❦ ♪

CHAPTER SIX : deals and arguments

"i guess we're going to make this whole year a competition between us then"

❦ ♪

— mei pov.

hanbin

my parents and i love the necklace
thank you!! it's so pretty!!

no worries, my treat :)

i like it when you're nice to me

that's because you're my friend???

WHAT

why are you so shocked..

you're scaring me... are you lying
to me or something like

i'm not going to be a bitch to you???

you are in school

that's different okay..
but don't be so shocked when i'm
nice to you omg.. i just feel like you're
easy to talk to that's all

omg really omgokewksoxnekdpd

.. yeah

fanboying

hanbin😭

sorry you just complimented me and
called me your friend Omg

you're someone that gives me the vibes
that i can be safe around you so like...

OH MY GOD REALLY

yes

omg everyone's gonna be so jealous
of me fr😊🤞

you aren't telling anyone

oh right sorry</3
but thank you for the necklace and
the keyring!! they're both adorable

you're welcome,, i saw your insta story
about it, looks nice with your tattoos

oh you really think so?

..yeah

THANK YOU OFMSJEODISI

goodnight hanbin😭😭

❦ ♪

- 3rd person.

both mei and zhanghao had ended up being abandoned by their friends and forced to wait for their next class by themselves. hao waited outisde the hall with his back against the wall as it was a little too early for the lecture to begin.

hao hummed to 'always' as he scrolled through his phone. he noticed that mei had replied to his message with "i guess i won't be forgiven."

what a weirdo. he thinks. the only (very few) times the two actually talk is to argue. hao is usually a (somewhat) quiet and sweet guy, but he enjoys teasing mei.

besides the fact he finds that her and hanbin are getting closer, he still doesn't get how she can get close to people. especially boys. especially him.

he doesn't like her at all, but he likes annoying the shit out of her. he doesn't believe she's all that smart by the way he's been watching her during lectures (besides the ones she's skipped).

there was no signs of mei being a bad student unless it was arguing with other students, mostly hao of course. but he knew she was a very angry, expressive person.

and him being a huge introvert, he wasn't good at communicating with people like that. so her starting arguments kind of scared him. but when he started something, he found it entertaining. typical mei, right?

he leaves the girl's message on seen as a result of hearing footsteps coming towards him. he looks up and locks eyes with someone he's very familiar with now: the girl he was just thinking about.

"oh look, it's the one who left me on delivered for twelve hours." hao scoffs, his arms crossed. "i was giving you a chance to be forgiven."

as mei finally reaches in front of him, she scoffs back. "what makes you think i'd even open your message quicker than that?"

"because you're obsessed with me, obviously." he says in a joking tone, although he clearly wasn't joking and even she knew. "if you replied quicker than maybe i could've accepted your apology."

mei looks at him in disbelief. "i was literally being nice, and you think we can't argue?"

he fake smiles at her. "of course i think that." he says sarcastically. "you start everything." even by that one sentence it had already started something.

"you literally always have to say something that gets me annoyed!" she adjusts her bag and crosses her arms. "it's more like you start it."

"yeah but what you did the other day to hanbin still wasn't cool. you have some anger issues or something? maybe it's just all the short people."

"what the fuck does my height have to do with this?" she scoffs. i mean it is said that short people have short tempers..

hao chuckles lowly. that was hot. mei thought. "look at you, no wonder you have a short ass temper." he finally stands straight from leaning against the wall and he had towered over her. "see?"

mei gulps. "wowwww you're so tall oh my goddddddd." she deadpans, acting surprised (she is). "or maybe i just have a short temper because bitches like you talk to much."

"wow. a bitch?" hao acts offended. "that was a huge insult there, top student. think of a better vocabulary for that one." he teases.

the girl rolls her eyes, "who do you think i am?" she was clearly annoyed by what he had said. he seems to like the idea of her wanting to beat him.

"an arrogant bitch?" he says with a smirk. "i never knew someone so 'smart' had such a big attitude.."

"you're all talk." she rolls her eyes. "you always have to mention the rankings around me."

hao runs a hand through his hair. "it's funny isn't it? you joining because you punched someone and now you're trying to beat the top student?"

mei shrugs. "i still don't understand why i had to be sent to the same school as the guy i punched. it makes no sense, it makes everything worse."

