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It was Shi Qingxuan’s first time coming across such an intimidating establishment. Most of the windows were suspiciously blacked out from the inside save for some areas where an assortment of accessories and posters were on display. Bricks lined the interior walls and there were several skeletal and metallic chrome patterns painted onto its surface. As if it wasn’t already dark enough from the overuse of black paint and thick curtains, the overhead lights were opted out in favor of ambient lighting from the few lamps scattered about the reception room.
On the right was a couch that practically melted into the background of the shop. The ottoman beside it held a pile of magazines, probably for guests to look through, but it appeared untouched- still neatly stacked without a page out of line. Foliage took up the rest of the space, blurring what was left of the room into a mix of green and black.
Shi Qingxuan would’ve guessed they were in some sort of haunted marsh or swamp manor if it weren’t for the occasional art poster or decor hung here and there. If the owners were going for that kind of energy, Shi Qingxuan would say they were doing an exceptional job. Unfortunately, it was giving them some second thoughts.
Shi Qingxuan pulled on their companion’s sleeve and pulled their bag closer to them, hesitating about stepping further into the room.
“Xie Lian, I don’t know about this.”
Xie Lian paused in his tracks, casting Shi Qingxuan a questioning look. “You said you wanted to come?”
Shi Qingxuan stared incredulously back at him. “Well, yes, but I mean look at this place! I can’t believe you came here by yourself before!”
They watched Xie Lian take in their surroundings and shrugged. “I think it’s fitting. This is a piercing studio, it would make sense that it wouldn’t look like a typical accessory shop.”
When he started moving away, Shi Qingxuan held on tighter. “Wait! I mean, I’m talking about the- the credibility of this place.” They pointed at the seemingly untouched pile of magazines. “Look. Has anyone ever even been here?”
“We looked at the rating and reviews together, Qingxuan. They’re just tidy.”
“Could be faked. Who knows.”
“Qingxuan! I came here a week ago! You just mentioned it yourself,” Xie Lian laughed, clearly amused at Shi Qingxuan’s nonsense. “You asked for a piercing so I brought you to the best place I know. Are you saying you don’t trust me anymore?”
Shi Qingxuan felt called out but couldn’t think of a comeback. “Of course I trust you, Xie Lian! You’re my best friend! Just- ge warned me to be careful and I got mad at him for being over dramatic. I don’t want to prove him right.”
“You won’t, I promise. But if that’s your main concern and not that you changed your mind on wanting piercings or something, then please don’t worry. It’s your first time somewhere like this so it’s normal to be nervous.” Placing a comforting hand on Shi Qingxuan’s shoulder, Xie Lian directed them to the counter and rang a bell to announce their arrival. The fact that there was no one behind the reception counter when they came made them even more skeptical of the place, but Shi Qingxuan decidedly kept their thoughts to themselves.
If they turned back now, who knew when the next opportunity would arise. Arguing with their brother was exhausting and actually managing to come here in the first place was a miracle and a half. Bless Xie Lian for helping him escape in his old beat up van. Maybe Shi Qingxuan should have some more faith in him.
A few minutes passed after they rang the bell again, and it was only when they were idly scrolling for some inspiration on their phone that a man finally emerged from a side door to greet them. He was ridiculously tall and was dressed in red and black from head to toe. It was very fashionable with the rest of the shop. But on top of his outfit, there were stacks of silver rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Behind his unusually long dark hair, he was also handsome in a strange, wild way.
He had on a pair of gloves, so Shi Qingxuan assumed he was one of the piercers.
He also slid behind the counter to stop in front of Xie Lian, completely ignoring Shi Qingxuan’s presence.
“Gege.” He said in a low saccharine voice. “I missed you.”
“San Lang!” Xie Lian exclaimed. “It’s only been a handful of days.”
“Each one felt like an eternity. Please come by more often before this one dies of heartbreak.” He replied, plastering on a pleading expression. It was only then that Shi Qingxuan could make out the faint outline of an eyepatch over his right eye, but they didn’t dwindle on that for long.
