Mo Fei had developed a new skill.
Avoidance.
Professional elite-level avoidance.
The kind that required timing, environmental awareness and absolutely no dignity whatsoever.
It had been weeks since Zhang Yichen left a purple heart beneath Chen Yu's post. Weeks since Mo Fei had stared at that tiny emoji for far longer than any mentally stable person should.
And weeks since he had decided there was only one sensible course of action if he wanted to forget about the kiss—and Zhang Yichen altogether.
Avoid him until the situation stopped being weird.
Unfortunately, Zhang Yichen was everywhere.
Mo Fei was halfway into the apartment lift when he heard his name.
"Mo Fei."
He knew that voice immediately. Slowly—very slowly—he turned his head.
At the other end of the corridor stood Zhang Yichen.
Black coat, sunglasses, expression unreadable.
Mo Fei's survival instincts activated. He stepped fully into the lift.
Yichen started towards him. Mo Fei pressed the close button.
Nothing.
He pressed it again. Still nothing.
"Close."
The doors remained open.
"Close, you useless piece of—"
"Mo Fei." Yichen was getting closer.
Mo Fei attacked the button. "CLOSE, for the love of all things holy—"
The doors finally began sliding shut, relief flooded him.
Then a hand appeared between them.
"Aah!" Mo Fei jumped as the doors reopened and Yichen stepped inside.
Mo Fei immediately covered his mouth with one hand and became fascinated by the floor numbers.
Yichen stood beside him. "Morning."
"Morning," Mo Fei mumbled. The lift began descending.
Mo Fei stared straight ahead. Yichen looked at him.
Mo Fei could feel it. Physically feel it.
Why was he looking? Why was he still looking?
Had he always looked this much?
Maybe.
Mo Fei had simply never noticed before.
That was worse.
"Are you alright?" Yichen asked. "You look pale." His hand lifted towards him.
Mo Fei nearly inhaled his own tongue. He shifted back. "I'm alright. It's just the weather. I have naturally pale skin. It's nothing, really."
Yichen said nothing. Just watched him.
Mo Fei laughed, loudly. "Hahaha! What an interesting weather for pale-skinned beauties like me."
Yichen kept looking.
Mo Fei immediately faced the lift doors. "It's a trend nowadays. Look it up."
Silence.
The lift chimed and Mo Fei shot out.
"Please excuse me."
Yichen remained inside. He watched Mo Fei hurry towards his car. One corner of his mouth lifted. "…Cute."
💜~~~~~
Mo Fei knew something was wrong the moment he stepped into Chen Yu's private dining room. He stopped in the doorway.
Louis walked straight into his back. "What are you doing?"
Mo Fei did not answer. His eyes were fixed across the room.
Zhang Yichen sat at the table.
Mo Fei took one step backwards. Louis caught the back of his coat.
Mo Fei looked at him. "I forgot something."
Louis waited.
"Uhm… my will to socialise."
Louis tightened his grip.
Mo Fei lowered his voice. "Louis. Release me."
"No."
"I pay you."
"And I manage you. Get inside."
Mo Fei was dragged through the doorway. Across the room, Yichen looked up.
Their eyes met and Mo Fei immediately looked away.
Unfortunately, Louis had also stopped moving and Mo Fei walked into him.
"What now?"
Louis said nothing.
Mo Fei followed his gaze.
Sima Li had just emerged from the adjoining lounge, glass in hand.
The moment he saw Louis, his entire face lit up.
"Louis!"
Louis turned around.
Mo Fei immediately grabbed the back of his coat. "Oh no, you don't."
Louis looked over his shoulder. "Release me, you damn brat."
Sima Li was already approaching.
Louis lowered his voice. "Let go."
"Absolutely not. If I have to suffer, so do you."
"I am your manager."
Mo Fei smiled sweetly. "And I'm your talent. We support each other."
Sima Li reached them. "Louis." His gaze swept over him. "You look good."
Louis, "..."
Mo Fei covered his mouth in laughter.
"Mo Fei."
The laughter died instantly. Mo Fei went rigid. Yichen stood behind him.
When had he moved? Why did this man walk so quietly?
"Yichen." Mo Fei turned. "Hii."
Yichen's gaze lingered. "Do you always turn pale whenever I'm near you?" He leaned slightly closer.
Mo Fei nearly coughed up his soul.
Across the room, Chen Yu was feeding Nil.
Nil slowly lowered his drink. "What is going on?"
Chen Yu took a sip and gestured towards the chaos. "Oh, you're late to the party, baby. I'll update you."
Nil leaned in.
"So. Sima over there likes Louis and is aggressively pursuing him, while Louis avoids him like the plague."
Nil's head snapped towards them. "Eh? Since when? Is it serious?"
Chen Yu reached into his pocket and proudly produced Sima Li's card. "He even paid me and Mo Fei for relationship advice."
Nil stared at the card. "What do you know about relationships to be giving advice?"
Chen Yu's face soured.
Nil quietly resumed eating.
Chen Yu narrowed his eyes. "Do you still want the tea or not?"
Nil pulled him closer and kissed his cheek. "Yes, please. Sorry, baby. Go on."
Chen Yu huffed. "As for Mo Fei…" He glanced across the room. "His whole thing with Yichen has been weird ever since Yichen dragged him to Shushu's. He's been acting strange every day."
Chen Yu rested his chin against his hand. "I just can't put my finger on it."
Nil followed his gaze. Louis was already trying to leave. Sima Li was trailing him.
Mo Fei, meanwhile, was still rambling nervously at Yichen.
Nil and Chen Yu looked at each other. "Somethings odd."
They said at the same time.
💜~~~~~
Three floors above, Louis was experiencing his own crisis.
"How many times do I have to tell you?" Louis looked up as Sima Li placed a coffee on his desk. "This is not somewhere you can come and go as you please."
"I brought you coffee." Sima Li pulled out the chair opposite him and sat. "Besides, I'm familiar with the company boss."
Louis frowned. "Why are you sitting?"
"My legs were tired."
"Rest them elsewhere."
Sima Li placed a hand over his chest. "You're always so cruel to me."
"It's a sign to leave me alone."
"I like that about you."
Louis's fingers stopped over the keyboard. Sima Li grinned.
Louis immediately resumed typing. "Leave."
"No."
"Sima."
"Louis."
Louis exhaled through his nose. "I'm working. You're distracting me."
Sima Li leaned forward. "Just go on one date with me."
Louis closed his eyes for precisely one second. "If I agree to go on a date with you, will you leave me alone afterwards?"
"Nope."
Louis opened his eyes. I beg your pardon?
Sima Li continued, perfectly serious. "I plan to woo you properly during the date. How could I possibly leave after that?"
Louis, "..."
Oh, for fuck's sake.
"Alright, kid." Louis leaned back in his chair. "Here's the deal. I go on one date with you. One." Sima Li straightened. "Whether I'm impressed or not is entirely up to me. After that, you leave me the fuck alone. Got it?"
Sima Li considered this. "But how do I know you won't lie and say you weren't impressed?"
Louis went quiet and said, "I won't."
Sima Li studied him for a moment, smiled and said "Fine. Trust me, you won't regret it."
Louis gave him a tired, bitter look. "I already do, kiddo."
Sima Li stood, far too pleased with himself. "I'll send you the date and address later."
Then he left.
The door clicked shut.
Louis stared at it for several seconds. Then covered his face with both hands and dragged them slowly down.
"Fuck my life."