Chapter Text
Christmas Eve, it was a holiday celebrated in Winter time during December, it could start off early in October and end in late January, depending on how long people were willing to spend it. Gifts being shared, food being eaten, laughter filling up the rooms, the lights shining through the cities and even love being spread in the air. But it didn't mean that everyone had to cherish it, no, there was a man in the city of Tokyo who loathed Christmas more than anything and that was Liqin Wang, a young CEO owning a fashion industry.
He was quite young, actually. Early twenties and took onto a fashion empire after his father stepped down and sales just broke the roofs. But the fox-like man ruled the industry with an iron fist and the salary for the poor employees wasn't even enough. They worked hard and fast, getting designs to get created and to be shown out in the world, but getting so little for it. Yet there were people being dedicated to their jobs and paid no minds to it, they just wanted to keep their job and keep working.
But why did a young man like Liqin hate Christmas? It was meant to be celebrated with families and friends, but no, it meant nothing to him. Which was a shame, this time around, he was about to celebrate Christmas for the first time with his boyfriend, Roman, whom he got together few months back. How the Brazilian author managed to stay around the cold-hearted man was a mystery, he truly had devotion and love for Liqin, but...was Roman even able to get Liqin comfortable enough with the world-wide Winter holiday?
The story began right here, on December 24th. Liqin treated the day as any other day, a regular day with employees working their butts off to get their "salary" and go home to be with their families. He sat in his office, typing away in his computer and signed on documents about future projects, once that was finished, he used his phone to call in one of the employees for their monthly salary. When the door knocked and got opened, a young man named Ryuu Kondou, entered the office and bowed with his head before walking over, he was new to this job and he had no idea of what was in store for him. Liqin reached out the check of his salary, expecting the ravenette to grab a hold of it which he did. A face of happiness soon turned sour when he saw the amount of money before he looked up at his boss.
"Sir...with due all respect, this amount...It's not enough to get food on the table back home." He said as he held onto the check and looked down at it. "So?" Liqin began as he began to type on the computer again, his sharp eyes focusing on the lit up screen. "It's not exactly my problem, is it?" When the CEO said that, Ryuu's grip around the check tightened and gave him a strained smile.
"But tomorrow is Christmas Eve and...I am supposed to afford both of food and gifts back home." He said while taking a deep breath and looked at him. "I deserve more than this." Liqin's fingers stopped and he shifted his sharp gaze back towards Ryuu. "I got you enough money to buy some dried fish, it should be enough for that. And also, if you did save up for this particular month, then maybe you could have enough food and gifts." He said with slight venom in his tone as usual, Ryuu swallowed at this and he narrowed his gaze, staring at him properly.
"Sir, I have a sick son back home, his name is Oliver, he was born weak and he can barely step outside. I had to use all of the money I had to get enough medicine for the poor boy and now I hoped I would get enough to buy him this stuffed fox he really so wants, so please, sir, at least consider it, I do deserve more than this." He said with a firm tone this time and stood on his ground, he did not tolerate this behaviour from his boss! Liqin raised his eyebrows at that before he shook on his head and glared. "No, I treat every employee the same way, so don't use that pity card on me to spend the money on an useless gift to a kid which you will give him on a stupid holiday!"
Ryuu's eyebrows twitched at that before he took a deep breath and glared at the man as he shook on his head. "I thought you would have some decency. I took this job because I thought at first I would be paid well and you being a considerate boss, but I was wrong. You are truly cold-hearted, sir. Think of others for once, treat them right and give them what they deserve. If this keeps up, then I'll quit." He said before he turned on his heels and exited the office. Liqin watched with fury before he punched the table and growled in annoyance, the nerve of that man! He then forced himself to sit down and typed away on his computer again.
A knock could be heard and Liqin responded, a sight of black hair could be seen and the ever-so-charming Jas entered the room, waving an envelope in his hand. "Yo, boss, I get that Christmas ain't your style, but I figured maybe you could at least attend this party~?" He said as he moved his way over and sat on the desk which Liqin gave him a sharp stare and the ravenette sat down on the chair in front of him.
"...Jas, I told you many times, I don't do Christmas." He said as he stared at the envelope and snatched it from his hand, studying it up and down and looked at him. "...But since it is you, I may consider it. Don't get too surprised if I don't attend." He responded, Jas clapped with his hands and patted on the fox-like man's cheek. "That's the spirit, chief~! See ya tomorrow." He said with his usual flirty grin before he stood up and waltzed out of the office, Liqin took a long minute to study the red envelope in his hand and sighed softly.
"Ah, fuck...who am I kidding? I ain't attending to this shit." He grumbled as he packed his things and was about to throw the envelope into the trash, but put it inside of his bag instead and headed back home.
At home, his boyfriend, Roman de Souza, was cooking in the kitchen and smiled when he heard the door open. He left the pot on the counter before he moved over and gave Liqin a warm hug. "Hello, how was work today, little fox~?" He cooed into his ear and kissed on his cheek, the man huffed over this fuss and patted on his head before moving away from his arms. "Just fine, had to deal with an annoying employee, tch, the nerves of him." He said as he hung off his coat and put his bag on the chair.
"Oh, how annoying?" Roman wondered as he helped his boyfriend to remove his scarf and put it on the shelf, Liqin just gave him a look and shook on his head. "I am too tired to talk about it, let's eat, I am starving." He said while starting to walk towards the dining room and by accident, knocking down his bag by walking into the chair. When the black bag landed on the floor, things were spread out and Roman spotted the red envelope. With curiosity taking over, he picked it up and looked at Liqin.
"What's this?" He asked before turning the page forward and smiled at the text of it. "An invitation to a Christmas party, you should definitely go." He encouraged which caused him to get an eye-roll and a shake of his head. "No way, I don't do Christmas, I told you that multiple times this month." Roman's smile turned into a faint frown and nodded. "I understand, sorry for asking." He said while fiddling with it and smiled a little. "But at least consider it, I'll be joining you."
"I said no, Roman, I don't do Christmas, I don't like it and I don't need Christmas." Liqin said, getting annoyed by his attempts before he turned around to walk away. Roman watched his boyfriend leave before he stood up and walked after him. "You never explained why, if we are together, we should be at least truthful to each other.
"Truthful, Roman? Truthful? I just told you I don't like Christmas."
"But why? You never said anything about why."
"Because I don't! Okay? Can you just not ask me about this stupid Christmas thing? I am not in the mood of going to that stupid party anyways, I am not in the mood for...for partaking stupid dinner, I am not in the mood for sharing gifts around which you like use once in a year and I am definitely not in the mood for sharing happiness because that isn't my thing!" He got out, turning around to face Roman who looked hurt at this reveal and his eyes shifted towards the ground, Liqin took deep breaths before he pulled his hair back and shook on his head.
"Just...if you want to celebrate Christmas, you definitely have the wrong person to celebrate it with." Roman then looked up after that and still looked hurt after the words. "So...sharing happiness isn't your thing, huh? The months we had together...wasn't happiness to you?" Liqin heard that and looked petrified before opening his mouth to speak, but shut his mouth and looked away. Roman knew the answer by looking at him in the face and shook on his head.
"...I'll be setting the table, dinner's ready...if you like to eat." He said before turning around and left to the kitchen, Liqin was still baffled over this and had nothing else to say. He silently left to his bedroom and slammed the door shut, he didn't need to eat, he didn't feel hungry anymore after that argument...He kicked on the bed in frustration before he dove headfirst into the pillow and forced himself to fall asleep.
But little did Liqin know...was that he was going to get a visit tonight and hopefully, it'll help him to change his ways.