Yuhan, Li Hao, and Chen Zixuan settled in front of Yuhan's new apartment when Zixuan hurriedly pulled out his phone to dial a number.
"I knew it! You're calling your mother, aren't you? You totally look like someone who can't live alone," Yuhan teased as he dropped his boxes and reached for his key card.
Zixuan froze mid-dial, half-shocked. Li Hao forced a polite smile to ease the awkwardness.
Yuhan opened the door and walked inside with Li Hao trailing after him. That snapped Zixuan back to his senses.
"Who said I can't live alone?" he muttered, following them in. But by the time he entered, Yuhan and Li Hao were already lost in awe of the luxurious apartment.
"Was it crafted from Gold?" Li Hao said covering his mouth and yuhan quickly left his side so he wouldn't grab him again.
They darted from room to room, gasping at every detail.
"I thought we'd have to buy appliances later, but look at this!" Li Hao said, opening a drawer and peeking into the mirror.
When they were done exploring, they returned to find Zixuan quietly carrying in the remaining boxes which left them shocked especially li Hao.
"Thank you," Yuhan blurted, genuinely shocked that Zixuan was helping.
"You owe me for this. I don't work for free," Zixuan replied dryly.
"What did I expect?" Yuhan said, rolling his eyes.
Zixuan grinned, shoving all his teeth out.
"Did I ever tell you your smile is creepy?" Yuhan said, stepping closer as they unpacked together.
Li Hao leaned on the kitchen counter, watching them like a fan watching his favorite drama.
"That reminds me—the driver…" Yuhan started, suddenly remembering.
"Took you long enough," Zixuan interrupted. "I saw him off already. He asked for you, but you were too busy with your house tour and didn't want to disturb you. " He rolled his sleeves up, revealing his forearms. Li Hao gasped quietly.
"And he just left like that? That's weird," Yuhan said, turning to Li Hao.
"Exactly. Knowing Driver Guo, he'd never leave without checking the place," Li Hao added.
Yuhan turned back to Zixuan, narrowing his gaze as if trying to read him.
Zixuan smiled that same unreadable smile.
"You know something," Yuhan said, nudging him lightly and zixuan insisted he knew nothing but when yuhan persisted further he snapped.
"I said no," Zixuan snapped, his voice rising unexpectedly.
Li Hao and Yuhan froze.
Realizing what he'd done, Zixuan stammered, "No, I mean—it's not—"
"It's fine. You can leave. You've done enough," Yuhan said calmly with a brief smile on his face.
"I was about to leave anyway," Zixuan muttered, grabbing the suit jacket he'd draped on their sofa just immediately yuhan grabbed him by his shoulders and pushed him towards the door, yuhan opened the door then pushed him out, zixuan staggered almost falling and he turned his face to him, visibly angry while yuhan grinned. "Payback," he mouthed before shutting the door.
"Why does it feel like you kicked him out on purpose, he was helping us?" Li Hao asked, blinking.
"Because I did," Yuhan said simply.
---
Outside, Zixuan stood frozen for a second before scoffing.
"Did I just get kicked out?" he said aloud, pointing to himself. "That's a first."
"And also, I was just trying to help, because he fell on hands, does he even realise his hands is hurting,".
He turned toward the door and cursed under his breath.
"What's the use? They won't hear anyway."
As he reached his own door, a thought flashed through his mind.
But why did I run back to him earlier?
He chuckled to himself.
Must've been that helpless face, he said, smiling faintly as he entered his apartment.
Earlier at the elevator:
Zixuan had already reached his floor after intentionally closing the door on yuhan and was walking toward his room when Yuhan's helpless face flashed in his mind for the hundredth time. He tried to shake it off, gripping his door handle tightly, but he couldn't. The image of those boxes tilting dangerously replayed in his head. He pressed his lips together, turned back, striding at first, then breaking into a run as he hurried to the elevator, jabbing the button until it opened.
He tried to steady his breathing before the elevator opened to them.