Sun He woke up Friday morning and his left eye was twitching. He wondered if he should go to work, but thinking about his plan of establishing his own company, he sighed and got ready for work. After work, Sun He scolded himself thinking that he should have listened to his gut feeling. Work was unpleasant. It all started when Sun He's computer for some reason shut down while he still had not saved the design that he had spent over two hours working on. Sun He had panicked and had called the IT Department and no one had answered. He directly went to the second floor of the company where the IT department was located and he was told that everyone was out on lunch. He had to wait an hour before someone was finally able to help him. Fortunately, he was able to recover some of the work that he had done. However, due to his mistake, he had to stay late to ensure all of his work was completed, therefore missing his bus.
Sun He looked at the dark sky and felt the urge to scream. He considered waiting an hour for the next bus before he tearfully ordered a taxi. It was 8 p.m. when he arrived to his community. He dragged his tired body home and barely ate two bites of food before remembering he had promised Tang Jing to go out with him tonight. When Tang Jing and Cao Zhiqiang came to pick him up, Sun He was still standing under the showerhead contemplating if he should go out. He thought about his eye, which had been twitching all day, and about his horrible day at work and he decided that he should just stay home. However, Sun He forgot to take into consideration how desperate Tang Jing was to experience the "party" life for one last time. According to Tang Jing, he had to go out tonight. This night would be his last hurrah before he enters the grave. Sun He was confused until he saw the ring on Tang Jing's finger. Sun He congratulated both Tang Jing and Cao Zhiqiang and inquired about their plans. Tang Jing said that they would be getting the certificate first before considering a date for their wedding. Tang Jing had tried to guilt-trip Sun He into going out with them, but Sun He had ignored his wails. It was only when Cao Zhiqiang had finally took pity on Tang Jing and persuaded him to go, did he finally agree.
Tonight seemed to be Tang Jing's lucky night. The club, which was located in the heart of City S, was having a themed dance party. Looking at the flashing disco lights and the grinding bodies on the dance floor, Sun He marveled at his surroundings. The club was separated into two different areas. One area contained the dance floor. This area was more lively. The walls were painted black, and hanging on some of the walls were screens that displayed various different dancers. In the center of the dance floor was a raised platform where the DJ was playing. Various male dancers whose figures were displayed on the hanging screens encircled the DJ. Colorful lights were flashing to the sound of the music, and smoke filled the dance floor blurring the dancing guests. Overlooking the dance floor, were the bar and several chairs and tables, which were full with people. Everything felt magical to Sun He whose heart started racing. The lively atmosphere made him want to join the dancing bodies. The other area was full of private boxes. Cao Zhiqiang ordered a private box and Sun He was surprised at the soundproofing as he could barely hear the vibrant music outside. Tang Jing was as, if not more, excited than Sun He.
"I have to go out there." Tang Jing exclaimed clinging to Cao Zhiqiang. Cao Zhiqiang chuckled, amused. He looked towards Sun He. "Do you want to go dance too?"
Sun He hesitated before nodding. Tang Jing grabbed Sun He's hands and jumped up and down excitedly. Sun He smiled and patted his head. Cao Zhiqiang looked at their interaction, an amused smiled stuck on his face. "Alright, we can go out, but first, phones out. Make sure they are somewhere that is easily accessible but where they are not going to easily fall. Put them on vibrate and if we ever get separated, you guys need to meet back here within twenty minutes."
Sun He and Tang Jing rolled their eyes before following Cao Zhiqiang's instructions. Sun He followed Tang Jing and Cao Zhiqiang to the bar and ordered himself a drink. He looked around while waiting for his friends. Tang Jing grabbed his arms and shouted in his ears about how attractive the dancers looked. They both sighed thinking about their lack of a six-pack ignoring Cao Zhiqiang's frowning figure. Tang Jing pulled Sun He towards the dance floor and they started dancing to the beat of the music. Sun He felt free. Free from worries. Free from fears. Free from regrets. His mind felt liberated. Sun He did not know how long he danced for before he started feeling thirsty. He spotted Tang Jing who was grinding against Cao Zhiqiang and yelled at them that he was going to get a drink. He refused Tang Jing's offer to accompany him before heading to the bar.
Sun He thought that it would be easy to get back to his friends, which is why he had refused Tang Jing's offer. However, looking at all the people dancing below, Sun He realized his mistake. He thought about Cao Zhiqiang's instructions and headed towards their private box. Sun He hesitated in front of the box wondering if he had the right one. He sighed and pushed the door open. He stopped in his steps and could feel himself starting to hyperventilate. He needed to get out of here. Sun He ignored the calls of his name behind him and headed outside the bar. He hid himself in an alley next to the bar and shakily reached out for his phone texting Tang Jing and Cao Zhiqiang letting them know he was heading home.
Sun He did not know how he got home. He did not even bother undressing before lying down on his bed and burrowing himself under his quilt. He only realized he was crying when he felt tears hitting his hand. Sun He stared at his tears in disbelief before he mockingly sneered at himself. He thought he had gotten over Fang Cai, but the image of Fang Cai and a man he did not know half naked in that box recovered his memories of that night two years ago when he found Fang Cai in their apartment with his secretary.
