Work Text:
Zhang Zhehan has liked jobs before. He has a good time on set, he likes the energy of a production. He can always look at a script and find something to immerse himself in.
This time feels different.
Tian Ya Ke’s script is good, he's known that from the start. The production team has a fire in them Zhehan hasn't seen in a long time, a zeal that comes from knowing you're an underdog and wanting to prove everyone wrong.
But there's something else that makes this different from other jobs, something else that has Zhehan coming to set smiling every day no matter what's on the schedule.
Someone else.
Right now, that someone else is holding an apple for him to take.
He’s smiling so purely that Zhehan can’t help but feel a little embarrassed, remembering the way he behaved the day before when the heat and hunger got the better of him.
“You didn’t have to do that,” he murmurs, but accepts anyway, cradling it in both hands to distract himself from the impulse to eat it right away.
“Of course I did. I have to look after my laoshi,” Gong Jun says innocently. He holds Zhehan’s gaze with an intensity that should be uncomfortable but isn’t, before smirking and sauntering away, looking very much like Wen Kexing.
Zhehan stares after him. Was that flirting just now? No, that's not the question. Zhehan knows that he's been flirted with. The question is: by Gong Jun? Or by Wen Kexing?
He follows Gong Jun and leans against a pillar opposite him.
When Gong Jun looks up from his script, Zhehan starts turning the apple between his fingers, licking it before he takes a tiny bite.
He has Gong Jun's complete attention now.
His tongue darts out before he takes another small bite, enjoying the way Gong Jun keeps looking at his mouth. Another bite before he finally swallows. Gong Jun swallows too while his eyes travel down Zhehan's throat.
‘Kiss me’ , Zhehan thinks. ‘Lick my neck and bite it like I’m doing with this apple,’ he conveys with his eyes.
Gong Jun lets out a slightly hysterical giggle and pretends to hide behind his script, ears pink.
Cute.
Zhehan feels a little insane about Gong Jun. Feels drunk on his presence, high on their interactions. Often Zhehan’s body moves without thinking, instinctually – another pinch, another squeeze.
And Gong Jun reacts in the best ways: whether it’s heated gazes and retaliatory strikes; puppy eyes and pouts; or a careful steady hand, Zhehan is addicted to all of them.
He licks juice from his lips and grins devilishly. “Want a bite?”
Gong Jun’s eyes widen, and he glances around. Zhehan freezes. Was it too much? Too blatant? But Zhehan’s fears are dispelled a moment later when he smiles. Gong Jun’s expression turns playful as he nods and gestures towards himself with his script.
‘Well go on, then.’
Challenge accepted.
Without thinking about it anymore, Zhehan holds the apple out towards his mouth. He expects Gong Jun to laugh, to take the fruit from his hand. Instead, his supposedly innocent costar maintains eye contact as he leans forward and sinks his teeth into the apple. His lips barely brush over Zhehan’s fingers, whose brain short-circuits.
It's why he blurts out, “Doyouwannacomebymytrailerlater?”
Years of experience keep Zhehan from casting a furtive look around to see if anyone heard. But he feels his ears heat with embarrassment anyway, a reaction he’s never been able to control. Especially around Gong Jun.
In front of him, Gong Jun chokes on the apple, his eyes going wide, but only for a moment. Zhehan has never seen Gong Jun pull the valley master mask over his face so quickly, or so seamlessly.
‘Wen Kexing’ smirks at him. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Zhehan’s heart stutters, stops, and then revs again with excitement. He doesn’t want Wen Kexing, he wants Gong Jun. Then again…maybe Wen Kexing is enough? He knows deep down it's not what he wants, though. But if Wen Kexing is the closest he can hope for…
He's smirking back before he knows it. Instincts and acting skills with a pinch (more "several buckets") of horniness take over. He'll ponder this, and feel miserable for his poor life choices, later. "You should have asked if you were so impatient."
As quickly as Wen Kexing came, he's gone, leaving an uncertain Junjun in his wake. "I could have misunderstood."
Zhehan can't believe his ears. They've been circling each other for days! How could adorable Junjun think what is going on is anything but what it looks like? Zhehan wants to shake his head and admonish himself for possibly ruining it before it has even begun.
They went about this the entirely wrong way.
Quickly, as to not make Junjun fret even more, he checks the time, then looks around to see if they’re alone. There’s still enough time before the next scene.
Zhehan’s hand darts out and grabs Junjun’s wrist, pulling him deeper into the surrounding forest. They don’t go far, just until Zhehan is sure they’re out of earshot. Unexpectedly, they find themselves staring out at a lake. Before his mind is too distracted, Zhehan pushes Gong Jun down to sit on a dead tree trunk.