"didn't they say your behaviour was bad? all i've seen is your annoying attitude and violent ways." he chuckles.

mei rolls her eyes. "the reason my behaviour is bad is because i'm simply not nice. i don't know what you're not getting here."

hao steps closer to her. "you do seem getting a bit too friendly with hanbin, though." he says in a whisper. "what are you trying to do?"

she frowns. "where did that come from?" she asks in confusion, did hanbin tell him about yesterday? "and i haven't even done anything."

"he got a new necklace, and it's similar to yours. the same one actually." he says, his eyes looking somewhat angry.

she laughs. "okay? i don't talk to him."

"oh really now?" he asks, clearly not believing anything she's saying. "aren't your parents friends?"

"what the fuck are you talking about?" she asks, shocked (acting, obviously).

hao rolls his eyes. "i'm not stupid. hanbin said his parents are working for a rich business and then ricky saw you in that mart talking about him."

mei was about to defend herself until the professor fortunately came towards them. "oh, mirae and hao!" he smiles. "you're both early."

hao backs away from the girl and turns to the professor with a smile, mei following suit as she grins up at their professor. "hi." the two say with a bow.

hao nods. "we finished studying at the student lounge, so we're waiting here. aren't we?" he says, looking at the girl who only nods.

"very well then. since the lecture doesn't start in ten minutes, you two can go to the music hall? people are claiming studios, and since you're partners this year you can claim your own one together." he says.

mei frowns. "won't i get one for myself?" she asks, only wanting one studio for herself for very obvious reasons. "do i need one with hao?"

"unfortunately, yes. there isn't enough for that, mirae. it's either in partners or in bigger groups." he explains.

mei sighs in defeat. "ok, we'll go." she says dryly.

the professor smiles. "don't be late to the lecture, there's a lot of content today. our top students should be able to ace it, right?"

hao nods. "of course i– we can." he smiles. "let's go, mirae." he says, calling her by her korean name.

the two wave the professor goodbye and hao leads the way to the music hall. "fun, we get to share a studio." he says with not even an inch of excitement.

"how big are these studios?" she asks, following behind the boy. "i've seen the outside, not the inside."

"probably the size of your bathroom. they're quite big." he says. "the walls are soundproof and everything though, it's cool."

"how do you know how big my bathroom is..?" she looks at him with a weird look. "are you stalking me?"

"you have a similar house model to ricky, your bathrooms are quite massive." he shrugs, walking down the stairs.

mei nods. "so we just have to claim one? and it's ours?"

he nods. "yeah, unfortunately."

"shut up. acting like i want to make music with you around." she scoffs. "so-called prodigy."

"i am, don't be jealous." hao laughs.

the two quickly reached the music hall and all of the boys inside waved and greeted hao. some awkward 'hi's and waves towards mei too.

he leads her to a studio at the very back, hao takes out some keys and unlocks it. "thankfully this was originally mine and hanbin's last year, so we can keep this room." he says, opening the door for her.

it was pretty big, decorated beautifully. it consisted of a computer with music production equipment, a few seats, a violin, a sofa, lots of paper and a mirror.

mei nods. "not bad, top student." she mocks his 'top student' nickname earlier. "so this is where i have to be stuck with you?"

he chuckles, turning to the girl and looking down at her yet again. what a good day for mei to be 5'5. "you'll love being stuck here with me."

"yeah, fuck off. i'd rather not." she looks up at him. "so like, how do we get in here?" she asks. "only a key?"

hao nods. "i'll give you your own key if you beat me in next week's exams." he chuckles. "which may never happen."

the girl looks him up in down judgementally. "you have got to be fucking kidding me." she scoffs. "it will happen."

hao shakes the keys in her face. "if you want to come in here for now, you need my permission. understand?"

she backs up from the keys and crosses her arms in annoyance. "yeah, whatever. i'll be first next, watch me."

hao shoves the studio keys into his pocket and looks at her closely. "so, you and hanbin." he says, bringing the subject back to the boy.

mei sighs. "why the fuck are you so bothered? we aren't close."

"he's my bestfriend, i don't want you to try hurt him or something." he says, leaning his hand on the desk.

mei scoffs, why is their group so fucking protective of each other? it's like hanbin telling her about hao last week. "what makes you think that?"

"don't know. i just don't trust you." he shrugs. "you don't give me the vibes of a top student, they're always nice, aren't they?"

"oh my god." she exhales, bothered by what he said. "i guess you don't give the vibes either, assuming i want to hurt hanbin?"

hao stands up straight. "it's not the worst to assume, shorty." he snickers, striking a new nickname.

