Chapter Text
"What the fuck?!"
Jinshi flinched despite himself. He'd fully expected a negative reaction but was still unprepared for the force of it. Basen wasn't one to swear, his mother's strict parenting had seen to that.
He evaded his friend's glare, studying his shoes.
"When did this happen?" Basen pressed through clenched teeth. Jinshi winced, he had hoped his friend wouldn't ask that particular question.
"Last...Tuesday...," was his meek reply, pursed lips pressed into a line.
There was an awful crunching noise as Basen punched the wall. Luckily, it held. Cringing, Jinshi closed his eyes.
Basen's breath was labored, although Jinshi couldn't say whether it was from the pain his fist must be in or his anger. Knowing Basen's freak strength, it was most likely the latter.
"Let me get this straight." Oh, his friend was seething. "Someone tried to poison you last Tuesday, and you didn't tell me until just now? Six days later? Are you fucking kidding me? Jinshi, look at me!"
Resigning himself to his fate, Jinshi opened his eyes and faced his friend.
"It's not that big of a deal," he tried, despite knowing it would fall on deaf ears. And indeed, Basen's face only grew redder, the clench in his jaw more pronounced.
"Are you fuc-" He stopped himself, exhaling loudly and turning away with a hand pinching his nose in frustration. "I can't even stand to look at you right now," he muttered beneath his breath.
Jinshi hung his head. He had kept avoiding this talk, but was now reaping the reward for his procrastination.
"You're right, Basen. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I should have."
"Damn right you should've told me! You know I'm your best friend, but I also have an obligation to your parents! I need to know when something like this happens, so I can protect-"
Now it was Jinshi's turn to interrupt. "No, Basen! You know I don't see it like that! You are my friend. My best friend, not an employee. You know I see us as equals."
Basen's body relaxed slightly, shoulders softening at his imploring voice.
"Well then, put yourself in my shoes. Wouldn't you want to know if I was in danger so you could protect me?" He turned to face Jinshi again. "As my best friend?"
Jinshi wilted at the earnest question.
"Of course I would. I'm really sorry that I didn't tell you. I kept putting it off, because -" He paused.
"... because you don't want me to tell your parents." Basen supplied. Jinshi nodded.
"Jinshi. We absolutely have to tell your parents! There's no way around it."
"No!" Jinshi could hear the panic in his own voice. "They're going to completely blow this out of proportion!"
"Out of proportion?!" Basen repeated incredulously. "This wasn't some catcalls in a student council meeting or an inappropriate touch at a party. Someone attempted to drug you, for heaven's sake! You have to take this seriously."
"Basen, please! They'll make me drop out, or assign me a ridiculous security detail. No one will treat me like a normal person then!"
"You already don't get treated like a normal person, Jinshi. Tell me you know that!"
Ouch. "I'm well aware," he replied tonelessly.
"But that's because of my looks. Not because of who my parents are."
His bitterness only increased with the look of pity Basen threw him.
"You are your parents' son, whether you like it or not. If you are right about their reaction, they would not be unjustified for that. I know you want to live as normally as you can, but you are in danger. If you don't tell them, I will. If anything happened to you and I didn't tell them, my parents would lose their jobs."
"I would never let that happen!"
Basen's parents were a pillar of reliability in Jinshi's life, he would not let them suffer for him.
"Last time I checked, your father was their employer, not you. And he takes your wellbeing fairly seriously." There was an unusual bite in Basen's voice that told Jinshi he'd worn out his patience. But he couldn't let it go just yet.
"Basen, I beg you, if our friendship means anything to you, don't tell them! I was reckless before. I left my drink unattended. I swear to you, I'll be more careful from now on. I'll even share my location with you. Just - please!"
Basen looked up at the ceiling. Jinshi clenched and unclenched his fists in trepidation as he watched his friend war himself.
Finally, Basen faced him again.
"You will share your location with me at all times." A weight lifted from Jinshi's shoulders. His top knot swayed from the force of his nodding.
"You will not leave your food or drink unattended. Actually--" Basen glared at him. "You will only make your own food or take it from people you absolutely trust. No ordering in, do you hear me?"
That felt over the top, but if this was what Basen needed, Jinshi would play ball. He nodded again vigorously.
Basen mirrored the gesture, more to himself before he thought of something else.
"Oh and absolutely no more procuring of medicinal ingredients for that girl!"
He narrowed his eyes dangerously at the way Jinshi's face fell.
Jinshi hurried to concede.
"Yes, understood. Thank you, Basen, you're the best."
Basen still seemed doubtful. Jinshi took out his phone to turn on location sharing, but against his hopes the gesture did little to appease his friend.
