Yuhan woke up late the next morning, stretching with a loud yawn before dragging himself out of bed.
He shuffled to the living room and froze when he saw Li Hao walking in grinning like a fool, holding two lunch boxes.
"Where did you go and why are you smiling this early morning?" Yuhan asked, rubbing his eyes as he reached for a glass of water.
"Early morning?" Li Hao scoffed. "It's past twelve."
Yuhan spat the water back into the cup. "What?"
Li Hao laughed. "I got these lunch boxes for free. Someone in the apartment got injured, I helped, and now the old ladies think I'm some neighborhood hero."
"Wow, look who's getting famous," Yuhan teased, sitting beside him and stealing a bite from one box.
"When are you finding a new pharmacy store?"
"I'm still settling in," Yuhan said. "But I saw a housing company nearby that looks trustworthy. I want something close."
"Wish you luck then." Yuhan leaned back, pretending to sound casual. "Right… Li Hao, I have a question."
Li Hao dropped his chopsticks, already sensing trouble.
"I wish you could brush your teeth first but okay, go on."
"I'm asking for a friend of a friend."
Li Hao sighed. "Sure you are."
"The friend of my friend has never been in rut but then… he meets someone who drives him close to that. What do you think is happening?"
"So that explains the smell from yesterday." Li Hao pointed at him dramatically. "You were—"
"What are you saying!" Yuhan interrupted, waving his hands. "It's not me, it's a friend of a friend!"
Li Hao narrowed his eyes, suspicious. "Tell your 'friend's friend' congratulations. After thirty years, he's finally becoming a man. Didn't he swear he'd never— you know—be with a guy?"
"That's very specific," Yuhan muttered, sweating. "Do you… perhaps know this friend of a friend?"
"Bitch, shut up. You know damn well who I'm talking about." Li Hao smacked his chopsticks against the table.
"Fine, fine. Eat your food. I'm taking a bath," Yuhan said, escaping quickly.
"Horny ass," Li Hao muttered, laughing as he watched him go.
"Call me when you are go to the basketball court," li Hao shouted.
---
"Now I don't know if you come here for basketball anymore or to see Zixuan," Li Hao teased, passing the ball.
"Forget that," Yuhan grumbled. "The company's ceremony is coming up. Zixuan's getting introduced as the new CEO of Chen Fashion, and I'll be introduced as his assistant. I don't have a proper suit."
"Wear the old one."
"I've worn it to every interview! It's embarrassing. This is a fashion company, they notice these things. Even their cleaners would judge me."
"Then ask his mother for help. She'll do anything for her son's precious helper, right?" Li Hao teased.
Yuhan threw the ball at him. "Shut up. Let's just finish this game."
---
They returned home, sweaty and tired. Just as they stepped out of the elevator, they saw Zixuan walking toward his door.
"Talk about timing," Yuhan muttered.
Zixuan turned, greeted them politely, then paused — his gaze lingering on Yuhan longer than usual.
"Were you also coming from the court?" Li Hao asked looking at his outfit.
"Yes," Zixuan said, his eyes flickering between the two before settling back on Yuhan.
Then, unexpectedly, he stepped closer — too close.
Before Yuhan could react, Zixuan's hands were on his shoulders, gliding down his arms, tracing the line of his elbows to his fingertips.
"W–what are you doing?" Yuhan stammered, trying to pull back.
"Stay still," Zixuan said, calm but firm.
Zixuan's hand slid to Yuhan's chest. The fabric between them was thin, too thin — and for a moment, it felt like he was holding the warmth beneath it itself. His fingertips brushed along Yuhan's collarbone, pausing briefly at the base of his neck where the pulse trembled fast against skin.
Zixuan could feel it, the heartbeat, wild and uneven — and a small smirk tugged at his lips.
Yuhan froze, his breath catching.
Zixuan's palm moved lower, slow, deliberate, grazing across his chest before drifting down. When his fingers brushed past his nipples, Yuhan jolted, a sharp intake of breath maybe moan escaping him, half shock, half something he couldn't name.
Zixuan's touch lingered at his waist, tracing the curve there with unnerving precision, as though memorizing it.
"This won't do," Zixuan murmured to himself, stepping closer again than usual.
Yuhan jolted when Zixuan's fingers brushed the hem of his jersey, lifting it as if studying the lines of his frame. Li Hao's jaw dropped.
With his shirt lifted, Zixuan then traced the band of his pants around, his touch light and delicate. Yuhan jolted as a slight moan escaped his lips his body reacting faster from zixuan direct contact with his skin than his mind.
"I'm done," Zixuan said finally, straightening.
He smirked faintly. "I hope you didn't forget your card this time."
Yuhan was too dazed to reply. Li Hao, still pink-faced, managed, "N-no, we didn't."
"Good." Zixuan turned toward his door. "Good night."
As soon as he disappeared inside, Li Hao hit Yuhan's arm.
"Come back to life!" as he giggled happily.
"What just happened?" Yuhan whispered, blinking blankly.
"Ahhh, that's not the point, the point is how did he do that with a straight face," li Hao said giggling.
"And I might know what just happened but I won't spoil the fun," li Hao said scrunching his nose blushing as he opened their apartment's door.
"If that's how all tailor take measurements, I want," li Hao muttered leaving yuhan mesmerised.