Chapter Text
In the dim light of his office, Chu Wanning was immersed in the papers at hand, too immersed that he couldn't bother to notice his phone that has been buzzing for a while now.
Not until the door of his office was pushed open and a voice called for his name, did he snap out of it, “Officer Chu.”
Chu Wanning reflexively glanced back to check the newcomer. It was Luo Fenghua holding two paper cups, the warm steam flowing from their content. “God, you really need to change the light… Isn't all that flickering giving you a headache?”
Chu Wanning chose to ignore the babbling and look back at the documents. The other, however, placed one of the cups in front of Chu Wanning then pointed at the vibrating phone, “Are you planning to answer?”
“Who is it?” Chu Wanning asked indifferently with his eyes fixed to the papers.
“Mr Xue.”
Only then did the man huff and pick up the phone, “Mr Xue—”
“Yuheng! You're running late again!” Xue Zhengyong’s voice interrupted, wasting no time.
“Late…? Running late on what exactly?”
He heard a long sigh on the other side, “Work really got you carried away again. Xue Meng’s birthday is today! He's expecting you, remember?”
Frowning, Chu Wanning hastily checked the calendar, reading “August 25”.
“.....”
“Hurry up! When will you be here?”
It really was a conflicting situation… He had work at hand, and he also can't just show up to a birthday empty-handed, so he came to a decision, “I don't think I can make it… I'm still at the office, and I still need to buy a gift on my way…”
“But that doesn't matter! We just need you here, Chu Wanning. Just excuse yourself and join us, even if you're a little to very late, which you already are, so pick your pace!”
After a moment of pensive silence, Chu Wanning finally concluded, “Alright… I'll be there in an hour.”
“Yes! I knew I could count on you, Yuheng! We'll be waiting for you!”
After hanging up, Chu Wanning got up, putting all the papers together to place them in the drawer then lock it. “I'm off for the day. I need to be somewhere, and there's no new leads on the investigation anyways. Inform the others for me.”
Luo Fenghua shrugged, “Alright, I've got your back. Enjoy your day, officer Chu,” He said before exiting the room.
The other was ready to leave, his stuff collected in his messenger bag with his coat on. He was about to leave the room but stopped to stare at the cup on the table. He approached and picked it up, sniffing it before taking a sip; however, he involuntarily cringed at the bitter taste then discarded it in the trash.
He can just get his drink later at the Xue's place…
****
“Yuheng! You're finally here!” Xue Zhengyong cheered as Chu Wanning walked in, patting his back. His eyes then fell on the gift bag his guest carried. “You still insisted and bought a gift? You really didn't need to.”
Chu Wanning rolled his eyes, “You shouldn't have thought I'd show up with nothing. Also it's just a simple gift, it's alright…”
The music was already playing, and there were many different faces in sight, those familiar and unfamiliar, those he has known for years and those he has never met before. The Xue family really were social butterflies… For Chu Wanning, he only had a few people in his social circle and never liked too much engagements.
“Chu Laoshi!” He spotted Xue Meng approaching, waving at him enthusiastically with a bright smile. He was then pulled into a hug, so he awkwardly stayed still. “It has been a while, Chu Laoshi. I'm glad you were able to come.”
Separating, Chu Wanning held out the gift bag, “Happy birthday, Xue Meng.”
A glimmer twinkled in Xue Meng's eyes, “Oh, you really didn't need to at all!! Your presence is enough!”
“Come on, don't be silly and give me a hard time like your dad. How can I possibly attend a birthday without a gift? Would be a shame.”
Xue Meng's brows slightly arched, “Not at all, Chu Laoshi. Still, thank you so much! I'll cherish it!”
With a chuckle, the older man shook his head, “You haven't even unwrapped it yet. What if you don't like it?”
“Never! Anything from Chu Laoshi is valuable.”
“It’s up to you to decide then.”
The vibes of the party were quite nice. Music, dancing amd games were all things people of Xue Meng's age enjoyed. It wasn't for Chu Wanning though… In past or present, he has always preferred tranquility. He loves to sit and pick up a book in his free time, and if he feels like it, maybe he'd have a glass of pear blossom white wine in his palm. Drunkness never hindered his mind; he was a real heavyweight after all.
