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He Xuan and Yin Yu needed to meet up for their job to discuss some of the details for an upcoming event at Hua Cheng’s casino. They agreed to meet at the casino after their shifts. Unfortunately, two other people wanted to surprise them with a visit. Quan Yizhen had been taking every opportunity to hang out with his boyfriend, especially now that his boyfriend had other boyfriends too. Shi Qingxuan had just gotten back in town and wanted to surprise their boyfriend. Unfortunately for them, they’d both have to wait outside a backroom while they waited for the person they actually wanted to be with.
Shi Qingxuan shuffled about the hallway a bit. The two didn’t know each other very well, despite having similar friends in Xie Lian. “So, how long do you think they’re going to take?”
Yizhen shrugs, squatting on the floor and playing with the carpet. It was one that would seemingly change colors when you moved it in a different direction.
Qingxuan chuckles, nervously. They didn’t truly have a reason to be nervous, the larger man was just… Very quiet and handsome. And dating someone that wasn’t like them.
“With what they do, it could be a few minutes or closer to an hour.” They fluttered their fan, doing a little spin. “He Xuan might not say much, but he can really drag his feet on deciding things. Took us a few months to pick the perfect tank for his place, then several more for him to decide the perfect combination of fish for that tank!”
Yizhen hums, dragging his fingers in the carpet.
“Oh! I don’t think I’ve ever properly introduced myself to you, I’m Shi Qingxuan!” They held out their hand to him.
He looks up from the floor with a furrow. “Pei Ming’s friend?”
They snort and wave their hand dismissively. “No no, that’s my brother, Shi Wudu.”
Yizhen nods slowly. “Pei Ming’s a jerk.”
They laugh at that. “Yeah, yeah he can be. Oh, did you hear about what he did last week? Let me tell you-” Before they knew it, they’d spent the next twenty minutes talking and jumping to the next topic as smoothly as wind. From Pei Ming’s public breakup, they managed to bring the conversation to the aquarium they were considering to take He Xuan in the next few days. “-he looks so happy in there! Oh! Uh, you probably didn’t want to hear all that. I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t mind.” He finally says, looking up from the carpet. He gestures for them to kneel by him and they finally realize what he’d been doing. Drawn into the carpet were a lot of fish and some stick figures acting out scenes. “This one’s you.”
Shi Qingxuan smiled softly. “You didn’t mind?”
“Nope. I like hearing you talk.”
Shi Qingxuan was touched. The person everyone said ignored everyone except Yin Yu paid attention to them!!!
The door opened and their boyfriends appeared. Yizhen jumped up and walked around his drawings to Yin Yu’s side, giving him a big hug. The two started to walk away when Yizhen turned back. “Goodbye, Shi Qingxuan!”
He Xuan stared at them, just as surprised as them. “So… Want to get something to eat?”
“Yeah! Just one second.” They pulled out their phone and took as many pictures as they could of the carpet. The art in its fabric wouldn’t last, but they wanted to preserve this moment for as long as possible. They made a new friend in Yizhen!