Archive of Our Own

She stood there, fingers clenched tight around the strap of her bag.

"I don't care about you anymore."

The alarm that had been steadily mounting in Xiao Zhiyu's chest through her speech reached a precipice at her words. His heart dove into his gut. Straightening to argue with her, Zhiyu opened his mouth to say something - anything - but she spun on her heel and stormed off, head held high.

Zhiyu stood there, caught in a spiral of her words.

The game is over. I don't care about winning or losing. My moods shift on your whim. Why should they?

He couldn't even refute it.

At some point, Zhiyu had forgotten to be reserved. There had been an element to their interactions he'd enjoyed, lying to himself about how much he liked her. He'd bantered and flirted and danced. He'd soaked in her smiles.

He'd been selfish.

Xiao Zhiyu could not blame Hu Xiu for walking away.

So he let her.

~~~

Nothing seemed like a better idea to Zhiyu than going home after such a sharp disappointment. There was a twenty year old whiskey waiting for him at his apartment to shut up all of the bleak memories that kept jumping into his thoughts.

Shaking his head to clear it as he walked through the Midnight Express lobby - Zhiyu grimaced at the cardboard cutouts of all the roles that Hu Xiu had managed to play, taunting him - then glanced over the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

But Hu Xiu was not there.

Defeated, he stepped towards the door to leave. Nodding at the front clerk his farewell, Zhiyu left the building. He'd almost made it to his car when Gong Huai Cong caught up with him.

"Xiao Zhiyu! Give me a ride home," his friend demanded with a wide smile. Zhiyu sighed but said nothing as he climbed into the driver seat. Unlocking the passenger door was as much of an agreement as his friend would get. At least Huai Cong would be a distraction.

"Where were you at the ceremony?" Gong Huai Cong said as they got on the road. Zhiyu regretted agreeing immediately. "There were murmurs of Qin Xiao Yi's absence."

Zhiyu certainly hadn't bothered with any of the typical objectives for the role of Qin Xiao Yi. He'd spent the night stepping in and out of Hu Xiu's reach, hoping to coerce her into joining him. Typically, his role had more flexibility, but what was the point of owning a murder mystery role playing game if Zhiyu couldn't pull strings? However, after Hu Xiu's rejection, he had felt so out of sorts that he'd skipped the ceremony, opting to go change out of costume early. He shrugged.

Gong Huai Cong, in all of his cheerful ignorance, did not notice Zhiyu's mood, choosing to continue on.

"Did Hu Xiu get you? Li Yue put bets on if you'd survive the night or not."

Gong Huai Cong peered at him curiously. It was only from years of experience with his friend's prying that Zhiyu was able to restrict his frown.

"No," he said blandly.

Hu Xiu - as Liu Ru Shi - had been tasked to get the ring to Li Yue's character. As Zhiyu had the prop, he wasn't about to make it easy. Without either Zhiyu's cooperation or, honestly, ignorance in relinquishing it, Hu Xiu's character perished.

But there was no satisfaction from Zhiyu's obstruction. He'd still lost, lost something far more important than just a leisurely game.

It didn't matter to Gong Huai Cong, though, the oblivious man practically giggling in delight. Zhiyu to shot him an annoyed glance.

"I told Li Yue to not bet against you. Of course you could handle Hu Xiu's antics," he said, completely oblivious to Zhiyu's darkening expression. "I will say Hu Xiu has kept the game lively - we've had to adjust the story due to her interference more than once. We will need to give Li Yue an edge the next time he plays Qin Xiao Yi."

Zhiyu hummed noncommittally. He didn't want to explain why that was unlikely to be needed.

He seriously doubted she'd return, free tickets or not.

The game is over.

His friend prattled on about different options for the game, how he was exploring collaborating with Hu Xiu's friend, the owner of that neighboring cafe, Regard, and Zhiyu just continued to nod in the appropriate places, thoughts miles away.

Have you even thought about why I'm upset?

Hu Xiu's words had been so accusatory. After so many days of Zhiyu being disgruntled by other's attention towards her, there had been an arrogance in him that he was the one she preferred. She'd always had some level of interest in him, alarming Gong Huai Cong long ago by prying into the casting schedule, but Zhiyu had issued a challenge from the beginning of their acquaintance that she simply refused to back down from. Hu Xiu had been beautiful and tenacious. Zhiyu had liked their bantering interactions a tinge too much. Oh, how he enjoyed baiting her.

So with the self-assurance that Hu Xiu wouldn't disappoint him - she'd shown him all the soft wonders of the lane house, after all - Zhiyu had leaned against that classic car in the game, waiting for her. He'd known that she would exit that office, known that she'd likely be annoyed with him. With all of his misguided arrogance, Zhiyu thought that he could just offer her the win - with him, of course - and she'd forgive him.

Instead, she'd looked at him, large eyes brimming with tears. Her fingers had twisted tightly in frustration.

Zhiyu had caused that. The realization that no matter his intentions, wavering in the strange in between had hurt her. It kept churning in his mind, chafing against the relatively new instinct to shield, to soothe, to reassure Hu Xiu.

Suppressing a sigh, Zhiyu turned the thought over and was relieved that they had finally arrived at Gong Huai Cong's place. He'd completely tuned out his friend. Giving Huai Cong a nod at the man's thanks, Zhiyu didn't wait to make sure Huai Cong made it into his house, immediately maneuvering his car back to the highway.

It wasn't a quick drive, as Gong Huai Cong lived in a large place on the outskirts of the city, which meant Zhiyu was left alone to his thoughts. He couldn't help but reflect on his interactions with Hu Xiu.

He'd made a lot of mistakes.

The distance Zhiyu had been feeling from Hu Xiu started on the Lunar New Year. He should have never gone on that rooftop with her to watch the fireworks. What else was likely to happen? A clear night sky with a glass of wine and a beautiful, kind woman…

And Hu Xiu was brave.

Of course she'd attempt to kiss him. She'd never been shy, not when it came to trying to figure him out.

Zhiyu should have known better than stepping into that situation. He was selfish and flattered and had perhaps a bit tipsy between the amount of drinks he'd partaken that night.

Honestly, that was how Zhiyu had ended up in the neighborhood in the first place. Spending some time with Uncle Xu for the new year, both bolstered and dismayed by the man's words, Zhiyu's feet had brought him to the lane house without him realizing, harboring an alcohol fueled ego and forlorn feelings. There was no reason for him to witness the chaotic warmth of the community once again. Dynamism had been awarded Lyman's bid.

Going there at all had been the real mistake.

Zhiyu, on some unspoken level, had simply wanted to see Hu Xiu.

To see how she decorated the lane house, to find how she gave out well wishes to her neighbors. He hadn't been subtle, standing thoughtlessly in the lane, and she had seen him, invited him in. He witnessed how beautiful she was, clad in her red sweater, full of smiles for him. Her parents were kind, showing them all their traditional new year dishes, even with her da's initial suspicion of his residence of the attic. Zhiyu had been blessed with a lucky bowl, and drank more baijiu, trying to keep his wits as they spoke of the new year's hopes.

Later, on the roof, he discovered just how much he liked being comforted by her. Hu Xiu's steadfast expression didn't waver as she smoothed the frown from his brow with her fingertips and said, don't be upset. I believe you will find your answer.

It was years of habit - don't expose yourself, stand tall - that kept him so still. Zhiyu could still feel the way his heart leapt, the very atoms of his body wanting to turn to her, to welcome Hu Xiu's kiss.

But in those minuscule moments as she approached, Zhiyu couldn't help but think how unfair it was to start a relationship with such a guillotine hanging over it. How he'd taken a bad step, opened himself to a play that could only end up with him in check, caught between the two interests of his heart. Zhiyu's own words to Uncle Xu repeated in his head, mocking him.

I'm not in position to pursue happiness.

So he'd turned away.

Frustration coursed through Zhiyu as he thought of that awkward retreat. He'd no excuse for such a bumbling situation, no matter how composed he was.

When he'd finally extricated himself from the place he had no business remaining, he'd gone home.

It was a repeat of that night as Zhiyu finally parked and went up into his apartment, poured himself his whiskey and walked to the back office.

I don't care about you anymore.

Thinking of her words did nothing to alleviate the ache in his chest, but perhaps it was for the best. Truly, Zhiyu's position was only slightly different from that evening on the roof, only making small steps that guaranteed nothing.

He stared at the chalkboard that held all of the grim details of the disaster that upended Zhiyu's childhood. It connected each person, every movement and dead end, mocking him as he sipped his drink. Standing in the place once again, a measly few weeks later with the same regret, Zhiyu came to a conclusion.

He was tired of living a half life. He needed the investigation to finish. Not just for his father's memory, or his own satisfaction.

So he could pursue Hu Xiu.

