The weekend passed and Monday came, although Wang Li wanted to rush back to the studio, he had class in the morning and an assignment to finish. All his work took three long days and on Thursday afternoon, he asked Xu Chen to make him a small cake, who readily agreed. While Xu Chen finished baking, he couldn't help but comment.

"It's hard to believe such a tough looking man could like sweet foods."

Wang Li sat off to the side while he watched Xu Chen bake. The small cake was cut and decorated simply with cream and fruit before Xu Chen found a simple card box to hold it.

"Do you think your handsome man will like it?"

Xu Chen was feeling a little nervous himself even though he wasn't interested in Kong Da and Wang Li hugged his dear friend, kissing him on the cheek. Saying of course he'll like it. After everything was cleaned and packed away, Wang Li set out to deliver his handsome crush the sweet treat. This time, when he walked through the entrance of the studio, JieJie only sighed. She told him Kong Da didn't have a client and was talking with Suo Su in the seating area. Now that he was faced with the situation that this would prove interest in Kong Da, he was a little nervous and stood by the reception desk to collect his thoughts. JieJie walked around and patted him on the back sincerely.

"Don't worry kid, Kong Da is aloof but not rude. If he doesn't want your gifts or love he'll let you down nicely."

Wang Li gave a shy smile and walked into the large room. He saw the two men sitting on two armchairs talking quietly and slowly made his way over. At the same time, JieJie stood in the doorway watching to see the outcome. Once Wang Li got a little closer, Kong Da turned his head to look at him, his expression was hard to read causing Wang Li to feel extremely nervous now. His hands shook and the next step he took, he tripped over his planted foot, falling to the ground loudly. The cake box stayed closed luckily but Wang Li's nerves turned into embarrassment as he kneeled on the ground, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. JieJie rushed forward to help him up but before she could bend down, he quickly stood up and ran out of the studio.

Suo Su who usually laughed at any moment, couldn't bring himself to laugh in this situation and even felt bad for the kid. Kong Da sat in his chair looking towards the doorway before standing up and picking up the small cake box, opening it. Suo Su and JieJie came over and looked inside too. The cake itself looked fine but the cream and fruit had been smooshed all over the sides. Kong Da walked to the area where hot drinks and snacks were kept to pick up a small fork, before sitting back down on his arm chair and began to eat the ugly cake. JieJie couldn't hide her smile and left to the reception to quickly call Fang Mei to discuss what happened. At the same time, Suo Su sat back down in his chair.

"Any specific reason you're eating that?"

"The cake is still fine and it would be a waste to throw it out."

Suo Su didn't say anything while he stood up to walk into the next room, hoping to gossip with JieJie and Fang Mei.

Wang Li had never felt so embarrassed in his life and he ran all the way back to the dorms. In their room, Xu Chen poured Wang Li a cup of water worriedly. Wang Li was panting on the ground and the tears in his eyes now flowed freely. 

"What did he do to you?"

Wang Li felt like he was about to throw up from how much he had ran and couldn't speak for a painful ten minutes. Eventually Xu Chen laid down on the clean carpet with Wang Li and rubbed his friends stomach while he waited for Wang Li to calm down. Once Wang Li could breathe properly, Wang Li told Xu Chen about what happened at the studio. Afterwards, he stated sourly.

"He's probably laughing at me now."

Xu Chen was about to comfort his broken hearted friend but Wang Li stood up and walked into the bathroom to shower. Xu Chen stood up from the ground and heard a ding suddenly come from Wang Li's phone but left it until Wang Li came into the room, looking better than before.

"Xiao Li, you got a message."

Wang Li picked up his phone before climbing up onto Xu Chen's bed to lay with him. He opened the message and it was from the Iron Studios WeChat.

Iron Studios: Hi Hi, this is your favourite JieJie, Fang Mei. Add me on my private WeChat. Please and thank you. Muack Muack.

Xu Chen instantly asked. "Who's Fang Mei?"

Xu Chen of course didn't recognize the name but Wang Li did and quickly added Fang Mei on WeChat. As soon as he did, he was flooded with messages and he almost blocked the lady.

