Chapter 16:Sexy Brat.

It had been almost week since Gu Shan decided to warm up to Li Yunxi but that only included teasing him by calling him endearment names just to piss him off like he did the first time he saw him at the apartment. In front of Xiao Hui and Liu Daxun he maintain decent introverted guy charisma but behind that facade he unfolded a naughty character just for Li Yunxi. He also revealed the reason he acted like a jerk for the past few days was because he happened to witness his ex girlfriend talking to him that day outside the coffee shop but decided to leave before they spotted him. That explained why he was taking out his anger on Li Yunxi.

Li Yunxi had just gotten out of his apartment the same time as Gu Shan. Gu Shan was dressed cozily as usual in respect to the season and was carrying a backpack probably on his way to class.

"Sweetheart you also have a class too?"Gu Shan said smiling mischievously when he saw him.

Li Yunxi cringed at the name but tried to maintain his composure. He knew Gu Shan was probably doing that to irritate him but he decided to bear with it. Just then Liu Daxun and Xiao Hui joined them and Li Yunxi felt relief wash all over him. He was sure Gu Shan would never misbehave in front of those two.

It was Friday and they were excited about attending their last lecture before diving into the weekend.

For Gu Shan however he wasn't destined to enjoy the weekend at all. Professor Jiang broke the news about another Science Congress in America he was supposed to join on Monday. But this time though he wouldn't go alone. Professor Jiang and another top female student in his class would be attending the Congress too. They were to travel the following day at noon so they could prepare themselves on Sunday and officially join the Congress on Monday. The Congress was planned to take three weeks like the one he had attended in November.

Gu Shan was busy packing his things from clothes,books,his laptop ,beauty products and some snacks. He was a little fazed and it wasn't helping that it was two hours to his time of flight and Professor Jiang kept calling him every now and then to make sure the boy didn't miss his flight. Professor Jiang was always like a paranoid father. Although he knew Gu Shan would keep time he still had a feeling that he was obligated to give him reminders every now and then.

While he was busy packing in Liu Daxun's room,he caught the sound of a familiar velvety voice but he was too busy to find out what the owner of the voice had come to do at their apartment.

"Can I borrow your laptop later?Mine has a slight problem and I haven't fixed it yet,"Li Yunxi requested leaning behind Liu Daxun who was seated on the couch with his hands busy on the keyboard of the laptop.

"Okay."

Liu Daxun and Li Yunxi both turned when they heard the rumbling sound of suitcase wheels. They looked in the direction of the source of sound where Gu Shan pushed his suitcase beside him.

"When is your flight?"Liu Daxun asked.

"I think one hour and fifty minutes from now. Professor Jiang is already at the airport. I have to go,"Gu Shan said in a serious tone.

"That old man is overly punctual,"Liu Daxun snickered,"Lemme escort you downstairs."

"Okay. "

"What time should I come to borrow your laptop?"Li Yunxi asked intending to leave.

"I'm not sure."

Gu Shan looked in Li Yunxi's direction locking eyes with his. They stared at each other without uttering a single word. Gu Shan was the first to retract his gaze. He walked over to their little playstation and picked his other laptop from there and gave it to Li Yunxi.

"You can use this. The password is 721268114."

"721268114?"Li Yunxi repeated and Gu Shan confirmed. Li Yunxi thanked him and left the apartment wishing him a safe flight.

"That was special!"Liu Daxun gasped in shock.

"What was special?"

"You rarely share your laptops with anyone."

"That's new and it has no important details. Beside I prefer my old laptop than that one,"Gu Shan explained.

*****

The flight would surely take sometime and Gu Shan not being able to use his phone drifted off to sleep to kill the boredom. He was seated beside Nan Xin,his genius counterpart while professor Jiang sat behind them. The next time Gu Shan opened his eyes,he felt something heavy on his shoulder. He almost yanked his shoulder away seeing the girl resting her head on his shoulder. He hated skinship and even the least bit of contact pissed him off but he decided to let it slide. Nan Xin was a beauty with brains. Many guys in her year had tried to court her but failed several times. She had the same features as Gu Shan's ideal type but Gu Shan had never considered her .

The girl as if sensing his movements opened her eyes and raised her head looking into his eyes.

"I'm sorry I used your shoulder as a pillow."

"It's fine,"He replied curtly.

Nan Xin shifted in her seat rising to proper seating position.

*****

For the room arrangements in the hotel,they booked different rooms but on the same floor to make it convenient to access each other.

Gu Shan wasn't excited about the Congress like he would usually be in his former congresses. This time the Congress was more advanced and different- a professor was required to design a project with two or one of his students . Trophies would be won as a group.

For the first few days they just had to come up with objectives and overall design for their project.

On their first weekend,Gu Shan was excited after having a video call with his uncle. He wished him a happy birthday and promised to gift him upon his return. Later his mother called and he talked with his little sister who sang him a birthday song. But the later part of the day got spoilt when Nan Xin begged him to accompany her outside to buy some necessities. Whenever the girl went out he had to accompany her as instructed by Professor Jiang and the girl was acting strangely clingy insisting they hold hands because she was afraid of getting lost in the American streets. Apart from the skinship part,Gu Shan loved being around beautiful girls admiring their beauty but he didn't know why Nan Xin didn't interest him. He was already drained by the time he got back to his room. He freshened up and threw himself in bed and began browsing.

*****

Li Yunxi stared at the newly saved contact in his phone. For three consecutive days he thought of texting the number but he didn't know where to start or what to say. But today he was excited for having something to say. He had just reported to work and there weren't many customers in yet and Xiao Hui was away chatting with other staff . He felt a rush of adrenaline as his finger was about to click the contact name - Sexy Brat.

He finally managed to text a simple hi and closed his eyes in anticipation.

Gu Shan clicked the message and replied back nonchalantly.

'It's me ,Yunxi.'

Gu Shan suddenly smiled staring at the screen.

'Yunxi Gege? Oh hi sweetheart ,'he responded over the text grinning widely imagining Li Yunxi's face when he sees the two cringy nicknames.

'I thought you had forgotten the nicknames.'

'Not so soon babe.'

Another nickname on the list.

'Anyway I texted you to wish you a happy birthday.'

'How did you know it's my birthday?'

'I have my ways,' Li Yunxi replied subtly

' Not telling,huh? But you could have at least called and sing me a birthday song,' Gu Shan teased back.

Gu Shan waited for his reply but what he received almost made him spring out of bed in shock.

His phone rang with the new contact displayed on the screen.

'Sorry the professor wants to see me. I'll call you later,' he texted after rejecting the call.