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scriptura-adrepticius · 5 years

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Holidays - 9P

Hello, hello! I don’t know how many people even still care about this blog but @hyukcieee, here’s your Christmas present from the npn secret santa! It’s still Christmas where I live so I hope it isn’t too late?? I was going to post it like last week but everything picked up like two weeks before so I had 0 time to write, sorry :/

You said it didn’t matter which member it was for so I wrote a short drabble for each 9p member based on a prompt off of the npn winter prompt challenge :) I hope you like them!

I hope everyone who reads this is having a great day and happy holidays to you all!

Pairing: Nine Percent x reader

Genre: fluff, nonspecific!au

Word Count: 5.4k

Holidays with Nine Percent are certainly holidays that you will never forget.

Masterlist

beautiful group of people, i will love them forever

Someone decided to put mistletoe all over the school as a sick sort of joke, and you’ve just been shoved under a clump of the stuff by your conniving “friends.” Who are you supposed to kiss, you might ask? Well, your friends are eyeing a certain someone walking down the hall…

- - -

“So anyway, he -” You stop short, glowering at your friends as they immediately look away from each other, looking suspiciously innocent. “Alright, that’s it, what’s wrong with you all?” you snap. “You’ve been like this for the past two days!”

“Like what?” Dinghao asks a little too innocently.

“Yeah, I wasn’t aware that we were acting differently at all,” Huafei chimes in.

You huff, trying to formulate your jumbled thoughts into words. “You don’t pay attention to me when I talk, you’re always whispering with Linkai and his little gang, you keep giving me those strange looks - how can you say you’re not acting differently?!”

There’s a beat of silence.

Then someone grabs your arms and holds them hostage behind your back.

“What the fuck?” you snap, violently twisting. “Let me go, dumbass!”

“Uh-uh-uh,” Dinghao sings, looking very, very gleeful. Next to him, Huafei and Ruotian stifle giggles, while you struggle even harder. “What the hell is going on!” you yell, attracting quite a lot of attention.

Jingzuo looks upwards, smirking, and you follow his gaze, eyes widening in horror as you take in the small plant that hangs from the ceiling.

“Oh hell no,” you mutter, shaking your head wildly. “No, no, no, no, no! Gao Maotong, get your stupid hands off of me, or so help me I’ll -”

Then someone slams into you and Maotong releases your arms, allowing you to collapse in a heap on the floor. Disgruntled and feeling extremely murderous, you grit your teeth and look up, ready to chew your friends out.

Instead, you see an outstretched hand. Your eyes travel upwards, taking in dark clothes, a leather jacket, and then…

Oh my god.

You meet eyes with your crush of two years, Wang Ziyi.

It takes a couple of seconds to force yourself to calm down, and though you want nothing more than to run away screaming, you accept his hand, allowing him to help pull you up. You try really hard to look at his face, but it’s so hard - the whole situation is just so absurd. You drop his hand as soon as you can.

“Sorry,” he says in that low voice of his, giving you that soft smile that never fails to turn you into an absolute train wreck. “My friends pushed me.” He shrugs apologetically.

“I - uh, it’s fine,” you say quickly, willing the growing heat to leave your face. “I’ve gotta go, but -”

“You have nowhere to go!” Huafei snaps. “Don’t lie to Ziyi!”

If your face wasn’t red before, now it is. You shoot her a furious glare.

What in the world are you doing?! you scream internally, hoping she gets the message.

“Y/N?” Ziyi’s voice snaps your attention back to him. “I… I think I know why they put us here.”

You squeeze your eyes shut, cursing each and every single one of your so-called friends. “Yeah,” you reply, your voice tight. “Sorry. My friends are stupid. I - it’s cool if you, uh, if you don’t want to, I totally get it, I wouldn’t want to kiss me either, sorry about everything, this is all a mess, I swear I had no part in planning this -”

“Hey, hey, hold up,” Ziyi says, taking your hand again. You flinch at the suddenness of his gesture but otherwise manage to remain neutral.

His next words, however, have you shell-shocked.

“Who said I didn’t want to kiss you?”

Total silence.

“Sorry?”

His stupid, gentle smile is on his lips again and you can’t think at all. “I asked who said I didn’t want to kiss you.”

“I - I thought - I thought we were just friends?” you squeak. “I, uh, since when…” You let out a little huff. “What the hell?”

Ziyi’s little laugh is even more addicting than his smile. He leans in a little closer, and you can feel his breath puffing slightly on your face.

“You wouldn’t mind, would you, if I kissed you now?” he asks, ignoring the gasps and hoots of the crowd watching.

“For tradition or because you like me?” you manage to spit out.

A shy blush flits across Ziyi’s cheeks and you almost melt. “Because I like you.”

The smile that overtakes your lips is shaky but genuine and you feel like you’re on cloud nine. “Then, no, I wouldn’t mind,” you reply.

His lips press against yours, and your mind goes blank. You can register only the feeling of his lips on yours, his fingers clutching your hands, his hair tickling your cheek. You cannot hear the cheers of your friends, the squeals of the crowd, the claps of the audience. It’s like Ziyi is your entire world.

When he pulls away, cheeks flushed red, you seize on your temporary insanity and wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him close again.

“Remind me to kill my friends later,” you murmur, and you just hear the beginnings of his gentle laugh before you press another kiss to his lips.

. . . . .

Why did your best friend decide to put mistletoe all over the school as a joke? You don’t know. Why did you go along with it? You don’t know. All you know is that you didn’t expect to accidentally stumble under a bunch of it with said best friend. It isn’t just the cold that’s turning your cheeks red, now.

- - -

“How did this happen?” you ask, not looking at your best friend for fear of him seeing your blush. “Why are we so fucking dumb?”

Linkai snorts. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not dumb.”

“Oh yeah? Then who was the one that first walked under the mistletoe?” you snap.

“And who was the one that didn’t realize and walked under after me?” he retorts.

You cross your arms. “Fine,” you groan. “So are you going to kiss me? Or are we just going to walk away and pretend this didn’t happen?”

On one hand, you want him to agree to the second so your feelings for him stay hidden forever. On the other hand, you want him to agree to the first so you can fulfill one of your dreams.

“Tradition is tradition,” Linkai mutters, refusing to look at your face. You can see the pink tinting his cheeks though and for the first time, you think your feelings might be returned.

“Since when have you been a traditional kid?” you push, forcing him to look up. “Never. So how come you’re relying on tradition now?”

The tiny smirk he throws you gives you a heart attack. “Because… maybe I like you?”

You blink once. Then twice.

“Only ‘maybe?’”

A real blush spreads across Linkai’s face and you can see how much effort it’s taking for him to look into your eyes. Understandable, because you want nothing more than to duck and run away into the crowd that’s forming as well.

“Fine. I definitely like you,” he mumbles, ruffling his hair.

You smile a little. “Good, because I like you too.”

Amidst cheers and hoots, you press a short kiss to his lips, leaving the usually confident boy speechless. Then, suddenly, he regains his confidence and pull you to him for a deeper kiss.

Most of the time, Linkai’s mischief gets him into trouble. At least this time, something good came of it.

You smile into his lips.

. . . . .

Holiday season means holiday shopping, no? You hate shopping, but when you come face to face with that cute sales guy you’ve had a crush on for a long time… well, maybe your sentiments will change now that you’ve seen him decked out in holiday gear, looking stupidly, absolutely adorable.

- - -

The bus is full of people, and you curse your stupid, procrastinating self for leaving Christmas shopping for the last minute.

Christmas shopping is a bore.

With a tired sigh, you squeeze onto a seat. You can practically smell the sweat and heat radiating off of the people and you crinkle your nose up with another sigh.

Then, your brain decides it’s the best time to cut in with a stupid thought.

Hey, shopping isn’t that bad. You might get to see that cute sales guy!

You really hope no one sees the blush crawling up your cheeks. If anything, hopefully they’ll think it’s the residual cold.

Cai Xukun is literally the cutest guy you have ever met. He is drop dead gorgeous but down to earth and mellow at the same time. His smile is blinding, his eyes are sweet, his laugh is beautiful… there is literally nothing not to love about the boy.

“And here I am, thinking like a lovestruck thirteen year old,” you mutter, making room for another person as they squeeze by. The bus rattles and belches a cloud of smoke, then rattles away.

You sigh.

It’s going to be a long day even if I do get to see Xukun.

- - -

Ten stores later, you’ve found almost all of your gifts. Your wallet is about to start sobbing, your feet are about to start screaming, and you are about to sag into a tired puddle on the floor.

“One more to go,” you mumble, looking with trepidation at the fancy storefront.

Nine Percent. Your best friend’s favorite clothing store. They have some of the most outrageous items but at least the prices are fair.

Also the place where - guess who - Cai Xukun works.

You drag your sorry self into the store.

“Hello, welcome! Can I help you today?” a cheery-faced boy with a bright smile asks chirpily the second you walk inside.

It’s not Xukun. You hope the disappointment doesn’t show on your face as you give him a slight smile. “No thanks,” you reply. “Just looking.”

“Christmas shopping?” he asks, looking sympathetic. You allow a sardonic smile to show itself before nodding. “Yeah.”

“Shit, sorry,” he laughs. “But let me know if you need any help!”

“I will, thanks.”

The store is huge, but it doesn’t take much effort to find the section your friend loves since you’ve been here so many times. You drop your bags, rubbing your aching hands, before perusing the racks. Minutes later, you’ve found something, and after checking the size you back to the front of the store to pay.

Then your brain short circuits, because your stupid crush is manning the counter. He’s got a stupid little Santa hat on with a stupid green woolen sweater, and he looks like… boyfriend material. There is no other way to put it.

Suddenly, you care a little too much about the knots in your hair, the bags under your eyes that you haven’t bothered to cover up, your oversized hoodie that now seems too casual for this. You want to at least pat down your hair, but then you’d probably knock your bags everywhere, and you don’t want to look stupider than you already do. So you steel yourself and walk up to the counter.

“Hi!” Xukun says with his bright smile. Your heart thumps. “Ready to pay?”

You nod. “Yeah,” you say quickly, pushing the clothing over.

There’s silence as he rings up the items and places them into a bag. You jab your card into the machine and look down determinedly because you are absolutely sure your cheeks are bright red.

“Are you okay? Your face is really red.”

Fuck.

“I’m fine.” You give him an awkward smile. “It’s just… the cold outside.”

The little smirk he gives you as he hands the bag over gives you a heart attack. “I see. Well, have a nice day! Happy holidays!”

What the fuck does that smirk mean?

“Thanks, you too!” you squeak before bolting out of the store.

Outside, the cold air cools your cheeks and after trudging a few streets, you sit down at the bus stop. With a sigh of relief as the pressure is taken off of your aching feet, you take out the receipt from your latest bag to stuff inside your wallet.

What’s on the receipt nearly gives you a second heart attack.

Hey, one of my friends told me you think I’m cute. Well, I think you’re cute too. Here’s my number, text me sometime, alright?

XXX-XXX-XXXX

A strangled sort of screech leaves your throat, causing more than a few concerned looks to be thrown your way, but you’re too busy staring at the receipt to care.

Once you’re settled on the bus, you take out your phone with trembling fingers and input the number. After agonizing over the text for several minutes, you settle for “Hey, you gave me your number on my receipt. Are you sure it wasn’t a mistake?”

One minute passes, then two, then three.

Read.

Typing…

No mistakes were made. I’m Xukun, but I’m sure you know that.

I hope you are Y/N?

You’re almost hyperventilating.

Yeah, I am.

He responds quickly.

Great. Want to go out for coffee sometime? My treat!

It takes all your effort not to scream out loud, but as you type out your answer with a smile on your face, you can’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, Christmas shopping isn’t so bad.

. . . . .

You’ve always wanted to be kissed in the rain, thinking that it’s the ultimate romantic gesture. Well, there isn’t any rain, but maybe snow will do.

- - -

“Why do you love rain?” Linong asks, shivering in the cold. He’s wearing a huge coat and has a scarf wrapped around his neck, while you only have a warm sweater. “Rain is so… cold.”

“But what about when the sun is out while it’s raining? Then it’s warm rain, and it’s like… fun! You can jump around in the rain!” You grin, whirling around with your arms out. “Plus, you’re so tall and fit. How come you’re still cold? It’s just a little snow!”

Linong shrugs, burrowing further into his scarf. “It’s still snow,” he mumbles.

Rolling your eyes, you grab his hand. “Warmer?”

You can see the blush on his cheeks despite his efforts to hide it. “Come on, we’ve been dating for nearly six months, Nong!”

The kiss you press on his cheek seems to increase the blush. “Warm now? That’s what your face is telling me.”

“Stop teasing,” Linong complains.

“What if I don’t want to?” You smile teasingly, squeezing his hand a little tighter.

“So you want to continue teasing? How about I ask you about your fantasy of being kissed in the rain?” Linong tosses back, finally pulling his face out of his scarf.

Suddenly, your face feels warm. Much warmer than before. “How - how do you know about that?” you squeak.

“You shouldn’t leave scribbles in the margins of your chemistry notebook,” he smirks.

Noted.

“Dammit,” you mutter. You can’t even be mad because you were the one who lent the notebook to him.

“I mean, I could help you with that,” Linong mumbles, looking away. His face is red again.

You look up at the sky, almost getting a face full of snow. “There’s no rain…?”

“Snow’s suitable though, right? Until we actually get some rain?” Linong asks, looking adorably awkward. You blush too, but you also place your other hand in his.

“Of course it is,” you say, leaning up.

The falling snow swirls around your faces, resting on your hair, his scarf, and both yours and his cheeks as Linong presses his lips to yours in one of the sweetest kisses you’ve ever shared.

. . . . .

Baking cookies? Not such a good idea when your friends decide to come over and wreak havoc in the kitchen.

- - -

When you suggested baking cookies with Justin, you didn’t expect him to be this much of a mess.

“Even Linkai can follow directions!” you scold, taking the dough out of Justin’s hand. “And stop eating it, you could get sick!”

“But then I’d have you to nurse me back to health,” Justin points out.

“You’re learning too much from Lin Yanjun!” you snap, whirling around with the bowl. Your boyfriend just snakes an arm around your waist as he licks another bit of dough off of his finger.

“Huang Minghao!” you yell, snatching the bowl away from him. “Stop eating the dough or there will be no cookies for you!”

His eyes widen in mock terror and he backs away, raising his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay!”

You sigh. “Didn’t you bet Zhengting that if you could get through a baking session without breaking anything, you’d choose what he had to wear on his next date?”

Justin nods eagerly, and you have to stop your heart from melting at the sight of the sparkle in his eyes. “Yeah! I’m going to make him wear that stupid gag gift Chengcheng sent me.”

“Jesus,” you say, spreading the dough out. “What did he ever do to you? No one should have to wear a sweater that ugly.”

Your boyfriend just shrugs.

“I’m dating an evil idiot,” you mutter, taking out the cookie cutters. “Here. Let’s cut the dough, and then after the cookies are baked we can decorate them, alright?”

“The best part!” Justin cheers.

“You better not eat all of the frosting,” you warn. “The cookies are already enough sugar for you!”

He sticks out his tongue. “No amount of sugar is enough sugar for Justin!”

“If you keep saying stupid stuff, I’m going to kiss you to shut you up.”

“Then I guess I better keep saying stupid stuff -”

Justin’s lips taste like cookie dough. As much as you hate to say it, the sweet flavor is appealing.

“Stop with the stupidity, Justin,” you say when you break away, leaving the boy somewhat shell-shocked and red-faced. “Now help me clear up. Don’t break anything, or else Zhengting’s going to make you wear that sweater to the Yuehua party!”

You eventually clean everything and get the cookies decorated without Justin breaking anything, but not before he sneaks in about a half dozen more kisses.

. . . . .

Your neighbor just walked out wearing the ugliest Christmas sweater you’ve ever seen. You think your eyes are bleeding, but somehow, he still looks… kind of cute.

- - -

“So, Zhengting,” you say amiably, hoping your eyes aren’t too wide with horror, “why are you wearing what you are wearing?”

Justin cackles from inside the apartment and you stifle a smirk. “Was it Justin’s fault?”

Zhengting sighs, eyes narrowed with disdain and helplessness. “Yeah,” he grumbles. “Lost a bet, so now I have to wear this shitty sweater Chengcheng sent him.”

“I hope Chengcheng got that as a gag gift, and not as a real gift,” you say, looking Zhengting up and down. “Ooookay, that’s it, that’s enough, my eyes are bleeding. I can’t look at you anymore. Take that thing off!”

“He’s not allowed!” Justin yells.

“You better let him change, Huang Minghao, or so help me I’ll return every single one of your Christmas gifts this year!” you yell back. “We can’t go on a date like this!”

“Yes you can!”

Zhengting sighs. “Let the kid have his fun,” he says resignedly, giving you a half smile. “It’s almost Christmas.”

“What happened to my strict boyfriend who didn’t put up with shit from Justin?” you gasp in mock surprise.

“He disappeared. Now let’s go out,” he says, taking your hand. “Before Justin thinks of something even worse for you to wear.”

You snort. “He wouldn’t dare. Also, why is this sweater so scratchy?”

“Fan Chengcheng is the worst.” Zhengting shrugs.

“Well, it if helps, you still look kinda cute.” You give your boyfriend a wide smile. He just laughs.

“You look kinda cute too, I guess.”

. . . . .

Every year, you and your neighbor compete over who has the best Christmas decorations outside your house. It isn’t friendly competition. Last year, the kids were flocking over to your neighbor’s house, oohing and aahing over their sparkly lights, and this year, you’re determined not to lose.

- - -

“My decorations are better than yours this year,” you say smugly, watching the kids on your street stand transfixed by the sparkling lights.

Zhangjing huffs. “As if,” he mutters, looking salty.

“It’s the truth, Zhangjing.” You grin. “You just don’t want to admit it.”

Sweet, sweet victory. After two years of losing to your insufferable neighbor over your informal Christmas decoration competition… well, all you can say is victory is sweet.

The red and green lights illuminate Zhangjing’s sulky face and you have the sudden urge to pat his head like you would a small, whiny toddler. “Don’t be so sulky,” you coo.

“I’m not sulky!” Zhangjing snaps.

“Yes, you are. Also, it’s really cold now. Shouldn’t you be inside your house?” You look at him quizzically. “Why are you still out here?”

A small blush flits across Zhangjing’s cheeks. “Locked myself out,” he mumbles.

“You are a grown man, and you still managed to lock yourself out?” You snicker.

Zhangjing does not deign to reply.

“I can try to pick your lock,” you offer once your laughter subsides.

“Pick my lock?!”

You shrug. “Yeah. I used to be pretty good at picking locks until my friends forced me to stop.”

“For good reason,” Zhangjing mutters. “But yeah. You can give it a shot.”

“Cool, let’s go!” you cheer, fishing out a little bag of lock-picking tools from your pocket.

“Why do you have those in your pocket?”

You just grin in response.

- - -

You wiggle the pick inside the lock for a few seconds before looking up. “How come we do this every year? This stupid competition?”

Wind whistles through the air as Zhangjing does not respond.

“It’s weird,” you say, turning back to the lock. “No one ever put up lights on this block before I moved in. How come you did?”

Zhangjing mumbles something completely inaudible.

“What?”

“Yanjunmight’vesaidsomethingaboutgettingchristmaslightssothatyouwouldactuallynoticemebecauseithoughtyouwerecute.”

You blink. “What?”

Zhangjing huffs and smacks his head. “Why did I say anything,” he mumbles.

“Why’s your face so red?” you ask.

“It’s cold out!” he snaps defensively.

“My face isn’t that red… is it?” You shrug. “Anyway, didn’t catch what you said. Just Yanjun, Christmas lights, and… cute?”

A sigh of defeat rushes past your ear as you wiggle the lock pick around again. “When you moved in, I thought you were cute, so Yanjun suggested I get Christmas decorations to get your attention. And then it just evolved into some weird competition. Happy?”

“Uh, no?” you snap, standing back up. “If I’d known you thought I was cute, I would’ve asked you out like, two years ago!”

Dead silence. There isn’t even wind.

“In that case, unless you don’t think I’m cute anymore, I think we should go on a date tomorrow,” you say decisively, turning back to the lock. “I’ll come over at two!”

Snick. The lock opens. “And now your house is unlocked,” you say proudly. “I’ll see you tomorrow!”

The kiss you then press to his cheek leaves Zhangjing speechless.

. . . . .

You love winter, but winter hates you. Every year you get horrible seasonal allergies, complete with a stuffy nose, sneezes, and a rasping cough that drives away everyone within a fifty-foot radius. The only person who cares to stay near is your best friend, which is a little bit of an issue considering you have a sort of kind of massive crush on them.

- - -

“Toss me into a fire,” you mumble, sounding like you’ve got dirt in the back of your throat. “Everything hurts and I’m cold.”

No one hears you, of course. You’re alone.

“And now I’m talking to myself like the dumb, sick, idiot I am,” you mutter. “No wonder no one wants to be around me.”

And of course you’re being overdramatic again.

It’s not that no one wants to be around you normally. It’s just that no one wants to be around your germy, snotty, allergy-ridden self.

Winter is fun. Winter is great. Winter is awesome. You love winter, because it means presents, joy, snow, and time spent with loved ones.

But winter hates you. It always gifts you a stuffy nose and a loud, headache-inducing sneeze-cough that always comes just in time for the holidays, leaving you knocked out at home, taking multiple allergy medications in the hopes that you’ll be better in time for Christmas.

A loud sneeze racks your body, followed by a volley of coughs, and then you sink under your covers again. You sigh as deeply as you can without killing your throat.

Then someone knocks on the door.

Two seconds later, your phone buzzes.

Fan Chengcheng, December 12, 3:00 pm

Open the door!

