[After the bell over the door rings out, Xiao Xingchen hurries from around the corner to greet the customer, the light clatter of hard-soled shoes signaling his approach.]
Sorry! One moment, I'll be right there!
[He looks a bit busy yet pleased, the scent of pumpkin cake fresh from the oven clinging to his uniform. For a moment, he seems not troubled at all, even if all he's been doing is throwing himself into work to distract himself. Then the sight as he turns around the corner is like a sudden blow to his chest.
For a second, it's as if his friend has walked in, just like he used to always do before. Xiao Xingchen's wish for this to be... must have confused him so much that he even feels the same spark of happiness he used to have, though with a twist in his stomach. Eyes wide and mouth fallen open in undisguised shock, his lungs feel squeezed, unable to take in any air as everything he remembers comes back to him at once. His expression quickly darkens, a stifled, unresolved rage roiling in his eyes.
He catches himself, however, and follows that by turning on his heel, walking towards one of the booth seats with his back to Xue Yang. When he speaks, he keeps his jaw from clenching as he keeps his words light and measured.]
Welcome. Please, follow me.
[One of these days, Xue Yang was sure to walk in again, especially after that bizarre rambling during their last encounter. Xiao Xingchen just didn't expect his audacity in using that face. But why wouldn't he, now that Xiao Xingchen thinks about it? What better way to twist the knife and finally get him to cry out?
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Sorry! One moment, I'll be right there!
[He looks a bit busy yet pleased, the scent of pumpkin cake fresh from the oven clinging to his uniform. For a moment, he seems not troubled at all, even if all he's been doing is throwing himself into work to distract himself. Then the sight as he turns around the corner is like a sudden blow to his chest.
For a second, it's as if his friend has walked in, just like he used to always do before. Xiao Xingchen's wish for this to be... must have confused him so much that he even feels the same spark of happiness he used to have, though with a twist in his stomach. Eyes wide and mouth fallen open in undisguised shock, his lungs feel squeezed, unable to take in any air as everything he remembers comes back to him at once. His expression quickly darkens, a stifled, unresolved rage roiling in his eyes.
He catches himself, however, and follows that by turning on his heel, walking towards one of the booth seats with his back to Xue Yang. When he speaks, he keeps his jaw from clenching as he keeps his words light and measured.]
Welcome. Please, follow me.
[One of these days, Xue Yang was sure to walk in again, especially after that bizarre rambling during their last encounter. Xiao Xingchen just didn't expect his audacity in using that face. But why wouldn't he, now that Xiao Xingchen thinks about it? What better way to twist the knife and finally get him to cry out?
Xue Yang still won't get that from him.]