“ DON’T play games with me, felix, ” cheng xiaoshi spat, his stern tone speaks volumes, loud enough to make any onlookers take notice - even without him outright shouting. “ this is the third time i’ve caught you coming home late. it’s - ” he glances at his phone, the screen glowing briefly. 4pm. “ it’s FOUR IN THE MORNING! ‘out with the girls’ is becoming a lame excuse. ”
cheng xiaoshi struggled to maintain his serious demeanor, the effort to suppress his laughter causing tears to well in his eyes, blurring his vision. it made the act more convincing. “ just admit it… you were with another man, weren’t you? ” he feigned a quivering lip, pointing an accusatory finger across the light wood counter. “ just admit you don’t want me anymore… you barely look at me during… ” his cheeks flush, the weight of that unfinished line almost breaking him. he bit his lower lip, desperately trying to contain the urge to crumble into laughter at this ‘showhome soap opera’ they’ve created while they waited for lu guang to return. “ you’re tearing this marriage apart! ”
he should have never left them alone from the start.
IKEA is a stage tonight, and Xia Fei can barely restrain his laughter. He covers his mouth with one hand to hide his smile. At the other side of the counter piece, facing the full intensity of his glare, is Cheng Xiaoshi. Their argument echoes in the showroom, drama drawing over several sets of worried looks.
It’s all to pass the time. Lu Guang left them alone to inspect another section of the store. He can’t blame them for how they cope in his absence. There were no other options.
Xia Fei rolls his eyes at the accusations. To play the part of a scornful cheater, he sits tall on a stool — shoulders back, posture disinterested. The longer they carry out the charade, though, the harder it becomes to hold steady. He nearly loses it when he spots tears in Cheng Xiaoshi’s eyes. Matched emotions bring a shimmer to his own: mimicked heartbreak.
“I’m tearing this marriage apart?” he asks. Iciness curls through his teeth, sharp and unyielding. “Look at yourself, feigning innocence.” Xia Fei shoves the stool back when he stands. It scrapes the floor louder than he intends, but he embraces his subsequent wince for special effect.
Adorning his cheeks now is a flush of shattered composure. Pink hues exacerbate the scowl. When he speaks again, pain turns his voice raw. “Have you considered why I’d look for company elsewhere in the first place? Maybe—” His voice catches in his throat, a badly hidden giggle, as he steps towards Cheng Xiaoshi. He places his hands on the counter’s edge and leans over him, closing the distance, worsening the tension. “Maybe you just don’t love me right anymore, Xiaoshi…”
