Liu Daxun hummed a tune while preparing breakfast for both of them. His face was bright painted with a slight smile while his hands moved in coordination as he carefully folded the omelette into half using a spatula. Overally,he had been in high spirits ever since he woke up. If it were other days before,he would have thrown himself on the couch to catch a breath after the morning run.
After preparing the morning meal and setting table he went to their shared bedroom to wake up his sleeping roommate. Gu Shan was still asleep,his lean figure buried under the quilt.
"ShanShan,wake up,"Liu Daxun shook him gently.
Gu Shan stirred awake a couple of minutes later and stretched to embrace another new day.
"What?"Gu Shan raised his eyebrows questionably raising his gaze to meet Liu Daxun's eyes.
"Breakfast is ready,"Liu Daxun replied gently.
"Okay,"Gu Shan said slowly uncovering himself and followed his friend out of the room.
"You seem to be in a good mood today,"Gu Shan pointed out.
"Well I'm going to see my aunt today,"Liu Daxun revealed excitedly.
"Why are you so obsessed with your aunt?"
"Because she's my favourite person," Liu Daxun smiled proudly.
"But you're literally obsessed with her,"Gu Shan insisted and chuckled afterwards.
"Well I don't think you'll ever understand since you've never been obsessed with anyone."
"I'd rather be obsessed with objects than people,"Gu Shan sassed and rolled his eyes.
Liu Daxun's aunt had managed to move to Beijing after her husband secured a job at one of the companies in Beijing.
His favourite aunt being just a few kilometers away made it easier for Liu Daxun to visit her whenever he felt like. There, he would have the chance to eat some delicious homemade food,watch TV dramas with his aunt and play with his little cousins.
"My relationship with my aunt is like the one between you and your uncle,"Liu Daxun began elaborating.
"But I don't talk about him every now and then,"Gu Shan snorted and laughed mockingly.
"Fine you're right I'm obsessed with her,"Liu Daxun conceded.
"Speaking of my aunt would you like to tag along so I can introduce you to her?"Liu Daxun proposed after a while of silence.
"I'm not ready to socialize yet. Maybe another time,"Gu Shan denied.
"I assure you she's a nice person and her kids are nice too,"Liu Daxun insisted fluttering his eyelashes at his friend and making cute faces to persuade him.
"You think you can convince me with that?"Gu Shan sighed before continuing,"Look,I have plans today that's why I can't tag along."
"Plans? With who? Professor Jiang's niece?"Liu Daxun teased.
"Not really. I'm going out to buy a few things I might need. As for Professor Jiang's niece there's nothing between us,"he clarified.
"Okay,"Liu Daxun said sounding disappointed.
*****
Now that Gu Shan sat alone in the kitchen that evening sipping his strawberry milk ,he felt a little lonely. Even the computer games which were always his major source of warmth and company , for some reason he was in the mood to play. He grabbed his cellphone which had been lying on the table and began scrolling aimlessly. His fingers itched to contact a certain number. After their little falling out at the gym,he and Li Yunxi hadn't talked to each other since then.
He felt Li Yunxi was angry with him for some reason.He wanted to maybe text him and apologize but at the same time his ego couldn't allow him to submit or stoop a bit lower. Well as he got busy weighing between the effects of disregarding his pride and the chances of his revenge plan succeeding if he stooped lower,his phone suddenly dinged catching his attention. It was a simple hey text from Li Yunxi. Feeling the sudden adrenaline surge in his body,he smiled victoriously and greeted back. Just that simple hey became the breakthrough in their conversation.
'I'm sorry for being a jerk to you yesterday. I didn't mean to yell at you. It's just that I have a lot going on so I accidentally lost it and you happened to be the victim.'
"He sounds quite remorseful,"Gu Shan thought and smirked.
'It's okay I understand. You're forgiven.'
'Thanks.'
Gu Shan replied with a thumbs up emoji and he unknowingly felt disappointed their conversation had come to a conclusion.
'What are you doing right now?' Li Yunxi texted.
'Just seated at the kitchen feeling bored.'
'Is Daxun not around?'
'He went to visit his aunt so I'm all alone.'
'I'm alone too. Xiao Hui went out on a date.'
