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There he was again, Wei Ying, standing at the bus stop probably on his way to work. Lan Zhan didn’t know what Wei Ying did for a living now. He didn’t deserve any information about his life. Still he couldn’t help but be curious about the boy from his childhood who had always seemed so full of joy to see Lan Zhan despite his stern demeanour and icy reputation.
“Dad?” Sizhui broke Lan Zhan out of his trance. He turned to smile at his son. “Have a good day at school son.”
Sizhui rolled his eyes as he grabbed his backpack and got out of the car. “I won’t, I have double chemistry but thanks for the sentiment.” He got out and began to walk to the train station and as Lan Zhan watched him go, he was once again hit by how astonishing it was that he now lived with a 16 year old boy. He still remembered his son reaching up for comfort after an unfortunate fall from his tricycle, now he was mere months away from choosing his college courses.
Lan Zhan pulled himself away from that uncomfortable thought and turned his attention back to Wei Ying. Wei Ying standing at the bus stop in his large red coat with matching red knit bobble hat. Maybe it was a present from his sister. Lan Zhan didn’t know. He wasn't allowed that privilege and rightly so. Lan Zhan checked his watch. 8am. He had ample time to get to work. He entertained a fantasy about pulling up at the bus stop, opening his door, and offering Wei Ying a ride. Wei Ying would grin at him and climb in. They would talk just like they used to…and the years would melt away…then the bus came and Wei Ying kindly let a pregnant passenger go ahead of him before getting onboard himself and Lan Zhan sighed and headed to work far too early to start his day.
Lan Zhan had first spotted Wei Ying three weeks ago. Sizhui used to get a lift to school with a neighbour and her son but they moved away so Lan Zhan had started giving Sizhui a lift to the train station in the mornings. That was when he first saw Wei Ying. The boy he had known only briefly at school but who he forever held in his heart.
Wei Ying had been a trouble maker from the start, always out to annoy Lan Qiren, always getting ordered into detentions where Lan Zhan was forced to supervise his line making or make sure he cleaned up whatever new mess he had made. At first, Lan Zhan thought he hated Wei Ying. He couldn’t understand why Wei Ying would do those types of things, what was his aim? Why couldn’t he just behave? But soon he started to pick up pieces of Wei Ying’s life and he began to slowly understand. Wei Ying was fighting against a life of uncertainty. People left him. Wei Ying would keep testing the people in his life until they stayed. It was simple really, his behaviour was a test, if you passed, Wei Ying would be loyal to you forever. He saw it in the way Wei Ying protected Wen Ning from bullies and the way he doted on his sister, once you were part of Wei Ying’s inner circle, you never left.
In time, Lan Zhan had never desired anything more than to be special to Wei Ying. He craved it like a flower craved sunlight. But it was impossible. Wei Ying saw him as a disciplinary, a stuffy obstacle to be overcome, although…towards the end of their acquaintance Lan Zhan had thought that perhaps there was a chance…then that awful day came. The day that Wen Ning was involved in a fight and he hit a boy from too rich a family for it to be ignored. Wen Ning was set up of course but that was of little matter when the parents of the hurt boy petitioned the school to have Wen Ning expelled. Evidence wasn’t necessary when you had paid off witnesses claiming they saw Wen Ning attack first and go for blood. Wei Ying jumped in and took the blame of course. He loved Wen Ning like a brother. Lan Zhan understood. He understood Wei Ying’s inner circle rules. Wei Ying’s guardians didn’t understand it though and neither did his brother. When Wei Ying was expelled, he lost more than his place at Gusu academy, he lost most of his family and what had Lan Zhan done? Nothing. Or close to nothing. He argued with his Uncle, even went as far as to refuse meals, but it was no use. He tried to find out where Wei Ying had gone, but his brother and sister had no idea as to his whereabouts and his guardians refused to talk about it. So he had given up and moved on but he never forgot Wei Ying and he hoped life had been kind to him.
Seeing Wei Ying again after all this time, had brought up so many feelings for Lan Zhan. He felt guilty, curious, nervous and excited. Lan Zhan was not the boy he once was, he had moved out of the family home as soon as he had been old enough, he had taken Sizhui in against his Uncle’s wishes, he had even tried roller blading once. In short, he was more open to life now and more open to the idea of Wei Ying being a part of that life…he just needed a little push in Wei Ying’s direction. A sign that his reappearance would be welcomed…
The next day, Wei Ying was at the bus stop once more. Lan Zhan dropped Sizhui off with the usual exchange (“Have a good day” “I would if I wasn’t going to school.”)
