Yitian couldn't believe that he agreed to it. Heck, he was a leech. Only profiting from his friendship with Chao. He felt so bad, right now he was unpacking the things they bought into their new apartment. It was near the campus of the university, high up on the 20th floor. A big apartment with three rooms, a kitchen, a living room, designed by a famous designer. And Chao brushed it off as if it was nothing. Yitian needed to find work as soon as possible, otherwise he would feel even worse.
"So, you are playing wifey?" Yixing came out of his room and shouted again. Yitian jerked and started to tremble. Chao came from behind Yixing and slapped his head.
"I told you to be calmer," Chao said and went behind the counter to calm down Yitian. He took his hand and squeezed it, as a sign he was there to help. This became an immediate help for Yitian, something like first-aid. His breathing slowly calmed down and trembling stopped. Yitian blinked and his eyes focused on Chao, he smiled softly and said the words of thanks, Then he peeked out from behind Chao to face Yixing.
"I'm so sorry. Bear with me I promise I will stop getting scared of you. Once I will get to know you better. It's just, you are the bullying type." Yitian smiled at him and Yixing forgot that he was pissed he had to be calmer. That smile lighted up the ever sad face of Yitian and both, Chao and Yixing, were stunned.
"It's okay, no worries. Take your time. You are right, I look like them. But no need to be scared of me." Yixing found himself saying these words and really meaning them. What surprised Chao the most. Yixing was a playboy, a rich spoiled child, not caring about anything but his drinks and girls. He chose the CS major as a revolt against his father. So this sudden act of kindness was something out of his character. Or at least out of the character he shows in public.
"Thank you," Yitian said and smiled again. Chao was glad to see his smile. He was smiling a lot more lately.
"Do you want our help?" he asked, looking at Yitian, who turned back to unpack the rest of the boxes. Chao made sure that they would have everything in this house. From the kitchen appliances to the best computers. He decided that Yitian had it bad so he deserved some spoiling now. But, Yitian destroyed his plans. He started tutoring and told Chao that he would at least pay for food expenses and cook. And he pestered him so long, that Chao agreed.
"No, it's okay. You can go and set up the computers," Yitian answered and Chao nodded. He took Yixing out of the kitchen corner to the living room and still watched Yitian work behind the counter. The tables for the computers have been placed in front of the big wall-sized windows with curtains, so when they felt like it, they could go and unfold the curtains. That way they would have an amazing view of the Hong Kong skyline. Chao turned on both computers and looked at Yixing sprawled on the couch.
"Get your lazy ass here and help me," he shouted at Yixing and threw a plastic wrapper at him. A few seconds later he realized that he shouted and worriedly looked Yitian's way. He was standing there looking at their exchange and smiling. He did not jerk at all, he wasn't afraid.
Yitian heard Chao's shouting, but he was sure that Chao would never harm him. Not after saving him two times. Not after taking care of him. And because they spent some time together for the past week, when Yitian was living at Chao's house. He knew a bit of personality Chao had. Kind person, that would do anything to help others. Yitian was guessing that it had something to do with the passing of his mom. But Chao did not tell him yet. He would wait until Chao would trust him enough to share his past. For now, he will be the one taking care of Chao.
All of them finished unpacking and because it wasn't that late yet Yitian and Chao decided to finally try out the game they wanted to try before. But when they turned on Chao's old laptop it caught on fire. And Chao said that he would start only with Yitian. Not alone.
"So, I'm going to go out, have some drinks and girls. Chao, are you coming?" Yixing asked when they finished dinner that Yitian cooked.
"Nah, go on alone. I promised Yitian to try out the game with him," Chao said, got up, and sat in the gaming chair. Yixing looked at him with disbelief. Before he was partying with him every day, dragging him from bar to bar, getting drunk. Now, he would rather play a game?
"Since your wifey showed up, you completely stopped drinking with me… why? I'm lonely…" Yixing said, pretending to be sad. But to Chao's surprise, Yixing was right. When Yitian appeared again, his nightmares stopped. Could it be that the feeling of uselessness stopped when he helped someone in need? It could be that.
Chao shot a shut-up look at Yixing who raised hands in surrender and went to drink alone. Yitian came from the kitchen, where he was doing dishes, and asked where Yixing was. 'Looks like he didn't hear he was called wifey… good.' Chao thought and laughed at the absurdity of that word.
"So…" he started the game, "which character do you want to be?" Yitian sat next to him and looked confused.
"What are the choices? You looked into it already?" It was Yitian's first time playing a PC game. He had a quick brief about it already, but not much.
"There are combat professions. Magician, healer, assassin, swordmaster, guardian, gunner, brawler, and summoner. Every profession has its cons and pros…" Chao talked and explained a lot. Yitian was soaking it in like a sponge.
"Okay, I will choose gunner. What about you." Yitian decided.
"Swordmaster." Was Chao's answer.