Chapter Text
"I deeply apologize for the inconvenience. Unfortunately, my brother had a sudden emergency he needed to take care of, as such, he won't be able to attend today's meeting. If you wish to, we can still discuss the matter with me as his representative, or, if you'd like to, we can postpone the meeting to another day."
The two guests looked at each other, clearly annoyed by these news.
"What do you think? Wanna carry on with the meeting anyway?" asked Mu Qing to his companion.
"Ah..." he sighed. "We're already here. It would be a waste of time if we came back now."
"Agreed." said Mu Qing before turning his attention to Shi Wu Du once more. "Alright then. Let's start with the meeting without him."
"Of course. Please, follow me then."
Silently, the oldest one guided them towards the meeting room and closed the door behind them, ready to carry on with the meeting.
"Alright then. From what I understand, you have a project to discuss with us. Why don't you tell me more about it?"
It was Mu Qing the one who decided to explain the project they had planned.
"He Xuan is about to release his new album, and right after that, we plan to make a tour all around the world. This might be one of the most important moments of his career, and we were planning to make a documentary out of it. That's the part where we'd like to collaborate with your company."
"I see. Such an ambitious project, that is. I'm not sure someone did something similar to this in the past, to be honest."
"We know. However, your company has plenty of experience in the industry, and, with Shi QingXuan's help, we believe we can make this work out."
"Now that you mentioned, I'm actually curious for your special request for Shi QingXuan to be a part of this project specifically. May I ask why?" asked warily.
"Of course." said Mu Qing. "As you might've already noticed, Ming Yi is not an extroverted nor outgoing person, given his personality, we believe it might be hard for him to engage with his fans and the general public all by himself. As such, after considering our options, we believe Shi QingXuan would be a good fit for our team. He has a charming and outgoing personality, someone easy to get along with. We believe he would be a good complement with Ming Yi."
"Well, you're right about that. QingXuan has indeed a nice personality, and I'm sure the two of you could work well together. However, from what I understand, you intend to take him with you in this tour, am I wrong? How long would that take?"
"Yes. We'd like to take him with us during the tour. We know it's not a decision easy to take, that's why we wanted him to be present in this meeting to begin with."
"Again, I deeply apologize for the troubles caused. As long as you're willing to share this information with me, I'll make sure to pass it on to my brother."
Mu Qing took out some paperwork out of his file and passed it out to Shi Wu Du.
"Here's a copy of the schedule we planned for the next six months, you two are free to review it and see if you are willing to collaborate with us in this project."
"Alright then. I'll let you know as soon as we make a decision", said as he grabbed the document offered to him.
The three of them continued to discuss some details about the collaboration and how much would be the cost for it. Finally, the meeting ended almost an hour later.
"So, what do you think?" asked Mu Qing to his partner once they got out of the office.
"It's still too early to say. Let's wait to see what QingXuan has to say about our offer."
"I don't know what to expect, to be honest. He wasn't even present in the meeting, can we truly expect him to take this offer seriously?"
"Something must've come up. It's still to early to judge."
"Mh. If you say so..."
_______________________________
Hua Cheng took a last glance to his reflection on the mirror before finally going out of his house.
Getting himself ready to see Xie Lian for the very first time after all those years had took way more time than he had expected.
From a haircut to a change of makeup, reaching an agreement with Yin Yu had been truly a nightmare.
"You're not thinking about going out with your hair loose like that, are you?"
"You've made way too many public appearances with that couple of earrings, there's no way you're going with them to your date!"
"Are you trying to get yourself caught by the cameras?! People is gonna know it's you at first glance!"
Finally, after changing clothes and accessories for hours, they had finally reached an agreement.
He still had to wear a mask and some glasses, but at least he was able to keep some of his jewelry.
"Alright, we're here. Ready to meet your beloved one?" asked Yin Yu as he parked the car near the cafeteria.
"I..."
He had dreamed about this day for years. He had imagined the moment he met Xie Lian once again a thousand times already, had thought about all the things he could say and do to gain his trust and appreciation, but now that the time had finally come, he didn't know what to do.
Years of preparation had vanished in less than a second, and the anxiety was growing stronger by the second.
"Hey, are you alright?" asked Yin Yu again, probably noticing something was wrong.
"Is this... A good idea?" asked Hua Cheng. "What if he recognizes me? What if he thinks I'm weird and gets creep out? What if... He doesn't want to see me?"
"First of all, I actually doubt he'll recognize you. There's been so many years since the last time the two of you saw each other, and you've change a lot since then. He looks like a good person too, I don't think he'd be mean to you, even if he managed to recognize you."
Hua Cheng didn't look convinced.
"Look. Ever since the day I've met you, you've never stopped talking about how much you loved him and how much you wished you could see him again, and now, you finally have the chance. There's no way to know how will it go, but you can't give up without even trying! I assure you, you'll never forgive yourself if you let this chance go, and neither will I. All those years listening to your rant about him have to be worth something."
Hua Cheng let out a sigh, trying to calm himself down.
"Guess you're right about that. At the very least I should try to meet him once."
