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Okay but what if on his third all-nighter —he feels bold for the first time in a long time, maybe is the lack of sleep with the caffeine wearing off, and he’s definitely not thinking At All— Chu Wanning calls a hotline, hoping to experience something new and trying to relax.
He’s always been curious.
And someone who calls himself Taxian-jun (funny name for this kind of thing, Chu Wanning can feel himself scoffing internally) and says he’s the one who will accompany him for the night
Chu Wanning calls himself Yuheng, and they start.
And someone who calls himself Taxian-jun (funny name for this kind of thing, Chu Wanning can feel himself scoffing internally) and says he’s the one who will accompany him for the night
Chu Wanning calls himself Yuheng, and they start.
Except no matter what Taxian-jun says, the man on the other side of the phone can’t seem to be paying attention to his words.
Starting to get annoyed at not receiving answer, he asks, “Is everything okay?”
And he gets only an absolute “Yes.” as an answer
Starting to get annoyed at not receiving answer, he asks, “Is everything okay?”
And he gets only an absolute “Yes.” as an answer
The line is quiet for a couple of seconds, static seems to get louder, and before Taxian-jun can say something, Yuheng speaks up.
“I apologize, I don’t know what I was thinking.” He sounds angry now, frustrated. “I haven’t slept for three nights, this was stupid.”
“I apologize, I don’t know what I was thinking.” He sounds angry now, frustrated. “I haven’t slept for three nights, this was stupid.”
Chu Wanning doesn’t know why he’s trying to justify himself in front of a stranger. Maybe because it’s been a while since someone asked —even if out of obligation— if he was fine.
He’s about to hang up, except there comes a loud yelp at the other side, making him jump a little
He’s about to hang up, except there comes a loud yelp at the other side, making him jump a little
“You haven’t slept for /three days/?!”
Chu Wanning frowns. What’s the big deal about it.
“Yes.”
“Man, just go to sleep already, why are you calling a hotline?”
And that makes Chu Wanning feel a little more angry at himself for calling at this line.
“Excuse me?”
Chu Wanning frowns. What’s the big deal about it.
“Yes.”
“Man, just go to sleep already, why are you calling a hotline?”
And that makes Chu Wanning feel a little more angry at himself for calling at this line.
“Excuse me?”
Taxian-jun collects himself, having slipped out of his persona.
But who can blame him, really, when someone say he hasn’t slept for three days and still sounds very rational, except for the fact that he drifts off every once in a while.
But who can blame him, really, when someone say he hasn’t slept for three days and still sounds very rational, except for the fact that he drifts off every once in a while.
Absolutely decided, he wants to make this man get a little of sleep, after all, this company is all about “adapting to the needs of the clients”.
“When was the last time you slept? Even if it was just a quick nap?”
Somewhat taken aback, Yuheng answers doubtfully,
“When was the last time you slept? Even if it was just a quick nap?”
Somewhat taken aback, Yuheng answers doubtfully,
“Yesterday morning fell asleep for fifteen minutes.”
...Fifteen minutes?!
Mo Ran sighs, feeling sympathetic. “Have you drank some water?”
Feeling even more confused, Yuheng, this time his answer sounds more questioning. “No?”
...Fifteen minutes?!
Mo Ran sighs, feeling sympathetic. “Have you drank some water?”
Feeling even more confused, Yuheng, this time his answer sounds more questioning. “No?”
“Can you get up and do that for me?”
“Why?”
“We are already here, humor me for a bit, please?”
And Chu Wanning thinks it for a while, before getting up and going directly into the kitchen. He can understand why this man works in this line of work. He’s pretty convincing
“Why?”
“We are already here, humor me for a bit, please?”
And Chu Wanning thinks it for a while, before getting up and going directly into the kitchen. He can understand why this man works in this line of work. He’s pretty convincing
So he takes a glass of water, noticing his throat was getting very dry. He tries to and fails to remember when was the last time he drank water.
“Have you had dinner?”
After thinking it for a while, he says, “No.”
“Have you had dinner?”
After thinking it for a while, he says, “No.”
He hears a sigh, then, “Do you have something to eat?”
Chu Wanning hums, but says nothing more, waiting for Taxian-jun to say something.
“You know what to do, baby.”
And if Chu Wanning’s eyebrows twitch at the endearment, he says nothing.
Chu Wanning hums, but says nothing more, waiting for Taxian-jun to say something.
“You know what to do, baby.”
And if Chu Wanning’s eyebrows twitch at the endearment, he says nothing.
Debating whether to say what this em stranger is saying, he finally concludes it does not harm to actually eat something after... he doesn’t remember when he ate for the last time. Maybe on Friday.
(Today’s Sunday)
(Today’s Sunday)
And it’s not even something he does consciously. He just gets lost in time doing work.
Chu Wanning heats up something he bought from the supermarket the last time he did groceries.
For a moment he forgets about the call, only remembering when he has to use both of his hands
Chu Wanning heats up something he bought from the supermarket the last time he did groceries.
For a moment he forgets about the call, only remembering when he has to use both of his hands
“...Hello?”
“Are you eating?”
“Yes.”
“Good! Don’t mind me, okay? Just tell me when you finish your meal.”
And this isstrange. Isn’t this supposed to be a... pleasure hotline? Why is this man doing this? He doesn’t gain anything, and Chu Wanning must be slowing down the line
“Are you eating?”
“Yes.”
“Good! Don’t mind me, okay? Just tell me when you finish your meal.”
And this isstrange. Isn’t this supposed to be a... pleasure hotline? Why is this man doing this? He doesn’t gain anything, and Chu Wanning must be slowing down the line
But he doesn’t comment on it. Deep down, his heart stirs at the mere show of someone caring, even if it’s a complete stranger, and maybe out of pure duty.
Chu Wanning eats in silence, finishing quickly than he usually would, and noticed Taxian-jun
Chu Wanning eats in silence, finishing quickly than he usually would, and noticed Taxian-jun
“You did great, baby,” he praises, and Chu Wanning goes absolute still at the praise. “Now go to your bed.”
Chu Wanning sputters, kinda indignant at the suggestion.
“To sleep! To sleep, oh god,” Taxian-jun amends quickly. “There’s no one I’d make you do something right now.”
Chu Wanning sputters, kinda indignant at the suggestion.
“To sleep! To sleep, oh god,” Taxian-jun amends quickly. “There’s no one I’d make you do something right now.”
“I still have many things to do, I can’t sleep.”
“They can wait,” Taxian-jun’s voice becomes a little bit softer. “You can’t be as efficient without proper rest, Yuheng.”
“I can”
“You can’t”
“They can wait,” Taxian-jun’s voice becomes a little bit softer. “You can’t be as efficient without proper rest, Yuheng.”
“I can”
“You can’t”
They go back and forth for a while, until Chu Wanning finally relinquishes and goes to bed. He lies down and pulls up the covers until they reach his chin.
“I’m in bed, now what.”
“Sleep.”
“I can’t.”
“Close your eyes, you can.”
“I really can’t.”
“I’m in bed, now what.”
“Sleep.”
“I can’t.”
“Close your eyes, you can.”
“I really can’t.”
“Yes you can,” Chu Wanning wonders how much is left until Taxian-jun hangs up because of how stubborn they both are. “Leave you phone next to your ear, try to sleep and if after ten minutes you haven’t yet, I’ll leave you alone, okay?”
Chu Wanning sighs, but complies.
Chu Wanning sighs, but complies.
Minutes after closing his eyes, he feels exhaustion take over him, the sleepless nights trying to finish all of his projects finally take off and soon, he’s deep asleep before he can even notice.