Once Sizhui exited the car, Lan Zhan turned his attention back to Wei Ying. Wei Ying was frowning at the bus schedule and looking at his watch. Other people were leaving the bus queue and heading for the train station. Lan Zhan opened his window and heard his Uncle’s voice in his head “ eavesdropping is against the rules” Lan Zhan pushed the thought aside.
“Can’t believe the drivers are going on strike! What are we supposed to do?”
“They’re overpaid already!”
Lan Zhan listened to the disgruntled passengers' comments and deduced what was happening.
The bus drivers were going on strike. There would be no buses today. Wei Ying would not be able to get to work. He could…this was his…
Before he could talk himself out of it, Lan Zhan drove up to the bus stop and screeched to a halt. Wei Ying jumped away from the curb in shock. Lan Zhan suppressed a wince. Not a great start.
Wei Ying peered into the car’s window with an annoyed frown then gasped. “Lan Zhan?” he said. His voice was muffled. Lan Zhan rolled down the window. “Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying said with more conviction. “It is you! How are you?”
Lan Zhan nearly broke down in tears. He didn’t deserve such a reception. Wei Ying was too good, always too good. “Wei Ying, do you need a ride?” he croaked.
Wei Ying blinked at him. “Oh um…yes! I do! If it’s not a bother…”
“Wei Ying is never a bother,” Lan Zhan said as he shoved the passenger door open. Wei Ying grinned and climbed in. He whistled as he looked around. “Well this is swish!” he said, running his fingers along the interior. Lan Zhan pulled back onto the road. “My son picked it out,” he said and then mentally reprimanded himself. Telling him about his son so early was hardly easing Wei Ying into the situation.
But Wei Ying looked delighted. “You’re a dad! What? When? How? Who? In whatever order you choose to answer them!”
Lan Zhan huffed out a little laugh. “I am a dad, I have been for ten years now, his name is Sizhui, he is adopted. I…am single.” He couldn’t help but throw that last piece of information at Wei Ying.
Wei Ying smiled. “Well that’s…wonderful. I bet you’re a great dad.”
“He is sixteen now and he thinks the fact that I make him go to school everyday is for purely torturous reasons.”
“Ha ha! Well I’m sure I felt the same when I was sixteen.”
Lan Zhan winced inwardly. “You were always a good student,” Lan Zhan offered.
Wei Ying laughed loudly. “I was a rebel without a cause.”
“I understood your cause,” Lan Zhan confessed softly.
“Lan zhan…” Wei Ying replied.
“Yes?” Lan Zhan said, his heart doing overtime.
“Do you know where I work? Because this sure looks like you’re heading in the right direction but I haven’t given you an address yet!”
Lan Zhan’s ears turned pink. He hadn’t asked Wei Ying for directions because he already knew the way. He had tailed the bus one time. Excellent. Now he was a stalker. This was going so splendidly. “I am heading into the city, I assumed you worked there,” he lied.
“Well you are correct Lan Zhan! I work at a very small start up company in the city that helps people get their inventions off the ground and into the buyers market. It's on the street just past the dodgy looking garage that seems to break more cars than it fixes.”
“That is very admirable.”
“What is? Breaking more cars than they fix? I don’t think that’s anything to be proud of,” Wei Ying teased.
Lan Zhan’s lip quirked. “No, your profession is admirable.”
“Ha! My pay isn’t very admirable but I like what I do.”
“I am glad to hear that,” Lan Zhan said sincerely.
“Where do you work? Lan academy?” Wei Ying asked.
“Lan Zhan shook his head. “My uncle is still on the board and my brother is headmaster now, but I work as a freelance music teacher and I also have a small business that helps larger businesses become more environmentally friendly.”
“Lan Zhan you are more impressive now than ever and I was always sort of amazed at how wonderful you were!”
Lan Zhan parked outside Wei Ying’s building a little too abruptly. He turned to Wei Ying. “You were?” he asked dumbfoundedly.
Wei Ying nodded. “Of course! Everyone spoke so highly of you and you always got high grades, usually the highest in the class.”
Lan Zhan suppressed a sigh. That was all superficial nonsense. He knew how unimportant all that was now. “I followed the rules and never strayed,” he replied sadly.
