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Gu Wei fished his apartment keys out of his pocket and stopped as they reached his front door. With the long weekend at Guilin behind them, Chen Yu and Gu Wei were back to their realities in Beijing. Suddenly, Gu Wei felt an awkwardness settle between them as they looked at each other silently, either unwilling to say goodbye or unsure how to. Gu Wei hoped it was the former.
“I-”
“I-”
Both Chen Yu and Gu Wei spoke simultaneously and paused together as well. Gu Wei giggled and adjusted his glasses as he gestured to Chen Yu to speak first.
“I…uhh…” Chen Yu stammered a little, “...had a nice time with you.”
“Me too,” Gu Wei smiled and replied softly as his fingers fidgeted with the keys.
“Can I…can I have your wechat?” Chen Yu said finally.
Gu Wei smiled wider and nodded as he reached for his phone. After swapping contacts, Gu Wei cleared his throat and looked at the door once again.
“Yeah…uhh…I should go now,” Chen Yu mumbled hurriedly.
“Thank you for dropping me home,” Gu Wei grinned. “And for the wonderful weekend.”
When he noticed how red Chen Yu’s ears had become, Gu Wei chuckled fondly and took a step closer to the man. Chen Yu gulped visibly as Gu Wei’s gaze dropped to his lips before returning to his eyes again. Kissing in Guilin had come naturally as they had walked hand in hand by the water. But now, as they stood in their real worlds, back to their realities, the act of leaning in and kissing each other seemed like a much more significant action.
Just as their lips were about to touch, Gu Wei’s apartment door opened and a shocked gasp emerged from the apartment. Gu Wei and Chen Yu jumped apart and turned to look at the source of the sound.
“Yiye!” Gu Wei’s eyes widened and he exclaimed suddenly.
“What the-” the man at the door exclaimed right back and gawked at the two men.
“Who’s this?” Chen Yu stepped forward as if defending Gu Wei from the man at the door.
“Who’s this?” The man at the door asked almost simultaneously, assessing if Chen Yu posed a threat to Gu Wei or not.
“Uhh…this…” Gu Wei peeked over Chen Yu’s shoulder and looked at the man, “this is Chen Yu. He’s a police officer here in Beijing.”
“And Chen Yu, this…” Gu Wei bit his lips nervously, “is my brother, Gu Yiye. He is in the army.”
Chen Yu and Gu Yiye eyed each other quietly for several seconds before Chen Yu nodded and extended a hand forward.
“Chen Yu, narcotics,” Chen Yu introduced himself in a brisk tone.
“Gu Yiye, Night Tiger company,” Gu Yiye shook his hand firmly and nodded with a mild frown before glancing at Gu Wei.
“I didn't know you would be here,” Gu Wei asked before Gu Yiye could say anything.
“Had a short break,” Gu Yiye shrugged and then looked at Gu Wei as if waiting for an explanation.
“Anyway, I was just…saying goodbye to Chen Yu here,” Gu Wei rambled instead. “I’ll…umm…we’ll talk later, okay?” He turned to Chen Yu and smiled awkwardly.
“Mn,” Chen Yu nodded and with one final look at Gu Yiye, turned and left.
“Who is that?” Gu Yiye asked as they watched Chen Yu turn the corner and disappear.
“We…met during the trip…we were on the same train and he helped save me from a thief…” Gu Wei smiled as he recollected their meeting and the rest of the trip.
“Thief?!” Gu Yiye asked in alarm. “How many times have I told you, you should learn basic self defense!”
“It’s fine, ge,” Gu Wei rolled his eyes and finally pushed past his brother and headed into the apartment. “I’m fine.”
The next weekend, Gu Wei invited Chen Yu over for dinner.
“I can go meet some friends tonight,” Yiye cleared his throat and suggested. “You know…if you want…I don't want to be a third wheel.”
“Nonsense!” Gu Wei laughed. “He’s bringing his cousin who’s visiting for the weekend anyway. So it’ll be a group dinner, not a-”
Gu Wei bit his lower lip and trailed off as he thought of how he and Chen Yu hadn't officially been on a date since their return. Their jobs left no time.
“A date?” Yiye teased.
Gu Wei tossed a napkin at him and huffed as he walked away to bring more cutlery to set the dining table. A few minutes later, the doorbell rang and Gu Wei hurriedly glanced at himself in the hallway mirror as headed to the door.
“Hi,” Gu Wei smiled brightly on seeing Chen Yu.
“Hi,” Chen Yu grinned back.
Although they had been texting all week, seeing Chen Yu in person was a sight for sore eyes and Gu Wei couldn't help the dopey smile that graced his face. The smile, however, was immediately diffused when a stern looking man cleared his throat and summoned Gu Wei’s attention.
“Oh, he-hello,” Gu Wei chuckled sheepishly and bowed.
“This is my cousin, Yang Zhen,” Chen Yu introduced them.
“Yang Zhen, International Peace Troops,” Yang Zhen stood upright and uptight before bowing awkwardly.
“Nice to meet you, I am glad you could come along,” Gu Wei smiled politely.
“Thank you for inviting me,” Yang Zhen replied formally.
Gu Wei led them into the living room and introduced them to his brother.