~~~

One of the many impressive traits of Hu Xiu's was her professionalism. Zhiyu was always amused by the subtle ways they could speak without directly saying anything outside the boundaries of typical workplace chatter.

But Zhiyu hadn't prepared for the Hu Xiu who arrived at work the next morning.

He was at the coffee machine when she arrived, looking wind blown and beautiful, and gave her a polite nod. It wasn't an atypical greeting from Zhiyu.

He hadn't expected, however, for Hu Xiu to place a wooden smile on her face, stare at a direct spot somewhere near his left shoulder, and reply with a soft, "good morning, sir," before continuing on to her desk.

It was perfect.

It was unsettling.

As Zhiyu was still waiting for his cup to fill, he could hear her approach her team, and that was when the ramifications of her greeting caught up to him. Hu Xiu's smile warmed at each worker and he could hear her soft laugh as she teased Sun Yi Fei. Then she settled in, completely directing her attention to her daily tasks.

Zhiyu grabbed his cup of coffee and went to his office, trying to shake the sensation of being dismissed.

It continued throughout the day. When a meeting was called, Zhiyu sat at the head of the table as each person explained their current struggles with their respective projects. When it was Hu Xiu's turn, she wore a nervous sort of smile - Zhiyu kept forgetting how new she was to her role for how naturally she fit into it - and she gave a report on the job site to each person.

Even him.

But Zhiyu could feel the difference. While Hu Xiu looked towards him, she didn't look at him. It was as if she'd managed to completely excise any interest she'd held for him, professional words used as a buffer to keep herself apart.

