Chapter Text
Lu Guang is capable of many things:
- Looking back into the past
- Saving his best friend from certain death
- Altering timelines in the blink of an eye
but unfortunately, he’s at a loss when someone (anyone) flirts with him.*
*So of course that’s the exact situation he’s dealing with right now, because why would anything go smoothly in his life?
He’s with a customer at the photo studio, where she’s been not-so-subtly getting closer to him. Some of her past actions include trying to touch his arm; asking what he’s doing later; and now, complimenting his appearance.
“You have such beautiful hair.” The girl gushes. “What products do you use?”
“I use whatever is cheapest.” Lu Guang replies stiffly. She has to understand he’s not interested by now, right? He attempts to pivot the conversation to a more neutral topic, one that’s between an employee and a customer. “Your photos will be printed in a few days.”
She pouts for a second, clearly bothered by his lacklustre response, before brightening up. “Okay, great! What time do you usually work? I’ll come by when you’re here.”
This time, she grabs ahold of his wrist. Her manicured fingers wrap around him securely, and Lu Guang’s eyes widen at the contact.
Is there a polite way to extricate himself from this situation? Regrettably, he’s never been skilled at interpersonal communication. But there is one person who excels at it, and that is…
“Cheng Xiaoshi.” Lu Guang calls out, feeling a little helpless. He must be around the studio somewhere, right?
Lo and behold, Cheng Xiaoshi pokes his head out from the photography darkroom, blinking curiously. “What’s up, Lu Guang? Why are you yelling for me?”
“No one was yelling.”
“Oh, c’mon. You totally were- uh…”
Suddenly, Cheng Xiaoshi’s eyes hone in on where the girl is touching, before gazing up at him.
What kind of situation is this? His stare seems to relay.
What do you think? Lu Guang tries to communicate back. Can you get rid of her?
Blessedly, he seems to understand his telepathic thoughts- although he appears to be more amused than anything, based on how he’s trying to suppress a laugh. Jerk.
Eventually, Cheng Xiaoshi clears his throat, and the girl glances over at him.
“Apologies, miss, but you’ll have to keep your hands off our staff.”
“Oh. Sorry.” At least she has the decency to look contrite, even if she’s still holding on to him. “Are you the manager?”
Cheng Xiaoshi lets out a cackle, and it echoes all around them, ha-ha-HA! “You think I’m his- Lu Guang, did you hear that? You should call me ‘boss’ from now on.”
The idea of Cheng Xiaoshi being his manager is so farfetched, it’s practically laughable. What’s the fastest way to establish that they’re on equal terms?
“No, he’s not.” Lu Guang shakes his head. “I wouldn’t live with my employer.”
There. That should do it. At this, her grip finally slackens, but confusion flickers across her face. “You live together?”
“Yeah, ’course we do!” Cheng Xiaoshi says. “We share a room upstairs. In fact, we’ve been together for years now. Right, Lu Guang?”
He’s not thrilled with how he chose to describe their relationship, but Lu Guang nods anyway. In the corner of his eye, he catches her looking at them, a thoughtful expression across her face.
Why?
Lu Guang suddenly has a bad premonition about all of this. Cheng Xiaoshi doesn’t notice it, however, and continues speaking.
“So we can handle all your photographic needs, whenever you want. We have a camera repair service as well, in case you have to replace something. Our hours are…”
By then, the customer had stopped listening. Instead, her eyes flit between the two of them with an intense sort of scrutiny, like she’s trying to piece things together in her head,
left-to-right-to-left-to-right,
until clarity dawns on her face.
“Oh! I get it now.” She blurts, interrupting him. “So you two are dating?”
Silence.
Neither of them respond at first, and Lu Guang’s mind screeches to a halt, where his only lucid thought is,
???
She carries onward, mortification tinting her voice. “Sorry, I didn’t- excuse me for being so improper. My psychic said that if I wanted to improve my love life, I should be more aggressive, but I think I took it too far.”
Lu Guang opens his mouth.
Closes it.
Because, what is she even saying? He has no idea where to even begin untangling this web of misunderstanding. He glances over at Cheng Xiaoshi, and for a second, they make eye contact. He seems just as perplexed as he is-
until a slow grin forms across Cheng Xiaoshi’s face.
(That’s never a good sign, coming from him.)
Lu Guang stares at him harder, silently pleading, please, for the love of god, don’t say something stupid-
“Yep. I’m his boyfriend!”
Oh, god. So it was something stupid.
