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Jing Shao was restless.
Admittedly, he had gotten to the restaurant an hour before they had scheduled, but every minute that ticked by seemed to last a century. He was a very confident young man, and if per se he did have any issues with self-confidence it was never because of his looks. He had never been stood up on a date before, regardless if he hadn't enjoyed a single one of them, they had still showed up. But for some unidentifiable reason, he was extremely nervous for Mu Hanzhang's arrival.
As he was checking his phone for the nth time this evening he heard footsteps approaching him.
"Xiao Shao"
Jing Shao's head snapped up and his lips immediately stretched into a large grin "Jun Qing! You're here"
Mu Hanzhang looked at the man in front of him, calling out for him with a childlike earnestness in his voice and couldn't help smiling back. When they had gotten together just earlier, Jing Shao had been wearing causal clothes, but now it seemed he'd changed into something sharper. It was only a thank you dinner after all, but he'd changed out of the sweatshirt he was wearing, instead wearing a soft-looking button down tucked into his black jeans. Mu Hanzhang looked down at his own plain clothing and felt that he should've put more effort into looking good.
As if reading his mind, Jing Shao said "You look beautiful tonight"
Watching how his Jun Qing's face flushed bright red under the evening light, Jing Shao laughed and pushed open the door for him to enter first. With a quick nod, the other quickly scurried into the restaurant like a frightened rabbit.
Dinner was a peaceful event, filled with seemingly innocent inquires from Jing Shao about how Mu Hanzhang was doing in school, what his hobbies were, and some subtly flirtatious advances thrown in here and there. Mu Hanzhang didn't mind though, thinking that the young man was actually quite charming.
Although adopting the persona of a younger classmate seeking to befriend an older one, Mu Hanzhang was not oblivious. He could tell when someone was hitting on him, and Jing Shao was doing exactly that. However, unlike the other men that were borderline harassing him, there was something inexplicably comforting about spending time with the other that Mu Hanzhang couldn't find it in himself to tell him to stop.
After they'd finished eating, Jing Shao offered to walk him home. When they got to his doorstep, Jing Shao took his hand and placed a delicate kiss on the back of it.
He smiled softly at him "Have a good night"
Mu Hanzhang stood there in a daze for a moment before he felt that creeping heat crawl up his neck once more. He mumbled out some incoherent response and shut the the door behind him. Jing Shao stared at his closed door before he smiled, walking off with a smug expression knowing he'd definitely made a good impression on him tonight.
Zhou Jin sighed.
When Mu Hanzhang invited him and his boyfriend over for a group study session with Jing Shao and himself, he should have expected this to be the outcome. He did, actually, which was why all he could do now was lament at how utterly incapable he is at saying no to this classmate of his and pretend to ignore the other two across the table.
Mu Hanzhang was sitting with his back straight but his head was tilted over to the side, leaning over the textbook that laid between Jing Shao and him. Jing Shao was hunched over the book as well, their heads and bodies remarkably close.
Mu Hanzhang lightly circled a passage with his pencil and pointed at it with his finger "Do you understand now?"
Jing Shao pulled his notebook over and nodded "En, I do"
He quickly scribbled something down and shot Jun Qing a smile "Thank you"
Mu Hanzhang sighed exasperatedly despite the fond smile that spread across his handsome face. He went back to reading his own book while Jing Shao copied down some more notes, neither of them bothering to separate.
Xiao Yuan shot his boyfriend a look and whispered into his ear "I feel like we're intruding on something"
Zhou Jin laughed quietly and pinched his cheek "Isn't that what people used to say about us?"
Xiao Yuan rubbed his nose with a sheepish smile and looked back down at his calculator.
Not even ten minutes later, Jing Shao tugged on Mu Hanzhang's sleeve again "Jun Qing"
Mu Hanzhang cast him a look from the corner of his eye "Yes?"
Jing Shao puffed up his cheeks and jutted out his lower lip, effectively looking like a petulant child pouting to get what he wanted. He pointed at another problem and complained "I don't understand this one either"
Mu Hanzhang quirked a brow at him, an amused smile on his face, but answered him nevertheless "Which one?"
He leaned over to scan the problem Jing Shao had pointed out and furrowed his brow. Unbeknownst to him, Jing Shao had been purposefully acting as if he didn't understand just to watch his Jun Qing's face scrunch up in that cute way that it did when he was focused on something. He was sure the other was aware and was just indulging him, but he was fine to continue shamelessly acting out if it meant he could spend time with him in such close proximity.
Mu Hanzhang finished walking him through the procedure once more and wrote down small notes to help him remember what to do and where. Jing Shao thanked him profusely and went back to his work. However, before Mu Hanzhang could even pick up his book, he was already being called on again.
This cycle had been going on for the past half hour and Xiao Yuan finally couldn't stand it anymore, searching for any way he could get out of here.
