Chapter 33: Do You Wanna Hang Out?

"When did you two dye your hair?"Gu Shan asked, simultaneously looking at the two bartenders.

"Today,"Li Yunxi replied with a slight smile.

If it were other days, Xiao Hui would have been the one answering. Li Yunxi tended to talk only when required. Between the two, Xiao Hui was more like the spokesperson.

"It looks good,"Gu Shan complimented them.

"Thanks ,"the two said in unison and Li Yunxi blushed at the compliment.

"I have to go back so I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Will you make it on your own?"

"I think so,"Gu Shan uttered uncertainly.

"We can help you get a cab,"Xiao Hui suggested.

"Really?"

Xiao Hui nodded to confirm. A customer walked to the counter and ordered cocktails. Li Yunxi had to stay behind to serve the customer while Xiao Hui escorted Gu Shan to take a cab. To Xiao Hui,Gu Shan was like a fragile little brother that needed to be taken care of. Gu Shan waved him goodbye as he entered the taxi and Xiao Hui only walked back when the taxi disappeared out of sight.

Immediately Li Yunxi saw Xiao Hui walk back, he knew the boy must have left for home. He didn't bother to inquire about the exact details because he didn't want to show too much attention which would lead to suspicion. If wanted to know the details he would just text the boy.He estimated the boy's time of arrival and then texted asking whether he had reached safely. Their neighborhood wasn't all that safe so he was a little worried about the boy. He was relieved when the Gu Shan confirmed his safe arrival at the house.

"What did you guys talk about?"Xiao Hui suddenly asked when they were only the two of them at the counter.

"Nothing serious. Just about cocktails you know,"Li Yunxi lied through his teeth and silently prayed Xiao Hui would buy his lie which he did.

"Gu Shan is very reserved and innocent. Daxun said his girlfriend used to complain Gu Shan was even afraid of kissing her even when it was just the two of them.

"Oh,"Li Yunxi replied bluntly. He bit his lower lip to suppress a laugh. If they had witnessed what the boy was like around Li Yunxi they would take back their words. Gu Shan wasn't all reserved and innocent. He was just a little shy but he sometimes he would get quite bold and naughty. But that was only for Li Yunxi to know. For now he could only agree to the misconception about Gu Shan's innocence.

*****

Gu Shan looked at his phone immediately he heard it buzz on the desk. It was a message from Li Yunxi. He texted back and one conversation led to another and before knowing it,Gu Shan was busy chatting with Li Yunxi ignoring the lecture.

"Who are you texting? You never use your phone in class,"Liu Daxun whispered, suspicious of his friend's actions,"Is it a new girl?"

"Uh it's my uncle. He sent me some pictures,"he lied.

"Can I see?"

"I'll show you later,"Gu Shan replied in a dismissive tone and hoped Liu Daxun would forget all about it later.

From the lecture hall to the food stall Gu Shan eyes never left his phone.

"Show me the pictures,"Liu Daxun demanded.

Gu Shan had already forgotten how he had fabricated the lie just to keep his friend off his business.

He just dived into his gallery and clicked a few random photos of his uncle and successfully duped his friend into believing he was actually chatting with his uncle.

*****

"Hui-ge? What are you guys doing here?" Liu Daxun yelped in surprise. Xiao Hui and Li Yunxi were settled at one of the tables having their lunch.

"Do you guys always have your lunch here?"

"We usually take it at the cafeteria but today we decided to have a slight change of scenery."

While the two chatted happily,Gu Shan and Li Yunxi were lost in each other's eyes. Gu Shan was also stunned to see the two there. When he informed Li Yunxi about his plans after the lecture,he didn't expect to see him there. Li Yunxi had somehow convinced Xiao Hui to try the food at the stall and that's how they ended showing up at the food stall even earlier than the two regular customers.

Gu Shan and Liu Daxun settled on the two seats directly across from them. Liu Daxun ordered his food and chatted while he waited.

"Aren't you ordering?"Xiao Hui questioned referring to Gu Shan.

"He doesn't eat the food here. His mother warned him against it," Liu Daxun explained.

"Do you have stomach issues?"

"Not really I just like taking caution."

"And when will you take your lunch?"

"Later."

Liu Daxun's order arrived right away. Without wasting time he picked a pair of chopsticks and slurped the noodles greedily the way he loved it.

"This stall has the best chow mein do you guys want to try?" Liu Daxun suggested.

Following Liu Daxun's suggestion, Xiao Hui and Li Yunxi ordered two bowls of chow mein.

"Do you want to try?"Li Yunxi asked noticing Gu Shan's gaze on the newly served meal.

"I've tried that before but he doesn't want to try."

Li Yunxi scooped a little amount of his untouched stir fried noodles, stretched out his hand and raised it to Gu Shan's lips.

Gu Shan hesitated and pressed his lips tightly together. Everyone was gazing at him expectantly. After a while of contemplating , he finally opened his mouth and let Li Yunxi feed him.

The first thing he felt was the stinging sensation against his tongue. He felt like spitting it but noticing the guys' gazes on him,he bravely swallowed. Unfortunately he couldn't hold his cool for long because he began coughing uncontrollably the moment the chewed food got in contact with his throat. Li Yunxi hastily slid a glass of water towards him urging him to drink.

"I didn't drink it so it's safe," he encouraged knowing Gu Shan's peculiar standards of not sharing cutlery.

Gu Shan chugged a mouthful of water to soothe his burning throat.

"Are you okay?" Li Yunxi asked worriedly.

"Yes. The food is a little too spicy,"he said .

"I'm sorry I didn't know you don't eat spicy."

"But I'm still surprised he agreed to have a taste of the food when you offered him but when I did he refused. As his friend I'm feeling quite offended right now,"Liu Daxun whined.

What they didn't know was that Gu Shan had long decided to break his own rules for Li Yunxi.

*****

Li Yunxi found himself recalling the incident that happened at the food stall. He wanted to get to know the boy better and he was glad he learnt one thing that the boy couldn't handle spicy food but still he couldn't help feeling guilty for what happened after the boy ate the food. It wasn't the best way through which he wished to learn about the boy's preferences especially about food.

It was his free night since he didn't have a shift at the club. Xiao Hui was currently pursuing someone and he had gone out on a date. Li Yunxi sat alone in the living room to watch a movie to pass time but every now and then he stared at the TV blankly. He was unable to follow up with the flow of the movie because his thoughts were all over the place.

Li Yunxi had had casual flings before,not too many but most of them were just for one night - beautiful and hot girls that everyone man would like to bed. But he discarded them the following morning like a piece of trash. He never cared about them and they were always the ones initiating conversations. With Gu Shan,he felt different. He wanted to know him at a personal level even if their relationship wasn't the least bit holy. Maybe it was because he would be his first long-term casual fling.What connected them was pure lust- one in need of fulfilling his sexual desires and the other one in the process of discovering his sexual preferences. Gu Shan wasn't good in bed when he was still dating. He never knew what he wanted during intercourses neither did he have any preferences.

Li Yunxi was thinking of inviting Gu Shan over but considering the boy might need his space since they were together during lunchtime he thought of dropping the idea. Or maybe he could just go to their apartment and join them in whatever fun they would be having.

But also he wanted to be alone with the boy ,just the two of them and if he went to their apartment their privacy wasn't guaranteed so he screwed all his conflicting thoughts and grabbed his cellphone typing a text.

Do you wanna hang out?' he clicked send and threw his phone aside ,anxiety invading him when he didn't receive a reply after two minutes.