’til next weekend

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Jiang Cheng stares at his phone screen.

The sibling group chat has been mostly quiet during the past week. They’d have periods like this, when their weeks would just be packed with things to do and other people to worry about. It’s no big deal, and they all know that they’re all one call away for anything urgent. And whenever they’re not as busy, the chat would be active, even when replies take an hour or even a day in between.

The last conversation in the chat follows a video of Yan-yan on her ballet recital from two weeks ago. Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying of course had praised their niece and checked up on their sister who had been very busy in between managing the bakery and helping her daughter prepare for her big day. It’s all love and checking up on each other, until the messages dwindled again as they all probably got swept away by their separate lives.

Jiang Cheng stares at his phone screen. Why does it have to be quiet right now? Couldn’t the chat be more active, couldn’t Wei Ying be gushing about his Lan Zhan and A-Yuan or whatever, so Jiang Cheng can easily just drop in his news, just nonchalantly, like it’s just a normal update?

But no, he has to do it right now, into the quiet, where he would be the center of attention and his siblings would definitely have many Things to say-

He sighs, and remembers why he has this dilemma in the first place.

.

“By the way, have you told your siblings?” Nie Huaisang asked him, earlier that day, as they waited for their coffee order.

Jiang Cheng blinked. “About what?”

“That I’m in town? Or we’ve been meeting up?”

Ah. Jiang Cheng is rarely sheepish, but this is close. “Actually… No, not… yet. I haven’t talked to them much the past weeks, our schedules have been tight, so timing’s been difficult. And… uh…”

“Hm?” Nie Huaisang and his big shiny eyes, Jiang Cheng swears.

“They might make a big deal out of it. And bug me. I’m enjoying the peace.” He sighs. “Do you… You think I should’ve told them by now?”

Nie Huaisang shakes his head quickly. “Oh, no- No, you do you! I was just… I found Yanli-jie and Wei-xiong on social media and I was gonna add them and like, say hi, and then I realized… They’ll surely mention you, and… it might be weird if I was the one to tell them we’ve been hanging out, in case you haven’t told them yet. So I thought I might check with you first.”

Jiang Cheng thinks about it, and nods. “Yeah, that’s fair.” Another sigh. “Don’t worry, I’ll be telling jiejie, when she gets back. The kids have met you, after all.”

.

Fuck it. He lives close and works everyday at the market district, and he’s been hanging out with Nie Huaisang all around the place. He knows how their neighbors observe stuff, shopkeeps with nothing else to do in their free hours but people-watch. It’s been an actual miracle that he could keep something from his siblings, or at least his sister, for two weeks.

He is still staring at his phone when he saw the little bubble and dot animation on the corner of the screen.

His sister is typing. Oh, no. He can’t let her go first, because Wei Ying will surely misinterpret whatever that is. So he hurries to type-

Wait. Shit. No, no no NO– That is not. That is not how he should’ve started. Of course he fucks up the first message! Of course-

Oh, no. Wei Ying is alive. Awake. He’s in his phone. Goddammit.

Ah, his jiejie. Forever patient and understanding.

There’s a short pause, before-

Jiang Cheng considers that. Technically, Nie Huaisang’s bludgeoning fabric weapon bumped into his face at the bakery, but oh well.

There is a full minute of silence. There’s not even the dot animations of someone typing.

Jiang Cheng sighs. He is sure his brother and sister are probably DM-ing each other, without him.

Whatever. It’s still going well for him so far though, considering-

Goddammit.

Jiang Cheng snorts. That’s his sister, always fair. Then she asks Wei Ying about A-Yuan’s graduation, because of course she remembers that right away. And that distracts Wei Ying just enough because then the chat is suddenly filled with photos of A-Yuan and Lan Zhan again… not even related to the topic, just random photos of them.

Anyway, that’s done, Jiang Cheng supposes. It could’ve been worse. Now Nie Huaisang is free to go message Wei Ying and they can scream at each other, the two of them. Like they’ve always done.

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Nie Huaisang’s copy of the script is filled with doodles, quick sketches, notes and highlighted passages in all sorts of colors. He has found himself a nice workflow today, marking some of his better doodles with little sticky tabs, so he can find them easier later when he starts working on more solid concept ideas in his sketchbook.