Lu Guang places his free hand over his face, trying to suppress his groan. To make matters worse, Cheng Xiaoshi decides to really commit to the bit, striding over in
one
two
three steps,
and he slings an arm around Lu Guang’s shoulder. It’s nothing out of the ordinary; Cheng Xiaoshi has always had a crude grasp on the concept of personal space, so he’s used to it by now.
But what he’s not used to is this:
Cheng Xiaoshi suddenly pulls him close- rests his chin on Lu Guang’s shoulder. His black hair tickles his cheek, and he suddenly feels like they’re a bit…
This is…
It’s a degree more intimate than usual, is it not? He’s not- objecting to it, exactly, but he feels rooted to the spot, unsure how to react.
It also doesn’t help that Cheng Xiaoshi is warm; comforting. Lu Guang can detect the shampoo from his hair, the way they use the same brand, yet it always smells nicer on him, somehow. When he peeks over at Cheng Xiaoshi, his brown eyes gaze right at him, expression full of amusement.
So he doesn’t seem to find any of this too much, or out of the ordinary. Perhaps Lu Guang is the only one that’s overthinking this.
Blessedly, the customer finally lets go of him, her expression one of abashment. “I’m sorry, again. And, um, you two look great together.”
“No big deal. And thanks!” Annoyingly enough, Cheng Xiaoshi sounds like he’s having fun with this whole thing. “Besides, I can’t blame you. He’s good-looking, isn’t he? Guang Guang, if this keeps happening, I’m gonna have to put a sign around your neck that says, ‘property of Cheng Xiaoshi’.”
Oh god. He laments internally. Cheng Xiaoshi, you are seriously the biggest moron in the world.
At least their performance does the trick, because the girl fabricates a hasty excuse,
(“Oh! Look at the time! I should go home now,”)
before exiting the shop. Once the door shuts, Lu Guang gingerly steps out of Cheng Xiaoshi’s embrace, and looks at him incredulously.
“What was that?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I was saving you!”
“How?”
“What do you mean, how?” Cheng Xiaoshi says, offended. “She already assumed we were dating, so I just leaned into it. I thought you’d be impressed by my quick thinking. I got rid of her, didn't I?”
“It’s…” Lu Guang pauses, considering what had just happened. Although it did drive her away, he still has qualms with the methodology. “It was thoughtless.”
“I- thoughtless?” Cheng Xiaoshi sputters. “Man, you’re so harsh. Whatever. You owe me a bubble tea as thanks.”
He claps his back, once, twice. The action is more friendly than romantic, yet Lu Guang feels his attention get drawn towards that singular point of contact, fixated on where they’re touching…
…before wrenching his gaze away from Cheng Xiaoshi, staring at the wall instead. He feels slightly off-kilter about the whole situation, and he doesn’t know why.
So he throws him a retort.
“You want a reward over such a small thing?”
“Aw, is that a no? Don’t be so stingy.”
“It’s definitely a no.”
Cheng Xiaoshi sticks his tongue out, even making a noise, bleeeeh. “Well, next time you need a knight in shining armour to rescue you, I’m not gonna help you out.”
“Good thing there won’t be a next time.”
Spoiler alert: there is a next time.
The sun sets, a few days pass, and Lu Guang really does take him to get bubble tea.
Not that it’s much of a surprise. Contrary to his cold appearance, Lu Guang’s always caved in to whatever Cheng Xiaoshi wants, which is something that he (only occasionally!) took advantage of.
But he didn’t actually have to buy me anything as thanks, Cheng Xiaoshi thinks. If he needs help, I’m there.
Because that’s the nature of their relationship, isn’t it? Whatever happens, they’ll be by each other’s side, no questions asked. Even if it’s for something as silly as getting rid of an admirer.
Which, come to think of it…
That had been the first time he’s ever seen someone hit on Lu Guang. In-person, at least.
And honestly, it had been kind of funny. Despite how calm he looked on the outside, Lu Guang was totally panicking internally. Had he always been this bad at dealing with affection from others? How is he going to act when he dates someone?
They're both standing in line at the store, waiting for their drink order. Cheng Xiaoshi sneaks a glance over at him, where a new thought seizes him, making him wonder,
has Lu Guang been in a relationship before?
It’s not something they’ve ever discussed- personal connections, for some reason, have never been a topic of interest- but now it’s the only thing on his mind. The question repeats itself like a mantra, and he’s so very curious now, wants to know who/what/where/when/why-
“Cheng Xiaoshi.”
He jumps a little when he hears his name, and Lu Guang squints at him, looking exasperated. “Don’t just stare at me all day. Help me come up with ideas to get more customers. We haven’t earned any money this month.”