---
The library was pleasantly silent as Jinshi slowly became aware of his surroundings again. He'd been deeply focused for the past two hours and had managed to finish the first draft of a paper that was due in four days. Now he only needed to proofread and correct it. He was quite satisfied with his time management although his shoulders felt terribly stiff for it.
Surpressing a groan, he threw up his arms.
There was an audible crack as he stretched his neck and he sighed contentedly.
As he lowered his arms, he caught a dark look from the next table over. Blue eyes glared daggers at him. His heart sped up immediately. It was his apothecary, undoubtedly miffed that he had dared to make a sound in this quiet study environment.
It must be his lucky day, Jinshi jubilated inwardly. He hadn't frequented the library as a place to study for a while, usually opting for his student council office instead but as Basen had advised him to stick to more public places, here he was. And it had paid off right away. Jinshi made a mental note to bring Basen his favorite soda next time he saw him.
For now, he would enjoy this lucky coincidence. Suppressing a skip, he made his way over to the scrawny woman who watched him approach with barely concealed doom on her face. Jinshi couldn't get over it. No matter how often he saw her look at him like he was just a fleck of dirt on her shoes, it never seized to amaze him. Just because it was so refreshing, so different from the reactions he was used to. (At least, that was what he told himself. If he was being more honest, her disgusted face had popped up more than once in his mind in more private bedroom moments, but that was nobody's business but his own and surely didn't have any larger meaning concerning his preferences.)
"Fancy seeing you here, apothecary," he simpered as soon as he reached her. For a moment, her gaze flitted around like a nervous prey animal before settling back on him in resignation.
"President Jinshi."
She really didn't give him much to work with but Jinshi was used to that by now. And still determined to win her over.
"How is your study session going?" He asked with just the slightest sparkle.
"It's not, right now, thanks to you," she deadpanned. "You know we're not supposed to talk in the library, right?"
The reply was cold and obviously quite annoyed but Jinshi couldn't help himself. He allowed his real amusement to show on his face, grinning cheekily. "I think that was the most direct reprimand I've ever gotten from you. Are you perchance warming up to me?"
Her eyebrows betrayed a miniscule amount of surprise as she studied his smile, before she hid her expression with a deferential head bow. "You are right, please excuse me, President Jinshi. Now, if you would let me return to my studies before you cause a scene with that face of yours..."
"Oh?" Feeling devious, he scooted closer to her, leaning down to where she was still avoiding his eyes. "Whats wrong with my face?"
"Nothing, that's exactly the problem," she muttered. Was that a tinge of red at the top of her ears? Jinshi couldn't be sure. Still, his cheeks hurt from smiling so widely.
He resisted to urge to scooch closer still and removed himself from her personal space.
Still, he couldn't let it rest just yet. He studied his (immaculate) nails to seem more casual. "So you think I'm attractive, apothecary? I'm flattered."
There was a squeal from the next table over, presumably from a girl who had caught a glimpse of his smiling face. Whatever, Jinshi was used to it. His apothecary, however, glanced over for a moment. Although she didn't say it, her whole face screamed 'now look what you've done'.
"You know what you look like. What I think is irrelevant," she stated bluntly.
It really was ironic that she didn't see the hold she had on him. It was the first time Jinshi actually wanted to be seen as attractive and yet here they were. The one woman who seemed utterly unimpressed by him. So unimpressed in fact that she once again seemed eager to end their conversation.
"Now if you'll excu-"
"Wait!" It came out louder than he had planned and she glared at him again. He took extra care to lower his voice as he continued. "I still have the ingredient for you. The Indian snakeroot. When can I give it to you?"
Jinshi wasn't sure how, but in the blink of an eye she was on his level, shaking him lightly by the lapels of his jacket, eyes completely glossed over.
"Yes! I want it! Give it! When can I have it? Reserpine, reserpine..."
She seemed lost to the world. She was a sight to behold, cheeks dusted pink, her eyes wide and glossy with pupils dilated to the maximum. Jinshi was once again dumbstruck by the sight. Would he ever tire of it? Probably not. He allowed himself to watch her rapture for a few more moments before he shook himself out of it.
Glancing down, he realized that she had actually jumped on the table in her excitement.
Now who's causing a scene? Jinshi snickered to himself, before he gently coaxed her back down. She followed his direction docilly.
"I can come by your work tomorrow if you wish? You have the late shift, right?"
Was it creepy that he knew her work schedule? He didn't pursue the thought.
"Yes! Absolutely. Come by tomorrow to give me my gift. Yes. Reserpine, Reserpine..."