Sun He was confused as to why he was reacting this way. As to why he was crying. He was mad at himself that he could still let Fang Cai affect his emotions like that. He was mad that he could still break down two years later because of the same man. His friends were probably worried about him but he still could not get himself to answer his vibrating phone. He just wanted to be alone. Alone like he deserved to be.
Tang Jing opened Sun He's apartment door frantically. He did not even bother to take his shoes off before he ran to Sun He's room. He sighed, relieved, at the lump on Sun He's bed. He took his shoes off and lifted the quilt joining Sun He underneath the quilt. Sun He looked pale and he was silently crying. Tang Jing pushed himself closer and hugged him feeling Sun He's tears hitting his shoulder. Tang Jing knew that Sun He would not want to talk about whatever happened tonight that made him react this way, so he did not say anything. Tang Jing felt the bed sink behind him. Cao Zhiqiang hugged them both and rubbed Sun He's head whispering to him how it was all going to be okay and that he and Tang Jing would always be here for Sun He. Cao Zhiqiang's words made Sun He cry even more and Sun He hugged Tang Jing tighter.
Cao Zhiqiang looked down at the two sleeping bodies next to him before he got off the bed. He grabbed Sun He's vibrating phone and saw all the missed calls from Gu Liwei. He left the room quietly, not wanting to wake Tang Jing and Sun He up. He answered the phone and a worried voice gushed out of the receiver. "Sun He, are you okay?" Gu Liwei asked his hands clenched by his side. He had texted Sun He and called him several times with no answer. Gu Liwei even considered taking an earlier flight back if Sun He did not answer him within the next two hours.
"This is Cao Zhiqiang. Sun He is currently sleeping." Cao Zhiqiang said staring at the bedroom door. Gu Liwei. Cao Zhiqiang had heard a lot about him from Tang Jing. He knew from Tang Jing that Gu Liwei was chasing Sun He, and according to Tang Jing, he had a feeling that Gu Liwei and Sun He would be together soon. Cao Zhiqiang hesitated before continuing, "Something happened tonight but Sun He is safe." Gu Liwei's heart dropped and his fingers tightened even more on his phone. "Gu Liwei, I have heard a lot about you. Sun He has been hurt too much in the last few years, and he cannot handle another heartbreak. If you are just playing, it is better to let him know now before he gets in too deep."
Gu Liwei frowned. "I am serious about him."
"I hope you are." Cao Zhiqiang sighed rubbing his eyebrows. "We are not sure what happened tonight, but I have a feeling it probably had something to do with his ex. Sun He will definitely push you away after this, but if you really care about him, you need to be patient with him. Believe me, he is trying."
Cao Zhiqiang hung up the phone and he wondered if he had said too much. Usually he would not meddle in Sun He's relationships but… Thinking about how bad Sun He was two years ago, Cao Zhiqiang sighed. He really hoped Gu Liwei was here to stay.
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Sun He woke up to the smell of food. He headed to the kitchen and Cao Zhiqiang was cooking wearing his apron while Tang Jing was hugging him from behind. Sun He felt a pang in his chest and for the first time he envied Tang Jing's luck. Sun He slowly inhaled trying to ignore his painful heart before greeting them. Tang Jing turned around and jumped in Sun He's arms. "Good morning, sunshine."
Sun He chuckled and hugged him back reveling in Tang Jing's warmth. Cao Zhiqiang and Tang Jing ate with Sun He and they all tacitly agreed to not mention last night. Sun He felt sweet in his heart. He felt lucky to have such great friends. When Sun He was alone, the smile on his face disappeared. He looked at his phone and stared at all the missed calls and text messages from Gu Liwei. Sun He opened his last message that announced Gu Liwei's return to the country. Gu Liwei asked him if it was okay for him to come over tonight. Sun He stared at the message for the longest time. He hesitated before agreeing. Gu Liwei replied to him instantly that he would be coming over after his business meeting. Sun He agreed and looked around his empty apartment. It reminded him of how alone he really was. Sun He suddenly wanted to leave.
Sun He walked around with no goal in mind. He looked at his surroundings. The city was lively. The street was bustling with cars and people. The surrounding noise made Sun He feel peaceful. The noise reminded him that he was alive. He was not alone. Sun He exhaled. Sun He still could not trick himself in believing that feeling less alone would cure his unceasing loneliness.
Sun He smiled tiredly at the coffee shop across from him. The elegant signed made him feel warm. Happiness in a cup. Sun He thought of Gu Liwei and their past interactions and for the first time this morning, a genuine smile appeared on his face. He crossed the street wanting to grab a cup of tea, however the sight in the window before him made him stop.
Sun He had always heard that bad things happened in threes. However looking at Gu Liwei hugging a beautiful woman inside the coffee shop, Sun He cursed the person that ever came up with that saying. Bad things happen in four, in fives and more. At least in Sun He's life, once something goes wrong once, everything will go wrong. Sun He stared at Gu Liwei's smile and at the blushing cheeks of his partner and decided that the emptiness of his apartment was really not that scary.