The old man scowled. "Did bring that girl you brought last time? Do you have a death wish?"
"What girl?" Yu Xi asked, his voice quiet but clear.
The old man finally looked at him properly, squinting. "You aren't a girl."
Jian Ci, unfazed, grinned. "Why do you hate Leila so much?"
"She called my work shoddy," the old man snapped. "She also said I needed my eyes checked."
Yu Xi instinctively turned around, his feet already shifting toward the exit. He would rather keep his long hair than risk getting a botched haircut. But Jian Ci grabbed him by the back of his collar and tugged him gently but firmly back.
"She was just messing with him," Jian Ci said. "Come sit."
Yu Xi sat down reluctantly, and Jian Ci moved behind him with a sense of purpose. He pulled out a yellow scrunchie and began combing Yu Xi's hair with his fingers, slow and deliberate.
"Let's tie it up," he murmured.
Yu Xi's eyes flicked to the scrunchie. "Whose is that?" he asked, a sour feeling rising in his throat. Jian Ci had short hair so did Jian Wei and Jian Rui. That left only one possibility.
"I asked Leila for it when I went to get you water," Jian Ci replied, his tone serious, as if performing a sacred ritual.
Yu Xi rubbed his thumb against his palm, the annoyance intensifying, but his face remained composed.
The old man crossed his arms. "Who's the barber here, you or me?" he grumbled.
Jian Ci didn't even look up. "We are collaborating... Oh and why are you so cranky today, huh? Who made you so angry?" Jian Ci said as he stepped aside, hands raised in mock surrender.
The old man, cigarette dangling precariously from the corner of his lips, squinted at him before turning his gaze to Yu Xi. "Hey, kid. What's your name?"
Yu Xi met his eyes in the mirror. "Yu Xi."
Old Jin grunted. "Do you want him to leave? I know he is annoying."
Yu Xi's gaze flicked to Jian Ci's reflection. Jian Ci's smile faltered, and he immediately began mouthing, Say stay. Let me stay.
Old Jin caught the silent plea and shot Jian Ci a look sharp enough to cut steel. Jian Ci straightened like a scolded schoolboy.
Yu Xi's lips curved into a small smile. "He can stay."
Jian Ci felt like someone had smacked the back of his head with a frying pan. That soft, fleeting, and utterly disarming smile should be illegal more especially in front of Guides. If Yu Xi smiled like that too often, he would have half the guides tripping over themselves.
Old Jin grunted again. "Alright. You are allowed to change your mind later."
Jian Ci huffed. "Why are you so eager to get rid of me today?"
"Because you are annoying," Old Jin replied without missing a beat. "Hey, kid, what cut are you doing, tapered or crew?"
Jian Ci cut in. "Neither. He's getting a shoulder-length cut."
Old Jin narrowed his eyes. "That's not allowed in the squad. And what does this have to do with you?"
"But he's not a recruit," Jian Ci said, lounging with casual defiance. "And he asked me to pick a haircut for him."
Old Jin squinted at Yu Xi through the mirror. "Is that right?"
Yu Xi nodded.
The old man sighed, cigarette bobbing at the corner of his mouth. "Kid, you gotta grow a spine."
Jian Ci grinned. "Make him even more handsome, old man."
He dropped into the vacant chair facing Yu Xi, legs swinging slightly. Old Jin didn't hesitate. He spun Jian Ci's chair around, making him face the wall.
"You are making me feel like I am being watched by my superior. You are making me nervous."
Jian Ci shrugged, propped his feet up, and began fiddling with his communicator. Messages, games, idle scrolling. Eventually, boredom won. His head tilted back, his eyes closed, his breath evening out into sleep.
Yu Xi sat quietly as Old Jin worked, the snipping of scissors and hum of clippers filling the room. When the old man finally stepped back, he nodded with approval.
"You look good, kid. That brat's got a good eye."
"Thank you," Yu Xi said softly.
Old Jin began packing up his tools. Yu Xi walked over to Jian Ci and leaned down, voice gentle. "Ci, wake up," but there was no response.
Yu Xi reached out and tapped his shoulder.
In a flash, Jian Ci's hand shot out, grabbing Yu Xi's arm and yanking him down, eyes wide and ready to strike until he recognised him.
"Yu Xi?" he breathed, the tension draining from his body.
Yu Xi stared at him intently. Jian Ci blinked and said, "Sorry… reflex."
His grip loosened, and he found himself staring directly into Yu Xi's face, so close that Yu Xi could count every delicate lash framing his eyes. Yu Xi's breath hitched.
"You are done already?" Jian Ci murmured, voice thick with sleep.
Yu Xi's heart was pounding, each beat a drum against his ribs. He stepped back as Jian Ci released him and sat up, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his palm. But then his hand froze mid-motion.
Jian Ci's gaze locked onto Yu Xi's hair. Gone was the waist-length curtain that had once cloaked him in mystery. In its place was a shoulder-length cut that whispered of elegance and quiet menace.
The strands fell in soft waves, parted just off-center, framing Yu Xi's face with a grace that softened his cheekbones and deepened the eerie calm in his eyes. It was unstyled, ethereal, almost otherworldly.
Jian Ci stared, struck silent.
Yu Xi, noticing the reaction, tilted his head. "What? Is it bad?"
Jian Ci blinked, snapping out of his trance. "No, no... it's good. Really handsome."
He meant it. The new look didn't just suit Yu Xi. It revealed something hidden. A latent danger. The kind of stillness that precedes a storm. And Jian Ci, for once, didn't know what to say next.
"If you two have nothing else to do, get lost," Old Jin grumbled, already sweeping stray hairs from the floor.
Jian Ci stretched lazily and said, "We are leaving, don't miss me too much." He strolled over, scooped up the yellow scrunchie from the table, and sauntered out.
Yu Xi bowed his head slightly. "Thank you."
Old Jin waved him off with a grunt, muttering something about noisy brats.
Outside, Yu Xi caught up with Jian Ci. Without warning, Jian Ci took his hand and slipped the scrunchie into his palm. "You can tie up your hair with this."
Yu Xi blinked. "No need," he said, trying to hand it back.
"Don't be stubborn," Jian Ci insisted. "I know the color's not great, but it's better than nothing."
Yu Xi hesitated, then sighed. That wasn't why he didn't want it. He didn't want it because it was given to Jian Ci by some girl. It was... annoying. "Fine. I will keep it."
Jian Ci beamed and draped an arm over Yu Xi's shoulders, steering them toward the cafeteria. "Good. Now let's eat, I'm starving to death."
AN: To death where? Your stomach is just a bottomless pit, lol.
Inside, he handed Yu Xi a tray and began piling food onto it with confident authority. "This is good. You will like this. Don't get that, it's horrible."
Yu Xi let him fuss, quietly amused. They settled at a table in the corner, trays full. Just as Yu Xi picked up his chopsticks, a group of young recruits their age approached, eyes bright.
"Boss Ci!" one of them called out, grinning.
Jian Ci looked up, mouth full, and waved like a celebrity caught mid-bite. Yu Xi blinked, suddenly realizing, Jian Ci wasn't just friendly, he was quite popular.