Hello, I'm setting the story to rated mature. Lmao hope you don't mind.
---

Xiao Zhan once again rushed his way to his school and without looking properly, he bumped into someone. Being in a hurry he just said a quick, "I'm so sorry!" and didn't even bother to look at the person he bumped into, he proceeded on catching up with his first class in the morning.

He arrived just in time and Zhuocheng sighed at his best friend who's always running late. "What even took you so long this time?"

"I had a very lovely dream with Li Qin, of course I don't want to end it too soon," Xiao Zhan whispered with a smile and Zhuocheng wanted to barf, he rolled his eyes in disgust and ignore Xiao Zhan. His best friend gave him a chuckle.

"You're really annoying," Zhuocheng commented. Before Xiao Zhan could reply, their professor arrived. They conducted the class immediately.

• • •

Wang Yibo frowned at his slightly crumpled uniform and dusted off himself. That person that hit him earlier sure was in a hurry. Obviously, Wang Yibo already has a hint who it actually was.

• • •

For the whole day in university, Xiao Zhan thought that Li Qin would notice him when they went pass each other. But it didn't seem like it, Li Qin was still happily talking with her friends, it was obvious that she still didn't know who Xiao Zhan really is, or did she?

Feeling conscious and embarrassed of Li Qin, Xiao Zhan quickly went home after his classes.

• • •

"Zhan! Are you coming to the party?" Wu Jiacheng asks as he tapped his fingers on the table.

"What party?" Xiao Zhan asked, looking up from his book then to his friend.

"Li Qin's! Did you forget? It's her birthday today." Hearing those words quickly made Xiao Zhan listen attentively. "Seriously? I forgot! I was so busy with homework. But I'm not invited though..." Xiao Zhan's words died down as he said the last part. He's been spacing out lately since it's been 2 days since he sent the letter.

At the first day, he was so anxious whenever he comes across Li Qin but it seems that nothing changed and he still didn't get to talk to her. Now he's wondering if Li Qin didn't even give his feelings a chance. Feeling depressed, he sulked on his chair. Or maybe his letter was too ugly or it didn't fit Li Qin's expectations? Now he felt embarrassed.

Wu Jiacheng seeing his friend being all sad, made him panic. "Ay! Everyone's invited though! Everyone in our batch!" Jiacheng said, trying to cheer up Xiao Zhan.

"I don't know, it feels too awkward and maybe the letter turned her off," Xiao Zhan replied.

"Maybe she forgot to tell you her reply?" Peng Chuyue continued, "Right? She has a lot of suitors anyways-" Wang Zhuocheng cut him off and said, "I told you, letters don't work."

"Aish, come on guys, Zhan is already down, don't make it worse," Zhao Lei said and gave Xiao Zhan a pat on the back.

"I think going to the party is a nice idea, Zhan. Maybe, when she sees you properly, she'll give you her reply. And you can greet her a happy birthday!" Zhao Lei comforted.

Maybe that's the best idea, besides, it's still Xiao Zhan's fault for not telling his feelings personally. He shouldn't jump it to conclusions, he still has a chance. "Alright, I don't have anything to give her though," Xiao Zhan said Zhuocheng wanted to facepalm.

"Can you even approach her this time?" Zhuocheng asked.

"I'll try, Zhuocheng!" Xiao Zhan retorted. "It's settled then," Peng Chuyue said and stood up from his seat.

"Where do you think you're going? We have a homework to finish," Zhao Lei said and everyone laughed at Peng Chuyue.

• • •

"My dear friend, Yibo, have you made up your mind?" Yixuan said as he put his arm around Wang Yibo's neck. "I don't want to get squished in the crowd," Wang Yibo replied, never looking up from his phone.

"Come on, it's fun! Besides you told us that you'd hang out with us," Sungjoo whined.

"Right, it's time to relax," Wenhan added with a smirk on his face. "Relax by partying?" Wang Yibo deadpanned. "There are a lot of girls there! I believe Li Qin's looking forward to see you," Seungyoun said and Wang Yibo frowned. "I don't want to deal with annoying childhood friends," Wang Yibo said coldly and Seungyoon sighed.

"Aish, why is our Yibo so hard to-" Yixuan was cut off when Wenhan suddenly spoke, "Ah? What's this? It smells really sweet. Like... Sweet Vanilla?"

Wang Yibo saw Wenhan holding a white paper that was folded neatly. "Wenhan! I told you not to touch what isn't yours," Seungyoun frowned and Wang Yibo calmly took the paper from Wenhan's grasp before he could open it.

"It's just a scented paper," Wang Yibo said and Wenhan looked curiously at him. "Eh? I didn't know you like the sweet vanilla scent? What's that scented paper for?"

"Ah! From one of your fangirls again!" Yixuan said and shook Wang Yibo. Yibo didn't say anything and fixed his bag. Completely ignoring the paper, they went back to talk about the important matter at the moment. "Are you sure you're not coming? I don't want Li Qin to complain on by my side this time," Seungyoun said problematically.

