Days and days after that evening, Baekhyun had been doing great. Both at work, and in his life in general.

At work, he was trying to do his best to help Chanyeol and Jongin with research on the case, although nobody put any responsibilities on him after the last meeting. Baekhyun took it upon himself to go around the office and talk to the employees, trying to learn more about what the mood in the company was like. Baekhyun took this seriously, and listened to every single word carefully, marking it in his notebook for further review of Chanyeol and Jongin. The two leaders were actually really grateful for Baekhyun's initiative to help, when Haeun allowed him not to. 

At the same time, Baekhyun was also dutifully fullfiling the deal he made with Chanyeol‘s father. About three days after he and Chanyeol started dating, Baekhyun received a message from Yixing, inviting him to visit the vocal practice room for his first training. He went, and on the contrary from his expectations, the practice was actually quite okay. Yixing was a nice, friendly, and encouraging vocal trainer, and not arrogant at all, as opposed to Chanyeol's father. He and Baekhyun got along great, and after that first practice got out of the way, the rest went along great as well. 

Baekhyun knew, that the reason behind his good mood these days, and unending motivation to work and do things, was thanks to nobody else but Chanyeol. It might have sounded cheesy, and very sappy, and a bit pathetic as well, but heck, he didn't care. Baekhyun just got himself a boyfriend whom he couldn‘t help but adore more and more with every passing day. He was just so utterly happy. No bad emotions made it past his wall of joy. And if anything bad happened, he would always think of the last moment he spent together with Chanyeol, and the warmth from the sole memory would push away any negativity without a single effort.

Baekhyun had never felt anything as powerful as this. No person ever made him feel this... attached. 

“I’m not entirely sure what we’re doing here, Baekhyun,” Yixing complained one day, after another practice of theirs was nearing the end, and Baekhyun's throat was beginning to swell from all the singing. Baekhyun leaned back on the sand-colored wall, leaving the earphones he just wore hang on the music stand loosely. He threw Yixing a questioning look.

 “I have nothing else to teach you. You’re a talent as it is. Just drop that marketing stuff and get your here for me to make an album out of, would you?” 

Baekhyun chuckled at his whining.

“Even if I do debut, Yixing hyung, you know how it goes in PKO. One song for the solo artist to debut with, and if it goes bad, he's reconsidered. Potentially added to some soon-to-debut boy group as a member, too.”

“That won’t happen with you. People will love your voice.”

“So you think,” Baekhyun shook his head. “But it’s business in here, isn’t it? The CEO won’t debut me without being one hundred percent sure, that I’m ready in all the ways imaginable. Isn’t this the reason why this company is so successful? Because you pick your artists for debuting so carefully?”

Yixing shrugged, seemingly not in the mood to think that deep.

“That might be the case, however not with you, Baekhyun. I’ve heard all the artists in this company perform, you know? Every single one of them. And there are really some great vocals there, I don’t deny. But nobody has a voice like yours, this feeling of music, this perfection just carved into them. Without all this training, you were already perfect. And this is why the CEO doesn’t want to let you go, Baekhyun; he sees what you can do, and he wants that. He wants your voice to create the brand of his company, and to be its, how to say, signature mark.”

Baekhyun’s smile faltered.

“It's a pity that I don't really want to be his signature mark.”

Yixing leaned back on his chair, heaving a sigh. He tilted his head. 

"And that is why he made that rude remark about your personality, the last time he was here. He's always so cocky and cold, but I'm guessing you cracked his patience back then, Baekhyun."

"You don't like him either, do you, hyung?"

“I don’t particularly like or dislike him," Yixing shrugged. "I just work for him, and that's pretty much it. Our relationship doesn't go past that.”

Baekhyun nodded. Of course, Yixing could say something like that. He knew nothing about the CEO, about the way he treated his own son, and the way he treated people in general. Yixing was a great producer, which meant he was not one of those people Chanyeol’s father was going to treat poorly. Because Yixing's work acquired fans for PKO's music.

Business was business, and as long as Yixing brought money to the company, he was more precious to the CEO than his own son. As disgusting as that was.

“But you know what, Baek,” Yixing suddenly jumped up from his chair, eyes lighting up with excitement. “I have an idea of what we can do. Come with me.”

Confused, but at the same time curious, Baekhyun followed the producer out of the recording room and down the hallway of the music production department. He had no idea what the other could have possibly come up with. Yixing could seem calm and friendly at first glance, but he had this aura of weirdness around him, that Baekhyun only noticed a few meetings later. He sometimes said and did things Baekhyun didn't expect at all, leaving him the impression of being absolutely unpredictable and very random. 

