Work Text:
Song Lan usually goes to bed early, so when he wakes up with the pressing need to use the bathroom, it’s only midnight. After relieving himself, he starts to make his way back to the bedroom, and that’s when he notices headlights from a car lighting up the parking lot outside of the bookstore.
Frowning to himself he moves to the nearest window to peek outside. Is that… Xue Yang’s car? Why is he back here at this hour?
The car stops and Song Lan expects Xue Yang to get out. Maybe he’d forgotten something important at the store that can’t wait until tomorrow, but that’s not what happens. Song Lan can’t see into the car as it’s too dark and the windows are tinted, but the car doesn’t move and no one comes out of it.
Song Lan’s frown deepens. What’s happening? Is Xue Yang… sleeping in his car?
He hesitates for only a moment. He sleeps in a t-shirt and sweatpants, so he only needs to put his shoes on to go down to the parking lot. He slowly approaches Xue Yang’s car - now sure that it is in fact his since he can see it better. Once he’s close enough he knocks on one of the windows.
It takes a moment before the window is rolled down and Xue Yang’s face peers out. He looks like a deer in headlights as he stares back at Song Lan.
Before he can say anything, Xue Yang does: “Please don’t fire me,” he pleads, his voice uncharacteristically soft - making him sound very different from the abrasive young man he’s gotten to know, “I can park somewhere else… but please, I really need this job.” The desperation in his eyes breaks Song Lan’s heart.
“I’m not going to fire you,” he quickly reassures, “I was just… well, I have a pull-out couch. It’d be more comfortable than sleeping out here.”
“Really? You… You don’t mind?” Xue Yang questions, eyes wide.
He shakes his head. “I don’t. You can stay as long as you need to. Rent free. All I ask is that you help out with chores.”
An odd, slightly vulnerable expression comes over Xue Yang’s face. It almost looks like he’s about to cry. “Yeah, o-okay. Sure. Thank you, I… I really appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it. Come on. Grab your things.”
Xue Yang doesn’t have a lot. A suitcase in the trunk of the car containing his clothes, a plastic bag with bathroom essentials, the messenger bag he always carries when he comes to work and a laptop bag.
Once they are back in the apartment Xue Yang glances around the space, and then turns to Song Lan. “Your place isn’t very big. Are you sure it’s not a problem for me to stay here?”
“I’m sure. Before my dad died, we lived here together and it wasn’t a problem.” He gives him a small smile and adds in a more light-hearted tone, “I just hope you don’t snore as badly as he did, or I might have to kick you out.”
Xue Yang looks surprised for a second, and then he laughs. “Was that a joke? Wow, Song Lan, I didn’t think you actually had a sense of humor!”
Song Lan rolls his eyes, but… he’s glad that he seems in better spirits. It had been pretty jarring to see someone who always seems so carefree and confident be desperate and frankly, scared. He really doesn’t want to see him like that again.
“Go to bed,” he says, trying to sound stern, but he can’t hide the smile that creeps back on his lips.