The ride with Zhai Mei was peaceful and quiet, and they hadn't communicated much because Zhai Mei was driving, only doing so at red lights.
The car was playing a piece of very chill music when Gu Wei entered.
Zhai Mei had tapped her fingers to the rhythm in perfect sync, as if she'd done so a thousand time.
Gu Wei had checked the name, Mother Nature, and he guessed they were the group who'd performed at the Venue.
Zhai Mei had confirmed this, asking if Gu Wei liked what he heard.
And yes, Gu Wei liked what he heard.
It was rare to see music that balanced both alternative and pop without messing it up, and Zhai Mei had grinned like the proud fan she was when she heard Gu Wei's praise.
Then the light turned green, and they drove for a few minutes before Zhai Mei inquired about that day at the venue, if the actress Fu Yuan was the one he'd gone to see.
The person grinning now was Gu Wei, and he asked if Zhai Mei liked Fu Yuan.
Genuinely curious about this as most of his friends said he was overly obsessed and weren't making it worse with their joint obsession.
Zhai Mei had thought about the question seriously for a few moments, then replied, saying she wasn't a fan, but her mother was.
Although, she had watched more than a few of her films, TV series, and variety shows, and recognised her talent in all.
Zhai Mei acknowledged that she was indeed deserving of the hype.
As expected, Gu Wei was nothing but surprised at her answer.
This was probably the first time he'd met someone who wasn't a fan of Fu Yuan's but didn't slander or say his Goddess was only popular for the sake of it.
The fridge clicked shut as Gu Wei floated around the house, reminiscing about a conversation that had happened an hour ago.
Zhai Mei had dropped him off at the apartment, asking if he really did get good sleep in there.
Gu Wei had laughed and said it depended on the building's mood.
He'd thanked her for the ride and had stepped out of the car when Zhai Mei had caught his hand in hers.
Her hand was ever so warm, and Gu Wei had missed its presence before it slid off and the owner hesitatingly asked for his MeChat.
Were they friends? Was Zhai Mei's conclusion, staring into Gu Wei's eyes like she was unearthing his deepest secrets.
At that moment, Gu Wei would've said yes to anything she said, and the answer was the same to Zhai Mei's question. Yes, they were friends.
In the present moment, Gu Wei was clutching his phone in one hand and eating the stolen food he'd brought with him with the other on the couch.
He was in a dilemma of the century.
What to text. When to text. How to text.
Zhai Mei should've arrived home too by now, as Gu Wei had showered and doom scrolled through Fu Yuan's social media for over an hour.
Today was a free day for him, well, excluding the prison he would pay a visit to this afternoon.
Gu Wei's Tuesday was free, and the shop was closed without appointments for the day.
Hands still hovering over his screen as he struggled to find the right words, Gu Wei heard shuffling behind him, and a figure bypassed him in the living room to the kitchen.
Ha Xing scowled at the colourful packets in the cupboards. "Why'd you buy so much ramen?"
When he got no answer, he looked over to find a smiling Gu Wei staring intently at his phone.
Ha Xing hadn't seen his roommate for a day now, and Ha Xing wondered how he'd passed him by last night without his knowledge. Sneaky.
"Gu Wei-ah!" He called out, still getting no response from the human.
Ha Xing's scowl turned dark, and he shouted, "Gu Wei-ah! Gu Wei! Gu Wei! Gu Wei! Gu-"
"What, what, what? Why're you screaming my name? Can't you see I'm busy? There's a reason why I didn't answer the first time. Too caught up in your drama to notice someone's busy?! Stop shouting my name like I owe you money! Seriously…"
Gu Wei's outburst was met with a gaping mouth from Ha Xing.
Gu Wei scowled at his friend, angrily stood and headed inside to the room, before stopping halfway, turned briskly and walked to the kitchen instead.
Ha Xing flinched back, so sure this person was coming to punch him outright.
However, Gu Wei did not have his time.
He tossed the remaining skewered meat he'd been chewing in the fridge and took his notebook from the top where he'd left it.
Ha Xing's eyes shifted to the new, unfamiliar paper.
He bought another book? Ha Xing thought, still gaping as Gu Wei ignored him and went inside without so much as a single look.
Meanwhile, Gu Wei settled into his bed and dismissed any thoughts of his roommate. Ha Xing's face was vexing him at the moment.
