Chapter Text
Is emailing weird?
04/07/12 - 20:12pm
From: junhuimoonhwi96
To: xuthe8
Thought you'd heard the last from me? No way Xiaoba.
I thought about writing letters, in that romantic way people in movies do, but decided against it seeing as you never told me if you'd stay in Beijing or not. If you've moved back to Anshan then I'd have no idea where to send my letters to!!! But really, be honest with me, is emailing too weird? Is it something resigned for far flung lovers? I like it, really. There's no due date for you to reply, and I can send as many emails as I want. As long as my laptop holds up.
I'm travelling with Chenle - he's like an actual child (18!!) the travel agency paired me with for Korea. I don't think he'll stick around long once we make it to Seoul, he said something about having friends in the city. I don't mind at all, even if he's proven himself to be on the same level of humour as myself. My goal was to travel alone after all.
I'm writing this from the airport, so I'm still in China. Did you think I'd already left? I'll email again once I've landed - just a quick email, nothing too big. I wouldn't want you to worry after all.
Don't be a stranger =^._.^= ∫
-Junhui
—
Minghao hadn't even realised Jun had emailed at first. He'd seen the notification box ping out of the corner of his eye but ignored it. Spam emails were everywhere now, and he didn't feel like getting scammed by some American start up company.
It had taken him four hours to actually go in and check, so safe to say he was surprised to see Jun's email blaring at him. Of course, he had to reply. He felt bad for not answering straight away.
—
Re: Is emailing weird?
04/07/13 - 12:08am
From: xuthe8
To: junhuimoonhwi96
Emailing isn't weird. It's normal. Everyone emails, how else would we stay in contact?
I'm staying in Beijing for a while, please don't send actual letters.
I don't know if you're still on the plane or if you've landed yet. I hope you had a good flight.
-Minghao
—
Jun had replied with a short email of ‘I'm here!!’ within twenty minutes. Minghao shouldn't have expected any less. It was late in Beijing already, so it was late in Seoul for Jun too. Minghao didn't expect any more emails for the night, nor did he want to stay up waiting for one.
He re-read Jun's first email. Minghao always found Jun's eccentrics entertaining, and he was glad to see it crossed over into the online world rather than just in person. Though Minghao couldn't help but wonder if he was the only one receiving emails. Jun would obviously email his parents, but what about Kun or Sicheng?
He put it to the back of his mind. He'd be too tempted to ask in the next email if he didn't go to sleep right this instant. Maybe it was just nerves for his interview tomorrow that kept him up. But Minghao knew it was just the thoughts of Jun travelling alone. Surely some teenager couldn't keep Jun out of trouble.
—
The Han river
04/07/15 - 23:21pm
From: junhuimoonhwi96
To: xuthe8
Hello Xiaoba!!!! You would not believe how fun Korea is, Hao. You would not believe! Chenle invited me to stay with his friends for the first two days, but I've been going solo for today. I'm writing this by the Han river but it won't sent until I'm back at the hostel - I don't know when that'll be, so sorry if it's too late for you /ᐠ - ˕ -マ
I think you'd like this river. It's got this auro to it that reminded me of you. Very mellow and calm, but the locals have told me how crazy it gets at high tide or in storms. You're very much like a storm to me.
Anyway. Those friends of Chenle I was staying with. You'd never guess who they knew! This one kid, Renjun, he knew of a guy in Macau who's like Internet besties with a guy called Xiaojun. Then I remembered that Kun spent last year on that camping trip with a guy called Xiaojun and guess what!!! It's the same guy!! Isn't that weird? Like, I get that China is big, but now it just feels very small. Maybe it's just Seoul being small.
I'm so sad my Korea trip is ending (T▽T) but Japan is exciting!! I'm spending longer in Tokyo, then Sapporo. I'll bring you back any Kokeshi dolls that look like you.
How did your interview go last week? I didn't know what day it was on, but I knew it was soon.
-Junhui
—
Re: The Han River
04/07/16 - 02:36am
From: xuthe8
To: junhuimoonhwi96
I've met Xiaojun. He was cool. I'm glad you've met good people in Seoul. You don't need to bring me back anything from Japan, or anywhere, just keep your money safe.
My interview was good. They called back to accept me the next day. I'm happy you were thinking of me.
-Minghao
—
Re: Re: The Han river
04/07/16 - 09:45am
From: junhuimoonhwi96
To: xuthe8
Who's letting you stay up so late?? Do you even sleep when I'm not around?
We should meet up with Xiaojun when I'm back. From what I've heard from Renjun, he's a real good night out. Try to get his email from Kun for me!
Of course I'm always thinking of you. And I'm so happy they hired you, I'm sure you've got hella mega interview skills
( ﾉ^ω^)ﾉ
In my head always
-Junhui
—
Minghao, being the good friend he is (simp?) made sure to track down Xiaojun's email. He was met with an onslaught of teasing from Kun, but the happy email Jun had sent back made it worth it.
Minghao had been accepted into a top dance company. He'd always dreamed of it, and being able to study dance in Beijing was just the first step in achieving that goal. He didn't think now, after graduating, that he'd be emailing a true friend he made along the way.
Jun was just like that - like a ball of energy that somehow latched onto Minghao. They never even shared any classes together, but Jun would go out of his way to walk across campus to greet Minghao for lunch. Every day, without fail. He thought now how different but similar these emails were. Jun's quick replies, in contrast to Minghao's hours of waiting, were just another form of walking across campus for him. Minghao worried Jun would stop talking to him gradually, but these emails didn't give him that idea anymore.
