Hues of blue, violet and pink paint the sky as another day comes to a close. The clouds part in the horizon to allow the sun to bid its farewell and all Kyungsoo can do is smile at it behind the window of their moving vehicle.

“I should treat you to dinner.” Jongin’s voice pierces through the silence, deep with a bit of a tremble. Kyungsoo can tell that he is smiling. “You’ve worked hard, tagging along all of my interviews for today.” The young CEO adds when he sees the surprise in his employee’s face.

“No, it’s okay,” Kyungsoo politely declines, eyes not meeting Jongin’s as he continues, “I was just doing my job.”

The older hums, finger tapping his chin as if he is in deep thought, “If I remember it correctly it is not part of your job description as a scriptwriter to follow the Executive Producer the whole day and translate for him.” Even with the CEO’s attempt at coaxing him, conflict is still written all over the scriptwriter’s face.

“Come on.”  Jongin places a hand over the younger’s, he squeezes it and adds, “It’s just dinner, Kyungsoo.”

Reluctantly, Kyungsoo finds himself sitting in front of his boss in a fancy restaurant at the hotel he is staying at. When he looks at the menu to choose dinner for himself, he scrunches his forehead at the lack of price. He doesn’t voice it out though but Jongin chuckles in front of him at the adorable pout he is wearing.

“Just choose whatever you feel like eating, Kyungsoo.” Jongin’s smile is boyish with a slight hint of a smirk but Kyungsoo can’t be bothered by it, not when his boss looks impeccably handsome, looking years younger than his real age. The younger bites his bottom lip and chooses at random, hoping they are not too expensive and that the older won’t think he is taking advantage of his kindness.

“Why don’t you tell me more about yourself Kyungsoo?” Jongin asks once the waiter has left them with a bottle of wine. The scriptwriter can’t help but worry his bottom lip again, not really knowing where his boss is getting with this. “I’m sure you know a lot about me by now, considering the fact that you’ve been following me around on my interviews and translating answers about my personal life.”

Ah. Kyungsoo realizes, he just wants to get to know me. He must be curious about the normal life of a normal employee.

“What would you like to know?” His voice is a bit shaky, not really sure if he wants to share his personal life to someone just a step above a stranger.

“Hmm,” Jongin seems to think of the best question to ask, fingers the stem of his wine glass then his eyes light up with something akin to a eureka moment, “let’s start with how you got here? You’re Korean but you’re in China. How come?” He tilts his head to the side, a sign of honest curiosity as he watches Kyungsoo gulp half of his drink.

Maybe I’ll have the courage with a little bit of alcohol in my system, he reasons as he places his glass back to the table.

“Well, my mother and father separated when I was still young and my mother, who is Chinese, won the custody and brought me here with her.” He is preparing himself for the next question: Why did they separate? Were you aware that they had arguments? Are you still in contact with your father? Do you prefer being with your mother or your father? Questions that curious people ask him when they learn of his history. But instead of asking any of those, Jongin surprises him and inquires: “Do you like China more than Korea?”

Kyungsoo wants to snort at his boss’ inquiry. Out of all of the questions the older could have asked, that is what he deems important but the younger wouldn’t have it any other way so he answers truthfully:

“Korea is still my hometown but China is home now. I cannot choose which one I like more because they are equal for me.”

“Ah, I understand.” Jongin hums and he looks thoughtful when he lifts his gaze to Kyungsoo. He was about to ask another question when the waiter comes in with their appetizer, drawing the CEO’s attention away from their conversation to the food being served. He looks hungry, his lips and smacking them together when he picks up his utensils.

“Dig in, Kyungsoo.” He suggests before doing so himself.

Like this, Kyungsoo thinks, he looks more like a teenager who has been allowed freedom for the first time not a CEO with an umbrella company over his shoulders. And he can’t deny the fact that he likes this Jongin more than the one who seriously surveys the grounds of the set or giving nothing but facts in his answers. This Kim Jongin is someone he can get used to.

“Don’t you have a Chinese name?” Jongin finally asks, once he had cleared his appetizer, “Minseok told me he has one, Xiaoming? Xia– Xiun…” He grumbles, eyebrows meeting in the middle as he struggles to remember the manager’s Chinese name.