Wei Ying cocked his head to the side. “Hey, you were always more than a bunch of rules wrapped up in a school uniform you know? Don’t you remember that time I forgot my lunch money? You gave me half of everything off your plate. That meant a lot to me. Don’t you remember that time I left my homework in the library but when I got to class there it was on my desk ready to be handed in. I knew that was you, Lan Zhan. Maybe you don’t think I noticed, but I noticed. I noticed you, noticing me Lan Zhan. And it mattered. It mattered a lot to me.”
They looked at each other.
“Could I please drive you to work again tomorrow?” Lan Zhan blurted out.
Wei Ying smiled. “You may. Pick me up at the bus stop?”
Lan Zhan nodded and Wei Ying got out of the car. Wei Ying turned just before he shut the passenger door. “Oh and tomorrow maybe you could pull up in a slightly less ‘I’m auditioning to be in the next fast and the furious film’ sort of a way?” he said with a wink, then he shut the door and headed into his building.
Lan Zhan didn’t do happy dances. It was most unbecoming. But as he pulled away from the curb and headed to work, he allowed himself to tap a merry tune out on the steering wheel. He was going to see Wei Ying again, in the morning. Wei Ying was back in his life and maybe…he still wanted to be noticed by Lan Zhan.
The next morning Sizhui eyed Lan Zhan suspiciously as they ate breakfast. “Something is up with you,” Sizhui mumbled.
“Don’t speak with your mouth full,” Lan Zhan replied.
Sizhui narrowed his eyes. “That’s the fancy tie Uncle got you. The one you said was too ostentatious for the office.”
The problem with Sizhui sometimes was that he was incredibly clever. Damn it. “Just felt like a change.”
“You don’t like change.”
“Perhaps I’m evolving.”
“Perhaps,” Sizhui allowed as he chewed, still looking at Lan Zhan as though he were an alien with a Lan Zhan suit on.
Lan Zhan kept his poker face fixed. “We must leave in ten minutes.”
Sizhui nodded and went to pack up his bag. Lan Zhan washed the dishes and took some deep breaths. He wasn’t doing anything wrong. Yes he was. He was lying to his son. No, not lying…just omitting certain things and just for now. It would be no good bringing Wei Ying into his life until Lan Zhan could be sure that Wei Ying wasn’t going anywhere and that Wei Ying felt the same as him, although they could be friends, if that was all Wei Ying wanted but Lan Zhan hoped…he hoped…
“Dad, that plate had a pattern when you started cleaning it.”
Lan Zhan looked down at the plate in his hand. The one he had been scrubbing for far too long. He looked at Sizhui leaning in the doorway, cocking an eyebrow at him as if to say ‘Well?’
Lan Zhan cleared his throat and put the plate on the drying rack. “Let’s go,” he said, trying to walk past his son’s knowing look without cracking. He managed it. Just.
Lan Zhan dropped Sizhui at the train station and waited until his son was entirely out of sight before pulling up to the bus stop. Wei Ying hadn’t spotted him yet, but when he did, he smiled and bounced over to the car and Lan Zhan’s heart bounced in time with his steps.
“You came! I was wondering if you would ditch me,” Wei Ying said as he got into the car.
“Never,” Lan Zhan said very seriously.
Wei Ying smiled. “I was just joking Lan Zhan, I never doubted you for a second. Can I turn the radio on?”
Lan Zhan nodded and they set off. Wei Ying sang along badly with the radio and told Lan Zhan obscure pop music facts and even did little dances in his seat and tried to get Lan Zhan to join in with him. Lan Zhan enjoyed it so much he felt like he was floating. When they reached Wei Ying’s building he asked if he could pick Wei Ying up again the next morning, Wei Ying agreed.
For two weeks, Lan Zhan dropped Sizhui off at school then picked up Wei Ying for work. Days were now categorised as Wei Ying days or none Wei Ying days.
Monday to Friday became superior days to Saturday and Sunday in Lan Zhan’s eyes. Sizhui became more and more suspicious, especially when his father insisted on making a giant travel cup of the fancy coffee he got as a present and swore he would never, ever use, before leaving the house.
“I am trying new things,” Lan Zhan explained.
“And I applaud you, but I KNOW there is a reason behind these changes Dad, and I will find out eventually!” his son insisted.
Lan Zhan just finished preparing the coffee and said nothing. He had known the coffee would be a huge red flag to his son, but Wei Ying was always so delighted everytime Lan Zhan handed over the travel cup full of what Wei Ying called “people fuel.” There was no way he could stop now.
