Song Yiqi had always been a kind soul since birth. His mother would often tell him it was because he was touched by an angel as a newborn and therefore had been protected from all sins of the world. And he truly believed it for some time until he was older. Song Yiqi was smart, diligent and willful. No matter how hard things were he always found a positive view in it somewhere and used the opportunity to make something out of it.
Song Yiqi was always poor. He was born into poverty. His mother was once the wife of a wealthy man and a thriving company until unfortunately due to her husband's greed they had been taken for tax evasion and accused of embezzlement and had everything taken away from them. His mother was from the minor family, but after hearing what happened to her company and her husband as well as herself, she was disowned from the main family, and they abandoned her. They took in both her older kids in exchange for her never showing her face again. Her husband due to losing everything took his own life and left a widow with an unborn child. No one to support her as well as no money and a ruined reputation left her at a dark ends' road. And no company would take her---in fact, all her rivals preyed upon her downfall and watched with great satisfaction— her demise. She came close to taking her own life a few times but ultimately, she decided to keep living for her child and she would do the best she could to raise him.
She met one of her old acquaintances from her old job who felt sorry for her and gave her a job and a place to stay at his mother's coffee shop in Guangzhou. There she worked day and night saving up any money she could. She eventually made a name for herself in that area for being an enthusiastic barista who formed close friendships with the locals. She worked there until she gave birth to Song Yiqi. She struggled every day to support him but tried her best to make sure he would have a decent life.
Over the years she saved all the money she made from the coffee shop in order to support her son in the future and send him off to college. She wanted him to be successful like he was destined to be and restore their family name. She had so much in store for him and she would make sure he had all the necessary resources despite having very little money or status. By the time he was ten years old she had become a well-known figure in the community. Everyone was struggling but they all helped each other living in poverty together and hoping for better opportunities for their children. She herself when she had it all never once thought about those living in extreme conditions until finally, she was living it herself. A part of her felt a deep regret as these were the people she used to look down upon.
But then, when Song Yiqi had just entered high school, his mother got really sick. She had Kidney failure and had to go on Dialysis. In order to afford the treatments for his mother, they ended up using all the money she had saved for him. To take care of his mother he had dropped out of school for the time being to focus on her. He then got a job working at a convenience store where he ended up meeting Syaoran for the first time. Their encounter was one to be remembered but that's for another day down memory lane.
Due to taking care of his mother, he was never able to finish school thus he wasn't able to get a proper job to support himself and his mother. The local community members would offer to help but he didn't like to be a burden to them. It was at that time during the friendship between Syaoran and himself that he unwillingly asked for his help paying for his mom's medical bills. Which until this day Syaoran has held over him. Syaoran supported Song Yiqi and his mom and Song Yiqi knew how dependent he was on Syaoran. He opted to save enough money to go back to school and worked various jobs but after getting closer to Syaoran, Syaoran didn't want him to have a job. He said he couldn't be seen with a peasant doing sanitary work or working anywhere for that matter.
He stated, "Silver spoons don't work, remember that." Hence Song Yiqi had no choice but to be dependent on him.
He did like Syaoran after all its him that's keeping his mother alive and a roof over his head but sometimes, he felt like he was being held down with shackles. Like a dog on a leash. He wonders if he's expected to live this way forever having known Syaraon for almost ten years and nothing's changed since. He wonders whether Syaoran truly values him as a friend or just likes the idea of being a savior and flaunting around. Song Yiqi never knew what he was thinking. How was it he came to be the way he is? But a part of him believed that somewhere inside of Syaorans selfish heart he had compassion otherwise would he have cared about a poor nobody like himself? What was the reason for him agreeing to his request in the first place? Song Yiqi thought about it all the time but never brought it up to him as Syaoran never liked to talk about things in the past.
Currently the two were at Syaoran's father's penthouse where Syaoran was expressing his frustration.
"I couldn't believe it, honestly. He called me a commoner—- a fucking civilian! Look at me, father. Will you allow this disrespect to your own son? Because I know if it was my child, that person would suffer even after death. I mean, what right did he have to come into my face and cut me in line and have that disrespectful ass attitude WITH ME. Not only was he disrespecting me but you as well. Are you going to allow such a thing? You should have seen him, all high and mighty while grabbing his fucking ice cream. Doesn't he know who I am? Am I just someone you can walk all over? If he thinks he's done something, he hasn't. Because all he did was piss me off. And I have Sunny here as my witness, he can verify everything that went down. The utter disrespect I had to endure. And that's not even it. There was some other fucking cunt that had the audacity to taunt me. He looked like some over drawn gangster with his disproportionate body figure. It was the two of them and it was because of him especially having some stupid fight with some other pedestrian that I wasn't able to get my ice cream. Father, I need to do something about this. I need all your people now to look for his ass and bring him to me. Whatever secret service kind of organization you have because I KNOW that you do, I need them now to find him until the ends of the earth faster than the volcano that killed everyone in Pompeii. Do you get me?" Syaoran said. You could see the veins popping out of his forehead as he balled his fists trying to contain his anger.
