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Mo Ran’s evening had been going well, as he and his friends had taken to a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant to eat before heading to a club downtown. The food was delicious, as always, and the atmosphere was on a continuous high.
Nothing could destroy this night, Mo Ran had naively thought — until he stepped out of the restaurant and saw a sight that did exactly that. He had stopped in his steps and stared wide-eyed as he watched his crush of seven years — Chu Wanning — walk into a fancy-looking bistro with a man by his side.
What the fuck?
“Hey, Mo Ran,” one of his friends called out and Mo Ran turned to see that the group had started walking towards their next destination. “You coming?”
He should have said yes and continued on with his evening, because here was the thing: Chu Wanning was allowed to do whatever he liked. He wasn’t Mo Ran’s (yet). If he wanted to go out with other men then that was fine! Chu Wanning was his own individual after all— and single so why shouldn’t he be living it up on a Saturday night?
Which, admittedly, sounded very odd because Chu Wanning wasn’t exactly known for “living it up”.
But perhaps he was breaking out of his rigidity! Maybe he wanted to experience how others lived. People could change, and if Chu Wanning wanted to experience the exciting nightlife of Shanghai, well, better late than never when it came to making the classic mistakes that most did when in their teens.
Which was fine—that was fine.
It was fine.
...But if he was going to be making those mistakes, why make them with some random ass guy instead of Mo Ran? Was Mo Ran not the obvious choice? It didn’t make any sense, not when Mo Ran had been standing right there, awaiting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with all he had.
And Chu Wanning went off to choose some fucking loser instead?!
Really, Chu Wanning?
Jealousy stirred deep in the pit of Mo Ran’s stomach. It bubbled, raging hot, as it brewed, and there was no way his night could continue on the way he’d planned it. The once beautiful high he had been riding had now vanished, leaving him to plummet back down to earth with nothing but the concrete as his cushion—he was falling, falling faster and faster the longer he thought about Chu Wanning with that man, laughing softly at his jokes and sharing the sweetness of his hidden smiles.
Laughs and smiles that Mo Ran had never witnessed himself—he had never been blessed with such fortune.
Mo Ran’s hands curled into fists, his expression darkening momentarily before quickly brightening again. An idea on his mind, Mo Ran aimed a dimpled smile at his friends. “Actually, something came up! Totally urgent—I need to take care of it. Right now.” Mo Ran said, promising his friends a nice meal after seeing their obvious disappointment. Despite that, they wished him good luck in whatever he had to do before they went onwards with their evening.
Mo Ran watched them disappear around the corner before setting his sights on the bistro, smiling evilly.
He had a date to ruin.
___________________
The bistro was a classy establishment, too highbrow of a place for Mo Ran to step into. He definitely stood out in a place like this, decked in his leather jacket and ripped jeans, but that did little to deter him—Mo Ran was on a mission.
The host at the door welcomed him, tone wary, before asking him if he had a reservation.
“I’m actually here to meet someone,” Mo Ran replied, his eyes looking through the tables he could see from this vantage point. “A tall, very beautiful man dressed in white, smells of haitang blossoms? I believe he’s here with another, lesser man so you’d remember him. He’s way out of that guy’s league.”
His description was met only with a confused stare. When the host took too long to reply, Mo Ran decided: fuck it. He slipped around the host with ease and ignored their flustered cries as he walked his way through the restaurant. He ignored the staff who attempted to stop him just as easily, smiling roguishly at the patrons who dared look his way and kept a lookout for the object of his affections.
It only took a minute before Mo Ran caught sight of Chu Wanning and that...that loser, seated at a table at the far back of the restaurant. It was positioned away from the other diners; framed by the window and the backdrop of the street outside; and made romantic by the dim lights above them, as well as the flickering candles perched atop the red tablecloth.. The man was facing away from Mo Ran as Chu Wanning sat opposite him; and Mo Ran watched in utter shock as Chu Wanning smiled, a soft and beautiful thing that seemed so genuine that it made his heart flutter even as his blood boiled hotter than ever.
Chu Wanning had never smiled at him like that.
He had never graced Mo Ran with such a valuable treasure and they had known each other for seven years!
Okay, so they didn’t get along for the majority of the seven—but their relationship was mended and healing now! Surely, that meant he was worthy of a smile so precious, so wondrous. More deserving than some random guy that Chu Wanning barely even knew!
Surely, he meant more to Chu Wanning than that guy, right?
Surely.
The guy in question said something Mo Ran couldn’t hear, and Chu Wanning actually laughed. Quiet enough that it was only heard by the man before him, the laugh covered prettily by his slender hand, hiding another treasure of a smile from view.
