Work Text:
"Hi, could I get another cup of coffee, please?"
Lu Guang looks at the hand waving him over, then looks at the empty tray he's carrying. His gaze then wanders to the stranger the waving hand belongs to. He's looking back at Lu Guang expectantly.
"Or not," the stranger says, frowing in confusion when Lu Guang doesn't say anything.
Lu Guang is the one confused here. Does he look like－
He turns around again to look at the barista at the register. Ah. Maybe he does look a bit like he's working here with his beige clothes, carrying an empty tray in the direction of the kitchen and all that. (It's not his fault that's where the empty trays go! Or that he looks good in beige!)
"Sure," Lu Guang says because apparently he is an idiot and maybe because the stranger is incredibly good looking and Lu Guang is not immune to that. He is a simple man, okay. "What can I can you?"
"What do you recommend?"
"Coffee," Lu Guang replies drily and the stranger laughs at that which makes Lu Guang smile in return.
"I'll take whatever you're having."
"So you do know I don't work here,” Lu Guang points out and the other shrugs.
“Kinda figured when you looked like a deer caught in headlights,” he says, “I'm Cheng Xiaoshi.”
“Lu Guang,” he simply says and takes a couple of steps to get closer to Cheng Xiaoshi. “Give me your mug, then.”
Cheng Xiaoshi places his empty mug on the tray and Lu Guang wordlessly leaves to exchange their empty mugs for fresh coffee.
This is stupid. He had been about to leave, he can't believe he's staying back just because some Pretty Boy smiled at him. He feels ridiculous.
It only gets worse when he places their order – one black coffee and one taro latte with too much sugar and cream because Cheng Xiaoshi looks like he'd enjoy that – and the barista just looks at him knowingly. The café is pretty empty, of course she saw.
Lu Guang doesn't get embarrassed easily, he really doesn't, but right now he sort of wishes the floor would just open up and swallow him.
He waits for their order to be done, checking his phone's weather app and looking at cat pictures because he doesn't know what else to do and wants to avoid looking at Cheng Xiaoshi at all costs.
“Enjoy your date,“ the barista says as she hands him the drinks and he just presses his lips together.
When he walks back Cheng Xiaoshi's eyes are on him the whole time.
“Your Taro Latte,“ Lu Guang says and places the drink on the table in front of him before sitting in the empty seat. “We can swap if you don't like it.“
“No, it's good,“ Cheng Xiaoshi says before he even tries it. “Thanks.“
They sit in silence for a while, both occasionally sipping their respective drinks.
“So,“ Cheng Xiaoshi says after a while, clearing his throat, “This is awkward, right?“
Lu Guang actually has to laugh at that because, yes, it clearly is awkward but who just says that?
“It is,“ Lu Guang agrees.
“I didn't expect you to sit down with me.“
“Should I have left after bringing you your drink,“ Lu Guang asks and this time it's Cheng Xiaoshi who has to laugh.
“No, I'm glad you decided to join me,“ Cheng Xiaoshi says, “I just don't do this usually.“
He doesn't specify what this is but he doesn't have to. Lu Guang doesn't exactly buy strangers for coffee either. He might be kind of glad he did, though.
“What? You normally don't just bat your eyelashes at strangers so they invite you to coffee?“
“I did not bat my eyelashes,“ Cheng Xiaoshi protests.
He leans back in his seat and grins at Lu Guang and Lu Guang feels himself beginning to relax, too.
“What about you? You buy coffee for everyone who bats their eyelashes at you?“
“Just the pretty ones,“ Lu Guang says and mentally pats himself on the shoulder. So smooth.
Cheng Xiaoshi seems to agree because his eyes get comically big and Lu Guang watches his cheeks turn slightly pink.
“I think we'd look even better together,“ Cheng Xiaoshi says and Lu Guang almost gags. His face must be showing something because Cheng Xiaoshi adds, “Yeah, I wish I hadn't said that.“
“I've heard worse.”
“Have you?”
"Not really,” Lu Guang admits, “Just trying to make you feel better about sounding like an idiot in front of me.”
“Aw, that’s sweet. You looked pretty stupid yourself, jumping at the first chance to buy me coffee just because you think I'm pretty.”
Lu Guang can't even say anything to that. He just glares at Cheng Xiaoshi who looks back at him all smug. It's a good look on him, unfortunately. Lu Guang fears everything might be a good look on him.
He downs the rest of his coffee that's gone lukewarm by now and sighs as he silently accepts the fact that he'd really like to spend more time with this pretty idiot and get to know him better.
As it turns out, Cheng Xiaoshi feels the same because not even 5 minutes after they part ways Lu Guang already has a message asking him for another date.