You blink once, then twice. Why is Chengcheng here? When it’s clear you’re sick and dying?

You, December 12, 3:02 pm

are you trying to get yourself sick

Fan Chengcheng, December 12, 3:02 pm

Allergies aren’t contagious idiot

You, December 12, 3:03 pm

ya but the germs in my snot probably are

He just sends back a puking emoji followed by ‘just open the goddamn door.’

“God help me,” you mutter, rolling out of bed. You’ve wrapped your blanket around you like a burrito and you remain huddled in it, teeth chattering as you trudge through the cold apartment.

“Get inside,” you sniffle, shoving the tall boy inside before slamming the door shut. Even then, some of the cold seeps in, and you shiver underneath your blanket.

Chengcheng sets a bag down on your coffee table and raises an eyebrow. “I didn’t think you’d look this bad,” he says offhandedly.

A scowl spreads across your face. “If I wasn’t so sick, I’d punch you,” you rasp.

“Yeah, I know.” He sticks out his tongue. “But you are sick, so I have immunity. Well, for now.”

Huffing, you stomp on his foot, making him yelp more so in surprise than pain. “I’m going back to bed,” you mumble. “Do whatever you want, just don’t invite anyone over and don’t break anything. And don’t complain tomorrow if you wake up unable to breathe through a stuffy nose.”

There’s a beat of silence, and then Chengcheng lifts you up, and you let out a strangled noise of surprise and embarrassment. Your face is hot and you pray that you can put it down to allergies if Chengcheng asks.

“Put me down!” you yell, the end of your command turning into a hacking cough.

“In your condition?” Chengcheng counters, nearly slamming your head into the doorframe. “No way.”

He almost knocks you into your bedroom wall. “You’re trying to kill me!” you snap.

“I would never!” he gasps, affronted, dumping you unceremoniously on the bed and placing a hand on his chest.

With effort, you roll over, covering yourself in the blanket. “Good night,” you mumble.

Chengcheng laughs, a small, quiet laugh that’s so uncharacteristic of his usual boisterous self that you’re confused for a moment. And then the bed dips as he settles on the mattress, and his hand goes to rest in your hair, and you really want to tell him to stop or he’ll get sick but the feeling is so soothing and calming that you really don’t want him to stop.

“Go to sleep,” he murmurs, carding a hand through your hair. “You’ll feel better.”

As you drift into dreamworld, you hear a faint murmur.

“If only we could stay like this forever.”

You want to answer, but sleep claims you before you can.

. . . . .

Presents are a must at Christmas time, no? But no matter what you get this year, there’s only one thing you really want: you want him to come home.

- - -

“Still moping?” Zhangjing asks, sighing through the phone.

You roll over in bed. “Leave me alone,” you mumble, words muffled by the pillow. “Let me mope in peace.”

“Do you want to come over and see my Christmas lights?” he offers.

“Thanks, but I’ll pass. Are you still having that competition with your neighbor?”

“About that…” Zhangjing coughs. “We’re kind of dating now?”

“WHAT?! HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS? WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME?! I WANT ALL OF THE DETAILS!”

“I’ll tell you when I come over, just please stop screaming,” he begs.

“Fine. Her lights were better than yours though last time I saw,” you joke.

“That’s it, I’m never speaking to you again,” Zhangjing huffs. You can hear him shuffling things around on his end.

“No, no, I’m sorry, Zhangjing,” you relent, rolling over again. Silence takes over the call and your smile slips off of your face as you remember who isn’t coming home.

On the other end, Zhangjing curses. “Damn you, Lin Yanjun,” he complains. “Can’t even come home to be with your girlfriend for Christmas.”

“Be quiet, he’s just busy. And I’m just being an overdramatic idiot. I’ll get over it,” you assure him. The skeptical silence that follows tells you that Zhangjing is not reassured.

“Alright, enough of this. I’m coming over with some of the boys. Chengcheng can’t come though, his friend is sick and he’s taking care of her,” Zhangjing says in his no-nonsense voice. “I have cookies and we’ll cook and then we’re going to binge watch TV shows, got it?”

A slow smile spreads across your lips. “Thanks, Zhangjing.”

- - -

Once laughter is bouncing off of your walls, you don’t feel so lonely anymore. Justin’s and Linkai’s screams fill the rooms, and you find yourself smiling more widely than you thought you would.

“Feeling better?” Zhangjing asks over the yells in the kitchen. You nod and grin.

Soon, all the food is cooked and your tiny coffee table is creaking under the weight of all the dishes. The younger kids attack it all with a vengeance, though they’re sure to leave enough food for the “oldies.”

(“Who are you calling old?” Zhengting’s girlfriend snaps.

“Not you!” Justin yelps.)

You simply sit on the couch, watching from a distance. Seeing them all so happy warms your heart but at the same time, it just makes you remember who isn’t here.

“Dammit, Lin Yanjun,” you whisper, the smile slipping off your face.

“Are you okay, Y/N?” Ziyi asks worriedly from across the room, trying to pick his way along the floor while Justin and Linkai wrestle wildly. At his words, though, they immediately stop, looking at you with wide eyes.

“I think Y/N needs a hug!” Justin announces, launching himself onto you. Linkai follows suit and you groan under their weight. “Help…”

Instead of them getting pulled off, though, more weight piles on, and pretty soon you’re buried under a mound of people. A tired sigh escapes your lips but at least you’re smiling. “Get off me!” you yell playfully. “I can’t breathe!”

In the second of silence that follows your declaration, there’s a loud knock on your door, followed by the doorbell.

“Who’s that?” you ask, wriggling out of the pile. “You think someone’s lost?”

“Maybe,” Ziyi says, shrugging. “I’ll go check.”

“Don’t get murdered on Christmas,” Justin quips.

“Murdered?” Linong asks worriedly.

“Joking, Nong, I’m joking.”

“Y/N, it’s something for you!” Ziyi yells.

Your eyebrows wrinkle in confusion. “I thought packages weren’t delivered on Christmas?” you mumble to yourself.

“‘Something?’ What am I, not a human?”

You freeze.

“Y/N?” Ziyi pokes his head out of the corner to see you frozen. “Oh, there you are.”

“Is he actually here?” you squeak. “Like… I didn’t imagine that just now, right?”

Ziyi smiles. “He’s actually here.”

Two seconds later, you’ve knocked Yanjun into the doorframe with the force of your hug, but none of that matters because he’s home.

“Damn you,” you say, your words muffled by his jacket. “I hate you, Lin Yanjun!”

“I love you too, Y/N,” he says, patting your back. “Now can I come inside? It’s really cold out.”

You let him stumble inside and shut the door before wrapping him in a hug again. “I’m not letting you go,” you mumble.

“Not even to let me kiss you?” your boyfriend asks amusedly.

“Fine, I will make one exception.”

“KISS! KISS!”

“Remind me to slap Justin when this is over,” you say, letting Yanjun go briefly. He takes off his jacket and pulls you to him again as your arms go around his neck. He looks into your eyes with all the love in the world, and then he kisses you.

“I love you,” you murmur when you break away for air, “and I’m so glad you came back.”

“I love you too,” Yanjun says breathlessly before pulling you in again. “Merry Christmas, my love.”

52 notes · View notes

peachyjie · 6 years

Text

Strawberries and Cigarettes || Zhu Zheng Ting

— Author Note :

Tbh, idk if this is still considered a soulmate!au or not. But I just like the concept! This is requested by the lovely @lovee-myseelf , thank you for your request and patience on waiting this piece and I hope you enjoy it :>

— Warning : Well.... there’s a mention of cigarettes in the title but I doubt any would be shown, it’s just a reference so yea. It’s the cliche storyline btw.

— Wc : 8.794

— Pairing : Zhu Zheng Ting - 98!liner Reader

— Genre : Soulmate!au + fluff

— Summary : Sometimes the sense of home, is the person you’re with. Even when they’re far apart, the memories and scent they carry will always lingers

This is the story of you and him, about how you met, how it started and how it ends. The story of 2 different people with 2 different lives.

The Tale – Soulmates from birth, soulmates till death

To you,

Zhu Zheng Ting has the scent of morning mist and light musk in autumn. His scent is strong and soothing whenever he’s near, it’s also subtle and fresh when he’s far. His scent always reminds you of smoke rings that lingers around the air once it’s blown.

Like cigarettes. His strong persona, his charm, his scent.

To him,

You have the scent of plump fruits and freshly bloomed flowers in spring. Your scent is welcoming and sweet whenever you passed by him, it’s also simple and addicting to be remembered when you’re away. Your scent always reminds him of sugar from the sweet shops and bakeries.

Like strawberries. Your sweet persona, your smiles, your scent.

It wasn’t a wonder how people would often turn around and take a double take whenever you’re walking down with Zhengting. It wasn’t a wonder how your parents are also cautious of him whenever he drops by. It wasn’t a wonder how your younger brother is far more than protective on you whenever he sees Zhengting.

Both of you are different, very different from one another. So, it wasn’t a wonder how both of you could attract many attentions.

Zhu Zheng Ting, the High School’s notorious bad-boy. The bad-boy who is mischief and rebellious, moody as he can be and hated summer.

Huang Y/N, the High School’s lovable sweetheart. The sweetheart who is loving and caring, always thin about others and loved summer.

It’s much funnier to know even with such opposite personalities, Zhengting’s fate had always been tangled with yours. Both of you didn’t realizes it at first, but it didn’t take too long for any to catch up on it.

To put it in a more cliché way and simple way, both of you are meant to be. You’re meant to bumped into him, he’s meant to be pulled into your life.

Soulmates

Back in the days, where people still believe in myths of how Greek made theories against soulmates. There is a saying that people are born from each descendant of God or Goddesses. Each descendant will have their own special way to identify their soulmate.

The oracle of Hades and Persephone, God of the Underworld and Goddess of Spring. It’s a simple tale that tells how you and him happened. Where’s one day during her stay in the Underworld, she suddenly missed the essence of life. So, when Hades knew, he tried to find the best solution to ease his loving queen. He grows a whole garden filled with freshly bloomed flowers, tall green trees and bright plumped fruits. She lives in the Underworld happily surrounded by the murky strong scent whilst he grew to love the sweet lively scent.

Giving the Underworld a more diverse scent against its putrid reality.

This is more likely sum up how those who are their descendent are usually have a sensitive smell. They react far too easily on scent, often too sensitive. They would grow uncomfortable when their nose come in contact with putrid and un-pleasant scent, they would find the perfume shops as their only safe haven.

Now, because they have a sensitive nose, it’s very easy for them to know their soulmate. The scent of their soulmate is what defines who is who’s. One whip of their scent and that’s enough to lock them in. The feeling of longing and desire would grow stronger, forever only that one scent will stay with you.

Forever that scent is what soothes you, bringing you the sense of life and the sense home.

The Present – 5 years later

It’s summer, mid-summer in the big city we call China.

The room is shut tightly, the curtains drawn in to block any living daylight that wants to pass. A figure lay deep in slumber under his warm blankets, feeling the comfort against the cool room. It wasn’t until a small slit could be seen from the curtains, the small lining of light crawls itself towards the peaceful male.

It took his system a while to jerk awake against the sudden change of temperature, the blinding light against his closed lid. He groans, moans as he stretched.

He sat up and peaked against his dimly lit room. His mind is trying its best to process the whole situation, trying his best to make his life organized. But what’s a descendant of Hades doing without a very sensitive nose in the morning?

“Ahh… morning breath”, he hissed a little and made his way to the washroom.

When the door opens once again, he’s already in peace. His hand brushed over his freshly washed hair in a delicate manner, his skin still soft from the warm shower, his mouth fresh like the cold sensation of mint. Then, without wasting another second, he pulls the curtains as he lets the summer light into his room.

This is Zhu Zheng Ting, the fresh graduate from university, infamous bad boy in High School, living in his 5 years relationship as your lover and your soulmate.

He smiled a little feeling the sudden nostalgia running into his system, for once he felt the real meaning of peace. Seamlessly forgetting about reality, the reality where he lives with 6 other people under the same roof.

6 chaotic troublemakers

Zhengting shuddered in disgust on the odd stench, his hazy morning mind still processing the whole situation. Then, Zhengting dashes out of his room in a hurry.

“I swear… not again”, he said in a hurry as his feet thundered the wooden floor.

In a speed of light, he ran from his room and thunders down the stairs. He rounded into the corner, dashing into the kitchen as his other hand grabs the fire extinguisher.

In the once clean, sparkling kitchen he cleaned last week is now surrounded by nothing but smoke, a flaming toast and 2 screaming children.

Zhengting stare blankly at the scene, mind failed to process the situation due to his mind being too busy thinking about his thrown away effort. One decided to cease the fire with a cloth, continuously slapping the dry cloth against the flaming fire on the pan.

Like that would work.

When the cloth catches itself on fire, Chengcheng yelled more. His other mate, Justin wasn’t much help either as he was also freaking out by the burnt bread. Without much thought, Zhengting aimed the extinguisher on the pan, ceasing the whole fire in a matter of second.

Then he looked at Chengcheng. “Ge, no—“, and now they have one living snowman in the middle of summer.

Zhengting stare at the now burnt pan, he bought this 2 weeks ago and had yet to use it. He sighed and threw it into the dishwasher before glaring at the 2 children.

“What made you both think it’s a great idea to set the house on fire in this early morning?”, he hissed out. Justin goofily smiled at him whilst Chengcheng was too busy getting the white fluff off him.

“My sister is coming back, so I planned on making her toast!”, the youngest exclaimed gleefully. Zhengting stare at Justin’s pure excitement, the innocence in the child. He wished he could stay mad at him longer, instead he pats Justin head and ushered him away.

“Next time, try not burning the whole house down”, he sighed silently.

“We’re picking her up right? I want to see her quickly!”, Justin whined at him. Zhengting only laughed at the younger’s manner – “I wouldn’t miss meeting her also, Huang”.

When Justin is out of the kitchen, Zhengting finally spare a glance at Chengcheng. The male obviously still disgusted by the fluff texture from earlier, but Zhengting showed no remorse.

“Make sure you gargle and rise, and put on extra deodorant”, and Zhengting was out of the kitchen once again. Leaving the grumpy male, hissing out a sarcastic – “Okay, mom”.

Zhengting smiled softly towards them, feeling the incoming warmth running in his system. The familiar scent of spring rising to his senses, dominating the summer breeze.

You’re finally coming back

*****

The Past – 5 years ago, few weeks before the new semester

Zhengting swore he’ll always be grateful by Wenjun’s decision on spending his summer break working for extra cash. Because if it’s wasn’t for that one phone call Wenjun made, Zhengting wouldn’t know how the us would’ve started.

It was like fate wanted both to finish things quickly, because both of you didn’t have any intention on meeting one another that day.

You were out buying some popsicles to fight the summer heat and a bottle of banana milk for your younger brother, the one and only Huang Justin. Whilst Zhengting, he was awoken from his afternoon nap by Wenjun’s abrupt phone call half whispering, half yelling – “Dude, that girl! She’s here! Hurry up!!”

Wenjun had told him about how the summer job not only granted him some extra cash to spend, but also how it gave him the infamous summer crush experience.

Zhengting never met who had manage to grab Wenjun’s attention this fast, especially since it’s like a week before High School starts again. Wenjun only described you as the polite female who always smile and sweet to everyone.

But he also said about you having a very sensitive nose just like him.

Well, who would know that Wenjun’s tiny crush ended up being the ultimate wingman of his meeting with you. Zhengting is forever grateful by Wenjun, but also pities him as his summer crush ended like that.

“Here’s the change”, he smiled widely at you as his hand extended itself to hand you the spare change.

Mouth biting on the cold ice, you hummed at him as a sign of thank you. It wasn’t until your nose tingles, sensing the odd sensation in the store. You stare at Wenjun confused, then you looked at his neck.

“You changed your cologne”, you blurted out without much thought. Wenjun who’s very much taken aback stared at you in surprised. “H-How did you know?”, he said.

Flustered, you only shake his question away trying your best to avoid any more confrontation. “I’m sorry, forget about it. I have uhh—somewhere to go!”, you said quickly. You took the spare change as fast as you can and dashes your way to the door with your other purchases. “Thank you—“, you said as your eyes wander around him before resting on his tag.

“—Wenjun?”, and BAM!

It was hard to process everything now. Your mind was hazy from fluster, your face was red from embarrassment, now you’re whimpering in pain by the great force of glass hitting your face. Hands on your face, you didn’t even care the once opened one is now on the dirty floor as you still had others dangling on your arm.

You hissed in pain, feeling the throbbing on your nose.

“I’m so sorry”, you looked up towards the figure. Very much not minding their mistake as you’re trying to escape yours. Waving your hand in dismissal, you tried to ease the pain whilst made your way to apologize on the stranger also.

“It’s fine, it was my—“, you choked on your words when you finally grasp on his full feature.

Breathtakingly beautiful

“—fault”, you said mindlessly, sensing your conscious slowly driving you away under his structure. You knew, he wasn’t in your neighborhood. Nobody this perfect would even think on living near your part, yet you rarely saw him even if he lives in the other part of town.

Dressed casually with a white tee and black ripped jeans, the aesthetically pleasing white high-top converse shoes, it fitted him. His eyes were doll like yet sharp, jawline prominent as if god craved so it can cut anyone, his lips are perfectly proportioned, tall and simply beautiful.

But you noticed something more, something more alluring from him.

His scent

The smell of musk and morning mist of autumn in the woods, accompanied by a little fresh stench of mints. It was strong yet delightful, especially with a tinge of smoke in it. Does he smoke? But you hated the smell of smoke and cigarettes, it always caused your nose to react badly. But why does his smelt so nice and sweet? Is it his natural scent?

“Hello?”, you stare blankly at his hand movement, probably confused on the fact you’re literally standing frozen yet looking high as ever.

When you snapped back to reality, you gasped in surprise. “I am so sorry!”, you said and this time you really dashed off the store as quickly as you can. You didn’t care anymore, today was enough embarrassment for you to handle.

Zhengting stare at you in a daze, he kept looking until your figure disappeared around the corner clearly noticing your slight tinged cheeks. Zhengting smiled a little, mostly thinking the small odd interaction was somewhat cute.

“She’s cute, isn’t she?”, Zhengting snapped his head to Wenjun. The male’s arm propped themselves on the metal counter, his head resting on the palms as his eyes stares dotingly at your already disappeared figure.

“Was it necessary for you to call me just for that?”, Zhengting said as he strode over to Wenjun. “You know I hate going out during summer break. Odd odors, mixture of sweats and perfumes, not to mention the unbearable heat”, he hissed out.

Wenjun, noticing the male’s mood changing just quickly grabbed the spare cold milk and throw it at Zhengting.

Without much hassle, Zhengting simply caught it and opened the flap, chugging the cold liquid down his burning throat. The male sighed in content after a few gulps, feeling the sadness as the cold delicacy is already half gone.

“Yo, I think she digs me”, Wenjun boasted. Zhengting stare at the male, his face shows the obvious sarcasm. “It’s true! Just now, she even noticed that I—”

“You changed your perfume?”, Zhengting said causally as he takes another sip of his milk. Wenjun gasped in shock, hands on his mouth for a more dramatic effect.

“You’re not interested in me, are you?”, he asked cautiously at Zhengting, causing the older male throwing the empty carton at him.

“She probably noticed your new scent too strong and stinks”, Zhengting said. He turned his head a little towards Wenjun and smirked – “She isn’t wrong, you know”.

Wenjun huffed a little. “Well—she knows my name!”, he said proudly. Zhengting laughed a little, how gullible could this male get. He pointed out to his name tag, trying his best to calm himself or he’ll risk choking.

“She has eyes, Wenjun. She probably saw your name tag”, and finally Wenjun admit his own defeat. “It’s fine, I’m going to chase her anyways”, Zhengting only hummed a little as his eyes wandered itself on the melting popsicle on the ceramic floor.

Zhengting must admit, he also got himself dazed the moment he sees you. You looked so delicate and innocent, it wasn’t possible to lure a pure dandelion into a pit of acidic water.

You’re like the blooming flowers in spring, like the fruits ripening into its beautiful plump self. Sweet and addicting, like sugar and spices. Zhengting smiled to himself – “she smelled like spring”, he whispered.

Wenjun stare at him in confusion, “like what?”

Zhengting only dismissed the male’s question, still clearly in his own thought. He kept staring at the pool of melted sweet on the ground, your scent still lingers a little in his sense.

Fresh and subtle. “She’s very beautiful”, Zhengting smiled to himself.

By fate or by chance, Zhengting couldn’t wait to see you again.

*****

The Progress – How both finally collides after a few days in High School

During his survival in High School, every single morning will always be the same. Squealing and whispers surrounding him, as the infamous troublemaker really had the guts to set his foot in his parent’s school.

Zhu Zheng Ting, infamous bad boy, troublemaker 101, son of the headmasters. His parents, strict and cold towards him. Forcing their ways against his, ruining not just his childhood but also his life. The only people who crushed his dreams, leaving him empty into nothing in the society.

His persona just drags more people in. Girls would often flaunt themselves on him, showing him how they want him shamelessly. Guys would get close to him just for the sake of status, using him for their own benefits.

Zhengting hated his life, it wasn’t ideal for him. It was probably the reason why he lived his whole life in High School isolated, as a rebel for others to fear him. Zhengting doesn’t need them, he only needed himself and a few problems.

Wenjun is his only friend since childhood, being Zhengting’s neighbor for so long. Despite being a year younger than Zhengting, being hold in a different section of classes from him. He’s probably the only person in the entire school he could trust. The only person who understand who he is and how his life works.

It was during first day of senior year, the very last year of Zhengting’s hellhole. He noticed something different.