“Xiumin,” Kyungsoo happily supplies, more at ease now than before as he takes another sip of his wine.

“Right, right, that!” Jongin giggles and the younger couldn’t stop the smile from breaking out of his face because that is absolutely adorable. “Do you?” The CEO pushes, not forgetting his initial question.

“I do, but I don’t use it often because I’m more comfortable with my Korean name.”

“I want to know, I want to know.” Jongin edges in his seat and moves forward, showing eagerness.

“Du Jing Xiu.” Kyungsoo replies, a small smile playing on his lips as he sees the genuine excitement in his boss’ eyes.

“That’s cute,” Jongin instantly coos, watching how adorable Kyungsoo’s lips pucker when he says his name, “mine sounds scary,” he adds and makes a stern expression before saying: “Jin Zhong Ren.” They both giggle and the sound fills the air, slowly dying down as they make eye contact.

“I’m really thankful that I met you, Kyungsoo.” Jongin suddenly utters when there is nothing but the sound of cutlery on porcelain heard in the room. The red dusting the scriptwriter’s cheeks grow a shade deeper as he forgets all the words he has been blessed with, his boss eyeing him throughout his inner turmoil for a reply is not helping either.

“I am not worthy of such gratitude,” Kyungsoo blurts out after a while, “I should be more gratified that I met you.” Jongin tilts his head after a while, the formal tone said in a language he barely understands confuses him. When he doesn’t reply, the scriptwriter immediately understands the mistake he made. “I, I mean,” he picks back up, this time in Korean, “I am more grateful that I met you.”

Jongin nods before asking: “Why did you suddenly switch to Chinese?”

“I, umm,” Kyungsoo tries to think of an excuse before he can confess: My mind came up blank and all I could think of is the script of A Diamond with a Flaw. “I don’t know, I guess it’s more comfortable.”

“Am I making you feel uncomfortable?” Jongin didn’t sound offended but purely curious when he tilts his head to the side.

“No, no, definitely not.” Kyungsoo shakes his head and in a vain attempt to change the topic he suddenly asks: “When is your flight back to Seoul?”

“I’m definitely making you uncomfortable.” Jongin frowns, looking all boyish compared to the commanding aura he usually has even during interviews. “You’re even asking when you can get rid of me already.” His lips jut out into a pout and Kyungsoo wants nothing but to comfort him and extinguish the confusion.

“No,” the scriptwriter’s hand unknowingly covers Jongin’s much larger one and squeezes it, “I was just wondering when you’ll be flying back. I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m sorry.” He instinctively squeezes it again and is caught off guard when his boss suddenly takes hold of his hand and smiles at him.

“You’re so cute when you’re flustered.” Kyungsoo tries his best to pull his hand away from Jongin’s without using so much force but his boss is stronger than him, smiling even as his employee struggles to free his hand. “There’s no use fighting it, Kyungsoo.” The scriptwriter stops pulling his hand away from his boss, head lifting and eyes meeting Jongin’s. What his boss says next renders him completely shock frozen in his seat.

“I’ve already fallen for you.”

*****

It is getting pretty late already but the crew is still hard at work, filming the last few scenes before they can call it a day. Yixing decides to excuse himself and take advantage of the lesser foot traffic around the set to walk around and enjoy the cool night. It takes him three turns before he sees a figure standing just outside the Yu residence set.

Yifan.

Fortunately, the actor is free of his character clothes and is only wearing casual clothing, his hair, now longer than he first met Yixing, tied up in a half ponytail. He is on his phone and just standing there, probably browsing through the internet and checking his Weibo account. Yixing bites his bottom lip because one should not be this bothered while they’re just looking at someone. Yifan is handsome, but Yixing has seen other beautiful people before, so why is his heart singing in his chest just at the sight of Wu Yifan?

Just when he was about to turn around and leave, Yifan lifts his head up and makes eye contact with him. He smiles, albeit shakily, and walks towards the actor. Yifan straightens up and pockets his cellphone when he sees Yixing approach him, with a nod as the only greeting he is able to give.