“I wasn’t staring.” He lies. When Lu Guang shoots him an unimpressed look, he lifts up his hands, mimicking a surrendering motion. “Okay, fine! Uh… customers for the photo studio, right? Let me think.”
He places a hand on his chin thoughtfully, before brightening up. “Oh! The key to any successful business is good marketing. Since we already have a Dianping account, we should make a Weibo, too.”
“That’s…” Lu Guang thinks it over, before nodding. “Alright. That would make it easier for people to find our business.”
Cheng Xiaoshi beams, always pleased when he receives his endorsement. “Okay! Let me set it up now, then.”
He pulls out his phone, and Lu Guang leans over his shoulder, watching the process. He does the usual routine of downloading the app and filling out the account details (TIME PHOTO STUDIO. Run by Cheng Xiaoshi, Lu Guang and Qiao Ling).
Just as he’s about to post some pictures, Lu Guang claps a hand onto his wrist, stopping him.
“Hold on. You’re not going to upload those photos you took of me, are you? When you,” he lowers his voice surreptitiously, “borrowed my body to do stupid poses.”
“What- it wasn’t stupid! I’d say you looked beautiful in those pictures!”
Cheng Xiaoshi says this part a bit too loudly, and it draws the attention of a few curious gazes. He feels his face heat up, a little self-conscious, and Lu Guang hisses out,
“Idiot. Keep your voice down in public.”
At least he’s not the only one feeling embarrassed, based on how Lu Guang’s ears are just the tiniest bit red. The next time Cheng Xiaoshi speaks, his voice is barely above a whisper.
“If you weren’t so bad at posing, I wouldn’t have had to dive back in time to take over your body. Why were you so awkward, anyway?”
“Why do you think? There’s nothing natural about taking a photo by myself.”
Lu Guang’s hand is still on his wrist, although his grip is slack enough that he could slip out from his grasp. Cheng Xiaoshi doesn’t, however. He merely gazes at where they’re touching, pondering, and it makes an idea cross his mind.
“What if we take photos together? Would that be okay?”
Group photos are way more fun than solo shots, in his opinion. And besides, it really had been effective to have Lu Guang as the face of the studio. They received so many followers just from that one shoot.
Ergo, they should do it again. Simple math at its core.
“You and I?” Lu Guang asks.
“Yeah. Who else?”
He doesn’t reply immediately. All Lu Guang does is stare at his face, and there’s something weird in his expression.
Something akin to…
uncertainty.
He tightens his grip on Cheng Xiaoshi’s wrist for a second; that sole point of connection, which previously felt reassuring in contact, becomes almost scorching to the touch. God, did someone turn up the thermostat in this café?
Eventually, Lu Guang lets go of him. He makes a point to cross his arms instead, turning away from Cheng Xiaoshi.
“…maybe.”
That’s as good as a yes, in Lu Guang’s vocabulary. Cheng Xiaoshi leans in closer, which makes him lean away.
“So, can I upload your pictures for now? We can take some together later.”
“I-” Although his eyes are pointedly looking elsewhere, he nods reluctantly. “Fine. You can post one picture. For the photo studio.”
“Yes! You won’t regret it!”
“I already do.”
After that, he doesn’t speak anymore.
It’s like that, sometimes. Their personalities are direct opposites from one another, which meant that Lu Guang was often quieter compared to him. They tend to lapse into a comfortable sort of silence, one that Cheng Xiaoshi enjoys.
They never have to put on airs with each other. There’s no pressure to speak. No unease in the quiet. And although Cheng Xiaoshi isn’t one for silence, when it’s with Lu Guang, it’s surprisingly pleasant.
As they wait patiently for their drinks, he can’t help but eavesdrop on the chatter behind them. Two girls are speaking animatedly; although they’re attempting to keep it down, their excited tone makes them impossible to ignore.
“Did you hear? Those two work at the photo studio down the street.” One of them whispers, not-so-quietly. “I think I’ve seen them on Dianping. They had a pic of the guy with white hair.”
Hah! So the photo promotions worked. He thinks triumphantly. He glances over at Lu Guang, who seems to be listening in as well, even though he’s pretending not to. Cheng Xiaoshi shoots him a smug grin, and he receives an eyeroll in response.
But then, the other girl says something unexpected.
“Oh, they’re kinda cute. And they even look around our age.” She elbows her friend in a joking manner. “I dare you to say hi to them.”
“What- you’re way too bold, you know that? I can’t just go up and introduce myself!”
“Why not? Maybe we’ll get a free dinner out of this. Dibs on the black-haired one!”
