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With the sun scorching hot, melting the insides of the entire cast and crew of The Untamed, Wang Yibo had an idea. It seemed like a really good idea––at the time.
Buy ice cream and popsicles for the cast, his brain had supplied. It would be a nice surprise, it said. Yibo was not so sure of that now.
Now, as he has to sit right next to Xiao Zhan and watch as the culprit of his current dilemma is licking all around the spoon, ice cream dripping from the corner of his lips, he thinks he just might’ve stabbed himself in the back.
It was barely 1 pm, and he was already tip-toeing the line of the surprising amount of self-control he had learned after spending almost 4 months in Xiao Zhan’s close proximity.
At first, Yibo had been a bit worried, this was his first lead role. Although he had already met Xiao Zhan prior to filming, it had been but a brief encounter. And in the end, he had been too shy to reach out to the older man. Not finding a suitable excuse to keep in touch.
He was worried of what the elder might think of him, and that perhaps they might not be able to click. Yibo’s shy and forward nature caused him to have a certain “cold reputation” among the industry. Some people in the industry found themselves being intimidated by this and sometimes tended to stay clear from him. Yibo really didn’t think he was that cold––he was just slow to warm up to people. Nothing wrong with that.
Now, back to his current predicament. With Xiao Zhan, it turned out to be almost too easy to get chemistry building up between them in order to have a more realistic performance. Yibo felt like after seeing his smile and starry eyes up close after Xiao Zhan’s introduction in the cafeteria, he was gone. It was like he had known Xiao Zhan for years. The way they both teased each other reminded him a lot of the dynamics he had with UNIQ. He wasn’t sure if he was projecting his longing to be back with his members onto Xiao Zhan, or if Xiao Zhan was just that easy to talk to.
Friends. Yibo had concluded. He just treated Xiao Zhan like that because he considered him a friend––a close friend.
It wasn’t until Ji Li pointed out that he should, “take a picture of Xiao Zhan or stop staring,” after a scene with the three of them that he realized the subtle differences in his behaviour around Xiao Zhan. Yibo certainly didn’t stare at his bandmates. Hell, you live so long with them you even start to grow annoyed with the way they walk; however, Yibo didn’t think he’d ever get tired of staring at Xiao Zhan.
Yibo donned it with what he coined as the “Xiao Zhan Effect™.” The Xiao Zhan Effect™ consisted of the following: staring at Xiao Zhan, being entranced by Xiao Zhan, helplessly smiling back (in slight pain) after falling victim to being on the receiving end of Xiao Zhan’s deadly smile. Does wanting to kiss Xiao Zhan fall into the Xiao Zhan Effect™ umbrella? ‘Cause Yibo might just have to add it in.
Yibo had just finished distributing the ice cream, holding an ice cream in one hand and popsicle in the other, and returned to the actors resting room. The resting room was really just an all grey room off to the side with a long table and a couple of chairs. It was nothing fancy, but it was enough for those looking to hide away from the sun. Currently, only Xiao Zhan––and now Yibo––were inhabiting the room. The rest were getting lunch or cooling off elsewhere.
Yibo didn’t look up as he handed the ice cream over to Xiao Zhan, receiving a nod and a small, “Thanks,” in return. Instead, choosing to focus on his very imminent task of opening the popsicle wrapper. After achieving success after just a few tries, Yibo happily hums and takes out the popsicle. He opens his mouth, but before he even has the chance to take a bite, his jaw hangs even lower as he silently watches the scene before him. Xiao Zhan seems too busy on his phone to notice the slight trail of ice cream going down to his chin. In his state of shock, Yibo somehow notices that the spoon is already empty. Yet, Xiao Zhan’s tongue is still rolling around every crevice. Yibo isn’t sure of what to do with himself. He forces down a gulp as his eyes trail Xiao Zhan’s every move. How his spoon dips back into his ice cream, and how he lets out a soft moan as he wraps his lips around the spoon and slowly pulls, letting the cool of the desert overwhelm his senses. Yibo’s about to combust.
It takes Yibo staring at Xiao Zhan’s lips to realize the elder has asked him a question.
“What? I didn't catch what you said”
“I said , can I try a bite of your popsicle?”
“Yeah…” Yibo agrees without really digesting any of what Xiao Zhan just said, “w-wait… what?”
“I’ve usually only tried that company’s lemon flavor, that’s cherry right?” Yibo absentmindedly nods, “I’ve always wanted to try cherry.”
