Chapter Text
Lu Guang yawned.
It wasn’t the big, dramatic kind. It was a quiet, miserable kind of yawn, the kind that started somewhere in his ribs and crawled all the way up to his jaw. The kind that came with the sudden, unwelcome math of being twenty-five and already hearing his spine click when he rolled out of bed.
The floor was cold under his feet. He stood there a half-second too long, staring at nothing, negotiating with himself.
Option 1: Make coffee.
Option 2: Go back to bed and pretend responsibility was someone else’s job today.
Option 3: Consider—with deep and scientific seriousness—whether punching Cheng Xiaoshi to life would count as cardio and also as a public service.
Anything to offset the weekly damage of dragging Xiaoshi out of bad decisions. Anything to offset the way his chest did this stupid thing every time he looked at him.
He looked.
Xiaoshi was a disaster in still life.
Blanket twisted into a rope around his legs. Hair sticking up in five different tragic directions, like he’d argued with gravity and lost. One foot hanging off the edge of the mattress, toes pointed toward the floor like he was mid-fall and hadn’t noticed yet.
It should have been repulsive. On paper it was repulsive.
Instead something warm and inconvenient pooled low in Lu Guang’s chest and he had to look away before it got worse. This was probably a medical condition. He would research it later.
He reached for a pillow. “Up,” he said then threw the pillow to Xiaoshi hard, with a dull smack.
There was a muffled, betrayed noise from underneath—it was infuriatingly cute in this damn morning.
“Morning greeting?” came the muffled reply, indignant. “Human decency?”
Xiaoshi peeled the pillow off in one slow, dramatic motion and glared up with one eye squinted open, the other still refusing to participate in society.
“Good morning,” Lu Guang said, completely flat.
Then, because he was already walking to the bathroom and because old habits die hard, he did it again on the way past. A light, efficient bonk.
He heard Xiaoshi flop back onto the bed with the full weight of theatrical suffering. A sigh that could have powered a small wind turbine.
They were, before nine in the morning, very, very childish, it was annoying. And Lu Guang wouldn’t trade it for anything, even if he would never say that out loud.
~~~
The kitchen smelled like tea and slightly burnt toast by the time Xiaoshi wandered in, still pouting. He moved like a person who had been personally offended by the concept of verticality.
Lu Guang didn’t look up right away. He was busy being precise.
Tea in the chipped blue mug, because Xiaoshi always claimed the blue one made it taste better. Bagel, toasted just enough, with an objectively unreasonable amount of strawberry cream cheese smeared across it. He slid both across the table.
Xiaoshi perked up instantly, like a plant getting water. He took a huge bite and talked right through it. “You’re only nice to me when you feel guilty.”
“I don’t feel guilty,” Lu Guang said. “I feel responsible.”
Xiaoshi grinned around a mouthful of bagel, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk. “Same thing.”
They went over the day while the tea cooled. No dives, no emergencies, no one’s memories to wade through. Just a check-in with Qiao Ling later, and then, apparently, a “street walk” because Xiaoshi had announced last night that they needed to be normal people for once.
Lu Guang did not think they were capable of normal. Normal people didn’t have a group chat named “Do Not Die”—okay, maybe it’s not called that, but still Lu Guang didn’t think they were capable of being one.
“Fine,” he said. “Six PM curfew.”
Xiaoshi saluted with his bagel. “Yes, sir.” Cream cheese on his thumb. He didn’t notice.
~~~
The street was too bright and too loud. Just imagine how exhausting it was when you combine the two.
The sun hit the pavement and bounced back up, and the city was already moving at full volume.
Qiao Ling walked ahead of them, iced tea in one hand, pointing out new shops like she was hosting a very opinionated tour.
“That one opened last week. They do matcha that doesn’t taste like grass. That one has the best egg tarts but the line is criminal.”
Two steps behind her was Xiaoshi, distracted by everything. A dog in a sweater, a flyer for a concert, a bubble tea place with a new flavor that he had to photograph.
Two steps behind Xiaoshi was Lu Guang. It was a pattern. It had always been a pattern. He wasn’t sure when it started. He was sure he didn’t mind.
“Try this,” Xiaoshi said, not looking back, and shoved a candied hawthorn stick into Guang’s hand.
The motion was automatic, a reflex. Like his hands had a map of where Guang would be before Guang got there.
“I don’t like sweets,” Lu Guang lied, and ate it anyway.
It was tart and sugary and it made his teeth ache in a good way.