Zhengting couldn’t grasped it at first yet it was familiar. So familiar.

Zhengting knows it wasn’t the class, it’s the same old cube where students thinks its jail. It’s also not the bathroom, still putrid at its time. It’s also not the cafeteria, the food still as bland as ever.

It was the air, it’s different.

No odd odor of people, no artificial perfume scents. It was suddenly fresh and welcoming, it felt familiar. Like he smelt it somewhere. It bugs his mind since the beginning of the day until late lunchtime in the cafeteria. And when the door swung open, he swore the whole room smelled like spring, as if petals are falling from the ceiling.

“Sweet! She’s in this school also!”, Wenjun exclaimed nudging on a dazed Zhengting.

In all glory, you were here. You’re actually in his school, studying in his school. Zhengting thought he was dreaming, he actually met you again.

He noticed your confused self, looking around the room before abruptly resting your gaze at him. You furrowed your eyebrows at him, clearly confused on why this person is giving you a staring contest in such open area.

Then he smiled.

You swore, it took you a second to remember who he was. Remembering the last encounter, you just quickly walk back to the door in hope of finding your friend elsewhere.

“Y/N!!”, you stopped. Turning around, the familiar hand suddenly took a hold of yours, dragging you to order some food.

“I told you to wait for me, Xinchun!”, you hissed at the male. Xinchun only smiled sheepishly, ruffling your hair as he apologized.

At the same moment, who would know your small interaction with Xinchun brought more misunderstanding to others. More likely, your soulmate.

“She’s taken? Come on!”, Wenjun threw his utensils back to his tray with a huff. Zhengting only stare, hand gripping on his pair of utensils. It was a foreign feeling for him, he didn’t know who you were, yet he felt sick staring at that small interaction.

He hates it. And for the first time, he didn’t know what to do.

*****

Few days passes, Zhengting slowly grasped small facts regarding your arrival. He learned you’re the new kid in the school, freshly moved with that Xinchun guy. He learned that you’re more to the quieter side, always listening to Xinchun, who’s very contrast from your quietness, always ranting about life 24/7.

It wasn’t unusual now to see Zhengting in a daze, suddenly boring his gaze against your back during lunchtime or whenever he accidentally saw you on the hallway.

What he didn’t know about you was you’re also the observant type. Despite not talking much, you like to observe people quietly. Seeing each one differs from one another, watching as others interact as you stood by the sideline.

It didn’t take you long to notice his on-going stare on you nor his continuous glare to Xinchun. You could always feel his eyes whenever both of you passed by during class changes, or during lunchtime.

Because you’re also observing him from afar. Either he noticed or felt it, your eyes always lingered on his back whenever he passed you. Something about him suddenly attracts you, like he was ready to pull your strings to him.

“So, who’s that summer fling of yours?”, Xinchun once asked you. Your eyes wander around the cafeteria, noticing he’s still on his usual seat with his one and only friend, Wenjun. It was amazing how he still didn’t notice your continuous stare despite he’s always looking at you also.

When you didn’t answer Xinchun’s question, the male took the chance to see what you’re looking at. Or who you’re staring at.

The Zhu Zheng Ting

“God no, babe!”, he hissed at you. You blinked at him innocently, surprise by his sudden outburst. “You’re telling me that guy is your mysterious guy?!”, you literally had to launch yourself on him, closing his mouth with both of your hand for the sake of not letting others hear the conversation.

Xinchun pride your hands off him, glaring at you. “Babe, 3 o’clock is trouble and you’re not getting near him”, he said as he took a small sip of his cup.

You sighed a little on his words. When you began your journey in High School, you’ve also learned a few things about him aside of him having a beautiful face. You’ve noticed he’s the school’s troublemaker of the century, loving son of the headmaster of the school. It was very obvious to see others launch themselves on him just for the sake of their own benefits.

Xinchun was right, he is trouble. You were sure even if you’re bound as soulmates, it would be harder. You wouldn’t know how he works, how your family would gather and do a peace offering, but mostly if both of you will even last.

“I mean it, Y/N”, Xinchun hold his gaze on yours. “Stay away from him”, he was dead serious.

It was probably during your duty in the infirmary was your first official meeting with him. You woke up from the bed after a light nap, just as the door swung open with a small knock.

“Anyone here?”, your body grew rigid. Slowly, you draw the curtains that separates each bed away from your silhouette. In the same moment, Zhengting’s eyes locks itself on yours. Both of you swore it was like death suddenly met life during the match.

“The head is out for the moment, is there any problem?”, you asked him softly, trying your best not to stutter as his eyes kept boring itself on you.

It took him a while to snap back to reality, your scent simply hypnotized him to drive the male far away from reality. He sighed in content, forgetting where and in what situation he’s living in.

“Ehh… sorry?”, he snaps his eyes open and stare at you in shock. “I—uhh… I scraped my knees during practice”, he said.

Your eyes instinctively looked at his gash. It wasn’t a big wound nor that small, you nodded.

His eyes still rest themselves on you even when you’re cleaning the blood off his skin and gash. That day, Zhengting had to hold back all his will for a smile, he’s finally talking to you. The look of concentration you had when you wrap a bandage around his knee was the most precious thing he had ever witness, he felt the beating of his heart increases in each passing second.

“All done!”, you said cheerfully. Looking up, you finally noticed his eyes on yours the whole time.

It took him a while to break the eye contact. Despite no wanting to, he did anyways. He stood up as you’re cleaning up the aftermath from his treatment.

“Thank you”, he said. You smiled and nodded at him a little.

He didn’t go, he still lingers in there for a while. Even after you finished arranging all the supplies on their respective places, he’s still there unmoving, not willing to move.

“Zhengting, I’m Zhu Zheng Ting”, he blurted out. You froze, very much taken aback at his sudden greeting.

“I know”, you blurted out. You swore, you wished you could slap yourself for blurting out random things in such odd situation. He stared at you confused, as if he was asking – you knew?

“I’ve watched—I mean, seen you a few times”, you groaned to yourself for being too obvious, you wished you could run now. He chuckled a little and nodded to himself.

You expected him to bid you a quick goodbye or at the very most, run. He didn’t, instead he gave out a smile and hummed a little.

“I’ve also watched you more than a few times also, Y/N”

You stare at him taken aback, he only smiled sheepishly on you. There, the next chapter finally unfolds.

*****

The Beginning – 4 months into High School

It started during mid-autumn. The leaves are changing colors to a beautiful contrast of orange and red to yellow, the weather is cooling down, and both of you and Zhengting finally made progress.

Sometimes, you would spend some time talking to him. Sometimes, he would pop up during your shift in the infirmary. Most of the time, both of you tried to keep a good distance from one another.

When you’re about to close the infirmary when you noticed a jacket resting on the table. Zhengting had lend you his jacket because you left yours at home. You almost forgot it was still with you until now. Without wasting any second you just quickly pack your things, stuffing his jacket on your arm and just went for the door.

It didn’t take you too long to find him. After all, his scent is very dominant from the other people around.

The slight musk and mint mixed together, it was like smelling autumn during winter days. Zhengting had always have this slight smoke tinge, making you wonder if the troublemaker here does smoke or not.

Your feet stopped after you rounded into one corner, noticing another tall male exiting a room. It was Wenjun.

“I’m going to get us some drinks, kay? Don’t take too long there!”, he said before going off to the opposite direction.

“The dance room?”, you wondered a little.

You could smell the upcoming scent of his getting stronger as each gap closes, the only thing separating you from going near him was the door. You could hear the light traditional music resonating in the room, accompanied by a small thud every now and then.

Without warning, you creaked the door open a little. No stench of sweat or huffing breath, it’s just him.

When you first noticed Zhengting, you’ve already concluded that he’s a beautiful human in existence. This time, you swore you thought you’ve seen an actual angel. The way his body moves along the smooth tones of the music, his whole aura glides to gracefully and delicately, it’s just beautiful. His whole figure glides like no other, as if the music runs into his veins.

Until his eyes locks on yours on the mirror, that’s when he lost his balance.

You screamed a little seeing his whole body impacted the hard floor, quickly running near him to ensure he wasn’t injured.

The moment your hand touches his arm, he just brushed you off harshly. Eyes red as if he’s in rage, huffing to calm his breath. “W-when—since when you were there?”, he said in between breath.

Confused, you didn’t know how to react. “Just now, I was coming to give you back your—”

“Why—No. Get out.”, he said.

You shake your head a little, still unsure if he’s really okay or not. “But, you fell and—”

“Get out, Y/N!”, he hollered out. You grew rigid, shock registering in your system. Quickly, you just scrambled on your feet and was ready to dash for the door. It wasn’t until Zhengting grabs a hold of your arm, his eyes very much in rage.

“Whatever you witnessed just now, don’t tell anyone”, he said. “forget about it”, he hissed out.

Leaving you in your own paranoia, Zhengting never chased you for any sort of explanation since then. He just left you in your own bubble of shock and fear.

In all his life, Zhengting could say he’d fucked up countless time. From disappointing his families until his own parents was ready to disown him at any time, he was okay about it. He didn’t care about them, he despises them anyways.

This time, he knew he fucked up real bad. He knew you’re still in school, he could smell your scent from far away. But you’re really avoiding him.

Sometimes, he could say the sensitive nose has it own perks. You know either someone is there or not, or just you use it to avoid people you don’t want to from their scent.

Whenever you sensed him getting closer, the usual calming scent suddenly become a huge alarm in your head, you just simply took a big U-turn and make a run for it. But that didn’t stop Zhengting from hunting you down.

He made the effort to find you. From getting confrontation of your best friend Xinchun who he found out that the male already has a soulmate until getting dumped by your younger brother who’s 6 years younger than him. The rage in the younger eyes, it was as if Justin was ready to bite him off even if Zhengting is the alpha in charge.

It took Zhengting a while to gather more than enough information to find your whereabouts. When he sees the folder of student bios laying around on his father’s study room, he just took it without consent and scan the thousands of faces on the papers.

There he knew, he just knew how to fix this whole situation as he now got your address. If he couldn’t explain it to you in school, he’ll just talk it out privately near your neighborhood.

Who knew the aftermath caught him in a dazed during a chilly weekend morning. From knowing you’re very loved in the school until discovering you’re also very much cherished at home. Not just by your parents, it was mostly by your brother who recently entered Junior High.

Justin stare at Zhengting from his legs up towards his face, the kid isn’t amused. Justin bites the straw of his banana milk on hand, eyes judging the older male who dare cause a ruckus in the household.

“You’re the douchebag that made my sister cry?”, Justin threw the bullet at him.

Zhengting stood on the yard awkwardly as Justin stare him down, it was amazing to know the kid is by means 6 years younger than him but knows how to dominate people. But that wasn’t the point, you cried?

“You’re really dumb for a troublemaker, you know?”, Justin cackled a little.

Zhengting swore, if this wasn’t for you, he would’ve smacked the kid in place right now. “Tell me where she is”, Zhengting said in a strict tone, hoping it would break down the younger’s hard attitude.

Justin scoffed a little. “You wish”, Justin scoffed at him.

Very much taken aback by Justin’s attack, Zhengting had never expected this much contrast between your brother with you yourself.

“You’re a tornado of trouble, right?”, Justin asked mindlessly as he takes another sip of his milk. Zhengting furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, he was pretty much already afraid of the kid.

“Eh… yea?”, he said unsurely causing a grin on the younger’s face.

Justin clucked his tongue a little, nodding. “Can you fight?”, he asked again.

Zhengting was pretty much already triggered by the question, nonetheless he just nodded again. “Tell you what, one round and I’ll tell you where she is”, Justin said.

Zhengting didn’t know what got into him, all he knew he had the best laugh in the century. Justin only stare at the older male pretty much unamused by his cackling, he only sips his banana milk quietly as he waits for him to finish his laugh.

“I mean it”, he said after Zhengting managed to calm himself. “Hit me once, I’ll tell you where my sister is. I hit you, you got to agree on my one wish then I’ll tell you where she is”, he smirked at Zhengting.

“You’re telling me, you’re going to tell me even if I fail on making a mark on you?”, he scoffed at the younger male.

Justin shurgs. “You’re her soulmate, there’s no reason for me to hold you off her that long”, he said. Justin takes a small step down the front door into the lawn. A small tug on his lips, he stared at Zhengting wildly.

“Come at me, Zhu”, he said. “Let’s see how well you can use your instinct”, and Zhengting launches himself on the young child.

*****

You sighed a little, huffing when you still failed on getting the book you needed. You thought for a while once again before rising up on your tippy toes as your arm reach high for the book on the top shelf.

It was nearing exam seasons and you took the time to revise everything in a more in depth manner. Hence, you decided it was best to spend it in the local library near your neighborhood. At this time of the early weekend, you decided it was best to spend your time revising your arch enemy, advanced calculus.

You huffed once again, now very much annoyed by the fact you’re still unable to get the book. You stare at the spine, very much boring lasers on the dead bounded pages of papers. Again, you tried once again to get the book. Arm stretching as far as you could as you tip toe for an extra helping height to reach the top shelf.

It took you a while to even register the smell of musk suddenly lingers in your senses. No, he couldn’t possibly be here, he doesn’t know this place exist.

When the scent became stronger, you didn’t have time to react fully by the incoming figure. A longer hand reaches out on the respective book you needed, causing you a bigger amount of shock and you turned around.

Alive and in his whole glory, Zhengting is there in front of your eyes.

You stare at him, almost thinking it was just hallucination because you’ve rarely met your soulmate now. He’s not real, it’s just in your mind.

“This is the book you needed right?”, you gasped in shock when he suddenly spoke, he stared at you in confusion.

“It’s not?”, he questioned. You reached out and poke him a little on his arm, feeling the warmth radiating from him. “Oh my god, you’re real”, you whispered to yourself. Zhengting chuckled at your confused self, pretty much amused on how the whole cat and mouse chase made you think.

“Here”, he passed on the book towards you which, you took without questioning as you mumbled a small – “Thank you…”

Then it was back to the awkward silence. Being in a very small space and a very close proximity with Zhengting wasn’t a good idea. You could feel yourself getting hotter at every passing second, especially when his eyes are already boring itself on you.

“Y/N?”, he called out.

Cautiously, you looked at him. He smiled a little, feeling the small beat in his chest rise louder and louder. “I’m sorry”, he said.

“I didn’t mean to suddenly yell at you that day. It was just—“, he sighed a little. “I was just—“, he groaned a little. Zhengting had no idea how he would explain this whole situation towards you, he himself is still lost on his own problem making it harder to explain his own outburst.

Your brother already gave him this opportunity and he can’t let this slip off. After all, Zhengting didn’t just sacrifice his pride to get his ass kicked by a Junior High kid. Damn, when Justin said he learned to fight, Zhengting would’ve never thought it meant I’m a black belt in Taekwondo also!

Zhengting took a small breath, calming his nerve a little. “Y/N”, he said once again. You kept staring at him, more likely very concerned on his behavior in each passing second.

“I think I’m in love with you”, he said.

You felt the slight heat crept itself on your neck, the pink radiating on your cheeks by the confession. Both of you knew, this is bound to happen. But it still gives out the same amount of fluster and nervousness on both actors.

You didn’t know how to exactly continue the whole conversation, instead you gave out a small squeak of “W-what?” in the most unsure manner ever.

“I’m in love with you—“, he said once again. He swallowed a little lump before continuing on. “—and I really want to kiss you right now”, he whispered.

Just like that, everything happened naturally. His hand rested itself on the shelf whilst the other snake towards your back, slowly he inches forward closing the gap. When you felt his lips rest itself on yours, you instinctively rest your hands on the line between his jawline and neck. Feeling far more in bliss, as if this whole situation was too good to be true. The sparks, the butterflies, all mixed into one.

When both finally pulled away, Zhengting only smiled widely at you. “Oh wow”, he whispered to himself. “I am very in love with you”, he said in a daze causing a small fit of laughter out of you in the process.

“I see you’ve met Justin”, you said suddenly. Zhengting only smiled sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head in shame. “It was the only way I could actually find you”, he said.

“I hope he didn’t cause you any injury then”, you said to him. Zhengting laughed, almost sarcastically as he said “No, Justin is a very nice kid anyways”.

“Isn’t he the sweetest?”, you said in pure glee.

Zhengting thought about earlier, the way Justin swiftly threw the male off as a kick landed itself on the older’s waist. Justin smiled at him, softly mumbling towards him. “She’s in the local library down the street”, he said casually. Finally deciding to help the older one out, Justin easily extended a helping hand which Zhengting accepted. When he grabs a hold of the younger’s hand, Justin just clenches it as a warning.

“Make her cry one more time, I’ll break that pretty face of yours”, Justin said softly, a smile still plastered itself on his face.

“Yea, he’s the sweetest”, Zhengting said as he shuddered a little. He swore, Justin Huang will always be the spawn of the devil himself.

*****

The Climax – The last obstacle for Hades and Persephone

When Zhengting graduate 2 years ago, he thought there would be nothing that will hold you away from him. He had the most blissful relationship with you, making memories non-stop. Sure, he had to deal with your parents, who are still cautious around him. And yes, Zhengting still fear Justin. Mostly, Zhengting will never forget about Xinchun being all snappy.

He remembered when Xinchun felt the upmost disbelief and shock when the news was given. “You’ve been dating this douche for almost a year and didn’t tell me?”, he snaps.

Zhengting only pulled you closer as the tiger snaps again as you looked at Xinchun in pure guilt. “We were keeping it subtle”, you mumbled.

“That doesn’t hide the fact you kept it from your best-friend”, he said back. You only mumbled a small apology at him, feeling nothing but pure guilt. When Xinchun leaves out a sigh, you were expecting him to throw another tantrum. Instead, the male ruffles your hair with a wide grin on his face.

“As long as you’re happy, I approve”, he said. Then his eyes locks with Zhengting’s, the smile completely wiped off. “Soulmates or not, if you hurt her, I am murdering you”, he hissed at the male before turning around to hand with Justin.

It’s an iconic memory, for you and Zhengting mostly.

“And I thought only your family is protective on you”, Zhengting said in a daze. You chuckled a little, “They just love me too much”.

He would never had thought time would pass that easily. One day he bumps into you, then the next day you’re both sealed the oath. It went away fast, without notice both started to change. You noticed Zhengting is more of the clingy touchy side, he would often snuggle himself on the crook of your neck.

“You just smelled so good”, he would often say. Sometimes he would ask what is his scent, which you replied easily with – “Like morning mist and smoke, fresh and strong”. It’s like him, painted the picture of who Zhengting truly is.

“Like flowers and sugar, spring and sweet”, he said to you. Just like you, it shows who you truly are in the end. It was cliché to say both of you are too blind for one another, it’s true.

“I am going to marry you one day”, he said during your first summer break as a High School graduate. You laughed at him, he turned around as his eyes glistened in hope. “I mean it, I am going to marry you one day”, he said.

“I believe in you”, you said before you pulled him into another kiss.

Innocent love, sweet and innocent. Like sugar and smoke.

Both of you always thought that nothing would come and ruin the relationship. Nothing. Even after 2 years and during your graduation and summer break. Just plainly in love and in peace. You’re going to univ like him then graduate, then Zhengting would find the right time to finally propose and everything will be official.

“I’m moving to London in a week, Ting”, was the first thing you said during his break from uni. “I’m moving there for college”, you said. Zhengting remembered he still had the smile on his face as his whole body froze, his hand gripped on the doorknob, so tight until his knuckles turned white.

He swore, that day he felt the world fall apart. He felt himself fall apart.

*****

You ran, as fast as your feet could. Passing each hallway to another, running up the stairs towards the other wings. When you stopped, you stare at the same door you visited last time.

The soft tune still resonates in the room, you could feel it vibration running from the wall to the door. Your heart thunders as your hand came in contact with the knob. Then you opened it.

“Ting?”

He turned his head around and you swore you felt your heart broke at the sight. He was shaking, his breath very uneven, eyes red. A sight you’ve never seen before, he’s disoriented. He stared at you in fear, his lips quiver from making any sound but a silent sob.

Dating Zhengting had been nothing but a blessing. He’s different from you, you’re the biggest contrast from him.

He didn’t force you into anything, you would never make him do things he doesn’t want. That day you noticed the difference. Zhengting already knew who you were inside out in just 3 months whilst you had no idea who he truly is. You’re not familiar of the Zhu Zheng Ting you’re dating, your own soulmate.

He’s still the biggest mystery you’d ever have, but you still accept him. You know, one day he will tell you. But you never understand how things escalated this far.

Until he was broken, you were finally lost. This time, you discover he’s not the troublemaker everyone talks about. He has his own problems in life, things he decided to keep to himself from the pity and the guilty eyes of society.

You just ran to him, slamming the door in the end. Soon, he cradles himself in you, desperate for any type of support.

His sobs became more violent, broken the more you hold him. He finally breaks. You slowly hushed him, lulling him to calm down from his own storm. “I—can’t—I”, he stuttered out.

“It’s okay, take your time”, you whispered softly at him. “It’s okay…”, you said.

He cried more. Zhengting didn’t know why, he felt like he found his own safe haven around you, his protection from his own weakness. The only person he could run to, the only person who shall see him in this broken state. You, only you.

“I don’t want you to leave”, he choked out the words. “But I can’t do anything, huh?”, he laughed to himself a little.

“It’s okay, Ting… It’s fine”, you said when he buried himself closer to the crook of your neck.

For once, he doesn’t believe your words.

“I got kicked out”, Zhengting said. The smile engraved itself on his face, his eyes still glistened like crystals. He’s beautiful.

“My parents—“, he choked on his words. “My parents finally kicked me out”, he said.