It was jarring.

Zhiyu could do nothing about it. Her performance was good, she was kind to everyone at work - even him, technically - and he personally knew she wasn't in much of a position to leave Dynamism. With Hu Xiu taking up so much responsibility with the Lyman project, a decent amount of credit would be attributed to her upon the project completion. Leaving now would jeopardize that.

He was resolved to not hinder that experience in any way.

If anything, it was the saving grace as to why she hadn't quit already.

Zhiyu tried very hard to not think about that possibility. While it was torturous to be near her every day, it was worse to imagine her leaving.

~~~

The next day, Zhiyu ordered a large meal for the entire staff. It was under the guise of treating his workers - they had definitely been working hard - but had the added bonus of inviting Hu Xiu into a public space for him to see without it being scrutinized.

However, his mother Wanyue arrived and distracted him for a few minutes as they were organizing the delivery downstairs. Thankfully, the visit was short as his ma correctly assumed he was rather busy and was simply dropping off a soup canteen, but it meant that Zhiyu was late upon making it into the staff room.

But Hu Xiu wasn't there.

Zhiyu checked his tongue - it'd look suspicious to note her absence so promptly - and opened his boxed meal as everyone began to dig in.

Eventually, Hu Xiu appeared, carrying with her a beautifully crafted bento box. Sun Yi Fei immediately noted it, standing up to peer at it while Hu Xiu set it down. "Who sent you such a thoughtful 'love' lunchbox, Hu Xiu?" he asked, grinning. "You didn't bring that from home."

Hu Xiu hesitated, avoiding eye contact by staring at the box as if it would bite her.

And Zhiyu knew.

The lunch was from his step brother Pei Zhen. It fit entirely too well. The box, while not labeled, was far too elaborate to be a simple lunch. While it was possible that another man was interested in Hu Xiu, Zhiyu had witnessed Pei Zhen's infuriating attention to Hu Xiu firsthand. That, combined with Zhiyu's ma showing up at the office, led Zhiyu to the simple conclusion that Pei Zhen must have played taxi for Wanyue to the Dynamism office and taken advantage of the visit to wheedle Hu Xiu once again.

Looking at Hu Xiu a moment too long, Zhiyu felt another flicker of disappointment. She was decidedly ignoring his gaze.

"Something's up," Sun Yi Fei continued, spurred on by their co-workers teasing hoots. It startled Zhiyu to look at the others in a more natural way.

"Don't overthink it, Sun Yi Fei," Hu Xiu finally refuted. "This is for everyone."

It was a good thing Zhiyu had such a good poker face as a disbelieving cough almost got away from him. His step brother was blatant, this overture only one of the many compliments he'd given Hu Xiu. Zhiyu wasn't entirely sure how deep the interest ran - Hu Xiu had many charms that he couldn't fault others for noticing - but, he scornfully knew there was an odd rivalry between him and Pei Zhen that made him suspicious of it being genuine.

Not that it restrained him when speaking to his step brother. Zhiyu at least had the excuse of not wanting Hu Xiu to be professionally poached for plausible deniability when scolding Pei Zhen.

"Just a simple hand cooked meal-" Hu Xiu began, before opening up the lid and seeing the elaborately decorated dish. Shuffling to the next layer, it was more of the same.

"That is not simple," Sun Yi Fei refuted gleefully. "It's surely from an fancy private chef. Who's the mysterious person, Hu Xiu, hmm?"

"Just eat," Hu Xiu muttered, sliding the plated layers to the edges of the table and dropping into her seat.

It wouldn't be the first time that Zhiyu had noticed her discomfort to Pei Zhen's attention. However, it was the first time that Hu Xiu didn't seek Zhiyu's gaze, trying to convey her confusion and dismay about Pei Zhen's actions without words. Instead, Hu Xiu shoved the samplings as far away from her as she could and opened her lunch, staring down at her meal with a troubled expression.

As the rest of staff dug into the different dishes with gusto, Zhiyu noted that Hu Xiu refrained.

"Not going to try any?" he asked her.

Her facial expression pinched, grip slightly tightening on her chop sticks, but after a moment, Hu Xiu finally, finally, looked at him. Zhiyu was simultaneously relieved by the acknowledgment and alarmed by the coolness there.

Then she looked away.

"Thank you, but no, Director Yu," Hu Xiu said, placing the lid back on top of her meal. "I find I don't have much of an appetite. Excuse me."

Then she stood up. Zhiyu blinked as she walked away, then glanced down at the boxed meal she'd abandoned, realizing that she'd not even managed a bite.

Sun Yi Fei frowned, staring after in concern. "I wonder if she has a stomach ache."

"Will you check on her later?" Zhiyu asked, knowing that he would be rebuffed if he tried.

Sun Yi Fei nodded.

Zhiyu found he didn't have much of an appetite either, Pei Zhen's lunch mocking him as all of his unsuspecting workers enjoyed the fancy fare. But he kept eating nonetheless, pushing things into his mouth that had become tasteless, to not seem out of sorts.

If he left lunch a little earlier than he typically would, no one noted it.

