Three Good Lucks - A Short Story (JUNZHE AU FF)

Two, is to make you fall in love with me (2/2)

"Buy me dinner, da ge."

Seriously, this kid? Zhe Han gave the man a look of chary.

"Why should I?" He rejected and turned to see the train had already departed. " and stop calling me that."

"Tell me your name then."

"Why should I?"

"Da ge, then." The man did not seem to care of the annoyed tone in Zhe Han's voice. He continued, "I know a good roasted duck place around here. Would you like to go?"

"No." The mention of roasted duck made his stomach grumble but the station was not particularly quiet, so an embarrassing situation was averted.

"You took my earbud, I suffered a week without it you know.."

Zhe Han could not see the man's face but he was pretty sure the man was pouting.

"How old are you?"

The man did not seem to understand the sarcasm in his question, or maybe he would rather ignore it.

"29," he answered honestly.

Zhe Han sighed, loud enough for the people nearby to hear. "What made you think I'm older than you?"

"I don't think you're older, I just think I'm younger."

How is that any different again?

"Come, da ge. Roasted duck." Zhe Han was pulled again. He wanted to resist but he did not, for whatever reason, the rumble in his stomach most probably.

Walking by the side road, the two of them did not speak a word. Only the sound of the passing cars and the wheels of the man's suitcase dragged on the rubber pathway accompany their awkward stroll. The sky had turned orange and the spring in Beijing was making it a pleasant walk.

Less than 10 minutes after, they arrived at a tall building. Zhe Han turned to see the subway station just on the opposite side of them. He realized that they had actually taken more time exiting the station. He followed the taller man into a hawker stall by the back side of the building and sat on a table, with only the sky as their roof. There were only five tables there and only three of them were occupied.

"What's with the suitcase?" Zhe Han asked after the man placed their order, that too without asking Zhe Han for his opinion.

"I just got back from work. I'm so tired, da ge." The man took off his mask and folded it into his pocket.

Damn, this man is handsome.

"Are you a steward or something?" Zhe Han asked, curious.

"Shouldn't you be asking for my name first?" the man grinned.

"Yes. Yes. I should." Zhe Han did not ask, nonetheless. He pulled down his mask to his chin and sipped on the iced tea that had just arrived.

"You should take it off, it's not safe to place it under your chin," the man advised, pointing at his chin. "Here, it's new," he handed a thin baby blue plastic case, sliding it on the table.

"..." It's not? I never knew that. But.. is it any worse than eating with a stranger?

"Fold the mask first, then, put it in there. I'd do it for you but it won't be hygienic," The man taught, his hand making all sorts of motion to get his message across.

Seeing the determined face, Zhe Han felt bad to decline the nice gesture, thus he reluctantly accepted and placed the mask in it.

"Thanks."