He had just stuck another sticky tab to mark a particularly long annotation, when a familiar presence just casually sidles up beside him, joining him on the long communal work table.

“Hello, Nie-xiong! How was your weekend?” Mo Xuanyu asks, cheerful and bubbly as always and setting several sketchbooks and magazines down on the table.

Nie Huaisang spares his younger friend a smile and a glance, but he is mostly focused on his sticky tabs, trying to position them just right… “Hello, A-Yu. My weekend was good. I hung out with a friend. ”

“Hm, hanging out? I bet it was fun…” Mo Xuanyu hums as he opens up one of his magazines.

“Yeah…” Nie Huaisang now thinks he should use another sticky tab color for this one, to make it stand out more. Maybe one of his cute ones? He’s sure he has a cute bunny one-

“Specially when you’re all cozy and sweet with a very handsome, very single doctor… well, pet doctor, but-”

Huh. Nie Huaisang looks up from his very cute bunny sticky tabs, and turns to look at Mo Xuanyu, only to see that his friend-slash-coworker has his chin propped up in his hands, is looking over with an impish grin, and is very much not reading his magazine at all.

Nie Huaisang likes Mo Xuanyu a lot, particularly because the kid reminds him a lot of himself, just a decade or so younger. Nie Huaisang knows this is the exact kind of expression and pose he would make at a friend to tease them and slowly, dramatically reveal that he knows something interesting.

“Okay, A-Yu.” Nie Huaisang says, facing the other, mirroring his pose and smiling his own smile. “Who’s your source?”

“Nie-xiong…” Xuanyu giggles. “Do you know what my part-time job was, from high school to uni?”

“No, we haven’t talked about that, I believe.”

“I worked at my auntie’s beauty salon in the market district. I did the ladies’ hair, nails and make-up.”

“Ah…”

“Yep!”

“I see…” Nie Huaisang nods. That explains things. “You still hang out in there a lot, I suppose?”

“Oh, you know I do. I’m family!”

“So you know everything, then.” Nie Huaisang sighs. “About everyone. Basically.”

Because that’s what that means, if you live in the market district. The beauty salons are where all the information – gossip – are exchanged. Nie Huaisang won’t even bother guessing who started whatever rumor this is – it’s already out, best he can do is just find out what it says about him, exactly.

It’s at that point that Mo Xuanyu breaks, and latches on to Nie Huaisang’s cozy oversized cardigan. “So it’s true?! Nie-xiong, how have you not told me?!”

Nie Huaisang snorts – oh, the kid still has things left to learn. “Ah, what are you talking about, A-Yu? What have I not told you, exactly?”

“You and Doctor Jiang?! You were on a date?!”

…and there it is, as Nie Huaisang suspected.

Before he can reply though, Mo Xuanyu is already shaking him back and forth, whining. “You know we’re related, right? Kinda? He’s my half-brother’s brother-in law! Do you know he’s been single the longest time – which makes no sense – he is so handsome! Half the aunties say he has a bad attitude, but I don’t really believe it, because when I met him – like, a couple times – he was… okay? Like have you seen him with Yan-yan? With Little Fairy? Oh, he was so dreamy-…! And all the clinic’s customers swear on him being really nice to their pets, too! I bet he’s just the mysterious, quiet but misunderstood type-”

“O-Okay…” Nie Huaisang could only nod, and pat his friend’s hand. “Okay, kid, let’s slow down-”

“-and all of them say they’ve never seen him with anyone – anyone that’s not family! We were all thinking, maybe the assistant? Miss Liu? Then we learned that Miss Liu already has a girlfriend. I don’t know, whatever- How did it happen, then? You and him? How did you do it? Nie-xiong, talk to me!”

“I’m trying to?” Nie Huaisang says, laughing.

Mo Xuanyu looks at him with wide puppy eyes, made even more devastating by his flawless make-up. His specialty.

Nie Huaisang slowly and gently pries the hands off his sleeve, places them on the table, and pats them gently, like he would a little child. “Yes, I was out with Jiang-xiong last weekend-”

“What-”

Nie Huaisang quickly raises a finger to indicate silence, and it works. “-no, no, I’m not done. Remember how I told you my family lived here for a few years, when I was a kid?”