Instead, Shi Qingxuan’s jaw dropped and they looked disbelievingly at the interaction before them. You went and got a secret boyfriend without me! was their first thought. Your secret boyfriend works at this shady place! was their second.
Their friend sputtered and waved their hand dismissively. It seemed that was enough for him to remember Shi Qingxuan’s existence. He hurriedly explained himself although left out too much for Shi Qingxuan to really grasp anything.
“Oh, this is Hua Cheng, or um- I call him San Lang. He runs this place with his friend. He did my second set of piercings here. See? Very trustworthy. He’s very skilled.” Xie Lian said simply. Hua Cheng seemed to be glowing under the praise.
However, when he turned to them, his face was suddenly cold and expressionless. “You must be gege’s friend.” Not even a hint of mirth behind that dark eye as he acknowledged them.
Not sure how to respond to his abrupt moodswing, Shi Qingxuan merely nodded. When Hua Cheng looked back to Xie Lian, his expression melted and he brightened again like nothing had happened. They couldn’t help but feel like that smile was completely fake.
“Did you want to get another set, gege? I’ll give you a discount now if you promise to come by again next week.”
Shi Qingxuan eyed him harshly, then turned to Xie Lian. Was this why Xie Lian had brought them here? If they were hesitant before, they were certainly doubtful now. The ethics of this place- maybe their brother was right in warning them after all.
Xie Lian had already fallen for the bait of one of the owners for goodness sake.
With an excuse on the tip of their tongue about having to leave suddenly, the door on the side swung open again and whatever they were planning to say was promptly forgotten.
He was similar to Hua Cheng in appearance at first glance but his hair was styled in a spiky ponytail and he was only a centimeter or two shorter. His jaw was sharp and he carried an intimidating air. He was dressed in full black, this time adorned in gold jewelry, and Shi Qingxuan had the suspicion that the interior design could be entirely attributed to him.
Clearly on the phone with a customer, he only spared them a quick glance with his sharp eyes and a silent nod towards Hua Cheng in lieu of a greeting before diving into an adjacent room. A few seconds later after Shi Qingxuan sucked in a lungful of air, he returned, confirming the availability of a piece of jewelry before ending the call.
He was also very handsome. Unfairly so.
In all his dark glory, he walked over to the counter with a clipboard, paper, and a pen. He slid it over and Shi Qingxuan noticed the back of his hands and arms, at least from what they could tell from under their dark jacket, were heavily tattooed. Before they could examine any further, he withdrew. The clipboard was for Shi Qingxuan.
They were finally getting serviced! This man acknowledged their existence! They weren’t just brought here to be third wheeled or scammed after all!
“It would be nice if you actually did your job instead of flirting with our customers.” He mutters, side-eyeing Hua Cheng. Shi Qingxuan cheered him on internally. Someone with sense at last.
“ Customer . Not customers. I only have eyes for gege.” Hua Cheng corrected, then rolled his eyes and produced some paperwork in front of Xie Lian. The two pulled off to the side of the counter, still engaging in some banter and teasing conversation. Making a mental note to demand Xie Lian to be caught up with the story and every last detail of his and Hua Cheng’s relationship later, Shi Qingxuan swallowed the remnants of their skepticism of the establishment to focus on the task at hand. The new guy seemed responsible enough.
Seeing as their attention was finally caught, the man spoke, voice deep and even. Without dallying, he explained completing the consent waiver, which they figured was equivalent to agreeing to being stabbed and pierced and liable for anything that happens afterwards. They filled out some personal information before switching onto the topic of the piercing itself.
Xie Lian advised them to start with a pair of earrings as it was simple, had less risks and could be easily obscured if their brother was to throw a fit over it. Shi Qingxuan had agreed and began stockpiling reference images for the jewelry before their trip here. They showed them to the man behind the counter, and in return, he pulled out a catalog of similar jewelry and some more paperwork detailing the costs of the procedure.
