Work Text:
Bai Liu sat in the taxi with his head slightly drooped down as a pair of strong and steady hands fastened a seatbelt around him. He wanted to look up but found that his head felt too heavy, like a heavy rock was balancing on his head, preventing him from raising his neck. So, his eyes could only focus on how pale those hands were before they eventually retreated.
His vision was blurry as he felt the seat next to him sink down as someone sat down. Once that person had sat down, Bai Liu felt his body automatically lean against them, snuggling into the person’s warm outer jacket.
The person did not react to the contact and asked,
“Bai Liu, are you drunk?”
The familiar voice that Bai Liu heard somehow brought Bai Liu to giggles– it was very unlike him. But then again, he was drunk, people can behave very unlike themselves when they are drunk.
“Yeah, Xie Ta,” Bai Liu smiled as he called out to the familiar name in a flirtatious manner, “what took you so long to pick me up?”
White locks cascaded down as Xie Ta leaned towards Bai Liu and gave him a gentle kiss on his forehead. This action silenced Bai Liu’s giggles and instead a red rosy color painted his cheeks. Xie Ta felt that the Bai Liu right now was very cute and decided to pinch Bai Liu’s cheek, seemingly wanting to spread that red color to every inch of Bai Liu’s face.
Bai Liu did not reply, seemingly too drunk to, and leaned further in against Xie Ta, almost slipping and collapsing onto his lap. Bai Liu’s soft hair grazed and tickled part of Xie Ta’s neck as he made sure that Bai Liu was comfortable with his head leaning on his shoulder.
The taxi driver, who was usually a talkative man, awkwardly asked: “Where to?”
The taxi driver had a fair share of driving home couples where one person was drunk and the other was not and getting them home safely. However, the undrunken person in question did not seem to be the talkative type…
Xie Ta replied simply with the address and the engine started up. The low hum of the engine caused Bai Liu to stir a bit but he ultimately stayed relaxed next to Xie Ta, like a sleeping kitten.
…
The bright and colorful lights of the bar and the loud sounds of pop music filled the chaotic atmosphere as many off-work employees freely drank and smoked. For many people who were under immense pressure from their careers, this was the best place to relieve some steam.
But for Bai Liu, who would rather be at home, this place was nothing more than a waste of good land. He could not help but inwardly sigh at how his co-workers got him to come here– oh wait, it was because they said they’d pay him back after they all got drinks.
Who knew that “getting drinks” really meant going to a popular club when they could’ve just sent him an online transfer. As his co-workers pranced around and talked to a bunch of people, they all went into a pre–booked room.
“Bai Liu, isn’t this your first time here?”
The person who spoke was a senior who had joined the game company a year before Bai Liu did. He always saw Bai Liu discussing things with the manager and saw him as a shy junior that was very passionate about his occupation– he just didn’t express it.
“Yes, but I don’t plan on staying here for long,” Bai Liu replied, “can you transfer me the money you borrowed so I can go?”
The senior did not treat Bai Liu seriously and just laughed: “Haha, so quick to leave? Have a few drinks first–”
“No. I would like to leave as soon as possible,” Bai Liu interjected.
The senior felt the smile on his face freeze and slightly falter as Bai Liu took his phone out of his pocket.
“Here’s my bank details, just transfer it here or I can just send you a link,” Bai Liu put his phone screen in front of the senior in a relaxed movement, “I need to get back home and finish reviewing the game’s code before tomorrow’s deadline, so I would like to excuse myself after this.”
Feeling that the atmosphere had become awkward, the senior felt that he had been cornered. All the other colleagues did not know what to say and just wanted to sit down and have a drink– they didn’t sign up to be a part of this situation!
“Bai Liu, come on… Do your seniors this favor…” The senior looked at Bai Liu pitifully, however seeing the indifference in Bai Liu’s face, the senior switched tactics, “if you have a few drinks, we’ll double what we owe you! And, we’ll pay you 100 yuan for each glass you drink– and 200 yuan if you beat me! Please!”
