Love O2O- Beyond a Beautiful Smile

Chapter 54- The Line in the Sand

     "Are you even listening to me?"

    "What?" Mei finished chewing the nuts before continuing to speak. "Sorry, I tuned you out when you started insulting my ancestors. I am interested to know which ancestors you were insulting? The ones from your side of the family or Ma's?"

     The explosion of anger was more than worth forcing levity into his voice.

    "Pa. I'm your son. Did you honestly expect me not to learn from last time? To assume that you wouldn't try and do the same thing again?" Mei tsked then finished the last of his bottle. "You can't touch my house. Can't force me back by leaving me homeless. Try something else. Jiayo." (A/N; good luck/fighting.)

     The call ended in the middle of Mei's father drawing in breath to yell. Shaking his head, KO saved the recording and emailed it though to Xiao Nai.

    "I didn't think he'd be quite so vicious."

     "Oh, that was nothing. Wait until they check the registry and Ma rings."

     "You don't have to answer."

     "Yes I do. You know I do. If I don't answer then they won't spin enough rope to hang themselves with. We need these recordings." Mei collected their empty bottles and tossed them into the recycling box with a clatter. "What another drink?"

     "We have work in the morning." KO frowned at his partner, not liking the sight of his love using alcohol to dull the emotional pain. He understood though, and knew it wouldn't be a long, drawn out war. For the short term, if it helped Mei cope, then he'd make sure he never drank alone. And he stocked up on the ingredients for his clear broth in the morning. He'd reached the limit for the night of what he was happy seeing Mei drink, so when the younger man walked past him towards the fridge, KO stopped him with a hand on his wrist. "Don't drink more."

     "It helps me sleep," biting his lower lip, Mei scuffed at the floor with a bare foot. It was embarrassing to admit that the stress of the situation was making a grown man wake through the night with tears on his cheeks. Each night he would scrub them away, turning his back to KO in case his lover woke and worried.

     KO's lips curled and his eyes darkened. "If you need something to help you sleep, I've got a better idea."

     He lifted Mei's shirt and buried his face against the soft skin. Goose bumps raised under his breath and Mei's hands settled in KO's hair. The hacker had forgone his buzz cut when he realised how frequently Mei tried to tug on his hair and both of them were enjoying the extra centimetre of growth.

    "I'll give you all the comfort you can take before exhaustion sends us both to sleep." KO nipped lightly at Mei's belly and the hands in his hair tightened, all the agreement he needed. The things he did to avoid having his lover wake up with a hangover in the morning.

When Mei's Ma rang, the pair were at work and took the call in Xiao Nai's office. With the phone once more on speaker, Mei sat on KO's lap on the black leather lounge. With his face tucked against the hacker's neck, Mei couldn't see the audience that had gathered outside the office, listening to the shrill hysterics that carried beyond the closed door. When his mother's cries about an unfilial son turned cruel, citing an enduring disappointment and wishing he'd been born after the one child policy was adapted, allowing her to try again after her first mistake, KO stood, carrying Mei out of the office and away from words he younger man did not need to hear. He sat them on the keyboard couch, rocking Mei gently as the younger tried not to let everyone see how upset he was. By unspoken agreement, everyone kept their attention focussed on the office, now occupied by Ban Shan and Yong Hou.