"bro what the hell?" she complains at the nickname. "you're such a bitch."

hao walks back towards the girl. "you've called me a bitch too many times today, shorty."

mei rolls her eyes. "do you want a deathwish? you're fucking annoying."

hao shakes his head. "no, but i do want to beat you this year–"

"oh fuck off. you're so underestimating." she says in a pissed off tone, she turns around to walk out of the studio.

"hey top student wait for me–" he laughs, coming behind mei. "don't be jealous of me again."

"shut the fuck up hao." she says, speedwalking up the stairs as he followed behind her with a fast pace. "you genuinely piss me off."

"aww did the anger issues get to you?" he says in a fake high-pitched voice. "do you need your parents to calm you down–?"

she turns to him. "bro if you don't shut the fuck up i will make sure i'm first every single ranking from next monday."

hao smirks. "sure. if not, you better get ready to do what i say~"

mei sighs. "you really think i can't beat you at least once?"

hao shrugs. "i was the top in my region, and in a korean university. and what are you? a nepo baby?" he laughs.

mei rolls her eyes and doesn't respond as she reaches the lecture hall again. the lecture starts in five minutes and she spotted hanbin inside and decided to open the door. all eyes on her, since it was her worst class.

"i'm better than you, you just don't know who i am yet." she says with confidence, not even turning back to face him.

hao snorts. "sorry arrogant bitch, i didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"you really enjoy taunting me don't you?" she sneers, making eye contact with hanbin who sent her a small wave.

"it's funny to see your mad reactions. you're too arrogant to deal with." he laughs, walking up the stairs to their row (at the back).

"wheey look it's the nerdy duo." youngjae snickers from behind as mei sits down next to hanbin.

"fuck off you pussy." she says, still looking forward. hao quietly sits next to mei and turns her way to see hanbin.

"oh, did you hear that, hao?" youngjae fakes a sad voice, making hao turn to him, "your partner told me to fuck off."

hanbin turns around. "for crying out loud she's skipped multiple lectures because of you, just stop moving that disgusting mouth of yours for once. talking to them doesn't get you anything good in life." he scolds him.

hao laughs. "wow, you seemed to have pissed off the sweetest guy on campus." mei nods in agreement, still staring into space.

youngjae laughs, about to talk more shit but his face drops when he sees hanbin's neck. "why are you... where did you get that necklace from?" he asks, piquing hao's interest as he begins to listen in.

"i bought it recently, why?" he asks.

"that's the same one as mei.." youngjae says. "do you have it matching with anyone?"

hanbin frowns at youngjae's sudden change in tone and he notices mei turning around and going silent.

"i was planning to get one for hao, why?" he says, making hao's eyes widen.

"wait what? you wanted to get matching necklaces?" he asks in shock.

hanbin nods with a smile. "mei has one with renjun as friendship necklaces, if you have the lock and i have the key we could have one too."

youngjae clears his throat. "did you get it from that small business outside of that private neighbourhood?"

hanbin looks at mei since he doesn't actually know, he notices she sends him a small thumbs up and he turns back to youngjae. "yeah, why?"

he coughs. "um, nothing." he says awkwardly, fidgeting with a ring on his finger. "anyways the professor is here."

hao and hanbin were confused by youngjae's sudden change in attitude but don't question it as they turn to the front where professor kim walks in with a smile.

he grins at everyone. "hello." he says, as everyone repeats the greeting but in a very dead way. "stay awake for this one, this lecture is two hours!"

the class all sighs and everyone began to click their pens, getting ready to write notes.

from what happened earlier, mei wasn't focusing correctly; she had 1/4 of how much hao and hanbin had written on her paper, and she kept zoning out.

she was thinking about youngjae.

"mei?" hanbin whispers, making her snap out of her trance and turn to him with a hum. "you okay? you haven't written anything."

mei slowly nods. "uh, yeah. thanks." she fake smiles before looking down at her book with absolutely nothing written. "just tired.."

hanbin chuckles and swaps their books. "i'll write them for you, try write what professor is saying now on my book and i'll write what you missed out on yours. please focus."

mei was taken aback since she didn't expect him to still act nice to him in campus but she nods. "thanks." she whispers.

hanbin smiles at her and the two face forward, listening (not so intently) to all of the content their professor was rambling about.

hao wasn't slow and noticed straight away. he noticed mei writing in hanbin's book and saw the way he smiled at the girl. (btw the seats go hao, mei, hanbin)

hao frowned at their interaction and rolled his eyes, writing whatever he heard but not exactly listening. the boy kept glancing at the two next to him and he felt annoyed.

why the fuck do they seem so close if they claim they aren't? he thinks to himself, running a hand through his thick hair.

he watches as the two finally swap back as the professor stops talking, allowing a small break for five minutes.