“Hi.” Yixing greets when he is within hearing distance from where Yifan is. The older nods again, the words catching in his throat when he sees the dimple on the author’s cheek.

Unfair, he wants to protest, but the adorable impression just makes him smile against his will.

“You did really well today, I should have known,” Yixing speaks up when one of the cameramen passes by, his soft voice carried by the breeze that caresses Yifan’s cheeks, “You really are perfect for the role.” The compliment warms the actor’s heart. He is not sure if Yixing is just saying it out of kindness but he will take the generous praise either way because the author is smiling up at him and when he is doing that he can’t really think of Yixing doing any kind of harm no matter how small or insignificant.

“Thank you.” He rasps out, a hand rubbing his neck in embarrassment before he clears his throat.

“Do you mind if I join you?” The author asks, tilting his head in an adorable way, Yifan cannot deny him especially when he has such a cute expression on his face. The older ushers them to sit on the stone steps and he sits two steps behind Yixing just so he doesn’t have to sit beside him.

“It’s a beautiful night.” Yixing supplies sweetly, looking up at the sky, at the stars twinkling against the dark background. Yifan can’t help but do the same and hum in agreement. It is a beautiful night. He rarely gets to appreciate these things, especially with the heavy smog in the city. But here in the middle of quiet valleys, closer to nature, he is allowed that chance. When he looks down to steal a glance of the author’s face, he finds him with his eyes closed, face serene, breathing normally, not anything like before when he found him having a hard time breathing and struggling to keep himself up.

Without even thinking, Yifan suddenly blurts out: “Are you feeling better now?”

The question startles Yixing enough that he almost jumps on his seat. When he looks up at Yifan, the older looks almost regretful of what he said.

Could it be that he has been wondering all along? If so then why didn’t he send me a message? Yixing pouts but he immediately erases it and answers the older’s question. At least, he thinks, he is asking it now.

“Yes,” the author smiles, shy and small, “better.”

Yifan hums, eyes going back to trail across the mountain range before looking up at the stars again, “That’s good to hear.”

“Were you worried?” Yixing asks after a beat with a teasing lilt in his voice but when he looks at the older, Yifan’s face is painted with a solemn expression and he regrets what he just said, “I, umm, sorry.”

“I was,” Yifan snaps out of his thoughts, “I really was.”

“I’m glad to see you around here again.” The actor adds when he doesn’t get a reply from the author. Yixing smiles shyly, keeping it away and for himself only.

In a desperate act to keep the flow going, Yifan asks: “Yixing, I was wondering about a few things?” To this, the author turns around on his seat to face Yifan and he urges the actor to continue by nodding at him.

“Well, it’s about the book and I know you’ve never done any interviews about it so I was wondering maybe you didn’t want to be asked about it?” Yifan is cautious and he might be right about his assumption so he has to make sure that Yixing is alright about the topic of his queries before moving forward.

“Hmm,” Yixing hums, weighing whether it is good to be open about the book since Yifan might touch topics that are too personal and might be too close to his personal life. However, the actor looks very eager as his eyes follow Yixing’s every move so he gives in and agrees with one condition, “I’ll allow you to ask but only three questions and if it becomes too personal you should promise not to push me for answers.” The actor instantly nods and for a minute Yixing thought he was cute but then he scrunches his eyebrows and looks deep in thought, probably judging which question he should ask first.

“First question.” Yixing shoots when Yifan stays quiet for too long. He doesn’t think there should be too many questions regarding it.

“Ah,” Yifan panics for a while then he winces, “okay, this first might be lame and I might be wasting my one question on this.”

“Just spit it out.” Yixing kids, lightly slapping Yifan’s knee but the older doesn’t seem to mind, his brain muddled with questions he has been wanting to ask the author.

“Okay, okay, tell me about the title then.”

“That’s not really a question, Yifan.” Yixing counters at the generalized query. He sighs when the actor just gives him a crooked smile, an excuse for his simple question. “Fine, but what exactly do you want to know about the title?”

“Why is it entitled A Diamond with a Flaw?” Yifan asks as he places his arms over his knees so he can prop his chin on it to listen to Yixing’s answer.