Zhengting didn’t know why, he felt the huge relief when he finally let loose. He smiled a little. “I was never that famous troublemaker everyone talks about. I caused trouble due to my fear of being used by them—”

He leans closer to your warmth. Instinctively, you wrapped your arms around him, spooning him in. “It’s not a secret that I have good scores that’s considered above average, almost perfect.”, he wondered a little.

“I studied day and night, just for my parents liking. They had no room for games, I was forced to be perfect just because they own this whole institution. Hence, my opinions never matter to them. I was always shunned off from their light, never becoming their priority—"

“I have my own passion, my own dream. I dreamed to get lulled under music, as my mind haze itself on the tune, as a dancer.”, he chuckled. “It never happened. I told them about my plans after High School, I would go to the best university that teaches Traditional Dance and graduate from there. Then I would pursue my life around the world, doing the things I love—“, he choked out.

Slowly, you wiped away the stray tear that left his eyes. Pressing a small kiss on his temple, you hushed him to calm down.

“My father—”, he choked out. “He hits me, he told me to stop thinking about useless things and just focus on reality. My mother only stared at me with the uttermost disappointment in her eyes. I was crushed, I thought I had to stop then”, he laughed a little to himself.

“But I can’t”, he whispered. “The will lingers, I can’t get rid of it that easily.”, he said.

“In the end, I always practice without their knowledge. I hid it from everyone in fear that words will travel around, then in the end my parents would know”, he said. “I’m sorry for that day, I truly am. I didn’t mean to yell at you or even have that outburst! I was paranoid, scared mostly—”

“You didn’t, instead you supported me. Constantly staying whenever I’m in this room. The awe in your face is just too precious and you even told me to chase my own dream, do thing I love.”

“I did, I got accepted in the university I wanted, into the major I love”, his hand tangles itself around yours as he laced his fingers with yours.

“Zhengting, I’m sorr—”

“It’s not your fault”, he said. “I got things covered for the future impact. I chose to tell them in the end. Like I expected, they kicked me out. It doesn’t matter anymore, if they can’t accept my own decision in my own life, then it’s the same they wouldn’t accept me for who I am”, he smiled a little in the end.

“As long as I have you, I’m fine”, he stared at you. He leans closer to your side, closing the small gap. His nose brushed against yours, breath tickling one another. He cups your face on his palms, the most sincere smile on his face.

“Go… I’ll support any decision you make”, he whispered. “I’ll sacrifice some of my happiness for you”, he said. He sighed a little, knowing each passing second means you’re slipping away. He smiled, for you he did.

“I truly love you, Huang Y/N”, and sealed his lips against yours.

Even when heavens rumbles, banned Hades from Olympus itself, he didn’t care. He knew there’s one person who will accept him fully back in the Underworld. His queen, his beloved, Persephone. He will wait for her comeback, and when she’s back in hell, they will fire Olympus down together.

*****

Now – Airport, 12.56 PM

Zhengting sighed loudly when he felt the stinging heat against his arms. He had always hated summer, not just from the heat or odd odors people emits. But bringing the other 6 people with him was like bringing a zoo to a public place.

He stares quietly at Justin and Chengcheng who’s fighting over a popsicle. The youngest is so pissed off, he pushed the whole ice in the older throat and choked Chengcheng in the process. Zeren who’s beside them is freaking out as he tried to calm the choking male. Then Xinchun and Quanzhe was screaming on one another just for the portable mini fan. This is giving the mother a headache.

Zhengting proceeded to stare at Wenjun who’s standing beside him quietly. At least he’s normal, he wondered to himself.

It took him a second to complain on the on-going summer heat. Zhengting swore he felt his heart rate rises up higher and higher each minutes pass.

When he smelled the incoming sweet smell, he knew. It wasn’t just his mind replying all the sweet moment he had spent with you. It was for real.

You didn’t change, your scent still as fresh as ever, sweet like sugar. He smiled to himself, you’re here.

“Jie!!”, Justin yelled when he saw you coming out of the door.

You were lost at first, turning around for any sign of your brother. When you suddenly felt the incoming impact and the familiar scent of Justin, you let out a loud laugh. “Hi turnip, I missed you”, you ruffled his hair.

He literally dragged you towards where the other stood, greeting each one especially Xinchun. “Short as ever”, he said causing you to hit him in the process.

Zhengting chuckled a little, the scent he emits grew stronger and stronger. “Hi”, he said. You smiled at him, then you ran towards him.

Zhengting laughed when he felt your incoming impact on him, he didn’t mind. His arms automatically wrapped itself around you, pulling your closer. You nuzzled your nose around him as he finds his way to your neck, taking a whiff.

The smell of home.

You missed him, you truly missed him. Those 2 years were enough to murder your patience and having him right here in front of you. It felt too good to be true. He’s here, your one and only.

Zhengting pulled away from you slightly, cupping your face in the process. “You never changed”, he said. “I would never”, you said back.

“Welcome back, love”, he said before slowly he leans down and locks his lips around you.

You smiled alongside on the shared contact, feeling the pure bliss running in your system. His hand slowly traces itself on your waist, pulling you closer. The other runs down your other arm, holding your small one in his.

You gasped a little when you felt the cold metal substance slid into one of your fingers. When you pulled out, the first thing you saw was him grinning like a true idiot. You stare at your hand, feeling the pure nostalgia running into you

“I told you”, he said still grinning.

The silver band wraps itself perfectly around your ring finger, the diamond shines under the summer heat. It shines, glistens like no other. He held your hand in his, pulling it towards his face as he lands a small peck on your knuckles.

He gave you a smile, his eyes shine with hope.

“I’m going to marry you one day, Y/N”

116 notes · View notes

vicccwrites · 6 years

Text

More Than Friends - Zhu Zhengting

(A/N: This has been sitting in my drafts for as long as I can remember lol so I finally decided to finish it ^^ Someone told me they liked the friends to lovers trope and I guess that’s why I came up with it originally? It’s been a while lmao,,, anyway, enjoy~~! <33)

Masterlist

- Picture Source: Google -

You and Zhengting had been friends forever

And by that I mean that you two had literally known each other since before you were even born

Your parents had long since been family friends, and when it turned out that Zhengting was only a year older than you, it was natural that you two would grow up together

From watching tv to going to family barbecues together, the pair of you were attached at the hip for the entirety of your childhoods

You two even walked with each other to school every morning, and had several mutuals friends from your various classes

This all changed when Zhengting went off to college though, leaving you behind in the small town that you both called home

Ofc you missed him dearly!!

But you made up for the fact with many, many phone calls

So much so that your parents started to joke that you two were practically dating

You laughed along with them, not realising just how much that statement would come back and haunt you later

Eventually, you manage to wrap up your high school career for once and for all

And while you were slightly sad that it was the last time that you would share classes with some of your close friends

(Since you were all going to different unis)

You also couldn’t give a flying fuck because SUMMER!! Meant that Zhengting would be coming home and you would finally be reunited with your all-time bestie

Plus you would be able to start a new school year at college with Ting come fall!

In what was the first time you were excited for anything remotely related to school

When his car pulls into the driveway, you all but sprint out of the house to meet him

Nearly tripping flat on your face welp

As he steps out of the vehicle though, you can only stop and stare

wOW ok….

He got hot

Not that you hadn’t always found your bff more than slightly attractive

But college man,, something had to have been in the water there because he was looking REALLY good

Completely oblivious to your wandering thoughts, Zhengting came up and engulfed you in a giant bear hug

He had missed his best friend too, after all

You were quick to regain your wits and hug him back, determined not to let your sudden feelings interfere with what was sure to be an awesome summer break

They were probably just an effect of not having seen him for so long, and you suspected that they would go away pretty soon

Except,,, they didn’t

If anything, as the summer wore on, your less-than-strictly-platonic feelings for your bestie grew

Which confused you?? A lot?

You tried not to let them get in the way of your plans

But your gaze couldn’t help but linger on his toned abs whenever you two went to the beach to play a game of volleyball or fool around in the ocean

And you found yourself becoming increasingly distracted by the movements of his plump lips as he talked

Logically, you knew - because of how close the pair of you were - that it wouldn’t be long before your gig was up

However, at the same time, you were determined not to bring up the elephant in the room, and you hoped he wouldn’t either

It wasn’t as if he would ever accept, or even return, your feelings anyway

He would probably think that you were really weird

Or something to that degree

Not wanting to lose your closest friend, you were fine with bottling up your emotions

....But you should have known that was a terrible idea from the start

Zhengting was smart, very smart; and you knew that

It shouldn’t have come as such a surprise when he eventually figured out something was wrong and confronted you

It was about midway through the summer?

One day, the two of you were just hanging out in your room

Nothing was out of the ordinary

Until, in a random lull in the conversation, he turned serious all of a sudden

“So, y/n, what’s up?”

*cue mini internal freak out*

You knew exactly what he was referring to, but tried to feign ignorance anyway

“What do you mean, Ting? We’ve spent the past month together, you should know what’s up”

He dramatically rolled his eyes, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips

Before he got up and cupped your face in his hands

“I think I might just know, princess,” he whispered in your ear teasingly

The words sent a shiver down your spine

This was it, your friendship was over

Years and years of companionship, of comfort, all crashing down in one moment because of your sheer inability to keep your damn crush a secret

“I’m sorry, Ting, I didn’t mean to ruin it.”

You mentally cursed when your voice faltered halfway through the sentence, trying to wrench away from his grasp

A frown creased his beautiful features, and you knew this was the moment everything would go to hell

“What on earth are you talking about, y/n? You haven’t ruined anything.”

??? Could he even hear himself? What was he saying??

He pulled back tentatively, surprised by the tears he could see welling up in your eyes

After a moment’s silence, he prompted again;

“Tell me what’s wrong, angel. I can’t fix it if I don’t know what’s going on.”

“I think I might like you, Zhengting. As,,, more than just a friend.”

“I think I just might like you back.”

What?

Before you could even process what was happening, you had a pair of lips on yours

holy shit this is happening right now

“Yes it is, y/n. And if it’s ok with you I’d like it to happen a lot more in the future,” he muttered against your lips

Oops, you must have said that out loud

“I’d like that,” you sighed, pressing your foreheads together as you both laid - somehow having sprawled out on your bed, slightly out of breath

“Does this mean we’re dating?”

“It means we’re more than friends, that’s for sure. Let’s just go back to kissing and figure the rest of it out later.”

“Sounds great - lead the way, princess.”

108 notes · View notes

sinfulcries2 · 6 years

Text

heart chat ; nine percent

welcome to heart chat! a dating app, which lets you find your ideal type in a click! (an interactive game!)

TO GET STARTED, PLEASE CREATE YOUR PROFILE!

NAME: y/n

AGE: not old

HOBBIES: uhhh.... being lazy?

IDEAL TYPE: give me anyone hot and talented

PERSONALITY: uhh,,, a hot bitch

REASON YOU DOWNLOADED: im lonely

WELCOME TO HEART CHAT! HERE IS YOUR PROFILE!

NAME: Y/N ; AGE: NOT OLD ; 1 MILE AWAY

WE HAVE FOUND YOU NINE MATCHES!

would you like to check them?

YES/no

NAME: YOU ZHANGJING ; AGE: 24 ; 1 MILE AWAY - MEET UP NOW

NAME: WANG LINKAI ; AGE: 19 ; 1 MILE AWAY - MEET UP NOW

NAME: WANG ZIYI ; AGE: 22 ; 2 MILES AWAY- MEET UP NOW

NAME: ZHU ZHENGTING ; AGE: 23 ; 2 MILES AWAY - MEET UP NOW

NAME: LIN YANJUN ; AGE: 23 ; 3 MILES AWAY- MEET UP NOW

NAME: HUANG MINGHAO ; AGE: 17 ; 3 MILES AWAY - MEET UP NOW

NAME: FAN CHENGCHENG ; AGE 18 ; 4 MILES AWAY - MEET UP NOW

NAME: CHEN LINONG ; AGE: 18 ; 5 MILES AWAY - MEET UP NOW

NAME: CAI XUKUN ; AGE: 21 ; 5 MILES AWAY - MEET UP NOW

CHOOSE NOW!

136 notes · View notes

dearlinong · 6 years

Text

top pick ; zhu zhengting

[if you can? could u pls write a lil bullet scenario thing where the reader could be zhengting’s older sibling or a mentor in idol producer (or if u want u can make the reader both ssghkgklifh) and the reader reacts to zhengting’s modern dance? bc i kept watching it and it was so so so beautiful and zhengting dances so graceful im just 🤧]

(a/n: i cant believe i actually finished this in one day! btw thank you anon for requesting. i got some feels while writing this, i really tried to put myself in y/n’s place, and i got too overwhelmed lol. hope you like this guys!)

genre: idol!sibling, idol producer mentor!sibling

requested: uhuh

you are a very famous idol in china and in korea

you are also zhengting’s older sibling

a very loving and caring younger brother

you sometimes even forget that you’re older than him lol

also very hardworking

so when he told you that he was joining idol producer you were so proud of him

but at the same time nervous

you know why

BECAUSE YOU’RE ONE OF THE TRAINERS

like a few weeks back the director of the show asked you if you wanted to be a vocal trainer

so you were like heLLS YEA

and you were planning on telling them the good news, but then zhengting told his news first

sooooo

you didn’t tell them

on he day of the first recording, zhengting was all ready to go, then he saw you all dressed up and shit so he asked you where you were going then you lied to him saying that your company arranged a meeting with you for a new comeback, and then he’s like oh okay have fun :-)

you were dying inside a bit bc he really fell for it

so you two parted ways

even if you were both going to the same location

when you arrived in the mentor’s lounge you were looking at the monitors which were connected to the cameras in the place were the evaluations will be held

you and the other mentors watch as all the trainees come in

the yuehua boys were one of the last to come in

you are actually close with the yuehua boys since you bring them food and you also sometimes give them tips while training

when the last trainee came in that was the signal for the mentors to enter the venue

you had a big smile while entering, you saw all the trainees reactions like

‘oh my god itS JACKSON’

‘wTF IS THAT CHENG XIAO’

‘BITCH IM DYING ALL MY FAVES ARE HERE x_x’

but what you kept on hearing were the yuehua boys

‘WTF ZHENGTING I DIDN’T KNOW Y/N WAS GONNA BE HERE’

‘I DIDN’T SIGN UP TO BE CRITICIZED BY Y/N, BYE FUCKERS’

and when you saw zhengting’s reaction, you can’t help but laugh

it was legit like this -> OoO

it was time the evaluations, some of them were amazing and some of them need more improvement but still you gave everyone words of encouragement, that even if they got a low rank, it’s not the end for them and that they can still improve

then it was the yuehua trainees turn

you heard everyone say that their performance is going to be lit because duhhh, its yuehua

so when they entered the first one you looked at was zhengting and bRO he was shaking

then it was time for them to introduce themselves, and when zhengting was done introducing himself, you smiled at him, and you saw him smile back at you but hiS SMILE WAS LIKE THE FAKEST SMILE YOU’VE EVER SEEN HIM DONE, because clearly he wasn’t okay

before letting them perform yixing called zhengting’s attention

‘zhu zhengting? aren’t you y/n’s brother?’

‘y-yes i am’

and everyone was like ‘BITCH OHMYGOD’

so then they did their performance, you saw some mistakes but they were just minor ones and their whole performance was BOMB AS FUCK

yixing then called zhengting’s attention and asked if he could perform a modern dance for them, so he was like ‘of course!’

after he did his modern dance yixing asked if you could give any comment to his modern dance

‘first of all, i’m really proud that you’ve come this far and i’m really proud that you keep on honing your talents, and i’ve been watching you since you were little and i just wanna say that you’ve grown so much.’

and then jackson’s like ‘BOI IS THAT A TEAR I SEE’ and then you smack his arm

you continued to give comments about his performance and you said that his movements were very magnificent, you told him that he looked like a swan while he was performing because he was so damn graceful, and you continued to shower him with compliments

after you give your comments mc jin said ‘why don’t you give your brother a little hug, for good luck’

so you stood up and gave him the biggest hug you’ve ever given to someone you also whispered to him

‘you got this zhengting, jiayou and keep on doing what you do, i’m always here for you, you’ll always be my top pick’

#zhu zhengting #zhengting #zhu zhengting scenarios #zhu zhengting bullet point #zhe zhengting scenario #zhu zhengting imagines #nine percent #nine percent scenarios #nine percent scenario #nine percent imagines #idol producer #idol producer scenarios #idol producer scenario #idol producer imagines

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ashrocker123 · 6 years

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Ice Cold (Part 1)

I'm new to writing on Tumblr so please bare with my sucky formatting. I'll figure it out eventually 😂

🚨Warnings: Mentions of car accidents and death. Slight smut...? Does a forced make out session count as smut🤔Help a girl out😅🚨

*NOT EDITED*

https://soundcloud.com/ilovechina-ilikechinesegirls/three-inches-of-heaven

Idk why I listen to this song when reading or writing angst I just do it...

Zani's POV

It was just another day at the practice room. The rest of the members had left already leaving Zhengting and I as usual. We decided to dance just a bit more.

"Zani, you know what the best part of you being our choreographer is?"

"What Ting?"

"That you are automatically our backup dancer so I never have to leave you when I'm on tour like others."

"That's so random but I'm happy I never have to leave you too Ting. I'm out of water. I'm gonna go grab us some from the fridge ok?"

"Ok. Hurry back." He gave me a quick kiss as I left the room.

Zhengting and I have been dating for three years now. Going strong on four. I'm a back up dancer and choreographer for Nine Percent and Nex7. We support each other in reaching our dreams. Although we see each other at home every second of our lives, we connect the most when we dance. It's like talking about the feelings but not actually opening our mouths. We express the love through movements that words can't. The love, trust, happiness, sadness, anger, struggles, stress, everything. Or so I thought. I went to grab us water but came back to my worst nightmare. There, he and his new stylist, pinned on the mirror with their tongues down each other's throat. Out of shock I dropped the bottles out of my hands, the sound shocking the two.

"Babe it's not what it looks like I swear!"

With no hesitation I ran. I ran to the elevator and took it to the lobby. That did me no good as we weren't up on a high floor, or else Zhengting is just a fast af runner. I darted for the door but a hand grabbed my arm and turned me around.

"Babe let me explain! I swear it's not what you think!"

"What is there to explain Ting? I saw it with my two damn eyes!" The screaming catching the attention of a receptionist behind the desk and a few other staff in the lobby.

"LET ME EXPLAIN FIRST!"

But I didn't let him. I pulled my arm out of his grasp and I ran. I ran and ran and ran without a destination in mind. I ran with nothing but blurry sight and blocked out noise.

Why did he do it? Was it on purpose? Was it his fault? Should I have waited for an explanation? Or was he actually cheating on me? I don't understand, am I not enough? What's wrong with me? Is it because she's prettier? Do his members know?

As I kept running it started to pour. Goodness is Mother Nature getting cheated on as well? I ran with so many thoughts in my head I didn't even notice a car speeding my way. My body felt like it was literally getting kicked to moon with such a hard impact. I hit my head when I landed a WAYS away from the car. The last thing I heard was the screeching of tires and the love of my life screaming my name. I saw red, the white flash of cameras, then everything went black as a tear slipped down my cheek.

I plan on making a few parts to this series. I don't know how many but there might be some horror/ thriller in it.😬😁

#zhu zhengting #idol producer scenarios #nex7 imagines #nine percent scenarios #zhu zhengting angst #You will hate me for this but oh well #zhu zhengting scenarios

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lordsicheng · 6 years

Text

Stay: Zhu Zhengting

Zhu Zhengting x OC

400-500 word music drabble challenge #31

word count: 493

song: Stay - Zedd, Alessia Cara

All you have to do is stay a minute Just take your time The clock is ticking, so stay All you have to do is wait a second Your hands on mine The clock is ticking, so stay

It only took a few knocks for Zhengting to run over and open the door, face lightening up the moment he saw you with a smile on your face. He was excited you could come over to his place with some friends, hanging out after a busy week at college. He invited you in and you walked on over to the sofa, sitting next to your other friends as they continued to chit chat and watch a movie to let the time pass by

“What are we watching?” you asked as you grabbed the bag of chips on the coffee table in front of you

“Peter Pan. Classic.” Kenta, one of your friends, said as he leaned his back on the sofa

“More like it was your choice, Kenta.” Zhengting commented and laughed as he sat next to you

Kenta just laughed as he looked back on to the TV, resting his arm on the sofa’s cushion that was behind you. Zhengting saw this and kind of felt slightly jealous, side eyeing a few times in hopes Kenta would get rid of his arm behind you. You, on the other hand, didn’t really mind this since you were all very close enough and comfortable with each other.

As time passed, a few of your friends left one by one since it was getting pretty late even though everyone had a great time just hanging out. You didn’t realize that it was only you, Kenta, and two more other friends left so you just decided to clean up Zhengting’s place before leaving.

“Hey, y/n. Was wondering if you were free tomorrow?” Kenta asked all of the sudden as he wiped the table

“Not really. Why?” you turned your head to look at Kenta from across the room

“Nothing.” he chuckled while continuing on wiping the table and clearing the last few pieces of trash by the table

Zhengting just couldn’t help but eavesdrop while he was nearby. Again, giving a side eye as he washed the dishes by the sink. Kenta looked at his watch and then walked over to him, giving a slight wink while smirking

“Guess you’ve got her for tonight.” Kenta whispered, patting his friend on the shoulder

“Hey, I’m gonna go ahead.” Kenta grinned as he looked at you and you waved him goodbye

Before you knew it, you were the only one left in Zhengting’s apartment, apart from him. You looked at the clock and saw it was getting pretty late, but you didn’t feel like leaving. Zhengting stretched a bit before sitting on the sofa, looking at you as you looked back at him

“Need to go?” he asked with a raised brow

“I guess. Don’t feel like leaving yet though.” you shrugged, turning to the direction of the door

But before you could take a step, his hand suddenly grabbed yours but in a gentle way, making you look back at him with a small smile

“Just stay.”