Shi Qingxuan chose a simple pair of stud type earrings shaped like tiny flower blossoms. They had to admit that much of their initial fear was gradually settled by the man’s calm demeanor. Before moving to the next room, Xie Lian seemed to have finally broken away from Hua Cheng to wish Shi Qingxuan a faultless procedure.
“You’re going to love it! And if you’re anything like me, you’ll get addicted to getting more piercings, haha,” Xie Lian said, holding their hands.
“S-Somehow that’s not very reassuring,” Shi Qingxuan said, nervously laughing, “but I’m excited. I chose something simple so hopefully ge doesn't just lose his mind when we come back. It won’t hurt too bad, will it?”
“Nothing you can’t manage.”
Shi Qingxuan nodded and hurriedly pulled away so the man working with him wouldn’t have to wait too long. As they made their way together towards the door, Hua Cheng called out.
“Dinner is on you tonight, Black Water! You owe me.”
“Shut up,” he replied without an ounce of amusement. He led them through the doorway.
Shi Qingxuan peered up at him curiously as the door clicked shut. “Black Water?”
“Just a nickname,” he clarified, bringing them to a brightly lit room, a completely blinding experience compared to the entrance. As Shi Qingxuan adjusted to the light, he said, “My name is He Xuan.”
When the light stopped making Shi Qingxuan squint, they froze involuntarily upon laying their eyes on He Xuan’s full appearance up close.
He Xuan had his back turned to them seemingly occupied with something, so Shi Qingxuan hastily noted his broad shoulders and slender waist. That black collared jacket seemed tailor made for him.
He was so tall Shi Qingxuan had to cant their head backwards unusually far to meet his eyes. They knew they were rather tall themselves but he was practically a giant in comparison. His hair was dark and seemed to soak up the light where it was hit. When he turned back around with a tray of some equipment, Shi Qingxuan had no reply prepared. They could only stare in awe at the spectacle before them. Deep, sharp eyes. Golden irises to match with his golden jewelry. Full brows and eyelashes. Strong nose…
“You can take a seat here.” He Xuan said, his voice breaking through Shi Qingxuan’s devolving thoughts. They all but stumbled into the offered chair. He Xuan gave him an odd look but graciously didn’t mention it. “I’ll need to mark the placement of the piercing now. You can take a look and decide if you’re happy with it once I’m done.” In his newly gloved hands, he held an alcohol wipe and a pen, but made no move towards them for some reason. Blinking a few times, Shi Qingxuan belatedly realized he was waiting for their consent.
They didn’t muster up anything besides a feeble nod. Regardless, no amount of waiting or dawdling could’ve prepared them for He Xuan’s sudden invasion of their space. Shi Qingxuan was sure they were being overdramatic as always, but He Xuan’s presence was just so suffocating that even though he was merely cleaning their ears, Shi Qingxuan wanted to squirm out of his reach.
They smelled the alcohol from the cleansing pad first but then noted the dark sea salt scent that immediately permeated their air, coming from He Xuan’s cologne no doubt. Under the assault of his vision, smell, and touch, Shi Qingxuan tried their best to sit still as possible and make sure they weren’t making any funny faces, although they were probably as red as a tomato at this point. Desperately, they tried not to conjure up any strange scenarios.
Shi Qingxuan felt the pen nib dot their ears before He Xuan drew back, setting down his supplies and pulling up his sleeves to get them out of the way. They were grateful for their personal space back but were quickly affronted with a much worse problem.
He Xuan’s arms were covered in ink as they’d noted before. There were intricate wave patterns that made up most of the sleeve, but also some artful skeletal fish motifs and lettering littered throughout. Shi Qingxuan’s mouth felt dry as they watched the muscles of He Xuan’s forearms move underneath those sharp tattoos.
When shown a mirror, they agreed to the placement of the markings. He Xuan mentioned that he purposefully left more space on the top in case they decided to get another set. That left Shi Qingxuan entertaining the thought of there being a ‘next time’.
