Chapter Text
SuoWei woke up to the cold. He whined as he searched for the warmth he had been accustomed to. Despite his blind search for his boyfriend's body he found nothing. A frown settled onto his face, sleep muddling his thoughts, but eventually he came to a conclusion. Chi Cheng had gone to work early. It happened sometimes, whenever the older thought they needed more time for each other in the evenings.
With this in mind, his frown smoothed and he snuggled his face more into his pillow. Taking a deep breath he was about to settle back into the darkness when it hit him. His pillow smelled distinctively of him—it lacked all traces of Chi Cheng's unique smell. He blinked, an unsettled feeling crawling up his spine. The sun's rays were barely beginning to cast into the room, but it offered enough light for SuoWei to widen his eyes.
As the wheels turned in his head he scrambled into a sitting position. All of his sleep drained from his body as he looked to his right and found that he wasn't laying on their bed. He was atop his childhood home's bed. The small, quaint home still rested in the small village he came from, but they rarely spent the night.
Had SuoWei missed his mother that much?
But then, why wasn't he asleep in her bed?
He shut his eyes harshly as he took a deep breath. It was a dream. It had to be.
He turned the lamplight next to his bed and searched for his phone. He spotted one, but he clicked his tongue as he recognized it as the one he had purchased towards the end of high school. He had survived those years without one, well, most of the kids did, but he had chosen to buy one for when he studied in the city.
Okay, so his dream was about his college years.
Therefore, a nightmare.
Holding his phone to his chest, he laid on his back and watched as the shadows in his room receded to make room for the sunlight. Eventually, his lamplight was indistinguishable in the now yellow-bathed room. It was then that his ears perked up at the sound of rummaging. His heartbeat picked up and his hands began to sweat. Because if he was having a dream of when he was 18 that meant—
Without knowing how, he stood at the end of the hallway as it led into his old home's dining and living room. A hand found a wall for purchase as he turned. His breath hitched as his eyes fell on a figure he never thought he would ever see again.
His mother looked younger, healthier even. She hummed under her breath as she began to pour rice into boiling water. He watched, ravenously, over every move she made. She stirred gently to coat every rice grain. The boil had subsided when she poured the rice in, but it was coming back so she lowered the heat and covered the pot with a lid. Satisfied, she reached for the scallions and ginger to begin chopping them.
It was then that his stomach grumbled and she snapped her head over to him. She smiled widely and waved him over. "Morning, DaQiong."
He blinked, her voice sounding vaguely foreign to him. It was lighter than he remembered. He stood frozen, unable to comprehend how in his dream he could recreate his mother so perfectly, but when he tried to remember minute details when awake his brain failed him.
She teased him with a sigh. "Still sleepy, hmm?"
Dumbly, he nodded.
She gestured at their modest, round table. "It'll take a while for the consistency you like, so eat a loquat while you wait."
He sat, munching on his loquat. The flavor barely registered on his tongue as he continued to observe his mom. Time passed by quickly and soon enough, she was spooning congee onto their respective bowls. He offered to help but with a firm look he sat back down. She set their bowls down and he stared at his. Steam rose from his bowl, the scent of warm, cooked rice warming his sinuses.
Silently, he dipped his spoon in for a perfect bite. As soon as the congee touched his tongue, tears gathered on his lash line and streamed down his face.
His mom startled at his mood shift. "DaQiong! What's wrong?"
His heart broke all over again as memories of his mother flooded him. He missed her so much. Chi Cheng had been a huge help in his grief. XiaoShuai and Cheng Yu as well, but days like these always kicked him to the ground. He wasn't sure when they will subside, if ever. He wasn't sure if he wanted them to. Even if they hurt and broke him open again and again, it meant that her memory will live. His mother was still with him even if her breaths no longer grazed this earth.
So, his tears subsided and he reassured his dream mom. He'll enjoy this liminal time with his mother, keep it close to his heart, and hope for there to be a next time,
He went to sleep in his dream after a day dedicated to his mother and felt a mixture of relief— he'll see his boyfriend again—and melancholy, though he now planned to visit his mother's grave to spend some actual time together. He closed his eyes and slept.
When he felt the heat of the rays coaxing him from sleep he smiled softly expecting a body next to him. As he searched for it, he found nothing and his eyes flew open. Still facing his childhood bedroom, he began to panic.
Was he still dreaming?
It couldn't be.
"DaQiong!" called his mother.
He froze and rushed to the bathroom after picking up his phone. He hadn't used it much the day before believing he was in a dream, but now… things were different. He checked WeChat first and a pit opened in his stomach as his contact list lacked all the important people in his life: his best friend, his boyfriend, and an older brother figure.
With shaky hands he clicked onto Weibo and searched them up. All their recent posts should have SuoWei included, they had just celebrated his birthday, but there was no trace of him in their lives. His screen went black, the battery signal blinked up at his stunned reflection.
He had no true concrete evidence except for his own apparent memories, but somehow SuoWei had traveled back in time.
With this newfound revelation he sobbed into his bedsheets as he tried to deal with several conflicting emotions the prime being the rush of his mother being alive. He hugged her tightly after breakfast before excusing himself to his room and decided that he had to do something about his situation. As smart as he was, SuoWei was no quantum physics expert nor did he know any, so he settled for the next big thing—replicating his future right here and right now.
When he checked his phone he noticed he didn't have the phone numbers for Chi Cheng, XiaoShuai or Cheng Yu which made sense, but still made him let out a frustrated sigh. He even tugged at his hair for not having them memorized. But he's wasn't so easily defeated. He went to the next best thing—social media. First, he searched up XiaoShuai again, grateful that his best friend had never changed his handle. For a moment, he smiled freely as he looked over his shifu's posts during university life. He had always wondered what his life would've been if he had met XiaoShuai earlier and now he was getting a chance.