“Oh…oh.”
“Is that a yes?” Yibo doesn’t know what to do with himself. “It’s okay if you don’t want––”
“I want!” Yibo blurts out, then awkwardly clears his throat before squeaking out, “I mean…Yes. I don’t mind. Go ahead.” He holds out his popsicle and sucks a breath in as their fingers touch for a brief moment. He doesn’t know if Xiao Zhan can feel the intense stare Yibo has been throwing at him for the better part of this interaction. Yibo simply watches as Xiao Zhan’s lithe fingers wrap around the stick and he inches the frozen delight closer to his eager mouth. Yibo holds his breath as Xiao Zhan opens his mouth (surely wider than it has to be) and carelessly sticks his tongue out a little. His tongue lands on the middle of the bottom part of the popsicle and slowly moves up. He flicks it a little after reaching the tip, and opens his mouth back up to take a real bite this time. Xiao Zhan puckers out his lips as his jaw closes in on the popsicle. He makes a muffled noise of pleasure when he finally surrounds the entire top. Yibo feels a shock go throughout his whole body, he feels electrified and he can’t look away. Xiao Zhan swiftly lifts his lips up a little as his front teeth scrape the popsicle, leaving behind a small trail, before he bites the tip off.
“Oh! Some of it melted off,” Yibo is then made to watch as Xiao Zhan lifts his middle finger towards his mouth, and gently, but precisely licks off the melted liquid that had fallen from the popsicle, making straight eye contact with Yibo. At this point, Yibo isn’t sure if Xiao Zhan is doing it on purpose or if he really just likes popsicles this much.
“Mm. It’s good,” Xiao Zhan has the nerve to smile as he passes the popsicle back to Yibo. Yibo takes it back, hoping Xiao Zhan won’t notice his slight trembling fingers. Yibo can’t do anything but stare at the missing piece of his popsicle, then at Xiao Zhan’s lips, then back at the popsicle.
Yibo stubbornly keeps his gaze down and takes a bite off the popsicle as well. Indirect kiss! His brain decides to provide. The thought makes him blush a little and he can’t help but look back up again. Xiao Zhan’s spoon is back on his mouth, and he smirks a little as he slurps out the ice cream and that’s it. That’s it. Yibo can’t candle this any longer.
With the determination of someone who’s about to pass the person in first place before crossing the finish line, he bites down the rest of his popsicle. The feeling is more painful than it is refreshing, but he bears through it. Throwing the stick, harshly towards the trash can, Yibo turns towards Xiao Zhan once more. He seems a bit shocked by the sound the stick makes against the bin. He has the ice cream cup in one hand and that fucking spoon is once again, surrounded by his lips. Yibo takes the cup from his hand and places it down onto the table, while reaching for the spoon and gently slipping it out, so he won’t accidentally hurt Xiao Zhan before hurling it away. Yibo isn’t sure where the spoon lands, and honestly, he doesn’t care. Fuck that spoon, is all he thinks as he reaches forward to cup Xiao Zhan’s face with his hands and finally, finally, replaces the spoon with his mouth.
Xiao Zhan lets out a small gasp as Yibo licks into his mouth, taking away the small piece of ice cream Xiao Zhan had just priorly placed on his tongue, and swallowing it down himself. Xiao Zhan freezes for a second. Had Yibo not read the signs correctly? He moves to pull away, but Xiao Zhan stops him as he finishes recollecting himself. He surges forward, letting his chair fall backwards as he places his legs on either side of Yibo’s. Yibo’s hands eagerly move to Xiao Zhan’s hips and help him forward, plopping Xiao Zhan right on his lap. Yibo tilts his head a bit and their lips finally slot in perfectly between one another. They seem to fore-go any kind of softness and just turn into a mess of clashes between teeth, tongue and lips. Yibo never thought vanilla and cherry would be such a good combination. But after swirling his tongue around Xiao Zhan’s mouth a few more times, earning a few low moans, he thinks it might just be his new favourite taste.