At this, Lu Guang visibly stiffens up. He may not be the most expressive person, but Cheng Xiaoshi can pick out even microscopic differences in his emotions, based solely on his body language.
The twitching of his eye.
The straightening of his posture.
The locking of his jaw.
All of it points to discomfort. Damn, he’s really not great with this sort of attention, huh? Cheng Xiaoshi wants to reassure him, somehow. Help him feel a little better.
“Number 24! Order for number 24?” The staff calls out. It’s their number, and Lu Guang goes over to pick up their drinks. After a beat, he offers a milk tea to Cheng Xiaoshi, shaking it so that the ice cubes clink against one another.
“Yours.”
“Awesome. Thanks again for getting this, oh great Lu Guang.” He teases, hoping that it helps lighten the mood. It works, somewhat- Lu Guang mutters back,
“Don’t be so impertinent,”
accompanied by a whisper of a smile. As Cheng Xiaoshi reaches out to accept the drink, their hands graze against one another. Fingertips brushing, just a bit.
The touch is light as air. Happens all the time, really, so he’s unfazed, fully expecting Lu Guang to let go, but he…
Doesn’t.
They stand there, both holding on to the same drink. Touching, but not touching.
Cheng Xiaoshi tilts his head, watching him curiously. A few expressions flicker past Lu Guang’s face, all in quick succession, and he can puzzle out a few emotions if he really concentrated. Pensive. Uncomfortable. Reluctant.
Before settling on resigned, like he’s about to do something he’s not 100% certain about.
“It’s no… problem.” Lu Guang begins slowly.
Pauses.
And then, in the most robotic, unconvincing way possible, he grits out,
“It’s-a-treat-for-my-boyfriend.”
Cheng Xiaoshi blinks at this, not quite comprehending what he’s saying. Boyfriend- who? ME?
Lu Guang, very infinitesimally, gestures with his head towards the girls behind them. They’re watching with rapt attention, and at this, everything slots into place.
So he’s doing this to trick them. However.
Craaaaaap, Cheng Xiaoshi wants to laugh- wants to so badly- and it’s with a herculean amount of self-control that he manages to hold it back. Because, what? Is Lu Guang actually playing along with his fake dating shenanigans from a few days ago? The very same plan that he had scoffed at?
Well, if that’s how he wants to go at it, Cheng Xiaoshi is totally happy to oblige, and he easily slips into the role of Pretend Boyfriend™.
“Wow! How can my lover be so handsome and generous? You’re really the whole package.”
His saccharine words are met with exasperation, based on Lu Guang’s face, but there’s no objection otherwise. Instead, he points towards the door.
“We should return to the studio.” He sounds like he’s reading from a script; if he keeps this up, no one’s gonna believe that they’re together.
No worries there- Cheng Xiaoshi can totally make it look convincing. After a second, he offers up his free hand, and even wiggles his fingers for good measure. Lu Guang doesn’t seem to get the hint, unfortunately, staring blankly back at him.
“What do you want?”
“You gonna hold my hand or what?” He lowers his voice, tone dripping with implication, “that’s what boyfriends do, right?”
“You stupi-” Lu Guang hastily coughs, clearing his throat, and Cheng Xiaoshi leans in closer.
“I didn’t get that. What were you about to say?”
There’s another moment of silence, and Lu Guang’s eyes dart towards his hand, swallowing uncomfortably. Cheng Xiaoshi keeps his arm outstretched, impatiently waiting for him. They do this all the time, so what’s the hold up here?
Eventually, Lu Guang lets out a long sigh.
And then…
he slides his palm on Cheng Xiaoshi’s hand, the touch warm and soft.
Lu Guang moves slowly, carefully; he takes an agonizingly long time before he interlaces their fingers together. When he does, it causes a twisting feeling inside of Cheng Xiaoshi, pulling him in all sorts of directions, this way and that.
To be able to hold onto Lu Guang makes him feel safe. Tethered. He’s lived alone for so long- drifted through life without an anchor- and the way his hand is connected to someone real… someone who means something to him…
He’s detracted from his musings when he hears the girls again, murmuring in the background. “Wait. They’re dating each other?”
“I think so.”
“Oh my god, we were just about to talk to them. Can you imagine? You almost made everything super awkward!”
“How was I supposed to know? It’s not like they posted their relationship status online!”
Uh-oh. It’s getting harder to pretend that he’s not listening in, and Cheng Xiaoshi has to bite on his lip to prevent himself from bursting into laughter. Lu Guang seems to pick up on that fact as well, and he guides them towards the shop entrance.
“Let’s go home.”
“Right.”
