Utter Defeat

10. The Best Gift

"Here, it is your gift, ge," Xiao Yang said as he pushed a USB towards Zheng Hao.

"What is it?" Zheng Hao asked, playing the USB in his hand.

"The pictures," the younger man declared with a timid smile.

"What?" the older man asked, shocked. Suddenly, the plastic stick got a huge value, so he held it tight in his fist.

"The pictures of you and uncle."

"Didn't you delete them?" Zheng Hao pressed because it was too good to be true.

Xiao Yang shook his head, "how can I delete such valuable pictures without a copy? You may not believe me, but I loved Uncle as much as you. I was sure angry at you, but not even a second I thought to get even with you that cruelly."

Zheng Hao was so happy that he felt like crying. He opened his mouth to spill tons of appreciative adjectives to Xiao Yang, but nothing came into his mind. Like a fish out of water, he opened and closed his mouth, and decided an action was better than a compliment. Swiftly he rose to his feet and almost threw himself on Xiao Yang. Hugging him tight, he whispered "thank you."

Not waiting for such a pleasing reaction, Xiao Yang was fazed for a second before he returned the hug equally tight.

"You are really welcome, I am sorry to upset you that day," he said to his husband's ear, filling his lungs with his mint shampoo. Who knew when he would have this chance again?

Later that night, Zheng Hao sat in front of his laptop and plugged the USB. Cherishing each one equally, he looked at the pictures with great longing. Xiao Yang really gave him the best gift ever. Speaking of him, Zheng Hao realised Xiao Yang said the truth when he said he loved his father. In more than ten pictures, he was present with his father and they seemed so happy together. If some strangers looked at the pictures, they would say Xiao Yang was his father's other son.

Although he still had some suspicions against Xiao Yang's intention to approach his father, his smiles looked so genuine. Even when he wasn't aware of the camera, he was always helping his father or eating with him.

Wasn't it too much trouble to woo him?

On the other hand, if he loved his father dearly, then why didn't insist on staying in the hospital on the day his father died? Why did he leave right away after Zheng Hao yelled at him?

Damn, it was hard to understand that little devil...

Still, as he gave him the most wonderful gift, Zheng Hao had to repay.

The next morning, Xiao Yang found Zheng Hao sitting in front of the table which had various dishes on it. He looked at the table with longing while saying "good morning, ge," and moved to the fridge to take the milk out as it was his breakfast for the last fourteen days.

"What are you doing?" Zheng Hao asked as he saw Xiao Yang taking the milk bottle out.

"Breakfast?" the younger man replied with a 'duh' tone.

Sighing, the older man pointed at the empty chair, "sit, I prepared it for both of us."

Xiao Yang almost dropped the bottle with shock. He gaped at his husband to see if he was joking, but no, he seemed highly serious.

"Ge, did you forget our deal?" he asked hesitantly as he didn't want to betray his promise.

"Yes, I forgot about it, now sit."

Beaming, Xiao Yang stuffed the bottle back in the fridge and sat across from Zheng Hao. Together, they had breakfast while Xiao Yang told him about a place called Paradise near Xi Lake. Not understanding from where he learnt about the place or why he was that excited about it, Zheng Hao just listened to him without giving full attention.

When they were finally over with breakfast and were about to leave the house, Xiao Yang rested his hand on the door knob and asked "so... will we also have dinner together?"

Well, Zheng Hao really didn't want to give him pious hope about the future of their relationship, but avoiding Xiao Yang in the same house was really tiring, let alone eating out was expensive. Therefore, he just gave in and nodded, sending Xiao Yang to cloud nine.

That night, Zheng Hao cooked again for them, but the next two days, Xiao Yang brought food from the restaurant near the university. At least he has some conscience, Zheng Hao thought, yet he didn't say more than a mere thanks. It was important to keep the line between them because Xiao Yang tended to be blind to them.

Okay, maybe Zheng Hao didn't draw the lines visibly or maybe Xiao Yang was indeed blind to them, but on the fourth dinner, Xiao Yang had a favour to ask.

"Ge, on Wednesdays, you are not very busy, right?"

"What is it?" Zheng Hao asked curtly. He knew sooner or later, Xiao Yang would pester him for something, but it was pretty fast.

"The thing is," the younger man rubbed his nape, "on Wednesday, the charity event will take place at the campus."

"As usual, so?"

"Our faculty came up with a crazy idea and no matter how much I objected, they are forcing me to participate."

"And?"

"They will rent us for a date for the highest bid," Xiao Yang said, his cheeks red with embarrassment.

"So?"

"Ge, can you rent me?"

"What?"

Xiao Yang let out a sigh, "ge, you know how uncomfortable I get around girls, if a girl rents me for a whole-afternoon date, I will surely die. So, please come and save me."

Well, Zheng Hao of course knew something about his condition. How would it be possible for him not to know when Xiao Yang kept repeating it whenever he said he should date a nice girl, rather than chasing him?

"I don't think I-"

"Please, ge!" With a swift move, Xiao Yang grabbed Zheng Hao's hand, "I can even have an attack! Pity me please!"

"Okay okay, just let me go," Zheng Hao struggled against Xiao Yang and finally saved his hand from his grip, "but I won't stay more than half an hour."

"Deal!"