Spring Mei: AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH

Spring Mei: You did it AAAAAAAHHH

Spring Mei: You really did it AAAAAAHHHHH

Spring Mei: You thawed the ice kings heart AAAAHHHHHH

Spring Mei: He ate the cake, he ate the cake, he ate the caaaaake!

Once the messages stopped Wang Li looked at Xu Chen and giggled happily, his body squirming and wriggling around in the small bed. His mood and embarrassment from before had disappeared and he hugged Xu Chen excitedly. Once he regained his composure, Wang Li messaged Fang Mei to get details.

Tang Li: How do you know? I didn't see you at the studio.

Spring Mei: Un. It's my day off. JieJie told me about your arrival and sudden disappearance. Poor baby. Suo Su and JieJie saw Teacher Kong pick the cake box up and HE ATE IT!!!

Spring Mei: I must warn though, this doesn't mean anything yet. He likes sweet foods and dislikes food waste. You must stay strong kid and persevere.

Spring Mei: LET YOUR GAY LOVE SHINE

Spring Mei: I have to go now Muack Muacks

Wang Li and Xu Chen both read over the wave of messages and felt something wasn't right with Fang Mei. After everything calmed down andalong with his run, Wang Li was exhausted. Pairing this with the great news he slept happily in Xu Chen's small bed and welcomed the next day with a bright smile.

. . . . . .

As if his mood couldn't get any better, the next assignment in his Web Design class set off a light bulb in his head and he rushed to ask his professor an important question once class ended.

"Professor for our assignment, I know you gave us a specific company to create a website for but I am friends with someone who actually needs a new website, I was wondering if I could create one for them instead."

The Professor obviously didn't want to be held up after class, he agreed without much thought before shooing Wang Li out of the computer labs. With the great news, Wang Li quickly called Xu Chen and told him to meet him at the university gate after his class. Once Xu Chen's class ended, he walked to the gate and the two set off for the studio while Wang Li explained his new plan of setting up a website for Iron Studios. Like Wang Li's other ideas, Xu Chen couldn't help but show his concern.

"How will this develop your feelings though? You don't need to see Da Ge to set up a website."

"I can use this as an excuse to visit the shop for inspiration for the website, or even get permission from JieJie and Suo Su to work on it in the studio."

"Eh? I won't be able to see you then."

"Come with me then, I need support anyway~."

The pair had now made it to the studio and they made their way to the front desk but nobody was at the reception. The two stood at the front waiting for a few minutes but still nobody came to welcome them. Wang Li was about to walk to the open section in the next room when two men came in behind them.

"Eh? No one home?"

Wang Li without thinking walked to stand behind reception and welcomed the strangers while Xu Chen stood between them awkwardly.

"Do you have an appointment?"

The two men looked at Xu Chen since they thought Wang Li was talking to him but Xu Chen shyly shook his head and stepped away from the desk, motioning for the two strangers to go before him. The Two men walked to the desk and a man with a shaved head spoke.

"My appointment is at 12:30, I came a little early though."

Wang Li didn't really know what he was doing but simply mimicked what JieJie had done when he had gotten tattooed.

"That's fine, you can walk through here and there is a seating area where you can wait. Would you like a hot drink?"

"Coffee for the both of us, thanks."

Both men walked through the doorway and sat down. Xu Chen instantly ran to Wang Li's side at the same time Wang Li lightly slapped his red cheeks.

"Did I do okay? I hate talking to strangers."

Xu Chen was patting Wang Li's head in comfort when another customer came in, a young female. When looking at the blushing youths, she stated in a bubbly voice.

"Oh, you're new."

The woman walked to the desk and knocked on it lightly.

"Is Fang Mei busy?"

Eh? This isn't sticking to the script. Wang Li's brain malfunctioned before he managed to speak stiffly.

"Appointment?"

Xu Chen whispered in Wang Li's ear, saying that he would make the coffee for the other customers while he dealt with this one, he then left to where he saw the kettle and refreshments in the other room. The woman smiled at Wang Li sweetly before speaking.

"You're definitely new. I'll just go find her myself."