The day finally came, when Sizhui found out. The little gremlin pretended to walk down to the train station then sneaked back out and saw Lan Zhan pull up to the bus stop and pick up Wei Ying. Sizhui then quickly rang his dad who picked up through his hands free.
“Sizhui?” His dad asked.
“Dad, I suddenly don’t feel well, could you pick me up and take me home?”
“Of course,” Lan Zhan replied.
There was some mumbling in the background and then Sizhui heard his fathers passenger speak. “You take care of your son, Lan Zhan…I’ll get a taxi. Don't worry!”
Sizhui’s eyes widened. No! This wasn’t the plan! The plan was to meet his Dad’s mystery boyfriend not scare him away! “I see your car dad! I’m coming!” Sizhui ran to the car and jumped in the backseat. “Hi dad, thanks for coming so quickly…oh! Excuse me!”
Sizhui had never seen his father look so guilty. It was most amusing.
“Hi!” The man in the passenger seat said with a big grin and a little wave. “I’m Wei Ying.”
“Lan Sizhui,” Sizhui replied.
“Wei Ying is an old friend from school,” Lan Zhan explained.
“You’re old dad here is helping me out, there’s a bus strike so he meets me here every morning and gives me a lift to work. He’s such a sweetheart.”
“Every morning,” Sizhui murmured. Wei Ying didn’t hear, he was too busy beaming at Lan Zhan. Sizhui noticed his dad’s eyes slide to look at him and his ears turning pink.
“Well I’ll let you guys get home,” Wei Ying said as he reached for the door handle.
“No!” Lan Zhan and Sizhui shouted in unison. Wei Ying turned to look at them both. His mouth quirked up a bit.
“I would feel awful if you had to get a taxi because of me,” Sizhui exclaimed. “Dad, we can drop Wei Ying off and then we can head home. We have plenty of time.”
“Mn,” Lan Zhan said. “Wei Ying, I will drive you.”
“Okay,” Wei Ying said with another smile. “If you’re sure.”
Lan Zhan started the car and Wei Ying plucked the travelmug of coffee out of the cup holder. Ahhh, the coffee made sense now!
“Sizhui, tell me about yourself,” Wei Ying said as he sipped his drink.
“Dad took me in when I was six, I’m an only child and my dad has never had a boyfriend. In the ten years that I’ve lived with him!”
“Sizhui…” Lan Zhan said warningly.
Wei Ying pressed his lips together. “Is that so?”
“It is so, and I just think…it’s a big shame. Because I think he’s wonderful and any man would be lucky to have him, don’t you think so?”
“Sizhui if you are unwell perhaps you should stop talking,” Lan Zhan offered.
Wei Ying snorted. “I do think it’s a shame, Sizhui. I completely agree with you, Lan Zhan is a catch. Catch of the day! Catch of the week! Catch of the century!”
Oh Sizhui liked Wei Ying. He liked him a lot. “I’ve been trying to get Dad to go out more but he doesn’t really know many people outside of work and family,” Sizhui said with a sad sigh.
Lan Zhan made a disapproving noise. Wei Ying sipped his drink. “If Lan Zhan was open to it, I would be happy to help him…get out more.”
“You would?” Lan Zhan said. Sizhui despaired. How could his dad really not see what a good person he was? Did he really have no idea how desirable he was?
“I would,” Wei Ying confirmed.
The silence was…disappointing.
“We’re here,” Lan Zhan said.
Wei Ying blinked at Lan Zhan. “Oh! Okay…well I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yes, tomorrow,” Lan Zhan confirmed.
Wei Ying smiled half heartedly. What had happened? Everything had been going so well! “It was nice to meet you and I hope you feel better soon, Sizhui!” Wei Ying said then he got out of the car and disappeared into the building.
Sizhui groaned as they pulled away. “What was that?” he asked.
Lan Zhan didn’t reply. Sizhui continued. “Dad, that was your opening! You were meant to say I would like that very much, then you arrange a date and get your happy ever after!”
Lan Zhan sighed as they stopped at the traffic lights. “You don’t understand, Sizhui, you don’t know what I did, I don’t deserve…”
“Okay, I don’t know what you think you did, Dad, but I can guess from past experience that you are judging yourself too harshly and it doesn’t look like Wei Ying is judging you at all. Tomorrow, I want you to promise me, you will ask Wei Ying out on a date.”