A refined man sat in a velvety chair in his vaulted office before a glass 3d printed table, taking hold of his 24k gold watch and admiring its intricate design.
"Do you know this was made in 1845. It's the only one of its kind. It's worth millions-
"Father, I don't care about your stupid watch. I need to find him, now," Syaoran said with irritation and a sense of urgency in his voice. He was hardly disrespectful to his father, but his sheer anger seemed to override all of his emotions.
"You watch your tone with me boy," he said sharply. Syaoran quickly apologized coming to his senses.
"I see you are causing trouble again. I got a call from the hospital. You haven't shown up for almost three months," Jinhai said looking at Syaoran with stern eyes and a questioning gaze.
"Father that's not important right now-
"Do you think I let you do what you want for the hell of it? No, I expect you to fulfill the roles I have given you and to keep a respectable image, yet you have caused me nothing but continuous aggravation. I'm not going to tell you again. Show up for work and fulfill your obligations or else I will freeze all of your cards and seize everything you own that you bought with my money and have you left on the street where I found you to teach you a lesson. And do dare to speak that way to me again. You'll need yourself to worry about. Now get out with that nonsense and stop causing trouble. I will send Kaizu to come talk to you later. What you should do now is get over to the hospital," Jinhai said. Syaoran stood still before nodding. He gestured to Song Yiqi to leave.
"Damn that old man. He's been nothing but a pain in my neck these couple weeks. I'll just wait for you on your deathbed!" Syaoran said out of anger. He strolled into the living room throwing himself onto the couch. Song Yiqi stood standing waiting to be told to sit down.
"You know, you had a lot of fucking nerve butting into my business like that earlier. Have I not taught you anything at all these past ten years? Are you still so hardheaded? You know Sunny, the world's problems don't get resolved through talking. When has that ever worked," Syaoran said looking at Song Yiqi who looked toward the floor fiddling with his fingers.
"Sorry…. I'm sorry," he whispered. Syaoran stared at him for a moment before speaking again.
"Did I tell you to mumble around me. Gosh, it's like you want to piss me off. Look, I understand it was out of your best intentions because of me, but I've told you before I can handle my own. I don't need your meddling. Your pathetic attitude only makes it look like I'm weak or putting myself in a situation that I can't control," Syaoran spoke. He looked at Song Yiqi who was still looking to the floor. Syaoran huffed.
He knew when Song Yiqi was like that he needed to intervene into his little head. Once before Song Yiqi had been so disheartened -- if you will-- that he didn't show up for five days and even when Syaoran went to his house he refused to come out. At that time, Syaoran realized how out of order everything was if he wasn't at his beck and call. It was only until Syaoran (in a desperate attempt to get him out of the house) told him how much he meant to him. Only then did Song Yiqi leave his house. From then on Syaoran found this was a good way to pull Song Yiqi away from his negative thoughts and will to just go M.I.A. He was aware of Song Yiqi's feelings toward him, and he used it to his advantage to keep Song Yiqi in his grip.
"You can come and sit," he said impatiently. Song Yiqi quickly walked sitting beside Syaoran. Syaoran turned to look at him. He brushed his hair out of his face. Up close he could see the tears Song Yiqi had been holding back. Syaoran was a little surprised, but it wasn't as if he didn't expect it. He had made Song Yiqi cry many times before, but Song Yiqi was a silent crier, so he didn't dwell on it too much. Seeing him now up close felt a little strange. But Syaoran would not have his esteem reputation if he were not a master manipulator.
"Yiqi, I don't yell at you because I dislike you, you know? I'm not doing it to embarrass you. It's because I just want you to know that you need to stop overstepping and just conform to the personality I need you to be. You just need to stay in the background like you always do. I don't do this to step on you," Syaoran said. He grabbed hold of Song Yiqi's hands pulling him closer. He nuzzled his cheek into Song Yiqi's cheeks. Song Yiqi just melted into his touch returning it back. It was moments like these he became delusional believing Syaoran really loved him — as more than a friend.