~~~

Zhiyu's week only declined from there.

He'd have thrown himself into his work, but he'd already done a lot of what was expected him from a design standpoint, and the business minutiae was mostly handled by Dynamism's partner Zhou Yan. It would look out of place for him to take on more than his typical duties.

He tried to loiter at the office, but after a few days found it futile as Hu Xiu was either out for meetings when the work day ended or she left with Sun Yi Fei promptly. Her schedule seemed to update a lot - reaching out to various suppliers and discussing their needs was top priority - and she'd somehow managed to avoid any sort of communal lunch over the few days.

She happened to be very good at evading him.

Zhiyu even texted Gong Huai Cong to ask if she'd been any trouble in Rong City.

We haven't seen her, was the prompt reply. Are you overworking her?

He sighed at the accusation, leaving the text unanswered. The Lyman project was as on schedule as it could be - there was no need for Hu Xiu to give it so much of her time, especially when so many trades were responsible for their own parts of the schedule.

But Hu Xiu was attentive to a fault.

So when Friday finally came, Zhiyu pondered what to do with his open time that weekend. Typically he'd enjoy a shift in Rong City to forget himself for a bit, but that idea sounded particularly chafing considering his last experience. Nevertheless, he gathered up his coat, planning on heading home unless something else came up. It was after six o'clock and he resigned himself that he wouldn't see Hu Xiu that day.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, however, Hu Xiu was there, holding the lunch box. Zhiyu slowed his steps, not sure if his approach would prompt her to leave. She'd left every other moment he'd entered. Nevertheless, the office was deserted and she was obviously waiting for him. As Zhiyu drew closer, Hu Xiu's gaze latched onto his shoulder, making him suppress a sigh.

"Director Yu," she began clearly, holding up the box. "I would appreciate if you would return this."

All of the words were in the correct order, but Zhiyu stared at the box feeling jumbled. His assumption that it was from the Pei's home confirmed by her request, Zhiyu found the box vastly different from the little canisters of soup his mother brought him. He wasn't sure if it comforted him to know the soup his ma had delivered had been actually homemade. It was a glaringly different meal from the fancy dishes that Pei Zhen had sent to impress Hu Xiu.

"What," Zhiyu started and then cleared his throat, hoping to delay the interaction, "-what makes you think I know where it's from?"

She frowned. "You know exactly who it's from. It would be a good opportunity for you to thank him as the Director of Dynamism. Treating the staff to such a delicious meal was kind but unnecessary."

Relief fluttered in his chest that he hadn't realized was anxious. Hu Xiu was drawing lines in all aspects of her life, not just with him. At least Pei Zhen was just as unwelcome as himself with Hu Xiu's stiff and withdrawn countenance. Zhiyu reached out to take the bento box - cleaned, dried, an empty ornament - and swallowed hard. "All right."

Hu Xiu seemed to relax, shoulders lowering by the slightest amounts. "Thank you."

She began to turn but Zhiyu took an infinitesimal step closer to keep the conversation going. "I'll give you a ride home. It's late," he said.

It would be a torturous drive to the lane house with Hu Xiu in his car, the place golden and warm in his mind and so very off limits, but Zhiyu didn't care. He would feel better about her safety and perhaps think of some combination of words to thaw the icy distance she'd created.

"Thank you, but no," she said with the shake of her head, adjusting the bag on her shoulder. "I have a ride outside."

Zhiyu could feel himself deflate. Glancing through the window, he could confirm a vehicle was there. Nodding silently, Zhiyu looked at her.

Hu Xiu paused for a moment, as if wrestling with something, but decided on giving him a small nod, eyes down. "Goodnight, Director Yu."

Then she was off, dashing through the door and hopping into the vehicle, hair swinging around her.

Zhiyu looked down at the bento box in his hand and sighed.

