Love In The Dark - XIAOJUN

Chapter Six

Xiaojun arrived at the small bar hours later, the cool evening air clinging to his jacket as he adjusted the cap pulled low over his eyes. The hat, glasses, and mask were necessary precautions; he couldn't afford to be recognized, not here, not tonight. The bar was tucked away in a quiet part of town, far from the bustling streets where fans and cameras might lurk, but he knew better than to take any chances.

Xiaojun's eyes swept over the room, taking in the intimate setting. The walls were lined with shelves filled with bottles of liquor, each one reflecting the soft light. A few people sat scattered around, engaged in quiet conversations, their voices blending with the mellow jazz playing in the background. It was the kind of place where people came to escape, to unwind, and he could immediately understand why Laluna would choose to work here. There was something comforting about it, something that made it feel like a hidden sanctuary away from the world.

His attention was caught by a voice singing from the stage—a voice that was hauntingly beautiful, filled with emotion and warmth. It took Xiaojun a moment to realize that the voice belonged to Laluna. His heart skipped a beat as he watched her perform. She looked stunning, her presence commanding the room with ease.

As she neared the end of her song, her eyes roamed the room until they landed on the suspicious figure in the back. It didn't take long for her to recognize him. She told the crowd that she'd return after a five minute break. Their eyes met again, and she nodded subtly toward the back exit, signaling him to follow.

Laluna walked ahead, stopping at a spot where they were far enough from the door that no one could hear them. She turned to him with a soft smile and said, "You can take off the disguise, no one comes out here besides the staff."

Xiaojun hesitated before removing his glasses, mask, and hat. Laluna stepped closer, reaching out to ruffle his hair and bring it back to life. Her touch was light, and for a moment, Xiaojun was lost in it. Once he looked more like himself, she crossed her arms and leaned against the wall.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

You ran out this morning," Xiaojun replied, his voice softer than he intended.

"Isn't that what a one-night stand does?"

Xiaojun tried to read her expression, but she was hard to read.

"I played my part correctly, and yet you came looking for me," she continued, her voice steady as she asked, "Why?"

Xiaojun paused, unsure of how to answer. He'd been asking himself the same question since this morning. Was he really here to make sure she hadn't spilled the beans, or was there something more? Laluna seemed to understand his hesitation and answered for him.

"Wanted to see if I ran my mouth yet?" her tone was full of sarcasm.

The reminder of the NDA—or rather, the lack of one—hit Xiaojun, but that wasn't the full reason he was here. He took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts before saying, "I want to take you on a date."

Laluna raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "I'm flattered, but no thank you," she said, her voice firm as she turned to walk back toward the door.

Xiaojun was taken aback by the rejection. He quickly moved to block her path, desperation creeping into his voice. "Oh, come on," he pleaded, "I thought we had a connection."

Laluna stopped, meeting his gaze. "We do," she admitted.

"Then what's the problem?" Xiaojun pressed, "I'm attracted to you, and you're attracted to me. So why not give it a chance?"

She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper as she said, "I think you're hot as hell, and last night was amazing." Xiaojun's heart raced as she leaned in, only to finish with, "But I don't date idols."

With that, she brushed past him, leaving him stunned. Her words echoed in his mind. I don't date idols. It wasn't the first time she'd said something like that, but hearing it now, after everything that had happened, made it sting even more. He had forgotten about the immense gap between them.

Determined not to let her slip away so easily, Xiaojun quickly followed her again. "Then let's be friends," he suggested, his voice more earnest than before. "No NDA."

Laluna stopped, turning back to face him. She was about to say something, but Xiaojun cut her off to add, "And your best friend is an idol, so don't give me that."

He had a point, and Laluna knew it. She didn't mind having idol friends—at least not female ones—but the male idols were a different story. She sighed, unsure of how to respond. Teasingly, she asked, "You really want to see me again, huh?"

Without missing a beat, Xiaojun replied, "I'm afraid I'll die waiting another six months."

Laluna chuckled as she found herself softening toward him again. She couldn't think of an easy way to reject him, not when the only thing holding her back was his status as an idol. Finally, she gave in.

"Fine," she said, her voice laced with a hint of warning. "But this has to be strictly platonic."

iaojun fought to keep a smile from spreading across his face. He nodded, trying to appear nonchalant. "Obviously," he agreed.

Laluna narrowed her eyes at him, a laugh escaping her lips as she turned to walk back toward the door. This time, Xiaojun didn't follow. He simply watched her leave, a smile tugging at his lips. But before she disappeared completely, he called out to her, "Hey, can I get your number?"

She looked back at him, a playful smirk on her face as she said, "Ask the same person who told you I was here," and with that, she disappeared inside the building.

Xiaojun stood there smiling for a moment, processing what had just happened. His heart felt lighter than it had in months. Laluna was a mystery, one he was eager to unravel, and despite her reluctance, he was determined to keep her in his life — even if he had to put his feelings on hold.

***

To be continued...