"You know that I love you right?" Syaoran said caressing Song Yiqi's face. He looked him in the eyes awaiting his answer. Song Yiqi placed his hand over Syaorans touching his face. Part of him knew it was a lie, but the other side wanted it to be true.
"I know," he said softly looking into Syaoran's eyes searching for meaning. Syaoran smiled. He then abruptly stood up.
"Let's go. I forgot I still have a respectable career as a doctor saving people's life or whatever. Sunny c'mon. I'll need some kind of outlet to let my anger out on. These people are bound to piss me off," Syaoran said dreading it.
And just like that, the sweet tender moment was over. Gone in a flash. Song Yiqi couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment.
"You're so silly." He whispered to himself.
"Are you an untrained dog? Do I need to tell you more than once? I said let's go. You know my nerves are high right now. Don't irritate me," Syaoran said with a huff.
And just like that, tender Syaoran was swiftly replaced with arrogant Syaoran.
"I'm sorry, coming."
—
"My god, you sure know how to make a man switch sides in seconds," Eren spoke teasingly. He alongside Kang Weizhe and his sister Kang Ni were currently at his home having just arrived. Kang Ni was still eating her ice cream happily as her brother was taking off her seatbelt and getting her out the car. The driver went to fetch her things from the trunk and take them inside.
"Wow, you still live in this big thing full of nothing but space. I'd think you were hiding something top secret with how heavily guarded this place is. I almost feel terrified," Eren said sarcastically. Kang Weizhe ignored him taking hold of his sister's hand. He began walking to the front door of his home. Tens of bodyguards lined up in perfect uniform on either side of the walkway.
"Welcome back sir."
It was said by every guard he walked past. Eren smiled in amusement.
"Seems like a cult. Darling ya know I forget that you're some important person in the underground world. What is it you do again?" Eren said teasingly. A maid welcomed Kang Weizhe and his sister at the door.
"Welcome home sir, the evening snack you've asked me to prepare is ready."
"Thank you. Take my sister to settle in, then bring her down to eat," Kang Weizhe ordered. The maid nodded grabbing Kang Ni gently from Kang Weizhe. Kang Ni smiled at the maid showing her ice-cream to her as they walked away.
"My, isn't she getting bigger. I can remember when she was just a little twerp. Now even she's more beautiful than when I last saw her. You might have to watch out someone might just snatch her up-
"What the hell do you want?" Kang Weizhe said finally breaking his character now that his sister was gone. Eren pouted.
"Why so hostile? Didn't you miss me? Your only friend--
"I don't make friends," Kang Weizhe said cutting him off.
"Nor do I have the patience for people like you," he said with a deathly look.
"Calm down will you darling. I clearly just wanted to see my friend, but it looks like he doesn't want to see me. And even after everything we've been through together," Eren said beginning to fake cry.
"I thought I smelled a rat. Didn't know you were back in town. Honestly thought you were six feet under already. Back from the dead I suppose?" a euphonic voice came out. A beautiful woman dressed in black came down the stairs. Her steps so elegantly placed. Eren rolled his eyes in contempt.
"Ah....the bitch from hell. Guess even demons get sick of you," he said in a hostile tone. She went toward Kang Weizhe taking off his coat.
"Honey, I thought I told you I hate pests. How could you let one in," she said. Eren clenched his teeth.
"And I thought he hated whores yet here you are," Eren threw back. She scoffed in disbelief.
"Naomi what are you doing here?" Kang Weizhe asked. Naomi still scowling toward Eren turned to Kang Weizhe. Her expression became serious.
"I have a message from the boys down south of Henan. They say that the man who calls himself Six Eyes is looking for you. He left a message stating to meet at this address two days from now. He wants you to come alone," Naomi said handing a note to Kang Weizhe. He looked at it for a moment before nodding. He turned to leave before Naomi stopped him grabbing his arm. He huffed in frustration snatching his arm from her.
"I've had enough of people grabbing me," he said coldly. She bit back her tongue and didn't say anything. Kang Weizhe continued to walk away. Just then two bodyguards appeared before them ready to escort them out.
"Wait up I have something else to tell you!" She yelled out. She pushed the bodyguards aside.
"He treats his guests so coldly. I can see wanting to get rid of an old hag, but your best friend. That hurts me so much I could almost cry," Eren said lightheartedly although he was serious about his comment toward Naomi. Naomi gripped her hands before turning on her heels and storming off after Kang Weizhe. She could be heard mumbling most likely insults directed toward Eren. He laughed in satisfaction. He looked back at the home, a devious smile creeping on his face.