She started humming to herself again, still caught in her blissful state.
Jinshi allowed himself one final weakness. She would probably forgive him. If she even remembered it later. With a swift movement, he patted her head. She didn't even seem to notice.
"See you tomorrow then, apothecary."
It was probably good that no one was close enough to hear how tender it sounded. He didn't bother to wait for an answer. There wouldn't be one anyways.
----
"They settled on a Flamingo?" Basen, ever unaware of his own strength, flung the ball across the room with much more force than strictly necessary. Jinshi picked it out of the air easily. "Wasn't one of the reasons they originally wanted to change the mascot that it would be more fearsome and respectable in sports competitions?"
"Yes, well," Jinshi threw the ball back casually. "Apparently, we have a community of bird enthusiasts among the student body. Or maybe they were trolls, who knows. Either way, the vote favored the flamingo majorly."
"Huh." Basen said, as his throw missed the lamp next to Jinshi narrowly.
"Yeah," Jinshi agreed, stepping away from the wobbling lamp, ball in hand.
Then he grinned. "Check this out! Trick shot!"
He had just thrown the ball from behind his back when the hair on the back of his neck suddenly stood up and he felt a dark presence looming. He swallowed drily before he turned.
"...Taomei, how lovely to see you," he greeted with an appropriate amount of sparkle. "It's been too long!"
Basen's fearsome mom barely spared him a glance and a nod before she took off her slipper and flung it at her son.
"Basen! How many times have I told you not to throw that ball around inside. Are you twelve? If you want to play catch with Master Zuigetsu, you can do so OUTSIDE! Where there is no expensive furniture! You don't get to throw things under my roof, do you hear me?"
"Mom! You literally just threw your slipper at me, how is that -" Basen's retort was silenced by one stern look.
"Yes ma'am," he said instead. Jinshi felt the need to come to his defense. He'd been playing too after all.
"Well, aren't you always a lively bunch," came a voice from the door.
Startled, Jinshi turned to see a young brunette woman in the doorway. She politely made room as Taomei stormed past.
"Who... Are you?" Jinshi asked.
"I'm Chue , but you can call me Miss Chue," the woman chirped merrily.
"What, why would I -?" He interrupted himself when he caught Basen shaking his head with an expression that said 'it's just not worth it'.
"Wait, you seem familiar." He rubbed his chin, trying to remember where he'd seen the woman before.
She suddenly had a piece of cake in hand that she munched on happily as she observed him.
"Jinshi, this is my brother's girlfriend, Chue. Chue, this is my best friend Jinshi."
"Baryo... Has a girlfriend? Your brother? Wait. Do you mean Maamei?"
That would make more sense, surely.
"Nope, she's Baryo's girlfriend, but I see where you're coming from." Basen made to toss the ball again but then seemed to think better of it and put it down instead.
"I am Miss Chue, at your service," the woman repeated happily. Where had he seen her before?
"Wait, you had pink hair!" Jinshi remembered suddenly. "It was right here! At the party!"
"Ding ding ding, we have a winner!" Chue - Miss Chue rang a bell she had pulled out from nowhere.
"You're the apothecary's friend!"
"Apothecary, huh?" Miss Chue grinned. "That works. Friend and roommate, actually."
With a frown, Jinshi thought back to when he had escorted Maomao back to her home after she'd self-administered Jinshi's drink.
"Do you have a third roommate?"
"No." The woman volunteered no more information, popping a piece of chocolate into her mouth.
"But - you looked so different when I brought Maomao home."
"Did I?" Chue was licking her fingers.
Jinshi sent Basen a helpless look but he just shrugged.
Okay, so apparently, Maomao's friend was a known eccentric.
Jinshi resigned to just work with it.
He cleared his throat. "So anyway, the flamingo -"
"Don't you have a gift for Maomao?" Chue interrupted brightly. "She wouldn't shut up about it. And by that I mean she mentioned it twice."
Apparently they were not going to continue their earlier conversation. Whatever, Jinshi was adaptable.
"It's a gift alright. She better be grateful with how much trouble we went through to get it," Basen muttered moodily.
Jinshi frowned at the jab. "It really wasn't that bad," he said. "But yeah, I have it right here, actually. I'm heading over to her work to finally give it to her in a bit."
"Great, I'll tag along! I've been dying for a chocolate mint cupcake. And I'm a little hungry anyways."
Miss Chue's enthusiasm left no room for an argument.
Jinshi looked over to Basen for help but the man had picked up his mother's slipper, plopped down on his bed, and was muttering something about fairness. Jinshi was on his own.
He looked back to the door only to realize that Chue was not there anymore.