For that man once again.
Alright—that did it.
Mo Ran took great satisfaction in the way Chu Wanning’s eyes widened as he approached the table. His mouth dropped open a little, lips parting in surprise; Mo Ran had to stop and remind himself that he could imagine kissing those pink petals later—
—when he wasn’t in the middle of sabotaging his crush’s date in hopes of deterring the fucking loser from approaching Chu Wanning ever again.
“Wanning!” Mo Ran exclaimed, voice a little too loud. His volume earned displeased stares from the other tables around them. “I didn’t think I’d find you here!”
“Mo Ran,” Chu Wanning replied, still surprised. “I—what are you doing here?”
“Can’t a man come into a fancy place and grab himself some nice food?” Mo Ran lied through his most charming smile. “I usually pass by here on the way to work and I’ve been meaning to try the food. I heard it’s good!” He then turned his head toward the clown who had the audacity to ask his Chu Wanning out. “Oh! I didn’t realise you were with someone, Wanning.”
“I find that hard to believe considering the direction you came in,” Chu Wanning said, eyeing Mo Ran suspiciously. “Unless you’re in need of glasses.”
Mo Ran managed an easy laugh. “No No, my sight is just fine,” he said as he pulled out the table’s spare chair. “Do you mind if I join you?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “No? That’s great!”
“Mo Ran—” Chu Wanning tried to stop him but Mo Ran’s focus had left Chu Wanning (only for a brief while) as he took in the man to his left.
He...wasn’t as bad looking as Mo Ran had thought (or hoped). In fact, he had rather handsome features while still retaining a boyish aura. His clothes were rather nice, too: high-end stuff that Mo Ran could only afford if he worked overtime for the next six months. Even then, he’d be scraping the bottom of the barrel. This guy was obviously from the upper-class; Mo Ran was already expecting him to be the world’s biggest asshole.
The man looked at Mo Ran, appearing lost, before turning his gaze to Chu Wanning, who only sighed heavily.
“I...didn’t think that anyone would be joining us this evening,” the man started off, politely surprised. He was probably trying to make a good impression in front of Chu Wanning. Hilarious. “Ah, but please feel free.” He reached out a hand towards Mo Ran, attempting a friendly gesture. “My name is Nangong Si; it’s nice to meet you.”
Never one to back down, Mo Ran shook his hand—with a little more strength than necessary, of course. He smiled when he noted the small wince Nangong Si tried to hide, his fingers twitching in his grip.
“It’s nice to meet you too, I suppose.”
“Mo Ran.” Chu Wanning reprimanded, eyes narrowed. Mo Ran let go of Nangong Si’s hand to smile innocently at his love.
“I’m only kidding.”
He wasn't.
"So!" Mo Ran kicked off the conversation. "You must be pretty special, seeing as you managed to get Wanning out. He doesn't get out much, you see—"
"Mo Ran!" Chu Wanning hissed, but it went ignored.
"—so I don't know how you did it." Mo Ran continued before smiling easily, disguising his true hostility. "Is there a special occasion of sorts? Did you bribe him with sweets so he'll come out? He's a sucker for sugary treats—a lotus crisp and you can have him doing anything you want— OW !"
Mo Ran rubbed his shoulder— pouting like a wounded dog—while Chu Wanning glared at him.
Nangong Si simply laughed, albeit nervous, before shaking his head.
"Well, I didn't have to bribe Chu-laoshi with sweets if that's what you're implying."
Mo Ran's eyebrow twitched, the edges of his smile tightening.
Chu-laoshi.
Chu-laoshi?!
So Chu Wanning was out on a date with one of his students?!
How scandalous!!
And frankly—insulting.
Was going out with a student a better option than going out with him?
A mature (debatable) man who had already graduated from college and was earning his own salary?
How could this...this useless loser of a student be better than him?!
“So you’re Chu Wanning’s student?” Mo Ran managed to push out. “Then this must be a real riot, huh? Going out with your teacher on a Saturday night?” His smile then took on a (slightly) menacing shape. “Not many people have that privilege, y’know?”
Nangong Si blinked—visibly confused—while Mo Ran could feel the daggers that Chu Wanning was glaring at the back of his neck. He was used to it; being on the receiving end of his baobei’s glares wasn’t new.
Frankly, he relished the scolding heat those daggers provided—it got him a little excited too.
“Ah, well,” Nangong Si said, wary of Mo Ran’s sudden change. “I do agree that it is a privilege to be out with Chu-laoshi. Especially since he was the one who offered to take me out for dinner.”