Gu Wei was having a crisis over what to text.
He had a new friend now, and Ha Xing was going to be tossed and abandoned if he didn't figure out his and Shi Yi's stuff soon.
Gu Wei waited for no one.
Laughing at his thoughts, Gu Wei sighed and shifted into his favourite position. On his back.
He held his phone out and squinted at the screen. Maybe just a simple hi?
He should send something simple, since his conversations with Zhai Mei were always simple. Like the one in the car just now.
Gu Wei's mind once again drifted to the conversation…
'Why do you like her, Fu Yuan?' Zhai Mei had asked, eyes trained on the traffic light.
She was such a focused driver, Gu Wei felt safe sitting in the car with her, unlike his other friends.
Specifically, two annoying people.
It took a long time for Gu Wei to answer because, as impossible as it might seem, this was the first time someone had asked him such a question, and so seriously.
So Gu Wei took his time thinking, and when he'd gathered his thoughts, replied slowly.
There were a lot of reasons why Gu Wei liked Fu Yuan, but one of the main reasons was her confidence.
Fu Yuan was confident in who she was, what she did, and how she portrayed it, and Gu Wei wished he had half of it.
His idol also never failed to share her unfiltered thoughts about the world, especially society standards.
Fu Yuan talked a lot about it. Gu Wei wholeheartedly agreed with her.
The subject wasn't broached a lot in the modern world they were in, and the public's view of everything and how it was supposed to be or appear was set in an unmoving pedestal.
At first glance, Fu Yuan might seem like the typical kind of celebrity one saw on a daily basis.
But, beneath her smiles and beauty was a philosophical mind that saw everything.
Not in black and white, but with the grey areas and mixed colours most people dismissed or refused to acknowledge.
Gu Wei felt honoured to be a fan of such a being and hoped to grow to be as open-minded and aware as Fu Yuan.
Not to say, she chose her works wisely and systematically.
A drama that promoted awareness on any subject the typical public usually turned the back of their heads to was chosen every two years or so.
And the stories were always so heartfelt, relatable, and heartbreaking sometimes, as they mostly portrayed realistic tellings and only a bit of fiction.
What did Gu Wei love the most about it?
The cheerful, easygoing dramas she did next. They offered a reprieve from the heavy feelings in the previous one.
Fu Yuan knew what she was doing, and in everything, her confidence bled through.
That was why Gu Wei adored her so much, because she was someone he hoped to become one day.
His ranting had taken all the time they had during the red light, and Zhai Mei offered a quick reply before driving.
'She's someone I want to be too.'
And Gu Wei had never heard a reply as perfect as the one Zhai Mei gave.
He'd stared at her afterwards, and Zhai Mei had turned her head briefly to meet his shameful staring.
What made Gu Wei's heart lift in joy was the smile that crept over both their faces in that brief moment of contact.
That same smile overcame Gu Wei in his room, head resting on his pillow as the memory faded.
His phone vibrated in his outstretched arms, and the device dropped, hitting him on the cheek and falling beside his head.
A sharp inhale was all Gu Wei mustered at the hit, his brain going, Zhai Mei?
Sitting up hurriedly, Gu Wei snatched his phone and checked his notifications. Hope lifted in him at the thought that Zhai Mei had blasted through his hesitation and texted him first.
Unfortunately, that was not the case, as Gu Wei saw an unfamiliar number.
Unknown Number: Good morning. This is Miss Li. I added you to the group chat so please refrain from personal messages through here unless absolutely necessary.
This is to inform you that we're having a meeting this afternoon at the same time as yesterday, and your bag has been given to the receptionist to hand over to you when you arrive. Don't be late.
His hope shrinking with every word read on the message, Gu Wei pouted and slumped back on the bed, then sprang up again as he re-read the time.
Half past eleven!
Sending a quick reply to Miss Li and saving her number, Gu Wei hurried to throw on presentable clothes.
All the while, crying inside at the thought of seeing Miss Li and the others again.
The boy was so preoccupied with his preparation and cab hailing that he completely forgot he was going to text a certain curly-haired person, as forgetful and frantic as he was.
So when that person herself sent a text, Gu Wei's mind was too far off and busy to notice the swoosh of notification.
Missing one of many chances to connect more with his new friend.