His smile faltered as he realized that his best friend's posts diminished significantly toward the end of the school year. He rolled on the bed as he thought things over. It seemed XiaoShuai had posted two years of his Peking University life but they had a four year age gap during their timeline.
He hummed to himself, it seemed as if traveling back in time changed some things up. Sighing, he recalled that the Meng Tao situation happened towards the end of XiaoShuai's sophomore year which coincided with his diminished online presence. And after looking at some of the comments under the posts XiaoShuai had he knew he guessed correctly. They were spewing bullshit and harassing him, so SuoWei reported the malicious comments hoping they'll be taken down.
SuoWei wasn't too happy his shifu had to experience that, so he concluded that his first mode of action will be to seek his best friend out. With that set, he then looked up Chi Cheng's profile again. He hadn't really taken a close look earlier—he had only glimpsed a photo of him and Cheng Yu—but his heart palpitated as he knew who else he would see. And sure enough, a few photos down was one with Wang Shuo on Chi Cheng's lap.
He sucked in a breath and tried to not let it get to him. He and Chi Cheng were happy, they had successfully gotten over the Wang Shuo thing, he could do this. He blinked back tears as he scoured the rest of his posts, ignoring the few pictures that popped up with him. He realized that his boyfriend will be entering his senior year, the same year Wang Shuo went through with his scheme.
It was currently July 9th, 2016—just three days after SuoWei's birthday. Freshly eighteen. He had about two months for the semester to start in September for him to secure his man. Did he have to start his university life with a boyfriend? Absolutely. Was his time limited compared to how long he and Chi Cheng danced around each other? Sure, but SuoWei was confident he could secure his man once again.
He might've not been Chi Cheng's first, but he would be his last—in his original timeline and in this new one as well. He loved Chi Cheng and he knew Chi Cheng loved him too, so what if he spedrun their relationship?
It had taken some convincing for his mom to concede, but soon enough SuoWei was on the bus headed towards Peking University's Health Science Center. He had looked at their website for any summer research and sure enough there were many. He managed to figure out which one XiaoShuai was on and packed a backpack with essentials: water, snacks, and sunscreen.
Soon enough, he bounded off the bus and stared wide-eyed at the campus before him. It was bigger than his own and he braced himself for the walking he was about to do. He was glad that the sun had not fully risen yet, so the weather was still pleasantly warm rather than uncomfortably hot. With determination he made his way further onto the campus.
It did take him a while to find the department indicated on the website, but once he did, he got comfortable on a nearby study space. He wasn't sure when XiaoShuai would finish, but he assumed his friend would have to eat at some point. While he waited he went back to Chi Cheng's Weibo and saved the few solo pictures he posted. He had never seen these and his stomach fluttered at seeing a younger version of his boyfriend.
He still looked cold to outsiders, but SuoWei knew well enough the tilt of his mouth, the curve of his cheeks, and the glint in his eyes. He looked the same way he did when SuoWei had slipped into their bed—content and happy. Wang Shuo had ruined that for his Chi-ge and SuoWei was determined to not let it happen this time.
He snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of snickers as a group of students exited the department XiaoShuai was in. With their phones in hand, they huddled over them as they whispered loudly. He got closer, making it seem he wanted to refill his water bottle at the nearby water fountain, and frowned at what he heard.
"I can't believe they let him do summer research!" one dude in glasses said with a frown.
A girl in a ponytail responded, "Exactly! Especially since there's photo evidence."
Another girl chimed in. "I just never expected him to be so—"
"Slutty?" finished the other boy of the group.
She nodded. "But I guess looks can be deceiving."
"He definitely looks like—" The door opened and XiaoShuai stepped out. "—a whore."
SuoWei watched as his best friend stopped in his tracks, the group in front of him not bothering to feign embarrassment or shame. They kept staring at him and eventually he looked away. The look in his eyes was something SuoWei had never seen before, even when XiaoShuai told him about his past, his eyes didn't hold the hollowness he glimpsed now.
With frustration settling in him he took a few steps and "accidentally" tripped on his feet. The cap on his water bottle was loose, so it managed to soak the group. They shouted in shock, sputtering about their now wet clothes. SuoWei smiled in mock apology as he said, "Oh, at least wet clothes can be dried. Gossip, on the other hand… lingers."
Two of them looked away, red staining their faces in shame at being caught while the other two clenched their jaws in irritation. SuoWei glanced over at his best friend and noticed that XiaoShuai wore a look of confusion. He picked up his water bottle, capping the now empty vessel, and walked to his side, slinging an arm around his shoulders.
"Come, ge. Lunch's on me."
He smiled as he gently steered XiaoShuai over to where he left his bookbag, leaving behind the seething group of no-good gossips. His best friend had tensed at his touch. so SuoWei let go as to not worsen things for him. As he gathered his stuff he was aware of his best friend's gaze on him.
XiaoShuai finally spoke, "Do-do you want something?"
He shook his head. "Just wanted to help."
He cocked his head. "But you don't know me."
SuoWei fought the urge to shout yes, I do. Instead, he asked, "Does it matter?"
XiaoShuai blinked at him, the response taking time to sink in. SuoWei saw the twitch of his lips and mentally cheered, he almost made his best friend smile.
"Careful, my reputation might just stain yours," he joked, but SuoWei heard the slight seriousness in XiaoShuai's voice.
He shrugged, his smile never wavering. "Don't care."
XiaoShuai narrowed his eyes as if deciphering if the younger was messing with him or being sincere. Or maybe, he wouldn't allow himself to believe in sincerity. In either case, SuoWei didn't want to push him too much in case XiaoShuai fled.
