Zhai Mei was clad in a red corduroy jumpsuit, with a cream shirt underneath.
The outfit was very neat and suited her skin color perfectly, with her rosy cheeks adding to the vibrant look.
That night on Paiwan Road, Gu Wei hadn't been able to see a thing due to the darkness and Zhai Mei had been wearing a coat.
Gu Wei had even lent her a scarf. It was then that Gu Wei saw what she'd been clutching in her arm, a brown coat and a red scarf. The one Gu Wei had offered the other night.
Something close to warmth swept through Gu Wei as he took in the scarf and Zhai Mei, whose hair was braided into two pigtails, her fringe swept a bit to the side.
She looked so different from the Zhai Mei he had met that Gu Wei was beyond shocked. And those around him were the same.
Their guest's appearance was nothing but icing on the cake, so sweet you bit your tongue.
Shi Yi did bite his tongue when he saw the famous Zhai Mei and Ling Jie didn't waste time in taking credit for everything by announcing loudly.
"Zhai Mei Jie! There you are, I was beginning to wonder if you would ever show up! Have a seat, have a seat! Xu Ai, move over!" Ling Jie directed.
Zhai Mei's eyes were focused on Ling Jie's lips as she spoke with fervor, and eventually, she titled her head and tapped her wrist.
Ling Jie was confused for a second, before remembering the text Xu Ai had sent to each of them personally the day before.
The new admin had warned all of them to not be rude and to speak calmly.
Zhai Mei was attending the reunion for the first time and they better behave themselves.
Ling Jie had no clue what Zhai Mei meant with the hand tapping, she had been so completely immersed in her excitement.
Zhai Mei seemed to realize this too and shook her head with another smile, a gesture that meant not to worry.
However, Gu Wei saved the day with his keen skills.
"Time, she meant time. What's the time?" He said, disengaging himself from the ogling Shi Yi and simultaneously smoothing out Ha Xing's shirt.
Xu Ai checked her phone and announced that it was 6:00 on the dot.
They now understood what Zhai Mei had been trying to say.
Ling Jie had said she thought Zhai Mei would never show up, and the girl had replied with the time, saying she had arrived right on the dot.
Zhai Mei nodded in affirmation. Gu Wei had saved the day.
With Ling Jie's urgings, the table settled down and Zhai Mei was seated right opposite Gu Wei.
He gave a smile in greeting and Zhai Mei smiled back in return.
With her hair pulled back, Zhai Mei's eyes were more defined and Gu Wei noticed how brown they were.
If not for the lighting, he would've thought them pitch black.
Zhai Mei fidgeting under his scrutinising gaze made Gu Wei realise he had been staring. He blinked and found something else to stare at.
Shi Yi had finally managed to get over his star-struckness and was looking straight at Zhai Mei with his head on a fist.
So Gu Wei hadn't been the only one staring. Somehow, this irritated him.
The food arrived before Gu Wei could analyze the weird feeling, and he watched with satisfaction as Ha Xing burrowed a safety pin from Song Wei for his damaged shirt.
He hadn't been able to beat him up, but he was suffering nonetheless. That was enough for Gu Wei.
He Sheng, probably feeling a sense of duty he'd tossed a few days back on the group chat, proceeded to make the introductions.
Everyone bowed politely and Song Wei returned Zhai Mei's wave, but when they got to Shi Yi, he sprang to his feet like he'd been possessed and threw out his hands in the form of a handshake.
The grin on his face scared Gu Wei.
"Hello hello, I'm Shi Yi, the handsome lad in the group, you can call me Gege if you want."
Zhai Mei reluctantly accepted the arm, and her hands were swallowed by Shi Yi's, who made a point of prolonging the handshake.
"Zhai Mei is it? You and I are going to be good friends! I'm bullied every time here and they never get my sense of humour."
Zhai Mei's eyes widened slightly.
Shi Yi continued, "I'm sure you're more fun than they are-My god! Your hands are so soft-Ah! Ah! Ah!"
Shi Yi snatched his hands away in the next second as Zhai Mei squeezed to the point of breaking, urging the ridiculous cry out of him.
Shi Yi cuddled his wounded hand to himself. Gu Wei grinned.
Ha Xing and the others flaunted their satisfaction at Zhai Mei's no-nonsense move with a clink of their glasses and drank.
Song Wei, the alcohol mother, passed Zhai Mei her drink and the girl stared at it inquisitively.
"Don't tell me you don't drink alcohol too Zhai Mei-ah? One person in the group is enough, not you too." Song Wei said.
Shaking her head, Zhai Mei pulled out her phone and typed quickly.
Gu Wei felt a sense of deja vu and wished he could disappear as the sight of her phone took him back to the night they'd met.