Mo Xuanyu blinks, and then realization sets in slowly. “Oh…?”

“Yeah, we’re old neighbors. We went to school together. We’re friends.” Nie Huaisang states simply. “So we’ve been hanging out, that’s all. I’m sorry to let you down, we’re not as cozy and sweet as your sources have been telling you.”

“Oh?” Mo Xuanyu looks disappointed. He lays his head on top of his magazines and pouts. “But Nie-xiong, he is-”

“-very handsome, yes. I do have eyes, A-Yu.” Nie Huaisang chuckles, returning to his notes, picking his sticky tabs back up. “And I also know that he’s nice, to pets and people. Why would I be spending time with him otherwise?”

A long sigh. “And you’re going on dates…”

Nie Huaisang chuckles. “We’re not calling them dates.”

“Awww… You should, though…” Another long, even miserable sigh. It almost makes Nie Huaisang feel bad, somehow. “So that’s it? Really nothing? Even back then? Ever? Ever ever? What about someday? Maybe someday, right?”

“Hm…” Nie Huaisang picks one of the cuter bunny expressions on the sticky tabs and places it carefully on the margin of his current page. “A-Yu, if there ever was something, I don’t really kiss and tell…”

A gasp. Mo Xuanyu bolts back upright. “There was something, then? Right? Right?”

“Oh, that’s all you’re getting from me.” Nie Huaisang says easily, smiling in amusement as he flips through his script to find more pages that need marking.

“But Nie-xiong~ What will I tell the aunties…?”

“The aunties can make of that what they will, sweetie.”

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Jiang Cheng’s assistant is on leave for the weekend, so that means that he has work. He doesn’t mind much, and it actually lined up with his intended schedule just fine. He’d skipped on the usual lunch with Nie Huaisang, and they both agreed that they can just meet up in the early evening instead.

Today is a slow day for the clinic, and he is able to close an hour early, so he’s not running late to meet up with Nie Huaisang. At least, if Nie Huaisang arrived on their planned time. Jiang Cheng has a feeling he would be there early, though, and he only hopes that he’s not keeping his friend waiting too long. Nie Huaisang had seemed very excited about their plans tonight, after all…

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Jiang Cheng picks up the little flyer that came with the tickets and takes a photo of the schedule of the film screenings, and sends it to Nie Huaisang.

The reply is instant.

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The old movie theater has stood on the same spot in the district for as long as Jiang Cheng has known the neighborhood. Despite that, he had only been there a few times. For one, it only screened vintage, art house and indie films, none of which he ever had any particular interest in. If he ever came with his siblings or the kids to see something, they usually went to the mall where they screened the latest movies.

He knew who ran the business though. Madame Gong could be his grandmother’s age, but she still dressed and wore her hair and makeup like a 60’s movie star. He had met her a couple of times during semi-annual meetings of the market district business owners, and she had been perfectly pleasant, soft-spoken but eloquent. Her business might be considered niche, even eccentric, but it is well-respected within the community.

He had only gone to see something in the Vintage Glamour theatre twice before – once during high school as part of an educational trip and the second time when he chaperoned Jin Ling and Ouyang Zizhen because they needed to watch and make a report on a “classic film” for school.

There’s a significant number of years between those two times and now, yet he could swear the old theatre has just been stuck in time, as he stepped inside and it still looked the very same.

There is no big crowd in the theatre halls, not even on a Saturday evening. There never is, except if there was a special event or a block screening or something like that. Jiang Cheng’s gaze passes over the pairs and small groups milling around, until he finds Nie Huaisang-

Ah. There he is.

And of course, his friend had found Madame Gong (or maybe it’s the other way around?) and is in a very animated conversation with her.

Jiang Cheng pats down his jacket – somehow even though he knows he isn’t, he suddenly feels underdressed, just walking up to Madame Gong, with her hair done up, wearing an elegant qipao with a perfectly matching hand fan.

“Oh, it’s the young Doctor Jiang!” the woman says with a lively, pleasant smile as Jiang Cheng goes to join them. “What a pleasant surprise to see you, dear.”

“Good evening, madame.” Jiang Cheng replies, as polite as he can. “Thank you for the tickets. You’re always very generous.”