He said, "Oh and I wasn't kidding about the meal, but I can't today, so let's exchange numbers to figure that out, yeah?"
XiaoShuai relaxed and gave a short nod. SuoWei took out his phone and extended it towards the other. His best friend typed his phone number in and SuoWei giddily saved it as "shifu" just as the universe intended.
He gave him a wave. "See you around, ge!"
XiaoShuai belatedly raised his hand up to return the wave and SuoWei giggled at how cluelessness made his best friend look so cute.
And true to his word, SuoWei returned the next day. He waited by the doors with a smile on his face. Again, the first to exit where the no-good gossips. They narrowed their eyes at him but kept their mouths shut as they walked away. Soon, XiaoShuai walked out and he adjusted his glasses when he spotted SuoWei. He waved his boba-occupied hands as the older one approached him.
"You were serious when you texted me earlier." Surprise seeped into his best friend's voice.
He nodded. "Yup, here!" He handed him his bubble drink.
His friend took it and raised an eyebrow. "Peach oolong with tapioca? This is my go-to order!"
"Really? Lucky guess."
"It's my favorite." XiaoShuai smiled softly.
It barely reached his eyes, but it was enough for SuoWei's heart to soar. He also resisted the urge, once again, to declare that yes, he knew what XiaoShuai liked and disliked. He raised his own bubble tea—mango milk tea with tapioca—and they clinked them together.
After a sip, XiaoShuai sighed with no real heat behind it. "You really wanna be my friend, huh?"
SuoWei nodded, smile bright as he took a generous sip of his drink.
XiaoShuai's eyes zeroed in on the back of his hand. He pointed at it, asking, "How'd you get that?"
He looked at it, purposefully widening his eyes and hastily moving it out of the other's line of vision. They were nail indents he had inflicted on himself the night before. He let out a mock nervous giggle. "It's nothing."
"Was it that group?"
He shook his head.
XiaoShuai raised an eyebrow. "Then did these scratches appear magically?"
SuoWei gave him a shrug and a lopsided smile. "They'll fade. I'm fine."
He closed his eyes for a moment and eventually nodded. "All right, lunch is on me."
SuoWei let out a noise of excitement and fell into step with XiaoShuai. He wanted to sling his arm around his best friend, but he wanted to be mindful of his boundaries. Instead, there was a bounce to every step he took.
"By the way, I don't know your name," XiaoShuai commented.
SuoWei huffed out a laugh. In all his scheming he forgot the most important thing—introducing himself. He gave XiaoShuai a wink as he said, "Wu SuoWei."
His friend tried stiffing a laugh at his name, but failed. The smile on his lips looked pretty. With more brightness, he said, "All right. DaWei, I'm XiaoShuai."
And his best friend was secured once again.
Having secured both lunch dates and study sessions with his best friend, SuoWei began the next phase of his plan: seducing Chi Cheng.
He knew his boyfriend attended Tsinghua University School of Economics, so he made his way over to the campus. Surprisingly, this campus was not that far from XiaoShuai's university which worked perfectly in his favor. He made a quick prayer to the heavens for facilitating his seduction plan.
Once on campus he listened to the students staying over the summer and jotted down popular nightlife spots. He cross-referenced with the internet, getting rid of any extremely heterosexual clubs. He also tried to draw from memory the names of the clubs his boyfriend and Cheng Yu would mention visiting during their university days. He looked down at his notes and nodded to himself in satisfaction.
His night would be eventful.
Earlier in the day, he had discreetly mentioned to XiaoShuai how he was interested in nightlife. As he was an incoming freshman he wanted to make sure he sort of knew what the scene had to offer, so he wouldn't be blindsided once the school year began.
"I get it, but text me when you get home," his friend had said.
"Yeah, when I get to the motel I'll—"
"Motel?" XiaoShuai took his hand into his as his eyes widened. "Yo-you want to have sex with someone on your first night?"
SuoWei gaped at him before chuckling. "I'm not from the city and I don't want to worry my mom, that's all."
His friend's worry eased slightly, but did not let go of SuoWei's hand—he didn't mind. "Where are you going?"
"Snake Crown, The Sleeve, and I was also looking at Hua—"
"You're gay?" XiaoShuai blurted out.
"Bisexual, so you're half right," he joked.
XiaoShuai patted his hand, a sudden serious look overtaking his face. "And have you ever been with another man?"
SuoWei feigned flusteredness as he responded, "No, my experience with men is nonexistent."
From the corner of his eye he saw a mischievous glint in XiaoShuai's eyes. "I'll be your guide, baby gay."
SuoWei snapped his head back and thrummed in his seat with joy. "Really? That means you're my shifu now."
His friend's lips quirked into a small grin. "Exactly."
So now, he stood in XiaoShuai's apartment, in a small spare bedroom, as he looked over his outfit choices. In this moment he really didn't have much, but he was slowly forming an idea. He slipped on the jeans he had worn during most of high school and gave himself a once over in the mirror. He grinned at his reflection—the jeans were tight enough to accentuate his ass, but not suffocate him.
Humming to the music playing from his phone he surveyed his tops and frowned as none seemed to interest him. There was a knock that pulled him from his thoughts and he cheerily welcomed XiaoShuai in.
His friend whistled. "Oh, you have a nice ass."
"Thank you." He flushed slightly.
XiaoShuai walked over to where he laid the tops on the bed and surveyed them with a look of the upmost concentration. He arched an eyebrow. "Is this all you have?"
He pouted. "Well, I'm no millionaire."
"Money can't buy style, DaWei." XiaoShuai waved him off before pulling him out of the room, his hand on SuoWei's wrist firm but gentle, until they reached his bedroom. He let go of SuoWei before sitting him down on his vanity chair before riffling through his closet. "A-ha!"