As swiftly as he had withdrawn, He Xuan was invading his senses once more, this time with a frighteningly long needle. Shi Qingxuan knew what was about to happen.
“Ready?” He asked, a hand already cradling their ear.
Without wanting to delay the process or make room for any re-emerging second thoughts, Shi Qingxuan replied hastily. “Yeah- yes, yes, I’m ready.”
Answer heeded, He Xuan leaned in, pinching their earlobe.
A flash of numbing pressure bloomed on their right side- then after a beat, their left one, and Shi Qingxuan screwed their eyes shut, bracing for pain. Even after a minute, they hadn’t felt much more than what they guessed an ant bite would feel like- which is to say, not much.
“Relax, it’s done,” came the steady voice above them.
Shi Qingxuan blinked several times, a little dumbfounded. That hadn’t… hurt at all. And it was all over in a matter of minutes. They floundered for something to say but didn’t struggle for long before something else stole their attention.
Very gently, and very quickly- with the efficiency and speed he used to pierce their ears, He Xuan wiped his thumb underneath Shi Qingxuan’s eye, catching a wetness they hadn’t been aware of. Even though it was only for a millisecond that He Xuan’s fingerpad came in contact with their cheek, Shi Qingxuan felt the touch like it was an explosion and nearly jumped out of their chair. Instinctively, the tears must’ve sprung in anticipation of the pain, but it had never come.
Overwhelmed with embarrassment and a lack for words, Shi Qingxuan stared wordlessly at He Xuan who retreated unfairly calmly before their brain began functioning again.
“Ohmygosh, I’m so sorry,” Shi Qingxuan babbled, feeling hotter than a frying pan. They shoved every involuntary thought that arose from that interaction into the deepest crevices of their mind. “That was- this is totally on me. I don’t even know why I did that. It didn’t even hurt. It didn’t hurt!”
He Xuan regarded them with faint amusement, icy, golden eyes meeting theirs. “That’s good to know. Your face was all scrunched even after I was done.”
Shi Qingxuan couldn’t tell whether his comment was meant to be teasing or merely observational because of the lack of facial expression, but their face lit up in flames nonetheless. “That’s- It’s my first time! I didn’t know what to expect! But you made it so painless, I ended up bracing myself for nothing…”
The corner of He Xuan’s mouth lifted as he handed Shi Qingxuan a mirror. “Just take a look” was his curt response.
Shi Qingxuan pointedly received it with a pout, but regained their composure while examining their reflection. Tiny metallic flowers were nestled in either side of their ears. They turned side to side excitedly, welcoming the subtle but new look. They wanted to show Xie Lian as soon as possible. Facing forward though, Shi Qingxuan saw that their eyeliner was a bit smudged from their tears, and they deftly fixed it up with heated cheeks before passing off the mirror. The space under their eye still tingled where He Xuan had touched them.
Both of them gathered their items and left the room, returning into the darkened hallways. They were thankful it concealed their mussed up appearance.
As they were walking, Shi Qingxuan tried not to think about He Xuan touching their face and said, to distract themself, “I can’t believe my brother was throwing such a fit about this. I can’t believe I was throwing such a fit about this.”
“Scared?”
“No, not exactly scared- but wary, maybe? Ge didn’t want me going to any- um, unfamiliar places to get my piercings done- actually he didn’t really approve of the idea of it in the first place- some crap about staying pure- so when he heard Xie Lian was gonna take me here, he kind of flipped. This is further than where I usually go out. He’s so overly cautious it’s kind of infuriating.”
He Xuan hummed, “Sounds…annoying.” He sounded like he had more to say but didn’t. “What about you?”
Shi Qingxuan halted in the doorway to the reception room as He Xuan opened it. “Well, I didn’t want to have to agree with him but you guys’ interior design choices left me no choice. I was expecting to get my ears pierced, so why did it feel like I was stepping into some sort of abandoned lagoon castle.” They gestured to the space with a dramatic hand. “Devoid of light and devoid of people! Then your co-worker started flirting with my best friend and handing out discount offers on a whim, so yeah I was a little suspicious.”
