Chapter Text
Zhang Hao groans for the nth time, even Ricky had lost count. “Stop it, it’s getting irritating.” Ricky glares at his friend from the opposite of his work table so Zhang Hao being the good friend he is, groans again, and that was the last straw for Ricky.
The younger grabs the cushion he was leaning against and throws it across the table, landing on the chest of the older male who has his head thrown back, looking up at the ceiling. Zhang Hao lets out a sound between groaning and coughing due to the impact of the cushion.
“That was so mean of you, Ricky.” Zhang Hao smiles despite the complaint. It is always fun teasing Ricky.
“Why are you even drawing it out? Just finish writing your reflection and be done with it. It’s been two months and you’re still not done.” Ricky asks with genuine curiosity. He had known Zhang Hao ever since he first joined the matchmaking company as an intern, and it’s been five years since then.
He knew his friend was always hard-working, completing every given task on time. In the time he has been working in the company, Ricky never met anyone that is as compassionate as Zhang Hao. But after failing his first mission, Zhang Hao lost his motivation and became lethargic due to the lack of mission that was given to him.
Back then, Zhang Hao was ecstatic when he was appointed as an official cupid. Finally, he could prove himself and show the higher-ups that he was capable of doing his job well. However, his first mission didn't go as planned. He had made a mistake, and the couple he was supposed to unite ended up hating each other more than ever. Now, he comes into the company like a zombie, barely on time, and leaving work way earlier than he’s supposed to. It’s as if the time system is fucked up for Zhang Hao.
“Try copying all the rules of this damn company five times and you’ll know why.” Zhang Hao slams his hand on top of a very thick and old book, trying to get Ricky’s attention towards the book to prove his argument.
Everyone in the company knows about this legendary book and all of the employees wholeheartedly hated it. It was said to be the first-ever rule book since the company was established centuries ago in the heavenly realm. Some tried to get rid of it due to the number of stupid rules, but it was never a success. The book was never destroyed no matter how long it stayed in the fire or water. Some even tried to tear it, but to no avail, it never works.
“No thanks, I'd rather not.” Ricky grimaces and returns to his work.
“Anyways, I’m kinda hungry, wanna get lunch together?” Zhang Hao asks after a while, already made up his mind that he will continue his reflection tomorrow.
Dumbfounded by the invitation, Ricky stares at Zhang Hao with his eyebrow raised.
“What?” Zhang Hao was confused at first, and then he gasped. For a second, Ricky thought his friend figured out what was wrong in his previous sentence but he should have known. He really should have known. “Oh my god, Ricky! I mean lunch as in food, not me.” Zhang Hao has the audacity to blush. “I mean I know I’m good-looking and all, but-”
“Jesus! Just shut the fuck up already, you’re not even my type.” Ricky cries. He totally forgot that Zhang Hao is more narcissistic than him. “It’s 4 PM, what lunch are you talking about?” He then clarifies.
“Oh, then dinner I guess?”
“At 4 PM? Work is not even over.”
“Okay, and does it look like I care?” Zhang Hao cock his eyebrows, bag in his hand, ready to get off work already. The both of them had a staring contest for a while. Ricky eyes were full of: Are you for real? while Zhang Hao stares back with the same intensity: I’m dead serious.
In the end, Ricky gave in. “Fine.” Just like that, both of them leave the office. And every day, Ricky thanks whichever god that is listening to him that his work has flexible hours and the employees are allowed to come and go as they wish. If it weren’t, he would have been long-fired. Along with Zhang Hao.
💘
The next day, Zhang Hao walks into the company at 10 AM. He had already calculated everything at home last night. If he managed to copy 30 pages every day starting today, he would finally get his reflection done in one and a half months. Determined, Zhang Hao takes big confident strides towards his seat only to realise someone is already sitting at his spot.
It was someone new, someone, he had never seen before.
“Excuse me?” He taps the person on the shoulder. “This is my seat, did you sit at the wrong place?”
Before the stranger could say anything, Ricky cuts in. “He’s in the right seat. This is the new intern in our section, Ollie.”
“What? What do you mean new intern?! What about me then? Am I fired?” Zhang Hao panics. Feeling bad for his senior colleague, Ollie offers an apologetic smile.
Zhang Hao would have smacked him immediately if he wasn’t panicking right now.
“You’re not fired, calm down. Go find Keita and he’ll explain everything to you.”
Not needing to be told twice, Zhang Hao runs to his boss’s office. Respect flew out of Zhang Hao when he found out that he was on the verge of getting fired. He didn’t even bother knocking on the door before barging into his boss’s office. “Keita!” He yells.
“I did so much for you and the things I got are you yelling at me first thing in the morning.” Keita says immediately, not giving his employee a chance to speak.
“What do you mean you did so much for me? I’m fired?!”
“Who said so?” Keita asks, amused at where the conversation is heading towards.
“Huh? Then why would there be a new intern if I’m not fired?”