#yuehua boys #zhu zhengting #zhu zheng ting #jung jung #zhu zhengting scenarios #zhu zhengting imagines #zhu zhengting reactions #yuehua boys imagines #yuehua boys reactions #yuehua boys scenarios #idol producer imagines #idol producer scenarios #i'm only gna tag that since he's on ip rn lol #also i'm out of titles for the song drabbles rip

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redhyuck · 6 years

Text

You could hear the slow breathing, and it was close. Their hands reached out to hold yours that comfortably rested over the blankets and on your side. Their grip remained soft and gentle, as they raised your hand and enveloped theirs around it.

#im in a slump right now im so sorry #:(#fic preview #ill try to get everything done #zhu zhengting scenarios #nine percent #nine percent scenarios #idol producer #cpop #redhyuck #idol producer scenarios #cpop scenarios

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peanutpinet · 3 years

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Nine Percent Masterlist

Scenarios/Blurbs

Escape Room with 9%

Scenarios based on their pics #1

Scenarios based on their pics #2

If they saw someone being harassed

Scenarios for @nine._.percent

3rd year anniversary scenario

Nine Percent part of the mafia

Per Members

Cai Xukun

Cai Xukun as a yandere in my dream

Justin Huang

My Dork (fluff)

Lin Yanjun

Lin Yanjun as a secret agent part 1

Lin Yanjun as a secret agent part 2

Lin Yanjun as a mentor

Zhu Zhengting

Crossing the ocean (angst + fluff)

#nine percent #nine percent scenarios #nine percent imagines #9%#9% scenarios #9% imagines #cai xukun #chen linong #fan chengcheng #justin huang #huang minghao #lin yanjun #zhu zhengting #wang ziyi #xiao gui #wang linkai #you zhangjing

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my9percent · 5 years

Note

4 & 102 with jealous!Zhengting pretty please ^^ ♥

4. “Who gave you that black eye?”102. “Do you ever think I could ever replace you?”

You were carefully unwinding your sweaty wraps when you saw your boxing partner walk in. He had been absent the last few days so you had to find another person to spar with. While you were delighted that he returned, you also felt a little bit of regret. You were already committed to the other person.

“Hey, Zhengting. Long time no see.”

He smiled widely. “I’m so sorry. I had to travel for work suddenly and couldn’t come. Do you think we can resume our session this week?”

You shook your head. “Maybe next week?” You felt terrible. Zhengting was your favorite partner, and if you were honest, you had the biggest crush on him. It had been a pretty downcast few days without him and now that he was back, it took a lot of self control to turn him down.

The bright smile dimmed a little. “Of course. I didn’t realize we were doing a whole week’s sequence this time. It’s fine. We’ve been partners for a few months now. It’ll be good for you to expand and test other people’s abilities.” He carefully placed his bag next to you. “I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

It was quite painful, even if it were just a one-sided crush. You saw Zhengting work with your instructor and couldn’t help but compare your current partner with him. This partner was all about brute strength and you had to bite your lip to keep his crosses from knocking you off your feet.

“Let me know if I’m hitting you too hard,” he grunted, not letting up in his strength at all. If your pained expression hadn’t been indication enough, you didn’t know what was. A little annoyed, you took advantage of your reversed roles to really throw power in your punches.

By the end of the session, he flashed you a sweaty grin. “Not bad, eh? Really packing in the punches there.” And you swore that if it weren’t in public and you didn’t have the obligation to be a decent human being, you would have punched him.

You wanted to see Zhengting. But he wasn’t there the next day, and to your surprise, neither was your substitute partner. The instructor paired up with you instead and you wished that you had Zhengting’s number so you could at least ask if he was alright. He just came back from a conference; he couldn’t possibly have another one, right?

He didn’t show up until a week later and when you saw him, you gasped. “Who gave you that black eye?”

Zhengting grimaced and sat down next to you. He tugged his cap down further to hide the bruise but you tipped it back. “Have you put medication on it?”

“Listen, I just got so angry. He was saying all sorts of things about you and I just couldn’t bear the thought that you were going to be his partner for longer than you have to. And I was indignant, and jealous, and then he said something disrespectful and I snapped.”

“Who?”

“That meatbag of a partner you decided to pair up with.”

“Oh.” You gently ran your fingertips over his face. He really was so beautiful. “What did he say?”

“Things I won’t repeat but he was treating you like you were his to talk about and I just felt so angry.”

“Oh Zhengting,” you muttered, “Do you think I would ever replace you?”

He blinked and his hand caught your fingers. “Do you mean that?”

His eyes were staring right into yours and you decided you wanted to be brave. “Yes. I like you. A lot, and I wish I had your number so I could text you and not just about kickboxing, but about life and random tidbits throughout my day.”

A bright smile bloomed across his face and he gently kissed the pads of your fingers. “Thank goodness.” He reached next to you for your phone and you watched him add his number and then immediately texted himself. “Now that we exchanged numbers, do you want to maybe go out for dinner?”

So sorry for taking a while but I promise I have all the requests and I will be working on them!

#Zhu Zhengting #NINE PERCENT #nex7 #idol producer #nine percent scenarios #nine percent imagines #idol producer scenarios #idol producer imagines #nex7 imagines #nex7 scenarios #zhu zhengting scenarios #drabble game

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scriptura-adrepticius · 6 years

Text

Angel - Zhu Zhengting

After many days of thought and screams and death and obsessively showing @tanzderwhat my drafts, it’s finally being posted.

Pairing: Zhu Zhengting x OC/reader

Genre: some fluff, angst, war!au

Triggers: death, war

Word Count: 8.5k

To Zhengting, you were an angel.

Masterlist

look at his hat why does no one talk about his hat it’s almost cuter than him

Zhengting’s come back from war.

The first thing he does when he steps foot in his hometown is call his friends so he knows they’re safe and sound. Hours pass in a flash as they catch each other up about what happened over the past four years, but now that the laughter and tears have come and gone, Zhengting mostly feels drained and a little empty.

Most of the boys have gone to bed already, needing rest and medicine prescribed by doctors or just a little alone time. Zhengting just sits on the couch, blankly staring into space.

The war has changed all of them. Things will never be the same as before.

“Ge,” Justin says, sitting next to Zhengting. Only the two of them are left in the room. Zhengting looks up at his youngest friend, the friend whose bright smile and contagious laugh has been dimmed and dulled from the grueling years. “You didn’t talk about yourself at all today.”

Justin’s always been observant and clever, Zhengting thinks. Those qualities of his were always overshadowed by his loud and cheerful nature, but now he appreciates them.

Zhengting sighs. “You’re right.”

“Do you want to talk about it now?” Justin asks.

Zhengting looks at him, noting with sadness at how the innocence that used to shine in Justin’s eyes has been replaced with a maturity that spans beyond the boy’s eighteen years. “Sure,” he says, but he fails to elaborate.

“So what happened?” Justin prompts.

There’s a long pause, and then Zhengting finally speaks. “I met someone.”

Justin hesitates before asking his next question. “Who did you meet, Ting?”

A soft, sad smile crosses Zhengting’s face. “I met an angel.”

. . . . .

| Day one |

The first thing Zhengting registers when he wakes up is that he can’t see. So naturally, he starts to panic.

“He’s awake!” someone shouts, their voice muffled and warped in his ears. He feels a human presence next to him, and then a warm hand is holding his and a soft, calm voice is speaking to him.

“Can you speak?” the voice asks him. He attempts to use his vocal cords, and a slight croak comes out. He clears his throat. “Yes,” he says hoarsely. “I can’t see.” His panic begins to rise again at the loss of one of his most important senses.

“Hey. Listen to me, alright? It’s okay,” the voice says soothingly, squeezing his hand gently. A smooth hand seems to smooth his hair away from his forehead. Zhengting relaxes slightly, the gentle touch calming him just a little. “Are you in any pain?”

“Right shoulder and left leg,” he replies.

“Figures. You hit your head, which damaged an optical nerve. Your vision should come back in a few weeks or a month. You were also shot in your shoulder and leg, but the bullets are out and we’re just waiting for the wounds to heal. Until then, you’re going to stay here with us, okay? Do you need anything?” the voice asks. His hearing is improving, and Zhengting discerns that it’s a woman speaking.

“Water,” he manages. A straw is placed at his lips, and he sucks in the cold liquid eagerly. Then, spent, he falls asleep again.