Without any explanations, Baekhyun was led upstairs to the makeup and hair department, where the artists got their makeup done and cut their hair for comebacks. By that point, Baekhyun was feeling completely lost. He had no idea what Yixing was going to do with him in here. They walked past numerous makeup artists, who were doing makeup on one girl with silver-colored hair, and then passed a hairdresser, who was adding finishing touches to some amazing curls on the head of one of PKO’s girl group members. Baekhyun’s mouth was hanging open, surprise and admiration written all over his face as he watched all the professionals do their work so quickly, and so beautifully. They worked precisely and quickly like machines, but at the same time, all those women and men there were more graceful and artistic than any machine could ever be. Watching them work was breath-taking.

“Seulgi!” Yixing called out, and  waved at a girl who was fixing a male idol’s hair. “How you’re doing?"

He and Baekhyun got closer to them. The boy in the chair, whose hair was being done by the hairdresser, smiled at them and lowered his neck respectfully in his chair.

“Good morning, hyung.”

“Sit still, Mark,” Seulgi scolded the boy. “You can bow around later. And good morning to you, too, Yixing. I hope you have a good reason to be here, because I am crazily busy, and have no time to chitchat with you whatsoever.”

“This time, I happen to have one,” Yixing smiled, not affected in the slightest by her half-angry response. “I brought you one of the future solo artists, and his hair needs a makeover. This color, this plain brown is too bland. We need something that would get people to remember him."

No need to say, Baekhyun was quite baffled. All of a sudden, he was not only a 'future artist', but also in the line for getting his hair dyed. What was Yixing getting him into?

“Hmm,” Seulgi narrowed her eyes at Baekhyun. “Then why haven’t I seen him before, if he’s so ready? I’m pretty sure I know every single trainee and idol in this company. Not to mention their hair.”

“Seulgi’s amazing,” Yixing told Baekhyun through his shoulder, smiling. “She can remember every single hairstyle every idol had with a scary accuracy. She also knows when he had it. Isn’t it amazing?”

“Yeah,” Baekhyun agreed, not knowing what else to say. This situation itself was hardly understandable to him.

Why does Yixing care for the color of his hair all of a sudden?

He’s not even debuting yet. Not that he's planning to, either.

Well, he’s not going to get mad for it, either. It’s just hair dye. He can change it back anytime. Baekhyun had actually tried quite a few colors back when he was in highschool.

“I’ll leave him to Wendy,” Seulgi said, allowing Yixing to ignore her question and turning back to Mark. “But I think blond is what you’re going for. Not platinum, but more on the ashy side. Maybe even more ashy than blond. Be sure to tell Wendy that.”

“Got it,” Yixing nodded and smiled at her. "Thanks."

He put his hands on Baekhyun's lower back and pushed him away from Seulgi, towards another hairdresser chair that was free of occupants. Baekhyun allowed himself to be sat down like a child on the chair, but in his mind, he was confused. How could Yixing simply decide to dye his hair, without asking for his permission, and not even explaining anything? Even now, he went off to find that another girl Seulgi mentioned, and didn't even tell Baekhyun what in the world was going on in his head, or what he was going to do.

As Baekhyun craned his neck to see where Yixing went, his phone starting vibrating in his pocket. Baekhyun pulled it out of his jeans and smiled, when he saw the well familiar number on the screen.

"Hey, mom! What's up?" 

"Hey, sweetie," his mom greeted happily. "Me and Eunmi are in the train already. We'll be in Seoul by evening."

"Wait, that's today? You're coming to Seoul today?" Baekhyun frowned to himself, irritated with himself for having forgotten. "When will you be at the station? I'll come to pick you up."

"Oh, there's no need, baby. Doctor Song contacted the doctors from Seoul, and they will be sending us a car to take Eunmi to the hospital safely. Although I'd really want to see you today, after she's all settled and asleep. I will also probably need to stay at your place, if there's still room for your old mother in there."

She giggled on the other side of the phone, but Baekhyun's thoughts were elsewhere.

He and Chanyeol had already agreed to go out for dinner tonight. Snap.

"Also, I know you would want to see Eunmi, but the doctors said she won't be able to meet you today. She's a bit tired, and tomorrow she'll be having that big surgery, so they will just put her to sleep instantly. You will probably be able to see her the day after tomorrow, before we leave." 

