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Shi Mei has never said it out loud, but he thinks that the young master is very cute when he’s angry. The way his cheeks puff up and redden, the pitch of his voice heightening for a split second; the way he tilts his chin up and, yes, the way he shoots Shi Mei an angry glare when told to calm down – for Shi Mei, it’s all really adorable.
Xue Meng stomps in to the library, spewing a string of curses, probably unaware that Shi Mei is also there and can hear every single swear. He only shuts his mouth when he sees Shi Mei, his face blown even redder. Shi Mei smiles. Xue Meng looks like a sulky puppy.
“I’m sorry. Young master must want to be alone here. I’ll leave—“
“Who told you to leave?” Xue Meng scolds, and then, after a bashful look, lowers his voice, “It’s okay. Stay if you want.”
Shi Mei gives him an understanding nod, and returns to his book – or at least pretends to. His eyes carefully scans Xue Meng’s change in expression, softening bit by bit until he looks like an embarrassed puppy instead.
Without Shi Mei asking what happened, Xue Meng says vaguely, “I really don’t want to see anyone right now. Everyone makes me angry.”
“Even shizun?” Shi Mei teases.
“...No, but I don’t want him to see me like this.”
“Even me?”
In the quiet of the library, Shi Mei hears Xue Meng’s sharp inhale. “No...for some reason, when I see you, I don’t get angry.”
“If you’re not angry, then why is your face so red?”
Shi Mei couldn’t take it anymore. He extends his hand to pinch Xue Meng’s crimson cheek; lightly, but Xue Meng chokes up and struggles like he’s being restrained.
“Shi Mei!”
He yells, but he’s not angry, and Shi Mei knows. No angry person would ‘push away’ his hand this softly, as if he’s trying to hold him, his fingers almost too gentle when gripping his wrist – as if afraid to hurt him.
Like a shy puppy!
“Hm?”
“What are you doing?”
“Young master, ah,” Shi Mei feels like saying it out loud, after all, “You are very cute.”