The one last thought he has is that this woman, this soft-spoken woman with the gentle touch, must be an angel.

~~~

“Zhu Zhengting?” you whisper, looking inquisitively at Dinghao. “That’s his name, right?” Dinghao nods, placing a final stack of blankets in your arms. “Can you make the beds where Yue Yue, Qin Fen, and Ruibin were?” You nod wordlessly, walking quickly to where the beds are, lying in three rows, sheets rumpled and messy.

None of them died, thank god. You’ve seen enough death to last a lifetime. Yue Yue and Qin Fen were honorably discharged, while Ruibin was sent back to fight. You say a short prayer for the boy.

You’ve just finished making Qin Fen’s bed when there’s a slight rustling nearby. You look around to see the new patient, Zhengting, struggling to sit up, his eyes open and blinking wildly.

“He’s awake!” Dinghao calls. You give him a thumbs up, quickly placing down the dirty sheets to join Zhengting at his bedside.

You take a deep breath. “Can you speak?” you ask, voice quiet and soothing as you take his hand. A wave of relief washes over you as you feel Zhengting relax in your grasp. He opens his mouth, manages a small croak, then recovers enough to choke out a “Yes,” followed by, “I can’t see.” You feel his panic begin to rise again, and you squeeze his hand gently, trying to head it off.

Well, that explains the excessive blinking, you think. It makes sense, since it was reported that he’d hit his head. Dinghao passes you a clipboard, and you look at it, reading that he’d damaged an optical nerve in his fall. You nod, passing the clipboard back.

“Hey. Listen to me, alright? It’s okay,” you whisper, smoothing back Zhengting’s hair. He relaxes a little under your touch. “Are you in any pain?” For his sake, you hope he feels pain, because he got shot. If there’s no pain, then something’s wrong.

“Right shoulder and left leg.” His voice is broken and hoarse from disuse, but you have a feeling that when he gets used to talking again, his voice will be much, much more different from now. You nod, letting out a sigh of relief, before remembering he can’t see you.

“Figures. You hit your head, which damaged an optical nerve. That should heal in a few weeks or a month. You were also shot in your shoulder and leg, but the bullets are out and we’re just waiting for the wounds to heal. Until then, you’re going to stay here with us, okay? Do you need anything?” you say, pulling his blankets up so that more of him is covered.

Zhengting tries to say something but fails, then tries again. “Water.”

Dinghao comes over with a glass of water. You guide the straw to Zhengting’s lips and he drinks quickly, greedily sucking up the liquid. Moments after you pull the empty glass away, he’s asleep.

. . . . .

| Day two |

Zhengting wakes up, thinks it’s the middle of the night, and then remembers that he’s blind, and that there’s a bandage wrapped around his eyes. He lets out a deep sigh, lying limp on his bed.

“Awake?” a soft voice asks, startling Zhengting. He recognizes it as the sweet voice from yesterday that took care of him. The angel.

You laugh a little. “I guess so, since your eyes seem to be open. Do you need anything?”

“No,” Zhengting manages to say with a little less difficulty than the day before. “What time is it?”

“It’s five thirty,” the voice answers. “You slept for almost a day.”

A whole day? Zhengting’s pretty sure that in his whole time serving at the front, he hasn’t slept for more than twenty-four hours total.

Someone sits down next to him with a soft sigh, blowing air into his face. A gentle hand brushes his hair away from his face and rests on his eyes, quickly untying the bandage. “Your eyes don’t seem to be getting worse, but we’ll have to take a better look at that later,” the same voice says. Zhengting concludes that the person sitting next to him must be you.

The hand moves to his shoulder, his shot shoulder, and he flinches a little. “I just need to check your wounds and redo your dressings,” you say soothingly. Zhengting does his best to nod, relaxing as much as he can.

Nimble, warm fingers dance against his skin, carefully unwrapping the gauze from his shoulder. “Do you want to talk?” you ask him, breath fanning his face.

“About what?” he replies, wincing a little at how hoarse his voice has become. It’s strange that just a year ago, he was singing onstage. A wave of memories crashes over him, making him gasp a little.

“Anything,” you say, oblivious to the thoughts running through Zhengting’s head, the bandage coming away from his skin. Fresh air hits the wound, and he hisses a little. “You ask me a question, and after I answer, I’ll ask you one, and you’ll answer,” you continue kindly. “Sound good?”

“Okay,” Zhengting says. Your hand lifts from his skin, leaving a slight empty feeling at his shoulder. Soon, though, the hand is back, rubbing some sort of salve over the wound. “If I ask you something that makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to answer.”

You laugh, a warm and bright sound that seems to fill up the whole room. That word echoes through his mind again.

Angel.

“That’s very considerate of you, Zhengting. Thank you, and same for you. Now, ask away.”

Zhengting thinks for a minute before settling for something simple. “What’s your name?”

“I never introduced myself?” you say, more to yourself than Zhengting. “I’m so sorry.” A little laugh escapes you. “I’m Wang Yiyue.”

“Yiyue,” Zhengting says as though testing out your name on his tongue. “It’s pretty.”

Zhengting can’t see it, but a small blush crosses your face. “Thank you,” you say. You finish wrapping the bandage on his shoulder and move to his leg. “What’s your favorite color?” you ask.

“Pastel colors,” he says. “Blue, mostly.”

It suits him, the more you look at his features. He has a soft and handsome face, and you’re not surprised at all by this new fact. You tell him this, and his cheeks tint red, slightly.

“Thank you, Yiyue. Um… how old are you?” is his next question.

You huff a little, calculating your age on the fly. To be honest, you’ve kind of forgotten. “Uh, twenty one,” you finally say. “I’ll turn twenty-two in a few months.”

“You’re only a little younger than me, then,” Zhengting says. “I turned twenty two a couple weeks ago.”

“Well, happy belated birthday,” you say, laughing slightly.

“And happy early birthday to you, Yiyue,” he replies, a light smile appearing on his lips. It’s a beautiful smile, truly. Is it your imagination, or is that a little glow around him?

“So,” you cough, turning your attention back to his leg. A question pops up in your mind, different from the simple ones that have been asked thus far, but you go for it anyway. “Do you want to be famous?” you ask. “And if yeah, what do you want to be famous for?”

Zhengting stays silent for a little bit on this, the only indication that he’s alert and listening being his open eyes. “Hm,” he says finally. “I don’t particularly want to be famous, but I think it would be okay, if I was famous for something good. Something that… I guess I’d want to be famous for helping people.”

“Helping people,” you echo. “That’s a nice thought.” You rub more salve onto his wound, mulling over his words.

“Now that we’re getting to the deeper questions-” you snort a little, cutting out a new piece of gauze- “I guess I’ll ask… If you woke up tomorrow and had gained any quality or ability, what would you want it to be?” Zhengting’s eyes, though he still can’t see, fixate on where he thinks you are.

You hum in response, thinking deeply. “I suppose I’d want the ability to eat whatever I want without getting fat,” you reply, laughing. A broader smile crosses Zhengting’s face and he laughs with you, an adorably mellow sound that makes your heart beat a little faster. “You remind me of a friend,” he says. “He would’ve said the exact same thing.”

“I want to meet him,” you joke, tying off the bandage. “I guess that concludes our little interview for now, Zhengting. I bet you’re tired, you should rest.” You stand up, placing the roll of gauze and scissors back on a small cart. “Do you need anything? Food, water?”

“No, Yiyue, I’m fine. Thank you,” Zhengting mumbles, his voice already slightly drowsy.

“Alright, Zhengting,” you whisper.

Just as Zhengting falls asleep, he feels a hand brush across his face, so light it could be a feather.

. . . . .

| Day three |

The next day brings a surge of soldiers to the small, mostly empty infirmary. Most injuries are simply bullet wounds, but in comes a girl whose leg is caked in blood, most of it hers.

You swallow your apprehensions and immediately start on wiping the blood away, allowing her to squeeze your hand tighter and tighter until you feel like you’re losing circulation. By the time the dried blood is gone, you’re faced with a mass of tissue and still-leaking red liquid. Bile rises in your throat, but you swallow it down. It’s swelling slightly, and is hot to the touch.

Infection.

“Your wound is infected,” you tell the girl lowly, watching her reaction carefully. She nods, her face white. Dinghao rushes by, pushing a cart of supplies over to Yujin who’s taking care of a line of men with bullet wounds. “Dinghao!” you call. “Infection!”

He swears, rummaging through the boxes in the back before producing a bottle of pills which he tosses you. You open it quickly, shaking one into your hand. “Swallow this,” you say, handing her a glass of water. She downs it in a flash. You then instruct her to lie down, and when she does, you begin rubbing ointment onto the wound.

An hour later, you deem her wound okay for the time being. She’s already fallen asleep, so you end up going to help Yujin with gunshot wounds. By the time you’re finished, you’re absolutely exhausted, and someone still needs to take care of Zhengting.

“I’ll go handle Zhengting,” you say quietly, dragging yourself over to his bed. “Sorry, Zhengting,” you say. “We just got an influx of new patients, so the place is going to be a little noisier now.”

“It’s okay,” Zhengting says, then falls silent again as you unwrap the bandage around his eyes, checking for any bad signs. “Do you want to continue yesterday’s questions?” you ask a little teasingly. To your surprise, Zhengting agrees. “You first,” he says.

You bite your lip as you tie the bandage back around his eyes. “Where are you from?”

“Anhui,” he says immediately. “What about you?”

“Hangzhou,” you reply. “What was your greatest accomplishment in life?”

“I became a dancer,” he says quietly.

Your mouth forms an ‘o’ in response. “A dancer,” you repeat. “I can see that.”

“Why?” Zhengting asks, curiosity evident in his tone.

“I… don’t know,” you confess, applying salve to his shoulder. “It just fits you. What kind of dance did you do?”

“I guess… modern? Hip hop? I was an idol,” he says. You see him blush a little, and a smile crosses your lips. “I bet you had quite the following,” you tease. His blush becomes redder, and you laugh, rewrapping the bandage around his shoulder.

“My turn,” Zhengting says quickly, eager to switch the subject. “What was your greatest accomplishment in life?”

You have to think on this one. Many events flit through your mind, but you finally settle on one. “When I decided to become a nurse,” you say, “but a close second is when I got accepted to university.”

“University? Wow,” Zhengting says, wincing a little as you unwrap his leg. “How come you chose becoming a nurse as your greatest though?”

You purse your lips, wondering whether or not you feel stable enough to tell him just yet. “I think that’s a story for another time,” you say lightly, concealing your true feelings. You notice Zhengting about to apologize, but you stop him. “You have nothing to apologize for, Zhengting. It’s only that I don’t think I… I don’t think I have the strength to retell that story right now.”

You rewrap Zhengting’s leg in a new, clean bandage before standing. “I have to go help out, but someone will bring you some soup and water, okay?” Zhengting nods as best as he can and you smile unconsciously, allowing your hand to brush against his cheek as you walk away.

Zhengting can’t help but wonder if that’s the touch of an angel.

. . . . .

| Day seven |

Zhengting is restless. He’s tired of lying in bed all day, doing nothing except sleep, eat, and drink. It’s been a full week. The only highlight of his day is when you come to redress his wounds. So he brings this up the next time you come.

“Can I go outside?” he asks, by way of his first question. He feels your hands stop from unwrapping the bandage around his eyes in surprise. “I don’t know, Zhengting,” you say uncertainly. “I’ll ask Dinghao.”

Dinghao isn’t so sure about this idea, but when you bring up the fact that he’s been cooped up in bed for so long, and that you can just settle him in a wheelchair, he can’t really argue. You return, beaming, to Zhengting’s side, and Yujin helps you lift him into the wheelchair.

Zhengting’s quiet as you push him around, simply enjoying the fresh air on his face.

“My turn for a question,” you remind him lightly, pushing a lock of hair away from your eyes. “What do you feel most thankful for in your life?”

“Yiyue, why are you so deep?” Zhengting whines. Still, an inevitable smile spreads across his face. “I suppose… I’m most thankful for supportive friends and family. I never would’ve been able to achieve my dream without them.”

“Your dream of becoming a dancer?” you ask. Zhengting nods, and you’re touched at just how much he cares for them. Every time the subject of family or friends comes up in your little interviews, you can sense just how much he loves them.

“Now, for my question…” Zhengting trails off, visibly deep in thought. “What were you before now?”

“That could be taken in a few ways,” you say. “Before the war, or before I became a nurse?”

Zhengting thinks for a moment. “Both.”

You chew your cheek, your feet unconsciously coming to a halt. “Before the war,” you begin slowly, “I was a student.”

Zhengting must realize that you’re hesitant about answering the rest of the question, because he quickly speaks up. “If you’re uncomfortable, don’t answer, Yiyue,” he says seriously.

You’ve already avoided talking about it once. You shake your head to clear your thoughts. “Don’t worry,” you say lightly. “I’ll answer.” Still, it takes you a little time to find the right words to talk about your experiences.

“Before I became a nurse,” you say, “I was a soldier.”

You hear Zhengting suck in a breath in surprise. “A soldier.”

“A soldier,” you confirm, “for a year. I was drafted.”

You hear Zhengting’s unspoken question and sigh. “I became a nurse because I couldn’t stand killing anymore,” you say, a bitter smile covering your face. “Cowardice at its finest, huh? Because I’d rather heal than kill. Still, I regard that decision as the best I’ve made in my life.”

Zhengting remains silent, an unreadable expression on his face. “It’s not cowardice,” he finally says. “Anyone that says so is an idiot.”

You smile a little at the vehemence of his words. “Thanks, Zhengting,” you say softly. “I think we should go back inside now, the sun’s going down.” Zhengting nods. “Yiyue.”

“Yeah, Zhengting?” you say, turning the wheelchair.

“You can call me Ting,” he says quietly. “It’s what my friends called me.” You can sense the loneliness behind these words, and your heart feels deeply for this young man that you’ve only taken care of for a week.

“In that case, Ting,” you say, smiling down at him, “you can call me Yue. It’s what my friends called me.”

The slow smile that spreads across Zhengting’s face is breathtaking. “Okay, Yue.”

. . . . .

| Day nine |

It’s on this day that, when you lift the bandage from Zhengting’s eyes, that he can see a change in the light from pure darkness to more shades of grey. He senses your elation when he tells you this excitedly, and when you take him outside for some more fresh air, he rejoices in the warm sunlight he feels on his face.

“Your question,” you remind him, holding back a little laughter, and he snaps out of his dreamy phase, blushing slightly. “Then, Yue, what do you value most in friendship?”

You don’t hesitate when you answer. “Loyalty and trust. Without those two things, I don’t think it can be called a friendship.”

Zhengting nods silently, digesting your reply. “Loyalty and trust,” he murmurs. “How come those two?”

“A friend is someone you have… a bond of affection and trust with,” you say, thinking over your words carefully. “Maybe I’m different, but a friend isn’t just someone you add, on, like, Facebook or something. You have to have something… deeper. And unless I trust someone, I don’t consider them a friend. An acquaintance, perhaps.” You take a deep breath. “As for loyalty… once I’m your friend, I will be loyal to you until you give me reason to be otherwise, and I expect the same from my friends.”

“Then am I your friend?” Zhengting asks teasingly. Beneath the teasing tone, however, you sense that he’s seeking an actual answer.

There’s a long silence before you reply. “I suppose so,” you finally say, a smile tilting the corners of your mouth. “I don’t tell people about my being a soldier until I trust them, and only friends get to call me ‘Yue.’”

Zhengting doesn’t know why, but this makes him wildly happy.

“So am I your friend?” you ask Zhengting playfully, pushing him under a shady tree.

“Yes,” Zhengting replies quietly. “Only friends can call me Ting, and you’ve done much more for me than I have for you.”

“Oh, Ting,” you say, laughing, “you’ve done much more for me than you think you have.”

“Really?” Zhengting asks, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

You smile, brushing his hair off the bandage on his eyes. “You gave me someone to care for.”

. . . . .

| Day fifteen |

Today has been hectic. So hectic that you aren’t able to clean Zhengting’s wounds or take him outside. Instead, Dinghao is left with that job, while you’re trying to keep down the infection in the girl’s leg.

By the evening, though, you’re not sure if there’s anything else you can do except amputate it.

“Am I going to die?” she asks fearfully.

You swallow. “Not if I can help it,” you say fiercely.

Dinghao isn’t hopeful when he looks at the wound, however. “We may have to amputate,” he tells you quietly as you go to get more antibiotic ointment. You chew your cheek and nod, relaying the information to the girl. She simply nods in assent before falling asleep again.

You’re dead tired when the day is over, but you see how dead your coworkers seem to be, so you’re the first to volunteer to take the night shift. Yujin tries to fight you for it, but you don’t let her, instead shooing her onto a small cot to rest.

You take up position on a chair, sorting through supplies to keep you awake. You’re not quite sure when you dozed off, but suddenly you’re jolting up, sweat beading your forehead from the nightmare that came with your first kill.

A shaky breath leaves you, and you get a glass of water, sipping at the cup until you finally feel calm again.

Well, on the bright side, you’re not sleepy anymore.

“Yue?”

The whisper startles you, and you whip around to look at Zhengting’s bed. “Zhengting? Why are you awake?” you whisper.

“I heard something,” he says, trying to sit up on his own. You immediately go to help him, feeling a little guilt in your chest. “Sorry, that was probably me,” you say. “I dozed off and just woke back up.”

There’s a little silence. “Nightmare?” Zhengting asks.

You sigh. “You know it.” A wry smile crosses your lips.

“Wanna talk?”

Another sigh. “Not really.”

Silence falls again, and you busy yourself with the supplies.

“Was it about your first kill?”

The scissors snap shut in your hand, missing the bandage you were trying to cut, and your hand begins to tremble.

Deep breaths, Yue.

“Yes.”

“Understandable,” Zhengting says. “Your turn for a question.”

It takes you a moment to realize that he’s back to playing the question game you always play. You place the scissors back down on the cart, thinking of a question for him.

“What is your worst memory?”

“Oh, come on,” Zhengting whines, “is this payback for asking about your nightmare?” He laughs a little to let you know he’s not serious, then falls silent, thinking. “I suppose…” He trails off before he speaks again. “I think it was when I left my bandmates and my family at the airport when I came here.”

Your heart cries for him, remembering your own sorrow at having to leave your loved ones behind at the airport. Zhengting continues. “I think it was more so that all of us except two were drafted. I was the first to leave. The two youngest, Chengcheng and Justin, were too young to serve. It was the worst to leave them behind, because in a way, it felt like I raised them.”

“Spoken like a true mother,” you say teasingly, but your heart feels for him. Zhengting scowls in the faint light of your lamp and you laugh, smoothing back his hair. “You want some water?” you ask. He nods, and you bring him a glass.

“Now, my question,” Zhengting says after draining the cup. “When… was the last time you cried in front of someone else?”

You’re taken aback by this, but you go with it, racking your memory for the last time. “The first time someone died in my care,” you say finally. “I cried in front of Dinghao.”

Zhengting’s silent, wondering just how horrible it is to try to save someone but have them die in the end. You even dropped out of fighting and became a nurse just to help people instead of kill them. He can’t imagine how you felt when someone died despite you trying to help.

“So, Zhengting.” Your voice breaks into his thoughts and you caress his cheek. He leans into your touch. “What do you think of love and affection?”

“Necessary for someone to be… for someone…” Zhengting trails off, frustrated that he can’t find the right words. “They’re… feelings… no, not feelings… well, kind of. They’re feelings that aren’t just for yourself. They’re for you to share.”

“An interesting answer,” you say, rhythmically stroking his hair. The motion makes Zhengting sleepy, and he closes his eyes involuntarily. “I’ve asked that question to a lot of people, and I think that’s the best answer I’ve gotten so far.” You look down, noting the evening of Zhengting’s breaths. “I think that’s enough for tonight,” you whisper, more so to yourself than to him. You push yourself off the chair.

“One more question,” Zhengting mumbles as you help him lie back down. “Yeah, Ting?”

“Are you an angel?”

You stop short, flaring red blush covering your entire face. You laugh awkwardly. “No, I don’t think so.”

“I think you’re an angel,” Zhengting murmurs, before falling fast asleep.

You barely manage to get rid of the redness of your face before Dinghao wakes up to take over.

. . . . .

| Day sixteen |

Zhengting wakes up wondering if everything that happened last night was a dream. The questions he asked, the questions he answered, and more importantly, whether or not he asked if you were an angel.

The bandage has been taken off his eyes, so he sees the blurry person he associates with you rushing around the room, picking up bandages and towels and cleaning dark liquid - probably blood - off of sharp instruments.

He looks at the bed next to him to see the girl with an infected leg… without her leg anymore.

He swallows, looking at the stump, or what seems to be the stump, and then forces himself to avert his gaze. He shifts himself into sitting position.

“Oh, Ting, you’re awake,” you say, coming over to him. You notice his gaze flicker to the girl questioningly.

“We had to amputate,” you whisper, a sick feeling crawling up your throat. You force it down, though, trying to focus on the one good thing. “You can see her stump, can’t you?” you ask. Zhengting nods.

“At least that means you’re getting your vision back,” you say, relief washing over you. “Your wounds are almost healed as well, so you’ll be healthy soon. Do you want to go out now?” Zhengting nods, and you bring the wheelchair over.

“Actually…” Zhengting swallows. “Can I walk?”

You’re hesitant to let him, but after Dinghao checks his leg and pronounces it okay, you lead Zhengting outside, him grasping your arm and leaning on your shoulder.

“So,” Zhengting says, “your turn for a question.”

You purse your lips, wondering whether or not to ask the question you’ve had in mind all day. Looking at Zhengting, you find yourself saying why not? So you take a shot.

“Why did you ask if I was an angel yesterday?”

Zhengting is silent, but when you look over at him, redness has crept up his cheeks. You have to fight the urge to coo over how cute he looks.

“Because,” he breathes, “I think you are one.”

“Why?” You look at him, gazing into his unseeing eyes as you guide him along.

“When I first woke up in the infirmary, you were the one that calmed me down. I couldn’t see, I could only hear and feel. It sounds cringey, but your voice was soft and soothing, and your touch was gentle.”

“You’re right, that is a little cringey,” you laugh, covering your face with your free hand. Right now, you’re kind of glad Zhengting can’t see, or else you’d probably die of embarrassment because your face is so, so red.

“But it’s true,” Zhengting continues, a soft smile on his face. “I thought that that voice and that touch could only be that of an angel. I didn’t mean to ask you that question yesterday, but I guess my sleepy brain forced it out of me.”

“Be that as it may, Zhengting,” you say, “I don’t believe I’m an angel. I’m just as human as you are.”

Zhengting’s grip on your arm tightens a little. “I don’t think so, Yue.”

There’s a little moment where you try your best to will the blush away from your cheeks, and then Zhengting speaks up again. “I think I have a question now,” he says.

“Go for it.”

“Yue…” Zhengting swallows, and you look at him curiously. “Do you think fifteen days is too short to fall in love?”

Your heart stops.

“Because I think I’m in love with you.”

You can’t breathe.

Zhengting squints, his eyes trained towards the sun, waiting for your answer.

You finally speak. “No, Ting,” you breathe, “I don’t think it’s too short.”

He stays silent, waiting for you to continue.

“Because I think I’m in love with you too.”

There. You’ve said it. You wait anxiously, stopping your movement so that the two of you are facing each other, his eyes trained on you.

“I’m glad to hear that,” he whispers, bringing up an uncertain hand. You catch it, bringing it to your cheek, and reciprocate the motion with him.

Your thumb brushes soft circles on his skin, making Zhengting feel dizzy and overwhelmed as he continues to savor your touch against his skin and his touch against yours.

You smile. “Let’s go back inside, shall we?” Zhengting doesn’t want to let you go, but you’ve already stayed out long enough, so he nods, allowing you to lead him back inside.

“Ladies first,” you tease, opening the door wide for him to step through. He huffs, sticking his tongue out in your general direction, and you laugh before taking his arm and leading him in.

. . . . .

| Day twenty one |

Zhengting wakes up and at first doesn’t realize what has happened. He looks around blearily, blinking rapidly as he sits up.

Then he realizes.

“I can see,” he whispers.

“Hey, Ting, you’re awake,” you say easily, passing by. “Need anything?”

“I can see, Yue!” he says excitedly, gazing around the room before training his eyes on you.

It’s the first time he’s ever truly seen you. The blurred colors and shapes from before don’t count. He’s enraptured by your hair, the curve of your mouth, and the shape of your eyes.

“Oh my god,” you whisper. “Dinghao!”

Said boy comes rushing over, looking at Zhengting. “He can see now?” Dinghao says, looking joyful. Zhengting nods, grinning with a joy he hasn’t felt in a long, long time.

Dinghao busies himself with checking over Zhengting as you go to take care of the girl with the amputated leg, whose name he now knows is Huiyi. She looks at him with a blank expression, then smiles and mouths ‘congratulations.’ He gives her a smile of thanks.

Later that day, when you take him outside for your daily walk, Zhengting is able to see every smile and every blush that comes onto your face, and you’re able to see his eyes light up and crinkle whenever he laughs and grins.

It’s then, behind the infirmary in the shade of the large tree, that Zhengting gives you your first kiss together.

The kiss is sweet, bright, and full of love, the type of kiss that a young couple would share. By the end, you’re a blushing mess, and Zhengting isn’t much better. Giggles and whispered words follow you two back to the infirmary, where Zhengting opens the door for you and says, “Ladies first.”

You and him both know that now, since he’s healed, he’ll be going back to fight again soon. You’re required to inform his commanding officer that he’s healthy again.

But that doesn’t stop you from enjoying your last days together.

. . . . .

| Day thirty |

Nine days pass in bliss as you and Zhengting share stolen moments together, pressing hasty kisses to each other’s lips and cheeks and foreheads, leaving lingering touches on each other’s skin.

However, all good things must come to an end.

Zhengting’s commanding officer shows up on day thirty, ready to take Zhengting back to the fight. You look at the officer calmly, asking for just ten more minutes.

“Alone,” you clarify, staring daggers at the man.

Zhengting can’t hold back the small snicker in his throat when the officer immediately walks back into the infirmary, leaving the two of you alone.

“You’re an angel, but a scary one,” he laughs, grasping your hands in his. You laugh as well, rubbing small circles against his knuckles, your touch making him relax into your hold.

There is no need for words as you stare into each other’s eyes, letting vision communicate all the things left untold.

Finally, it seems that ten minutes are almost up, and you press your forehead against his, willing the tears to stop pricking your eyes.

“Don’t forget me, alright, Ting?” you whisper.

