At Ha Xing's outrageous words, Shi Yi hauled him back to his seat, getting a kick to the head in return.
Ha Xing once again slammed his palm on the table.
"Let me tell you, they met while Gu Wei was chasing his dreams and everything got so heated that they couldn't resist each other… And it was all in chapter forty! Forty chapters! Waaaahh! To think I waited forty chapters for a single kiss…"
Ha Xing whipped around and gripped Shi Yi's copycat sweater.
"Tell me Gege, what crimes did I commit in this life to be treated like this? What did I ever do to the author?! To earn this petty reward after FORTY CHAPTERS?!"
Having heard enough, and seeing Shi Yi's visible flinch as his ears were blasted to another universe, Gu Wei interfered and peeled Ha Xing away from Shi Yi, limb by limb, only to bear the brunt of the insanity.
"Gu Wei, Gu Wei-ah… hic…Why didn't you tell me… hic… that it would take that long… hic… I suffered so bitterly… hic… It's all your fault… hic… all your fault…"
Gu Wei nodded and patted him on the back. Ha Xing was now hiccuping and seemed on the verge of tears.
"Why don't you take him outside, Wei Wei? Let him get some fresh air and drink some water to clear his head."
Song Wei offered and Gu Wei nodded, glancing at Zhai Mei before he left. She was talking to Ling Jie and seemed immersed in conversation.
Gu Wei wouldn't disturb, he'd only checked to see if she would be okay without him.
However, a hand squeezed his shoulder and tugged him away from Ha Xing.
"I'll do it." Shi Yi said, already transferring the blubbering Master to his arms, supporting him by the shoulders as he flung Ha Xing's left arm over his shoulder.
Gu Wei had automatically butted in because he'd seen Ha Xing in such similar behavior a hundred times and had dealt with it as much.
They were roommates after all, and Ha Xing was always ranting about his work to Gu Wei, while Gu Wei ranted about Fu Yuan.
So it had been instinctive when he stepped up just now.
But he'd forgotten that Shi Yi… Gu Wei had forgotten that Shi Yi was present and would surely not take the sentiment well.
Stepping back to let Shi Yi pass, Gu Wei sighed and sank back into his seat.
He'd have to explain to Shi Yi that he hadn't meant to butt in just now, that it had only been instinct.
The two's relationship was beyond the understanding of Gu Wei's brain, but he knew Shi Yi easily got jealous over Ha Xing and was always protective too.
Gu Wei shook his head. It wasn't his business anyway.
He Sheng was cleaning up his bowl of noodles while Song Wei and Xu Ai were complaining loudly.
"That boy's too troublesome I swear. I almost had a heart attack when he said… When he said…. Ahh, see? My chest squeezed just now. Who gave him that much alcohol to begin with?"
This was Song Wei, and Xu Ai eyed her up and down before replying, "Aren't you the beer guru? Who else made him drunk?"
Song Wei was about to spit out some other comeback when Ling Jie intervened and smoothed out their taut feathers.
Gu Wei stared at his cold noodles. His appetite had gone with Ha Xing, and this reunion had taken a very drastic turn.
Gu Wei was thinking about how disappointed Zhai Mei probably was about the lot of them when a chopstick tapped into his peripheral vision.
Gu Wei looked up from where he'd been frowning at his food.
Zhai Mei pointed to him, gave a thumbs up, and tilted her head in a question. 'Are you okay?'
Gu Wei smiled wearily and gave a thumbs up and a nod in return. 'Just tired. The Master usually isn't like this, but today… He talks nonsense so don't take his words to heart.'
Zhai Mei nodded and gestured towards Ling Jie, lips twitching at the bowing gesture Gu Wei had used to describe Ha Xing as master.
'She explained everything, and I can take a joke just fine. But, if it's not too rude, what's up with the Ge and Master?'
A genuine grin invaded Gu Wei's lips as he saw that Zhai Mei had adopted the ridiculous nicknames, Ge for Shi Yi, master for Ha Xing.
He gave a vague reply.
'It's not rude, you're part of the group now. The two of them are two sides of the same coin, and one can't exist without the other. They didn't show much today, but they bicker loudly when they're not planning mischief together.'
Zhai Mei smirked. 'Mischief like your clothes…?'
A blush spread onto Gu Wei's face and he cleared his throat. 'Yes, like my clothes.'
Zhai Mei giggled softly, the same sound she'd made that night, and Gu Wei copied her, clamping a hand on his mouth when the whine escaped him.
This time, Zhai Mei dropped her head and laughed, shoulders shaking in small quacks as huffs of breath left her.
This version was even more pleasing to experience than her previous giggles. Gu Wei wanted to see more.
He was feeling a sense of pride that he had made Zhai Mei laugh.
Gu Wei had been so worried about everything when he got here, from seeing Zhai Mei for the second time to worrying about her comfort amidst the group.
But now, seeing her laugh relieved Gu Wei of all his worries, and the muscles he hadn't realised were tensed slowly relaxed.
Truly, Gu Wei was glad they'd broken the ice, he would have guilted himself to an early death if Zhai Mei had treated him coldly during this encounter.
There was so much Gu Wei's fragile heart could take.
'You, next time don't be so quick to mimic. Giggling requires cultivating skills.'
Zhai Mei signed, a grin still lingering on her lips.
Gu Wei bowed to Zhai Mei for the second time that day. 'Yes, Master, I understand.'
Meanwhile, the remaining four humans had been staring confusedly at the two oblivious souls for the past minutes.
They couldn't believe it, but they were starting to feel like outsiders at their own reunion party.
No, not outsiders, Ling Jie thought, third wheels.
