Zimo walked slightly behind Gu Yuxuan, with the gentle breeze folding through their clothes. The humid air was filled with the smell of freshly cooked meals. Pedestrians passed them every now and then.
The charming streets brimmed with shops as they leisurely walked between them.
Zimo walked with his hands in his pants pockets, staring at Gu Yuxuan who was looking like the main character he indeed was.
They reached Gu'ai square. Standing in the middle of hundreds of stores. LED lights flickered the names of the stores and a flashlight was triggered every time a picture was taken.
Gu Yuxuan suddenly stopped as his eyes glazed around the whole place. Bringing the feeling of nostalgia into his veins.
"How does this place make you feel?" He asked.
Zimo thought for a moment and finally said, "There's a lot of people here but somehow it's so peaceful."
"I'm glad you feel that way."
"What do you mean?" Zimo asked.
"This is exactly the feeling I wanted to create." Gu Yuxuan said.
"You mean… this place belongs to you?"
Gu Yuxuan inhaled deeply. Feeling how the air filled his lungs and then he slowly released it. "Not anymore." He said softly, that you can even hear a tint of… sadness?
"You don't seem happy about it." Zimo said. "Why doesn't it belong to you anymore?"
Gu Yuxuan smiled. "Do you think I can get it back?"
"After seeing how you do things, I think you can get anything you want."
"But to get it back requires me to destroy it first. Do you think it's worth it?"
Zimo looked at him, finally realising that Gu Yuxuan's intelligence exceeded whatever he might answer. That wasn't a question for him but a question for himself. He knew well what he was capable of. But a battle with himself required emotional courage. Fighting off the pros and cons but still, whatever he decided wouldn't bring a good outcome.
"Is this what they call a 'lose-lose situation'." Zimo muttered, feeling the ache that came with it.
Before long they drove back. The golden sky coloured by the sun's setting. The trees darkened in contrast between light and darkness.
Gu Yuxuan, this time sat in front. Quietly looking at the world before him. His silent presence next to Zimo didn't overwhelm any of them, instead it felt safe and comforting.
Zimo this time knew that he was out of character, doing something he had never done before and that was showing empathy, without Gu Yuxuan needing to explain anything.
He stopped in a parking lane and Gu Yuxuan looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"Stopping", Zimo said.
"Take me back to the hotel."
"I don't want to."
Gu Yuxuan tilted his head almost saying something but decided to just breathe.
They were surrounded by darkness, but their eyes slowly adjusted and before long they were able to see the outside.
"Tell me what's on your mind", Zimo said.
Gu Yuxuan looked at him like he was asking for money that he wasn't willing to give.
"Is it that hard to talk about your concerns? Then tell me about your beef with those five men."
"You're too nosy." Gu Yuxuan said.
"What do you consider nosy?" Zimo asked.
"Trying to poke your nose into my business"
Zimo leaned towards him, "Would you also consider it nosy if I said I like you."
Time froze.
Literal silence.
What sounded like drums getting hit, was the heartbeat of both men playing against each other.
Zimo smiled.
Gu Yuxuan…
"Since I have your real attention now. Will you tell me or not?" Zimo asked.
Gu Yuxuan without a second passing, stepped out of the car.
For a minute Zimo felt the need to take his words back but he idly got out of the car and walked over to Gu Yuxuan. Lost for words, he just said, "Let's go back".
Gu Yuxuan turned to him. "If I give you an opportunity to choose between getting rich or becoming intelligent, what will you choose?
"Becoming intelligent", Zimo answered.
"Wrong"
"Getting rich?" Zimo asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Wrong as well", Gu Yuxuan said.
"How can both be wrong?" He asked.
"Because I'm giving it to you."
"I don't understand", Zimo said.
"When you are given an opportunity, it'll become a burden."
"But if you decide to go after it yourself, it'll make you strong." Zimo completed his sentence.
"Right"
Gu Yuxuan walked closer to him. "I just felt like I had to tell you that. And it actually has nothing to do with our earlier conversation. Stop liking me." He said and walked to the car.
A big smile curved on Zimo's lips. He looked at Gu Yuxuan in the car as if he was just allowed permission to look at him differently.
Gu Yuxuan closed his eyes, keeping Zimo from entering through them.
* * *
[Shanghai]
"You're allowing him to stay?"
A dark figure stood behind Gu Yuxuan in his study.
"Do you trust him?"
Gu Yuxuan stared blankly at the computer for a long time.
"He's honest. Too honest. He can't be trusted" Gu Yuxuan said.
The black figure nodded his head and walked out.