He smiles, dropping a light kiss on your nose. “Never,” he whispers back.

And he leans in, and you lean in, lips meeting in a soft, gentle, sweet kiss. Your eyes are closed, simply savoring the moment and the taste of his lips, and he leans into you, hands cupping your cheeks as you grasp his arms.

All too soon, it’s over, and the officer is back, as impatient as ever. You send him a withering look as you and Zhengting part, and Zhengting laughs.

“Now, Zhu Zhengting, don’t go killing yourself after all that work it took to bring you back to this state,” you say teasingly, poking his cheek.

“I won’t, Doctor Wang,” he replies in good humor, trying to disguise the fact that tears are brimming in his eyes.

A tear drops onto your cheek, and he brushes it away softly. “Hey,” he whispers, “don’t cry. We’ll see each other again.”

You nod, wiping away a tear of his own. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

A last kiss, a last tear, a last laugh and a last smile. Then Zhengting is off, walking away with the officer, waving to you until he disappears over the small hill.

You barely manage to hold yourself together for the rest of the day.

. . . . .

| Day three hundred and sixteen |

You glance through the pile of letters and photos you’ve amassed one more time, flicking through each and every one that Zhengting has sent you with a smile.

The war is almost over, or so you hear. You do hope it is, because then you can see Zhengting in person again.

You reread his latest letter, the one that promises you he’ll be on the last flight back, and that you must wait for him. You haven’t had time to pen a reply yet, but you keep that on your mind.

“Zhengting again?” Huiyi says, rolling her eyes. After losing her leg, she was no longer able to fight, so she chose to stay and help you all instead. You’ve struck up a nice friendship.

“Of course,” Dinghao replies, disgruntled. “She’s like a teenage girl all over again!”

“Shut up!” you scowl, causing laughs from a couple of patients. You stack up the letters again, placing them in the box you keep them all in.

The day passes rather quickly, and soon it’s already afternoon. You go outside to throw some stuff out, but as you walk back inside, you feel something’s off.

“Something’s wrong,” you tell Dinghao. “It’s too silent.”

Sure enough, there are no birds chirping, no squirrels climbing up the large tree in the back. Everything is quiet.

Dinghao narrows his eyes. “Get the patients on one side of the infirmary,” he says quietly. “You know the drill.”

You nod, quickly relaying the orders to Huiyi and Yujin, who quickly begin moving the patients furthest away from the door. You begin pushing empty beds against the door as a barricade, while Dinghao takes out the sharp objects that remind you a little too much of your time as a soldier.

A bullet suddenly punches through the windows. No one is hurt, but then gunfire sounds at the door, and the barricade threatens to fall.

You swallow, pulling out the gun you have stored just for emergencies. No one says anything as you position yourself to shoot at the door.

“Come out and surrender, and we might let you live!” a soldier yells. You look at Dinghao with wide eyes.

“It’s against the international treaty to attack hospitals and infirmaries!” Dinghao yells back.

“To damn with the international treaty!” The door flies open.

It all happens too fast. You let loose with the rifle, shooting down the first soldiers that come through. The smell of blood sickens you but you force yourself to stay alert, moving back when the bullets are spent to protect the patients.

Dinghao’s yelling, Yujin’s screaming, and Huiyi is throwing metal objects from the corner. You pick up the sharpest pair of scissors you can find in your hurry and hurl them at a soldier who’s too close for your liking. They stab him in the eye.

In the chaos, no one remembers that Huiyi’s lost a leg. She can’t move nearly as fast as the rest of you. So it’s with terror that you twist around to see her being aimed at by a soldier whose finger rests on the trigger of his gun.

You scream, leaping impossibly across the room to knock her out of the way. The bullet punches through your shoulder but you don’t feel the pain, too high on adrenaline to stop. A scalpel embeds itself into the soldier’s neck.

The fight begins to die as Dinghao and Yujin incapacitate more soldiers. Soon, only a few are left, and they’re beginning to look uncertain.

Then, you see him. In the corner, unnoticed by everyone else. A manic smile twists his face and he cocks his gun, aiming for two of your best friends.

The pain in your shoulder is getting sharper, and you’re exhausted and becoming unfocused, but adrenaline gives you that last kick you need to knock Dinghao and Yujin aside.

Gasping, you become aware of the sharp pain and the liquid pouring out of your chest.

I promised him.

I promised.

“NO!” someone screams.

Zhengting, I’m sorry.

I’m so sorry.

“No,” Dinghao says, face white with panic. “No, no, no! No!”

You hear an unearthly shriek that has to have come from Yujin, and a blur of her white uniform crosses your vision as she wrestles the soldier to the ground.

“No,” Dinghao sobs. “Not you, Yue, no!”

You struggle, spitting blood out of your mouth, and place a shaking hand on Dinghao’s cheek. “It’s okay,” you say haltingly, a sad smile crossing your face. “It’s okay, Dinghao.”

Huiyi’s face comes into your vision, streaked with tears, gasping with sobs. “Please, no,” she whispers, gazing in terror at the hole in your chest. “No.”

You do your best to smile at them, to reassure them that things will be fine, that they will be fine. “Don’t…” you cough, and Yujin wipes away the blood from your mouth. “Don’t mourn too much for me. I…” You cough again, your voice weaker. “I love you all.”

Dinghao’s face glistens with tears, and your hand trembles at the effort it takes to hold it to his cheek. “Just tell…” You cough. Dinghao leans closer to hear what you’re saying. “Tell Zhengting… he must live for me. Tell Zhengting I’m sorry.”

You brave a last smile for them, feeling the life drain from your body. “Tell him I’m sorry,” you whisper, your voice barely audible. “Tell him... I’m sorry.”

Your hand goes slack and falls at your side, and blackness consumes your vision. You speak no more.

Dinghao sniffles, feeling for your pulse. Nothing.

“She’s gone,” he says shakily, standing up unsteadily.

He dissolves in tears.

. . . . .

| Day three hundred and thirty two |

Zhengting steps off the plane, entering the packed room on trembling legs. This is where he will finally see her, after two long weeks of nothing. He feels his mouth curve up in a broad smile at the thought. He will finally see you.

His angel.

His legs carry him around the room, dodging crying women and men, eyes searching for your features. Minutes pass and he begins to worry, wondering why he still hasn’t found you yet. Then, his eyes alight on not you, but a familiar face.

“Dinghao!” he calls, pushing his way through the crowd. The boy starts, wide eyes looking through the crowd nervously. Their eyes meet, and Dinghao’s face crumples slightly, but Zhengting’s too excited to notice.

Zhengting finally manages to get to the boy, a breathless and hopeful grin on his lips. “Hey, Dinghao! Do you know where Yiyue is?” He must look so stupid, but he doesn’t care. Zhengting’s bouncing on his toes in anticipation and excitement.

Dinghao, for a moment, says nothing. Zhengting’s grin begins to falter. “Dinghao?”

“She’s…” Dinghao says thickly, his voice shaky. “She’s not here.”

Zhengting’s confused. “Then… is she at home already?” he presses.

Dinghao’s eyes fill with tears.

Suddenly, Zhengting understands.

“Yes,” Dinghao gulps, “she’s at home.”

A choked cry leaves Zhengting’s lips, and the two men collapse against each other, holding each other tight, so tight, so, so tight, to fill the emptiness that opened up when they lost you.

. . . . .

| Day three hundred and forty |

When Zhengting finishes, Justin doesn’t say anything, just places an arm over the elder’s shoulder. He glances at Zhengting’s face and is almost scared to see how broken he looks, a terrible contrast from the strong, cheerful leader he was four years ago.

Justin knows that he cannot relate to Zhengting. He simply hasn’t experienced, and may never experience, the feelings Zhengting just described.

“I’m sorry, Ting,” he says quietly.

Zhengting gives a weak laugh. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Justin,” he says quietly, finally lifting his head to look at the boy he considers his brother. “Thank you for listening to this old man rambling.” The weak smile on Zhengting’s face begins to fall.

“Old man rambling?” Justin snorts, pulling Zhengting closer. “I may never experience what you just told me about, Zhengting. That passion, that love.” Justin cringes a little but forges on. “Don’t tell me that was just you rambling, or I might actually have to punch you.”

A slightly stronger laugh leaves Zhengting’s lips, and he hugs Justin close. “Gosh, what would I do without you, Justin?” he asks teasingly as Justin struggles to get out of the strangling grip. “Ge, get off me!” he yelps.

Silence falls as the two men sit next to each other, each lost in their own thoughts, until Justin speaks up. “Have you visited her yet, Ting?” he asks quietly.

Zhengting bites his lip. “No,” he answers, “but her family invited me to the funeral.”

“Go, then,” Justin urges. “You have to.”

Zhengting sighs, then looks at the ceiling. “I guess so.”

. . . . .

| Day three hundred and forty seven |

Everyone has finally dispersed, and Zhengting finally kneels alone at your grave, holding a single blue tulip. He remembers the day you told him your favorite flower and smiles bitterly. He places it down in front of the headstone.

The last vestiges of daylight fall on your grave, making the marble shine in soft shades of white and pink and orange, just enough light for him to make out the words engraved on the stone. He traces them with his fingers, the words already burned in his memory.

Here lies an angel, who has simply gone home to rest.

A tear slips down his face, and he whispers your name, quietly, brokenly.

A memory comes to him, from the moments before he left for the front again. It’s like he hears your voice in his ears, your soft, teasing voice that brought him back to life.

“Now, Zhu Zhengting, don’t go killing yourself after all that work it took to bring you back to this state.”

A shaky grin finds its way to his lips as another tear falls, landing on the grass beneath him. “You know, Yue,” he says, gazing at the rising moon, “the reason I haven’t joined you yet is because I know you’d kill me yourself if I did.”

And the wind blows, ruffling his hair and brushing his cheek, just like you always did when he lay in that infirmary bed, and he hears a ghost of your laughter in his ear. He knows exactly how you’d rebuke him, reminding him that he has his friends and family, and that he must live for them.

He knows how you’d touch him, how you’d place your hand on his cheek with the gentleness of an angel, how you’d smile in mock exasperation and tell him to go away.

Another tear falls, and then another, and then he’s sobbing, head in his knees, gasps and sniffles muffled by his arms as he cries, really cries, for the first time since that breakdown when he realized you wouldn’t be there to welcome him home.

Dimly, he recalls a lyric from a song he once danced to.

Oh, I’m in pieces, it’s tearing me up, but I know

A heart that’s broke is a heart that’s been loved

“A heart that’s broke is a heart that’s been loved,” he whispers amidst the tears, gulping furiously to get rid of the lump in his throat.

A heart that’s broke is a heart that’s been loved.

That’s right. She loved me.

Another memory resurfaces, again just before he left for the front. He remembers your foreheads pressed against each other’s, faces so close that his lips almost touched yours. He remembers the sad but beautiful smile on your face as you said five words.

“Don’t forget me, alright, Ting?”

He remembers how you struggled to hold back tears, how you said nothing about it but held it all in.

You had so much strength.

He wipes his tears, gazing at your name carved on the white headstone, faintly gleaming in the fading light. “I won’t, Yue,” he whispers. “I’ll never forget.”

After all, how could he forget his angel?

He stays like this for a while, hugging his knees to his chest almost childishly as he talks to you, his words hanging in the air before the wind carries them off to wherever you are. He stays like this until the moon is in the sky, shining pale light on your grave and making the marble gleam.

“Yue,” he whispers after a long silence, gazing at the moon. A smile of irony twists his lips, for your name literally means the moon. “Are you watching me?”

At that, a wisp of wind blows his hair into his face, and he chuckles a little, wiping away a tear. He can almost hear your annoyed “Of course!” ringing in his ear, followed by, “If I didn’t watch you, God knows what kind of stupid trouble you’d get into.”

He feels the tears welling up in his eyes again, but he refuses to let them fall. “Yue,” he whispers, “I miss you.”

Another breeze blows, gentler than the first, as though you’re saying, “I miss you too.”

He smiles at the moon, a tragic, broken smile, and he stands up, brushing off his pants. He looks down at the forlorn blue tulip lying on the ground, then back at the moon.

“I’ll never forget you,” he answers, gazing at the white orb. “Wait for me, alright?” His smile falls, and he looks back down at the ground.

Zhengting walks to the cemetery gate slowly, taking his time with long steady steps. He looks around him, noticing a young girl walking to the gate from the other direction. They reach the gate at the same time, and he smiles a little at her.

She’s dressed all in white, like a small angel, he notes.

“Ladies first,” he says quietly, a slight teasing tone in his voice. She nods and smiles back, albeit sadly, and walks out, her small form a patch of brilliant white in the darkness.

Zhengting continues slowly, dragging his feet along the cracked sidewalk. Memories of you consume his thoughts, and another lyric from the same song comes to mind.

When I fell down you’d be there holding me up

Spread your wings as you go

When God takes you back

He’ll say hallelujah, you’re home.

Perhaps that little girl, dressed all in white, was a sign to him. That you will always be with him.

You, his angel.

A gust of wind blows around him, stirring his hair and caressing his face, and Zhengting closes his eyes, imagining your wings folding around him.

A final tear slips down his face. “Wait for me at home, my angel.”

And he walks away.

301 notes · View notes

peachyjie · 6 years

Text

Caught on Work || Zhu Zheng Ting

— Author Note :

Requested from a lovely anon.This is probably the last req I’ll do because I’m going to debut Royals and Diamonds, so stay tune 💕

— Wc : 4K+

— Pairing : Zhu Zheng Ting - Mentor!Reader

— Genre : Slight!angst + Pure fluff like a lot of it

— Summary : You know how deep his love is for you, it wasn’t too hard for him to be completely drawn towards you. Mad in love. Yet, he still finds himself getting insecure for trying to be professional.

To say a passion can drive someone so deep until the extent they forget who they actually are, is an understatement. You’re one of them but you’re not alone in this case; because in a battlefield to survive, anyone is willing to do anything, everything to achieve that goal.

Assuming every single one of you had known the sensation when a certain melody took over your own body. As if that tune, every single cords flowed inside your vessels like blood, enticing isn’t it?

The loud music loud enough to fill the entire room, each walls felt like their resonating every melody coming out from the speakers. But none of it bothered you, too entice to the rhythm anyway. It wasn’t until the music came to an end, you finally felt exhaustion came in your system.

You finally slumped on the cool hard floor; sweats lining on your temple, uneven breathing, knees weak. You stared at the white ceiling, light illuminated from the bulb. You closed your eyes, taking the silence and empty space in you. Slowly evening out your breath, you hummed as a smile crept on your face.

Then you yelped, crawling in surprise when you felt a cold sensation hitting your cheek, even if it’s only a mere second it was enough to bring electricity jolting up in your system. A laughter came ringing the empty practice room, you glared at him.

A hand holding on the freshly bought cool water from the nearby vending machine you presume, whilst the other was hitting his own knees to control himself. He calmed down before finally locking his orbs with yours, a warm ray of smile on his lips. He opened his arms wide, welcoming you with his warmth as if he intended to protect you from any harm.

“I’m sweaty”, you said.

“I’m needy, come here”, he said with a whiny tone.

You laugh and threw yourself on him. He accepted it willingly, letting his torso basket the sudden force that came. His arms circles itself on your waist, pulling you closer as you rests yours on his shoulders. You giggled when you felt his nose burying itself on the crook of your neck, tickling you with his breath.

“I miss you”, he said as he bores his dark orbs on yours. “I miss you a lot”, tone soft now like a whisper from the wind.

You rest your palms on his face, feeling his soft skin as you trace his facial. His eyes glimmer with stars, enchanted by your existence. “You saw me earlier, Ting”, you said to him. You felt yourself getting hazy, almost like you’re drunk under his delicate touch.

“Not enough”, and he pulls you down for a kiss

The saying about being in a relationship is like a roller coaster, you would say your relationship with him is like a volcano. Calm as ever without any problem, almost like the calm scent of rain or the refreshing sound of sea waves. But once one misunderstands, both of you can erupt and be nominated as the murderous fight of the year. More likely, you would conclude both of you are happy and grateful to have each other. Him

Zhu Zheng Ting, yours.

Zhengting left a soft delicate peck on the corner of your lips, an obvious smile painted on his lips. You nuzzled yourself in his warmth more, both of you sighing in content.

It wasn’t until the practice room door creaked open, was when both of you sprawled across the room quicker than the speed of light. Both of you tried to play casual, acting normal as if the intimate session never happened.

Heart beating, both of you are not risking getting caught. “I told you to knock before you come in, Huang!”, Zhengting hissed at the yellow-haired teen. But that wasn’t enough to let the younger to shake, especially when his eyes locked on yours.

“JIE!”, Justin ran and threw himself into your arms. You laughed by the sudden clinginess the younger always try to show, Zhengting could only shake his head whilst a small sigh accompanied him.

“Don’t be jealous, Ting”, you said teasingly. Zhengting walked and sat beside you, pulling you closer to him whilst his other hand pushes Justin from your embrace, making the younger whine. Zhengting’s glare was enough to shut the younger up, making him pout.

“You need to know who you belong to”, Zhengting warned as he pinched playfully on your nose. You swat his hand away from your face, cheekily smiling at him. “Yours”, you whispered.

Zhengting hummed before he slowly leans lower to you, you willingly leaned forward also.

Well, it wasn’t until the door swung open by a bigger force with a loud bang. The cheers of the other Yuehua sprouts filling the room, making both of you and Zhengting froze on spot. You bite your lips as you’re trying your best to not burst out in laughter, knowing this is getting into your boyfriend’s temper.

“Did we came in a bad timing, or should we walk by again?”, Zeren spoke up, his tone cautious noticing the fire in Zhengting’s eyes.

Zhengting stood up, he took your hand to pull you up slowly also. “No”, he said. You stared at Zhengting, somewhat confused. “All of you came at the perfect time”, and pulled you down on a kiss.

You were more than flustered, especially from the hollers and whooping of the audiences. You hit him on chest, but that only led him to tighten his grip on yours. When he broke the kiss, he smirked at you in a playful manner. You scoffed, disbelief.

“Come on”, he said as he laced his fingers on yours once again. “The boys ordered pizza for dinner”, as he pulled you to sit in the circle of his family, occasionally giving glares if one of his members tried to be clingy to you.

*****

“You all know which to choose, right?”, Chengcheng started as his eyes wonders to his members. “Choose Zhang PD’s son-“, Justin didn’t even need to finish his sentence to earn a smack from Zhengting. “That’s plan B, you idiot!”, hissed Zeren.

“Right, we’re sticking to plan A”, Justin said seriously. “That’s right, gather most Yuehua in Y/N Jie’s place because our Ge here is too protective on his girl to not let other trainees get near her”, Chengcheng glared at Zhengting, the older just simply shurgs. I mean, the meme is not wrong.

“He’s just triggered after knowing Xukun-ge is her fan”, Justin scoffs. “Or, the fact she finds Ziyi a total cutie-“

“No, she doesn’t!”, Zhengting snapped tat Chengcheng.

“Who finds me cute?”, Ziyi popped out of between the seats from behind, resting his head on of the lined seat. His eyes sparkles in curiosity, Chengcheng smirked at his leader.

“It’s not your sister right?”, Ziyi tried to guess. Chengcheng choked by the question, glaring at Ziyi. “I am sorry, what?”, Chengcheng taunted the older. “Kidding, bro”, Ziyi raised his hand on defense.

“So, who finds me cute?”, Ziyi asked again. This time his tone was teasing and filled with anticipation.

“Oh, just someone”, Chengcheng pulled on his tone trying his best to irk the older. Zhengting swore he felt his eyes twitching. If only Yixing haven’t come in to start the show, he would’ve had his arms on Chengcheng.

“Rolax man, you’ll get the spot”, Zeren patted his leader’s hand, trying his best to calm the older’s nerves. It wasn’t until Yixing began to explain the rules on the segments, everything hits Zhengting. “Do we even know which song is Y/N’s?”, Zhengting whispered his way to Zeren.

The other male widen his eyes in realization. “You don’t even know your own girl’s song?”, Chengcheng tone was more than surprised, he was in complete disbelief. “I forgot to ask!”, Zhengting tried to defend himself.

“Maybe if you stopped your dirty deed and keep your mouth to yourself, you would’ve remember asking, wouldn’t you?”, taunted Justin. “Oh shut it, Huang”, Zhengting scoffed.

“We’ll figured it out, I mean all of us know her style”, Wenjun popped in. “You’re a genius, ge!”, Justin give a proud smack his Ge’s shoulder making him grumbled. “No, all of you are just dumb”, Quanzhe said ending the whole bickering session.

*****

“Why am I the one who’s getting nervous”, you said as your body sways to Jieqiong’s side. She laughed and patted softly on your head. “You’ll do fine, everyone’s there are like your fans”, you scoffed at Jieqiong’s words.

“Said the one who got nominated as ‘The Prettiest Mentor’ award from the trainees”, you taunted her back making the other mentors laughed at your diss.

Jieqiong faked hurt, but soon broke into a fit of giggles before throwing her arms around you for a friendly embrace.

Speaking really frankly, you never thought you would get the chance to stand here and be one of the mentors in Idol Producer. You thought you were out of your mind when you accepted the offer itself, especially the reason why you accepted the offer was because Zhengting and the other Yuehua beans told you to.

You could still remember the nerves that swells in your system, how it felt like as if it’s going to explode when you first step out to the stage. Knowing your close friend Jieqiong who’s the same age as you is also the mentor kind of calmed your nerves a little. You remembered running to her embrace, crying from nervousness and fear whilst she was laughing her heart out by your clinginess.

“I thought I was going to die!”, you said to her. “Oh, you’ll do fine”, she said. You kind of wish she was right, it wasn’t until you walked out to the stage with the others mentors was when the butterflies came up again.

You grew weak when you stared at the huge amount of trainees, you swore it made you felt small. “They all love you”, MC Jin whispered to you once all of you tried to get to your individual seats. You only thank him for the compliment.

“You’ll do fine, believe me”, Jieqiong whispered at you. “Ready?”, Yixing asked as he stared at your nervous state. Your eyes locked it ways on Zhengting’s, his gaze adorns you with the usual warmth that would always comfort you. You felt the fear slowly subsidize, he gave you a smile. The same smile that reached his eyes with a tinge of sparks and mouthed ‘I love you’ and ‘good luck’, you could conclude your nerves were thrown out of the window.

You smiled to his way. You stared at the other mentors and nodded your head, “Let the evaluation begin”.

Jieqiong stared in awe at the room you’re designated into, whilst you were nibbling on your lips trying to calm your nerves. “Is this a scheme, is this scripted?”, you heard Yixing said. His tone surprised and more to amazement.

“Eyyyy, she got Yuehua domination in her room!”, Chengxiao said. “There goes your wish to have Justin and Zeren on your team”, Jieqiong teased her. “Well, you lost Chengcheng from getting in your team also”, Chengxiao taunted. You laughed at the small bickering they were having, but you’re going to admit the Yuehua beans always finds a way to find you.

But you knew better, this is probably Zhengting’s idea. Because right now you’ve ended up adopting 2 troublemakers, 1 dance helper and your boyfriend in the same room. You knew you had to play smart, professional to be frank.

No one knows your relationship with Zhengting, it’s amazing. Hiding from the flickering blind light, paparazzi, and your own company about your 1 year on-going relationship with Zhengting, let’s just say it was a huge testament. Especially if your boyfriend is really clingy. But at least the Yuehua sprouts knows how to act like a Oscar worthy actors, hence both of you got to stay undercover for so long.

You were expecting loud screaming and cheering when you opened the door, but you received the polar opposite. They were slumped on the floor, gloom on their face as the colors in their faces were so drained. You even thought if you got into the wrong room or something.

“Are you real?”, Chengcheng said weakly. His tone wasn’t cheerful, he sounded depressed and well tired as if all his hope was already shattered. You lock your confused gaze on Zhengting, he also was staring at you in hopeful gaze.

“Did something happened here?”, you said as you closed the door. Xingjie stared at your clipboard and pointed at it. It didn’t took long for the boys to come tackling down taking your clipboard on the performance you’re doing. You stood frozen as the group of males was on top of each other to take a peak on the stack of papers on the wooden material board.

“She’s the one!”, Zeren shouted, his voice boomed the entire room. You choked, still unable to process whatever was happening or what happened to the boys when you’re out to get your clothes changed for practice.

“JIEEE!”, Justin said as he tackled you down. “You guys are so mean! We’ve even learned the dance Mentor Jin performed to us! Then Chengxiao-jie came in saying she’s our mentor!”, said the yellow teen. Xingjie came in and took Justin from suffocating you, as Zhengting helped you to stand up properly.

“Hi”, he said softly as a smile played on his face. “Hi”, you said back.

“Glad you didn’t got lost”, you said teasingly. “I always find my way to you”, he whispered. Zhengting tried to restrain himself from pulling you closer and kiss you, especially since you’re not completely alone. With the camera rolling, he finds all of this testing his patience. Hence, he separates himself from you, but left a good amount of space to stay as close but comfortable for others to not suspect.

You gave an adoring smile to Zhengting before going on clapping your hand, taking the boys attentions. “Let’s go back to school, boys”, you said in a playful manner.

“I aim our stage to light flames, striking people to know how badass we are”, and Zhengting never knew his heart could swoon more as your competitiveness coming out, eyes fiery as ever. He swore it’s almost like he’s falling for you all over again.

*****

When break came, none of you even try to walk out of the door. You sat down as your back was leaning on the wall, you tried to even out your breathing like the others are doing. Mostly, the boys are all sprawled on the floor, almost dead but still alive.

Justin was lying down near you, his eyes twinkling in pride. “We’re so gonna burn the stage”, he said. You laughed, making everyone turns their head on yours. “Sure we are”, you said back to the teen. Justin finds himself getting more comfortable as he tried to snuggle closer to your side, you willingly patted the younger’s head.

Zeren stared at Zhengting grumbling at the younger’s clinginess, and nudged the older male. “Don’t”, was the only thing Zeren said before he drags Zhengting to get lunch.

If looks can either kill or at the very shoot lasers, Justin would be fried by now. Especially by the proximity the younger had around you, and the other fact you didn’t mind due to knowing this yellow head loves attention.

You would occasionally pat the Justin’s head as a praise, or Justin would suddenly give you a friendly hug whenever practice was over, or the fact that Justin can also snuggle around you without the others getting suspicious because Justin is needy.