“It came from the saying: A diamond with a flaw is worth more than a pebble without imperfections. Well as to why I gave the book that title, isn’t it quite obvious already?” The actor seems to ponder on it before opening his mouth to give it a guess.

“Zheng Guang Xi is a diamond, he’s described as someone beautiful even as a boy, he comes from a good family but his father leaves them for another woman and–” Yifan stops when he sees that Yixing’s focus is on him, even though he knows that there is only the two of them at the moment, he feels unnerved by the attention he is getting. Although he is a celebrity and gets more attention when he is out and about, the way Yixing looks at him makes him squirm on his seat.

“Go on,” Yixing adds a gesture with his hand, “I want to hear what you have to say about it.” But Yifan doesn’t continue, turning the other way to break eye contact with the author. The author doesn’t push him further, instead giving the answer that he needs the actor to know.

“Actually, the title is for the nobleman,” Yifan quickly turns his head to face Yixing, eyes wide in surprise at the younger’s revelation, “he is the diamond with a flaw. He is from a well-known family, a scholar and a warrior, capable and bright, but,” Yixing looks at the actor his eyes expectant now that the author is giving his explanation, “he fell in love with a person of the same . People back then accepted that belief, being gay was not taboo but they were also never meant for serious relationships. It is true that the story is written from Guang Xi’s point of view and it is mostly his life story that is talked about in the book but you also have to remember that a huge part of his life was dominated by the time he spent with Shi An.”

Yifan nods in understanding, “So you are kind of describing Shi An.” To this thought of his, the author nods and says: “If you didn’t notice, Shi An is never described as someone disgraceful except when the perspectives are changed to someone who knows their relationship.” The actor nods again, letting all the information sink in and help him in his future scenes.

“You’re next question, then?” Yixing turns away, satisfied that the actor easily understood and did not argue as he expected. Even without looking at Yifan, he can hear the gears of his brain turning as he picks out a question from the lot.

“Okay, I have one.” Yixing just hums, knowing that looking at the actor somehow makes him uncomfortable, “It is supposed to be a love story but why are there no intimate scenes in the book. Lu Han didn’t brief me regarding such scenes either.”

“I knew it, you are here for the kisses.” Yixing teases and he can hear the protest in Yifan’s stuttering but he only chuckles, “I’m just kidding.” He turns around only for a while to give the actor a dimpled smile before facing back to the front, looking at the lights from a scene Yibo is shooting many houses before them. “There are two reasons for that. One,” Yixing lists down by raising one finger into the air, “I wrote this story because I wanted people to know, understand and share his pains. And two,” he adds another finger and turns to face Yifan, “I want the reader to understand that love is not only conveyed by an action as intimate as a kiss, it can be as simple as a touch on the hand.” When Yixing says this he lowers his hand and places it over Yifan’s much larger one before smiling, dimpling at the actor who is stunned in his seat, mouth agape in shock. But as fast as he had done it, he easily withdraws his hand and faces the lights of the set again.

“And your last question?” The author closes his eyes as a breeze passes them, a stronger one compared to the gentle, lulling breeze that has enveloped them since the start of their conversation.

“In the book,” Yifan finds his voice again, although he is still a bit in shock because of the author’s previous actions, “you never gave names to the slave and the nobleman. Why is that?” Yixing smiles, even Lu Han didn’t ask that question, probably because his best friend knows the story behind the book. In the middle of the silence, Yifan adds: “Is that too personal? Should I not have asked it?”

“It’s okay. It’s just that no one bothered asking me that before.” Yifan gives out a sound of understanding and waits for the author to answer. But instead of getting an answer, Yixing throws him a question, “Were you confused while you were reading the book?” The actor shakes his head before realizing that Yixing has his back towards him so he audibly gives him a no for an answer.

“That doesn’t answer why you didn’t give them names.” Yixing has thought it through what he will answer when he is given such question, so he breathes in and gives his rehearsed piece: “Related to my answer to your previous question, the best way for a person to relate to a character is to put themselves on that person’s shoes.” Yixing can already hear the complaint close to popping out of Yifan’s mouth but he’s faster. “I know they will easily be able to do so even with the characters having names but with only their ranking in society mentioned in the book, it will be easier to mirror their lives with the character’s.”