'That's great for him. By the way I went shopping today,' Gu Shan stated subtly.
'What did you buy?'
'Many things.Vodka, lychee juice, rose water, some cocktail glasses and a shaker plus all the other ingredients you mentioned for cocktails.'
'You want to make some lychee martini?'
'Yes... If you don't mind you can come over so we can have a little cocktail night,' Gu Shan suggested.
'Cocktail night? Sounds great . I'll be there in a few minutes.'
Bingo! Another bonding session to strengthen their relationship.
As promised it didn't take long before Gu Shan heard a knock at the front door. With a smug smile,he immediately went to receive his guest. He opened the door wide and Li Yunxi's athletic figure came into view . The guy was dressed in grey sweatpants,a plain black T-shirt that embraced his well built chest. His hair was slightly tousled with a few strands falling over his forehead. Even with the simple outfit he look undeniably hot.
"Hi,"Li Yunxi smiled gently.
"Hi. Come in,"Gu Shan who had been staring at him finally averted his gaze out of embarrassment and stepped aside to let him in.
The two of them walked towards the kitchen .
"Seems like you can't wait to make the lychee martini,"Li Yunxi teased looking at all the ingredients that were displayed on the kitchen counter.
"Thought I should do that while I wait for you,"Gu Shan said casting his gaze downwards, biting his lip to suppress a shy smile.
"It's okay. It's good that you're ready,"Li Yunxi cooed at the other boy's shyness. He stretched out his hand and ruffled his hair playfully.
"Stop it I'm not a child,"Gu Shan whined and blushed.
"Okay sorry. Let's get to work,shall we?"Li Yunxi said in a serious tone.
Together they took turns to fill the cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Li Yunxi was busy placing ice cubes when a sharp hiss suddenly caught his attention and he instinctively turned around only to find Gu Shan spitting an ice cube.
"It's so cold ,"he complained.
Li Yunxi chuckled and shook his head in disbelief slightly stunned by the boy's actions. Every time they made cocktails,the boy would always engage in little naughty and slightly funny actions just to break the serious master disciple atmosphere surrounding them.
To the cocktail shaker,Li Yunxi poured vodka,lychee juice and dry vermouth and shook the mixture till it was chilled. He strained the cocktail into a chilled martini glass and garnished it with a lychee fruit on a cocktail pick. He then added a few drops of rose water to enhance the flavor.
"Take a sip,"Li Yunxi encouraged holding out the martini glass towards Gu Shan.
Gu Shan took the glass from Li Yunxi's hands and took a. sip.
"How is it?"Li Yunxi asked expectantly.
"It's sweet and fruity,"Gu Shan remarked and took a big sip," Let me try to make one on my own."
"Okay. Go ahead."
Li Yunxi sat at the dining table which was two to three meters away from the kitchen working place. He sat in a position where he could easily watch the boy's actions. Li Yunxi had to admit it. The boy looked even more beautiful when he was focused on handling the task.
"I made it!"Gu Shan exclaimed,"Come and have a taste,"he gestured Li Yunxi to come over.
Li Yunxi took and sip of the drink before looking down into the boy's doe eyes which were staring at him with anticipation.
"It tastes great. You just used a little too much vodka,"Li Yunxi remarked.
"Oh,"Gu Shan blurted out in disappointment.
"Don't be discouraged it tastes great,"Li Yunxi encouraged him.
"I'll make another one,"Gu Shan declared pouting his lips.
Gu Shan made several attempts before achieving his desired flavour. Li Yunxi had wanted to stop him by not pointing out any fault in the cocktails he made even the slight ones but the boy was stubborn and insisted he wanted an honest ,unbiased review. And finally he grasped the concept and was able to make a cocktail almost as flavorful as Li Yunxi's.
"By the way you said you bought many things. Can you show me?"Li Yunxi asked trying to lighten the mood.
"Oh yeah,"Gu Shan opened the fridge revealing different types of expensive drinks stocked in the fridge.
"That's a lot of drinks. You don't drink a lot. Why did you buy so many?"
"Most of them are for making cocktails and the rest maybe I can share with you guys,"he revealed.
"That's a good idea,"Li Yunxi grinned.