"mei." hao calls, making her turn to him with no expression. "why were you writing in hanbin's notebook?"

"i wasn't paying attention so he did it for me, i was just writing on from where hanbin was." she explains.

hao nods. "so you make someone else write for you? wow, you're smart aren't you?"

mei rolls her eyes. "give it up, hao. you're too confident."

hao rolls his eyes sassily, repeating her action. "yeah, okay. but after the break you write your own notes. i can't be beaten by someone who doesn't write their own notes, can i?"

"oh so you really want to make us a competition, huh?" she turns fully towards hao.

"what do you think? i've been mentioning it for the past few days." he simpers. "thought it was obvious already."

mei knew he wanted to make everything a competition, and she did too. but, she's scared of embarrassing herself if she doesn't even get high in the ranks. this is a top university, of course. she doesn't know what to expect.

mei stretches her arm and looks him in the eyes. "if you really want it, then i might agree to it."

"we already made a bet." he shrugs, "what's stopping you from agreeing fully?"

being beat by a hot fucking man. "what if you play unfair?" she lies.

hao scoffs. "i study everyday, you're more likely to play unfair rather than me. nepo baby."

"i am not a nepo baby." she rolls her eyes. "i don't even study and i'm already top student in my old university, i'm literally a prodigy at this point."

he snickers at her egotism. "yeah, whatever. you don't seem all that smart to me anyway."

"oh really? you've only seen me write on paper, you don't know what i can do." she laughs. "you need to stop assuming everything about me."

"i'll make assumptions after we get ranked. then we can see who's better, right?"

mei nods. "hm, fine. i'm only doing this for my parent's pride. oh and mine of course, hwang mirae is an important name."

"my parents don't even think i'm enough." he laughs, joking (he wasn't). "and okay you do that then, hwang mirae the short nepo baby."

"i swear call me short and a nepo baby again and i will fucking kill you." she grumbles. "it's annoying."

hao acts scared, which mei found kind of cute. "ohhhh nooo!!" he fake cries. "i'm not enough because hwang mirae called me annoying!!!"

"hm, we can see if you are enough then, deal?" she says, ignoring his cute little skit that just happened.

hao smirks. "okay, deal."

"i guess we're going to make this whole year a competition between us then" mei chuckles.

"you two are so weird. i can't tell if you hate each other or if you are joking." hanbin says, making the two face him.

"i hate her." "i hate him." they both say at the same time.

"he's so annoying, how are you friends with him? he literally wants to be me so bad." mei whines. "he won't stop."

"oh shut up, i don't want to be you at all. short, annoying, nepo baby and egotistical? i could never be like you."

mei looks at him in offence. "you're so fucking annoying you know that right?"

"no i don't think you've told me enough." he jokes. "hanbin i think she thinks i'm annoying." he fake cries.

hanbin laughs at their childish bickering. "all this for a university ranking?"

"god, i can't wait until i see you cry over being second place in ranks." she scoffs.

"why would i cry? i would never cry over you beating me. i think i'd just blame the people marking our papers." hao chuckles.

"what the hell??" she says, still in offence. "you would definitely cry!"

"nah, never." hao says nonchalantly. "you're too weird to cry about. and too short."

she gasps and turns to hanbin. "do you hear this guy? he just thinks being tall gets him places."

"you think being born into a rich family gets you places." hao laughs. which is definitely true for her, to be fair.

"can i just, sit in between you two for the rest of this lecture? you're annoying me." hanbin sighs.

"oh my god yes, he talks too much." mei gets up and wastes no time switching seats with hanbin. "oh my god, way quieter and better. i'm away from an annoying hot boy."

"an annoying what?" hanbin and hao ask at the same time. "did you just call me hot?" hao laughs.

mei looks down at the desk. "no, ew. you aren't hot at all." she (very obviously) lies. "never would think that. never. haha."

hao and hanbin share a look and snicker. "whatever you say. but i'm definitely hot." hao says.

"yeah he is, it's okay to admit mei." hanbin chuckles.

"no! i don't want to compliment him when he's been insulting me for the past hour!" she says, getting all of her stuff onto her desk from where hanbin was now sat.

hao giggles. "you probably compliment me all the time, who wouldn't?"

mei scoffs. "keep dreaming with your massive ego. i'm way better than that. and plus, i bet your whole group thinks i'm amazing."

