𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐘 | 𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐌𝐈𝐍

𝐗𝐗𝐕

renjun and ten ran all the way back down the flight of stairs and back around those sharp corners to get to the editing and publisher's floor. they had to get to lucas before he left to go home. it was nearing closing time anyways, so there were very few people lingering now. but most of all, they had to get to him before jungwoo did.

the two busted into the room, panting as they did so. to their surprise, the room was pretty full. it seemed as if they had interrupted a meeting. sicheng, lucas, mark, jaemin, and jungwoo. renjun and ten scanned the room while the five just stared at them in shock and confusion.

"chittaphon, renjun! what brings you two here at such late hours?" jungwoo tilted his head innocently, a smile planted on his lips. ten stepped towards him but renjun stuck out his arm to hold him back. jungwoo saw that and smirked, enjoying the same powerful feeling he got just like old times.

"we were just...i needed to talk to an editor." renjun struggled to make up a lie. his face flushed red in embarrassment from everyone's stares.

"you mean jaemin? i could have sworn you two weren't so close anymore, hm?" renjun looked away, biting his lip so he didn't cry in front of everyone. he was a grown man, he didn't want to cry in front of everyone. ten instantly charged at jungwoo, ready to pounce but lucas stood up quickly. extending his arm, mimicking renjun's earlier action.

"jungwoo, stop." lucas said sternly. jungwoo playfully smiled at ten who stared holes into his skull. jaemin suddenly stood up and walked toward renjun, taking everyone by surprise.

"w-what are you doing?"

"you wanted to talk an editor, right?" jaemin sighed, not making eye contact with the older. renjun nodded hesitantly and jaemin led them out, holding the door for renjun as he did so. when the two stepped outside, renjun turned to the younger immediately.

"what are you really doing?" he tried to put on an angry expression as he folded his arms.

"i should be asking you the same. because i know you aren't here for me, so who are you really here to see?" renjun was a little taken aback by the fact that jaemin caught on to their plan so quickly.

"we need to talk to lucas but...jungwoo is here." he whispered the last part. jaemin wasn't exactly sure what ten and renjun were planning, but he was instantly ready to help. anything for renjun. jaemin didn't reply, he only nodded as he went back inside with the smaller male.

renjun felt uncomfortable since he hasn't been around the younger in a while, but also because he didn't know what jaemin had up his sleeve. when they walked back in, jaemin sat back down beside lucas. he was still trying to settle down jungwoo and ten who were at each other's throats.

"help me out here," lucas whispered, leaning into jaemin. jaemin chuckled dryly as he pointed towards renjun who stood by the door in front of them.

"he's here for you." he whispered back, leaning back in his seat. jaemin just stared at renjun, thinking back to all the memories they shared together. renjun just gave him an uneasy glance as lucas stood to join him.

"excuse us for a moment. i'll take ten with me so there's no chaos while we're gone." mark and sicheng only sat back and watched awkwardly. jungwoo sighed as he watched the three men leave the room.

"he's cute."

the other three males turned to face jungwoo, "who is?" mark asked. jungwoo turned to look at them while he smiled mischievously.

"renjun." no one was phased by jungwoo's teasing anymore. it was annoying yet they learned to tolerate it over the years. still it had been a while since they had faced him, they didn't expect any less from the orange haired male.

—

"why do you guys think i know what's going on?"

"because you're his boyfriend."

"good point..." lucas scratched the nape of his neck sheepishly. ten and renjun exchanged a glance before turning back towards lucas. it was obvious he knew something, but what did he have to hide?

"i know mr. qian hired jungwoo back, but why? relationships here are banned. and those are his words, not mine." ten rambled. the two waited, arms folded, for an answer.

"jungwoo didn't tell me he was coming back until last night..." lucas gulped, "he said he heard there was an open spot after jeno told him he quit and—"

"how does jungwoo know who jeno is? we joined the company way after jungwoo left." renjun said. lucas just shrugged before continuing,

"he's taking a publisher's position here. i don't know anything else." he finished.

"have you heard anything from jeno?" ten asked. lucas was a little intimidated since the two were questioning him so quickly. it was overwhelming and he didn't know if jungwoo would be hurt if he said something wrong.

"i have."

"yukhei?" a soft voice called out, "you guys have been talking in here for too long, i missed you." jungwoo walked into the room, wrapping his arms around lucas as he pout. "what were you guys talking about?"

"nothing, darling. don't worry about it." lucas replied pecking his lips, "i'll see you guys tomorrow." ten and renjun waved as the couple finally left.

"we have a lot of thinking to do." renjun sighed. his brain hurt from all the information they were just given, more questions flooding his head.

"you need to be thinking about your relationship with jaemin. did you see him? he hasn't been himself since that day. he looked dead, renjun." ten explained. renjun looked down at his hands, he knew ten was right but he didn't have the courage to face the younger.

"yeah but...why so soon?"

"if not now, then when? he even helped us out today despite everything. and the way he stares at you should say everything," ten watched as renjun's face turned bright red, "i'm not telling saying you're the bad guy or anything. but i want you to see his side too. at the end of the day, it was jeno who wanted to get back at you."