“Okay,” Yifan deflates in his seat, glad that Yixing isn’t facing him to see his sulking behavior, “I won’t push you for further explanations.”

“Because I’m feeling generous today,” Yixing sniggers, of course he will not admit to liking spending time with the actor while he is awake and conscious and not close to losing his breath, “I will allow you another question.” He wants to stay there, on those stone steps, for a little while longer, just him and Yifan.

“Are you sure?” The actor asks with a genuinely curious tone, interest back in his voice as his mind rattles for another suitable question to ask the author; one that he might not have troubles with answering.

“I’m starting to think that I shouldn’t be too generous,” Yixing slowly turns his head, his eyelids only showing slits of his eyes, “maybe I should take that back.” His tone is menacing yet playful, lips curving to a slight smirk as he waits for Yifan’s response.

“The first day we met,” Yifan suddenly blurts out and Yixing relaxes, he notices how the actor is wringing his hands, an act he so rarely sees in someone so confident as Yifan. So he encourages him with a smile, “What about the first day we met?”

“Lu Han mentioned that this is your first book.” Yixing nods to confirm his best friend’s statement and waits for the actor’s follow up question, “Then how come it is written so well? I doubt a newbie author like you would have been able to have written such a detailed piece, unless you were able to have firsthand experience of it.”

Yixing immediately looks away from Yifan, he blames the slowly dropping temperature for the slight shiver in his body. It is true, even his editor and publisher were surprised at how well he was able to write everything so thoroughly from the emotions of all the characters, not just the main ones, down to the fine details like the embroidery on the nobleman’s clothing or the island that is just off the coast of what is now known as Lantau Island.

“If you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to.” Yifan’s voice is hushed after a few minutes passed by. This reminds Yixing of where he is, pulling him back instantly to the present. The author sees the crew already started packing up from where he and Yifan are seated. He can hear Lu Han’s voice carrying out to where they are, giving out instructions before they take their first day off the next day.

The younger clears his throat and formulates something credible in his brain and when he deems it without flaw he gives out his answer.

“I started writing this story since I was young,” he starts it off with a sprinkle of truth, “I think I was around ten when I picked up a pen and started jotting down notes and outlining the story. I’ve done extensive research for it since then, you can say I was quite obsessed with the idea.” Yifan understands, with how clipped Yixing’s words are that he is already being giving with how much he already said so he doesn’t push him and allows for the quiet to settle between them again, comfortable and familiar.

Yifan’s cellphone rings after a while and he picks it up, it’s Minseok telling him he is already done packing their things up and moving them to the van. So the actor stands up and lets Yixing know that he is off to see his manager and leave the premises.

“I liked this.” The actor sincerely tells him, giving a small smile along with his words, “I learned a lot about the story that I probably would never know if I didn’t get to talk to you.”

“That’s not a problem.” Yixing stands up as well, seeing as Lu Han is already done for the day. “I would rather you ask me than assume things. I want you to be able to play your character well and without doubts of your own judgment regarding your role.”

“It would be nice to have this kind of conversation over dinner.” Yifan stumbles with his words and blurts out without thinking. When he realizes what he just said, his eyes almost pop out of their sockets.

“So long as you’re paying, Mr. Wu.” Yixing teases him yet again and he hides his giggle behind his hand, amused by the shocked expression on the actor’s face.

“Yeah, as long as you’re paying Yifan.” Minseok walks in from the direction of the dressing rooms, “How about tonight?” He asks Yixing, without any regard for Yifan’s opinion on the matter.

“Tonight sounds good.” Yixing smiles at the eldest before turning to Yifan, “What do you say, Mr. Wu?” Yifan grumbles but sees the author dimpling at him, he lowers his head a bit, afraid that the moonlight will show how embarrassingly red his face is, then he nods.

Minseok almost does a double flip at how adorable they look like during their little exchange.

A/N: Birthday update lol Also sorry for the long wait ;-;