Upon hearing Hua Cheng’s name, He Xuan’s eyebrows furrowed and he scoffed. “That idiot. All his neurons fry when he’s around your friend.” He exited the doorway first but then paused turning to face Shi Qingxuan. “Also I had to fight that fucker to death to get this place to look the way it does. It was either this or him painting everything that obnoxious red. Including the lights. At least there’s a theme now.”
When they continued making their way to the front, Shi Qingxuan laughed at his defensiveness before calling out for Xie Lian. Except he wasn’t there, and neither was Hua Cheng. The room was just as empty as it had been when they’d arrived.
“Huh, where did they go?” Shi Qingxuan scanned the area fruitlessly. When they turned around again, they giggled at He Xuan’s sour expression.
“What? What’s with that look?”
A beat, then He Xuan said, “No, nothing.”
“What? No, there was clearly something! Tell me! I wanted to show Xie Lian! Did Hua Cheng end up wooing him into getting another piercing?”
“Yes. That, probably. You might have to wait a while.” He Xuan said, then returned with a slip of paper. Ah, back to business it seemed.
They discussed the costs and Shi Qingxuan paid, then tipped generously into the blacked out jar when He Xuan wasn’t looking.
“Hold on,” he said, then disappeared around the back.
While waiting obediently, Shi Qingxuan realized with a sudden sadness that their meeting was coming to an end soon. They’d gotten their ears pierced as they had planned to but there was no telling whether or not they’d be able to come back any time soon. Ge might have them supervised by one of his friends if they dared to escape on a whim like this again.
Underneath that dark and quiet exterior, He Xuan seemed sociable and kind. Was it so wrong for Shi Qingxuan to want to know him more?
And fine, if Xie Lian wanted to hang out with his secret not-so-secret boyfriend Hua Cheng so bad that was fine by them. They couldn’t say they didn’t exactly harbor similar feelings for He Xuan even though they’d just met. Shi Qingxuan involuntarily recalled his thumb brushing their face and was in the midst of trying to collect themself when He Xuan came back with a shopping bag. He passed it into their hands.
“Aftercare,” he explained, not noticing their turmoil. “Use the saline solution before and after your showers and try to keep anything from touching it for a while. If there’s blood-”
“Blood?”
“-it’s normal. Just wash it with some solution, dry it with the gauze in there, and leave it alone as best you can.”
“Okay,” they nodded, taking mental notes. “Do I have to pay for this, too?”
He Xuan shook his head. “No, it comes with.”
Shi Qingxuan smiled warmly, “I see. Thank you!” then suddenly remembered something, “Wait, I don’t think I’ve thanked you properly for piercing my ears yet! Um- thank you for that as well!”
“You're welcome,” he said.
“I’ll try not to cry next time, I swear.”
A pause. “‘Next time’?”
Shi Qingxuan’s expression faltered. “ Oh, did I say tha- n-next time? Yes- of course, hahahahah, next time! A hypothetical next time, that is- if I survive my brother’s wrath. A- A second piercing might be too much for me. Or is it? What do you think, haha…” they trailed off.
They sent a mental prayer to Xie Lian, hoping he’d come out any second now to save them from their misery.
On the other hand, He Xuan just appeared to be slightly entertained if the slight curl of his mouth was any indication.
Since any changes to his usually deadpan face were so rare, Shi Qingxuan chased the minute expression with a bit of giddiness. It dawned on them that they wanted to keep seeing that smile, especially if they were the cause of it- even if it came at the expense of their dignity.
Seeing as Xie Lian and Hua Cheng were still nowhere to be found, Shi Qingxuan sent a quick text message notifying Xie Lian that they were done. Curiously, He Xuan hadn’t left, assuming he had work to get back to. Instead, he walked around the counter and around Shi Qingxuan, stopping to seemingly inspect the walls. Shi Qingxuan warmed at the thought that he might be trying to keep them company while waiting for their friends.
