Chapter Text
Wu Suowei was the type of person everyone liked.
Not the kind people admired from afar, nor the kind people envied. He was simply… pleasant. Warm. Easy to approach. The kind of person who remembered birthdays without reminders and who always knew exactly what gift would make someone smile.
If someone forgot to bring lunch, Suowei would split his meal.
If someone needed help planning a trip, Suowei would already have a full itinerary prepared by the end of the day.
If someone had a problem, they came to him.
It had been like that for as long as he could remember.
“Suowei! Are you coming tonight?” a classmate called from across the hallway.
Suowei looked up from his phone and smiled easily. “Coming where?”
“The farewell dinner for Professor Liang.”
“Oh, right.”
He had actually forgotten.
But that wasn’t unusual. Whenever something needed organizing, people assumed Suowei would handle it. And most of the time… he did.
“How many people?” he asked casually.
“About twelve.”
“Restaurant?”
“Not yet.”
“Budget?”
The classmate blinked.
“You see? This is why we need you,” he laughed, clapping Suowei on the shoulder.
Suowei chuckled, already typing on his phone.
“Give me five minutes.”
He opened a map application, searched nearby restaurants, checked reviews, compared prices, and messaged the group chat.
Within three minutes he had reserved a table, collected everyone’s preferred dishes, calculated the bill split, and sent directions
His phone buzzed immediately with replies.
Suowei you’re the best!
What would we do without you?
Seriously, you’re amazing.
Suowei smiled faintly.
Compliments like that were common. They didn’t really mean much anymore.
Across the hallway someone else called his name.
“Suowei! Can you help me carry these books?”
“Sure.”
“Suowei, do you know how to fix my presentation?”
“Let me see.”
“Suowei, can you recommend a gift for my girlfriend?”
“Of course.”
By late afternoon he had solved five different problems for five different people.
When the hallway finally quieted down, Suowei leaned back in his chair and stretched.
His phone screen reflected his own face.
Still smiling.
He always smiled like this.
It made people comfortable.
But sometimes, when no one was looking, his face relaxed into something much more neutral.
Not sad.
Just… tired.
A message notification popped up.
It was from the group chat.
Dinner tonight confirmed!
Thanks again Suowei!
You’re seriously the most reliable person I know.
Reliable.
That word again.
Suowei stared at it for a moment before locking his phone.
Reliable meant people trusted you.
Reliable meant people depended on you.
Reliable also meant something else.
It meant people expected you to always be there.
And somehow, over the years, that expectation had quietly become part of his identity.
Wu Suowei.
The reliable one.
The helpful one.
The planner.
The giver.
He stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
As he walked through the hallway, several people waved at him.
“See you tonight!”
“Don’t forget the reservation!”
“Send the menu again later!”
Suowei waved back with his usual cheerful grin.
“Don’t worry,” he said lightly.
“I’ve got it handled.”
And he did.
He always did.
Because if Suowei didn’t take care of things…
No one else would.