Lan Zhan made some sort of noise in response.
“Noooo. I want to hear you say the words, say I promise…”
“I promise.”
“To ask Wei Ying out on a date tomorrow.” Sizhui urged.
“I promise to ask Wei Ying out on a date tomorrow,” Lan Zhan parroted.
“Good,” Sizhui said, feeling victorious.
“Good. Now go to school, I will make an excuse for why you are late,” Lan Zhan said and Sizhui realised they were back at the train station. He huffed and got out of the car. He may have won the battle, but Lan Zhan had won the war.
The following morning Lan Zhan got ready in a blur. He tried to plan what he would say in his head but the words all jumbled together. Luckily, Sizhui was on hand to make sure he dressed correctly and prepared Wei Ying’s giant coffee.
At the train station Sizhui wished him luck, then blushed and looked down at his hands. “Dad…I know you don’t agree but I think Wei Ying would be lucky to…I mean anyone would be lucky to…you’re…”
Lan Zhan reached over and patted his son’s hand. “Thank you Sizhui,” he said.
Sizhui grinned, gave a double thumbs up and got out of the car. When Lan Zhan pulled up to the bus stop, Wei Ying wasn’t there. But it didn't matter. Lan Zhan would just wait. Twenty minutes later…lan Zhan started to worry. Then a bus beeped behind him and Lan Zhan jumped and quickly drove out of the way.
Oh. The bus strike was over. He hadn't checked the news, he had been so busy preparing what to say to Wei Ying but Wei Ying must have got the bus this morning…he didn’t…he didn’t need Lan Zhan anymore. Lan Zhan started to drive to work on autopilot. This was good. Wei Ying wouldn’t have any issues getting to work anymore and things could go back to the way they were. But this would mean breaking his promise to Sizhui, and Lan Zhan had never broken a promise to Sizhui. He got to work, parked up and went into the building with a head full of conflicting thoughts.
He tried to concentrate on his work but all he could see was Wei Ying. Wei Ying dancing in his passenger seat, Wei Ying moaning over how much he loves the coffee Lan Zhan brought him, Wei Ying winking at him and Wei Ying offering to take him out. Lan Zhan sighed, and made a decision.
The moment the clock struck twelve, Lan Zhan stood up and went to his car. He drove to Wei Ying’s workplace and marched up to the reception desk before he could lose his nerve. The receptionist smiled at him. “Can I help you, Si…”
“LAN ZHAN!”
Lan Zhan turned at the sound of his voice to see Wei Ying standing in the lobby holding a takeout bag. Lan Zhan marched towards him. Apparently this was his thing now. Marching. “Wei Ying, I must speak with you.”
Wei Ying blinked. “Um…yeah sure! Come up to my office.”
The journey in the lift was quiet and uncomfortable. When they reached Wei Ying’s office, Wei Ying ushered Lan Zhan inside and shut the door. “Lan Zhan, I’m sorry I wasn’t at the bus stop this morning, I just…after you didn’t say anything yesterday when I sort of asked you out…”
“Uncle said it didn’t matter,” Lan Zhan blurted out.
“What?” Wei Ying asked.
Lan Zhan took a deep breath. “Uncle said that when you got expelled it didn’t matter, but it mattered to me. I should have done something.”
Wei Ying smiled. “Lan Zhan, we were just kids, I didn’t expect you to…”
“I should have done something,” Lan Zhan said. He rushed to Wei Ying and crushed his hands within his sweaty grasp. “I argued with Uncle but he wouldn’t listen, I tried to get brother on my side but he was upset about his break up, as if that mattered at all when you had been…”
“Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying said gently. “Look at me.”
Lan Zhan looked at him.
“Hi! I’m Wei Ying. A fully functioning adult with a sister and a brother who are very much in my life. I’m happy and I have a job I enjoy and I have a best friend who I haven’t seen in a long time and he seems to be holding some guilt over some silly thing that was entirely my OWN fault and happened so many years ago now I can barely even remember what the big deal was…but the point is…if you see my awesome best friend…maybe you can tell him that I don’t blame him for anything and I’ve missed him. I’ve missed him so very much.”
Lan Zhan kissed him very suddenly and deeply. At first it felt very one sided, then Wei Ying slid his hands around Lan Zhan’s neck and pressed closer and everything around them got a little hazy and Lan Zhan’s brain was chanting Wei Ying’s name over and over and every nerve in his body felt alive and…and then he jumped back in horror. What was he doing? He didn’t have permission!
