”

“I want to send a screenshot to A-Xiang as proof because she’s been making fun of me for, and I quote ‘not getting some’.”

Zhou Zishu rolls his eyes, snatches the phone from Wen Kexing, and opens the camera.

“Smile, Lao-Wen,” he says and presses the release.

The photo is slightly blurry, Zhou Zishu’s mouth is half-open, and Wen Kexing looks surprised, but Wen Kexing still snatches the phone and looks at it like he’s looking at some masterpiece.

“A-Xu. It’s beautiful.”

“Are you blind? It’s horrible, delete it and we’ll take a new one.”

“What, no? It’s our first picture as a couple, I’m going to print it and frame it and hang it in the office.”

Zhou Zishu stares at him. “Couple?”

“Is that not what we are?”

“I…I guess it is.”

Wen Kexing grins and presses a kiss to Zhou Zishu’s lips. “We can go on double dates with A-Xiang and Cao Weining now and compete for who’s the more insufferable couple.”

It’s hard competition, but Zhou Zishu is sure that, with someone as shameless as Wen Kexing, they’re definitely going to win.