Jun sent him emails almost every day of July.
—
Sapporo
04/07/25 - 13:09
From: junhuimoonhwi96
To: xuthe8
I've never seen Sapporo without snow before.
Don't laugh at me, I knew there wouldn't be any snow here in the summer. But it's such a weird sight - I built up such a picture of it in my mind and none of it matches. I like it, I still very much like Sapporo! But I should book my next trip here for winter. You could always come with.
This café I'm sitting in is so cute!! There's these two elderly women on the table next to me and they're so sweet. I bought them both a coffee and spoke to them for a while. It was hard with the language barrier, but you know how good I am at picking up new things quick. I know you're laughing at me bragging right now. I can feel it through the screen, Xu Minghao!!
There was this husky dog yesterday when I went out to a bar. So fluffy!! But he must've been so warm in the summer heat.
I was thinking about it this morning about how these emails are like some sort of travel journal for me - for us, though, so you can share with me. I know you're not one word words, but your emails are so short sometimes ＼(´Ｏ｀)／
I'd love to know what you're up to. Does Beijing miss me?
Thinking of your stupid hair
-Jun
—
Minghao received the latest email with much happiness. It cheered him up instantly. He'd been stressing out too much about his first few days at the dance company. The lead choreographer didn't seem to like him that much, but he couldn't let that get in the way of things.
He himself had sent off an email to his parents that morning. Just the usual rhetoric of ‘I'm doing well’ and ‘I'll be back for new years’ whenever they asked. There was something about Jun's travels that made Minghao want to go back home to Anshan.
There had been a second email sent soon after the first. No words, just a picture of a half eaten muffin on a coffee table. Minghao figured Jun must've bought a camera at some point between Korea and Japan.
—
Re: Sapporo
04/07/25 - 13:50
From: xuthe8
To: junhuimoonhwi96
The muffin looked good. They should start up a business here.
Don't feel like you're oversaturating me with travel journalism. You're enjoying it, so please continue. There's not much to say on my end, everything is still how you left it.
I think Beijing misses you very much. The trees don't bend in the wind quite the same way anymore. I'd suppose Shenzhen misses you more.
My hair is not stupid.
-laughing Xu Minghao
—
Minghao wouldn't admit it to Jun, or to anyone really, but those emails were like a stab to the heart. It was a daily reminder that Jun was off in some foreign country and not next to Minghao. He wouldn't let anyone catch him moping on the couch though.
“I feel like you're always on that laptop.” Sicheng commented. He'd come over for another screening of ‘Goodbye, Dragon Inn’. The last time Minghao had watched it, Jun was there on the couch with him.
“I'm working.” Minghao said.
“Your job is to dance. Not type away at a computer.”
“I have to watch choreography-”
“You'll turn into Kun if you keep that thing open.” Sicheng pushed down the lid of the laptop. It cut Minghao off from reading Jun's latest email, and he was already a few hours late to it.
“Sicheng, what do you even do? Are you even employed?” Minghao joked, kicking his friend in the shin.
“Haha.” Sicheng deadpanned. “Jun would know.” Minghao knew Sicheng only mentioned Jun to mess with him. To find entertainment in the way Minghao's face changed into a softer expression. To laugh at how Minghao's eyes widened with interest.
Really, the only thing Sicheng achieved in doing was making Minghao think about the latest email again. It pained him to know Sicheng wouldn't let him read it for another two hours.
—
Last day in Japan
04/07/31 - 01:14am
From: junhuimoonhwi96
To: xuthe8
SOBBING!!!
Xu Minghao I am so sad to leave!! Can you please go back in time and tell me NOT to book night flights??? They're cheaper but not on my sleep (ToT)
I will miss Japan so much. A lot of things were meant for more than one person, so you'll have to come with me next time! I've bought too much to fit in my suitcase, so I'm wearing three hats. Please picture it in your head, it'll be funny. Laugh, Hao, please laugh.
My last day was more than enjoyable. I stayed in a proper hotel this time as a little treat to myself. I will miss the food most of all. It was almost - ALMOST - better than what Ma makes. I miss home, Xiaoba, and I miss Shenzhen very much.
It's a 16 hour flight to New York (-_-)
There's a baby crying right now and I think she'll be on my flight. I don't hate kid, you know how much I don't hate kids, but I don't think I'll get any sleep on the plane.
PRAY FOR ME XIAOBA !!!
-A man about to go to war
—
Re: Last day in Japan
04/07/31 - 01:27am
From: xuthe8
To: junhuimoonhwi96
You should've booked Thailand in between Sapporo and New York.
I'm sending hopes and prayers for your beauty sleep.
-A man about to have the best sleep of his life
—
Re: Re: Last day in Japan
04/07/31 - 01:31am
From: junhuimoonhwi96
To: xuthe8
Oh how I resent past Jun for not booking a Thailand trip. I'll have to send him a strongly worded email.
For a man who's about to sleep well, you sure are up late. At least I have an excuse, you do not.
-Present Day Jun
—
Re: Re: Re: Last day in Japan
04/07/31 - 01:50am
From: xuthe8
To: junhuimoonhwi96
I figured your flight was at 01:45 so I waited 5 minutes. Just so you can't tell me to fuck off.
I'll sleep when I'm dead.
-Present Day Minghao
—
We have to stop with the Re’s
04/07/31 - 01:53am
From: junhuimoonhwi96
To: xuthe8
My flight is as 02:30 asshole <3
-Junie