Gong Jun looks up, eyes wide.
"You won't misunderstand with me," Zhehan says urgently. "Anything you’re thinking, it's what I want."
Zhehan sees and hears Gong Jun swallow. "Anything?" he asks.
A thrill zings through Zhehan's body. He nods.
Gong Jun stands up, not breaking eye contact. He takes a step towards Zhehan, then another. "In that case..." Gong Jun leans down and his lips brush Zhehan's ear as he whispers, "I'll definitely...comebyyourtrailerlater."
Zhehan shivers all the way down to his toes.
Gong Jun pulls back and holds the Wen Kexing mask for one breath, two, before he breaks and starts giggling, hiding his hihihi laugh behind his hands.
—Snap!
Zhou Ye hits the whiteboard with her pointer. The cutout of Gong Jun trembles. "Then he did!" she says. "And that's how it happened."
Silence descends. Zhang Zhehan stares.
Junjun, on the couch next to him, hides his face in his hands. Huang Youming, across from them, doubles over in mirth. Zhehan hopes he falls off his chair.
He finds his words behind a strangled scoff. "That's not how it happened!"
"Hanhan, it's not entirely—"
"Hey!"
"I mean, it's really—"
A pinch at Junjun's side works to shut him up. "The apple was after we—nevermind. More importantly, why did you even make that?"
Zhou Ye grins. "For your anniversary!"
“Our anniversary?”
Zhou Ye nods. “Mmhmm! You’re both so picky to buy for and you spoil each other anyway. So, we thought—”
“You thought.” Huang Youming manages to interject, straightening in his seat.
Zhehan frowns, making a note to push Huang Youming into a puddle later before turning back to Zhou Ye who rolls her eyes.
“Alright, alright, I thought a presentation of how gross you two were on set would be good.”
“And filled it with fan theories?”
Gong Jun, arm now around Zhehan’s shoulders, pulls him in close, pressing his lips to Zhehan’s temple. “You know those theories are rather accurate.”
“Don’t encourage them, Junjun!” Zhehan pouts.
“Bao, you are the one who encouraged the fans.” Gong Jun continues to tease.
Zhehan smirks suddenly as he shrugs.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says nonchalantly before pinching at Gong Jun again, this time aiming for his nipple.
At his love’s outraged and theatrical gasp, Zhehan curls in on himself, laughing to protect himself from retaliation.
“Ugh, look at that, it’s like we’re not even here!” Huang Youming can only keep up his disgusted annoyed tone for a moment before he starts laughing, too.
“I can’t believe I missed this,” Zhou Ye shakes her head with a laugh. “Sun Xilun should be back soon.”
“Where did Didi go?” Concern creeps into Gong Jun’s voice even as he makes a show of keeping Zhehan’s hands pinned to the couch.
“He’s a good kid,” Zhehan says. “Didn’t want to be a part of— this .” Hand gestures revoked, he glares at the cutouts.
“He’s getting snacks,” Zhou Ye says.
“Junjun made five courses.”
“Boys his age…” She rolls her eyes too enthusiastically. “Always hungry.”
“He’s been glued to his phone all evening.” Gong Jun looks at Zhehan, thinking-face frown in place. Both of their eyes widen at the same time, breathing out a devastated ‘oh’. In Zhehan’s mind, Didi is still fifteen. There’s no way he is—
The doorbell rings.
Zhehan and Gong Jun spring apart on the couch. Zhehan straightens his shirt and lounges against the cushions as though he hadn't been pinned half-underneath Gong Jun a moment before.
Youming snorts loudly at their behavior as Zhou Ye leaps up to let Xilun back in. “Oh, so you'll summon a shred of decency for Didi but nothing to spare my innocent eyes?” he accuses and Zhehan scoffs at him.
“There's nothing innocent about your eyes—” They devolve into friendly squabbling while Gong Jun glances towards the front door where Zhou Ye and Xilun have yet to reappear. Does he smell something burning? Did he leave the stove on?
The lights go out. From the direction of the front door, a faint, warm glow emanates. Zhou Ye and Xilun emerge, their faces illuminated by candles atop a cake in the shape of Bamian Mountain, adorned with hexagons, apples, and even a little Lufei.
“Haaaaappy biiiirthday to youuuu,” they start singing in two different keys. Two become four as Youming and Gong Jun join in.
When they finish the last verse, Zhehan knows exactly what to wish for. He looks upon the beloved faces around him, bathed in warm candlelight, and feels the warmth echoed in his chest. Nothing would make him happier than the happiness of his loved ones.