Oh, SuoWei knew that glint well—the one of half excitement, half teasing—as XiaoShuai approached him with a shirt in hand. He chuckled. "What's that, shifu?"
"Something that'll definitely turn heads."
And his best friend was right. As soon as he walked into the bars on his list he felt eyes roam all over his body. The shirt was a deep red, pairing well with the jeans and his shoes, the cut loose enough to tease his collarbones. Not too flashy, not too plain—good.
It was his third club of the night, the other ones he had deemed a bust. He had ordered a drink at each one as to not stand out, but hadn't really drank much of them. He kept his ears open for any talk about the trio he was looking for. He knew that specifically, Chi Cheng and Cheng Yu, had reputations, so he hoped the rumors and whispers on them would lead him to them.
He had chased a few trails, but they seemed to have no true substance once he got closer. With a heavy heart, he stepped into the last club of the night—The Red Diamond—and prepared himself for more disappointment. This time instead of a drink he ordered two shots of vodka to keep him awake for a little longer. He settled into a corner aware of the looks thrown his way, but he ignored them.
The music was loud but not overly so which he appreciated. He stood there for a moment deciding whether he should go home and try again tomorrow. Maybe Fridays weren't their thing and he'll have more luck tomorrow on a Saturday. But as he was debating that he caught some movement on the other side of the club. There were quite a few people on the dance floor, but even through the sea of bodies he recognized Chi Cheng.
Of course, his boyfriend was wearing all-black. His hair was a little longer, some strands curling softly around his ears, and SuoWei had to resist the urge to run up to him and throw himself into the taller's arms. He clutched onto his empty shot glasses and wished he had another one as his eyes narrowed on Wang Shuo's arm linked through Chi Cheng's. He was dressed well as always, flamboyant and confident. It irked SuoWei then, it irked him now.
Across from them stood Cheng Yu with a half-grin as he glanced over at some twinks who seemingly kept shooting him looks. His style was the same, but his hair a little on the longer side too. Of course, the best friends had to match one another.
Despite the jealousy coiling in his gut he observed, though he didn't stay in one spot as he did. It wouldn't work to stay put as he was sure they could track the weight of his gaze. He used the dance floor to his advantage as he studied their dynamics in real time as opposed to videos and pent-up confrontations. He knew their relationships with each other would be changed by the end of the academic year, but he wasn't sure when it would start. Which is why he was surprised by what he noticed.
Cheng Yu motioned discreetly at one of the guys in the group that had openly shown their interest in him. Chi Cheng shook his head. Cheng Yu pointed at another, so Chi Cheng deliberated for a moment before shaking his head again. Undeterred, Cheng Yu pointed at another one and this time Chi Cheng nodded. Cheng Yu, who had an unlit cigarette between his teeth, deposited it into Chi Cheng's mouth before making his way to the young man both of them had chosen.
Wang Shuo's face was tight during the whole ordeal, grip on Chi Cheng's arm tight. For a moment, SuoWei could sympathize with his feelings, but with the undeniable jealousy present he was sure that Wang Shuo's cogs were already turning. He continued to watch as Wang Shuo pulled Chi Cheng down to hiss something into his ear. The taller's face pinched in bewilderment and SuoWei managed to catch Wang Shuo mouthing, "I'm heading to the bathroom."
By this point, SuoWei had crossed the club through the dance floor and stood on the outer edges of it with enough bodies to still block him from their view. Chi Cheng watched Wang Shuo walk into the crowd and turned to the drink in his hand. He didn't take a sip, he just looked at the amber liquid, titling right and left every so often. SuoWei knew that habit—it meant his boyfriend felt overwhelmed and confused.
This was his chance.
With a deep breath and a racing heart he made his way over to where Chi Cheng stood. He avoided looking at him, but as soon as he was near enough SuoWei purposefully fucked his gait up and stumbled. His pounding heart overwhelmed his senses as his body lurched towards the ground, praying and hoping that they were truly connected.
And sure enough, strong arms wrapped around his middle, turning and steading him. He blinked as the face of his boyfriend came into view, face pinched in concern. His own hands clutched onto Chi Cheng's arms and he did his best to not sink into the warmth, the smell of his boyfriend that he had missed so damn much.
"Are you all right?" Chi Cheng asked him, arms still holding onto his middle.
SuoWei gave him a lopsided grin and nodded. "I'm okay now."
Chi Cheng didn't move; however, he did open and close his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but didn't know how. SuoWei, on the other hand, noted that time didn't stop. Not that it mattered much—the music could keep pounding, the bodies could keep swaying and jumping, and the alcohol could keep pouring—as what truly mattered was the way they held each other—tentative but curious and so utterly exhilarating.
Since the moment he had realized he had traveled to the past his self had been overwhelmed, but now in the safety of familiar arms SuoWei felt as if he could breathe again and his heart settled. The flashing lights of the club basked Chi Cheng in a multitude of colors, all vibrant across his well-sculpted face. His eyes searched SuoWei's face as if trying to recall where he knew him from. The younger widened his doe eyes knowing it was something the other fixated on.
Chi Cheng licked his lips. "Do I… know you?"
Yes, I'm your WeiWei.
Swallowing his bitterness, SuoWei shook his head.
The grip around his middle tightened. It sent a thrill down his spine at the hold, but he knew it wasn't the right time. With all the patience and will he could muster he stood upright and took a few steps back allowing Chi Cheng to easily remove his hands from his middle. Though not too far as to still be able to hear each other over the music.
He gave the other a sheepish smile. "Normally, m'not that clumsy."
Chi Cheng, who had somehow had time to set his drink down at a nearby cocktail table, reached for it now and took a sip as he nodded. He tilted his head. "You're new."