Qiao Ling glanced back over her shoulder and smiled. It was the kind of smile that made Lu Guang immediately suspicious. “You two are quiet today.”
“We’re always quiet,” Xiaoshi shrugged, still chewing.
Qiao Ling rolled her eyes in a way that suggested she did not believe this for a second. Lu Guang stared straight ahead at a crosswalk sign like it held answers.
“We’re focusing,” he said.
“On what?” Qiao Ling asked, crossing her arms as she walked.
“Not dying,” Lu Guang deadpanned.
Qiao Ling snorted. Xiaoshi, meanwhile, was busy working a piece of gum he’d bought from a street vendor, blowing a small, unprofessional bubble and popping it against his teeth.
They found a bench eventually. One of those under the trees that made everything look like a scene from a drama, all dappled light and leaves shifting. The wood was warm from the sun.
Lu Guang hesitated for half a second.
“Sit,” Xiaoshi said, patting the space next to him.
It wasn’t a question. It was an order dressed up as an invitation. So Lu Guang sat.
Their shoulders touched.
Xiaoshi immediately slouched into it, like he’d been holding himself up just to fall into this exact spot. Like he’d been waiting. His warmth bled through both of their shirts.
Qiao Ling was watching them again. Not with suspicion this time. With something softer, fonder, the kind of look that made Lu Guang’s stomach do a small, traitorous flip.
“You guys are literally suspicio—”
Then Xu Shanshan and her boyfriend, Dong Yi, passed by.
“Oh my God, Qiao Ling, it’s you!” Xu Shanshan exclaimed, far too energetic for this busy hour.
“Xu Shanshan!” Qiao Ling exclaimed, doubling over as they both bounced dramatically.
Cheng Xiaoshi just scoffed when he saw his trash-talking rival.
“And if it isn’t the couple.” Xu Shanshan turned to the two boys on the bench.
“Who?” Xiaoshi said intentionally harshly, leaning back on the bench like he owned the sidewalk, the tree, and the air Xu Shanshan was breathing.
Xu Shanshan blinked. The smile on her face flickered for half a second before she plastered it back on, brighter and louder.
Dong Yi, standing beside her with his hands in his pockets and the expression of a man who had already regretted leaving the house, gave a small nod.
“Hey.” His voice was neutral. Carefully neutral.
Lu Guang didn’t move. He kept his hands resting on his knees, his gaze forward, like the bench was a meeting and this was just another agenda item.
“Hello,” he said.
The warmth of Xiaoshi was still pressed against his shoulder. Xiaoshi hadn’t shifted away. If anything, he slouched a little more into it, an anchor and a statement at the same time.
Qiao Ling, caught between two different kinds of chaos, did what she always did. “Shanshan! It’s been forever. How’s the new job?”
“Amazing.” Xu Shanshan said instantly, flipping her hair like she was in a stupid movie.
“That’s good.” Qiao Ling replied proudly.
“It’s a hassle,” Xu Shanshan sighed exaggeratedly. “Good thing I have him around.” She pointed at Dong Yi, who immediately looked away, obviously flustered.
Xu Shanshan giggled, then her eyes landed on Lu Guang’s hand, which had somehow slipped into Cheng Xiaoshi’s.
They broke contact immediately when they realized someone was staring at them.
Xu Shanshan squinted her eyes at them with an unmistakable I-see-that expression.
Qiao Ling and Dong Yi turned to look at what Xu Shanshan was staring at, but they only saw Lu Guang with his usual poker face while the boy next to him glared at Xu Shanshan.
Oblivious to what was happening, Qiao Ling continued the conversation.
“By the way, what are your plans for today?”
“Oh, yes!” Xu Shanshan clapped her hands once, remembering something. “We’re actually going to invite you guys to a party.”
“A party?” Qiao Ling’s eyes immediately lit up. “Is there food?”
“There’s always food,” Shanshan replied, already grinning.
Qiao Ling beamed. “Then I’m in.”
“You didn’t even ask where it is,” Lu Guang pointed out.
“I don’t need to, there’s food.” She giggled.
Cheng Xiaoshi nodded solemnly. “She has a point.”
Lu Guang turned to him. “Don’t encourage her.”
“I’m not encouraging her. I’m supporting her.” He put his hands in his thighs.
Lu Guang rolled his eyes fondly. “That’s the same thing.”
“Okay, we’ll go.” Lu Guang finally said, already standing and kicking a small rock off the pavement.
Xiaoshi blinked up at him. “Wait, you agreed?”