Wang Li couldn't say anything before the woman walked past him calling out to Fang Mei loudly. As if today was the studio's busiest day, another woman came in but they didn't have an appointment.

"I was hoping for a consultation, I saw your studios Weibo and was hoping to talk to the artist that does portraits."

Wang Li's brain was about to explode. He knew Kong Da did a form of portrait since he himself got one done but portraits came in all forms of styles in tattooing.

"Uhh, what style?"

"Cartoon."

This put Wang Li at even more of a loss, he acted like he was thinking and looked down to see a neat stack of business cards. He picked one up and handed it to the woman.

"Here, all the artists are busy at the moment but this card has the studio phone number, if you want; you can leave your number too and an artist can get in touch with you, or you can call at another time."

The woman thought about it and happily took the card, stating she was in no rush for the tattoo and she thought she would try her luck since she was in the area. The young woman waved at Wang Li before walking out of the studio. Once alone, Wang Li prayed to the gods that no one else came through the door, however, his prayer was interrupted when someone spoke from behind him.

"You're pretty good. Want a job?"

Suo Su was standing behind him and walked to the front door, changing the sign to "Appointments only today." With chalk before he placed a bell on the desk and walked into the large room. Wang Li followed behind and looked around for Xu Chen, he saw he was talking to the two men that came in after them, though he looked a little uncomfortable. Wang Li had forgotten the reason he had actually come and went to walk over to Xu Chen when Suo Su spoke to him.

"I take it you didn't come for a job."

Wang Li swiftly stopped walking and turned around to follow Suo Su as he headed towards the stairs. Once he had caught up he spoke lightly, no longer shy around Suo Su.

"Not a reception job at least."

Wang Li went over the idea of creating a website for Iron Studios for his class project and Suo Su agreed just as quickly as his professor did. By the time the two had come to an agreement, they had made their way to the back room on the second floor, Suo Su knocked on the door before turning back to walk down the stairs. Wang Li stood in place confused for a couple seconds then saw Kong Da walk out of the room; from the quick glance inside, he could see it looked to be a sleeping area. Seeing Kong Da made Wang Li freeze in place as he remembered the other day when he fell in front of his crush, his cheeks burned as he stumbled over a simple hello.

Both Wang Li and Kong Da could hear Suo Su's loud laughter from the stairs, causing Wang Li to quickly turn around to run down the stairs. However, Wang LI tripped on the leg of a massage table and almost fell down the stairs. Kong Da reacted quickly and reached out to stop Wang Li from tumbling down the stairs.

If this were a movie, Wang Li would've been pulled by his wrist into the sturdy embrace of his crush and held closely, but this isn't a movie. Instead of Kong Da reaching forward to grab hold of Wang Li's wrist, he gripped the back of Wang Li's baggy shirt and ended up choking the young man in the process. An audible Strangled cry sound came from Wang Li's throat; once he was pulled backwards, he banged the back of his head into Kong Da's chin .

Suo Su had seen all of this and laughed even louder as he continued down the stairs. In the mean time, Kong Da hissed as he rubbed his chin, while Wang Li rubbed his head and neck, cursing his unlucky feet. After the small incident, Kong Da walked past Wang Li and stopped at the first step before turning around.

"Take Your time walking down the stairs."

Kong Da had definitely just woken up since his voice was a little husky making Wang Li's heart itch. He stupidly nodded even though his image in Kong Da's eyes now was probably someone who struggled with the simple task of walking. Kong Da turned away and quickly walked down the stairs before he led the two men into his private room. Wang Li made his way slowly down the stairs like Kong Da had told him and squeezed in beside Xu Chen on the single person armchair.

"Success, I'll come here a couple days a week and work on the website as well as my paper. Make sure you come with me ChenChen."

Xu Chen reluctantly agreed. The two stayed seated together talking in the studio with no indication they would leave soon, all the artists didn't mind them since they weren't rowdy and carried on with their work. After two hours, Kong Da had finished with his client and walked them out before coming back into the open room. Wang Li and Xu Chen were both watching out of the corner of their eyes as they pretended to talk to each other. They watched as Kong Da stood in the doorway for a few seconds as he glanced over, before returning to his room to clean up. Seeing this, Wang Li stood up and walked over to the room, knocking quietly on the open door. Kong Da looked behind him and turned back before speaking to Wang Li.