Zhengting would only tried his best to restrain, and well ignore. Especially he still have Zeren who would occasionally pull the older to not murder the young one, and ended up blowing his own cover. Zhengting is thankful for that, that’s what he thought.

You on the other hand, noticed Zhengting’s changes of behavior. He would often not focus on the moves, occasionally forgets where his positions, his timing, his beats, and his constant cold murderous glares always directed to Justin very frequently during practice and after practice.

It wasn’t until you had enough, you found the perfect timing to have the small talk with him.

When the crew were already out, and most trainees are already asleep. You slowly creak into his room, trying your best not to wake anyone out. You were proud to say you had mad skills, because waking up Zhengting is like wrestling him.

You caught his arm that almost want to knock you dead cold on the face, you hissed his name. “Y/N?”, he said in a slight loud tone. You yelped out softly as you covered his mouth, pulling him from his comfort zone.

A half-awake Zhengting is a pain, you literally had to drag him. Noting to yourself if you’re going to have a talk with him, you would do it when he’s awake and now a sleep deprived zombie.

You gave him a small bottle of banana milk, which he took despite knowing he’s having sugar in the middle of the night. Tucked on a corner of the emergency stairs, far from any cameras but also a spot which not people would usually pass around night time.

“Will you tell me what’s bothering you?”, you asked him softly.

Zhengting almost choked on his own drink, how is he this dumb to not notice the whole reason you’re dragging him out of his slumber. He noticed he did became more cautious, deadly to the youngest. But he never knew you would literally drag him out, and have a small good night talk at 3AM.

“Ting”, you said snapping him right from his trance. “Tell me what’s wrong”, it wasn’t a question anymore. Zhengting sensed your seriousness, but mostly pure worry laced upon each words you said.

He didn’t what got into his nerves, his system. Either he was high on sugar, or the sudden neediness in him got the best of him. You didn’t process anything in your mind when he suddenly pulled you towards him, his lips sealed on yours.

You gasped, in shock by the sudden move.

You could feel it from his action. Desperate, insecurities, but also longing.

When he pulled away from you, you saw his gaze broken. You rested a hand on his face, slowly tracing his features. You smiled at him, slowly leaning on him giving a small peck on the corner of his lips.

“Tell me what’s wrong”, you said once again.

He smiled, struck noticing how much power you got to have him entirely wrapped around your finger.

“It’s just me”, he said. “I forced myself to stay away most of the time because I don’t want to expose us too much, the unwanted attention that would eventually ruin us

“But yet in the end, I am too needy.”, he laughed at his own statement. “Seeing you and Justin, especially that kid is always thirsty for attention, your attention. We’re already close with you for some good time already, but people knows you’re love towards Justin. Hence people weren’t that shock to see Justin all needy to you, because you’re like his long lost sister. Whilst me—”, he choked out.

You took his hand, slowly interlacing your fingers on his. He sighed, this is going to be a long night.

“I just—Well, I can’t do any of those. I can’t show you my attention whenever I want, I can’t show the others that you’re mine when most of them have a definite crush on you-“, you giggled on his last statement making him give you a glare.

“It frustrates me, I am so needy yet I can’t occasionally show it. I can’t do anything on what a normal couple do, and I am your boyfriend”, he finished.

You smiled, playing with his delicate fingers that are interlaced with yours. You smiled fondly at Zhengting, his own effort to make everything work. You admire him, hence ended up falling for him as time passed by.

”This”, you pointed out as it gained his attention. “This is what a normal couple would do, Ting. A normal couple would appreciate any small effort their lover do, a normal couple would make any situation work into a simple easy date, and a normal couple always support each other whenever one have a problem”

“We are enough, we are that normal couple you envisioned.”, you placed a kiss on his palm. “Don’t let other things bother you too much, Ting. I don’t mind living out our relationship hidden in the shadows, having you by my side like this—“, you pointed out.

“This is enough, us”, and you lulled him into another delicate kiss.

*****

“Amazing performance, they completely burned the stage just now”, Ronghao said as he took peaks on his cards. You laughed softly, feeling pride fire in you.

The audience roars louder, and you could see the banner your fans made for you but also his occasionally in your sight. You hummed in content with the so called polished performance. You’re proud to do it not with just your team, but also because Zhengting’s is always by your side giving out the most support and push towards you.

You couldn’t be more grateful.

When Yixing passed you the mic, you took it willingly knowing what you’re going to say in a second.

“I would want to thank not just crew members, the other mentors for their hard work, and also PD who always make time to evaluate our practice—“, you started. Your eyes wandered to the boys, who’s smiling at you with equal pride.

“I also want to thank all the fans for making time to come here and support the boys. But also, my gratitude will always goes to my team who always practice day till night without sleep”, you laughed remembering constant whining they gave you during practice.

“I’ve seen a lot of comments asking if I have a special connection with Justin or not, if I am dating him or such”, Zeren stared in confusion by the sudden change of topic. All of them knew this wasn’t even in your usual speech. Zhengting was about to nudge you as he’s the closest to you, but Justin held him from the back. “Trust her”, he whispered to the older.

“I do not have any special relationship with Justin, he’s like a younger brother to me—“, you haven’t even finish your sentence as the crowd gave out a small whine.

You laughed, oh aren’t they in for a surprise.

“Sorry to break it, you guys”, you said teasingly. You look back and smile at the boys, Zhengting gave you a confused look mostly.

“You guys can’t force shipment on me”, you huffed at the audience. “Especially when I am happily committed in my own on-going romance”

This shut everyone up, even Yixing and Ronghao was frozen. Zeren, Justin and Chengcheng was pursing their lips from laughing, whilst Zhengting felt the sudden butterflies burst in his stomach. He stared at you in awe.

When you and your team were excused from the stage, Zhengting immediately pulls you to a dark corner of the stage.

“Why did you do that?”, he whispered to you. But both of you knew he wasn’t mad, more to bursting out pride at your gut.

You felt his lips hovers around yours, his breath mixing with yours. Drawn deep into his stares, his spell. You were so willing to be lulled in.

“To let people know I am happily taken by someone who’s really needy of my existence”, you said. He chuckled softly.

“You’re crazy”, he said. “Crazy for you”, you taunted him

“Well then, I am mad for you”

He sealed his lips on yours, knowing how this small steps is going to change a lot of things.

#9%#idol producer #nine percent #zhu zhengting #idol producer scenarios #idol producer imagines #nine percent scenarios #nine percent imagines #9% scenarios #9% imagines #9 percent scenarios #9 percent imagines #zhu zhengting scenarios #zhu zhengting imagines #written scenarios

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vicccwrites · 6 years

Text

Meeting The Parents - Zhu Zhengting

(A/N: Hello!! This is for the anon who requested a Zhengting fic where he meets your parents! <33 There’s quite a bit of dialogue in this fic (at least imo), so you’ll have to let me know if you like it or if it’s something that annoys you haha ^^ Also? I have no idea how these things actually work? But I tried to portray it as best as I could hehe :))) I hope you enjoy nonetheless~~)

*Side Note: y/m/n = your mom’s name

Masterlist

- Picture Source: Google -

“Babe, you’re literally a teacher! Don’t you do these things all the time?”

You were finally taking your boyfriend of 3 years, Zhengting, home to meet your parents

And you couldn’t - for the life of you - understand why he was so nervous

You knew they would absolutely adore him

But when you told him that, he refused to believe you

“It’s not the same though!!” he responded indignantly, frantically obsessing over his appearance in the bathroom mirror and smoothing invisible wrinkles out of his dress shirt

You just chuckled, reaching around him to grab a couple of bobby pins to keep some stray hairs in their place

“You’ll do fine, Ting, stop worrying. They’ll love you.”

Eventually, you manage to drag your boyfriend away from the mirror and into your car

However, even that couldn’t stop the nervous tapping of his feet against the floor of the vehicle

By the time you pulled into the parking lot outside of your parents’ place, he was basically on the verge of hyperventilating

Your eyebrows creased together into a slight frown at his obvious distress

Grabbing his face gently in your hands, you forced him to listen to you

“You’ve got this, alright love? They haven’t even met you yet and they’re already convinced you’re perfect. Don’t worry, and just be yourself! Seriously, you can’t mess this up.”

Your words seemed to calm him somewhat, but you could tell that he was still a bit anxious

“I love you, and that’s all that matters,” you whispered before pressing your lips to his, determined to ease the last of his worries while you were still in the privacy of your car

Because as much as you knew they would love him, your parents would not be pleased if their first sight of their future son-in-law was with his tongue down your throat

After reassuring him again that the meeting would go well, the pair of you stepped out of the car and rang the doorbell to the house

You grasped Zhengting’s hand in your much smaller one, hoping that it would provide at least a bit more comfort

As you felt his thumb circling your palm, you smiled softly to yourself, seeing the last traces of tension leave your boyfriend’s face

Only to immediately return with the sudden opening of the front door, revealing your mother

“Mom!! It’s been too long!” you exclaimed before engulfing her in your embrace, “This is Zhengting, my boyfriend.”

He smiled, introducing himself before going to shake her hand

Ignoring the cue, your mom pulled him into a hug instead

“It’s nice to meet you, dear. y/n’s told us so much about you!”

He flushed, but regained his bearings pretty quickly and returned the hug

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, madam. Good things only, I hope.”

“Of course! None of this ‘madam’ business, call me y/m/n.”

Just then, your dad stuck his head into the hallway where you were all congregated

“Honey, I think the steak’s about done- Oh, y/n, you’re early! And you must be Zhengting. It’s great to finally meet you.”

Your mom scurried into the kitchen to finish up dinner, leaving your dad to get acquainted with Ting

He led the pair of you into the dining room, where you all talked for a bit until your mom came in with food

You were about to stand up and help, but your boyfriend beat you to it

Earning him a look of approval from both of your parents

Everyone chatted throughout the whole of the meal

And you were very pleased to note that neither of your parents decided to interrogate Zhengting

You could tell he was becoming more at ease by the minute, and rewarded him with a soft hand on his knee under the table

He was a complete natural

Even if you hadn’t done nothing but sing him praises beforehand, he definitely would have been able to win them over

A fact that caused a wave of relief to crash over you

They had completely hated every one of your exes, and you were glad that the same wasn’t the case for Ting

The dinner came to an end faster than you expected it to

But when you glanced at the clock, you were surprised to see that it was already getting late!

After saying your goodbyes, and after Zhengting complimented the food for the nth time that night, you two headed back for your car

“See, that wasn’t so bad. I told you it’d be fine.”

“Well, I think the success calls for a celebration, don’t you agree?”

“You’re insatiable,” you teased, already putting the car into gear and driving off ;)

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yanjuniverse · 4 years

Text

How Should It Be - Xiao Gui/Wang Linkai One Shot

[a/n: ah yes back at it again with another cringey one shot. i meant to post this on 5/20 but i couldn’t get my brain juices to work and finish it until tonight. i hope you guys like it. big reminder that i love wang linkai ❤️. sorry if the fic is a mess btw lol.] / master list

He sags down in his seat, visibly defeated by whatever was on his mind. A pout is prominent on his lips as his best friend cracks a smile, clapping him on the back before wrapping his arm around him, their bodies crashing together.

“Why the long face, Gui? Don’t you know that frowning gives you wrinkles?” he asks. If Linkai wasn’t so down in the dumps, he would’ve smacked the exaggerated frown right off of Chengcheng’s face right then.

Fan Chengcheng has never been the kind to just let Linkai live in his misery. Oh, no. Fan Chengcheng has to twist the knife after he stabs you. Sure, the guy’s quiet when you first meet him. But once you get to know him the way Linkai knows him, it’s a done deal. Your soul is his and there’s no getting rid of him.

“You saw my butthole once, Kai. We’re practically blood brothers now.”

Don’t ask. Linkai is begging.

“Nothing,” he shifts back into the ratty couch. He thinks for a second about how Xingjie is always babbling on and on about how he should replace it (as if Linkai has the money to replace this old hand-me-down couch. He’s a soundcloud rapper. How much does Xingjie even thinks he makes off of his beats?). Something about how just because it’s old, doesn’t mean it’s vintage. Linkai thinks that maybe the spring that pops out of the second cushion of the faded blue sofa may have caught Xingjie by surprise one too many times. That’s why Linkai always sits on the arm rest or lays like a starfish on the floor during movie nights. You’ll never catch him squished in the middle of Yanchen and Xingjie on their Thursday night Grey’s Anatomy marathons (per Yanchen’s request because how could one look at the actual sun and say no?).

He’s picking at the frayed edge of the sofa when Chengcheng says, “It doesn’t look like nothing.” He suddenly snaps, reaching into his pocket before pulling out a pair of his (nonprescription) glasses. He pushes them up on his nose then opens his phone to his notes. Linkai sees him type “WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH GUI TODAY” and watches him not only put it in bold print but italics as well. “I think we should start a diary of some sort. My sister has one of those and she says it’s all a part of a healthy life style. Wait, should we buy a Password Journal for you? Okay, wait Chengcheng. Too far off track. Let’s focus on the now.” He recomposes himself before saying, “First of all, do you know your rising sign? It could help explain a lot of things.”

Linkai thinks that there’s a reason for everything. He thinks that you never meet a person by mistake. But sometimes...he has to question his life mottos as Chengcheng waves his hand and tells him he’ll make his birth chart from scratch, all he needs is the time he was born (because Chengcheng’s already memorized that he was born on May 20, 1999 in the Fujian Province).

“Chengcheng, I promise on my mother that I won’t judge you. Just tell me if you were dropped on your head as a baby or not.“ He’s desperate at this point. There’s no way somebody just wakes up and makes the conscious decision to be Fan Chengcheng. Not any sane person, that is.

“Astrology is a very serious science, Gui and I will not stand for your bashing!” Chengcheng whines.

Likai gives him side eyes. “Didn’t you only get into astrology because Justin said you were a Gemini and he liked that?”

“No!” But the blush rising on his cheeks says otherwise. “Look. This isn’t about me! This is about you! What’s your deal?”

The older one shakes his head, throwing himself back against the couch and hoping that the weird stain to his left would manifest into a blackhole and swallow him hole. He crosses his arms and taps his shoe against the ground, eyes glued to the ceiling popcorn and wondering who the hell even thought that shit was cute. He starts to wonder how much he could pay Chengcheng to eat it when the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it,” Chengcheng says. “I’m expecting a package!” As he gets up, he throws a cushion at his roommate before hopping away.

Linkai shuts his eyes, too exhausted to even fight back. Maybe it is his package. Maybe it’s Justin. Maybe they have another “date” in Chengcheng’s room (it’s not a real date if Justin doesn’t know it’s a date).

He’s about to drift to sleep when another cushion hits his chin, causing him to bite his tongue.

He’s on his feet and ready to throw hands when his eyes land on (a very pissed looking) you.

Honestly. He’s not surprised. You have this sour face all day and all night and it’s to the point where he’s starting to consider having Chengcheng put together your birth chart so that he can understand just that much more about you.

He crosses his arms. “And what is the problem today, princess?” he raises his eyebrows. He leans down, teasingly close, and wrinkles his nose. “I was just thinking about you.”

“Don’t look so stressed,” you scoff. He pokes your forehead, causing you to stumble back a couple of steps. “Hey!” you whine, rubbing the spot. He can just hear you screaming in your head about how he has dirty finger nails or how his hands are always so cold and boney. You huff. “You’re gonna give me a headache.”

“You give me a headache every time you walk into the room,” he shrugs, pulling back. He throws himself onto the couch again and hears the floor rattle beneath him. Another complaint that you’ll throw at him is how he and Chengcheng should just move out of this ratty old place. (“And go where exactly?” “I don’t know! Go live with Zhengting! I heard he needs a roommate!” “You want us to live with Zhu Zhengting? He’ll be on China’s Most Wanted after he kills me and Chengcheng.”) You roll your eyes instead. “But go on. What did your best friend Wang Linkai do to piss you off today?”

“We had a lunch date!” you stomp your foot.

“A lunch date?!” Chengcheng repeats as he exists the kitchen, choking on the piece of bread he had shoved into his mouth. “You two go on dates?!”

Linkai snorts. Ever since Chengcheng found out the story of how you and Linkai met, he’s been begging for you two to fall in love. (“You met in college when she dropped her books and you helped her pick them up? Fingers lingering, eyes glazing over. Love blooming like spring cherry blossom-“ “Chengcheng, shut the actual hell up. I only helped her out because I’m not an asshole.” “Not an asshole? Have you met you?”). Chengcheng says that he’s read a lot of fan fictions. He knows how this will turn out. Apparently, he’s taking bets alongside Chen Linong and Lin Yanjun as to when you two will finally get together. But jokes on them because you are denser than a book.

According to Chengcheng, it’s not your fault because apparently Linkai has terrible game. His idea of flirting with you is to flake on you half the time, watch you get riled up then pat your head and walk away after you get done ranting to him. Linkai doesn’t call that game. He calls that tolerance because some of this shit you put him through makes his head spin in circles. Plus, he’s got an image to uphold. Xiao Gui AKA.IMP cannot go around braiding flower crowns and singing to the birds like this is some kind of Disney film. He’s still trying to live down that time Xukun posted a picture of him coloring in a coloring book on his instagram story (Ziyi still sends him children’s coloring books every holiday since. Whether Linkai fills them out or not is his business and his business only).

He thinks today is going to be a bad day. He thinks it’ll be one of those days where the two of you will fight to no ends and there’s literally nothing he can do to make you feel better. He hates to admit it but he likes those kind of days because they always end with the two of you laying in his bed. Those are the nights he’ll hold you and wipes your tears, whispering a mantra of “Yes, I’m an idiot” and “I’m sorry, it’s my fault for not cherishing you.” He likes those nights because even though you get on his last nerves, he’ll be willing to admit defeat if that means he’ll get to wake up with you beside him.

“Honestly, Linkai. I don’t even know why I try with you sometimes,” you groan, setting down the bag of food in your hands onto the coffee table with one too many water stains. “Chengcheng, come join us for lunch.”

“Oh, I don’t wanna intrude on your date,” he says.

You smile at him. “It’s not an actual date.“

There’s a weird look on your face as you say that. It’s a look you get that Xiao Gui has never been able to read. Your smile is big but your eyes never seem to match. Your shoulders visibly sag and your movements slow for a second before you seem to realize what you’re doing and get back to being normal. “Come!”

“No,” Linkai plops down on the floor next to you. “He has a lab with Justin due at midnight tonight. He needs to leave.”

“Hm? You keep tabs on me?” Chengcheng has a shit eating grin on his face which quickly disappears as Linkai scoffs.

“No. You’re wearing cologne for once and don’t look oily. From just that, I know you’re going to meet Justin,” he says. “You usually smell like terrible B.O. and your hair looks dry. As for your project, you have it written on your calendar inside of a big red heart. I saw it when I went to steal the five bucks from your dresser earlier.” Chengcheng sputters, face red with embarrassment.

You swat Linkai’s shoulder. “Leave him alone,” you frown. “Don’t worry about him, Cheng. You always look and smell great to me!” you grin encouragingly before turning back to Linkai again to whisper yell. “He has a crush. Don’t tell me you’ve never gotten dressed up for somebody you liked.”

“Hey!” he says louder than you expected considering this was supposed to be a hushed conversation. “I’m wearing the jeans you said make my ass look fat,” he retorts. You simply roll your eyes before returning to Chengcheng. Once again, you’ve reminded not only Linkai but the world that you are denser than a book. He makes a face. “You expect me to read your mind and yet you never seem to be able to read mine,” he mutters under his breath, forcefully stabbing into his rice.

“What was that?” you turn back to him. He shakes his head, shoveling a load of food into his mouth to keep you from pressing. You thankfully don’t and once again, turn to Chengcheng. “I think you look amazing. Really. Go get him! He’ll be in your arms in no time!”

“Thanks, jiejie!” the dopey boy grins. “I’ll be on my way then. Be back tomorrow morning. Don’t have too much fun while I’m gone!” he winks. He’s out the door before Linkai can kill him (as if Linkai even had the energy to do so).

He’s too busy dissecting his meat to notice your cold stare. You have to clear your throat for him to look up and see your face. He groans, “What the hell did I do now?”

“You should be more supportive of Chengcheng.”

“More supportive? Any more supportive and I might as well just text Justin and say ‘Hey dinghead! Chengcheng is in love with you!’” he scoffs. “Honestly, it doesn’t get any more supportive than me.” He’s actually offended that you don’t think he’s all for Chengstin. Linkai is the vice president of the Chengstin fanclub, only coming second to You Zhangjing. “Who do you think always makes sure there’s ice cream in the fridge when Justin comes over? Who do you think hops off our shitty ass wifi when Justin comes to watches movies? Who the fuck ran across town just to fight with sneaker heads to get Justin the newest pair of shoes because Chengcheng was stuck in class? Have you ever had to fight a sneak head, YN? Have you?” His eyes are wild as if he’s seen some things he’d rather not talk about.

You sigh. “I just think you need to be nicer to him,” you shrug.

“Last week you told me not to let Chengcheng step all over me,” Linkai points his chopstick accusingly at you.

“Because you were deadass tired and up doing his laundry while he slept!” you exclaim.

Linkai snorts. You’re honestly a walking contradiction when it comes to him. “Just eat and be quiet. I’ve already got a headache. Don’t make my stomach upset too with all of your nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense, Linkai!”

“If it’s coming from you, it is.” He shuts his foam to-go plate and stands to his feet before you could give him another earful. “I’m gonna go get a drink. Want anything? Water? A soda? A shot of vodka?”

“Ten more minutes with you makes the last option sound more appeasing than it should,” you pinch the bridge of your nose.

“Nobody is forcing you to be here,” he reminds you, patting your head as he walks away. When he returns, he’s made two pretty drinks and winks at you. Bottoms up, his eyes say.

“Really? Drinking on a Tuesday?” you scoff.

“Whether it’s a Tuesday afternoon or a Saturday night, you will always find a reason to complain,” he replies. You roll your eyes, taking a sip and feeling the alcohol burn down your throat. You grimace before setting it back down on the table. “So what do you wanna do now, hm? Watch a movie? Make me watch you online shop?”

“Maybe I could put make up on you and do your hair,” you suggest.

It’s his turn to roll his eyes. “You say that everyone elses’ boy friends do this for them and yet, I feel as though I’m the only one.”

“Boyfriend?” you repeat, completely disregarding anything else he had said.

“Boy. Space. Friends,” he says before leaning back onto his hands. “Why? Do you wanna remove the space in between us?” he wiggles his eyebrows before swooping in close to you, noses bumping. You freeze at this. “What?” he smirks when you don’t push him away like usual. “You actually thinking about kissing me this time?”

You scoff, shaking your head and moving away from him. “Wang Linkai,” you scoff again. “You really are something else. You know that? Kiss you? My best friend? I’d rather eat sand or-“ You stop, looking at him and seeing the way his eyes cast down for a second. “What?”

He looks back up. “Nothing,” he says before pulling himself to his feet again. He stretches his arms over his head and yawns. “Come. Let’s go shop. Or something. I don’t know.” He shakes his head and reaches for his drink. Maybe he shouldn’t have poured so much alcohol into his drink. One sip and he’s already a mess. “What?” He notices you still haven’t moved from your spot on the floor. “Hurry up and put on your jacket. Or do I have to so it for you?” He makes a swipe to grab your arm but you pull back, holding it against your chest. “YN, what?” he sighs, a bit annoyed. “Are you mad at what I just did? Look, I’m sorry. Let’s just-“

“Linkai,” you frown. “Why do you look so sad?”

“It’s nothing,” he replies, walking around and looking for his keys.

“It’s doesn’t seem like nothing to you.” Your words are careful, almost as if you’re trying to find the right wire to cut in order for the bomb not to explode. It’s always like that when the two of you argue this deeply. And sadly, it always ends with somebody crying.

“Because it’s never anything to you!” he throws a hand down dramatically. “So like. Let’s go because I’m not going to do this today!”

“Do what today?” you ask, standing to your feet. He shakes his head and makes it towards the door when you grab his arm. He instantly spins around and pins you against the wall, arms encasing you. You narrow your eyes at him. “What’s your deal?” you huff.

“It’s not even a bit obvious to you?” He’s smiling like a deviant. Like you’re just playing into one of his cold jokes. “Are you really that stupid?”

“What did I do to you?” you cross your arms.

“Everything,” he says, eyes casting downwards. You feel your heart starting to hammer as you realize he’s staring right at your lips. “You waltz into my life and make it absolute hell. You expect me to just know what’s on your mind. You expect me to just know what makes you happy and what makes you sad. You expect me to just know these things and I don’t and it makes me so tired and yet...” he laughs coldly. “And yet when I look at you, I want to be defeated. I want to fall at my knees at your mercy. It’s been like this since the day we met.” His hand slowly makes its way up to your cheek, cupping the glowy red flesh between his fingers. “C’mon, YN. How should it be? What do I have to do to make you like me as much as I like you?”

“Linkai, you idiot! If you liked me, you should’ve just told me!” you pout.

“And then you would’ve found something to complain about then as well,” he rolls his eyes. “Honestly, YN. Just lighten up with me sometimes. I’m trying.”

“You’re always trying,” you smile. “That’s what I like about you.”

“You wanna know a secret?” he asks, leaning in closely. “I only try his hard for you.”

And as his lips finally land on yours, you realize that this is exactly how it should have been all along.

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