Work Text:
Today is such a nice day, the sun was shining and the temperature was just right. Today everyone was free from their job and from usual busy schedule, which was perfect for Chou Chou. He was a big worry wort for all his friends and loved ones, he had a simple but difficult job that left him with many break days. So because of this, he is always left alone to worry about everyone else, especially since none of them really took proper care of themselves, especially you. So today, everyone is at the beach and everyone is having a fun time, some of your shared friends are in the water, some are tanning, some are eating snacks and food that Chou Chou made, and you are just sitting next to the giant 10 foot tall demon, Chou Chou, just chatting away as he is making food on the fire. Chou Chou was wearing swimming trunks, a sheer lace shawl and a black sun hat that covered his monkey ears and his wiggling red finned ears. He was listening to you talk definitely, his ears always wiggled whenever you talked to him. Whether it be about your day or if it was about what you saw or even just how you were feeling, he always listened to you and was respectful and responsive, whenever you needed it.
"So then, the traffic was backed up for several miles in the downtown part of megapolis! And all because Redson decided to destroy one of the roads! It was so annoying but I got to work only 3 minutes late, thank Buddha."
You openly complained, you didn't exactly blame Redson, but also you kind of did. The destroyed road definitely didn't help with the flow of traffic. "Oh, well I am glad you got to work safe, I would not have wanted you to be injured xuànlì." Chou Chou slipped out some mandarin. He rarely spoke mandarin unless he was drunk or he was saying a nickname. You were studying mandarin since many of your friends knew it but you were still new.
"Hey, Chou Chou, what does xuànlì mean?" You ask him, leaning into the table you were sitting at. He stops for a moment, his ears continuing to wiggle and his tail now starting to thump the ground, a sign of embarrassment he did often at specific questions. "It is just a random word in mandarin, do not worry about it [Name]." He spoke softly, giving you a flustered smile before going back to cooking on the grill that sat on the sand under the shade of some trees.
"Food is almost done, hope you have an appetite." He half jokes, still trying to understand jokes. You do laugh slightly but less from the joke he attempted to do but more from the attempt itself. "Don't worry Chou Chou, I am very much hungry. You don't have to worry." You keep laughing, trying to keep the mood light as Chou Chou's tail starts to sway now, the thumping going down. You look at Chou Chou's tail for a long second before going back to looking at the table. His tail reminded you of the trees, especially even more now when it swayed along with the branches.
"Okay! Food is done for you xuànlì!" He smiles, turning around with a plate in his hands. Chou Chou looked down at you with a smile as he put the plate down in front of you. It smelt sweet and as you look at it, you realize it was barbeque pork [or duck for non-pork eaters]! "Oh! Thank you Chou Chou!" You gave a big smile to the rather happy giant. "Of course, I hope you enjoy it xuànlì!" Chou Chou gave a flustered smile back, he sat a few feet away from you, holding his own plate. His plate was riddled with the smell of many spices but yours smelled sweet. You picked up a fork and knife, stabbing the fork gently into the meat infront of you. You gently put it up to your mouth and take a bite.
It was super sweet! Barely any spice besides some peppers cut up and pepper flakes barely sprinkled on there. "This is amazing Chou Chou! It is so sweet!" You smile, food still in your mouth as you tried to talk. "Sweet?! My mouth is on fire over here from his food, it is super spicy!" One of your shared friends yelled out, standing a few feet away from you both as they hold a place with a cooked fish. "He must really like you then if mine is supposed to be mid spicy!" Another friend came by and swept a water bottle from the table that sat a few feet in front of you. 'Really like you' was the words that rang out in your head as you looked at Chou Chou, he didn't once make eye contact with you as he ate him own spice ridden food, seeming embarrassed. "Chou Chou, what do they mean by that? 'Must really like you'? Do.."
"Do you like me?" You ask gently, leaning closer to Chou Chou as he started thumping the ground with his tail once again, his face slowly going red. "Chou Chou." You start to sound more serious as he finally looks at you, seeming scared and very vulnerable as he scrunches into himself. "Y..Yes. I. I like you.. xuànlì. You do not have to accept, I will not force you but I really do like you, I am sorry to have you realize this today when you are supposed to be relaxed on your break day." He spouts out, starting to immediately apologize as you think to yourself now. 'He likes me? ME?' You sit there for a second before you raise your hand to Chou Chou, calmly looking back up at him. "Don't apologize Chou Chou."
"I like you too." You give him a reassuring smile, which immediately shut him up.
"YOU DO?"