"Yeah, first night." SuoWei shrugged as he ran a hand through his hair. The movement allowed for his red shirt to lift, exposing his midriff and he definitely didn't miss how Chi Cheng's gaze lowered to take the sight in. Besides his well-defined abdomen, his boyfriend would have a a nice view of the top of his boxers in a deep navy—a nice contrast to his slightly tanned skin.
"Freshman, I'm guessing," Chi Cheng said, eyes back to his and glinting with curiosity.
"Just wanted to get to know the scene I guess." With excitement, he added, "As a personal birthday present."
The older arched an eyebrow, mouth slightly parted before asking, "And what's your take on it, so far?"
SuoWei was surprised at how easily Chi Cheng was trying to keep the conversation going. His boyfriend wasn't rude, but he tended to keep to himself around strangers, so this must mean he had wiggled his way into the older's interest. He gave him a bright smile that showed all his teeth, especially his front "bunny teeth". Once again, Chi Cheng's gaze landed on them and it set the younger's being alight—Yes, notice me, he thought.
"It's all right, more sweaty than I thought." He scrunched up his nose in distaste.
The older huffed out a laugh. "Yeah, not a favorite part of mine either."
"Is that why you stick to the shadows? Like a vampire?"
Chi Cheng huffed out another laugh. "Maybe." He then finished his drink and lifted it up for emphasis. "Let me get you a drink."
Butterflies erupted in his stomach, but he had to create plausible deniability for his plan to succeed. He shook his head. "It's ok, you didn't trip me. My own feet betrayed me."
"Think of it as a birthday present," said Chi Cheng with a small curl to his lips. "From an upperclassman."
"We might be going to different universities," he pointed out.
The older shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me. Does it to you?"
His breath caught in his throat. He managed to say, "No."
As Chi Cheng took a step forward to lead them to the bar, a hand clamped down onto his shoulder. A teasing voice with a slight edge said, "Who's your new friend Chi Cheng?"
To his surprise, it was Cheng Yu. His unoccupied hand held a glass of liquor as he leaned into Chi Cheng who playfully pushed him away. It stirred something within SuoWei to see his boyfriend behave so naturally, so playfully with his best friend. They had repaired a big part of their relationship, but it definitely looked different from what he was witnessing.
Chi Cheng cleared his throat. "Sorry, I didn't ask your name."
SuoWei waved him off. "Neither did I, no harm done." He looked at Cheng Yu, fluttering his eyelashes a little. He reached a hand out as he introduced himself. "I'm Wu SuoWei, and you are?"
Cheng Yu tilted his head in confusion before a grin spread across his face. He removed the hand on his best friend's shoulder and shook SuoWei's hand. The grip was firm, but gentle, and one could say it lasted a little longer than necessary.
His voice was even yet suave as he said, "Guo Cheng Yu."
From the corner of his eye he saw Chi Cheng's jaw twitch in annoyance and it filled him with a mix of joy and remorse, but it was a necessary aspect to his plan. They broke their handshake, gazes still fixed on one another.
It was Cheng Yu who broke the silence, asking, "You guys were headed to the bar?"
"Yup," he chirped. "A late birthday present apparently."
He arched a brow. "How old?"
"Eighteen." He feigned shyness, noticing how Cheng Yu licked his lips at SuoWei catching his bottom lip between his teeth.
"Ah," he said almost dazed. He finished his drink and set the empty glass besides Chi Cheng's. "I'll leave you guys to it then."
"You don't want to join?" SuoWei slightly pouted, painfully aware of Chi Cheng's gaze on him as he not so subtly displayed interest in his best friend.
Cheng Yu chuckled. "Maybe next time, Xiao Wei."
He nodded, slightly dejected and waved Cheng Yu goodbye as the other man quickly found his way back to the group of twinks from earlier. He noticed that Chi Cheng's own gaze followed Cheng Yu's back, so he cleared his throat. "So, bar, xuan zheng?"
The older's gaze flickered back over to him. "Chi Cheng is fine."
He smiled. "Are you going to get anything?"
Chi Cheng's hand twitched on his side before curling it into a slight fist. He said, "Maybe. Come, follow me."
Following Chi Cheng was mesmerizing—his tall frame paired with his confidence made the club goers part for him easily. He walked behind him at a reasonable distance until they reached the bar. SuoWei settled onto one of the bar stools and swung his feet. On the other hand, Chi Cheng leaned on the counter-top as he flagged down a bartender.
"So, what have you drank tonight?"
SuoWei hummed as if in thought. He counted on his fingers. "Two shots of vodka and a couple od sips of brandy and whiskey."
"Strangers'?" Chi Cheng raised an eyebrow as he fished out a cigarette. SuoWei wondered if it was the same one Cheng Yu had been mouthing on before.
SuoWei shook his head, warmth curling in his chest at the worry. "My own."
The older nodded and looked over at the bartender now in front of them. He lifted two fingers. "Bai jiu."
Immediately, the bartender got to work and soon there was a glass in each of their hands. SuoWei raised his glass a little. "Toast?"
Chi Cheng nodded. "To what?"
SuoWei tapped his chin before giving him a lopsided smirk. "Friendship?"
He saw the way Chi Cheng swallowed before the older lifted his glass. Voice a little gruffer, he said, "All right."
They made eye contact, electricity ignited between them, and neither looked away. But just as their glasses were going to make contact, an exasperated voice stopped them short.
"The bathroom line was so fucking long!" Wang Shuo whined as he wrapped his arms around Chi Cheng's middle, burying his face into the taller's neck. He continued, "And then my TA from fall semester saw me and wanted a chat. Ugh, he never got the hint that I don't like him." He then turned, eyes sharp, to SuoWei. "Who's this?"