Peaceful moments like that were quite the blessing to him, considering his work… Constant dealings with crime wasn't the most relaxing thing after all, though he'd admit a part of him likes the nature of his job. Running the gears in his brain to solve mysteries and the adrenaline rush in risky situations made him energetic. He was also passionate about martial arts and combat, so his career did suit him.
Still, that didn't mean he didn't want his peaceful day-off. Such work was overwhelming and terribly draining at the end of the day.
After being dragged around for a while to greet other guests here and there, he finally found an opportunity to slip to have some air in the balcony. Social interactions really were exhausting…
What's worse was that he ran into Nangong Si earlier, who took the chance to ask him about the case. But what was that case? Why'd Nangong Si care in the first place?
It's because the one of the two victims was his very own father, Nangong Liu. It was a stalking situation, which was not taken seriously at first, labeling it as merely a sick prank. They were busy with far more serious crimes to bat an eye to this.
Yet, not only did the stalking continue, the culprit still unknown, BUT also a relative of Nangong Liu, Nangong Yan, experienced an almost-identical incident.
Both the culprits’ description matched, and both the victims were related… The case couldn't be overlooked anymore, specifically with both the victims being important figures. This could be the start of something far more violent than it looked at the moment.
Anyhow, Chu Wanning did not wish to speak of that issue anymore. If he was taking a few hours off for that birthday, then he should as well relax his mind.
What he wished for, instead, was a cold glass of pear blossom white wine, along with a sweet dessert too… Well, it IS a birthday, so there'll be a cake, right?
He was too overstimulated to walk back into the house though. If another person attempts to strike a conversation with him right now, he might subconsciously punch them square in the face…
That was when the balcony's door creaked open, accompanied by the sound of footsteps. He wasn't in the balcony alone anymore.
“No way… Chu Laoshi??!” He heard an exclamation behind him, a voice he couldn't recognize.
He turned to the side to see a tan young man with a good physique, he looked around Xue Meng's age but was taller than him. His face… was surprisingly familiar, yet Chu Wanning couldn't get a grasp on it. If anything, he was remarkably handsome… Whether it was the pair of dimples by the corners of his mouth, or the pair of dark purple eyes…
Dark purple eyes… This familiar face—!!
Chu Wanning raised his brows in surprise, “Mo Ran??”
The grin on Mo Ran's face beamed stunningly. The man seemed like he was about to explode from joy, “It has been YEARS, Chu Laoshi! I've never thought we'd cross paths again on such a random day.”
To that Chu Laoshi's surprise, he wasn't thinking anymore about how much he wanted to avoid any interactions. His issue was how dumbfounded he found himself before that person he hadn't met since forever. Deep down, however, he felt a flame of unclear emotions light up in his chest.
Maybe because his social battery was already drained for the day, but when his lips parted to speak, he had no idea what to say. He stared down with a conflicted frown.
Mo Ran was pretty patient but puzzled too. He tilted his head to the side with a small pout, “Chu Laoshi is not happy to see me?”
Chu Wanning looked up at him again, shaking his head. “No, it's… not that. I'm just kind of… taken aback… I didn't expect meeting you today.”
“What have you been up to? How has life been treating you these past years?” He added.
Mo Ran leaned forward on the balcony's railing, sighing, “I've been abroad for college and only came back less than two months ago. Life has been treating me pretty nicely I'd say; I’ve finally settled in my new house. It's quite cozy but nothing too fancy or big.”
With a faint smile, Chu Wanning commented, “Well done. I'm happy for you, Mo Weiyu.”
“Well, all thanks to these times Chu Laoshi volunteered to help me study, remember?” Mo Ran recalled with a teasing tone, nudging the other's shoulder with his.
“Quit the childishness…” Chu Wanning mumbled about the nudge, slightly distancing himself. “Also you're giving me too much credit. I'm no teacher, I merely helped you a number of times you can count on both hands. Your own efforts led you here, not me at all.”
