Chapter Text
Shang Qinghua is a Human Resource (HR) employee in a small scale software (IT) An Ding company. He happened to schedule Mobei Jun's interview through telephone and fell for the hot, sexy, cool voice and nevertheless the confident voice. It did not take long for Mobei Jun to join the company and was left speechless at how Mobei Jun looks in real life. The aura is really too much! Shang Qinghua found the privilege of talking to Mobei Jun now and then because of multiple reasons. It’s not like he wanted to! He is an HR! It’s his job to talk to employees! Office rules, he says. Employee induction, he says. It’s really hard to not look at or talk to someone who looks like that!
Nevertheless Shang Qinghua tries his best to limit his rambling and peeking at him at every possible chance he gets. Mobei Jun is someone who talked only when his comment was required. Unlike Shang Qinghua. very well.
But as days go by, Shang Qinghua finds Mobei Jun coming to his chamber often to complaint about stuff. Without even a basic ‘Hi!’ and talk about stuff that Shang Qinghua is not in-charge too! With that ‘Resting bitch face’ of his.
When Shang Qinghua politely whines that he is not responsible for this task and redirect the issue to someone else, Mobei Jun just glares at him. So intensely. So deep. What? Shang Qinghua already does multitasking. It’s a small company, so multitasking was a given. But still! People have their designated works. How is he supposed to work on IT related issue? He isn't trained on that. Admin works. Could try. But still!!!!
Shang Qinghua is a lively person with a bright smile on his face all the time. He knows everyone in the office. He teases people but instead gets teased a lot in return. One day he was talking to Ning Ying and was getting teased. Shang Qinghua could just pout at that and say 'Thats mean!'. He whined and later smiled immediately and said 'see you later, have lot of pending work to complete'. He waved his hand and was returning to his cabin when he saw Mobei Jun(?) silhouette looking at his direction at the corner of his eye. He looked at Mobei Jun and smiled.
"....."
Well he wasn't expecting a response anyway. That’s fine!
It’s been 6 months since Mobei Jun joined An Ding. Woah time flies really quick ha! And Shang Qinghua can’t exactly pinpoint when they both started to feel comfortable around each other. They greet each other every day (without fail) either when they bump on their way or else... Mobei Jun would just come to Shang Qinghua cabin and even chat sometimes! It’s a small company. Every department works in the same work station and that’s how employees from every department are close.
It was almost mid evening one day when Shang Qinghua and Mobei Jun were having a little chat (as always).
-"I still have so much work to do that that I may have to work extra time today but I am already hungry" Shang Qinghua pouted casually
Mobei Jun dragged Shang Qinghua mercilessly to the cafeteria until Shang Qinghua ate some snack and filled his stomach. The content smile he gave to Mobei Jun was priceless. It was really heart warming to see someone actually caring about him. He was just babbling you know.
And that's how both of them started sharing "snack time" everyday. Soon they got bored eating cafeteria food (mostly Shang Qinghua) and went out to try something new eventually. Many snack shops were near their office in just walk-able distance. It’s fun. It’s something. It feels like everything. He still wonders how someone like Mobei Jun is working in such a small company and can get street food.
If Shang Qinghua is being honest, it’s his favorite time of the day. And wonders if its also the same to Mobei.
Months passed by in a blink. While having 'His time' of the day and while munching on a snack Shang Qinghua spoke
- Did I tell you that my roomie vacated?
- No
- eh? He happened to marry his boyfriend and now stays with his husband. So... I am all alone. Where can I find another roommate-
- I will move in
-‘WHAT? Mobei?’, 'you don't have to do this', 'My house's a mess', 'I won't let you see trash', 'It’s a small house', 'why do you even want to move?', 'you wouldn't like staying there' and many more were left to Mobei Jun's silent death glare with something more to it.
The same weekend Mobei Jun moved in to Shang Qinghua's house.
If Shang Qinghua says he is just anxious of getting a new roommate, well that’s an understatement. He does not even understand why Mobei Jun wants to move to his place. Of course they are close, closer than he ever imagined he would be. They have they own fun space; they go out every day with an excuse to eat ‘snacks’ but none of them comment anything.
Even when they go to office lunch slash dinner or whatever, it’s almost like an unspoken agreement that they both have to sit beside each other. He doesn’t know why. Shang Qinghua still remembers the look he got when a relatively new employee happen to sit beside Shang Qinghua. It’s not like he could say ‘Hey bro! This place is for my grumpy friend. Could you please sit somewhere else?’ He can’t do that to another employee. He is a fucking HR. He is supposed to treat everyone the same!
He could not sleep the whole night. He cant help but text Mobei Jun
-Mobei. You there?
-Hmm
-Don’t get angry. But are you seriously moving to my house? For real? You sure?
Shang Qinghua is looking at his phone and he does not a response immediately this time. His heart is beating so fast that he can’t even say if this is because Mobei Jun will be his new roommate or…….. Mobei Jun gets tired of his questions and decided not to move in anymore. He is holding his phone like a dear lifeline.
-Shut up and sleep.
-“see you tomorrow” Mobei jun adds after a heart beat
-“ok ok see you tmrw. Gd ngt!” Shang Qinghua adds. Holy shit! so Mobei Jun is really coming!!!!
The next day Mobei Jun comes as promised (or scolded) with all his luggage that Qinghua is not sure if everything is going to fit in the room. He helps Mobei with the luggage, helps him settle and somehow could not get to meet the other person’s eye.
He is so scared that he will get used to being around Mobei ( or Mobei being around him) and he is scared that Mobei would not like to be in a small house like this or stay with someone like him and move out in a couple of days eventually. He can’t take both of them. Nothing happened or no signs of it but he is already scared. He wasn’t like this when his Ex-roommate/critic/friend left. Of course he was sad but at the same time happy for his friend. What’s this feeling with Mobei Jun?
He sat on a corner of the sofa legs hugging his chest. He notices Mobei sitting on the other end of the sofa and scrutinizing the house. In a low voice he adds not meeting Mobei eyes
-So… How is the house?
-Not bad
So he didn’t like it. Lost in his thoughts Shang Qinghua does not realize he is being called.
-….hua……Qinghua!
-Huh?
Mobei Jun frowns
-“Are you leaving already?” Qinghua asks worried
-“You want me to?” Mobei counters
-“WHY WOULD I WANT YOU TO?” Qinghua shouts surprising both himself and Mobei Jun
There’s a pause. A Long one where no one says a word nor a sigh nothing. Like a staring contest they both keep looking at each other. With a sigh Mobei Jun shortens the distance never leaving the opposite persons eyes and
-“OW! Mobei!! Stop pinching my cheeks! Ow! Ow! That hurts you know?” says rubbing his cheeks and with a pout.
-“Let’s go eat something and stop over thinking or day dreaming” and there’s a smile on Mobei Jun face. Not a bright smile but it’s there.
-“My treat! To my new roommate” Qinghua perks up with a bright smile.