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“What are you doing?” Shuyang asks, walking into the room with a textbook in one hand and a popsicle in the other, dangerously close to dripping onto his expensive book and onto the floors Xinlong would go ballistic if were to become sticky.
“Packing an overnight bag for after Suren gets here,” Zihao says, methodically placing a change of clothes for the next day under some old clothes he used for sleeping. He mentally checks off 'clothes' from the list of things he has to pack. He walks past Shuyang so he can go to the bathroom. Shuyang makes a confused face and follows him.
“I thought you and Jiabao-ge were picking up Xue Suren for dinner here?” He asks, leaning against the threshold of the bathroom. “We even went grocery shopping.”
“We are. After dinner, I'm coming with him to his hotel room.” Zihao tries to brush Shuyang off by giving him short answers because he really doesn't want to elaborate on this.
“Why? Wouldn't it be easier for him to stay here?”
He walks past Shuyang (who keeps following him ) again, toiletries in hand and ready to be packed away. Mingrui peeks into the room as well.
“What's going on?” He asks Shuyang.
“Xue Suren is not staying with us, and neither is Qi-ge.”
“What? Why?”
“I don't know!” Shuyang looks back at Zihao. “Xue Suren is not from Beijing, right? If he stayed here, wouldn't it be easier for you two to go out together instead of you picking him up every day?”
“Is something the matter? I'm ready to go whenever he gets here.” Hanyu walks past both Mingrui and Shuyang and sits on Zihao's bed, right beside his bag. Zeyu appears behind Mingrui, placing his chin over his head in that half-loving, half-annoying way.
“Qi-ge and Xue Suren aren't staying with us,” Mingrui replies.
“What? I thought Xue Suren was having dinner with us?” Zeyu is confused.
"He is," Zihao says exasperatedly. "We'll have dinner here, then go to the hotel.”
"Why? I think we have enough room for him here." Hanyu replies.
"I think he told me something about staying here, too." Xinlong's voice suddenly pops out of nowhere, and oh my god why is EVERYONE here ?
"We had a change of plans, but don't worry, you'll still see him. God ." He finally finishes packing his bag.
"That just sounds impractical." Mingrui comments.
"Guys." Zeyu finally speaks up. "Of course Qi-ge is going to stay with Xue Suren…”
Zihao's blood goes cold because he can see the thoughts coming together in Zeyu's brain in real time; his smile grows wider and wider, and he starts laughing as he enters the room and playfully slaps Zihao's bicep.
"Qi-ge is…”
"Shut up!”
"Guys…”
"Yu Zeyu!" He attempts to put his hands over Zeyu's mouth, but he's just tall enough to be able to turn his face away.
"Qi-ge will stay with Xue Suren because he wants to get laid, and we'll cockblock him!”
"You're so fucking crass!” Zihao shrieks.
The room explodes in a mix of laughter and complaints, and you could've just said so, and Zihao feels like melting down into a puddle. He almost misses when his phone buzzes in his pocket, lighting up with a notification from Suren's chat that previews "landing in 10!".
"Shut up and let's go already, he's landing!" He tries not to blush as he just pulls Hanyu by the arm.
"Calm down, tiger! You'll have the whooole night." Shuyang chimes in from behind Zeyu.
"Shouldn't you stop by the drugstore...?" Mingrui adds vaguely as they move as a group on the way to the door, "You know, gotta guarantee you always practice safe sex…”
"Qi-ge is too good for drugstore condoms, I can bet money on him only using those expensive ones that come in a holographic box," Shuyang says.
"Can you shut up about my sex life!”
"Why are you so interested in Qiqi's condom choices..." Xinlong says exasperatedly.
"Because it says a lot about one's character!" Shuyang replies.
"Aren't you a virgin?" Zeyu asks.
"That's not the point!”
Zihao closes the door behind him, muffling the sounds of their arguing. He takes a deep breath and looks up at Hanyu and Xinlong.
"Not a word." He warns as he lifts one finger. Then he walks past them, even though he can see Xinlong is smiling under the mask and that Hanyu is holding back a laugh.
"Wasn't going to!" Hanyu lifts both hands as the two of them walk behind Zihao.
A beat of silence, and Xinlong finally speaks up.
"I mean, you could've just told us-”
"I'm going to kill you both!”