Chapter Text
"Zhanzhan, don't you be late!" Xuan Lu warned in a sweet tone on the other end of the phone, which only further disturbed Xiao Zhan's inner peace as he jumped up from his desk where he fell so spectacularly asleep sometime during dawn. Obviously, if he could help it, he wouldn't be behind schedule. Too late to cry over spilled milk and regret last night's decision to pull an all-nighter in the feeble hope of refreshing his portfolio. The sole resolve he had to bear was to man up, find a proper pair of jeans with the least cat hair stuck on them, brush his teeth and run.
An exhausted meow cried in the hall while he stepped into his sneakers and dragged on his light maroon coat. A poor decision, but he pulled a black bucket hat over his head to hide his disheveled hairdo, thick glasses forgotten on his nose. He had no time to switch to contact lenses anyhow. Equipment secured in his oversized backpack along with an A3-sized folder under his armpit. Good, sort of. Ready to go!
The door to his cozy flat was locked after bidding proper goodbye to his cat. Jiangou feeling neglected only yawned at her owner before returning to the sunniest spot to take another nap. Xiao Zhan, wishing for the third time today to be reborn as a cat, set off to find a taxi on the road. To his fortune, it happened as soon as he exited the apartment complex. He typed up a quick message of reassurance to Xuan Lu. To put the cherry on top, during his twenty minutes ride, he was able to fix his disastrous hair. More or less.
Xuan Lu was already waiting for him in front of the building when the car was parked by the pedestrian. She wore an adorable mini-skirt, Xiao Zhan design for her with a white blouse and long blazer.
"Zhanzhan! Finally!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm on time–"
"Look at yourself, do you wish to attend the meeting like that? I know you are an artist, but–"
"No, no, I still have, ugh, fifteen minutes, roughly," he added when she was about to protest and rush him inside the property simultaneously. "I've got some change of clothes in my bag, just gotta find the restroom first– ah," he looked at his palm after Xuan Lu forced a plastic card into it.
"Here, pin this on too. It grants you access, don't lose it!" She stomped her foot impatiently, tugging him through security. She meant well, Xiao Zhan knew that much. This job was a big gig, he had to grab for his company. For himself. He was already twenty-eight years old, five years out of university. Chasing any opportunities he could get his fingers on. He has been working for the same graphic design company ever since his master's degree studies started. First as an intern, and now as a senior. Climbing that ladder of hard work and sweat. Acceptable base salary with monthly bonuses depending on performance. Yet, he craved more. Dreamed bigger.
"I got it, I got it, I got it," he hushed his friend and coworker in one wonderful person kindly with an amicable smile as he walked backward with her insisted pushing. "Here, I'm pinning it, see?"
"Zhanzhan, look out!" With a squeak a little too late, a door abruptly hit Zhan's shoulder just when he was about to spin around. He fell on his knees as the door completely opened. Two freaked-out voices called after him, one from Xuan Lu, the other from an unknown male tone. Probably belonging to the culprit of this unfortunate event. No, actually, the person couldn't be accounted for responsibility, because one: corridor winged doors could be dangerous, and two: Xiao Zhan had a pair of eyes for a reason. Note to self: use them!
"I'm sorry," the man stuttered and Xiao Zhan had no time to mind the incident. He frantically reached for his backpack to double-check the condition of his camera. Due to his fall, the content of his folder was scattered around them like trees shredding autumn leaves, welcoming winter.
Damn it, damn it, damn it. He had to calm down, he knew that much.
"I'm sorry dude, you good?" The man asked again as a sea of dance students flooded out of the classroom. Xiao Zhan's (alias: dude) answer stalled until his partner in crime, alas beloved and ever-treasured camera was thoroughly investigated and proven to come out of the accident without any apparent damage.
"Good, good," he nodded before looking at the presumably bald guy with a bandana. Xiao Zhan offered a reassuring grin at the apologetic expression. "It's good, my fault. Wasn't paying attention." He climbed to his feet with Xuan Lu already shoving the collected folder under his arm.
"Can I help with–" the guy was courteous enough.
"Bathroom," he insisted way too enthusiastically for someone that needed to use the bathroom. "Ugh, where is the bathroom?"
"Oh, go straight and going to be on your right."
"Thank you!"
"Second floor, Zhanzhan!" Xuan Lu reminded him of their appointment as he was about to rush ahead with a quick bow when he spotted one of his drawings left on the floor. Today just wasn't his day! Xiao Zhan trotted over with the intention to pick up the missing piece. However, a single hand beat him to it and lifted the A3-sized paper. Xiao Zhan was in a hurry, yet the motion stood still. In a blink of an eye, the gold light oozed from the floor-to-ceiling window behind the unfamiliar frame. His shadow stretched over Xiao Zhan's feet, leaving the latter to stare flabbergasted. Picture perfect. An immediate regret of putting away his camera washed over him as the foreign man studied his old sketch. The man sported a black cap, pulled deep into his eyes, thus Xiao Zhan couldn't recognize much. Only taking notice of the trembling fingers that five years old drawing was traced with.
"You–" and he spoke. Voicer deeper and quieter than expected. Stomach-churning. His head tilted in the dim light, mesmerizing.