Mo Ran’s world stopped.
What?
What?!
What?!?!
Mo Ran whipped his head around to look at Chu Wanning, wide eyes taking in his sharp profile. Chu Wanning had the nerve to look away; his slender hand holding his wine glass as he took a small sip after small sip. He didn’t meet Mo Ran’s gaze—no matter how distressed it became—and was he…?
Was he blushing!?!
Okay, what the fuck was this!?
Mo Ran had always assumed that Chu Wanning didn’t have the balls to ask someone out. He wasn’t wrong in his assumption; seeing how Chu Wanning struggled with basic human interactions.
Which wasn’t a jab at his baobei!
Mo Ran found it really cute and made his love all the more bulliable!
So in his plans—and more innocent dreams—Mo Ran had been the one to make the first move. He’d surprise Chu Wanning with his favourite treats (to which he knew all of them. what the fuck did you know, Nangong Shit—) and confess his intentions toward him. Chu Wanning would blush beautifully, accept his advances and they’d go on to live happily ever after!
That was the goal Mo Ran had been working towards!
But what goal was there to work towards when Chu Wanning had asked Nangong Si out…instead of him.
It didn’t make sense!
Obviously, obviously, he was the better choice!
Right?!
…Right?
With Chu Wanning refusing to meet his eye, Mo Ran turned his attention back to Nangong Si.
The man who was now his rival in the quest for Chu Wanning’s heart.
An unworthy one, at that.
“So Chu Wanning asked you out,” Mo Ran started; smiling charmingly as he feigned interest. “How did that happen? How did that come back? Did you do something to him? Threaten him—?”
A sharp pain blossomed on his thigh—a quick look down allowed him to see Chu Wanning’s thin fingers twisting his skin through the rips of his jeans. He ignored it, his focus and sight set solely on the man to his left.
“I’d never do that to Chu-laoshi!” Nangong Si proclaimed, offended by the accusatory questions. “I could never as Chu-laoshi is someone I respect to the highest degree. It had been a while since we had seen each other so I wanted to treat him to a meal.” His eyes then shifted to Chu Wanning—lips curved in a grateful smile. “It took a couple of tries before he gave me the wondrous privilege of taking him out.”
“Nangong Si, please.” Chu Wanning said, looking down at the red table cloth—the tips of his ears flushed a cute pink.
God, it would have been adorable if he had caused that blush.
But knowing Nangong Si did so, it made him feel kinda sick.
“Yeah, Nangong Si, please.” Mo Ran mimicked, spiteful, with a roll of his eyes.
The evening progressed as their orders were taken—Nangong Si very kindly offered to pay for a meal for Mo Ran which promptly caused Mo Ran to order the most expensive dish on the menu—and wine was poured into their glasses. Conversation was silted; Nangong Si obviously trying his hardest to make an effort despite Mo Ran continuously shooting him down.
It wasn’t easy—Mo Ran made sure of that—but he had to give credit where credit was due.
Most people would flip out if their date was crashed by some mean and disrespectful asshole. They’d either tell the restaurant to kick them out or simply leave themselves—unwanting of a relationship that had an equivalent of a crazy ex.
But Nangong Si held on strong.
Even after all the jabs being thrown at him; the thinly veiled insults that had even Chu Wanning scolding him for the utter rudeness of it all. He held on strong and—and…
It pissed Mo Ran off to a tee.
Nangong Si wasn’t defending himself; he was putting on a strong face in front of Chu Wanning, smiling through Mo Ran’s criticisms and reckless behaviour. It was disgusting, it was weak and what was the point of it?
To make him look like a fool in front of his baobei?
To make him look pathetic for taunting a humble man?
What the fuck!?
First, he took Chu Wanning away from him. Then he proceeded to embarrass him by not reacting to his barbs; simply smiling away and answering Mo Ran’s rhetorical questions. It was like nothing was hurting him—nothing was breaking him and Mo Ran only felt the need to try harder until—
Chu Wanning stood up—his chair scraping loudly against the wooden floor, which caused Mo Ran and Nangong Si to look at him in surprise. Calmly, he turned towards Nangong Si and said, “please excuse us.” before turning his sights on Mo Ran and oh boy.
Like an obedient dog, Mo Ran followed Chu Wanning to the restrooms; trying not to think about how hot his baby looked when angry because yikes, he was in trouble.
Once inside the men’s restroom and assuring that it was empty, Chu Wanning levelled him with a look—one as cold as ice. Mo Ran silently gulped and waited an agonising thirty seconds before Chu Wanning spoke.
“Explain.”