After locking up the office, he went out to his car. Placing the bento box in the back seat, he decided that he'd deal with returning it another day.

~~~

That following Saturday afternoon, Zhiyu had an appointment at the Dynamism office. It wasn't typical to hold meetings on the weekend, but the visitor was very busy and understood the critical aspect of Zhiyu's request.

It was his next step to settling his past.

He was waiting for that visitor when he got a barrage of texts from Gong Huai Cong.

You're coming to the event, right?

Did you forget? Midnight Express is collaborating with Regard Cafe. Hopefully it goes viral.

C'mon, Lao Xiao, you're still a member of the team, even if you aren't picking up shifts.

Zhao Xiao Rou has worked really hard on this campaign.

She's invited everyone.

Even Hu Xiu is here to support!

Zhiyu frowned at his phone, but was interrupted by his visitor. Smiling at the gentleman's approach, Zhiyu focused all his attention to the task at hand.

Hours later, after the meeting concluded and he'd moved on to tour the office to the man, the visitor left satisfied. Zhiyu then pulled out his phone and glanced at the last message from Gong Huai Cong.

Your step brother Pei Zhen is here with flowers. Why is he so cozy with Hu Xiu?

He even brought her a gift.

Frowning, Zhiyu looked at the time. The message was from hours earlier. As much as he'd like to have gone to the event, it was likely winding down. Besides, Hu Xiu had been clear on not wanting to be near him, demeanor completely closed off during any interactions. It would have been difficult to manage the social niceties without tipping Gong Huai Cong off about the tension between them.

He was pondering his response - if there was even one to make - when his phone vibrated with a new message.

Well, the event is over. Zhao Xiao Rou is happily coveting her growing follower count, so I'd call that a success.

Sighing, Zhiyu grabbed his coat and keys, heading out to his car after locking up. With the event over, it would be safe for him to head over to the cafe without encroaching on Hu Xiu's space.

Are you still there? My meeting is over.

Sending the text, Zhiyu didn't wait for a response, climbing into the drivers seat to begin his journey. It was a comfortable distance away, and no traffic slowed him.

I'm back at ME right now.

The message was read to him with the infotainment system and Zhiyu sighed, mentally recalculating to see only his friend. It was just as well. He could assume Hu Xiu's friend would tell him off on sight. Zhao Xiao Rou had previously instructed him to be honest, and he'd failed that task spectacularly.

Parking in front of the Midnight Express building, Zhiyu opened the back door of his car to grab his coat and grimaced at seeing the bento box there. He still needed to return it.

Locking up his car, he was about to enter the inconspicuous ME staff door, but a glimpse of Hu Xiu caught his sight, making him pause. She was leaving Regard Cafe in a lovely green dress and cardigan.

She looked ready for a date.

Jealousy rose through him so violently that Zhiyu paused, internally turning his attention to the emotion. What did he expect? Hu Xiu had been clear that she would not waste her time with someone so inconsistent. Of course she'd search elsewhere.

Was he really okay with that?

She was almost out of sight when Zhiyu realized that no, no, he very much was not. His step brother flirting with her was frustrating, but he'd had no concerns of her interest in that quarter.

Until now.

Had Pei Zhen managed to get her to agree to a date that afternoon? Gong Huai Con had mentioned the man attending…

She turned a corner, disappearing from his sight.

Glancing at the door which would lead Zhiyu to his friend, he quickly abandoned the idea of entering and shrugged on his coat, taking long strides after Hu Xiu. He was just going to make sure she arrived at her destination safely.

Zhiyu caught up with Hu Xiu quickly, keeping a decent pace behind as to not make Hu Xiu uncomfortable. There was a burning curiosity in his chest over who she'd made herself so lovely for.

She entered a busy pavilion of many bars and karaoke's, causing him to lose her in the crowd. Feeling a bit thwarted, Zhiyu climbed up a set of stairs to get higher ground, but she was gone.

Zhiyu sighed, turning to walk back to the Midnight Express building and deal with his friend. He made it down the stairs, turning sharply around a corner and walked right into someone.

Grabbing hold of them, their dark hair obscuring his vision, Zhiyu could instantly sense that it was Hu Xiu. Her scent caught him off guard, light and floral and utterly demolishing the last of his reservations about pursuing her. There was no reason that his investigation would affect Hu Xiu, someone so removed from the situation… it would all work out fine.

If he could manage to show her he was serious about his intentions.

"Director Yu," she mumbled, looking up at him in surprise as his arm steadied her.

Zhiyu felt his tongue go dry. Hu Xiu was there, looking at him, and all thought flew out of his head.

"Hu Xiu!"

A female voice called out in excitement, startling the pair. Hu Xiu glanced in the direction and smiled.

But she didn't pull away.

Zhiyu couldn't help the way he tightened his arms, bracketing Hu Xiu as she was still leaning heavily against him. The newcomer rushed forward, a petite woman with a cheery demeanor, who then tugged Hu Xiu away from him to wrap her in a big hug.

"I'm so happy to see you! It's been so long, Hu Xiu," the woman said. Zhiyu could see another man hovering nearby, holding a purse like it was a bomb, trying to gain the woman's attention.

"Weiwei-" he called out.

"I heard all about your job change from Nana!" the woman continued, ignoring the man as she held Hu Xiu out by the shoulders with a broad smile. "I'm so proud of you!"