The woman waves her fan dismissively. “Ah, I’m lucky we still get people coming in these days. So I suppose Miss Liu and her lady friend are not available?”

“They’re on vacation, but she made me swear not to waste your tickets.” Jiang Cheng answers. He is aware of Nie Huaisang stepping back from his close huddle with the madame to stand closer to him instead, and he settles his arm across the other’s shoulders to anchor him. “I had to close the clinic by myself. Did you wait too long?”

“It’s okay.” Nie Huaisang says, tucking himself to Jiang Cheng’s side. “I had fun talking to the madame!”

“Your friend has been delightful company, doctor. He’s been telling me about their upcoming production. It sounds quite promising!” Madame Gong says. She sends a smile to Nie Huaisang. “I will be sure to keep an eye out, it’s been a while since I’ve seen a live musical…”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Nie Huaisang says, with a bashful smile back. Jiang Cheng gives his shoulder a light squeeze.

The woman turns her head to check the time on the ticket booth, and then looks at them. “Ah. It’s almost showtime for you young men. And I too should go. Have a wonderful night, alright?”

They both thank her for her time, and she simply waves her fan at them before walking off and greeting another group in the waiting area, like a hostess at a party.

Nie Huaisang tugs at Jiang Cheng’s jacket. Jiang Cheng leans down slightly, and Nie Huaisang whispers, “She’s so cool. I wanna be her when I grow up.”

Jiang Cheng just chuckles, and just leads him towards the concession stand. “C’mon, while we still have time to get popcorn.”

“Sour cream!”

“Hm… alright.”

.

The popcorn line turned out to be busier than they expected, so they had to rush a bit to make it to their screening, and as they settled down, Jiang Cheng only got three questions in:

“So is this the original Godzilla?”

“No, but it’s one of the classic movies.”

“Have you seen this one before?”

“Yep. It’s a good one.”

“I haven’t seen any of the others. Will I get this one?”

“Of course, don’t worry about it!”

…and then the movie started and they both fell quiet.

Jiang Cheng had half-expected Nie Huaisang to talk his ear off during the whole thing.

But it turns out, Nie Huaisang is pretty quiet when he’s watching a Godzilla movie.

It’s a good movie, Jiang Cheng thinks – it’s definitely of its time, but it’s still interesting, and if nothing else, he finds the old movie tricks and effects fascinating to watch and to think about.

They finish their popcorn midway the movie. Jiang Cheng takes the empty paperbag from between them to set it aside, and that’s when he feels a hand grab at his arm.

He turns to look at Nie Huaisang, but it looks like Nie Huaisang had latched on to him subconsciously, as his eyes were still fixed on the screen.

“A-Sang,” Jiang Cheng whispers, just checking in – “You good?”

“Mm? O-Oh! Sorry.” Nie Huaisang whispers back, finally noticing his hand on Jiang Cheng’s sleeve. “…and this is why I always watch movies with a pillow…” he says with a quiet laugh, before settling his hands on his lap again.

Jiang Cheng blinks at that, and without really thinking about it, he extends his arm, elbow first, in the space between them. “Will this do?”

Nie Huaisang looks at him for a moment, blinking. Then he smiles and scoots as close as their seats would allow, taking the offered arm. “Doctor Jiang, you are a true gentleman.”

“Sure.” is all he says, as Nie Huaisang snuggles his arm.

Having Nie Huaisang in his arm during the movie is a different experience, Jiang Cheng decides. Nie Huaisang is more expressive this way somehow. Jiang Cheng can feel him tense up, or squeeze his arm, or just lean on him during the quieter moments.

For his part, he just sits back, and tries not to ask questions during the confusing bits. He can do that later. He’s quite sure Nie Huaisang would have a lot to say afterwards, anyway.

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.

When they exit the theater, Jiang Cheng still has Nie Huaisang in his arm, but this time his friend is far from quiet. He is talking Jiang Cheng’s ears off all about Godzilla.

To be fair, Jiang Cheng did kinda ask him to. He asked him what he thinks about the movie, and Nie Huaisang turns out to have a lot of thoughts about it.

He doesn’t interrupt. He listens, because Nie Huaisang is somehow making sense to him despite the surprisingly nerdy babbling – but while at it, he also leads them both to a nearby restaurant for a late dinner. One of them has to, because otherwise they will just be stuck in the sidewalk.