"Lost your medicine again?"

Wang Li couldn't speak for a few seconds before stuttering out a question.

"D-Do you want a coffee?"

Kong Da placed the machine down and swiveled his chair around to face Wang Li. He stared at Wang Li for what felt like an eternity and Wang Li's already red face began to feel even hotter. In Kong Da's eyes, Wang Li looked like any other university student, his skin wasn't pale but not too tanned and his looks weren't bad, but they weren't exceptional either. A plain youth.

"What are your intentions?"

Wang Li hadn't expected Kong Da to ask him this and he straightened his posture instinctively. He quickly took a few deep breaths quickly before speaking with a shaky voice.

"I like you."

Kong Da looked as if he had no reaction but Wang Li had no idea what was going on the inside of this man's head. Within a few seconds, Kong Da asked him a simple question.

"Why?"

Huh? This question came out of nowhere to Wang Li and he had no way of answering, it looked as if Kong Da wasn't looking for an answer anyway, as he turned back around to continue taking apart his machine to clean it. Wang Li was at a loss and stood in place like a statue, not sure if he should stay and explain or leave. In the end, Kong Da answered for him.

"Close the door when you go."

As if he was in a daze, Wang Li stumbled his way to Xu Chen and sat directly on top of him. There were people sitting on the sofa not far from them but Wang Li didn't even notice them as he whispered to himself.

"He knows......ChenChen he knows."

Xu Chen leaned forward so Wang Li could whisper what happened just now. Afterwards, Xu Chen whispered back.

"That's all he said? He didn't reject you?"

"No but he didn't accept me either, he simply asked why I liked him."

"Why do you like him?"

Handsome? Love at first sight? Hormones? Wang Li had no way of knowing why he decided to try and woo Kong Da, all he knew was that he wanted to get to know him and become closer than client and tattoo artist. Wang Li was put in a daze by this question and he didn't realize that an hour had passed by, by the time he snapped out of it. Unfortunately even after an hour, he still didn't know how to answer Kong Da's question.

Xu Chen's legs had gone numb from Wang Li's weight and he struggled to move his friend to sit beside him instead of his lap. Suo Su was taking a break from tattooing since his client had to use the bathroom and he entered the room Kong Da was in, closing the door behind him. Kong Da had finished sanitizing everything and was putting the machine back together as well as setting up his inks for his next client.

"King, what did you tell him?"

"Nothing."

"Eh? You didn't reject him?"

"If I reject him it could scar him and he won't want to go after anyone in the future. If I ignore him he'll move on from his small crush and find someone else."

"If he doesn't move on and persists?"

Kong Da didn't continue talking and stood up to bring in his next customer, he thought Wang Li would have left by now but he was still on the single armchair with his friend, whispering about something. Kong Da ignored this and welcomed his next client then walked back into the private room. Suo Su's client still hadn't come out from the bathroom so he walked over to Wang Li.

"Kid, tell me, are you going to continue going after Kong Da or are you giving up?"

Wang Li didn't hesitate and answered with confidence.

"I'm going to continue until I can answer Da Ge's question."

Suo Su didn't know what question Wang Li was referring to but his client had finally returned so he couldn't stay and chat. Wang Li and Xu Chen didn't stay much longer either and they made their way back to their dorms to work on their papers. The end of the school year was approaching and their exam period was coming unfortunately. Wang Li didn't concern himself with negative thoughts about the exams he knew he would struggle with, or that he would have to return home during break.

Back in the studio, Fang Mei, JieJie and Suo Su were all waiting on clients as they huddled together to gossip about Kong Da's admirer. Both JieJie and Fang Mei really liked Wang Li and felt he was a good kid; however, Suo Su was more concerned about how Kong Da would handle someone so serious pursuing him, his last relationship had affected him so negatively all those years ago and he knew the young man was still traumatized over it.