"Have mercy on our poor Seungyoon, Yibo!" Sungjoo jokingly cried. Yibo didn't give any reaction.

"I'll let you borrow my new motorbike if it makes you happy," Wenhan sighed and Wang Yibo immediately smiled.

"Just for an hour," Wang Yibo shortly replied and everyone in the room cheered.

• • •

"I'll just give her roses?" Xiao Zhan said while panicking.

"She'll probably receive a lot of those," Wu Jiacheng said.

"Find something that can be useful," Zhao Lei said and showed Xiao Zhan a hair clip.

"I feel awkward standing at the girls' section," Zhuocheng complained. Xiao Zhan laughed and said, "Why? Don't you also go here to buy senior sister Lu's stuff?"

"That's a different story," Zhuocheng frowned. "Just pick a gift already and let's go! I don't want to arrive late or else the food will be all gone!" Peng Chuyue cried.

"Since Chuyue and Zhuocheng kept complaining, I'll buy this hair clip," Xiao Zhan said with a sigh, he honestly doesn't have a choice, they were running out of time and he can't think of any possible gift anymore.

"Are you sure, Zhan?" Zhao Lei asked and Xiao Zhan just nodded his head. They went to the counter to pay.

• • •

Xiao Zhan wasn't wearing anything fancy, just a sky blue polo with a white inner shirt and a pair of black skinny jeans, at least he tried his best. He did fix his hair a little bit.

"Wow, the whole house is flooding with people." Peng Chuyue said in amazement. "I thought this was a formal birthday celebration or something," Wu Jiacheng added as they tried to squeezed in with the crowd.

"I can't see Li Qin anywhere," Xiao Zhan raised his voice a little as they managed to get inside. The heavy beat of the loud speakers were making them deaf. This party sure is more like a college trash house or something, it didn't look like a birthday party. You can actually see other people grinding with the music or you can spot somewhere in the house where others were busy making out.

Despite Xiao Zhan being a loud, shameless and cheerful person, he still has his own limits, he felt awkward looking at others making out in the dark. He just wanted to greet Li Qin a happy birthday, give her the present and might as well tell her about the letter or specifically, his feelings.

"Xiao Zhan! Jiacheng and I will go get some food!" Peng Chuyue shouted against the loud speakers and before Xiao Zhan could reply, the two of his friends disappeared. He looked at his right to find no one beside him, Zhuocheng and Zhao Lei isn't with him either. Xiao Zhan sighed, so much for sticking together.

At least, this is Xiao Zhan's time to find Li Qin. He spent a good 30 minutes exploring the 1st floor looking for her but she was nowhere in sight. How come the birthday girl isn't even present?

Xiao Zhan was getting tired of searching and he was on the verge of giving up when he spot her at the end of a hallway. "Ah! Li Qin-" He was suddenly cut off when a hand covered his mouth, "Shhh! Can't you see? Li Qin's busy making out with her boyfriend. That's probably her birthday present." Hearing those words made Xiao Zhan froze on his place. Now he suddenly felt deaf. "Ah? I never saw you before," Meng Mei said and scratched her chin.

"I should get going," Xiao Zhan said quickly and disappeared in the crowd. Before Meng Mei could react, he already left and she only saw a silver pin on the carpet floor.

Xiao Zhan felt suffocated and he felt extremely stupid. The lighting of the hallway truly sucked, he didn't even notice that Li Qin was making out with someone until Meng Mei interfered and told him about it.

He went out of the house and went to the backyard to have some fresh air. He immediately took a cup from one of the people serving drinks. Xiao Zhan drank it in one go and his throat burned. "Ah shit..." He cursed under his breath and took another cup, he drank once more.

Xiao Zhan was feeling mixed emotions, he felt angry with himself at the same time he felt really sad. How could he be so damn stupid? Of course Li Qin wouldn't choose him! She already has a boyfriend! Xiao Zhan bet his letter was thrown at the trash can.

Xiao Zhan kept on drinking and drinking from the drinks that were being served, he wasn't even aware that it was alcohol. He had a high tolerance but this time he drank too much. Feeling tipsy and drunk, he probably looked stupid as he was walking sideways.

His mind was in a blur as he was trying to forget how his first love didn't turn out right. Walking near the edge of the pool, Xiao Zhan knew that in the back of his mind, he'll surely fall. But he didn't seem to care at the moment since he was too drunk to think straight and his thoughts were a complete mess.

Carelessly walking, he slipped his foot and at that very moment, he knew he was gonna fall. Xiao Zhan prepared himself to fall on an icy cold water, but after a couple of seconds he was met with a built chest and a warm embrace wrapping him.

Xiao Zhan never felt so lost and his mind was sending alarms, telling him that who is the person. Xiao Zhan couldn't even care, he was too tired to deal with shit right now. He leaned in and buried his face on the chest of the person that was hugging him. Surely, it was a man. "You should be more careful," a low and hoarse voice said from above his head.

Xiao Zhan just replied a "Mn."

---
Sorry if there are typos! Please do tell if I made errors!