"Now you're talking. Come on, there're few people inside right now, this is your chance."
"Alright... Wish me luck", he said as he opened the door and got out of the car.
"Like you ever needed it in the first place. You got this."
Finally, Hua Cheng got out of the car and let out another sigh before walking towards the little cafeteria in front of him. This was it, this was the moment he had been waiting for so long, and he would make sure to do it right.
As Yin Yu had said, there was not a lot of people inside the coffee shop. Aside from a couple of students focused on their work project, the place was empty.
Looking around, he decided for a table away from the few people inside. Quietly, he sat there and waited, trying to prepare himself for what was about to come.
However, before he could calm down his nerves, the sight from his beloved one left him out of breath.
There he was. The person he had been waiting all along, standing in front of him, just a few steps away from where he was.
Right behind the desk, he could see him talking with a coworker of his. He was dressed in white clothes, according to the uniform within the cafeteria, using a white mask that covered half of his face, only letting his eyes be seen.
As expected, his figure was quite different from the one in his memories. His hair was shorter than before, his figure thinner than he remembered, and most importantly, the look on his eyes had changed too.
As he looked at his coworker, he could see the same kindness he had all those years ago, but along with it, a sour note was added to them.
Once upon a time, those eyes were filled with excitement, hope, and confidence. Back then, he had the attitude of a prince, ready to weave his name into the world. It was this determination on him that had inspired him to try something better for himself.
However, that confidence had vanished from his eyes, leaving behind a tired look on them, an undeniable proof of all the hardships he must've endured through all those years apart.
Suddenly, his coworker noticed him staring at them and called the attention of Xie Lian, pointing in his direction.
Then, for the first time in years, their eyes met once again.
Taken aback, he quickly looked away, already feeling his heart rate going faster. Thankfully, his mask was able to save him, allowing the blush on his face to go unnoticed.
"My apologies for the delay sir. I'll be sure to pay more attention next time." He apologized with a quick reverence.
"There's no need for that." He hurried to stop him.
"I appreciate your patience sir. Would you like to see our menu?" asked as he offered the card.
"Actually, I would like it more if you could recommend me something instead, as this is my first time here."
"Oh, I see. In that case, maybe you could try the red bean buns? Those are one of the most popular products between our clients."
"What about you though? Are those your favorites too?" asked, tilting his head to the side, curious.
"Me?" asked in return, surprised by the sudden interest in his person. "Well... I personally like Yuanxiao, though it can be a little too sweet for some people."
"I like sweets. Guess I'll give it a try."
"Alright. Would you like a cup of tea to accompany them, perhaps?"
"Sure. A black tea would be nice."
"Perfect. I'll make sure to bring them quickly this time."
As he walked away, Hua Cheng stared at his back, still finding it hard to believe. The sound of his voice still... Unreal.
For a long time, he had tried his hardest not to lose the memory of his voice and face, and finally, after eight years apart, he was finally hearing it again, speaking to him, seeing his eyes one more time.
He could only hope his interactions were as natural as possible, and could have the chance to grow closer to him.
_________________________________
"Are you done staring at the client?"
"¡!"
Surprised by the sudden interruption, Xie Lian quickly looked back at Ling Wen, who was staring at him with a weird glance.
"I-I... I was just lost in thought." He tried to justify himself as he looked away, guilty.
"Come on, you've been watching over his table this whole time. Is there something wrong about him?"
"What? No!"
"Then what is it?"
"I... I'm afraid I don't know either. I just have a weird feeling about him..."
"You think he's a weirdo? Should I take care of him?"
"No! God no. It's not like that. It's just... I really don't know how to describe it."
"You like him then?"
"What? No! It's just... Nothing. I'm just tired, so it's probably nothing."
"If you needed more time to rest you could've told me so." Said, a worried expression drawn in her face.
"No, it's fine. I think it's better if I keep my mind occupied, to be honest."
"If you say so..." said, without looking convinced. "Here, his order is ready, could you bring it to him?"
"Oh, sure."
As he took the order, he tried to get rid of this strange feeling he had about the new client.
Somehow, he kind of reminded him of something or someone, but couldn't tell what it was.
After the video of his performance had been posted on the internet and the possibility of Jun Wu finding him again came back to him, he had been thinking a lot about the past.
Over the years after his parents death, he had lost contact with a lot of people.
After the accident, Jun Wu took care of him and became his legal guardian from then on. At first, he had acted like a loving and compassionate parental figure, who only cared about his well-being. However, as time went on, his attitude had changed, and before he noticed, Jun Wu had become someone completely different.
Because of him, he was not able to keep in contact with a lot of people he used to be close with, like his best friends from back then, Feng Xin and Mu Qing.
Apparently, QingXuan had found Feng Xin on the streets the other day. He said he was looking for him and even offered his number, but he still didn't know what to say nor how to act around him anymore, so even though he saved the number, he had not dare to send any messages just yet.
However, there was someone else he had been thinking about lately. A kid he used to teach how to play the guitar when his parents were still alive.