"Basen. What was - Baryo - how was - what?" He failed to put his bafflement into words.
"I've given up wondering." Basen did seem completely accustomed to his brother's girlfriend.
Before Jinshi could dive any deeper, Chue stuck her head through the door again. She'd put on a hat, scarf and coat.
"Are you coming, president?"
"Am I -? Yeah. Yeah, I'm coming."
---
Thyme & lime café was at a comfortable walking distance from Basen's house. Jinshi, who hadn't realized the proximity before, was glad for a chance to stretch his legs. Chue had taken off and skipped ahead as soon as they had left. He didn't mind not having to talk. It gave him the chance to imagine how his apothecary would react to the Indian snakeroot.
Surely, she would dance around again. Jump up and down, certainly. And her face would get that expression that somehow got Jinshi's blood pumping. It was cute, seeing her immense enthusiasm, but it also bore an almost sensual quality that she was completely oblivious to. She would probably object point-blank and change the topic if he ever told her how pretty she looked like that.
He was looking forward to seeing her in that state. And even more so because he would be the one to induce it. Maybe she would hug him. He wouldn't force it, obviously, but maybe she'd - Ah, he had to stop this line of thinking. His infatuation with the woman bordered on obsession by now, he could admit that to himself privately. But on the surface he tried to keep it under wraps. After all, there was very little chance that his feelings were reciprocated and, as he was painfully aware, associating with him put people in danger as well. So he would keep their interactions light and teasing, just as he had, so no one would think to look into it further.
Not today, though. Today he would give her her reward and then bask in her happiness. And if she wanted to hug him- Well. He would savor that.
He'd arrived at the Café. Surprisingly, Chue was waiting for him by the door.
"There's an open booth over there," she pointed out and led the way, flitting through the furniture like a little bird between trees.
What an unusual person. Jinshi followed her with his eyes for a moment before checking the counter. It was unmanned at the moment, and void of any waiting customers. The café was fairly empty in general, a fact that Jinshi realized with some satisfaction. He preferred it when he could pretend that this was his personal secret space.
As he made his way to the booth Chue had chosen, the woman in question deposited her bag on the bench and then weaseled over to the counter.
"Miss Maomao, Miss Maomao!" She shouted, completely unabashed. Miss Maomao? Before he could wonder at the chosen form of address, the apothecary appeared in the door to the back room. With some surprise, Jinshi saw that she was smiling.
"Miss Chue, Miss Chue," she answered her friend's call drily. "What are you doing here? I thought you were at Baryo's today."
"Oh, I was! But then I was dying for a chocolate mint cupcake." She beamed at Maomao who was already reaching for a brown cupcake on display.
Chue took a large bite as soon as she was handed her treat. Maomao hadn't even bothered giving her a plate, apparently used to the rapid way her friend could make food disappear.
Then, Chue remembered him. Through bits of food, she garbled: "Oh and I wanted to watch him do his mating dance."
She motioned in his direction, entirely shameless.
Jinshi's chin dropped. With a few steps, he made his way to the counter. "Mating - what - no! I was -," he sputtered. What was it with these women that made him lose his composure like that? His cheeks had warmed considerably. "I don't do... - that," he finished weakly.
"Careful, Chue, you'll give him an aneurysm." The apothecary commented mercilessly. She had made no acknowledgement of his presence when Chue had motioned to him and was now looking at him blankly. Jinshi shivered.
Suddenly, however, she seemed to recall why he was there.
Over the past weeks he had gotten used to how fast she moved when it came to medical ingredients, so he wasn't quite as surprised anymore when she was suddenly in front of him, wagging her metaphorical tail like a puppy.
"Did you bring it? The Indian snakeroot? Can I have it now?" She implored him.
This was the moment he'd been waiting for. He briefly considered teasing her by holding it out of her reach for a minute, but then he decided against it. He pulled the paper bag out of his bag. With the speed of light she grabbed it from his hands.
Immediately, she sped into the back room.
"Xiaolan! Xiaolan! Please, is it okay if I leave early today? Please I'll owe you one! Big time! I need to go extract some reserpine!"
Though Jinshi couldn't hear it, the answer seemed to be affirmative, as the short apothecary zoomed past Jinshi, laughing maniacally, treasure clutched in her arms, straight out the door.
Jinshi stood shell-shocked. She had just. Left.
A loud snort to his right shook him out of his shock. Chue was laughing hysterically. At him, no doubt.
"Totally worth coming here for," she wheezed, before flicking up the last piece of her cupcake and catching it with her mouth.
"See you around, Mister President."
And with that, she dusted the crumbs off her hands and took off.
---