Damn, Lu Guang even opens the door for him, letting him go first. Just like how a real boyfriend would act. Cheng Xiaoshi almost makes another sappy comment, but refrains when he receives a warning look.
“Thanks,” he ends up saying.
“Watch your step,” Lu Guang mutters back. Even when he’s annoyed, he still takes care of him, and Cheng Xiaoshi can’t help but smile at that fact.
Unbeknownst to them, the girls snap a photo of them as they step outside, hand-in-hand.
After a safe enough distance from the bubble tea shop, Cheng Xiaoshi drops their joined hands, before fixing him with a shit-eating grin.
“Lu Guang-”
“Don’t.” Lu Guang groans, throwing his hand over his own face. “I already know what you’re going to say.”
He continues anyway, glee audible in his voice. “Well, well, well. Even though you made fun of my ‘dating’ plan, you ended up using it too! See? What did I tell you?”
Lu Guang peeks at him through the gaps between his fingers, expression disgruntled. If Cheng Xiaoshi didn’t know any better, he’d think he was sulking.
“I… fine. It was effective.”
“Aaaaaaaand?”
Now he lets out an irritated sigh. “And it’s a good idea. Are you happy now?”
“Yep!” Cheng Xiaoshi sips his milk tea, feeling pleased about the whole situation.
To think that Lu Guang would need his help this often in such a short period of time. He’s happy to assist, of course- more than happy, if anything. He just hadn’t realized how reserved Lu Guang was with strangers, the sheer extent of his aloofness.
He’s always been so nice to Cheng Xiaoshi, after all. In his own way.
At this, he sneaks a look over at Lu Guang, observing him discreetly. So he doesn’t like attention from others. That’s perfectly well and good, but his earlier question rears its head, once again:
What’s Lu Guang like when he’s in a relationship? He probably acts differently, right? For some reason, Cheng Xiaoshi’s dying to see what that would even look like.
“Hey.” Lu Guang’s voice pulls him out of it, and they make eye contact, deep brown into dark grey. “You’ve been watching me all day. If you have something to say, then say it.”
“Not all day-”
“Don’t lie to me a second time.”
Cheng Xiaoshi lets out a grumble, unable to refute him. Why does he have to be so observant? “I was just thinking.”
“That’s a dangerous thing for you to do.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Lu Guang’s lips quirk up, just a little. It’s the barest hint of a smile, but it’s enough to make Cheng Xiaoshi grin wider, and he finally feels brave enough to ask.
“Fine, I’ll be direct. Have you ever dated someone?”
At his question, Lu Guang stops walking.
Cheng Xiaoshi does, too, and they stand in the middle of the street, staring at each other. It’s just the two of them on the sidewalk, and the setting sun casts warm light over them, bathing them in rosy hues. That must be the reason why Lu Guang’s face looks a little flushed, why there’s the smattering of pink over his cheekbones.
“Why do you ask?” He responds cagily. A non-answer.
“Because we’ve known each other this long, and I have no idea! That’s weird, right? Shouldn’t best friends talk about this kind of stuff?”
“I…” Apprehension flashes briefly on his face. “I don’t know.”
“Well, I wanna know.” Cheng Xiaoshi presses on anyway, determined to find out. “So, yeah. Have you ever dated someone?”
“Have you?” He refutes. Lu Guang, as mature as he is, does have a bit of a stubborn streak inside of him. They stand together, not speaking; the wind whistles past, simultaneously quiet yet deafening in the silence.
Okay, whatever. Cheng Xiaoshi backs down first, already knowing that it’s a losing battle.
“I’ll tell you, but don’t laugh.”
“You’re not that funny, Cheng Xiaoshi.”
He sends Lu Guang a withering glare. “I’m serious! Look, this is embarrassing to admit, but… no. I’ve never dated anyone. I mean, growing up, I only hung out with Qiao Ling, and she’s practically my sister.”
Surprise flickers across Lu Guang’s face. “You’ve never?”
“No.”
A lull in conversation.
And then:
“So did you want to go out with one of them?” Lu Guang asks. His voice is exceedingly careful, like his words are picked out with precision.
“With who- the girls at the tea shop?”
“Yes.” His expression is unreadable now. “Did I get in the way?”
Cheng Xiaoshi gapes at him, shocked. Had he been concerned about something so trivial? “Lu Guang, I’d much rather hang out with you. So don’t worry about it, okay?”
“Who says I was worried?” Even so, Lu Guang sounds a little more comforted now, and he resumes walking. Cheng Xiaoshi follows suit, and for a while, they stroll in silence, sipping bubble tea as they make their way home.
