Not My Man

"Xie Mingzen?"

"Me?"

Almost everyone in the room asked in unison that Fen Yichen wondered if they practiced it ahead of time.

"I'm pretty sure Mingzen memorized the whole thing."

Yichen was right, but Mingzen felt uncomfortable being stared at by the man, "I did practice everyone's lines while staying in the corner everyday during practice."

Still he was worried about the appropriateness of just suddenly appearing and stealing someone else's limelight.

"You've always been fierce when it comes to me…How come you're acting so docile?"

"We got no choice, you're all we've got!"

Oliver's expression was completely crumpled, but he couldn't say anything since he was sick.

***

Professor Yan was drinking coffee inside his office with a thoughtful expression on his face, "You did great in your performance, I knew I could count on you Mingzen."

Xie Mingzen sat there with Yichen sitting next to him, he lightly hit him with his elbow silently telling him to move, but he scooted closer, "Do you want to tell me something?"he asked in a whisper.

Feeling his hot breath on his ear and neck made Xie Mingzen felt itchy. He wanted to slap him and scratch his neck, "Move, you're too close."

"The two of you always had a great relationship, I sent Yichen after you thinking you would be lonely. Looks like I made the right choice."

'Me? Lonely?'

The word lonely isn't exactly the best word to describe him. He would function well without the bastard on his side, but he can't say the same to Yichen. Fen Yichen stays alone in his big house, neither the maids or driver bother talking to him and stay stuck doing their job. Only Mingze's mother was actually bothering to cater to Yichen, probably because he can see the shadow of his son on him.

"Thank you professor, I am always happy to be in the same group as Mingze. If you have any group work I want to be grouped with him if possible." Yichen put his arms around Mingze's shoulder and pulled him closer.

"Can't you do things alone? Even requesting to be grouped together. I won't hear the end of it from Hai Zheyan if I ditch him for you."

Hai Zheyan was a friend he met in highschool, he was one of a few friends he met that doesn't bother with Yichen. Most of the people sticking close to Mingze are either those who want help in confessing to Yichen, or those who want to form connections with the Fen family. He was the son of the Fen family's servant and he they all thought he was buddy buddy with Yichen.

He is treated more like a note taker and assistant, they all have flowers in their heads.

"Goodbye Professor, thank you for the cup of coffee."

"Okay, goodluck with the show."

The door to Professor Yan's office opened and Hai Zheyan was there waiting for them outside, "Bro you took so long I thought I would grow mushrooms here." Mingze rolled his eyes at Zheyan's exaggeration.

"Oh, Yichen you're in red again."

Red is an eye-catching color and Fen Yichen with red is extremely eye-catching. He started wearing the color in highschool and it made him so eye-catching it was hard to ignore, he looked ready for a wedding. There was even a rumor going around that you can kidnap him on a regular day and he would be ready for a wedding. Ignoring the fact that kidnapping is illegal.

"You had always been wearing black before, why did you suddenly change your wardrobe?"

"Someone told me I look good in red." Yichen replied with a smile on his face, Mingze couldn't help but raise his eyebrows at his reply. It does look good on him, but it doesn't mean he should keep wearing red everyday.

"Red does look good on you, but don't wear it everyday… It makes you stand out in the crowd, you're already eye-catching as you are."

"Hmm…I'll follow you."

Hai Zhenyan looked at them back and forth while contemplating, "Are you two dating?"

"The fuck dude, you got the weirdest shit ever. I ain't dating my employer. You need an eye doctor."

Hai Zheyan shrugged his shoulders. He might be a bit dumb when it comes to academics but he is far more knowledgeable in other things. He wanted to say something, but decided to shut his mouth considering it was not his business. The cold gaze he was feeling on his back doesn't help his case.

"Hahaha I'm just joking, who would even want to date Fen Yichen, look at his face."

The two of them reflexively turned to look at Yichen's face and couldn't help but curse under their breath. The man's face is shiny as a boiled egg and his face is someone everyone sought after. Both boys and girls would want to get their hands on him.

"I think everyone would like to date your man."

"He's not my man…but he does look good."

Yichen doesn't know how to react to the two idiots commenting about his appearance in front of him. He coughed lightly to remind him he was indeed hearing their chatter.

The two idiots glanced at him, "Yichen, did any man confess to you?" Zheyan was the first to ask a question, his curiosity gets ahead of him.

"I can't answer that question, but if you're asking if I swing for the opposite team it would depend on the person. Can we please stop this topic?"

"Holy moly! This is news! God Fen swings both ways."

An apple was stuffed inside his mouth and Zheyan nearly choked to death, "stop talking, everyone is looking."

At some point everyone started paying attention to their conversation, they were being loud in the hallway.

"Zheyan, I'm sorry I can't date you. You're not my type." Zheyan nearly saw black when he heard Yichen announcing this in front of everyone. He can't speak because of the apple he is chewing and couldn't retort, he was just casually evaluating his appearance and now the whole school would think he was gay!

He supports LGBTQ++, but he was straight and looking for a girlfriend.

"If it's Mingze though, I could try." Fen Yichen added, looking at Mingze's way, who stood there frozen.