"What are you waiting for," Xuan Lu broke the magic and took the drawing out of the guy's hand. She pushed the missing paper at Xiao Zhan. "Just go already!" Right. He was about to be awfully late. With another bow, this time, he ran to the bathroom.
Ten minutes left. More than enough to get changed into a fresh white shirt and a blazer to keep it casually elegant. While his unmatched socks couldn't be helped, he still had the luxury to switch his glasses for contact lenses.
Spoiler alert: he made it.
The moment he jogged up to Xuan Lu on the second floor, she welcomed him with an arm punch.
"Deserved that," Xiao Zhan laughed and he could read the anxiety on her face. He better invite her for lunch today.
They had no time to involve themselves in chitchats as the marketing manager of the studio has already approached them. They were quick to exchange name cards and after a small introduction, they entered the meeting room. Tea was served and two members of the same department joined the briefing. Xiao Zhan's turn to shine arrived. He already researched the dance studio. It stood in second place on the most successful list of the dance industry. Classes had a variety of teachers and styles. To put it simply, the company offered more than enough resources to invest in their talents. Therefore, Xiao Zhan knew what he was doing while demonstrating his portfolio, until he reached a certain old drawing of his. He was just about to present it when he stopped himself and left the drawing in his folder.
Past should remain in the past.
With a meek smile plastered on his face, their business partners' attention was completely diverted and the piece of paper could sink where it belonged. Into the ocean of memories.
The meeting took almost two hours, there was a break before the initial decision. Unlike Xuan Lu, who was still very antsy, Xiao Zhan had a good feeling about the interview.
"If you are in, it's because of that very handsome face and sunny smile of yours," she commented.
"Ouch, so much for my skills, I see," he feigned a pout, but couldn't help a giggle.
"Take it seriously."
"That's what I do. My looks are average at best, if I appeared handsome to you, must be due to my skills and confidence."
"Confidence is sexy."
"It is very sexy," they both smiled at that.
"But you are nervous."
"I'm dying here... " yet, he couldn't allow his inner turmoil to be displayed. Not yet. He had to be professional, to sell a product: himself.
After a good thirty minutes, both of them were invited right back into the room to be blessed with a trial opportunity. The studio did receive several applicants to take the job of completely redesigning the company's image. Hence, the selected few had the chance to respectively redesign a classroom. Xiao Zhan could understand the reasoning and so long as the trial job is going to be paid, he had nothing against the conditions, which he scanned with his eyes. He had one month to finish the job, starting next Monday. A curt time, especially while handling other projects but it must have been part of the test. Not one to turn his back on challenges, Xiao Zhan signed the paper. Already knowing hell awaited him from next week.
Just as he made a promise to himself, he did invite Xuan Lu for lunch. The area had nice small restaurants, perhaps they could have a coffee too while brainstorming for next Monday. As Xiao Zhan mused, he failed to notice the transparent plastic separator hitting his middle section. Oh! He had to use a token to exit. Xiao Zhan reached for the plastic ID card Xuan Lu gave him this morning, but–
– it was gone.
He blanched, pawning at his chest to no avail.
"Ugh–" he must have lost it during the commotion earlier the day. "Go ahead, I just remembered something... Order for me too. Surprise me!" With that he returned to the corridor, leaving his friend with a questioning look. He walked the very same path, restudying every corner. The card was not found on the first floor. It wasn't in the bathroom either. On his way up the second floor, Xiao Zhan faced the marketing manager again. She smiled at him kindly and invited him to show the classroom Xiao Zhan had to redesign. The latter took the opportunity with a grateful grin as he followed her up to the fifth floor. The top of the building. It only had four spacious classrooms. They walked to the last one on the floor.
She turned the light on.
"It was used as a storage room. After our business grew, we decided to change all of the rooms into classrooms for our dancers," Li Qin, he recalled her name, explained in a kind tone. The room indeed reminded Xiao Zhan of a storage room, it had no windows. A few sets of shelves still lingered along with dusty desks and chairs. "Most of the documents were already taken. The place will be emptied by Monday. Do not worry about it."
"Could you leave me a chair..." Zhan pointed at one before his eyes studied the desks. "And this desk here for me?" He wondered.
"No problem. You are free to request any tools and types of furniture to fill the place. I will send the budget list to your email address by Monday too."
Xiao Zhan nodded as he looked around. The walls weren't dirty, only covered in spider webs, which will be cleaned by Monday too, he supposed. He turned his head to take another glimpse at the desk he just picked when on top of the many documents he spotted a plastic card. His ID card. Eyes went wide before picking the item up. He visited the fifth floor for the first time ever in his life, how come his ID card made it up here before him? To the abandoned storage room? Speechless, Xiao Zhan couldn't find his voice as he twiddled with the card. As if his careful gaze could detect any clue to solve the mystery.
"Mister Xiao? Can we go? I have another appointment in a few," Qin stirred him from his stupor and he reacted with a gentle smile.
"Yes, sorry. Coming!" He reached her in two long strides while readjusting his ID card.
"Oh, the card. Perhaps it's better to carry it around your neck instead of pinning it. We have a strong policy for ID cards, please don't lose it."
Ahahaha, "...ugh, ah. I see. I will be careful," he agreed. Watching the room being swallowed in the darkness with its secrets as the door was shut behind them.