Let Me Meet You chapter 16
 Me, Afraid of Him?
Li Xuan didn’t return to the bedroom to sleep. Talking to Sheng Min had made him feel more awake, and he didn’t want to waste the time. He went to the study, turned on the computer, and pulled up a research paper on algorithms he hadn’t finished reading a few days earlier. Gradually, he became engrossed, and when he looked up again, the sky was already light. Too lazy to move, he dozed in his chair for a while, then resumed reading when he awoke.
With things as they were, this focused work state felt oddly comforting to him. He spent the entire day in the study, finishing the paper and then writing code for most of the afternoon, only stepping out for two meals.
When the moon rose again, he stifled a yawn, remembering the shoot scheduled for the next day, and headed back to the bedroom.
To his surprise, Sheng Min was still awake. They had only exchanged a few indifferent words during meals, and while Li Xuan stayed in the study, Sheng Min had kept to himself in the living room, doing who knew what. After dinner, he’d opened the study door briefly, then left without a word when he saw that Li Xuan was busy.
“Did you finish your work?” Sheng Min asked, tilting his head.
“Yeah,” Li Xuan replied casually, lying down and pulling up the blanket. He noticed Sheng Min still looking at him. “What? You’re not waiting up for me, are you?”
“Yes, I am,” Sheng Min answered.
Li Xuan was tired, his mind not as sharp as it had been earlier. His first thought was that Sheng Min was indeed a bit unhinged—waiting to eat with him was one thing, but waiting to sleep was just absurd.
Luckily, Sheng Min quickly handed him his phone. “Here’s the plan for tomorrow’s shoot. Do you want to look it over?”
“If I don’t look, your waiting will be for nothing. Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” Li Xuan propped himself up on his elbow.
Because you looked so tired, Sheng Min thought.
Li Xuan didn’t even take the phone; he just scrolled through the information on Sheng Min’s screen. “Alright, got it,” he said after less than a minute.
Sheng Min doubted he could remember much in such a short time, but seeing the weariness on his face, he decided not to push it. They could go over it again on the way tomorrow if needed.
“Then let’s sleep.” he set down his phone, turned off the light, and lay down, noticing that Li Xuan’s breathing was already steady; he had fallen asleep.
……
The next morning, Li Xuan awoke to the faint sound of Sheng Min talking on the phone outside the room.
“Did I wake you?” Sheng Min entered quietly after ending the call, looking apologetic when he saw him awake.
“No,” Li Xuan replied, covering his eyes with his arm. “What time is it?”
“A bit after seven. If you’re still tired, you can sleep a little longer. My assistant will be here to pick us up at eight, so I’ll wake you in half an hour if you want.”
“No need. What’s the point of just half an hour?” Li Xuan tossed off the covers and got up, heading to the closet for clothes. Sheng Min’s casual wear suited him well—simple, solid colors without any unnecessary embellishments.
He grabbed a black T-shirt. “That idiot won’t be coming along today, right?”
“You mean Zhang Zhihua?” Sheng Min hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “…He wasn’t planning to.” But after Li Xuan’s last outburst, Zhang Zhihua was a bit concerned about him losing his temper on set, so he’d likely show up. Sheng Min didn’t say this part, but Li Xuan picked up on it.
He paused his hand from changing clothes, half-smiling, “are you blaming me?”
Sheng Min shook his head. “No. I meant that he likely has other plans today and won’t stay long even if he comes, so you…”
Li Xuan sneered. “Am I supposed to be afraid of him?”
Of course I know you’re not afraid of him. I’m just afraid you’ll hit him.
Sheng Min thought this but didn’t respond and busied himself straightening the blanket. When he looked up, he noticed Li Xuan still holding the T-shirt, his pajamas already off, leaving him in just a loose pair of black sweatpants, bare-chested and looking at him.
“Put on the shirt first,” Sheng Min quickly lowered his head, “whatever else we need to discuss, let’s talk once you’re dressed.”
“I have nothing to say.” Li Xuan glanced at him. “Is it that big a deal? We’re both men. Are you afraid of seeing yourself naked?”
That’s different. Sheng Min thought. Normally, people don’t get such a clear, direct view of their body without a mirror, not to mention it felt different when there was someone else in the same body.
“Put on the shirt.” He mumbled, pretending to continue straightening the blanket, now wrinkling the previously smooth satin.
Seeing his ears turn a bit red, Li Xuan thought, I never realized my skin was so sensitive before. After a moment’s hesitation, he picked up a pair of pants and went into the bathroom.
Sheng Min raised his head and let out a sigh of relief.
They tidied up and left, getting a call from Yang Xu as they entered the elevator saying he had arrived.
“The white car. The one in yellow next to it is my assistant.” Sheng Min spotted Yang Xu as they entered the garage.
Li Xuan, meanwhile, was reading a message from Qi Boyuan, saying that their company needed his ID for an account setup. Without looking up, he muttered, “Hmm.” Sheng Min tugged at his shirt hem.
“What?”
“Yang Xu is a nice person.”
Li Xuan glanced at him with an expression that said, Just say it.
Sheng Min carefully continued, “It’s just that sometimes he’s a bit slow to react, and not great at reading people’s expressions. He’s used to hanging out with me and might make some mistakes, so could you be a little patient with him?”
Li Xuan glanced at him again. “So you’re saying I have a bad temper? Roundabout way of putting it.”
“Of course not.” Sheng Min feigned ignorance. “I said he’s slow to react.”
Li Xuan let out a chuckle.
At that moment, Yang Xu noticed them too.
“Ge!” he waved enthusiastically.
Li Xuan didn’t react, so Sheng Min tugged at his shirt again.
“You’re going to tear my shoulder off,” Li Xuan said impatiently, reluctantly lifting a hand in acknowledgment of Yang Xu’s greeting.
Yang Xu ran over, and just when Li Xuan thought he’d crash into him, he stopped abruptly.
“Ge.” He called out again, then noticed Sheng Min standing next to him. Eyeing him closely, he lowered his voice and asked Li Xuan, with a suspicious expression, “Is this the assistant Zhang Ge was talking about?”
Li Xuan was speechless; they were so close that even if Yang Xu was whispering, Sheng Min could still hear it as if a mosquito was buzzing in his ear. He didn’t understand why Yang Xu was speaking so quietly.
“Stand up straight,” Li Xuan took a step back, frowning. “Don’t act all sneaky like we’re plotting a heist.”
Yang Xu looked at him in confusion. “What’s up with you, Ge?”
“Hello.” Sheng Min quickly extended his hand to smooth things over. “I’m Li Xuan, the new assistant.”
Yang Xu gave him a quick look, then hesitantly shook his hand. “I’m Yang Xu.”
Li Xuan caught Sheng Min’s expression from the corner of his eye, finding this awkward situation both tiring and amusing. Sheng Min glanced back at him with a slightly helpless look.
Li Xuan cleared his throat, “Let’s get in the car.”