"Thank you," Hu Xiu said with her own smile.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! Where are my manners?" The woman relinquished Hu Xiu to hold her hand out to Zhiyu, surreptitiously giving him a quick glance from head to toe. "I'm Ning Wei. The lucky soul following me is my boyfriend, Chen Qiang."

"Xiao Zhiyu," he replied, shaking her hand and nodding to the man. "But please, call me Xiao Yu."

Ning Wei's mouth twisted into a smirk, sending Hu Xiu a side glance. "Xiuxiu, you should have told me you were bringing someone. I'm sure it's fine, though. Come on, the others are waiting!"

Hu Xiu wore the same pained expression that appeared every time her parents would visit her at the lane house while Zhiyu had been renting it. Sending him an uncertain glance, she said, "he's not staying."

"He's not?" Ning Wei asked, glancing at him.

"My evening opened up, Hu Xiu," he said, softly. "I'd like to meet your friends."

Hu Xiu gripped at her purse strap, but acquiesced with a smile to Ning Wei. "Oh. Okay. Lead the way, Weiwei."

Before Zhiyu could internally preen at his success, Hu Xiu shot him an annoyed glance that cooled his excitement. He would likely be thwarted by her in some way by the end of the evening.

Zhiyu anticipated it with interest. At least she'd look at him.

Ning Wei glanced between the two of them before shrugging. Turning to her boyfriend, she took him by the arm to lead them all towards a karaoke bar. "I hope you're ready for some truly sappy songs," she called over her shoulder.

Zhiyu fell in step with Hu Xiu, who looked askance at him. "What are you doing?" she hissed under her breath.

"Enjoying my evening," he replied softly.

"She thinks you're my boyfriend!"

"Okay," Zhiyu replied, looking at her solemnly.

Hu Xiu glanced around, fingers tightening in her agitated way, not able to maintain eye contact. She opened her mouth to reply, but Ning Wei led them through a doorway into a long hallway for various private booths, and whatever she wanted to say was lost.

"Wang Ru Na has been so excited for this meet up, Xiuxiu," Ning Wei stated. Zhiyu filed yet another name of the evening. "She says she hasn't seen you since the, oh, erm…"

Ning Wei trailed off, sending an alarmed glance to Zhiyu. Hu Xiu sighed softly.

"Since my doomed engagement party," she finished for Ning Wei. "He knows about that, Weiwei, you don't need to worry."

"Oh? Then this is serious, hmm?" Ning Wei looked at Zhiyu with renewed interest.

"Qi Ran got married a couple weeks ago, actually," Hu Xiu stated blandly. Zhiyu was impressed. She side stepped her friend's question with such a juicy bit of gossip that Ning Wei immediately latched onto.

"No! To who? How did they meet so quickly?"

"They met a bit after he proposed to me. I don't know anything more than that," Hu Xiu said, softly adding, "but it does explain his ending things so… abruptly."

Before Zhiyu could interject with his first thought - Qi Ran was an absolute fool - Chen Qiang pulled open the door to their private karaoke room, the music already blasting, ruining his chance. A jumble of voices exclaimed upon their arrival and Hu Xiu got pulled into many greetings.

After being hastily introduced, Zhiyu shucked off his coat and went over to find a seat on one of the couches, looking over the bar menu. Ordering, he had no worries of being neglected and leaned back, content to just watch Hu Xiu.

He tried to not make it too obvious, though.

Hu Xiu sent glances his way, however, as if surprised that Zhiyu was still there. Chen Qiang introduced him to the other two men of the group - they were sorely outnumbered against the amount of women - and Zhiyu was able to keep up a steady stream of small talk in between the bouts of singing.

Hu Xiu's tension melted off her by the second drink, and Zhiyu felt a pinch of concern that he squelched. If she wanted to get drunk, that was well within her rights. It's not like Zhiyu didn't know how stressed her week was with work, and he'd definitely get her home safely.

Eventually, the group settled into calmer songs and Zhiyu found himself alone with his arm against the back of the couch when Hu Xiu surprised him by stiffly sitting down next to him. Her body slid close to him due to the slickness of the leather seat, which made Zhiyu hide his smile into his glass. She had a flush on her cheeks.

"Ning Wei has determined I've abandoned you for too long," she said, putting her hands on her knees, shoulders tight. He had to lean a bit closer to hear her over the music.

"You've been busy seeing old friends," he replied. If his hand grazed the edges of her hair by her shoulder, she gave no indication of noticing. Her hair was soft. "How do you know them?"

"Mostly through Ning Wei. She's the granddaughter of the granny we helped with the wringing work," Hu Xiu explained, sending him the briefest of glances.

Zhiyu could remember that day very clearly. It was the first moment he remembered being truly overwhelmed by how much he wanted Hu Xiu.

"Weiwei was my partner in crime when we were little, getting into so much trouble with all the residents at the lane house. Then we moved away, and her parents moved out of her grandma's house, so it became harder to see her. But we managed to keep in touch," she continued, staring off at her friend. "Or, really, Weiwei did. Even after she went to college in another city, she'd check on me."

The thought was so alien to Zhiyu. After his mother remarried, they spent many years moving from place to place and he couldn't name a childhood friend. Whenever friends were made - eventually - it was a painful process that had left him with the impression that solitude was the norm. It wasn't until later that Zhiyu managed to befriend Gong Huai Cong, someone who was genuine yet struggled with tact.

"Does Ning Wei still live here?" he asked, leaning a bit closer.