“Wei Ying, I’m sorry! I should have asked…I shouldn’t have…”
Wei Ying looked very upset. Oh no. Lan Zhan had really made a mess of things. He opened his mouth to apologise again when Wei Ying whined. “What happened, Lan Zhan? We were kissing and now we’re not kissing! Come back! Come back!” He ordered making grabby hands at Lan Zhan.
Lan Zhan went to him and then they were kissing again and twirling apparently. Twirling further into the room and then falling over onto the couch Wei Ying had in the corner of his office. “Lan Zhan! Oh god Lan Zhan! You don’t know how much I like you, I’ve always liked you. You were the hardest part.”
Lan Zhan pulled back and looked down at Wei Ying. “The hardest part?”
Wei Ying stroked his cheek and smiled up at him. “You were the hardest part of being expelled.”
“I didn’t think you felt…” Lan Zhan trailed off.
Wei Ying’s eyes sparkled up at him. “I noticed you noticing me, remember, and it mattered.”
Lan Zhan kissed him softly. “Wei Ying, please may I take you out this evening.”
“Yes my Lan Zhan, you may take me out this evening and any other evening you wish,” Wei Ying replied, kissing Lan Zhan on the end of his nose.
Lan Zhan smiled and stood.
Wei Ying pouted and sat up. “Hey, where are you going?”
Lan Zhan kneeled down and took Wei Ying’s hands in his. “Wei Ying is worth more than a midday couch fumble. I will take Wei Ying to dinner this evening, we will walk under the stars and later Wei Ying can decide if I am worthy of his company for the entire night.”
Wei Ying pressed his lips together. “You’re right of course. I’m worth all of that. Get out of here you Romeo! Trying to seduce me in such a scandalous manner! I will decide your fate later!”
Lan Zhan bowed and opened the door.
“Wait!” Wei Ying shouted and ran over to kiss Lan Zhan once more. “Just so you know that was all for show and you are totally getting laid tonight.”
Lan Zhan huffed out a laugh. “I look forward to it.”
Wei Ying grinned back at him. “I’ll see you later…oh wait! Let’s exchange numbers!”
They swapped numbers and Wei Ying waved at Lan Zhan as he headed back to the lift. Lan Zhan smiled throughout his whole afternoon. He had kept his promise to his son and best of all, he had a date with his Wei Ying.
Six months later…
Lan Zhan pulled up at the train station. “Have a good day at school,” he told Sizhui.
Sizhui groaned. “You know…what if I was homeschooled? I think that would be a great idea!”
“Yeah sure!” Wei Ying said, turning around in his seat and sipping from his new coffee mug. “I’ll homeschool you! We can learn all about a subject that is very close to my heart, the history of British boy bands!”
“Goodbye,” Sizhui said, getting out of the car and slamming the door.
Wei Ying sighed. “They grow up so fast! Lan Zhan, let’s have seven more!”
“Mn, let’s,” Lan Zhan said as he drove away from the station.
“Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying purred.
“Yes, my love?”
“Oooohhh you know I adore it when you call me that! Lan Zhan, darling, sweetheart, baby….”
“What do you want, Wei Ying?”
Wei Ying squeezed Lan Zhan’s thigh. “Let’s call in sick,” he whispered.
“Mn,” Lan Zhan replied.
“Wait…you’re agreeing? Yes!” Wei Ying did a happy dance in his seat.
“Where do you wish to go?” Lan Zhan asked.
“I have no idea! There are so many options! Ahhhh! Lan Zhan, please help me choose!”
Lan Zhan turned the car around. “Let’s go home.”
“Home! But we’re always there! I wanna go somewhere fun!”
“Home will be fun. We will be alone. All alone,” Lan Zhan said pointedly.
Wei Ying’s eyes widened. “Oh my god. No Sizhui until school is over. Amazing idea. Yes, home IS fun. Let’s go home, Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying shouted, nearly spilling his coffee.
“As you wish,” Lan Zhan replied.
Wei Ying grinned. “I’m glad you found me again, Lan Zhan.”
“I’m glad you let me find you, Wei Ying.”
Wei Ying laughed. “What a line Lan Zhan! You certainly sweetened as you grew!”
“Mn,” Lan Zhan replied as his thoughts turned soft…
I’ve certainly sweetened now that I…have you.