The Day They First Met
The lounge was quiet, filled only with the occasional murmur or soft laughter of XNINE members resting between rehearsals. The tension of training had faded into the lazy comfort of waiting. Xiao Zhan leaned back against the couch, eyes half-lidded, cradling a bottle of water in one hand as soft chatter drifted around him.
Suddenly, the door swung open with a burst of energy.
Manager (excitedly):
"We got you guys a guest appearance on DayDayUp! Shooting's coming up-get ready!"
The members blinked, stunned for a moment. Then the room erupted into motion. Some cheered, others jumped up and began asking questions. Xiao Zhan smiled quietly, warmed by the excitement of the others. He stood and began preparing along with them, mentally noting what to bring, what to rehearse, what smile to wear on camera.
---
Time passed quickly after that-days filled with practice, wardrobe fittings, and tight schedules. And before they knew it, March 24th, 2017 had arrived.
On the day of the shoot, the XNINE members were assigned a small break room backstage. It was cramped, filled with stylists, scattered bags, and the scent of hairspray. Xiao Zhan had finished getting ready earlier than the others. His hair was perfectly styled, his outfit neat. With nothing left to do, boredom began to set in.
And then, a low rumble escaped from his stomach.
He blinked, looked around sheepishly-but no one had heard. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Guess it's time to eat.
He slipped out of the room and made his way toward the building's cafeteria. The hallways were quiet, echoing only with the sound of his footsteps. It was still early-long before the lunch rush. When he entered, he found the room nearly deserted. Just a few scattered people sitting in silence, each absorbed in their own world.
He picked up a tray, selected a modest meal, and made his way to a quiet, sunlit corner of the cafeteria. The spot was perfect-secluded and calm, away from the buzz of the show.
As he began to eat, his posture relaxed. A gentle smile played on his lips as he chewed, genuinely enjoying the simple moment of peace. The food wasn't anything special, but it satisfied him. He looked out the window for a second, letting the light bathe his face in warmth.
Suddenly, the quiet was interrupted.
A soft clack-the sound of another tray being placed on his table.
Someone:
"Hello... Can I sit here?"
Xiao Zhan blinked, his chopsticks pausing mid-air. He looked up, and for a moment, the sunlight behind the figure made it hard to see clearly. All he saw was a silhouette, glowing with gold.
He nodded politely, slightly taken aback, but welcoming nonetheless.
The boy sat down across from him, and as the light shifted, his features became clearer.
Xiao Zhan's eyes widened slightly. It was Wang Yibo-young, cool-faced, effortlessly calm. One of the co-hosts of DayDayUp. He had that kind of aura that drew attention without trying, but here, he looked... different. More boyish, almost shy.
Wang Yibo (softly):
"Thank you... I saw you were eating so happily. I figured... I'd rather eat with someone than be alone."
His voice was gentle, barely above a whisper, as if uncertain whether he should even be speaking. Yet somehow, Xiao Zhan heard every word.
Xiao Zhan (smiling):
"You're welcome. It's not really something that needs a thank-you."
He smiled then-bright, genuine, and soft. A smile that made his eyes curve and his whole expression light up, like sunshine after days of rain.
Yibo stared for a second longer than necessary.
Something inside his chest shifted-an odd tremor he hadn't felt before. As though a string had been plucked in a place he didn't know existed.
They didn't talk much as they ate. The silence wasn't awkward-it was comfortable, warm. Occasionally their eyes would meet, and one of them would smile faintly before looking away.
There was something unspoken floating in the air between them. Not love. Not yet. But the kind of spark that hums quietly at first, waiting to ignite.
Time passed quickly. Too quickly. Before either of them knew it, the meal was over.
---
Back on set, the cameras rolled and lights flashed.
XNINE members performed, laughed, and answered questions. Xiao Zhan shone as usual-bright, charismatic, kind. But somewhere in the crowd, Yibo's eyes kept drifting to him, following his movements, lingering a second too long on his laughter, his smile, the way he spoke.
Yibo didn't understand it. He had met countless people on set-stars, idols, strangers.
But something about Xiao Zhan stuck. Lingered. Echoed.
Why can't I stop looking at him? he wondered silently.
No answer came.
Just the quiet thrum of curiosity.
And the strange new rhythm in his heart.
💚❤️💚❤️💚❤️🐢🐢🦁🐰🦁🐰🦁🐰