Noticing his growing irritation, Zhou Jin secretly laughed at him and tactfully found a distraction "Oh, that's right. Gu Huaiqing is hosting a party to celebrate the New Year tomorrow. Will you two be attending?"
Jing Shao perked up like a puppy and looked at Mu Hanzhang with hopeful eyes. If Jun Qing was going to this party, it would be a great opportunity for them to spend time together that didn't involve school.
Looking at the other, Mu Hanzhang felt that he could see a tail wagging back and forth on his bottom. He lifted his fist to his mouth and covered his laugher using a cough "Xiao Shao, are you planning on going?"
Jing Shao answered without missing a beat "Only if you are"
Mu Hanzhang didn't bother disguising his laughter this time and shook his head. He looked at Zhou Jin "Alright, I'll go"
It was too loud.
That was the first thing Mu Hanzhang took notice of. Too loud and too hot. With thousands of people crowded together from wall to wall and loud music booming over the even louder conversations. It smelt like booze and sweat, but then again, he'd never been to a real college party before so maybe this was the "fun" that everyone talked about when they mentioned partying. But he wasn't having fun at all.
The second thing he noticed was that he couldn't find Jing Shao. Sure, they didn't really say anything about formally coming together, but Mu Hanzhang thought it was implied. He'd passed Zhou Jin on the couch making out with Xiao Yuan and promptly decided that he didn't want to bother them. So now he was alone, wandering aimlessly around this party that he honestly wasn't to thrilled about coming to.
Just as he was making his way to get a drink or something in the kitchen, he spotted Gu Huaiqing standing by the counter with Jing Chen. He pointedly ignored the fact that he could see Gu Huaiqing's arm slung around Jing Chen's waist and hurriedly walked over to them.
Jing Chen noticed him right away and greeted him warmly "Hanzhang"
He nodded, picking up one of the unopened water bottles on the counter and unscrewing the lid "Da-ge. Have you seen Xiao Shao?"
Gu Huaiqing snickers into his own drink (a mix of vodka and something distinctly fruity, if Mu Hanzhang had to guess by the smell) and sways a little drunkenly "Ohh, him? I saw that little boyfriend of yours hanging around over there"
Mu Hanzhang ignores the blush he can feel rising to his cheeks and looks to where Gu Huaiqing was pointed, forgetting to protest that they were in fact not dating. In the corner on the opposite side of the room, he could see Jing Shao standing very close to a woman. The woman in question in dressed in a long sleeve green dress that hung off her shoulders and holding a plastic red cup in her hand. She's smiling up at Jing Shao and he's smiling back.
Mu Hanzhang felt something sour rise in his mouth. Like acid, it burns away at the back of his throat and curls unpleasantly in his stomach. He wishes he didn't know what this feeling was, but he has enough of a grasp on his emotions that he can tell right away why he feels the sudden need to throw up.
He's jealous.
It's awful, really. It makes him feel awful. Jing Shao does not belong to him, and he certainly does not need Mu Hanzhang's permission to make new friends. He could have as many lady friends as he pleased, and it wouldn't be any of his business. They hadn't even known each other for very long! He knows that.
So why does it feel like his heart was just stepped on?
He picks up one of the plastic red ups on the edge of the counter and downs half of it without even looking to see what was in it. He mumbles something about heading out to get some fresh air and beelines for the sliding glass doors at the back, not looking back at the two standing in the corner again.
"Is he here yet?" Ge Ruoyi bounces on the heels of her foot as she scans the room with Jing Shao.
"Not yet. I sent him a text a little while ago to ask him if he's still coming and he said yes, so he should be here anytime soon" Jing Shao says, impatiently checking his phone again.
Ge Ruoyi hums in acknowledgement and sends him a knowing smirk "I'm excited to meet him. You really like him, don't you?"
Jing Shao laughs sheepishly and rubs at the back of his neck "Mn. I do"
He'd been patiently waiting for Jun Qing to show up when Ge Ruoyi came over to wish him a happy holidays. They hadn't known each other for long, but she's on the soccer team that he's the captain of and he'd admired her determination in improving her skills. He'd offered to practice with her every once in a while and found that they got along very well.
And, alright, perhaps he'd also picked her brain once or twice about how to be romantic. Of course, Jun Qing was still a man, but romance was romance and for whatever reason, he felt that Ge Ruoyi would be able to give him better dating advice than his brother or Gu Huaiqing.
They'd been talking for a little while, when he suddenly noticed a flash of white speed walking towards the backdoor. He recognized the silhouette instantly, and hastily bed goodbye to Ge Ruoyi as he turned to follow him.
When he stepped out onto the back porch, he saw the man he'd been waiting for all night sitting on the edge of the last step. He was holding a plastic red cup with some unknown pink substance in it and gazing blankly at the clear night sky.
"Jun Qing" he said, coming to sit down next to him.
Mu Hanzhang looked at him quietly for a minute before staring down into his drink "Why are you out here?"