SuoWei resisted the urge to glare. His glass that still hovered in the air—inches away from Chi Cheng's—shook a little before he lowered it to the countertop. With his other hand, he gave Wang Shuo a little wave, but said nothing.
Chi Cheng's face tightened for a moment before it settled into a more neutral expression as he lowered his own glass. "Wang Shuo, this is Wu SuoWei. SuoWei, this is my boyfriend, Wang Shuo."
Wang Shuo didn't seem satisfied. "You just met and you guys are already sharing a drink?"
The other's jealousy was apparent, feeding something ugly within SuoWei. He furrowed his eyebrows as if confused at the implication and even tilted his head for an added effect.
Chi Cheng sighed, wrapping an arm around the other's shoulders. "Just…" he tried to explain, but it seemed he didn't know how or… maybe he didn't want to.
Either way, SuoWei chimed in with, "He just helped me not bust my shit." He raised the glass to his lips and took a hearty sip, the liquor a welcome burn, before setting it back down and rising to his feet. "I'll be heading out now."
Wang Shuo cocked his head, asking in mock dejectedness, "So soon?"
"First time at a club, xue zhang." He shrugged. "Not used to it yet."
The other's pout twitched.
SuoWei paid it no mind and faced Chi Cheng. "Nice meeting you." He looked over his shoulder for a brief moment towards Cheng Yu. "Can you let him know I said good night?"
Chi Cheng's hold on Wang Shuo tightened somewhat as he nodded wordlessly.
It took more strength than he thought to part ways with Chi Cheng, but he was sure that a seed had settled inside the taller and soon he'll be by his side, right where he belonged.
SuoWei made sure to gush about Cheng Yu in the morning over breakfast with XiaoShuai. His best friend eagerly soaked up every detail of the night before.
"So you like him?" he asked after swallowing a bite of his fried dough stick.
SuoWei shrugged. "Maybe, but he was definitely busy with other guys."
"You can always try tonight again," his friend hummed.
He grinned. "I had thought of that."
XiaoShuai clicked his tongue playfully and pointed a fried dough stick at him. "Oh, I see your game."
"Shifuuu!"
"Nope, you can't hide it from me," he said with a wink.
They both giggled.
And sure enough, SuoWei went out that Saturday night too. This time it was much easier to figure out where the trio would be. He even arrived before them at the club from Friday as to not arouse suspicion. There was a vibe switch when the three walked in—not so subtle eyes marking their presence, following them to a private table again.
He couldn't act pushy nor desperate, so SuoWei would simply make sure he was seen. He chose a good angle on the dance floor, full but not overwhelmingly so with a clear view for the trio—for Chi Cheng. With a drink in hand, he batted his eyelashes at a few men and they approached him. Dancing with strangers had never been his thing, though he did absolutely love dancing his heart out, but for his friends and boyfriend, not at clubs. After a few minutes he soon got a hang of it.
It was a miracle on how the men didn't push for more, the dancing relatively innocent compared to the rest of the chaos happening, but it was enough. And it didn't take long for him to feel a heated gaze on him. He bit his lip to suppress his smile, the alcohol jumping in his veins as he turned his head to the side. The dude he was dancing with took the opportunity to mutter something in his ear. He didn't register what but it was the perfect cover for when his eyes met Chi Cheng's.
His boyfriend's eyes were narrowed, dark and jaw tight. He sat on a couch, a knee over a leg creating distance between him and Wang Shuo, who sat with a pout. SuoWei licked his lips and forced himself to look to Chi Cheng's right. There was a boy, a little older than SuoWei, on Cheng Yu's lap, but that wasn't an issue. As soon as SuoWei's eyes were on him, Cheng Yu stopped caressing the boy's face and met his gaze.
SuoWei smiled brightly as he continued to move his body along to the music, slightly held by the man he had entertained. Cheng Yu let out a laugh at the very green attempt of flirting and from the corner of his eye he witnessed a chain reaction—Chi Cheng breathed harshly as he stared a hole onto the side of his best friend's head, while Wang Shuo practically slammed his glass down and hissed something against Chi Cheng's ear.
Cackling internally, SuoWei broke eye contact with Cheng Yu and took the man who he'd be dancing with by the hand as to hide further in the crowd. He had no intention of entertaining the man further, so at some point his grip loosened on the taller and oops! He had lost him—nice.
He knew he had done his part for the night, so he exited the club without looking back. He didn't immediately hail a taxi, instead, he leaned against the club's facade and fished out a cigarette though he did not light it. He had no intention of smoking without his boyfriend by his side to share the rush of nicotine with.
He held the filter in his mouth for a moment, his ears buzzing from the music and did his best to shove down the feeling of loneliness. He knew that Chi Cheng had stepped into his web, but there were still a few more steps before he could have him. And while SuoWei was a schemer and things of that nature required patience, he was still a weak man when it came to love.
He finally hailed a taxi. As soon as he finished giving the driver XiaoShuai's address he almost balked at who walked out of the club. Cheng Yu searched the vicinity and something in SuoWei's gut told him to lower his window, so he did. Almost immediately, the older's eyes snapped to him and Cheng Yu grinned.
SuoWei, genuinely bewildered, brought a hand up and waved at him. Cheng Yu waved back and as the taxi drove away, the man watched until SuoWei disappeared into the night. It brought a sense of weirdness to the younger—the behavior slightly unexpected, but not welcomed. This just made his plan run much more smoothly.
On Sunday, SuoWei passed his interview at a cafe near XiaoShuai's campus and also acquired a shift for a small restaurant for most evenings, He had settled into his shifu's place for the unforeseen future, but he, of course, was raised right and paid his share. He worked his ass off during his high school summers, so he had enough to not fully rely on the med student. Plus, the minimum wage in the city was slightly higher which with his saving habits, made a great difference.
