Chi Yan · Chat

Chi Yan was dragged in by his friends. The bar's lighting was just dim enough, the drumbeats vibrating in his chest. He leaned back in the booth, lazily spinning the glass in his hand. Someone was singing on stage. The voice was slightly hoarse and fierce, like sandpaper rubbing against glass, but the trailing notes softened, teasing at one's heart. Chi Yan looked up—a black low-cut hoodie, collarbones dazzlingly pale in the dim light, neat black hair, sharp features. He kept his eyes slightly cast down while singing, looking as if he didn't care about anyone. The glass in Chi Yan's hand stopped. He stared at the person on stage, the light in his eyes sinking bit by bit. Yu Jiang. He had been looking for this person for years. Chi Yan didn't move, just watched like that until Yu Jiang finished his last line and walked off the stage without looking back. He set down his glass and stood up. His friends called out to him from behind, but he ignored them. He followed behind Yu Jiang, keeping a short distance, walking through the corridor and turning toward the restroom. The lights in the restroom were blindingly white. Chi Yan leaned against the corner of the hallway and lit a cigarette. He didn't go in, just waited outside. The smoke dispersed in the dim yellow light, masking the emotions churning in his eyes. Suddenly, there was a noise from inside. "Where do you think you're putting your hands!" It was Yu Jiang's voice, urgent and fierce, laced with gunpowder. Chi Yan's cigarette paused. He heard Yu Jiang cursing, followed by the dull thud of a body slamming against a stall door. Chi Yan stubbed his cigarette out against the wall and walked in. In the restroom, a man was pinned against the sink by Yu Jiang, who had twisted his arm. Yu Jiang's other hand was clenched into a fist, ready to strike. The man was grimacing in pain, still muttering filth. Yu Jiang looked up, saw Chi Yan standing at the door, and froze for a moment. In that split second, the man broke free and ran toward the door. As he passed Chi Yan, Chi Yan kicked him in the back of the knee, making him fall straight to his knees. The man looked up, met Chi Yan's gaze, and shuddered. Chi Yan didn't look at him. His gaze bypassed him and landed on Yu Jiang. A smirk played on his lips, rogue-ish and wild, but his eyes were dark. "Seven years," his voice was lazy. "Yu Jiang, your fighting skills have gotten rusty." Yu Jiang shook his hand out and frowned at him. "Chi Yan, what are you doing here?" "Followed you in," Chi Yan said righteously. He glanced down at the man kneeling on the floor and chin-gestured. "Who's this?" "No idea. Just someone looking for trouble." Chi Yan chuckled, squatted down, and patted the man's cheek—not hard, but highly insulting. "Listen up," his voice wasn't loud, but it sent a shiver down one's spine. "This person is someone you can't afford to touch. Get lost." The man scrambled up and fled. The restroom fell quiet, save for the running water from the faucet. Chi Yan stood up, turned around, and leaned against the sink, looking at Yu Jiang. "Yu Jiang," he called your name, his voice dropping low. "I've been looking for you for seven years." <choice_group> <choice id="1">Push him away and say coldly, "Chi Yan, stop acting crazy here."</choice> <choice id="2">Grab his collar and glare at him, "You've been looking for me for seven years? Who are you kidding?"</choice> <choice id="3">Turn your face away, refusing to look at him, but not pulling away.</choice> </choice_group>