As they settle side-by-side on seats that look out into the late night market district streets, Nie Huaisang finally runs out of thoughts and trivia.

“Ah, I think I’ve nerded out too much… Sorry… Did you at least enjoy it?”

“Hm? Yeah, it was great.” Jiang Cheng shrugs. “I can see why so many people like them. Plus the things you said about it, the war allegory stuff. Never heard of that before. It’s interesting.”

“It is, right?” Nie Huaisang says with an excited smile.

A waiter goes to take their orders, and then comes back shortly with drinks.

As they wait for the meals, Jiang Cheng looks over at his companion and finally asks, “So… you and Godzilla, huh?” He raises an eyebrow. “That’s a surprise. What’s up with that?”

“Oh…” Nie Huaisang blinks, and looks down at his drink. He pokes at the scoop of vanilla ice cream on his root beer float, and lets out a sheepish laugh. “Well… Uh. Back in college, I had a boyfriend who was really into all these classic movies. He showed me a few Godzilla ones. It… didn’t work out, me and him. But you know what worked out? Me and Godzilla! Yay!”

Jiang Cheng takes that in, and nods. It’s simple enough. He can tell that Nie Huaisang has put it mostly behind him, save the Godzilla bits, and he is smiling and cheering again by the end of it… but something is off. He’s still avoiding Jiang Cheng’s look.

Jiang Cheng keeps his tone casual, patient, as he asks, “Was it bad? Don’t answer if you don’t feel like it.”

“Ah, it was not… bad. It was actually pretty chill, now that I look back on it. It’s so long ago now, anyway…” Nie Huaisang shrugs. “It just-… I think we just weren’t compatible, was the thing.”

“Yeah, that happens, I guess.” Jiang Cheng nods, accepting the answer easily. It did happen long ago, and even if Nie Huaisang is possibly underplaying it, he didn’t want to overstep.

“Bright side, I got Godzilla out of it.” Nie Huaisang grins, before taking a big sip of root beer. “They’re just really good movies, y’know? I liked them enough on my own.”

Jiang Cheng chuckles. “Yeah, Godzilla’s definitely cooler.”

Nie Huaisang shrugs, using his straw to stir his drink. “Godzilla doesn’t care that I’m trans.”

And there it is.

If they were younger, if this was back then, back when the only ones Nie Huaisang had come out to were him and Wei Ying, Jiang Cheng would probably be angry, livid, and his first reaction would probably be to ask who that jerk boyfriend is, and where they might find him.

He knows he is specially protective of his friend when it came to this specific thing. He knows that it’s probably because there had been a time when this was a secret, and there were only two of them who knew this secret. He had been the first person that Nie Huaisang came out to, so long ago now. For some reason, out of all people, Nie Huaisang somehow thought Jiang Cheng would be the right person to trust with something that important. Not Wei Ying, not even Nie MIngjue.

And Jiang Cheng had valued that trust, he really did. Before that, no one had ever been… vulnerable… around him. Jiang Cheng is a youngest child. Despite him and his siblings sharing a rough childhood due to their complicated relationship with their parental figures, Wei Ying and Jiang Yanli both tried their best to spare him from what they’re going through, even though Jiang Cheng could see how it weighed them both – them all – down. So Nie Huaisang opening up to Jiang Cheng back then… that meant a lot. That meant that someone counted on Jiang Cheng for… something.

Now, though, it’s different – they’re older, more settled, had known more people and how other people are. Jiang Cheng does feel that dormant protective anger flare inside him, but he also knew that Nie Huaisang is talking about something that had already happened, and Jiang Cheng can’t punch a memory.

So he takes a deep, calming breath, before reaching out and extending his hand towards Nie Huaisang, palm up.

This is what he can do now.

Nie Huaisang looks at his hand, then at Jiang Cheng just patiently watching him, and lets out a withering sigh, “A-Cheng, you can’t just give me your arm and your hand and stuff so easy like this. I’m getting spoiled.”

Despite that, he does take Jiang Cheng’s hand, and leans sideways to rest his head on his friend’s shoulder as their fingers twine with each other’s.