“This is Gu Yiye,” Gu Wei smiled and gestured to the suddenly very still man. “And Yiye, this is Chen Yu’s cousin, Yang Zhen. He also serves in the military like you-”
Gu Wei paused when he noticed the two men stare at each other intensely. After eyeing them both for a few seconds and then glancing at Chen Yu who seemed to notice the sudden tension in the atmosphere as well, Gu Wei cleared his throat and walked to the kitchen.
“Why don't you all have a seat!” Gu Wei said quickly. “Dinner is ready. I’ll just bring the wine.”
Gu Wei walked to the kitchen, wondering what had transpired between his brother and Chen Yu’s cousin. As he grabbed the wine and searched for the opener, he heard someone walk into the kitchen.
“Oh, Chen Yu,” Gu Wei smiled on seeing the man walk up to him. “Did you need something?”
“Mn,” Chen Yu nodded before looking back for some reason.
“What-”
Before Gu Wei could finish his question, Chen Yu leaned in and pressed their lips together. Gu Wei felt his heart race and he reached for Chen Yu’s neck and pressed closer.
“Needed to kiss you,” Chen Yu stated sincerely when they pulled apart after the sweet kiss.
“Me too,” Gu Wei blushed and let out a soft laugh as he shook his head. “I didn't think our first proper date would be a group dinner,” he huffed teasingly.
“I will make it up to you next time,” Chen Yu replied hurriedly.
Gu Wei felt a warmth settle across his chest and he leaned in and kissed Chen Yu three more times before letting go.
“Let’s join them, shall we?” Gu Wei asked with a wink.
“Mn,” Chen Yu nodded before kissing Gu Wei’s cheek and heading out of the kitchen.
As Gu Wei walked beside Chen Yu and entered the dining room, they both froze mid step.
“Yiye!”
“Zhen-ge!”
Both Gu Wei and Chen Yu stared at the two men who had just jumped apart, having been caught in the middle of what seemed to be a very steamy kiss.
“What are you both doing!?” Both men exclaimed simultaneously.
“Do you know each other?!” Gu Wei stomped towards them and placed the wine on the table hastily.
“Mn,” Yang Zhen nodded as Gu Yiye shrugged and nodded as well.
“Mn? What ‘mn’??” Gu Wei threw his hands up and demanded.
“We met in special forces training earlier this year,” Gu Yiye explained calmly.
“And you’ve been in a relationship since then?” Chen Yu asked, surprised.
Yiye and Yang Zhen glanced at each other before looking at Gu Wei and Chen Yu and shrugging in sync.
“It was just a quick fuck,” Yiye muttered.
“It wasn’t that quick,” Yang Zhen looked at Yiye, affronted.
“Oh my god!” Gu Wei blurted.
“And it’s just a coincidence you’re both here at the same time?” Chen Yu narrowed his eyes, ever the cop.
“Yep,” Yiye nodded impassively but Yang Zhen remained quiet and looked away.
“Zhen-ge,” Chen Yu looked at his cousin pointedly.
“I…” Yang Zhen licked his lips.
“You knew I was in town?!” Yiye turned to face Yang Zhen on noticing his silence too.
“I might have asked around,” Yang Zhen mumbled sheepishly. “But I swear I had no idea you were Gu Wei’s brother! He added hurriedly.
“Why!?” Yiye looked at him, absolutely bewildered.
“I just…wanted to…see you again,” Yang Zhen stammered, face flushed a deep red. “And I was due for a break anyway.”
Awkward silence prevailed as the four men glanced at each other and waited for Yiye’s response.
“Well…umm…” Yiye said dumbly, “I…umm…”
“Forget I said anything,” Yang Zhen cleared his throat. “I…I think I should leave-”
“No!” Gu Wei and Yiye exclaimed at once.
“No?” Yang Zhen looked at Yiye and raised his eyebrows.
“Stay,” Yiye looked embarrassed even as a small smile snuck its way onto his face.
“Yes, stay,” Gu Wei tried to salvage the situation. “Please.”
With a nod, Yang Zhen sat beside Yiye and Chen Yu pulled the chair out for Gu Wei to sit next to him as well.
“Well that was the most awkward dinner I have hosted,” Gu Wei laughed as Chen Yu helped him clean the dishes in the kitchen. “Guess those two have a lot to figure out.”
“Mn,” Chen Yu smiled and sighed. “What about us?” He asked after a few moments.
Gu Wei’s hands stilled and he looked at Chen Yu in surprise.
“Us?” He asked, a little breathless suddenly.
“Do we have anything to figure out?” Chen Yu asked simply.
“We?” Gu Wei repeated with a silly look on his face.
“Isn't there an us?” Chen Yu suddenly looked unsure and shy.
Gu Wei wiped his hands on the napkin and turned towards Chen Yu.
“I think so,” he smiled. “I’d like there to be an us.”
“Me too,” Chen Yu smiled in relief and stepped closer.
When their lips met, Gu Wei slotted them together like the perfect puzzle pieces. As they kissed slowly, Gu Wei cupped the back of Chen Yu’s neck and let himself be pulled closer until he was plastered against Chen Yu’s body.
“So…” Gu Wei whispered when they pulled apart just enough to look at one another again. “Shall we join them?”
“Not yet,” Chen Yu shook his head and whispered back. “I’d like to kiss you some more.”