Hong-er... He really liked that kid back then. He was so determined to learn, he would practice for hours until he got it right, such an amazing talent to be explored. Unfortunately, as the time went on, he didn't have the chance to keep up with their lessons, and was eventually forced to leave him behind. After all these years, he could only hope he found the right path.
In an effort to get away from this memories, he had refused to get involved with music again. At least... Until he found Hua Cheng and actually became a fan of his music.
Shaking his head, he tried to get rid of those thoughts as he approached his table once more. This was not the time to think about these kind of things.
"Here's your order sir. I hope you enjoy it", said as he brought the dishes to the table.
"Thanks. I'm sure I will", said while taking off his mask.
Looking at him without it, the same feeling from before came back at him once more. His face was truly familiar, in a way, he reminded him of...
"Is there a problem?" asked the client hesitantly after a while.
Taken aback, he took a step back, realizing what he had done. God, he had been staring at him again, hadn't he? How embarrassing.
"Sorry! I was just... Thinking of something else. Just.. Let me know if you need anything else."
"Of course."
Not being able to face him any longer, he quickly looked away and went to clean another table.
He had to put himself back together. He couldn't just stare at the clients like that. Oh god, what must he think of him now? If this was his first time at the coffee, he probably won't dare to come back any time soon.
__________________________________
"Sorry! Did I make you wait for a long time?"
"No, it's okay. You arrived just in time, there's no need to apologize."
"As patient as always, I see. It's nice to see you again ma'am."
"Come on. We've met each other for some time now. There's no need for formalities."
"You're right. It's just been quite a long time since the last time we saw each other. I trust you've been doing well?"
"Yeah. I must say, my retirement from stage have been going quite well. My days are more peaceful now, and I finally have the time to take good care of my plants and companions."
"Oh, right. I've heard you've adopted a few strays lately. How are they doing?"
"They're doing well too. What about you though? Are you still living with Jun Wu?"
"I... Yes, I still am."
"Mhh. I see. How has the situation been going on?"
"It's... Fine. He's been making some progress lately. The new therapist has been helping a lot."
"It's been a long time since I last saw him. I wonder if he'll ever get back to the person he used to be."
Mei Nianqing sighed at the memory, feeling down.
"I don't know either. Guess we can only hope and see what happens."
Mei Nianqing made a brief pause, taking a deep breath before continuing.
"Actually... I wanted to talk to you about something regarding this subject."
"Mh? What is it?"
"About the video you posted last week..."
"It was Xie Lian, wasn't he?"
"... You knew?"
"Well... When I recorded the video, I wasn't sure about it. However, after you asked me to meet up with you completely out of the blue, I started to suspect even further. Now that you mentioned it, I'm almost certain he's the reason you called me to meet you today, am I wrong?"
Hearing her answer, Mei Nianqing could only sigh in resignation.
"As perceptive as always, I see."
"It's okay though. I'm willing to talk with you about the matter. However, before I answer any questions you might have, I'd like to know, does Jun Wu saw the video?"
"No, he didn't. I made sure of it."
"How?"
"Well..." Ashamed, he looked away as he admitted the truth. "I took his phone and blocked your account on his behalf."
"I see... You think he would lost it if he saw him again?"
"I don't know but... He's been making progress lately. He's finally coming to terms with the accident and is starting to understand his wrongdoings. I can't risk it, not now."
"I understand. However... Don't you think he'll realize what you did, eventually?"
"I know... But I still have time to prepare for it. Could you tell me, where did you record the video?"
"Why do you need to know? Are you looking for him?"
"Yes."
"... Why? It's been years since he left, right?"
"I know... I let way too much time pass without doing anything for him. It's been eating me alive, I need to do something about it.
"Back then, I failed to protect him from Jun Wu. I was supposed to help the both of them, but at the end, they both ended up breaking apart.
"After he ran away from home, Jun Wu lost it completely. He was a mess, and I couldn't find Xie Lian while dealing with Jun Wu's breakdown at the same time. I just couldn't. Once he was finally stable I tried to look out for him but it was already too late. I couldn't find any traces about his whereabouts, at least... Until I saw the video.
"You saw him with your own eyes. Could you tell me how he was? Was he alright? Did he looked healthy?"
Yushi Huang took a breath before speaking.
"I only saw him from afar, so I can't tell for sure, but he seemed to be doing alright. He was with a friend next to him, a cheerful person to be around. They seemed to get along just fine. Even if he looked quite nervous at the beginning, his friend was there to support him."
Mei Nianqing sighed, relieved.
"That's good to hear, at least. Could you tell me the name of the cafeteria, please? If there's anything else you heard from him I would really appreciate it too."
"The cafeteria is called Chords & Coffee. That's all I know about this matter. I'm not sure you'll be able to find him there though. He hasn't come back since the day I posted the video."
"I see... But I need to try either way. Thanks for your help in all of this, I really appreciate it."
"It's okay. Just make sure to be careful about this. It would be bad if Jun Wu finds out about this and thinks you betrayed him."
"... I know. I just hope I have enough time before he notices..."