“Don’t mention it.” is all Jiang Cheng says, looking down at their hands. Nie Huaisang’s have always been smaller, delicate-looking, but now he feels a bit of roughness there, from his and his craft. His nails are still pristine though, neatly painted a shimmery but subtle gold.

“Alright, it was kinda… shitty, at the end.” Nie Huaisang says, voice soft, almost a whisper. “Being asked if I’m sure? And that… it’s not too late, I haven’t had anything permanent done yet? Hearing that I can choose to just… stay normal?”

Jiang Cheng holds the flare of anger back, and just squeezes his friend’s hand. “Hey, that is shitty. What the hell does half of that even mean. It’s good you walked away.”

“Yeah, I guess…”

“I’m sorry I asked, reminded you of that.”

“Ah, you’re fine.” Nie Huaisang says, patting his arm. “That’s like, so long ago now. And I’ve had more good experiences than bad since then. It’s cool.”

“That’s good.” Jiang Cheng nods. “And you’re right. Godzilla would still eat you, he doesn’t give a shit about your gender.”

And then Nie Huaisang is leaning back, so he can look at Jiang Cheng with a disapproving frown. “A-Cheng, we just watched-…? Godzilla doesn’t eat people.”

Jiang Cheng just looks at him, and then shrugs.

“He destroys cities, which kills people. There’s a difference!” Nie Huaisang pouts.

“Okay.” Jiang Cheng shrugs again, but he also notes that despite the other’s pouting and scolding, the hand holding his hasn’t let go yet. Good. “Isn’t there a new one coming out soon?”

That works, because the pout turns much less upset, and all of a sudden Nie Huaisang is blinking big eyes at him, and he is now clinging to Jiang Cheng’s hand with both of his own. “Ah… Yes… Do you, perhaps-”

Jiang Cheng scoffs, rolling his eyes, already knowing where this is going. “Sure, I’ll watch it with you. Will I understand that one, though? Without watching like the 50 other movies before it?”

Nie Huaisang smiles, bright and happy, then after a quick moment to consider, he laughs sheepishly. “Um… Yeah, maybe you should watch a couple movies first leading up to this one-”

“I have to do homework? These new ones suck.”

…and that’s all it takes for Nie Huaisang to drop his hand, Jiang Cheng learns.

“Jiang Cheng, you take that back.”

Jiang Cheng laughs, as Nie Huaisang pouts and crosses his arms across his chest to indicate that he’s very upset. It’s very dramatic. Full theater energy.

This is nice, Jiang Cheng thinks.

Nie Huaisang is being insufferable again.

They’re gonna be okay.

“I just don’t know if I have time to watch all of them.” Jiang Cheng says, enjoying watching the other’s cheeks puff up. “I’m very busy. I have like, a job and responsibilities.”

“You keep saying that.” Nie Huaisang says. “Then you keep showing up every weekend.”

Jiang Cheng pretends to check something in his nails. “What, you want me to stop showing up, then?”

Nie Huaisang begins to crack, eyes narrowing at his friend, but still determined not to lose whatever pretend fight this is. “N-No…?”

“Alright, so what are we doing next weekend?”

“I-… Next weekend? We’re going again?”

Jiang Cheng shrugs.

Nie Huaisang thinks.

A waiter brings their food order, interrupting their quiet, weird brainstorming session. They… maybe forgot that they were here to eat, huh…

As they both turn towards their meal, Nie Huaisang says, “I… kinda wanna check out that other movie they’re showing? The French one?”

Jiang Cheng tries to recall the other posters he’d seen on display at the theater. “The one that looked like… what are they called, shadow puppets?”

“Yeah, that one. It looks so pretty. Very artsy.”

“Sure.” Jiang Cheng nods. “I get to choose the popcorn flavor.”

“Deal!” Nie Huaisang grins.

Jiang Cheng does nothing but hum in agreement, then he stops because he feels his companion press up to his side. Nie Huaisang doesn’t cling to him or anything, he just… leans on him slightly.

“Thank you, A-Cheng.” he says against Jiang Cheng’s jacket sleeve, before pulling away again.

And then they eat their late dinner in silence.

After a while, Jiang Cheng says, “You’re really very dramatic.”

“Fine! I’ll never thank you again!”

“There. Proving my point.”

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to be continued!

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next time:
chapter five – matcha and red bean