Hu Xiu shook her head, giving him a side glance. "No, she's a part of a social media team for a furniture company in another city. They focus on small space solutions. There's a convention here next week and they have a booth."

Nodding, Zhiyu said, "You've known her a long time. Does she know Zhao Xiao Rou?"

Hu Xiu plastered on a polite smile. "They've met."

There were a multitude of meanings behind such a short response, but Zhiyu found he didn't need to know more. Instead, he relaxed back into the couch, watching Hu Xiu.

"You don't need to stay," Hu Xiu said suddenly, eyes refusing to meet his as she looked at her friends laughing. "Weiwei is likely to come looking for you to sing soon-"

"Are you ready to go?" Zhiyu asked.

"No," she said, eyes just darting to his face for a moment. "I just meant-"

"I'll stay," he said with as reassuring a look as he could.

"Xiuxiu, I swear- Oh, Xiao Yu, you haven't sung yet!" Ning Wei called out to them, skipping over. "Come on, I'm sure there's something we can find for you two."

That same chagrined expression appeared on Hu Xiu's face as her friend grabbed her by the hand and pulled her up. Zhiyu suppressed a chuckle, drinking the last of his whiskey, and stood up to follow them. He wasn't above some good natured revelry, no matter how quiet his singing voice was.

Ning Wei had not lied earlier. The song was indeed sappy.

As the evening marched closer to midnight, Zhiyu could see Hu Xiu begin to flag, eyes getting sleepy. Considering all he knew of her daily schedule and that she'd helped Regard Cafe in some capacity earlier, he wasn't surprised at her exhaustion.

It was almost as if she was trying to wait him out.

Finally, when the hour threatened a single digit, Hu Xiu sent a sleepy smile to her friend. "Weiwei, I'm glad I got to see you, but I need to head home-"

"Oh, of course!" Ning Wei said, pulling Hu Xiu in for a hug. They whispered among each other for a moment, Hu Xiu's flushing while Ning Wei wore a devious smirk, before they stepped away. Zhiyu had not been idle, gathering Hu Xiu's bag - which he did not hold like a bomb - and placed his coat on his sleeve. It would be a bit of a walk to his car… if Hu Xiu agreed to him driving her home.

Making polite goodbyes was simple enough, and in a stroke of daring, Zhiyu rested a hand on Hu Xiu's back, guiding her out of the room while the group watched. She didn't pull away.

Not until they were out of sight, anyway. As soon as they were decently down the path, Hu Xiu held out her hand for her bag which he relinquished.

"Can I drive you home?" he asked, feeling uncharacteristically unsure as she made space between them.

Hu Xiu took a deep breath and instantly began to walk quickly towards the street that ran along a river. "No."

He stepped to keep up with her, trying to form responses to her possible refusals.

"It's late-"

"I don't think it's a good idea."

"Hu Xiu-"

"I… I understand you can slip into a role very easily-"

"What?" Zhiyu was so surprised, he stumbled slightly as they walked down some steps to the riverfront. Of all the complaints for her to make, his flexibility with the situation was not one he'd accounted for.

"Don't worry, Ning Wei is none the wiser," Hu Xiu said in a sharp tone, rubbing her arms with her hands. "I only see her every once in a while, so this won't happen again-"

Zhiyu bit back a desire to smile. He had heard such claims from her before, when he lived in her attic and her parents would barge in, unaware of his existence or tenancy. She quickened her pace.

"That's not something I'm worried about," Zhiyu stated, easily keeping up with her with his long legs.

Hu Xiu grimaced. "I… I get it. I'm sure you don't get to play Qin Xiao Yi without being very talented at acting-"

"I wasn't acting," he refuted, the desire to smile immediately dissipating.

"-but it wouldn't be the first time you enjoyed fooling me-"

"Hu Xiu, wait-"

Zhiyu grabbed her elbow to stop her. Hu Xiu turned to him with such a tearful glare, shivering as a gust of wind blew between them, "I just… I really don't get it. Why would you appear so suddenly tonight?"

"I saw you. I thought you had a date."

In the face of his honestly, Hu Xiu expelled a startled, disbelieving laugh. "I don't understand you," she said as she tried to yank her arm out of his grasp.

He stepped into her space as she succeeded, blocking her. "Look, I wasn't playing any sort of game. Your friend just seemed important-"

She huffed out a sound of disbelief.

"-important to you-" he attempted to explain.

"When has that mattered?" she asked. "Let me by."

Zhiyu gritted his teeth. It was spinning out of control, reactions heated and Hu Xiu understandably unconvinced.

"I want to be your boyfriend!" he declared.

Hu Xiu glared up at him. "I don't believe you!"

There was only one response to such a statement. Dropping his coat, Zhiyu stepped into Hu Xiu's space. Her eyes widened as he caged her backwards with his body against the tiled half wall. Spearing his fingers into her hair, Zhiyu crashed his mouth down against hers.

Every moment of doubt flew out of Zhiyu's head as he poured all of his apologies into his kiss. This was a woman worth kissing, worth dancing and watching and living with. Hu Xiu - wrapped up by him - was furious, pressing her lips against his with just as much intensity. She gripped at his arms, neither pushing nor pulling, and eventually, tension slowly drained out of her.

Momentarily appeased, Zhiyu pulled back to stare down at her. Hu Xiu looked dazed, but tears brimmed her eyes once again.

"I am a fool," Zhiyu said desperately. "I should have never let you walk away from me that day."

There was no question which day he referred. Hu Xiu's expression softened and hope buoyed in Zhiyu's chest. It wasn't too late.

Instead of replying, Hu Xiu released her grip, sliding her hands up his shoulders and pushed up on her toes.

