Utter Defeat

7. I Won't Help you...?

Xiao Yang put his notes and laptop on the wooden coffee table in front of the sofa and went to the kitchen to set the table. As he knew that Kung Pao chicken and wanton noodles were his husband's favourite dishes, he bought them from the most famous vendors alongside a few side dishes to bribe him to help.

When he was done with the plates and chopsticks, the slamming sound of the door was heard, so Xiao Yang ran to the hall to greet the newcomer.

"Ge, I bought your favourite food!" he announced blithely, making Zheng Hao frown. He knew the younger enough to know that he was used to using food as a bribe. He did it many times when he needed some help with his assignments. If he brought food, it meant a bribe. If he brought dessert, it meant flirting. Xiao Yang was indeed easy to read while Zheng Hao was tough to deceive.

"What do you want?" the older man asked curtly, feeling tired to play with him.

Xiao Yang flinched slightly as he was caught red handed, but he put on a smile and grabbed his husband's arm. Dragging him to the kitchen, he lied "I just bought us food, no big deal."

Not believing him, the older man quirked an eyebrow, but remained silent. He was already tired after a whole day in the store, so he would rather wait until Xiao Yang spilled the beans while he enjoyed his favourite food.

"Ge, when do you think the old fox will retire? He seems to vow to make his students suffer," Xiao Yang made a subtle entrance to the topic.

Being a smart man, Zheng Hao could already see where it was going. Putting his chopsticks down on the table, he said "so, you need help with Prof. Ma's assignment and the food is the bribe for it."

Panicking, Xiao Yang opened his mouth to deny it, but the look on Zheng Hao's face was saying 'do not even try'. Sighing in defeat, he also put his chopsticks on the table and looked at his husband with puppy eyes, "don't think it as a bribe, you know how much I like to eat with you... I just also happen to need some help."

"So, I can just eat even though I refuse to help?"

The coldness in his eyes pushed the begging words into Xiao Yang's throat. He swallowed them and said "of course, ge, enjoy your food."

Zheng Hao grabbed his chopsticks back, trying not to look at the dejected man. If he did, he would be deceived again by his fake pitiful demeanour.

"You need to put some effort into your assignments. You are already a junior, yet you still seek help."

Well, it was true that Xiao Yang wanted help, but it wasn't like what Zheng Hao thought. He just needed some clear guidelines and maybe some explanation, not that he wanted him to do the assignment for him.

"You are right, ge," the dejected man murmured and rose to his feet. As he felt wrongly accused, he lost his appetite. He poured the remains of the food on his plate into the trash bin and placed his utensils into the dish machine. Then he left the kitchen with a giant mug of coffee.

Although he lost his hope about Zheng Hao's help, he still decided to work on his assignment in the living room. Slumping on the carpet, he turned on his laptop and muted his phone. The last thing he needed was Ji Bo's pestering.

While he was burning all his brain cells, trying to understand what to do, Zheng Hao left the kitchen as well. He hesitated in front of the living room, so Xiao Yang noticed him and looked up at him.

"Don't you want me to sit here?"

Gosh, why did he have to sound like a kicked puppy? Zheng Hao said inwardly while shaking his head. "I will sleep, so..." he said, shrugging and turned around to leave.

"You used to help us," Xiao Yang's words stopped his steps, "is it because you don't like me now?"

Zheng Hao was speechless because Xiao Yang was right. He used to be the bright senior who helped his juniors all the time. Then what happened? Xiao Yang happened, and now, Zheng Hao wasn't sure if he really needed help or he just wanted to use it as an excuse to be close to him. Well, it was also true that he didn't like Xiao Yang even a bit, so he didn't want to breathe the same air with him more than necessary.

"I see... good night, ge," Xiao Yang said with a sad tone and focused on his laptop again.

Being hit in the heart by the sudden guilt, God knew why, Zheng Hao could only walk to his room. He grabbed his novel from the shelf and lay down on his bed, trying to keep his mind off the certain man.

At one moment, Zheng Hao managed to do that as he fell asleep, his novel lying on his lap on the same page as he opened it.

"HE IS SLEEPING, OKAY?!"

Hearing Xiao Yang's loud voice, Zheng Hao woke up with a start, the book fell from his lap to the bed. At first, he thought the younger man called out to him, but then he realised the other was talking on the phone.

"It is two am for God's sake, of course he is sleeping!"

As his voice got quieter, Zheng Hao couldn't hear the rest clearly. Submitting to his curiosity, he got out of the bed and walked to his door. Opening it ajar, he waited for the next words.

"No, Ji Bo, I am not lying! I asked him for help, but he was so tired, okay! He literally fell asleep in a second."

"Well, you are lying," Zheng Hao murmured silently, wondering the reason. Why was he trying to cover up for him? He could just say that his husband was a bad one, refusing to help. Wouldn't it be easier? It was already two am and those stupid kids should have gone to bed already. If Ji Bo didn't let Xiao Yang hang up soon, Zheng Hao, as their senior, would make his grand entrance and make them go to bed.

"Look, I somehow managed to handle the half, what about we meet at six and discuss what we did before moving to the second part?"

As Ji Bo's answers were not available for Zheng Hao, he moved silently in the hall to look at Xiao Yang's expression so that he could guess what that idiot Ji Bo was saying.

Okay, it wouldn't be something nice as Xiao Yang was leaning on the coffee table, one hand pinching his nose bridge. Under the artificial light of the laptop's screen, Zheng Hao could see the veins on his temples popped up, showing he was highly annoyed or even angry.

"No, I can't wake him up at six and ask for help! Are you insane?! Just forgot about Hao ge, okay? If we have to, we can ask Mei jie tomorrow."

Ji Bo said something and Xiao Yang lost it. Jumping on his feet, he yelled "BECAUSE HE DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ME, OKAY?! HAPPY?!"

With shock, Zheng Hao watched Xiao Yang throwing his phone on the sofa before following its lead. He slammed the lid of the laptop close and buried his head in his palms in the darkness.

As Xiao Yang had no idea about Zheng Hao's existence, he could simply walk back to his room and pretend he didn't hear anything. It was for the best, right?

Then why the hell was he standing in front of the slumped figure?!!!

"Did I make you wake up? I am sorry," Xiao Yang murmured tiredly with a hint of resentment lacing through his words and rose to his feet. He must have been pretty worn out as he didn't even bother checking how much the older man heard.

"Make two cups of coffee."

"What?" Xiao Yang asked, confused.

Puffing, Zheng Hao sat on the sofa. While questioning himself inwardly for the poor decisions he made, he said "I will check your assignment."

"No need."