[风情 | FengQing]: You Are Giving Me Christmas In Mid-Summer [TGCF ABO Universe]

★Part 23: Explain (Yourselves), If You Please!

Mu Qing was blushing severely. He totally felt told off, even though the other Omega had not meant it in a bad way, and the scent was calm. Well, relatively calm. Mu Qing guessed that if one looked at them from the side, without knowing them, well - he would be frowning too!

He tried to get away from Xie Lian's arms gently, slowly, but with unmistakable intent, only too glad that the Alpha was distracted with something else, and did not clutch at him.

Xie Lian was a bit strange in this way, but the Omega guessed it was due to his relationship with Hua Cheng, a Beta. Sometimes he noticed some failings in the shortish Alpha's instincts that, no doubt, would have been sharper, had Xie Lian been married to an Omega. He didn't even try to hold him back, as Feng Xin would have, and just let him slip away easily.

And Xie Lian himself was a little puzzled. He had always thought that his bar was a small place, a cozy, warm chamber, just spacious enough to hold 20, maybe 30 people all in all. He had never believed that the counter of the bar could look so far away from him, as he was gaping at his lover and his bouncer, now sipping on his best whiskey at the far left portion of it. He himself was still seated in the far right part, where the bartender usually served the customers, still sitting on one of the high stools, a skinny Omega now slipping away from his grip.

- San Lang? – he now murmured under his nose, already forgotten that he had just been asked a question.

Yet, Feng Xin's father was not one to be easily ignored, and so he now raised his voice, as if scolding a pair of misbehaving students:

- Well?

Mu Qing bit his lips and lowered his eyes, which were now boring holes in the floor. Xie Lian tilted his head to the side and smiled politely, now coaxing:

- I am sure it looked a little bit strange, but I can assure you – all if perfectly fine!

The Omega raised an eyebrow again, and Mu Qing whimpered quietly.

- I can tell! – Feng Xin's papa huffed. – By the smell of it, I'd say...

He cast a quick look behind his back, at his son, who was hunched over the counter, looking sulky, and who was now pushing whiskey down, as if it was water. It cause a new chuff.

- ...I'd say – some teenage drama. Only it's all adults, all around!

Mu Qing grabbed that last sentence, and tried to make an excuse:

- Ummm... I think I should go back to work now! I... ummm... I'm so sorry, Dianxia!

His eyes only slid a little to the left, now fixating on Xie Lian's shoes, but he dared not look up, even though it was an Omega that was speaking.

But his boss just giggled, somehow in a good mood.

- Eh, it's OK! I am glad A-Xin was so mature about it! He's grown so much! Whoa! But, darling, let's not do that again – I'm afraid your husband might not be as patient next time around! – Xie Lian said merrily.

Mu Qing's face was redder than an over-ripe tomato. He nodded, too ashamed to speak.

- Also, stay, A-Qing! I'd say my puppy is doing a good job, over there – behind the counter? – Xie Lian joked.

The older Omega raised both eye-brows at the call "puppy",  a little confused, and the younger Omega finally looked up, to check the counter, where no real clients were sitting, but a sour-smelling husband of his, and a very-flushed-in-the-face Beta, who looked... weirdly happy.

Mu Qing frowned once he noticed the bottle Hua Cheng was squeezing, but said nothing. Things were already complicated enough!

Feng Xin's father followed his gaze, and turned back again, now taking the bigger picture in more carefully.

- You... you call... him... your... puppy? – he now asked, somewhat surprised.

Xie Lian sighed.

- It's a long story. Let's... Let's talk... over there? How's that? – he offered.

Mu Qing wished that the Heavens would send an influx of customers, right about now!!!,  but the Heavens didn't listen. Apart from his family and friends, there were just two more people in the bar – it was too early in the day for any serious crowds. He couldn't really say "no" to his senior, to his boss – to an Alpha, so he just nodded.

- I should say it would be presumptuous of me to hope for a new cup of tea? – Feng Xin's dad joked, but as now all eyes were on Hua Cheng who was waving the half-empty bottle in the air, and speaking vehemently on a topic that made him grin/that made Feng Xin growl - he added quickly:

- Maybe... later.

Yet, he never failed to shout out:

- Pup! Behave!!!

They moved to sit at one of the free tables, and Xie Lian blinked, now too sure that the counter looked even bigger somehow, and the bar – ever more spacious – because his San Lang was somehow even farther away from him.

He sat down, opposite to the two Omegas, but mumbled to himself:

- What was in that... beer? Hmmm...