“I know what happens when I leave the two of you unsupervised.”
Qiao Ling gasped dramatically. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
Shanshan burst out laughing while Dong Yi merely shook his head beside her, looking like he had already accepted that this was going to be a long evening.
“See you guys tonight, then!” Shanshan waved before pulling Dong Yi along with her.
“Bye!” Qiao Ling called after them.
Xiaoshi watched the couple disappear into the crowd before glancing at Lu Guang.
“You know,” he began, “you could've just admitted you wanted to come.”
“I don't.”
“You agreed pretty quickly.”
“I agreed because you’d complain if we didn’t.”
“That’s basically the same thing.”
“It isn’t.”
Xiaoshi smiled. “Sure.”
Lu Guang narrowed his eyes at him.
“Don’t.”
“Didn't say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“I was thinking.”
“That’s worse.”
~~~
By the time they returned to the studio, Qiao Ling had already started planning what she was going to wear.
“I’m telling you, this is going to be fun.” She announced, rummaging through one of the bags she had left behind earlier.
Lu Guang dropped his keys onto the counter. “You said that about the last party.”
“And I was right.” Qiao Ling said proudly.
“You spent half of it arguing with the DJ.” Lu Guang added.
Qiao Ling frowned. “It was arguing in a nice way! And he played the same song three times!” She said, defending herself.
“You requested it three times.” Xiaoshi reminded her.
Qiao Ling slowly turned around. “That is completely unrelated.”
Xiaoshi just laughed in amusement.
Later, while Qiao Ling disappeared to change, Xiaoshi emerged from the other room wearing a different shirt.
He stopped when he noticed Lu Guang looking at him. “What?”
“Nothing.” Lu Guang said pretending to read the book he had in his hand.
Cheng Xiaoshi squinted his eyes. “You were staring.”
“I wasn't.”
“You absolutely were.”
Lu Guang didn’t even looked up from his book.
“It suits you.” He muttered.
Xiaoshi paused, for once, he didn't have an immediate comeback. “Oh.”
Lu Guang glanced at him. “What?”
“Nothing.” Xiaoshi smiled to himself and headed for the door. “Come on, Guang.”
Lu Guang followed.
~~~
The party was louder than expected.
Music spilled through the room, mixing with conversations, laughter, and the occasional clatter of someone dropping a cup. Qiao Ling disappeared into the crowd almost immediately.
“Qiao Ling!” Xiaoshi called.
“Xu Shanshan!” Qiao Ling called out as she saw Xu Shanshan with Dong Yi on a table with three vacant ones beside them.
“How is she so fast? It’s so freaking crowded.” Xiaoshi muttered to himself while his free hand is looking for Lu Guang’s hand to guide him.
When he finally found Lu Guang’s hand he gripped it. Not hard, just enough to make sure they don’t part.
Cheng Xiaoshi rolled his eyes directly to Qiao Ling when he finally found the table.
Lu Guang sat beside Qiao Ling and Cheng Xiaoshi did the same.
Xu Shanshan stood up. “I’ll go get food.”
“I’ll accompany her.” Dong Yi said.
Then, Cheng Xiaoshi stood up too.
“Oh, where are you gonna go?” Qiao Ling asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Gonna go with them, I’ll help.”
And that left Lu Guang and Qiao Ling. The table was suddenly too big.
Qiao Ling took a slow sip of her iced tea. She wasn’t looking at Lu Guang. She was looking at the stage, at the lights, at anywhere but him.
“So,” She said, dragging it out. “Loud in here.”
Lu Guang nodded once. “Mn.”
Across the room Xiaoshi was still stuck in line with Shanshan and Dong Yi, balancing a plate like his life depended on it and talking with his hands. Lu Guang’s eyes tracked him anyway.
Qiao Ling noticed. Of course she noticed.
She tapped her finger against the rim of her glass.
“You two are joined at the hip these days.” She said, looking at Cheng Xiaoshi at the counter, where he is currently doing a trash talk session with Xu Shanshan because of something.
“We’re not—”
“Yes you are.” She cut him off, but gently. “It’s not bad though, I actually think it’s a good thing you guys have a good connection.”
Lu Guang picked up his tea. Put it down. “Yeah, I guess.”
“Exactly.” Qiao Ling smiled into her cup. “Years.”
Before Lu Guang could come up with a response that wasn’t stupid, Xiaoshi crashed back to the table with Shanshan and Dong Yi, plate wobbling.