“Did anyone ever tell you how cute you look when you’re angry?” Mo Ran said, attempting to lay on his boyish charm.
It worked as Chu Wanning became cutely flustered—his cheeks turning a faint pink—before he quickly composed himself.
“Mo Ran,” Chu Wanning stressed, phoenix eyes narrowing and—god, he had no right to be this beautiful when pissed, it was distracting!
But in order to avoid the extent of his baobei’s wrath, Mo Ran started speaking.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit unprofessional for a teacher and student to be dating?”
That was the wrong thing to say—judging by Chu Wanning’s shocked expression.
“ What?”
Mo Ran couldn’t stop speaking, though.
“A-and, he acts so familiarly with you! You’d think that he’d have a bit of shame!” Mo Ran complained, frowning. “I also don’t like how he calls you “Chu-laoshi” like that. We’re in public! The least he could do is reign it in and keep it in his pants—”
Chu Wanning choked on his breath.
“—also why don’t you let me take you out? I’ve asked you out time and time again and you’ve always given me some excuse! Like how busy you are or how you aren’t able to make it—you can go out with your student but not me?”
“Mo Ran—” Chu Wanning tried, having seemingly gathered his composure.
“I graduated from college, I work for myself without relying on some trust fund. I’ve shown you that I’m capable of change and yet you don’t seem to see that, Wanning. Why won’t you get just—?”
“Mo Weiyu!” Chu Wanning shouted quietly; shaking his shoulder with a hand. That stopped his running mouth, leaving him silent and wide-eyed as Chu Wanning looked up at him.
“Wanning—”
“I don’t know where you got all that nonsense from,” Chu Wanning began. “But Nangong Si and I aren’t dating.”
Mo Ran’s breath got caught in his throat.
He…he wasn’t dating Nangong Si?
“He also isn’t my student,” Chu Wanning clarified. “He’s the same age as you so you both graduated around the same time.”
“But then why does he keep calling you laoshi?” Mo Ran questioned, his brow furrowed.
Chu Wanning shrugged; though he looked a bit embarrassed by this.
“I told him to stop calling me that but I suppose he does it out of respect.” He then frowned, an adorable petulant pout of his mouth. “Not everyone is as shameless as you; calling me “Wanning” however you like.”
“I’m not shameless, just an opportunist.” Mo Ran grinned, laughing softly at Chu Wanning’s unimpressed expression.
Something heavy lifted from Mo Ran’s shoulders as well as his heart. Jealousy was what it was—red hot jealous that brought up the worst of who he was. He hadn’t meant to lash out—well, not entirely—but it was hard to stop the longer it kept going. To see Chu Wanning with someone who wasn’t him was…well, it wasn’t easy. It made him want to tear the whole world apart—just the mere thought of Chu Wanning being taken away from him. He hated it, and wouldn't wish such a state of being on his worst enemy.
But he was fine now, all was okay because he knew that Chu Wanning was still well and truly his to have. No one was ever going to get in the way of that—not even the likes of Nangong Si.
Man, he couldn’t believe he had felt threatened by that guy.
After promising Chu Wanning that he’d leave (after reluctantly apologising to Nangong Si for his behaviour), Mo Ran was about to exit the restaurant before he was stopped. With a hand grasping at his jacket sleeve, Chu Wanning looked like he was contemplating on saying something.
Mo Ran waited patiently—while inwardly howling at how cute and bulliable Chu Wanning looked—and watched as Chu Wanning bit his lower lip (so fucking cute) while looking up at him.
“Tomorrow…we can go out for dinner.” Chu Wanning said; his words soft as he squeezed at Mo Ran’s sleeve, his face a lovely shade of pink before he headed back to Nangong Si.
Mo Ran watched him leave, mouth agape, as his mind replayed what Chu Wanning had said.
Tomorrow…
They can go out for dinner…
Him and Chu Wanning…
He said that while blushing, as if it meant to imply that he meant—
"A date?" Mo Ran murmured to himself, his spirits lifting rapidly as a huge grin shaped his mouth. "Like a date, Wanning!?"
He shouted the words loud enough for all the patrons to hear—loud enough to have Chu Wanning halt in his steps, the back of his neck a dark pink and fuck, Mo Ran was so in love.
"Like a—?!"
"Get out!" Chu Wanning yelled, flustered and not bothering to turn around as he sat down at his seat with a force of finality.
Mo Ran beamed, so on top of the moon that he didn't even fight the hostess who had finally gotten their hands on him. He was led out, triumphant, and his triumph was only made better when he was able to catch Nangong Si's eye to flip him off.
What a fine evening that turned out to be.