MBMS Chapter 4

Ring-ring-ring—

The annoying alarm shattered the early morning silence.

Ai Siyuan groped for the vibrating phone and pressed the power button. When it rang again five minutes later, he opened his eyes and realized it wasn’t his phone.

The display read 7:05 AM.

His own alarm was set for an hour later.

After staring at the ceiling for a couple of minutes to fully wake up, Ai Siyuan got out of bed and walked into the bathroom.

On the bathroom mirror was a bright pink sticky note.

“New ones. ❤”

The neatly folded towels were arranged on the rack.

Ai Siyuan took a shower first, then dried his hair while brushing his teeth. After somewhat fixing his hair and not finding his clothes from yesterday, he wrapped a towel around himself and opened the bedroom door.

At the open kitchen island, Liang Su was spreading peanut butter on toasted bread. There was also a plate of cut lettuce sandwiches next to a carton of low-fat milk.

“Morning,” Liang Su smiled at him.

“You woke up even earlier than your alarm.”

Liang Su sheepishly admitted, “I tend to wake up early when I’m either too happy or too sad.”

“I won’t ask which it is,” Ai Siyuan said as he sat at the bar stool, pulled a sandwich towards him, peeked inside the toast to see the egg and bacon—no cheese—and bit into it confidently.

Liang Su chuckled and started spreading a thick layer of blueberry jam on another piece of toast, then topped it and bit into it.

“Do you always eat breakfast at home?” Ai Siyuan asked.

“Today is a special case,” Liang Su replied.

Ai Siyuan paused while pouring milk, giving Liang Su a glance: “Very considerate.”

“Isn’t that expected?”

With a meaningful sigh, Ai Siyuan remarked, “Then I guess I’ve never passed.”

Liang Su didn’t seem bothered and continued, “I think everything happens for a reason.”

Ai Siyuan chuckled and asked, “Did you also wash my clothes?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll need to borrow a suit then.”

“Be my guest.”

Ai Siyuan opened the left side of the wardrobe: all white shirts, black trousers, and dark suit jackets. Perfect, but not what he wanted to wear.

He then opened the right side, finding more options: too-tight gym wear or too-loose casual wear. Essentially, he had no choice.

Ai Siyuan donned a full suit, checked himself in the mirror—it was a copycat version of Liang Su’s style. He walked to the entryway to put on shoes, and Liang Su caught up from behind.

“You forgot this.”

Ai Siyuan’s gaze followed Liang Su’s words down to his hands, holding a tie. Next second, those hands were around his neck, tying it. He had to bow his head.

“Good morning, Mr. Ai, you’re early today,” the assistant greeted Ai Siyuan.

“Uh-huh.” Ai Siyuan stopped rifling through the papers on his desk, noticing the assistant lingering, “Something else?”

“Er… actually,” the assistant hesitated, “did I miss some arrangement?”

Ai Siyuan looked up directly, waiting for a detailed explanation.

“It’s just… you’re dressed so formally, did I forget to note down a meeting?”

“No, it’s fine. You can go,” Ai Siyuan reassured, then casually loosened his tie and tossed it on the desk.

During lunch, Liang Hui brought the pre-ordered takeout to Ai Siyuan’s office. Suddenly, she spotted something unusual.

This office was really intriguing today—usually, everyone couldn’t wait to leave as if the air around him was toxic.

Ai Siyuan paused typing and asked, “What’s up?”

Liang Hui shook off her distraction, “Oh, nothing. Just that my brother has a tie just like that one.”

Ai Siyuan looked up, unruffled, “Did you give it to him?”

“How did you know?!” Liang Hui was surprised.

Ai Siyuan returned his gaze to the screen, casually saying, “My girlfriend gave it to me.”

“Heh, heh heh,” Liang Hui left the office with a forced laugh.

In the restroom, she muttered to the mirror, “Sneaky kid, thinks he’s so funny—it’s not at all! When did he even get a girlfriend? We’re squeezed dry at work and he’s secretly dating? That’s infuriating!”

Ai Siyuan, after discarding the takeout box and washing his hands, spotted the tie lying comfortably on the desk. He picked it up, snapped a photo, and sent it to Liang Su.

“Look familiar?”

“My tie.”

“The one your sister gave you.”

“…Sorry, I forgot.”

After a moment, Liang Su added:

“Does this bother you?”

“No.”

“Good.”

“Meeting tonight?”

“Yes.”

After a few busy hours.

“Sorry, cancel tonight, something came up.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll be away for a week.”

“Should I take you to the airport?”

“I’m already on the way.”

“Safe travels.”

A week can feel short or long. The replies were few and far between.

“Liang Su, if you’re so free, can you not bother me? Call our parents; they need your care more.”

“I find it easier to talk to you.”

“Did you get dumped again?”

“Why would you think that?”

“Don’t you know? Every time you’re heartbroken, you talk a lot and then lavish your unsettled care everywhere, but really, you’re just looking for comfort.”

“Your only brother is wounded by your words.”

“Avada Kedavra! Resurrect!”

“That’s a killing curse.”

“Ha. When did you watch that?”

“Weren’t you the one who took me to Universal?”

“I meant ‘I wish I had someone.’”

“Don’t I count?”

“Fine, let’s go tomorrow, I’m quitting this crappy class.”

“Are you joking or serious?”

…Busy line, no reply.

“Liang Hui mentioned quitting to you?”

“Why?”

“Never mind, I might have misunderstood.”

“Are you trying to poach her?”

“No.”

“She’s better off with me.”

“Okay.”

“Feels like a custody battle over a child.”

“She’d definitely choose me.”

“Not necessarily.”

“…”

Ai Siyuan hadn’t said when he’d return. Liang Su re-washed the already dried clothes. He sent a dessert to Liang Hui and noticed Ai Siyuan’s office was empty.

More than a week felt like much longer.