They all knew Gu Wei was familiar with sign language, but they hadn't seen him in action, and his fluid hand movements syncing perfectly with Zhai Mei's had them all wondering what they were doing with their lives.
Song Wei proudly wiped a stray tear from her eyes, and Xu Ai avoided commenting this time.
Song Wei had always thought this boy, Gu Wei, would forever be her little star, but it seemed he was all grown up now.
She had been worried that his whole life would be consumed by his obsession with Fu Yuan, but watching him interact so confidently with Zhai Mei soothed her bleeding heart.
He Sheng, always the clueless observer, slurped the last of his noodles loudly and broke the fragile moment.
Song Wei turned her murderous gaze onto her husband, wanting to smack his bald head as Gu Wei and Zhai Mei returned to their original positions.
Unknown to the two, they had been leaning towards each other over the width of the table, gravitating unconsciously.
A display such as that was not meant to be interrupted, as pure and natural as it was, but whenever had He Sheng cared for such things.
It was a mystery how he'd ended up with Song Wei, and Xu Ai herself even sighed at such cluelessness.
Gu Wei returned his head to its previous noodles-staring position, scratching his head as the table grew silent and all were lost in thought.
Gu Wei resisted the urge to peek at his new friend and old classmate.
They were friends now, right? Would it be troublesome if Gu Wei asked? Was he making conversation too much?
These thoughts flashed through Gu Wei in the span of seconds and before he could come to a conclusion, shouts drifted from outside.
It took Gu Wei a moment before he could discern the voices.
It was none other than the duo Ha Xing and Shi Yi. Ha Xing must've snapped out of his stupor and Shi Yi had probably done some perverted stuff, leading to their eventual arguments.
Their table was at the back, so the window was far away from view. Heavens knew what type of fists were flying between the two.
The weary feeling that had faded suddenly invaded Gu Wei again, and he rubbed at his forehead.
They should all stop having these reunions at some point, Gu Wei's grey hair was doubling in numbers, and he was tired of being Shi Yi and Ha Xing's middleman.
Song Wei must've noticed his exhaustion, because she rose to her feet, dragging a reluctant Xu Ai with her, and made for the door.
"Wei Wei-ah, you sit still and finish your food. Me, Xu Ai, and He Sheng will take care of the disaster out there."
He Sheng pointed to himself in question, and Song Wei scowled.
"Yes, you, who else is bearing Sheng here? Get up and come help, or do you want your wife to come back black and blue?"
Hearing this, He Sheng frantically stood with a nervous stroke at his head, following behind a reluctant Xu Ai as Song Wei dragged them outside.
Ling Jie took out her phone and trailed the three.
"Wait for me! Gu Wei Ge, keep Zhai Mei company while we're gone okay? I'll be back!"
Not understanding the reason why Ling Jie was also tagging along, Gu Wei called out to her drifting back.
"Eh? Ling Jie! Why're you leaving too?"
The girl turned with a mischievous grin. "To record a historical moment of course."
With those words, Ling Jie waved to Zhai Mei and hurried away.
The once full table was now empty, and one could hear the clinking of pots from the restaurants kitchen in the silence.
Zhai Mei tapped the table, and Gu Wei pulled his thoughts away from his friends.
'Is this what you meant by bicker?' Zhai Mei signed.
Gu Wei nodded, 'Yes. Hope you're not too repulsed by us.'
Zhai Mei frowned. 'No I'm not. You guys are fun to be with, and I enjoy your bickers and nonsense.'
At Zhai Mei's words, Gu Wei sighed in relief. 'Thank god. I was worried you would think us weird.'
Zhai Mei laughed again and replied, 'You are weird.'
Planting his palms flat on the table, Gu Wei exhaled dramatically, "Ahhhh…"
Earning another of Zhai Mei's shoulder-quacking laugh, and making him smile too.
Gu Wei could exist in that brief moment for all eternity, just to hear Zhai Mei's laugh on repeat and have this contented bubbly feeling inside him.
Hearing his own thoughts, Gu Wei shook his head and wondered if the two sips of beer were getting to his head, his line of thinking these past few hours had been… strange.
Gu Wei blamed the beer.
Hesitating briefly, Zhai Mei raised her arms, briefly making a cheerful selfie pose to describe a certain someone, then asked.
'Ling Jie… what did she say before she left?'
Gu Wei snickered at her vivid description. A selfie pose did indeed define Ling Jie very well.
'She went to record history.'
Getting the joke even before Gu Wei had completed his signs, Zhai Mei tugged at her pigtails, 'I can't even… You guys are just too weird.'
Her reply had Gu Wei laughing for real this time, and with her cute tugging of pigtails, he couldn't resist.
Gu Wei placed his elbows on the table and rested his head in his folded hands, watching as Zhai Mei repeatedly tugged at her hair in thought.
Her head turned towards where the commotion from outside could be heard.
Hesitating slightly, Zhai Mei gave her braided pigtails one last tug before motioning.
'Then… Do you want to watch history with me?'
Gu Wei's heart gave a trembling thump, and he met Zhai Mei's gaze.
Her eyes were the deepest shades of brown, and the light caught her pupils in a hazel shade.
Gu Wei's head felt a bit woozy as warmth spread through him.
The type that came after long hours in the cold and you buried into the duvet, the warmth seeping into your skin, bleeding past the frost in your heart.
Gu Wei was currently buried in that blanket.
A blanket that had materialized from Zhai Mei, and was now draped over him in a bubble.
Slowly lifting to his feet and drawing his chairs back, Gu Wei accepted the warmth with no form of restraint, and swept his arms towards the exit.
'Lead the way.' Maybe… Gu Wei thought, just maybe… It was not the beer.