The jobs also quelled whatever anxieties arose during the silent moments. It kept at bay the thoughts or rather than knowledge that Chi Cheng was being kissed by somebody other than him, that Chi Cheng was fucking somebody else who wasn't SuoWei. He knew it was ridiculous, but he had always been slightly dramatic.
For the next two weeks, SuoWei kept his interactions with the trio at an indirect level. He took to appearing early on Thursdays, the crowd thinner but still filled with enough chaos as it was summer. The trio would walk in and spot him—at first they exchanged nods then a wave and smile. Wang Shuo was never fond off those interactions but the best friends he was with both greeted SuoWei, so he couldn't make much of a fuss as opposed to it being solely Chi Cheng.
These moments reminded SuoWei of the beginnings of his relationship with Chi Cheng—the basketball matches, the late night drives—it was thrilling, if he was honest.
Two weeks passed in a blur of work, hanging out with XiaoShuai while dropping exaggerated moments with Cheng Yu, and digging his claws further into the trio. On the coming Friday he decided to strike and dolled himself up a little more than usual—his shifu was a great help, happily dabbing his eyelids in subtle glitter.
This time he arrived later than usual, gaze avoidant once he pinpointed the trio's general direction. As he was no longer a new face he was greeted by a few club goers and took a seat at somebody's reserved table.
Eventually, he turned his head and his eyes met Chi Cheng's hungry gaze. SuoWei made sure to flutter his eyelashes slowly, so the lights could catch the glitter on his eyelids and he internally keened as Chi Cheng licked his lips. The younger stood from his seat, absentmindedly bidding those around him goodbye, and began to move towards the trio. He watched as Chi Cheng's face settle into a mixture of surprise, anticipation and slight apprehension as Wang Shuo sat next to him, a leg tossed over Chi Cheng's lap.
Wang Shuo noticed him approaching and straightened himself up, eyes settled in a glare though there was a challenging smirk tugging on his lips. He paid it no mind and waved at him before walking past them to stride up to Cheng Yu who sat on the edge, chatting up a young man. He didn't miss the way in which Chi Cheng swerved his head away from the unfolding scene in front of him.
Biting his lip, he tugged at Cheng Yu's sleeve. The older man paused mid-sentence and faced him. He raised an eyebrow, before huffing out a laugh and smirking. "Oh, a different look today, huh, Xiao Wei?"
There was a sense of slight discomfort as he blatantly flirted with the older man. He sent a quick apology to his shifu, vowing to get the pair together in this timeline too—he just needed to use his best friend's boyfriend for a while. He gave Cheng Yu a lopsided smile. "I liked the sparkle."
He watched as Cheng Yu's gaze drifted over to where Chi Cheng sat and his smirk widened before fully paying attention to him again. "I like it too." He reached for SuoWei's face, a finger grazing right under his eye. The young man he had been entertaining turned on his heel with a huff and walked away, but neither paid him any mind.
SuoWei took a closer step, body brushing on the outskirts of Cheng Yu's knees. He chuckled as he reached for the older's own hand and admired the fingers, tracing them with his own. He hummed. "You know, I've been here for a while, but I've yet to… be with anyone."
Cheng Yu's gaze darkened slightly, his hand dropping down to SuoWei's waist and drawing shapes underneath his shirt. He smiled as he asked, "Any particular reason why?"
He shrugged. "They're not.. you, I guess."
Cheng Yu barked out a laugh. "Wow, a baby gay yet you're so intent on getting my attention. Interesting."
"I know I like men, but there's levels to it."
He raised an eyebrow. "Enlighten me."
He puffed out his cheeks, feigning shyness, and stubbornly said, "You know why. I don't have to spell it out for you."
Cheng Yu widened his eyes at the brattiness before squeezing his waist gently. "Well then, wanna come over to my place tonight?"
He resisted the urge to squirm away. He placed the hand he was playing with on the other side of his waist which of course Cheng Yu squeezed with a smug smirk. "I have a proposal."
His smirk faltered.
"Let me get to know you—"
"I don't date," he said firmly though not unkindly.
SuoWei laughed. "I'm not looking to date either, Yu-ge." He sweetened his tone at the end. "I just want to get know the man who might get my virginity."
"Might?"
He shrugged. "What if you turn out to be really weird. I need to make responsible choices."
Cheng Yu had tensed a little when SuoWei began his proposal, but his shoulders lost their stiffness now as genuine laughter wracked through his body. SuoWei recognized it because XiaoShuai was often the cause for it. He promised he'll get his best friend his happily ever after too.
"All right, finish your proposal, Xiao Wei."
He nodded. "Meet me on Monday around 2:30 pm at Peking University's Health Science Center. We'll talk outside the haze of alcohol and music, then I'll make my final decision."
Cheng Yu mulled it over for a moment before nodding. "Sounds like a date," he said with a wink.
He laughed softly before stepping out of the older's grip. He gave him a wave. "See you Monday, Yu-ge." He made sure his voice carried over to Chi Cheng, noticing how he had been staring at them both despite his initial reluctance.
He only smiled politely at Wang Shuo and Chi Cheng before making his way out of the club. Once outside, he pumped his fist in the air and cheered. He got a few looks, but the exhilaration made him ignore the judgment. One of the hardest steps was completed—his plan finally gaining traction.
XiaoShuai and SuoWei walked out of the main science building arm in arm. Each of them had a milk tea in their hand, with a bag of pastries hanging from his best friend's free arm. He made sure to shower his best friend in affection—the pastries where from the cafe SuoWei just finished his shift at.
"So, he's picking you up soon?" XiaoShuai grinned mischievously. His voice was a little brighter than it had been when they "first met".