Zhiyu met her halfway, lips joining hers once again as he drank in her sweet kisses. His tongue couldn't help but dart out to taste her lips, her mouth, to meet her tongue. Hu Xiu was far from passive and Zhiyu discovered a delightful new way to spar with her.

Suddenly, a heavy bell chimed in the distance, betraying the early hour, and Hu Xiu pulled away. Zhiyu didn't release her, though, touching his forehead to hers. She had a soft expression on her face, making her look even more lovely to him. There was an intimacy to the moment, simply existing with her in a secluded place by the river.

"I like you, Hu Xiu," he said, stroking her hair down and around her ear as the wind shifted around them once again.

Zhiyu could see her process the information.

"So… you weren't pretending tonight?" Hu Xiu finally asked.

"Not at all," Zhiyu said, pulling her closer as she shivered. "I've been miserable these days. Torn between a mad desire to spend all my time in your presence and your obvious desire for me to stay away."

"Oh. Is that why you didn't come to the event today?"

A small laugh escaped him as he discarded the idea of warming Hu Xiu with only his body heat, stepping back to pick up the coat that he'd dropped. Wrapping it around Hu Xiu and tucking it closed, he shook his head.

"I actually had a meeting at work. But I hear the event was a success," Zhiyu explained as he took her hand. "Now can I take you home?"

"Hmm," Hu Xiu said, sending him an arch look. "I don't know. I can't determine if I have a boyfriend or not."

"Hu Xiu," he said with a tinge of exasperation.

"I could use some more convincing," she whispered.

There was a buoyancy in Zhiyu's chest that hadn't been there before. He looked at Hu Xiu's beautiful coy expression and leaned down to capture her lips once again.

They eventually made it to his car after a leisurely walk, with Hu Xiu's hand secure in Zhiyu's own. When he closed the passenger door for her, Zhiyu looked over at the dark cafe and noted all of the Midnight Cafe cardboard figures peeking through the windows.

Climbing into the driver seat, Zhiyu asked, "what did Pei Zhen want, anyway?"

Hu Xiu sent him that wide eye glance that he had been hoping for, just like every other time his step-brother had… over stepped.

"Director Pei had some flowers delivered to Regard to celebrate. He wanted to know specifics about the collaboration. Zhao Rou was busy, so…" She trailed off with a shrug.

Zhiyu nodded, steering the car onto the road to take Hu Xiu home. It would figure that Gong Huai Cong would see something small and misconstrue it. He had a habit of embellishing facts to seem far more dramatic than they were. It was helpful with writing murder mystery scripts, not so much in regard to personal matters.

"Pei Zhen did give me a scarf," she added suddenly.

Zhiyu gripped at the steering wheel a bit tighter. "What?"

"He saw I had stained my blouse and had one delivered," she said, glancing at the window. "I declined it. I thought perhaps you returning the lunch box would be enough, but apparently not."

"Ah," Zhiyu said mildly. "About that."

He could feel Hu Xiu's glance to him, expecting more.

"I haven't returned it yet," he continued. "It's in the back seat."

"Oh," Hu Xiu said. "Well, I was a clear as I could be that there is only a professional connection between us, and I will only decline gifts. I've been so busy visiting all the different suppliers to make sure everything is running on schedule, so there's no excuse for Director Pei to call extra meetings if there's a delay."

Zhiyu hummed in acknowledgment. There was a pinprick of disappointment - she hadn't necessarily been avoiding just him - but could understand the need with how persistent Pei Zhen had become. He wasn't surprised that Hu Xiu had been managing the situation so deftly - she'd many years under an unruly boss, with stories that made Zhiyu clench his teeth - but he despised that she was uncomfortable.

"If you need anything, please let me or Zhou Yan know," he said, reaching over to take her handle over the middle console. "You have more resources than just your time."

Hu Xiu smiled, squeezing his hand. "What sort of resources?"

"Well, you have a boyfriend who will drive you anywhere you need to go," Zhiyu said, grinning back.

"Watch out," she said. "A girlfriend could get used to such treatment."

Laughing softly under his breath, Zhiyu brought her hand up to kiss. Hu Xiu shook her head in amusement, looking out the window once again.

His chest radiated with joy, relieved that she was with him.

~~~

Monday brought Zhiyu to the office alone, Hu Xiu having pushed him off due to some sort of previous engagement, so he had to wait hours before she managed to make it to the office. He was standing in his office when she arrived, overlooking the window that could see the street. Instead of immediately rushing downstairs to greet her - that would be a rather suspicious reaction in front of all the staff - Zhiyu simply took in her appearance until she walked out of sight.

He consulted his phone for the time, not wanting to wander downstairs too soon, when he noticed through the window a black car pull up a bit away and park. Zhiyu frowned, the vehicle seeming oddly familiar despite it's obvious nondescript profile. Shaking the concern of the car out of his head, he wandered over to his desk to check his coffee cup. Empty.

Perfect.

He could hear Hu Xiu settling in before even making it down to the landing, all of the staff asking her questions about various elements of the project, and her soft replies. Zhiyu turned into the room, stopping in front of the coffee machine, a hint of a smile tugging his lips. He watched her tug off her jacket and lay it on her chair, then pick up her coffee mug.

Zhiyu thought Hu Xiu looked lovely.

She turned as if sensing his gaze.

Her eyes found his.

He felt his heart stutter.

Hu Xiu's face bloomed with a beautiful smile.

And Zhiyu could think of no better pursuit than putting that smile on her face every day.