Unsaid emotions bloomed between Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan at school, but they were driven apart by animosity rooted in their hearts because of Jiang Zhuocheng.
Ten years later, they find themselves face-to-face once again, the tension between them pal...
Sighing to himself to curb his anxious thoughts, Zhan rummages in his bag for his tights while running over the plan for the evening. He pulls out one of his t-shirts and pushes it over his head when a thought strikes him. He brushes a thumb absentmindedly over the embossed 'The Prides of Music' on the front before giving a decisive nod. In no time at all, he hears a knock on the door.
"Zhannn? I'm here!" Ji Li shouts as he slams the door with all his might, unable to contain his excitement.
Zhan puts a hand on his panicked heart and calms down by taking a deep breath. He quickly pulls on his tights and grabs his jacket before rushing to open the door. There stands Ji Li with a wide grin, holding a purse in his hand. "Finally!" the other omega exclaims. "My wish comes to fruition."
"Why are you shouting?" Zhan hisses, pressing a hand against his temple. "My head is exploding."
"It's called excitement, Zhan, if you didn't know," Ji Li replies, still beaming. "Now come on, we have a nice evening to devour. Ha ha!"
Zhan rolls his eyes but can't help feeling a surge of happiness and jealousy at seeing another omega so elated. He likes this about Ji Li, this infectious energy that can light him and others around, but he won't say it out loud. "Whatever!" He puts his earbuds in and walks forward, making sure Ji Li is catching up and following him.
The two reach the lobby and begin to walk, as Jade Lotus House is the closest to the hotel. As they approach a small building with a warm, inviting exterior, charming signage, and flickering lights, Zhan takes in everything, including the smell of home-cooked food. If the interior is adorned with vintage décor and comfortable booths, the exterior is touched with green maiden lotus in a pool.
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Zhan's eyes shine and widen, his mouth opening in excitement. "Wow!"
"Do you know why they named this restaurant 'Jade Lotus House'?" Ji Li asks, trying to create comfort between them for the sake of conversation.
Zhan tilts his head, listening.
Ji Li turns his head toward the pool, where the soft, glowing colors are in shades of creamy yellow and soft pink, with bright yellow receptacles and green foliage. "Because the lotus here has a unique green undertone that looks almost like jade."
"How do you know?" Zhan asks, intrigued.
"By curiosity, of course," Ji Li replies with a smile. "If I put my foot into something, I'll gather information about it either on my own or..."
Zhan halts, silent, turning to look at Ji Li with observant eyes, missing nothing.
"Ha ha!" Ji Li laughs, interrupting his own sentence before heading straight to the restaurant. His actions only confuse Zhan, but he doesn't say anything, knowing Ji Li always has a few tricks up his sleeve.
Zhan shakes his head and follows behind Ji Li because he has no choice to follow his heart, which warns him again that he's moving forward to the next level in the little game in which he is participating.