Their arms swing with every step they take; every now and then, the back of their hands brush against each other, just a brief touch. It happens so frequently that Cheng Xiaoshi barely even bats an eye at this now. To be honest, he’s more preoccupied with- well-
God. He has to know RE: Lu Guang’s Romantic Life. He just has to, okay?
“C'mon, tell me your dating history. Two people? Three? Four?” Lu Guang doesn’t respond. At his continued silence, Cheng Xiaoshi lets out a gasp, scandalized. “Wait, five? Why won’t you say anything? Did you date them all at the same time or something?!”
“No.” He finally responds, exasperated. “I haven’t dated anyone, either.”
Oh.
“Really?” Cheng Xiaoshi asks, double-checking.
“Really.”
That’s… unexpected. Yet also not.
Cheng Xiaoshi can’t explain why he feels that way, how two opposing statements make sense together, but they do. He takes too long to respond, and the silence stretches on awkwardly in the aftermath.
“So, uh.” Should he say a quip? A lighthearted joke?
In the end, he decides to change the topic entirely. “Looks like I’ve helped you out twice now, huh? I’ll accept noodles if you want to express your thanks.”
Lu Guang relaxes minutely, clearly relieved by the new subject. “I’m not going to get you noodles.”
“Aw, what? Please?”
“No.”
A week later, he buys noodles for Cheng Xiaoshi.
It’s not what it looks like. It’s only dinner, a meal born out of necessity, so it was an easy enough decision.
He’s definitely not indulging him, not at all.
Regardless, it’s just the two of them at the photo studio, as Qiao Ling likes to do her own thing sometimes. They’re sitting on the couch side-by-side, both scrolling on their own cell phones as they eat, and he can hear the audio from Cheng Xiaoshi’s device:
“…this celebrity has a new boyfriend!” The newscaster says cheerily. “Looks like she got tired of her old beau. She has quite the track record now, doesn’t she? A serial dater, some may say!”
The word ‘boyfriend’ catches Lu Guang’s attention; almost instinctively, he thinks about Cheng Xiaoshi. How he had acted as his lover not once, but twice. The way he did it so easily, like it was no big deal.
Perhaps it wasn’t. Not when it’s between them. Not when they’ve been through so much together.
The much stranger part of this whole ordeal, if he’s being honest, is the question he had broached afterwards.
Have you ever dated someone?
Why would that even cross Cheng Xiaoshi’s mind?
Lu Guang has never- not that he’s opposed to the idea of relationships. It’s merely the least of his concerns at the moment. He’s far too busy trying to keep his best friend alive to worry about such frivolous things, like falling in love.
Cheng Xiaoshi means a lot to him. Much more than he’s willing to admit out loud. He needs to use all his energy to save him, and it doesn’t matter what happens in life or death, because Lu Guang will be there for him, fight any battle, break every rule-
“OW! These noodles are so hot!” Cheng Xiaoshi yelps, fanning himself in an almost cartoonish manner. “Lu Guang, can you pass me my coke?”
“Your… coke?” He surveys the table, and finds that it’s positioned right in-between them. If Cheng Xiaoshi extended his arm out a little, he could reach it. “Get it yourself.”
“Just do it for me.”
“No.”
Even so, Lu Guang acquiesces. As he hands over the can, he starts contemplating his life choices. Why did he have to get so wrapped up with the wellbeing of this imbecile, anyway?
He directs his attention back onto his phone, not wanting to dwell on it. Maybe he should look at their photo studio’s Weibo, and see how the account is doing. Ever since Cheng Xiaoshi set it up, he hasn’t bothered checking.
For good reason, apparently, because when he opens the app, the first thing he’s greeted with is a picture of himself.
“Cheng Xiaoshi, you-”
“Hey! You agreed to it!”
He’s right (unfortunately), so Lu Guang can’t reasonably protest any further. Instead, his eyes dart towards the comments, where there’s a lot of them.
Way more than he anticipated, actually, and he reads through a few:
ILOVEYOUGUANGGUANG:
> You’re so handsome! We should go on a date!
That account name. That comment. Lu Guang lets out a sigh, because he knows which hare-brained moron wrote this.
“Cheng Xiaoshi, you’re so childish.” He leans over and smacks Cheng Xiaoshi on the head,
thwack!
“OW!” He rubs his forehead, clearly pained. “Says the one who just hit me. What did I do to deserve this?”
“Why did you make another alt account to write this comment?”
“What comment?”
Lu Guang shoves his phone in front of him, and waits for him to read it. It’s not the first time that Cheng Xiaoshi had pretended to flirt with him online. He had claimed that it was just a joke, but what would even be the punchline?