------
"Alrighty, so here's the deal. Obviously, people aren't going to be happy with me especially after ditching my post for like three months so what I need you to do is back me up here okay. I'm going to say I was hit by a car and had to be hospitalized at a different hospital because it was on my way back from Chongqing. And you're going to be the one who hit me okay?" Syaoran said. Song Yiqi was confused about why he had to be the one who hit him but of course—- of course it was him.
"Yes," he said. Syaoran took a deep breath and walked into the doors of the hospital. Immediately as if on cue a group of nurses came up to him.
"Where the hell have you been?!"
"Don't you know we've been understaffed this past month due to some of our nurses getting sick?"
"You better have a good excuse or else I'm going to personally strangle you myself!"
"Guys…. you see what happened is while I was driving, I got hit by a car-
"Don't give me that bullshit you don't even drive a car!" Syaoran looked at her name tag. Chen Ya Nan.
"Well miss Chen Ya Nan who the hell are you to know whether I drive a car or not?" Syaoran said irritated.
"Everyone knows you don't drive. You have a private driver who takes you everywhere or even your private jet for 30-minute trips. Who are you fooling?" She spoke.
"It's as you said because I don't drive, I obviously got into a car crash and needed immediate attention therefore I wasn't able to come to work!" Syaoran rebutted. Chen Ya Nan scoffed.
"You seriously want me to believe that? That nonsensical excuse!" Chen Ya Nan exclaimed. She was well aware of Syaoran's outlandish antics, and she wasn't going to back down and let him have his way like most people did.
Chen Ya Nan by this point was extremely irritated. Bai Syaoran who had not shown up to work in over three months suddenly shows up and the excuse he gives is this? She was in disbelief.
"If it weren't for your father, you would have been fired three months ago! How a person like you ends up being responsible for the lives of others. I just don't understand it. You need to take your job more seriously. There are people depending on you. You can't just be leaving as you please!" She said in exasperation. She was breathing heavily now, her hands resting on her waist.
"Are you deaf? I just told you the reason I was gone. What? Suddenly my life doesn't matter anymore because other people need me. Fuck them. I have a body to take care of too you know," Syaoran said sucking his teeth and giving Chen Ya Nan a condescending look. She clenched her teeth in anger.
"How can you stand there and say that! You are a disgrace to your name and that white coat. If it were me, I would've never let you pass. Despicable," She spat turning around and storming off. The other nurses with her quickly scurried off after her. Syaoran scoffed.
"Yeah, well I didn't ask to be saving lives. I'm doing a charity you know!" He yelled after her. He turned to look at Song Yiqi.
"Some help you were," he mumbled. Song Yiqi opened his mouth to speak but decided not to.
"Let's go to my office. I need to show up here for a couple days to get that old man off my back. By all means I'd be glad if they fired me but then I'd have him to deal with and quite frankly I don't want to become a beggar on the street. I'd be like you, and I would rather die," Syaoran said starting to walk off.
"Move your ass Sunny," he said bluntly. Song Yiqi quickened his pace to follow him. As they walked through the building, they received tons of stares and whispering. Song Yiqi knew they could care less about him as all the attention fell on to Syaoran, but he couldn't help but feel like their eyes were burning into him as well.
"Are all of you that free? Do you need more work to do because I sure have a ton I could give you!" Syaoran said to all the staff standing about whispering amongst each other. They quickly scattered giving a quick insincere bow to Syaoran as they left back to their posts. Syaoran scoffed in amusement. He had been doing a lot of scoffing lately.
Entering his office Syaoran sits down in his chair with a sigh. He looks up at the ceiling. Song Yiqi stands at the front of his desk fiddling with his fingers.
"You have such a respectable job...it takes years of studying and experience to get where you are. It's not easy to pass on the first try. There are so many students who drop out of med school or end up committing suicide because of the stress and pressure. Don't you think you are taking it a bit too lightly?" Song Yiqi said absentmindedly. He quickly gasped realizing it all too late.
"I just mean-
"Shut up. Just shut up. If you say another fucking word out of your pathetic mouth, I'm going to shoot myself in the fucking head! And if I did that know it's because of you. I don't need your input on anything. Not a damn thing so shut the fuck up. I never wanted this damn job. You think I want to be here? As if I give a shit about saving others. I worry about my damn self. I only worked this hard to get here because of that old prune. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't step foot in a hospital unless I was bleeding out!" Syaoran said with a frustrated sigh at the end. Song Yiqi bit his lip before speaking.
"But you expect a doctor to save you if you were bleeding out. Thats why you go to the hospital. To be saved," Song Yiqi said quietly. Syaoran made another sigh while rolling his eyes in annoyance.