“Because you’re going on a new mission.” Keita decided to get straight to the point to end the suffering of both Zhang Hao and him. If Zhang Hao continues to pace back and forth frantically in front of him, he thinks he’ll get dizzy.
“What?! But I thought I couldn’t go on another mission until I finished my reflection?” Zhang Hao is confused. What the hell is going on now?
“That is why I said I did so much for you. I succeeded in convincing the higher-ups to allow you to go on a new mission.” Keita says with a smug smile on his face.
“You did that, for me?!”
“Yes.” Keita reinforces. And before he knew it, Zhang Hao threw himself at him. Caught off guard, Keita lost his balance and the both of them toppled onto the ground with a loud thud. Keita could tell that his employee is happy, finally getting to go on a new mission. So he indulges in it, allowing Zhang Hao to hug him on the floor. After all, he knew Zhang hao is a competent worker. It was just unfortunate he failed his first mission due to a small mistake.
“Okay, get up now so I can brief you on the case.” Keita said after a while, and Zhang Hao obeys immediately, eyes sparkling with anticipation. After Keita gives the briefing, Zhang Hao leaves his boss’s office with a file that contains all the information of the two target people—Sung Hanbin and Seok Matthew—in his hand.
As for his reflection, fuck it, there’s no need for him to write anymore. Determined to make sure the mistake in his first mission wouldn't happen again, he packs up and leaves the office. For the next few days, Zhang Hao did not go to the office and stayed cooped up in his house to study the file again and again.
By the time he is ready to go down to the human realm, he already knows everything about them– their likes, dislikes, hobbies, interests, and even their favourite colour. He was confident that he would be able to create the perfect scenario for them to fall in love.
💘
Zhang Hao had missed the human realm. The last time he was down here was almost a year ago during his first mission. During the short period of time he was down in the human realm, he got to try many kinds of food that only the human realm has. So the first thing he did when he came down this time was to go to the night market that was buzzing with people and the smell of food.
He stopped stall after stall, buying all the food he was craving without care for money. One of the good things about working where he is now is that he need not worry about any expenses since they will all be covered by the company. If he ever runs out of money, one trip to the ATM machine would solve all the problems.
After feeling satisfied with filling up his stomach, he decided to stop by a mini-mart that is a few blocks away from his new apartment to get some necessities.
On the day of the briefing with Keita, his boss has already informed him about the place he will be staying. Not only is it close to the university his targets are studying, but it is also home to one of the targets, Sung Hanbin. Too bad, Seok Matthew lives further away. If not, it would be perfect for Zhang Hao to carry out his mission.
"It would be a total of $250 please." The cashier rings up Zhang Hao's purchase.
The cupid would usually pay by card, but for some reason, this mini-mart only accepts cash. So he digs through his wallet, getting out the correct amount of money to pay. Soon enough, he found out that he was short of cash.
Embarrassed, he didn't know what to do. His feet are not willing to move even though he wants to step out of the line. The impatience of the cashier and customers behind him are not helping either. He should have stopped by the ATM before coming to the mart.
Just as he feels tears brimming at the edge of his eyes, someone from behind offers to pay for him. "Ring us up together." The kind stranger says and relief immediately flows into Zhang Hao's body. Whoever pays for him is an angel and Zhang Hao is ready to repay their kindness in whatever way they wish for.
Turning around, he is immediately faced with a similar height male with black hair that frames his face perfectly, making him look like an AI. The more he looks, the more he feels familiar. Where have I seen this person before?
"Earth to you." The stranger snaps his finger in front of Zhang Hao, pulling him out of his thoughts. Then he lets out a giggle when Zhang Hao's cheek blushes in embarrassment.
"Thank you for helping me back there." Despite making a fool out of himself in front of a stranger, Zhang Hao still knows when should be the time to thank someone. Especially someone that was a big help to him.
"You're welcome." The stranger smiles and oh, it frustrates Zhang Hao even more because he swears the stranger felt so familiar. Especially the smile, he definitely saw the smile somewhere before. But where?
No further talk was exchanged between them as they just let their feet guide them. When Zhang Hao reached his apartment, he saw the stranger follow him into the building from his peripheral vision.
"Do you live here too?" Zhang Hao asked before he could even realise it, mouth moving faster than his brain.
"Yeah, on the 6th floor. I'm assuming you are living here too?"
"Yes, on the 7th floor." Zhang Hao replies back.
When the elevator reached the 6th floor, the kind stranger looked at Zhang Hao one last time. "My name is Sung Hanbin, it was nice meeting you, new apartment mate." Then he exits the elevator, the metal door serving as a barrier between them.
"Sung Hanbin….." Zhang Hao tries the name in his mouth. Sung Hanbin, Sung Hanbin, Sung Hanbin and it finally clicks. "What the fuck?! Isn't that one of my mission's targets?!"
After realising it, the walk to his apartment is absent-minded. All that is repeating in Zhang Hao's brain is handsome, handsome, so fucking handsome.
💘