Cheng Xiaoshi plucks the phone out of his hand, and as he reads it, laughter bubbles out from his mouth.
“What’s so funny?” He asks. Cheng Xiaoshi waves the phone in the air, still snickering.
“I didn’t write this.”
“You didn’t?”
“Nah. I swear.”
That can’t be true. He blinks at this, feeling momentarily disarmed, and he’s only half-listening as Cheng Xiaoshi continues talking.
“But wow! Lu Guang, if you keep this up, you’ll practically become a celebrity! Maybe I should start a fan club for you.”
“Don’t.” He says flatly. It’s odd how unsettled this whole thing makes him feel, because he shouldn’t take it so seriously. It’s only…
It’s one thing if it were Cheng Xiaoshi who is saying all this dumb stuff. At his core, he has no ill intentions. Lu Guang understands him well enough.
But it’s an entirely separate thing when it’s someone he doesn’t recognize, strangers leaving comments; approaching him; trying to speak to him. The motives are different. The people are different.
At his continued silence, Cheng Xiaoshi’s laughter slowly fades away, concern replacing his previous mirth.
“Oh, wait. Is this actually bothering you?”
“It’s not like that.”
“But it is.” He says worriedly. “It’s written all over your face.”
He runs a hand through his hair uncomfortably; despite how carefree Cheng Xiaoshi looks, he’s really quite attentive. Why does he have to see right through him? To have such a grasp on Lu Guang’s emotions, even when he tries to hide it?
“Leave it to me, then!”
Lu Guang lifts his head up, and he’s faced with the far-too-exuberant Cheng Xiaoshi, who looks pleased as punch.
And that’s not a good sign.
“What are you up to now?” He says warily.
“I have the perfect solution for you.”
“I have doubts.”
“Just listen to me first!” Cheng Xiaoshi presents the phone screen towards him, where there’s a picture of… of…
“Is that us?” He asks incredulously. It appears to be a photo of him and Cheng Xiaoshi, when they had been holding hands at the bubble tea store. Why?
“I think those girls at the café took a pic of us. The ones standing behind us in line.” Cheng Xiaoshi points at the caption,
can someone confirm if they’re dating? @TimePhotoStudio if that white-haired boy is single please let me know
It was posted about an hour ago, with a handful of comments, ranging from
> OMG! Don’t hit on a person who is taken!
to
> Ah, they’re probably just friends, right?
and Lu Guang feels a growing sense of unease.
“They hesitated when they thought you were taken.” He sounds far too proud of himself. “You see where I’m going with this, right?”
“I don’t.”
But of course he knows what Cheng Xiaoshi is about to say. He’s just hoping that he’s wrong, because-
“Oh, c’mon! The answer is right in front of you!” Cheng Xiaoshi jabs a thumbs at himself. “I’ll pretend to be your boyfriend! That way, people won’t ask you out anymore. What do you think? Smart, right?”
Lu Guang does a sharp intake of breath.
No.
Not smart.
What Cheng Xiaoshi is suggesting is a long term deception, a plan that involves the two of them doing who-knows-what for who-knows-how-long.
More importantly, Lu Guang is intimately aware of his personality. Cheng Xiaoshi will do anything, even at the risk of his own discomfort, to help a stranger out. He’s self-sacrificing, far too generous with both his time and efforts.
The last thing that Lu Guang wants is to make Cheng Xiaoshi do something against his will. What’s the best way to clarify this?
“I know you mean well.” He finally says. “And that you’d do this for anyone. I just need you to know that you don’t have to force yourself.”
Lu Guang’s voice softens, just a smidge.
“Not with me.”
There. That should clear it up. He turns to look at him, but for some reason, Cheng Xiaoshi stares at him rather strangely. Like he said something wrong.
He runs a hand through his brown hair, messing it up a bit. “Why would you think I’d do this for anyone?”
“Because you would.” Lu Guang states. “You stood in for Zhou Xun to meet Vivian, didn’t you? For the romance scam request.”
“THAT?! That was just a one-time thing! This is, um… uh… this…”
Cheng Xiaoshi seems almost embarrassed now- he doesn’t usually stutter, not like this- and he takes a deep breath, before continuing.
“If someone approaches you, you can call on me, no matter the time or place. And Lu Guang, get this through your thick skull, will you? I wouldn’t do that for just anyone, okay? Because you’re not just-”
He groans, and puts his face in his hands, muffling his voice. “Well, whatever. I mean, I’m pretty free, and it was kind of fun being someone’s boyfriend anyway, so… oh, god. Lu Guang, can you please say something?”