SuoWei gave him a sheepish smile. "I kind of… forgot to ask for his phone number, so I hope so."
His best friend groaned. "DaWei, you've spent all these weeks dancing around him and never got his number?"
"Well, if you came with me and backed me up this wouldn't have happened," he whined.
XiaoShuai faltered in his steps and faced away from him. His voice lowered, "Sorry, I just can't do that right now."
In the beginning, SuoWei had feigned ignorance around the rumors surrounding his best friend. And it was easy as he was a freshman, so how could he be in the know about something that happened the past year? Which is why SuoWei had invited XiaoShuai out with him. He knew his friend would reject the invite, but it was necessary to demonstrate his friendship at that stage. But by now, he's heard all the rumors.
He bumped his hip with XiaoShuai after a sip of his milk tea. "Nah, even if you never go out with me it's fine. We can always watch that series you've been wanting to see."
They where now on the edge of campus, the street filled with those on bicycles, cars, and motorbikes. Down the street, stood out a sleek, gray car with a tall, lean figure in black sunglasses and a lit cigarette between pink lips.
SuoWei came to an abrupt halt as XiaoShuai stopped in his tracks. He frowned. "Shifu?"
His friend's eyes darted from Cheng Yu to SuoWei and back again. He rose an eyebrow, cheeks slightly pink. Oh, SuoWei understood and mentally cheered. Though, on the outside he cocked his head in confusion and blinked at his best friend.
XiaoShuai cleared his throat, his blush receding. "That's him?"
"Mhm."
"He seems all right." He shrugged.
SuoWei laughed and gave him a smile. He tugged at their entwined arms. "Come on, shifu, I'll introduce you."
He saw XiaoShuai swallow and he barely contained his smirk. As he began to close the distance between them and Cheng Yu, the older also spotted them. He removed his sunglasses, letting them hang from where his patterned shirt lay open. SuoWei waved an enthusiastic hand which the older returned smugly. His eyes slipped from SuoWei to XiaoShuai who now clutched his milk tea to his chest.
Good, he thought.
"You found me!"
Cheng Yu nodded, gaze flickering between the pair of friends. "That I did, Xiao Wei." He took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled. The smoke curled around them making XiaoShuai recoil slightly with his face barely concealing his distaste. Cheng Yu took another drag, holding it as he crushed the filter between his fingers as he exhaled. "And this is?"
"My best friend, Jiang XiaoShuai," he said brightly. "Shifu, this is Guo Cheng Yu."
His shifu nodded, face rather passive. "Hello."
"ShuaiShuai, hello." Cheng Yu reached out for a handshake.
His friend scoffed, an eyebrow raised in a challenge. "XiaoShuai is fine, Mr. Guo."
"Mr. Guo?" Cheng Yu balked before laughing. "All right, doc. Is there a reason I haven't seen you with our Xiao Wei at the club?"
XiaoShuai narrowed his eyes and pulled SuoWei closer to him. "Not yours, mine."
Cheng Yu brought his hands up in mock surrender. "For now," he said, tone half teasing and half self-assured.
SuoWei pressed a quick kiss to his best friend's cheek before untangling their arms with a grin. "I'll see you later, shifu, yeah?"
His friend flickered his eyes suspiciously at Cheng Yu. "Text me if you need anything."
He hummed and with one final squeeze to his shoulder, XiaoShuai walked away. Cheng Yu watched his retreating figure, gaze even lowering to his shifu's backside.
He couldn't help his snort and Cheng Yu jerked his attention back to him. His face was pinched in mild chastisement.
"You like him," he stated.
The older man searched his face, eyes gleaming in a clalculating manner. "Like is not correct, it's more… interested." He shrugged. "Does it bother you?"
SuoWei could commend his honesty and shook his head, "My proposal has switched." He jerked a thumb back in XiaoShuai's general direction. "I can help you woo XiaoShuai while you help me."
Cheng Yu narrowed his eyes. "And why would I want to woo your shifu?"
Unbothered by the older's nonchalance, SuoWei asked, "What did you feel when you first saw him?"
He was quiet for a moment before breathing deeply, fingers massaging his temple with a grin. "Everything I never knew I needed," he breathed out.
The younger smiled widely. "Shifu doesn't trust men at the moment, so you're gonna need my help."
"By?"
"Fake dating me."
A choked laugh. "How's that gonna help me woo your master?"
"Be a good boyfriend and he'll see what he's missing," he said, his hands arbitrarily moving. "Maybe even find you worthy of his time and affection."
Cheng Yu hummed, a hand tapping the top of his thigh."And you'll get what out of fake dating me?"
"You're smart." SuoWei gave him a smirk. "I'm sure you'll figure it out."
In lieu of answering, the older took out another cigarette and placed it in his mouth, but didn't light it. He weaved his fingers through his hair, tousling the strands, as he contemplated the proposal. There were specs of skepticism in his eyes and SuoWei ransacked his brain to think of something to tip the man over.
"Look you can woo him with or without my help, but only one option will be more convenient." He added, "Plus I can show you some pictures."
Cheng Yu's gaze flickered over to him. Slowly a grin stretched across his face, "All right let's do it."
SuoWei cheered, jumping a little in place. "Right then, let's head to a cafe to discuss boundaries and expectations."
"I'm surprised you don't have a lawyer for this arrangement, " Cheng Yu joked around his cigarette. He stepped to the passenger door and opened it, the cigarette now laying behind his ear. Playfully, he gave SuoWei a curtsy. "Your ride awaits, Xiao Wei."
SuoWei rolled his eyes with no heat and slipped into the passenger seat. He barely contained his thrumming as Cheng Yu closed the door and made his way into the driver's seat. The engine revved to life and soon they were on their way to seal their lives together for the next few weeks.