15 THE NOT-ROOMMATES (1/2)
”So… Do we just stand here, or go wait outside Hua Zong's office, or go somewhere else altogether?” Tan Yao asked Xuan Tianyi. They were both leaning against the glass door of the gym.
Xuan Tianyi threw him a glance and rapidly looked away. He couldn't be bothered to look at Tan Yao. Although he couldn't say he disliked him, he also couldn't say he was fond of him.
Tan Yao didn't seem to be bothered by the silence Xuan Tianyi gave him. ”You're Xuan Tianyi, right?”
”What?” Xuan Tianyi straightened his back and asked with creased brows. He was bothered that 'this guy' knew his name.
”It's not like that,” Tan Yao quickly intercepted. ”I just overheard President Hua say it when he was talking to your sister.”
Xuan Tianyi relaxed. His relaxation was short-lived though as Tan Yao continued, ”Xuan Tianmei, isn't it?”
Xuan Tianyi kept mute. Annoyed.
”Are you guys having a fight?” Tan Yao persisted.
”Can you mind your own business?” Xuan Tianyi was now trying hard to control his temper.
”Calm down,” Tan Yao raised his hands in surrender to show he wasn't trying to start a fight. ”I just wanted to say that I live in a two-bedroom apartment—”
”So?” Tan Yao interrupted him.
”My roommate just moved out and—”
”So?”
”For fuck's sake, will you stop interrupting me?”
Xuan Tianyi smiled a little. He had finally managed to upset Tan Yao a bit.
Tan Yao continued, ”Since my roommate moved out, I have a free room.”
Xuan Tianyi waited for him to continue. As he didn't, he asked, ”Your point?”
”Well, you know…” Tan Yao made a gesture with his right hand to show that he was expecting Xuan Tianyi to understand.
Xuan Tianyi stared at him blankly.
Tan Yao sighed and continued, ”In case, you need a place to stay.”
Xuan Tianyi raised his brow. He had never really thought about that before. He couldn't imagine there was ever a time when he didn't stay with Xuan Tianmei. That might be a nice change of pace. ”I don't. Thanks.”
”Why not?” Tan Yao was puzzled. He had imagined Xuan Tianyi would jump at the offer.
”Because I don't,” Xuan Tianyi shrugged his shoulders.
”So you want to continue living with your elder sister at this age?”
”She's not—” Xuan Tianyi controlled his temper and decided to change his approach. ”Did your roommate move out because he couldn't stand you?”
”No,” Tan Yao smiled. ”He moved out because he had to go study abroad.” Calmly, he asked, ”Do you have a problem with me?”
”Not really,” Xuan Tianyi shrugged. ”I just don't like your face.”
Tan Yao smirked. ”It's very pretty, isn't it?”
Xuan Tianyi couldn't argue with that, so he continued, ”Or your attitude.”
”It's very lax, isn't it?” Tan Yao asked, still smirking.
”Can you not talk to me?” Xuan Tianyi raised his voice a little.
”You're talking to me. It would be rude to not reply you.” Tan Yao said in a matter-of-fact manner.
Xuan Tianyi didn't reply. He just sighed.
”Think about the apartment, will you?” Tan Yao asked.
”Nope,” Xuan Tianyi replied.
”Why not?”
”I don't have any money.”
”That's okay. You can owe me.”
Xuan Tianyi raised a brow, ”Aren't you renting because of money?”
”No. I'm renting because I hate staying alone.”
”I see…” Xuan Tianyi said, thoughtfully.
”So?”
”Let me think about it.”
Tan Yao wasn't satisfied with that reply. ”You know what?” He asked. ”Let's leave here and go check out the place.”