“What’s wrong with that wall?”
“Nothing, or not specifically the wall.” He Xuan took a few backwards steps with his hands in his pocket. Even his side profile is attractive . Wait, wait- “If it’s as bad as you say, what would you change here?”
It took a moment for it to sink in that He Xuan was asking them a question.
Shi Qingxuan shook their head hurriedly, “It’s really not that bad, I was only half joking!”
“You can be honest.”
They winced. “Okay, maybe- but you don’t have to listen to me, alright? Maybe some lights near the ceiling can improve the lighting a little if you really don’t want to use the overhead ones.”
Crossing his arms now, He Xuan waited for them to continue.
“Like- like fairy lights? No, actually, just some LED strips would work. It’d fit the..uh, ambiance better. You could make them colored but still improve the visibility. Less scary. Less dungeon-y.”
At that, He Xuan laughed- or rather blew air from his nose- but Shi Qingxuan considered it all the same. They walked over besides him, now observing a nearby poster.
“Did you guys make these?”
“Hua Cheng. He paints a lot. You can thank him for the rest of the art here.”
In awe, Shi Qingxuan examined the room again, but this time more closely. Indeed, Hua Cheng was extremely skilled. The brush strokes of the murals and on the posters were confident and obviously practiced. In some hung up paintings, Shi Qingxuan spotted the familiar pattern of black waves and skeletal fish. Although they were arranged in the form of an illustration, it was unmistakable. They remembered clearly.
“Wait- that!” they pointed to their observation. “Your tattoos, they’re the same, aren’t they?”
Confirming their question, He Xuan nodded slowly, then rolled up his sleeves again to show them.
Shi Qingxuan tried their best to not malfunction, but stepped closer to look anyway. If He Xuan was offering this time, then they’d be a fool to deny themself.
Sure enough, they were precisely the same. From the base of his elbow down to the knuckles of his long fingers.
“Mhm.” He Xuan said. “He did most of these. I did a few myself. ”
“What! So you guys can tattoo, too?” Shi Qingxuan said, eyes sparkling. They were so skilled, it was difficult not to be filled with astonishment.
“Yeah. We plan to set up appointments here once the new equipment comes.”
They hummed.
It was only when their hand nearly made contact with He Xuan’s that they realized they’d unconsciously been reaching up, probably to try turning his arm to explore more of the tattoos. In the middle of sputtering an apology, He Xuan interrupted them.
“No, it’s fine. Go ahead.” He said, then unexpectedly shirked his jacket within a matter of a couple seconds. Shi Qingxuan’s throat went dry immediately.
The inky designs didn’t stop at his elbows but instead extended like dark rivers up the length of his biceps as well. All over his defined arms…
The room suddenly became a few hundred degrees hotter. Shi Qingxuan felt like they were engulfed in flames. They had neither the strength or nerve anymore to try reaching out again even if He Xuan permitted them. They only really wanted to know what thoughts could possibly be running through He Xuan’s mind. This was all too sudden for them to comprehend.
As though their prayers were finally answered, albeit with extremely poor timing, Xie Lian and Hua Cheng emerged from across the room, their voices ending the silence that stretched between them and He Xuan.
Shi Qingxuan seized their opportunity to escape and rushed over to their friend but not without flashing a placating smile towards him.
They pulled back their hair and posed playfully in front of Xie Lian. Like before, Hua Cheng didn’t bother to acknowledge them. Undeterred, Shi Qingxuan shared their excitement about the new piercings and showed them off as Xie Lian returned their excitement for them. At some point, Hua Cheng had slipped away to congregate with He Xuan who had thankfully put his jacket back on and returned to his position behind the counter.
Seeing as they were finally out of earshot, Shi Qingxuan let their cheery aura fade away and gripped Xie Lian’s shoulders with a neutral face, barely restraining from shaking him back and forth.
“You and I are about to have a long, long, long talk after we leave.”