"I see. Mom..." Baekhyun began, not knowing how to explain. "Would it be okay... if someone else came along with me, when I come to get you?"

"Your boyfriend?" caught off guard, Baekhyun choked on his spit. "Of course it's fine, Baek! How do you even dare to ask me that? I'm really excited to get to know that cutie of yours, uhm, how did you describe him? Tall, and kind, and really adorable---"

"Got it, mom," Baekhyun interrupted, rolling his eyes. "So it would be fine if we got dinner together with Chanyeol? Then we can go to my apartment, and catch up, just the two of us."

"You mean you two aren't living together yet?" Baekhyun's jaw hit the floor again, at the nonchalance she said that with. "You're being slow or what, Byun Baekhyun?"

"Oh my god, mom!" he gasped theatrically, deciding to play her game instead of being embarassed. "It's been like a month since I met him, and you're already fine with us living together? Do I look that easy? And it's that easy for you to give me away to someone else?" 

"Of course it is. Don't you expect your mother to raise you till you're forty, Byun Baekhyun. I'm expecting to attend a wedding soon!"

Baekhyun couldn't help but laugh at her. His mother was always like this, easy to talk to and easy to joke around with. He loved that about her. Talking to her always made everything seem so simple.

"The boy on the train is is suggesting me coffee, Baek, I should go. Best wishes to your boyfriend, and I hope to see you two soon!"

"Text me when we can come get you," Baekhyun chuckled. "See you, mom. Love you."

She chirped an I love you too back to him, and hung up. Baekhyun leaned back in the chair, and closed his eyes. He hoped Chanyeol would be okay with meeting his mom this out of the blue. 

"Well, Baekhyun, ready to change your image a bit?" Yixing asked, appearing at his side all of a sudden. "I thought we should experiment a bit before you debut. See what fits you best and be prepared ahead of time, you know."

"Next time just tell me so, Yixing. Don't drag me around clueless, like some ."

"Sorry for that."

"It's okay," Baekhyun smiled at him, and leaned back again. "And as for the dye, do whatever you want. It's just hair." 

Yixing chuckled and patted his shoulder.

"You're right," he agreed. "It's just hair."

***

Chanyeol pretty obviously didn't seem to think it was just hair, though.

When Baekhyun stepped into his office right before working hours ended, Chanyeol raised his eyes from the papers temporarily, just to greet him and then get back to work, but when his eyes were met with the light locks on the former brunet's head they absolutely couldn't go back to the papers. The taller male's eyes widened, lips parted, and a gasp of surprise could be heard in the room.

Chanyeol looked stunned.

Baekhyun stood on the doorstep, unsure of what to do. How to react to that.

He's not going to get mad for it, right?..

"Yixing dyed my hair," he explained to his boyfriend warily, throwing him a sheepish smile and scratching the back of his neck. "Got that idea out of nowhere, really. It looks a bit weird, right?" 

Not knowing if he would be able to form a coherent sentence, Chanyeol just shook his head in response. He actually wanted to say that no, Jesus, it looked far from weird. It looked beautiful, and stunning, and unique on Baekhyun. The way that ashy grey color made Baekhyun's beautiful eyes stand out was straight up amazing. Looking at the beauty that was his boyfriend, Chanyeol was just stunned speechless. 

"I'm not sure how long I'll be keeping this," Baekhyun ruffled his light locks. "Maybe they'll dye my hair back soon."

"No," Chanyeol objected, cheeks reddening rapidly. "It looks great. It does. It's... great."

Baekhyun couldn't help but laugh a little at Chanyeol's overly nervous response. 

"Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?" he asked affectionately, walking towards Chanyeol's desk to get closer his boyfriend, and placed his hand on the sitting male's shoulder. "But thank you, I guess. If you like it, I'll keep it."

Chanyeol smiled up at him, looking really shy and cute, and Baekhyun could barely resist the urge to wrap his arms around his neck and squish him to death. It was getting harder and harder to resist touching Chanyeol, and even though they have been touching each other more and more with every passing day (even Chanyeol initiated a kiss or two), the urge hadn't lessened a bit - in fact, it even grew. Baekhyun could hardly keep his hands to himself. He wanted to caress Chanyeol's hair, touch his neck, hug him, and kiss him more and more.

"The working hours just ended," he whispered, mesmerized by Chanyeol's beautiful eyes. "We should get going."

Although he said that, his hand was still on his boyfriend's shoulder. And Baekhyun, standing at his side, was pretty much bloc