Xiao Hui was already at the club when Li Yunxi showed up at the club. He seemed worried about something so his smile was no longer in display - only furrowed eyebrows and lips pressed together forming a thin line. He however cheered up a bit when he saw his friend walking towards the counter smiling.
Li Yunxi has never smiled that way before.
Here he was worried about him but the guy looked like he had just landed from paradise.
"Hey where were you? I thought something happened."
"Sorry my phone died."
"Were you at the hospital this whole time?"
"No I just met an old friend and we had a lot to catch up,"he lied hoping to convince his friend who was already suspicious of his happiness. Xiao Hui wasn't stupid enough to think that walking out of a hospice would make his friend smile like a fool. Unless he had fallen in love with a young nurse or a young patient during his visits to the hospital.
"Looks like that old friend left a good impression on you,"Xiao Hui remarked sarcastically.
Li Yunxi went ahead and changed into work outfit before joining his friend at the counter.
"How's your mother?"
"She's fairing well."
"Good to know."
Xiao Hui was trying every possible way to fish out some information on the events about his friend's day but Li Yunxi wasn't yielding to any of his tricks.
*****
On the other hand,the nephew and uncle duo passed by different shops till Gu Shan found something worth giving his uncle as a gift. It was an expensive designer watch that just entered the market recently. To him it was like buying a mascot or any other cheap thing.
"You didn't have to buy me such an expensive gift,"Ai Jia said feeling touched as Gu Shan fixed the newly bought watch on his wrist.
"Are you returning to the hospital?"
"I already called Doctor Lu. He'll cover for me and I will take over from tomorrow."
"Then let's go for a movie night and watch one of your favorite classic 80s movies,"Gu Shan suggested.
"That's my favourite nephew there,"Ai Jia grinned pinching Gu Shan's cheeks.
"I'm a grown up what are you doing?"Gu Shan jerked away from his uncle rubbing his cheeks.
"Do you still hate people touching you? What about that girlfriend you told me about? Don't you get intimate with her?"Ai Jia teased him.
Gu Shan's expression suddenly changed. He hadn't told his uncle about his breakup and he was hoping he wouldn't bring it up.
"We broke up,"Gu Shan suddenly revealed.
"Why?"
"We fell out of love,"he lied.
"Yeah it happens. Are you okay now?"
"I'm very okay I've always been okay,"Gu Shan said forcing a smile."Come on let's go we'll be late for the movie."
*****
It was almost midnight when they left the cinema. Gu Shan was worn out and he decided to sleep at his uncle's apartment and maybe return the following day to his apartment. When his uncle left for the hospital in the morning,he also left after freshening up. He took a taxi and in half an hour he was already back to his apartment.
Coincidentally Xiao Hui and Li Yunxi were also coming back from work. They caught up with him while he was struggling with the stairs. He stepped aside to allow them to proceed given that they looked exhausted and probably dehydrated.
"Yunxi..."Gu Shan began hesitantly moistening his lips nervously. He felt a strange taste in his mouth calling out the name.
Xiao Hui and Li Yunxi who had just walked past him turned around looking at him in surprise.
"Yes?"Li Yunxi responded still surprised.
Gu Shan looked away still summoning courage to talk to him.
"I would like to tell you something,"he finally said.
"You go ahead and talk ,"Xiao Hui said and turned on his heel to leave.
"What do you want to tell me?"Li Yunxi asked as the sound of Xiao Hui's receding footsteps became barely audible.
As much as Gu Shan looked down on him,Li Yunxi found himself unable to detest him back. His sleepy eyes still gazed with warmth as he looked at the boy with anticipation.
"My uncle said really appreciates that you joined us to celebrate his birthday. He also wanted to know if you arrived safely,"Gu Shan spoke biting his lower lip nervously.
"Thanks for the concern I really am fine."
"Good to know then."
They walked upstairs with Gu Shan maintaining a slight distance between them. Li Yunxi smiled under his breath at the boy's little concern. The boy would have chosen not to deliver his uncle's message or concern but now that he did,it showed that the boy was also a little concerned about him.