A mechanical female voice suddenly spoke, "I'm a lightweight, that's why."
Small laughter broke out at the straightforward reply.
Still laughing, Song Wei nodded, "Lightweight is okay, not like some people here who won't drink for their life."
Zhai Mei typed again, "Who doesn't drink?"
Six hands pointed to Gu Wei at the same time. He protested, "Pointing hands so fast, you guys are really…"
Shi Yi patted him on the shoulder in comfort, Gu Wei shook it off. If he could exchange seats with this guy his life would be better.
Xu Ai clapped her hands and ordered them to eat. "Yes, Master Xu Ai." Traveled around the table and Xu Ai rolled her eyes at them.
The brats always switched masters whenever they liked.
Conversation was stilted with food down their throats, and Gu Wei took the chance to sneak a peek at Zhai Mei, only to find her two dark brown eyes already on him.
Gu Wei choked on his noodles, the coughing fits now transferred to him.
Shi Yi's hands once again started their patting, adding his perverted talk to the situation.
"Aiyyaa. Darling slow down, why're you hoarding food down your throat? Here, here, drink some water."
Gu Wei shot Shi Yi a glaring look but accepted the water.
Shi Yi's hands started stroking a pattern on his neck and Gu Wei choked again.
The hands had moved to his hair before Gu Wei grabbed them and placed them on the owner's lap. He really had to change seats.
After recovering from his choking fit, Gu Wei continued his noodles, waving Song Wei's worrying look away, and chanced another look at Zhai Mei.
Her gaze was flitting between him and Shi Yi like she was trying to process something.
Before she got the wrong idea, Gu Wei moved his hands in a sign 'Don't mind him, he's always like that.'
This was the first time Gu Wei was using sign language to communicate with Zhai Mei.
She looked surprised for a second, then raised an eyebrow and replied. 'You know fingerspelling? Since when?'
Gu Wei smiled and put down his chopsticks to reply with his best skills. 'Yes, for about 5 years now. I'm a professional tutor. Feel free to test.'
Zhai Mei frowned at this and shifted in her seat. 'But why didn't you say anything the other day?'
Gu Wei marveled at her speed, admiring her hands as they formed the signs in perfect sync.
And he called himself a professional?
Feeling chastised, Gu Wei hung his head, all the speech he'd planned in his head now miles away when he needed them.
'That day I… I didn't know… I'm sorry.' He bowed his head in shame and lifted it only after a moment had passed.
Zhai Mei patted the air in front of her. 'It's okay, you're forgiven… ninety percent forgiven. You can fill the other ten by passing the pepper.'
Gu Wei couldn't believe his eyes and quickly took the small plastic and offered it in a deep bow.
His display caught the attention of the others and Ha Xing snickered, already in on why Gu Wei was bowing so deeply that his hair was hanging an inch from his food.
Song Wei and the others, however, were clueless.
"Wei Wei-ah, what's with the bow? You got on Zhai Mei's bad side so soon?" Song Wei asked.
Gu Wei straightened only when his hand was empty and scratched his head in embarrassment. "Ah no… it's umm, it's a bit of a long story."
Unfortunately, that was the wrong thing to say. Gu Wei was attacked the moment he admitted it.
"Story? What long story? We have all the time in the world Wei Wei-ah."
"Yes, Song Wei's right. Isn't the point of this reunion to tell stories and recount your life for the past year?"
"Gu Wei-ah, don't hold out on us. We can't help if you don't tell us now can we?"
Nods and hums of agreement echoed as the desperate group clung to gossip.
Gu Wei glanced at Zhai Mei, for what exactly, he wasn't sure. She was on her phone again, fingers flying over her screen.
Gu Wei was about to open his mouth and share his embarrassing story when Ha Xing took the situation into his hands and slapped his palm on the table for attention.
Everyone jumped.
"Let me tell you, I know the full story. I know it! So listen to me! I'll tell you what happened… What really really happened!"
Hearing his derisive drunken voice, the group let out a collective sigh. Ha Xing was drunk.
He'd been chugging his beer like water ever since he'd arrived, not taking small sips like the rest, and drunk Ha Xing was known for his fictional tales when under the influence.
Before he could say anymore, Shi Yi stuffed a tissue into his mouth and pulled him down when he tried to stand. Ha Xing was now Shi Yi's responsibility.
Shaking their heads at the Master, the group refocused on Gu Wei.
Anything Ha Xing was going to say might actually earn him a punch that night, and they might not be able to stop Gu Wei.
But unfortunately for Ha Xing, fate had written a punch to the day's events for him, as he spitted out the tissue and shouted happily.
"They kissed!"