"Well yeah. It's their fucking job. It's what they choose to do. What the fuck are you gonna be a doctor for if not for saving pe-
Syaoran stopped mid-sentence realizing the meaning of Song Yiqi's words. Of course, he's a doctor himself. It's his job to saves lives if not, why else be a doctor? But to him it was different. He didn't choose to be a doctor, nor did he want to be one. Other doctors who want to be doctors have an obligation to save people's lives. Thats the difference, he thought.
"What the fuck is your problem? You know you've been talking so much today. I don't recall ever giving you permission to speak as much as you have. I might need to sew your mouth shut at this point," Syaoran said looking slightly miffed. Song Yiqi recoiled away slightly fiddling with his fingers. He remained silent.
"Oh, so now you can't talk. What is it today with people. Everyone has gotten on my last fucking nerve today. And I don't even understand why. I need to check my birth chart or something because this is ridiculous. I didn't ask for this shitty ass day to come and ruin my mood and have a dog try and bark at me either. You agree, don't you?" Syaoran asked looking at Song Yiqi for an answer.
"Y-yes," Song Yiqi stuttered out.
"Ah-eh-y- don't fucking start. Don't," Syaoran said mocking Song Yiqi's stutter. He grabbed a folder on his desk and began to look through it seemingly busying himself with something. Song Yiqi was still standing. Syaoran made an annoyed groan.
"You can sit down!" He said in frustration. Song Yiqi flinched slightly at his tone before quickly moving to sit down. He sat down on a small cushion chair with his knees tightly pressed together. He looked down into his lap.
"Order me something to eat," Syaoran commanded. He threw his phone at Song Yiqi who caught it clumsily.
"I don't want meat," Syaoran said flipping through the folder. Song Yiqi nodded and began to order something. He turned on the phone to see the wallpaper Syaoran had. It was a picture of Syaoran and himself. A photo they had taken last year in which they were both smiling. Song Yiqi had put it there himself one day when Syaoran told him to put a wallpaper on his phone. Song Yiqi thought he could be reminded of this pleasant memory every time he turned on his phone. It was Song Yiqi's birthday. The one day out of the year Syaoran chose to be nice for a full twenty-four hours. And they could do whatever Song Yiqi wanted. In this case, Song Yiqi looked forward to his birthday every year because it meant Syaoran would be nice to him and he could spend quality time with him as well. Whenever he thought about it, it always put a smile on his face.
"What are you smiling about? You better be smiling about the food you're supposed to be ordering for me," Syaoran said with an aggravated look ruining the moment for Song Yiqi who gave a nervous laugh.
"Yeah. How does a poke bowl sound?" he asked. Syaoran thought about it.
"I guess," he said casually putting the folder down and picking up another one. Song Yiqi nodded. He went to look for a poke bowl restaurant. In doing so, he thought about his mother.
"Can I order something too? For my mother," He asked softly and quietly. Syaoran gave a glance at him before simply nodding. Song Yiqi breathed a sigh of relief. Syaoran could be unpredictable sometimes and he was in a bad mood after all.
"Thank you," he said. He went back to placing the order. Syaoran huffed.
"I don't want to look at these irrelevant pieces of paper I don't even understand."
He put the folder down and leaned back in his chair slightly spinning it around. He was lost in thought before the door to his office was swung open by a male doctor. His name was Xiao Ming.
"Doctor Bai, you're needed in operating room one. Director's orders," he said urgently before leaving the room. Syaoran sat there in disbelief.
"Are you fucking kidding me? I just got here after like three months and now you want me in the operating room. Do they not realize I'm a fraud?!" Syaoran said panicked. He stood up from his chair ready to storm the director's office to make a scene.
"This is unbelievable. How does he even know I'm here? I just walked through the door like 10 minutes ago!" Syaoran said in distress.
Song Yiqi who was minding his business carefully creating his poke bowl finally finished adding to his order and was ready to purchase.
"I'm about to order the poke bow-
"Forget the poke bowl!" Syaoran yelled storming out of the office. Song Yiqi sat there frozen.
"Did you want sesame seeds?" He asked quietly. He looked back at the phone.
"I guess not. But I do," he said cheerfully to himself. He placed the order and smiled.
"Mom is going to like this. If she does, I'll try to order it more often," Song Yiqi said with a smile. He stood up putting the phone in his pocket and took a deep breath. With that he left the office off to find Syaoran.
Looks like someone has to take their job seriously.
———-
Boqin; Boubi
Posted: 01/6/23
Next Chapter: I am the Pinnacle of Classism!