That Promise

Part 1

It was kind of ironic really that, after high school, they ended up going to the same uni to study architecture, but on different fields: Mu Qing went for architectural design, engineering and technologies, while Feng Xin focused on urban planning, landscape and interior architecture.

At the beginning of the course they had most classes together so it wasn't that different from high-school - but Xie Lian wasn't there, so they kind of drifted apart. And Feng Xin soon got a girlfriend too, a girl called Jian Lan, who he seemed head over heels in love with.

"They were so lovey-dovey, it was disgusting", he muttered to himself, rolling his eyes.

He remembered that, for some reason, he never thought it would last: there was something off about Jian Lan. Sure enough, one day he overheard some girls from his class talking in the library.

"Nah she's not really into Feng Xin, she told me", one of them said, "She's just dating him to fill a gap, after breaking up with her previous boyfriend".

Another one said, "That's a shame, he's such a hottie! And he's sweet, he seems to like her - "

"So? That's double-standards, you know? Men date left and right just for the sake of it, what's wrong if Jian Lan is doing the same?"

Mu Qing carried on shuffling on books, as if he hadn't heard anything: it wasn't his business, Feng Xin was a big boy, he could look after himself... and Mu Qing wouldn't be caught dead running to Feng Xin to share some gossip he heard in the library.

Still, Jian Lan, that bitch. Mu Qing couldn't help disliking her, and being specially mean towards her.

Unsurprisingly, they broke up a few weeks later, with Feng Xin dragging himself around, visibly depressed, while from Jian Lan part, nothing: in fact she started dating another guy, what, two weeks after? Pfft, Mu Qing had thought at the time, Feng Xin was better off without her.

Shrugging these memories off and back to reality, Mu Qing replied some e-mails, and then opened a 3D animation of that building in Shanghai he was working on, that he had left rendering overnight.

•

"Morning!", Feng Xin greeted everybody at arriving in the office, placing his canvas messenger bag on his desk, at the far end of the room. Taking his jacket off, he added, "It's chilly but at least it's sunny".

They were in an old brick building, with huge glass windows installed for a modernist twist, indeed filling the workspace with plenty of natural light. Feng Xin loved it, specially sitting at the back, close to the backyard: it had a miniature landscape design, together with a pond, and doubled as a little beer garden during summer.

"Morning Feng Xin", the admin lady replied, "Mei Nianqing called first thing - "

"Oh, the headteacher from the school project. I'll call him back in a bit", he replied, "But first, let's have some coffee. Tea or coffee, anyone?"

"Yes please", the two intern girls said rather too enthusiastically, and, exchanging looks, started to giggle. The admin lady looked at them and smiled, shaking her head.

As Feng Xin went to the kitchen, they couldn't help but follow his every move. Well, he was hot: tall and well-built, with tanned skin and neck-length brown hair he was always brushing off his handsome, manly face. He had thick eyebrows, always furrowed for no reason, a strong straight nose, distinctive amber eyes and a big, bright smile.

He dressed in a basic, youthful style that suited him, and not only he was a nice, friendly guy, but he was passionate about his work. He returned with everyone's coffees and went to his desk to call the headteacher from this project he was in charge of, a complete refitting of a secondary school.

"Right, I'm off, will be back after lunch, maybe mid-afternoon", Feng Xin announced, putting the phone down, to a few hums in agreement.

He'd personally visit the school, ask everything about its day-to-day, take notes, make some sketches... thanks to this holistic approach, that small-to-medium company had won quite a few prizes - on innovation, functionality, sustainability - and Feng Xin loved to immerse himself with the end-users of the projects he worked on.

On his way there, he flipped through his notebook with his bad handwriting, and remembered his uni days, that girl he dated, Jian Lan, and how gutted he was when they broke up. Come to think of it, Mu Qing never seemed to like her - but he was probably mean to her because of Feng Xin. Bet he gloated over their breakup, that fucking prick!

But wait, he had a girlfriend too, on their second or third year - Feng Xin couldn't remember when exactly, but it was halfway their course. That girl... she was all over Mu Qing 24/7, even though he didn't look that keen. But Mu Qing wasn't the type to have a girlfriend just to conform. Maybe he looked cold but in private he was -

Alright, huh, what was her name again?, he thought, frowning: he really couldn't remember. God, I haven't thought of these people in years!

Mu Qing wasn't a sex machine or something, Feng Xin was sure of that, but he was good-looking, stylish, a soon-to-be star architect, no doubts about it. That's more than enough to make him a perfect trophy boyfriend, she should count herself lucky to be with him, right? Wrong.

There was a congress in Barcelona, and in the last night party, everybody drunk and away from home, going a little wild - what happens in Barcelona stays in Barcelona, those were the rules. Mu Qing didn't go: he had started some internship referred by one of their professors, and his girlfriend, well that last night she made a move on another guy.

And this other guy was none other than Feng Xin himself! That was fucking -

Arriving at the school, he asked at Reception, "Hi, I'm here to see Mei Nianqing please". The receptionist blinked at him for a moment, and, blushing, quickly made a call.

The headteacher showed up right after. "Feng Xin, welcome welcome, you came at the right time, the morning break has just started. You can see how it goes and suggest a better use of our space - "

For a good three hours, Feng Xin was walking around the school with Mei Nianqing: he was a nice guy, but too full of ideas and sudden change of systems, Feng Xin felt sorry for the school's admin team. He got lots of information from that visit: back at the office, he'd probably just organize them somewhat, reply a few e-mails then be done for the day.

He bought some sushi for lunch and while sitting down, having a Coke with it, he let his thoughts wander again, back to that time. It's not that he was friends with Mu Qing - they hang out together because of Xie Lian, they could be called acquaintances at most - and that girl... fuck, she was cute and quite straight-forward on what she wanted, but still.

He had grabbed her arm, hissing: if you're going around cheating on your boyfriend, why dating him in the first place? When we're back you're going to break up with him. If you don't, I -

Feng Xin snorted and shook his head: such a drama. He didn't really say he'd tell Mu Qing and everybody else what a slut she was or something - well if he was honest to himself, he doubted he could do such a thing, but, in the end, the girl did break up with Mu Qing.

"It's not that I was sabotaging his love life or something", he thought, "I mean, who wants to date a fucking cheater. She would end up making a move at someone else, so I did him a favour really".

Back at the office, somebody commented, "Feng Xin, that headteacher must have given you ten ideas, to be presented all at once. You're frowning more than ever - "

After thinking of that whole story, he couldn't help wondering how Mu Qing was these days.

Snapping out of it, Fen Xin could only say, "Yes, huh, it's been a busy day - "

Thanks for reading! Please vote and comment - 抖阴社区's been too quiet these days... 😜