He doesn’t know how to respond. Not just yet. Because Cheng Xiaoshi really is so kind, sincere, sweet.
And that’s part of his allure, isn’t it? That he doesn’t have any sort of duplicity. It’s what’s so very captivating about him in the first place, why Lu Guang feels drawn to him, even after all these failed timelines.
Their shared history has affected him so deeply and profoundly, Lu Guang keeps coming back, and back, and back,
and back…
“Okay.” He finally says. Cheng Xiaoshi pulls his hands off his face; his cheeks are still the tiniest bit red, but he looks more inquisitive than sheepish now.
“Okay, what?”
“We can give this a try. Just for a bit.”
Selfishly, it’s a great relief knowing that it’s Cheng Xiaoshi who will be there to help him, and not anyone else. For who else could possibly step in, and do this for him?
“Yeah. Yeah!” His eyes glisten under the light. “That’s more like it! See? I have good ideas.”
“I never said you didn’t.”
Cheng Xiaoshi sidles in a little closer, and if his eyes were sparkling before, they’re practically dazzling now. “Okay, check out what I’m about to do next. This’ll help you deal with those online fans.”
His fingers fly over the screen in record speed, typing away for a while. When Lu Guang leans over his shoulder to read what he’s up to, he finds that Cheng Xiaoshi is about to repost the sneak photo that was taken of them, and he’s even drafted a ridiculous caption:
> well, well, well! yes, he IS in a relationship. with the very handsome Cheng Xiaoshi.
Lu Guang lets out a groan. “Did you have to add the ‘handsome’ part?”
“What? Am I wrong?”
He’s not wrong, per se. Lu Guang has eyes, after all, and he knows Cheng Xiaoshi is good-looking, a fact born out of observation. He’s just not sure if he should inflate his ego any further.
“It’s fine.” He ends up saying. “Post it.”
Cheng Xiaoshi sends it off,
they both stare at the phone,
and wait for a response.
It takes a few minutes before it finally dings, where a comment appears.
> oh really?! nooooo!!! I guess that’s to be expected (cries) congrats to the two of them
Cheng Xiaoshi hands his phone back to him, grinning. “Success! Now you’re officially unavailable. You’re welcome.”
“I…” He accepts his phone, too stunned by the result to do anything else. How could something so silly be so effective? “That’s it?”
“What, did you want me to do more?” Cheng Xiaoshi suddenly shoots him a smirk. “Post another photo, maybe?”
As he looks down at the picture of them holding hands, he registers that they do look…
rather…
cozy together.
Interlaced fingers. Walking side-by-side. Heads tilted towards each other. As though they were truly dating.
But it’s just what they’ve always done. And even if Lu Guang has never been a particularly affectionate person, something about Cheng Xiaoshi makes him want to be.
What is it about you? Lu Guang wonders.
“Idiot.” He says instead. “Let’s just leave it like this for tonight.”
“Whatever you say. Okay, let’s make this official by high-fiving!” Cheng Xiaoshi lifts up his hand, but Lu Guang doesn’t reciprocate. “You're not gonna leave me hanging, are you?”
“Don’t come back to me if you regret this.”
“What do you mean? This’ll be fun!”
Cheng Xiaoshi grins, looking blithe, as always. He clearly didn’t think too much over this. Not that Lu Guang has a leg to stand on, because he did agree to the plan after all.
They clap, high-fiving one another, and thus begins the worst
best
worst decision Lu Guang has ever made.
In the police precinct, captain Xiao Li pores over the files of a new case. He scratches his head, feeling confused about the logistics. There are far too many discrepancies, and no clear motive.
He’s starting to develop a headache, and he pushes the papers aside, picking up his phone instead. Hopefully, a quick scroll through Weibo can be a suitable enough break, and he can catch some new things about the case.
He browses through the various posts aimlessly, but then he stops when he sees:
New recommended page: @TimePhotoStudio
That name sounds kind of familiar. Isn’t that the shop run by the two boys with supernatural abilities? Lu Guang, and Cheng Xiaoshi?
He clicks onto the page without much thought, and is greeted by a picture of them holding hands. Huh. He reads the caption,
> well, well, well! yes, he IS in a relationship. with the very handsome Cheng Xiaoshi.
He chews on this newfound discovery for a bit. He always knew they were close, but he hadn’t realized that they were actually in a relationship.
So they’re dating? This… might actually be useful for this case.
Xiao Li places his chin in his hand, the gears setting in motion in his head. If anyone could solve this case and strike down the ringleader, it would be the two boys at the photo studio.
Maybe he should pay them a visit.