Jing Shao frowns "Because you're out here"
He says it so plainly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Mu Hanzhang wants to laugh at the simplicity of it, but the sound gets caught in his throat, making him stay silent. He thinks that's probably for the best thought. The air feels cool on his burning cheeks, a tell-tale sign that he's probably drank a little too much.
At his uncharacteristic silence, Jing Shao knows something is wrong. He'd been observing Jun Qing for almost a year, so naturally he had become familiar with his mannerisms and habits. Jun Qing was not one to be rude. Of course there would be times when he wouldn't agree with someone, but even if he didn't like said person, he'd always be polite. It wasn't like him to give people the cold shoulder without reason, and even less like him to give it to himself of all people. Despite not being the brightest at all times, Jing Shao knew this to be a fact, which made him all the more concerned.
"Jun Qing, what happened?"
"It's nothing" Mu Hangzhang responded, pursing his lips.
Perhaps whatever he'd grabbed had been much too strong or maybe it was just his inexperience with alcohol, but Mu Hanzhang's mouth felt a lot looser than it normally was tonight. He laughed a little, but it didn't sound quite right "It's cold out here. Why don't you go back inside? You wouldn't want to keep your lady friend waiting"
"Lady friend?"
Mu Hanzhang took a slow sip from his drink, staring into the bottom of his cup. The drink was incredibly sweet, so much so that it felt like his teeth were beginning to rot in his mouth. But all he could taste was that familiar sourness lingering in his throat. He sighed and mumbled into his cup "She's very beautiful. I don't blame you for being interested in her. You two would make a lovely couple.."
Realization came upon him, and Jing Shao looked at him in surprise.
Was that.. was that jealousy he had heard in Jun Qing's tone?
Had he thought he'd been flirting with Ge Ruoyi? Sure, she was pretty, but he'd never sought her out as anything more than a friend. In his eyes, no one's looks, be it a man or woman, could rival those of the beauty who sat in front of him right now. But what would Jun Qing have a reason to be jealous of? Jealous that he was speaking to her?
Or jealous that she was speaking to him?
His lip twitched. He felt a little excited, giddy even, at the prospect that Jun Qing was jealous of him spending time around another beauty. And then his brain conjured up a bizarre notion.
Does that mean that Jun Qing.. likes him back?
It wasn't impossible. In fact, Jing Shao reasoned, it was actually very likely. He too knew the feeling of jealousy. He felt it when Gu Huaiqing always blatantly tried to flirt with Jun Qing when they'd see each other. He also felt it when Jun Qing would mention his friend, Qin Zhaoran, from back home and tell him stories of when they'd grown up together.
And Mu Hanzhang didn't get jealous easily. Actually, Jing Shao had never seen him get jealous at all. Not when his cousins would brag about their score being higher than his. Not when Zhou Jin carelessly talked about how much money he made every week. Not once had he ever seen him like this.
Which could only mean one thing. Jun Qing liked him back.
Jing Shao had to use all of his will power to keep his head calm. He was elated, itching to ask Jun Qing out already, but first he needed to make things clear between them. He leans forward and pinches Jun Qing's chin between his fingers, forcing him to look him in the eye. Mu Hanzhang flinches at the unwaveringly serious expression on the usually carefree face, but doesn't look away.
Jing Shao looks at him "I don't know what you think you saw or heard, but the only one I'm interested in is you"
He says it with so much conviction that Mu Hanzhang's heart has no more room for doubt. With that one sentence, only a handful of words, but spoken with such passion, the insecurities are instantly swept away.
Mu Hanzhang's breathes hitches. He looks at him dumbly, the alcohol turning his brain half to mush "Xiao Shao.. you.. what did you say?"
Jing Shao's eyes dip lower to stare at his lips. Jun Qing unconsciously licks his lips, watching as Jing Shao's eyes follow the motion. The noise around them fades away into the background. The blasting base of the awful music Gu Huaiqing chose to play, the sound of the partygoers counting down until midnight, all of it becomes white noise in the face of the one he loves.
Jing Shao tentatively leans forward, and when he's met with no resistance from the other party, he decides to throw caution to the wind.
Mu Hanzhang closes his eyes as he feels the warmth of his soft lips cover his own. He had never kissed anyone else before, but at this moment all he could think about was Jing Shao's large hands steadily holding onto the back of his neck and waist. He thinks if they weren't there to ground him, he'd already have lost his grip on reality. He lifts a shaky hand and rests it on Jing Shao's chest, squeezing the fabric between his fingers as he kisses back.
"Happy New Years!"
The shouts from inside are loud, but not as loud as the heartbeat thumping in his ear. When Jing Shao pulls back, he sees the light of the fireworks reflecting in Jun Qing's eyes that've glazed over. He tilts their heads forward so that their foreheads are resting against each other.
"Happy New Year Jun Qing" he says in a hushed voice.
Mu Hanzhang leans in to peck him on the lips once more "En. Happy New Year"