Hearing this new offer, Bai Liu’s lips curved into a grin. However, this grin was not at all genuine, it gave the impression of a businessman who was successful in obtaining a new deal– a deal that benefitted them greatly. A sudden chill rushed down the seniors' spines, but the surprise overwhelmed that feeling.
“Sure, I’ll stay,” Bai Liu smiled, “but remember to pay me.”
Bai Liu picked up two glasses and poured beer into them and held it up to the senior with a smile plastered on his face.
The senior gave a hearty laugh, grabbed the cup from Bai Liu’s hand and clinked glasses with Bai Liu.
“Yes, yes. But don’t think you can beat this senior and run away with your pockets full!”
–
Xie Ta gently swept away the stray strands of hair that stuck to Bai Liu’s face from sweat. Although he seemed relaxed at the moment, about half an hour ago, Xie Ta had actually rushed to the club after he saw the message Bai Liu had sent him:
“I’ll be home late. I’m at the club drinking with some seniors.”
This single message sounded multiple alarm bells, Bai Liu had always refused and avoided drinking parties. In simple terms, if he were a high schooler, he’d be the first to get out of class once the school bell rang and not even wait if his classmates asked if he wanted to go for karaoke.
He had rushed to two other clubs that were close to Bai Liu’s workplace before finding the one he was at. Xie Ta’s brain shut off all distractions– bright lights, loud music, and even people who were trying to interact with him. The only thing on Xie Ta’s mind was to guarantee Bai Liu’s safety and take him home.
When he finally found the booking made under one of Bai Liu’s colleague’s names, he rushed into the room and found Bai Liu with a glass of beer in his hand. However, instead of drinking from the glass, Bai Liu was just staring mindlessly at it as though he was lost in thought. If Xie Ta paid more attention to his surroundings than just Bai Liu, he would find a couple of Bai Liu’s seniors dozing off from drinking too much alcohol.
He quickly whisked Bai Liu out of the club and left the other people in the room to figure it out for themselves once they awoke.
The weather had become awfully chilly as of late so Xie Ta took off his outer coat and placed it around Bai Lius’ shoulders as he called a taxi. He had originally come here by motorbike but it wasn’t safe to ride it home with Bai Liu being so drunk.
Now, they were in the taxi, with Bai Liu leaning on Xie Ta’s shoulder, so relaxed and unaware about how worried he had made his poor boyfriend.
Bai Liu was the only person Xie Ta had ever loved and perhaps his only weakness. In that way, if Bai Liu ever chose to walk away from Xie Ta, he would try his best to hold on as tight as possible.
“Bai Liu, how many glasses did you have?” Xie Ta whispered softly in Bai Liu’s ear, breathing warm breaths that caused Bai Liu’s ears to tinge red.
Bai Liu murmured in response: “I drank 4 cups and received 600 yuan. 600 yuan… We can eat 2 rounds of hotpot…”
Xie Ta realized that the reason Bai Liu went to this drinking session was because he had been lured and bribed by money to stay.
“Bai Liu, what if it wasn’t your colleagues who bribed you to stay?” Xie Ta spoke– despite the contents of his words, his expression showing no signs of anger, “what if it was someone with bad intentions?”
Bai Liu looked up at Xie Ta’s blue eyes and, still a bit dazed from the alcohol, smiled lazily. He grabbed Xie Ta’s hand and brought it up to his face, resting his cheek against Xie Ta’s palm.
It was an intensely warm brush against cold skin.
“You’re going to stay by my side and take care of me, so what’s the point in worrying?”
–
The next day, as Bai Liu woke up, he was hit with a stinging headache. The hangover period was tough and Xie Ta ordered him some soup for breakfast. While Bai Liu sat at the dining table, his hand scrunching up his messy hair, he remembered snippets of last night’s taxi ride.
He also seemed to remember some very… embarrassing things he had said yesterday night.
“Xie Ta…” Bai Liu groaned from the intense hangover headache, “did I say or do anything embarrassing while I was drunk last night?”
Xie Ta placed a cup of hot water next to Bai Liu and replied: “No.”
As Bai Liu finished eating and Xie Ta grabbed the dishes into the sink to clean later, Bai Liu checked his phone and saw a brightly lit notification of 680 yuan being transferred to his bank account.
The End.