Behind The Red Curtain | YiZhan ✓

54-Demise Of Desire

It was a good rainy night. The traffic not so bad since it was a spring holiday, many off from work to meet their families or do whatever they usually would on their free time. 

Yet Hu Li was at work. And so was Yibo. Or rather, he was that day until night came and he made his way swiftly to the bar. His schedule was packed thanks to releasing their song "When Spring Comes". It was trending number one on almost every platform, number two in others. But he couldn't care less for the reputation or the money it made when the man he created the song with wasn't even looking at his face. 

The value of things was sometimes simply measured by how they were made, rather than what they provide now. 

Yibo shook his head at the thought, thinking about what difference it would've made if he had pushed everything to the corner and taken what he desired. He had done so in the past almost every time, and could've done the same now. Yet what stopped him was the fear of being left out. It was scarier than most would think, even the thought enough to give him shivers down his spine. 

"Life is such a pain sometimes... holding back and doing whatnot.." He mumbled to himself, making Hu Li turn his attention to him as he cleaned some glasses behind the bar. He then pushed Yibo a drink, letting him take it from where he was seated. "That's just the way the world works. You could complain all you want yet it will just be the same unless you defy it." 

Yibo scoffed, taking a pack of smoke from his pocket. Hu Li raised his brows. "Since when do you smoke?" 

"I don't. I just take the smoke in my mouth for a couple of seconds before blowing it out. It still somehow releases me of my stress." Hu Li shook his head as if he had seen a lot and put the newly cleaned glass on the counter, now pointing his gaze at Yibo. "...that's like drinking whiskey half way down your throat, to throw it back out before it reaches your stomach." 

Yibo raised his brows in question. "...?" 

Hu Li rolled his eyes before leaning forth and grabbing the smoke out of his hands. "I'm saying that i's fucking useless. Stop before addiction becomes you. You're already..." 

He then gave Yibo a look while the latter leaned his head on the counter, seeming lost and drunk of tire. With that, Hu Li shook his head and went back to work. "Look at you. I pity you at this point." 

"Pity me.." Yibo scoffed. "..then what am i suppose to do? Tell me." Hu Li shook his head in disbelief but told him anyways. "Okay, first, stop with that giving space crap. You know Zhan better than i do. Don't give him space-... that's ridiculous." 

Yet Yibo begged to disagree as he raised his head up with a jolt. "You don't understand- i don't want to go back to how i treated him in the past! I... i can't force him.." 

Hu Li then suddenly smacked his head with his finger. "Then don't go back! A relationship takes one to be selfish so they can make effort to get what they want. And you have that." 

Yibo averted his gaze. 

"...it also requires courage, and you have that as well. So my advice, go jump at the first chance you get. Maybe who knows, it's not too late." 

Yibo then rolled his head. 

"Right... the advice of the day." 

"Day?? The advice of the year! If you continue like this, you'll end up getting eaten by your guilt for sure." The latter then sighed, not finding the opening to argue until he realised something. "Wait- you think it's too late???" 

"Do you think that he has forgotten?.. i mean.. it has been over a month... m-maybe he gave up?" Hu Li glared. "What nonsense are you spitting now? Maybe you should just smoke that cigarette. Or wait- even better. Since you just inhale the smoke in your mouth-"