“Food!” Xiaoshi announced, sliding into the seat next to Guang. His knee bumped Guang’s under the table and stayed there. “Dumplings. And those skewers you like. And—” He stopped, looking between Guang and Qiao Ling. “What?”
Xu Shanshan gave one plate to Qiao Ling while Dong Yi have his and Xu Shanshan’s food.
Xiaoshi set one in front of Lu Guang.
“I got you food.” Cheng Xiaoshi said, elongating the ‘food’
Lu Guang looked down at it. “I didn't ask for any.”
“You also didn't eat before we left.” Cheng Xiaoshi frowned.
Lu Guang leaned in the seat. “I wasn't hungry.”
Cheng Xiaoshi whined. “You say that every time.”
He pushed the plate closer. “Eat.”
Lu Guang stared at him for a moment. Then, without arguing further, he picked up the fork.
Xiaoshi smiled. “See? You're trainable.”
“Keep talking and I'll stop.” Lu Guang said.
“Okay, okay, chill.” Xiaoshi said sarcastically.
~~~
Somehow, Xu Shanshan and Cheng Xiaoshi is in the middle of another trash talk session because the two became too drunk and apparently Xu Shanshan became too bored when Dong Yi wasn’t around, which he is at the moment, he is in the bathroom.
“Just like what I said, I pity the jobless!” Xu Shanshan pointed at Cheng Xiaoshi grinning.
“And like I always say too, being so nerdy makes you detach from the society!” Xiaoshi bite back.
“What reality? Your studio? It’s not even yours, if I can remember, it’s Qiao Ling’s and the business is Lu Guang’s!” Shanshan said, words swaying.
Qiao Ling just scrathed her hair, confused as to why she’s used in their argument while Lu Guang just leaned in his chair, quite dozing off to sleep every second or two.
“Huh? We’re a team! Don’t even talk things if you know nothing!” Cheng Xiaoshi talked back.
Shanshan laughed. “Oh yeah? I know many. You only rely to others after you graduated.”
Xiaoshi gritted his teeth. “I do not—”
The words died in his lips as he felt Lu Guang’s head in his shoulder, he has fallen asleep.
Xu Shanshan stopped and slowly put a hand on her mouth, trying not to laugh at the proximity, which is the same as to what Qiao Ling is doing too.
That simple action literally made Cheng Xiaoshi sober, he felt awkward.
“Help out a friend in need!” Cheng Xiaoshi whisper-shouted.
Qiao Ling just grinned. “He’s all yours, Cheng Xiaoshi.”
“Qiao Ling!” Cheng Xiaoshi called out.
When Dong Yi returned, he witnessed the crime scene and just smiled in exasperation.
They stayed there for a few minutes while poor Cheng Xiaoshi can’t even move with Lu Guang’s head in his shoulders.
~~~
Later, much later, when the music had died down and the party had thinned to just the people who didn’t know how to leave yet, Cheng Xiaoshi finally got him home.
Lu Guang was dead weight. Not in the dramatic way. In the quiet, trusting way. Head lolling against Xiaoshi’s shoulder in the cab, in the elevator, in the hallway.
Xiaoshi dumped him on the bed with all the care of someone handling something fragile and infuriating. Took off Guang’s shoes, pulled the blanket over him—all while Qiao Ling is watching.
Then, he just stood there for a second too long, watching the way Guang’s face finally relaxed in sleep. No poker face, o responsibilities. Just him.
The floor was cold under Xiaoshi’s feet. He stood there a half-second too long, staring at nothing, negotiating with himself.
Option 1: Go to his own bed.
Option 2: Stay and make sure Guang didn’t roll off.
Option 3: Consider—with deep and scientific seriousness—whether this counted as being joined at the hip and if that was a problem.
He chose Option 2.
Because anything to offset the weekly damage of dragging Lu Guang out of his own bad habits. Anything to offset the way his chest did this stupid thing every time he looked at him.
He looked.
Lu Guang was a disaster in still life.
Hair fanned across the pillow. One arm thrown over his eyes. Breathing slow and even and infuriatingly peaceful.
It should have been repulsive. On paper it was repulsive.
Instead something warm and inconvenient pooled low in Cheng Xiaoshi’s chest and he had to look away before it got worse.
This was probably a medical condition.
He would research it later.
Outside, the too-normal city was quiet. Inside, the chipped blue mug sat drying on the counter.
And before nine in the morning, they would be very, very childish again. And neither of them would trade it for anything. Even if they would never say that out loud.