Yibo let’s himself devour Xiao Zhan, he takes, and takes, and takes. Yibo takes in Xiao Zhan’s bottom lip between his teeth and pulls slightly, the moan he receives in return makes his hands around Xiao Zhan squeeze a bit involuntarily, bringing them even closer together. Xiao Zhan’s legs get tighter around Yibo and he squirms in his lap a little, moving his hips around in order to inch closer to Yibo and eliminate any space between their chests. Yibo moans loudly at that, the feeling way too overwhelming for his already very turned on state. Xiao Zhan’s hands travel from Yibo’s neck down to his chest, slowly, painfully. And Yibo moves one of his hands towards Xiao Zhan’s thighs, travelling upwards, and dragging the shorts up with him, slowly, painfully.
All of a sudden, a loud crash brings them out of their stupor. They both separate and stare at each other. The realization that they are still on set, and very much in public, and that anyone could walk in at any second seems to finally swirl into their gaze. Although, the realization for the latter gives Yibo a sort of adrenaline rush he didn’t expect to be having. Still, he did not want anyone else to witness Xiao Zhan in this state of glory. His hair is messed up from Yibo’s hands, and a bit wet from the summer heat. Not only that, but there’s beads of sweat glistening his skin, Yibo finds it incredibly sexy. He stares as one of those beads makes its way down Xiao Zhan’s long neck, slides below the dip of his collar bones and hides inside his shirt. Yibo wants to see where it ends up. On the other hand, Yibo isn’t faring any better. His breaths are more like deep exhales and his hair is all over the place, a bit of sweat is seeping through his shirt but hey, who can blame him. The day was already warm to begin with, and with how hot Xiao Zhan makes him feel, it’s just natural. Yibo and Xiao Zhan keep staring at each other, with want written all over their faces. Xiao Zhan has shown no plans of leaving Yibo’s lap and the grip Yibo has on his waist makes it evident that he doesn’t want him to leave either. Xiao Zhan licks his lips, Yibo’s eyes trail the movement as he bites his own lip nervously into his mouth. He opens his mouth to speak, but a loud squeal makes his throat close.
And that is how Xuan Lu finds them. Xiao Zhan settled comfortably on Yibo’s lap. Both heads turn to her quickly, and then back to each other, then back towards her.
“I am so sorry! Please, um–carry on! Pretend I wasn’t here!” Xuan Lu quickly turns around to leave before she seems to remember something, “actually, we’re going to get ready in a bit to film so you have about 10 more minutes before someone comes looking for you, I’ll keep the coast clear.” She winks before turning around again and making her way back to the rest of the crew.
Yibo turns back to find Xiao Zhan already looking at him. They stare at each other for a second before they both burst into laughter. The intense mood of earlier already fading, something a bit more sweet and fond taking its place.
“Well, that was a nice surprise,” Xiao Zhan comments. Yibo feels a bit helpless as Xiao Zhan leans back in to peck his lips quickly. Yibo goes to follow when he pulls back, but Xiao Zhan sets a firm hand on his chest.
“Ge…”
“Come on, Yibo, we don’t want to keep everyone else waiting.” Xiao Zhan then finally leaves Yibo’s lap. Although Yibo had been complaining about the warmth of the sun a few hours prior, he finds himself missing the warmth Xiao Zhan had spread across his legs.
“Hey! Not my fault Zhan-ge likes to tempt me with ice cream so much.” Xiao Zhan’s face brightens as he seems to remember something.
“Ah! That’s right, my ice cream! Where’d it go?” Xiao Zhan turns back to the table and finds his ice cream has all but melted into the cup. With another scan of his environment, he finds the spoon on the floor across the room. Xiao Zhan can’t help the small pout that adorns his face. He really wanted that ice cream. “Yibo…let’s go get more ice cream.”
Xiao Zhan marches out of the room and heads towards where Yibo had left the bags containing the ice cream and popsicles. His feet move before his brain catches up and he finds himself tugging Xiao Zhan the opposite way, towards the stylists who are already setting everything up inside their tent.
“Yibo?”
“No, no, Zhan-ge, that ice cream isn’t good anymore. Besides, you said it yourself, we don’t want to keep everyone else waiting. Let’s go,” Yibo says as he pushes Xiao Zhan lightly towards the door with a hint of urgency, “I’ll get you some more later.”
“Okay…” Xiao Zhan’s voice is a bit reluctant, but he follows Yibo anyways.
Yibo sighs internally, he won’t have to watch Xiao Zhan devour the ice cream in public again, he’s safe. He isn’t sure if he’ll be able to act unbothered right after the events that just transpired. He’ll treat Xiao Zhan to some ice cream later, when they’re both back in the hotel, by themselves . For now, crisis averted.