Xie Lian had the audacity to look perplexed. “About what? What’s wrong?”
“‘About what’? Don’t give me that look! I know exactly what’s happening between you and your Hua Cheng! Don’t you try to lie to me! I see those goo-goo eyes you give each other. He Xuan said you were probably getting another piercing while you were gone but I don't see any new ones. You can tell me all about what you were really doing back there later,” they hissed in one breath, then, “But-but that’s not even the tip of the iceberg, Xie Lian. He Xuan- he- I- where do I even start?”
There was too much to say, and they still hadn’t fully recovered from the sight of He Xuan’s tattoos. Xie Lian just seemed concerned for them, but also a little red if Shi Qingxuan wasn’t hallucinating.
“ O -kay,” he laughed nervously then held Shi Qingxuan’s wrists. “First of all, let me clear the air. I was just helping with organizing their storage room, I promise-”
Shi Qingxuan delivered their strongest stinky eye at that.
“-but what was it you wanted to say about He Xuan? What happened?”
Involuntarily, their face heated again. Without the man in question looking, Shi Qingxuan felt it was acceptable to fan themselves with a hand. “Home, Xie Lian. I will tell you at home. We have lots to catch up on.”
With nothing else to share, the two of them made their way to the front to say their goodbyes.
Shi Qingxuan couldn’t meet He Xuan’s eyes anymore, and didn’t dare to when he handed them the bag of aftercare supplies.
The notion of falling for a stranger so easily was outrageous but they were truly helpless in He Xuan’s presence. Especially under his ministrations. They hoped this goodbye wouldn’t be for good but there was really no guarantee. Maybe they could get Xie Lian to sneak them out again but it wouldn’t be for an indefinite while as long as ge had them micro-managed. They sighed quietly, their gaze still averted even when they felt He Xuan staring at them.
“Gege, come back soon alright?” Hua Cheng said, as if rubbing salt in their wounds. He Xuan rolled his eyes hard.
“Okay, okay, San Lang.”
As they were turning to leave, he suddenly said, “Wait.”
Both of them complied but Shi Qingxuan quickly became confused when they realized the command was actually meant for them and not Xie Lian. With his eyebrows furrowed, He Xuan looked equally confused.
Hua Cheng loomed over the counter to tuck a piece of paper into Shi Qingxuan’s bag. “Receipt,” he said ominously, giving them that weird, fake smile they had witnessed upon their first meeting.
“Oh, thank you.” Shi Qingxuan said but could’ve sworn they’d already received one earlier. But since He Xuan didn’t question it, they decided not to second guess it. They must’ve just forgotten.
Another round of byes were exchanged and they departed without further delay.
Trying not to feel too upset, they distracted themselves by obsessing over their new piercings and taking pictures.
-
It was only half-way through the car ride home in Xie Lan’s rickety van that Shi Qingxuan thought to review the aftercare process. They rummaged through the bag, eyeing the products and recalling the steps to use them properly.
Then their eyes landed on two strips of paper at the bottom of the shopping bag.
“Xie Lian, I think they might’ve given me two receipts by accident, haha. Your Hua Cheng made a mistake.”
Strangely, Xie Lian didn’t reply right away. His grip tightened on the wheel and he made a face as though he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“It’s not a receipt. Hua Cheng didn’t…make a mistake.” He said finally.
“What?” Puzzled, Shi Qingxuan turned them over.
Well, one of them was, and the other-
The other was only a blank sheet that had a name jotted down. In horrible handwriting, Shi Qingxuan was able to make out Black Water, He Xuan . Then, underneath, a series of numbers that was, without a doubt, a phone number.
A long strain of deafening silence.
“You. You set me up. You guys set us up.”
Xie Lian winced then nodded. Very slowly.
With all of the events, sensations, and memories that had transpired earlier in the suddenly barraging Shi Qingxuan like a tidal wave, they did not hesitate to vent their emotions in the form of a long, singular, well-deserved scream.