"your ego is just as big, and my group probably do, but i don't. take it as a huge insult." hao says, making hanbin sigh.

"did switching seats make everything worse?" hanbin says, hands on his head. "you're worse than ricky and gyuvin."

"maybe. but it's okay, tell your hot friend to leave me alone." mei says, taking a pen out and not daring to look at hao, since she knew he was smirking or something.

she was right. hao smirks. "you said it again? what a day mei! you really love complimenting me don't you?" he teases.

"oh for fucks sake shut up." youngjae says from
behind. "hearing nerds argue so much might make your grades lower."

"whatever." the two say, shutting up as their short break was over and the professor begins to ramble for the next hour.

❦ ♪

as the lecture ends, mei ended up finishing all of the notes in time and she sighs. getting up and packing her things away quickly. she begins to walk down the stairs as she feels youngjae stop her. she knew it was him by the way he had touched her.

he taps her on the shoulder and she turns around. "what?"

"can i talk to you later? about the um.. necklace?" youngjae asks.

"no." she says, making eye contact with hanbin as he walked down with hao next to him.

"please. after i saw that, i need to talk things out with you."

"why don't you get your minions to do it for you? since that's what they always seem to do." mei scoffs.

youngjae frowns. "no mei i just need to talk to you–"

"you don't deserve to talk to me. fuck off." she scowls, hanbin and hao soon reached her side and look at him in confusion.

youngjae sneers at the two boys. "do you want to leave us alone?"

"no." hanbin shrugs. "we're going now, bye!" he takes her hand and pulls her out. but obviously, both hao and youngjae noticed their small skinship.

mei immediately let go of his hand. "thanks. let's go, i'm hungry." she says. she has to remember not to make her and hanbin's quick friendship noticeable.

hao was walking besides hanbin as mei was on the other side. and they were doing what they've been doing for the past week: argue.

"you two are going to give me grey hairs in university i swear to god." he complains. "literally no one gives a shit about their ranking besides you two."

"he thinks he's better because he writes faster than me! i'm fucking korean!" mei scoffs.

"you're half. and i still write in korean better than you." hao argues back.

"shut the fuck up." she crosses her arms. "this is why you're going to move down in ranks."

"what? because i'm better at writing than you? please, your insults are so weak." he laughs.

the two carried on bickering in the campus on the way to the cafeteria, where the whole friendgroup was. but today, mei agreed to eat with renjun's friendgroup.

once the trio reached the cafeteria doors, hanbin tells them very nicely to shut up. "shut the fuck up or i'm going to fucking throw you both into a volcano and i'll become first in ranks."

the two roll their eyes and the cafeteria was all looking at the (very good looking) trio. mei was trying hard to find renjun.

"he's sat on the table next to ours, you can come with us." hanbin says, turning to her.

she nods and walks with the two towards the two full tables of laughing, loud boys. mei spots renjun and smiles as she runs towards him. "oh my god finally, i was sick of being with them two." she says as hao and hanbin sat on their own table.

renjun chuckles. "anyways, this is my friendgroup, they all know you but mei, be nice while meeting them."

"i'll try. sorry i was in a two hour argument with your annoying ass too student, but hi." she tries to smile.

the group laughs. "so, should we all introduce ourselves? besides me and renjun." chenle suggests.

everyone nods and mei listened to all of their greetings. she's now met jeno, jaemin, donghyuck, xiaojun, haknyeon, yangyang, chenle and jisung.

"god, that's a lot of names." she sighs. "but it's nice to meet you all." she smiles.

renjun nods with a brother-like smile, proud of the girl's nice personality coming out when meeting his friends. he knew it wouldn't be a big struggle.

but on the other table, the group was shocked to see her act differently. "woah. with us she's all quiet and mean but she seems so comfortable there already." jiwoong says.

"most likely because it's renjun's friendgroup. whoever renjun likes, she'll like." ricky shrugs.

"renjun likes us too.." matthew chuckles.

"zhanghao." the other boys on the table all say. "it's because of him." taerae snickers.

hao rolls his eyes. "whatever. we made a deal to make everything a competition now. i'm excited to see how it'll end up."

"you and your rival could possibly turn into something more if you're with each other that much–" gyuvin teases.

"no." hanbin says. "not happening." his sudden refusal made the group surprised, making hao laugh.

❦ ♪

here's a zhangmei argument chapter xx
sorry it's boring xxxxx