Between noise and nonsense
By the time Zane finally got home to his condo, his back was aching. They had spent so long at the restaurant. After the formalities of the business deal were handled, the conversation shifted to more casual topics—how everyone was doing, how they managed their daily lives, and even silly things like the little arguments couples have. Max, of course, couldn't help but insert himself into every conversation, laughing out loud even when nothing was particularly funny. Zane, on the other hand, just quietly ate his food and occasionally chuckled at the banter, preferring to keep to himself.
But expecting Max to sit quietly and eat like some sort of refined royalty? That was never going to happen. He seemed to be timing each minute he sat down before popping up from his chair. Sometimes, he'd wander over to another table, chatting with people like they were some old friends. Other times, he'd help the waitstaff with orders, even though no one needed help, and the plates weren't even heavy. Luckily, everyone knew Max was Mr. MacGregor's son, the wealthiest businessman in the country. Otherwise, his constant fidgeting and mingling might've been reported for invading personal space. The heir had an endless amount of energy, and it was hard to tell what he was going to do next.
"Luna," Zane called out as he walked into his condo, scanning for his calico cat. It had been a while since he'd seen her, and he hadn't left her with anyone or sent her off to a cat playpen. Luna was very much his cat—cool, aloof, and perfectly capable of getting her own food when she was hungry. Zane had invested in an automatic feeder, which was great for his independent feline. Now, Luna mostly took care of herself, leaving him only the task of refilling her treats and water.
"There you are," he said with a smile as he found Luna behind the curtain, curled up and sound asleep. Gently, he scooped her up and gave her a tender hug.
"I missed you. Sorry I haven't been around to play for the past week. I've been pretty swamped with work."
"Purrr~" Luna purred, nuzzling against his chest. She seemed to be content and had definitely missed his human.
Luna was the ideal companion. Zane felt incredibly fortunate to have her. He remembered finding her during a storm, trembling and scared. She reminded him of his younger self, struggling after losing his parents, and how Zheng had stepped in to support him.
"Have you eaten, Luna? Let's see your belly," his voice was soft and playful, as he gently turned her onto her side.
"Ayy, you're so full!" Zane laughed. "Looks like you've polished off all the treats I left out for the past three days."
" but It's okay because I love you," he assured, petting Luna's soft fur.
After finishing his meal, Zane made his way to his bedroom, where Luna always slept with him.
"Mhmnm~"
"Ahh~"
Zane froze, hand outstretched for his phone on the nightstand, when he heard a moan coming from the next room—Brando's room.
"Damn Brando. He's at it again," Zane muttered, rolling his eyes as he reached for the custom bunny noise-cancelling earphones he had bought for Luna. He placed them gently over her ears, not wanting her to be disturbed by the weird noises.
He then opened the large speaker brando gifted him a while ago, cranked up the volume, and began playing holy songs, starting with "Lead Me, Lord." He turned the volume up to max, hoping the sound of sacred music would bless and sanctify the entire apartment. He knew the loud music might bother his neighbors, but he figured they might appreciate the spiritual vibe. Felt it was a fitting response to his roommate's frequent disruptions.
"Look at this. I didn't even stalk this guy, but my IG feed is overflowing with Max MacGregor posts. And now Instagram's recommending I follow him. In his dreams," Zane grumbled, though curiosity got the better of him, and he started browsing Max's profile.
"He's got a ton of followers," he noted, seeing Max's impressive 2.4 million followers and the massive likes on each post.
"What the heck? If you're going to post, at least make it a decent picture, " Zane commented. " Or Maybe this is the best one he has in his gallery," feeling a bit insulted by the low quality of the photos.
What's even the point of Max's Instagram posts? Almost none of them seem serious. Sure, there are a few decent shots, but most of them are just nonsense. His latest post was from a mini photoshoot with a Spiderman theme.
In the post, Maximus was hanging upside down like Spiderman, his middle and ring fingers bent while the rest were spread out, striking the classic Spidey pose. Though his face was hidden behind a mask, you could almost see him grinning. What made the photo hilarious was his other hand holding a wide head—mostly bald, with just a bit of hair.
It was Mr. Dom, and the shot was taken by none other than Anton, the butler.
"The heir doesn't have anything better to do. His mind is full of nonsense, unlikely to take anything seriously," Zane muttered, chuckling at how ridiculous the young master looked. He continued scrolling through the posts, eager to see what else the Max had shared.
He came across a topless photo of Max, sitting confidently on a chair with a large smile, holding a glass of whiskey.
"Oh, now he's showing off. Big biceps but no abs," he commented, zooming in on the picture.
As the image expanded, it became clear that Max's physique was not just muscular arms but a full set of sculpted abs—almost divine in their perfection, if not for his unserious attitude The chef swallowed hard as he took in the sight.
"That's enough phone time," he chided himself, realizing he had been staring at Max's post for too long.
"Purrr~" Luna suddenly leapt from Zane's arms, causing him to fumble and drop his phone.
"Lunaaa" Zane quickly petted her to calm her down and retrieved his phone from the floor. Thankfully, she hadn't accidentally liked Max's thirst trap post.
As Zane reached for his phone, the bed is high making the chef have a hard time picking it up using his hand while the body is connected to the soft mattress, Luna jumped down and accidentally tapped the screen. Zane's eyes widened in horror as he realized what had happened.
"LUNA!!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing as he snatched up the phone and scrambled to unlike the post, desperately hoping the heir wouldn't notice. The post was still getting likes every minute. Still, the chef was terrified that the heir would see his accidental engagement.
He was oblivious to the fact that Anton, Maximus's ever-watchful butler, had been assigned to monitor his online activities by his master. Anton had a knack for detail, his keen eyes constantly scanning the digital landscape for any hint of connection between Zane and Maximus. He knew that Zane had been a little too focused on his culinary duties lately, so when the young chef's profile lit up with notifications, Anton's interest piqued.
While dusting the ornate shelves in Maximus's lavish study late at night, Anton took a break to check his phone. The soft glow of the screen illuminated the room, casting shadows across the rich wood and intricate decor. As he scrolled through social media, specifically to his employer's Instagram, he meticulously monitored the likes. He noticed that the striking image of Maximus, the heir, sitting comfortably on a chair, topless, had the highest number of likes so far. A glass of something colorful and inviting was perched casually in one hand, while he flashed a wide, carefree smile that seemed to beckon the viewer closer.
The caption was playful, teasing his followers about the joys of summer and indulging in life's simple pleasures. Anton's sharp gaze flicked to the likes and comments, and that's when he noticed it—Zane's name among the list of those who had reacted. The accidental like was a significant moment in Anton's eyes; it wasn't just a simple tap on a screen but a potential bridge between the two young men. He was certain it would lead to good news, and he planned to inform the heir tomorrow to brighten his day.
"Sorry I shouted. I shouldn't have done that," Zane said, soothing Luna, who had jumped at his outburst. He turned off the speaker that had been blaring, finally relieved when the constant moans and groaning sounds next room stop . He hadn't noticed that Brando had already left, likely drowned out by the loud music and Zane's focus on his phone.