“I think you give yourself too little credit though,” Mo Ran couldn't help but object. “It isn't about all the tutoring for me, but the inspiration you gave me. I wanted to be as good as Chu Laoshi and make you proud.”
Chu Wanning definitely did not see that coming. He didn't expect these words from Mo Ran… The same stubborn Mo Ran back in the day… Did he really look up to Chu Wanning that much?
“Yet one day, I couldn't find you around anymore. I wanted to tell you… to show you how far I've gone, but I found myself unable to even ask Uncle Xue about you… I thought: this might make me sound immature,” It's as if Mo Ran had all these thoughts bottled up, all the time he was away from his homeland. Chu Wanning listened to it all, closely yet silently.
“Now that I'm back, I'm not planning to repeat my mistakes. I want to stay in contact with Chu Laoshi,” Mo Ran said, his gaze unreadable.
Ignoring the ache he felt, Chu Wanning hesitated for a moment before pulling his phone out, handing it over, “Well, we can exchange phone numbers, and… if you need anything, you can ask me directly.”
Mo Ran wasted no time to quickly snatch the phone and type in his number, as if Chu Wanning might change his mind at any given second. “What should I save my contact as?”
“Your name, what else?” Chu Wanning deadpanned.
“Awh, Chu Laoshi, that's a little harsh, y'know?” Mo Ran tried to joke around with a playful pout; however, Chu Wanning shot him a cold expression and said, “Give me the phone back.”
“Aya, sorry sorry! I'll politely save my contact as my name, just how Chu Laoshi wants it.”
When he was done, he handed the phone back then grabbed his own phone and gave it to Chu Wanning as well. “Now that we're done with my contact, I still need yours.”
Once Mo Ran took his phone back, he excused himself, “Wait for me. I'll go grab a drink and be back, alright?”
“Mn.”
The young man walked back inside, so Chu Wanning was alone again. He couldn't understand what exactly was he sensing right now, but he was certainly content, nothing negative. Who would've thought he'd meet the Mo Weiyu tonight…?
He chuckled to himself before hearing a notification. He unlocked his phone to find a message from Mo Ran, “Don't run away, Chu Laoshi :') I still have a lot to tell you about.”
Though Chu Wanning replied with a plain “Alright,” a soft smile lingered on his lips as he turned off the screen and shoved the phone back in his pocket.
Mo Ran was a man of his word and returned in a couple of minutes with two glasses in his left hand and a plate with mini desserts in his right hand. “Pear blossom and a dessert for Chu Laoshi. Uncle said you came directly from work, so you must be hungry.”
Today really was playing a prank on him, this was, yet again, something that surprised him. He took the glass from Mo Ran, “Pear blossom…”
Mo Ran scratched his neck, “If my memory isn't fooling me, it's your favorite, right? I hope I didn't get it wrong—”
“It is, yeah… Thank you, Mo Ran.”
“Really??” Mo Ran grinned, his eyes slightly squinted. “Well, you better like the dessert too! Just kidding, tell me if you don't, I'll pick others right away, alright?”
Chu Wanning didn't reply though. He raised his glass to his lips as his eyelids fell shut, taking in the taste of that exquisite wine, its floral aroma drifting under his nose, refreshing and crisp.
He really has been craving it all day that it plagued his mind. Maybe that's why he was currently feeling oddly fizzy…
Right…?
Only after downing the last speck of wine, did he put down the glass, letting out a light cough at the sting of alcohol.
The other man watched him silently until he was done, then commented, “Holy shit, Chu Laoshi. No one's chasing you, y'know? It's all yours, I can even bring you more.”
Under normal circumstances, Chu Wanning would shoot him a frosty glare, yet the response he received was totally random, “Mo Weiyu, you've changed.”
These words weighed heavy on Mo Ran’s heart that he felt somewhat bashful. “Does Chu Laoshi like it?”
Chu Wanning pressed his lips into a thin line. “I… don't dislike it,” He paused then stared down at his empty glass. “Can you pour me more wine?”
“Of course!”