Qiqi was over the moon, she had finally been hired back and she would be working alongside Lisa day after day.
She didn't even comment on the low salary, she had one and that was all that mattered, she hadn't forgotten her dream. She promised herself that she would work hard and learn as much as possible until one day she would open her own place.
Well, the dream had slightly changed after all because now she thought of it as 'our place'.

Her relationship with Lisa had not been hindered by her bizarre situation, and she thanked her star for that. Maybe it was a bit too early to think about living together, but she wasn't sorry that Lisa had suggested it. On the contrary, she liked her possessive side, she thought it was sweet, just like her.

They were currently walking all together around Rome, looking at all estate agencies they found for an apartment that could accommodate them all.

Lisa and Qiqi walked ahead, Yunlan and Wei followed them.
The apartments they had seen so far were all either too small, too big or too expensive, but they were still looking.

Qiqi saw someone selling street food and got excited, she insisted that Lisa explained to her what that 'maritozzo' was and how it was made, and they went to buy one because of course she wanted to try it.

The girls went ahead while the men stayed behind, looking at the people passing.
"We probably look like two couples," Wei said suddenly, and Yunlan chuckled. "We are!"

"You know what I mean, two men and two girls..."

"Yeah, I guess we do."

They smiled at each other, and Yunlan felt happy to see Wei so relaxed, not thinking of Feng and Jiu anymore.

He hadn't had a chance to ask the boss why were they here yet, but he didn't really care, as long as they stayed as far away from Wei as possible.

"Look who's here, little toad showing his face again!"
Wei froze, and both turned to look in the direction of the voice.

Jiu was crossing the street towards them, followed by a reluctant couple.

Yunlan noticed that BeiBei was still limping and inwardly laughed. That would serve her right for talking to Wei like that.

"Why don't you crawl back into your little hole and stay there, huh?".
Jiu's voice was conceited and full of hate.

Feng intervened trying to prevent another fight. "Stop it Jiu, I told you I'm tired of all this."

"Why? Wouldn't it be fun to see him cry?"

'He saw me crying' Wei thought, but he couldn't say it. That was one detail he had never told anyone, not Yezun and certainly not Yunlan, he still felt ashamed of how he cried silently while Feng had sex with him, ashamed because he didn't stop him, hadn't want to stop him, he had wanted so much to believe that he loved him, that someone, anyone could love him, and he had convinced himself that he loved Feng but he had never felt good in his company. He knew the difference now between loving someone and wanting to love someone.

That was back then though. He set the memory aside, it didn't matter anymore, he knew now what love felt like and didn't want to think of the past, he wanted to think only of Yunlan.

"I wouldn't enjoy seeing a man cry, but him... but I suppose an apology could suffice, after what he did to my husband," BeiBei said.

Yunlan instinctively moved closer, burning with anger. Wei felt a pain in his heart at those words, he had never been able to fight the hatred of the world but Yunlan's proud eyes the other day appeared in his mind; he knew that he wasn't either strong or brave but he could pretend that he was, and maybe he'd see that look in his eyes again.

"I have nothing to apologise for, I didn't do anything to him, it wasn't me that..."

"Shut it Wei!" Feng interrupted him, looking directly at him for the first time.

Wei had never pondered on why Feng had sex with him before going back to his girlfriend, but now he did. There was fear coming out of him, could it be possible that Feng was afraid Wei might tell BeiBei the truth?

Wei watched that face and in a moment he saw things that settled deeply inside him. His plain features that he couldn't understand now how he could have ever thought were even remotely interesting, but most of all the light behind his gaze when his eyes landed on Wei's face, that same light that had made him think that Feng liked him once.

That light was still there, could it be that Feng liked what he was seeing? That he actually liked him?

Suddenly Wei felt pity for him, was Feng living a lie? At least he was only pretending to have a girlfriend, but Feng married her and buried whatever part of him didn't agree with that plan.

Wei shook his head. "Why talk about old things now? It's all in the past, it doesn't matter anymore. I never want to think about the old days again, I have a new life now," Wei said, and Yunlan's heart filled with pride.

Yunlan couldn't see how much Wei was shaking inside but he knew that it was difficult for him to speak out loud and confront the demons of his past, and for this Yunlan felt very proud.

"Not that easily..." Jiu started, but by now the girls had come back. Seeing what was going on, Qiqi reached Wei's side and loyally took his arm. "Are these people bothering you again? Let's just go home."

"Who do you think..." Jiu started, but she interrupted him again. "I'm his girlfriend, and you're not invited to our house!"

Lisa moved closer to Yunlan. This time she couldn't ask Qiqi for a translation, so she asked him.

"(They insult Wei. Qiqi defend him. She play girlfriend.)"

Lisa looked at those people with anger. Yunlan totally sided with her on this one. He really wanted to punch them both in the face.

"If you think I believe..." BeiBei started.
"You little faggot..." Jiu spoke at the same time.

"Enough!" Feng's roar shut them both up. He pointed a finger at Jiu's face. "I told you many times to let it go, I'm tired of you. You're fired!"

Jiu opened his mouth in shock. "You can't..."
"I can do what I want! Just one word to my father and you're history!"

BeiBei murmured, "But Feng, it's Wei's fault..."
"Shut up woman, I'm tired of your whining. We go away now!"
He pulled her by her arm and forcefully dragged her away.

Jiu hurried after him like an abandoned dog.

The four of them stood there, Qiqi on Wei's left, Yunlan on his right and Lisa beside him.

Yunlan didn't know if he was relieved that they were leaving or disappointed that he didn't get a chance at clashing their heads together.

Wei watched them go away. He was still shaking inside but he didn't let it show.

They crossed the street then Feng turned his head as if pulled by an irresistible force.

Wei's eyes met his.

Wei raised an arm.

Feng was watching him and saw him wrap that arm around Yunlan's shoulder. A light flickered in his eyes then he turned quickly away and quickened his steps.

Wei dropped his arm, feeling both heavy and light at the same time.
Looking at him nobody would have guessed the quake inside him. His heart was beating so fast his chest ached, he was shaking so violently it was turning his stomach upside down.

He didn't know why he did that, or maybe he knew, maybe he had wanted to show Feng that he was capable of living the life he wanted, or maybe he did it to show him what he could have had but threw away.

"I thought you didn't want anyone to know," Yunlan asked curiously. Not that he minded of course, on the contrary he was quite happy at how things had turned out.

"Just one more," Wei replied. "I only need to tell one more person."