Li Yang blinked in slight confusion taken aback by the younger's question.
"Why would I think you're weak?"He questioned back, his dark orbs inspecting the younger's expressions.
"I don't know...I just felt weak for losing,"the younger admitted looking down in embarrassment.
Lately he had been feeling so unsure of himself.
"You don't have to feel embarrassed about it. Everyone loses,"the older spoke in an assuring voice.
"Okay ... I get it,"the younger mumbled.
"Let's go the others must be waiting for us,"Li Yang spoke up and the younger nodded in agreement and the two team leaders walked out together and parted ways at the parking lot.
------
The ambience was loaded with tension and silence; the nerve wracking, anxiety inducing kind of silence.Only the clinking sound of cutlery filled the atmosphere in the dining room. Li Yang kept his gaze fixed on his plate silently praying for the time to pass as quickly as possible.
"Did you resign?"Mr Li's firm voice broke the silence.
Li Yang's suddenly ceased moving, his grip on the spoon tightened,he placed the chopsticks aside and took a deep breath.
"I didn't,"he chocked out.
Mr Li slammed his hand against the fragile dining table sending a bone chilling sensation to the others in the room.
"When will you grow up and stop being childish? What will my friends say if they know that my well educated son is fooling around playing ridiculous games!"he yelled, his voice filled with disappointment.
Li Yang swallowed hard, feeling the familiar stinging pain in the chest. He kept his gaze on his plate. He had suddenly lost his appetite.
"Calm down,"Mrs Li uttered softly trying to placate the old man.
"How can I calm down when he's acting like this? I need to put some sense into his head!"Mr Li reasoned out.
Li Yang had been quiet the whole time silently digesting his father's words. He didn't raise his gaze at the old man and the lack of response from him seemed to agitate his father more. Li Yang was rarely one to talk back but his silence was even more infuriating.
"I'm full,"Li Yang finally spoke nonchalantly and dropped the spoon he had been holding on the table,"I'll visit next time,"he said getting up from his seat and walked out without sparing another glance at his parents
Mr Li , enraged by his son's behaviour sprang up from his seat, stumbling carelessly to run after the kid but Mrs Li held him back,"That kid ! Did you see his rude behaviour?"the old man pointed his finger at the retreating figure of his son, his breaths were shallow as he battled the rising turmoil inside him.
"He'll understand your words one day,"Mrs Li said hopefully.
"Why can't he take things seriously?"
------
Li Yang sighed in relief after stepping out of the face. With his father's presence in the house,his home felt like a courtroom and he felt like a suspect about to be convicted. He dipped his hands in his pockets and walked away. Walking down the road,he grabbed a taxi back to the company. As he walked he kicked a few pebbles that happened to be on his way. He vented out the frustration that had been accumulating inside him since his father started ridiculing his career.
"Ouch!"Chen Hao yelped in pain as the pebble hit the shin of his leg. He instinctively crouched down rubbing the injured part.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't looking... Are you alright?"Li Yang asked feeling remorseful.
"It's fine I'm okay,"Chen Hao said getting up.
"I'm sorry again."
"It's fine."
There was a slight awkward silence between them before the older spoke up again
"Um...see you around then."
"You seem to be in a bad mood should we play a match to cheer you up?"Chen Hao suggested smiling at the other.
"What makes you think playing a match will cheer me up?"Li Yang queried looking at the younger curiously.
"Maybe we can play and you win and I end up losing and you'll be happy if you win,"Chen Hao rambled looking at the older expectantly.
"Do you love losing to me that much?" Li Yang chuckled in amusement.
Chen Hao was caught by surprise. He didn't expect the RDS leader to laugh.
"Your mood seems to have gotten better. All credit to me and my charms,"Chen Hao bragged.
"What charms?" the older laughed yet again in amusement.
"Charms to lift other people's moods."
"I think I can give a little credit for that and if you lose today's match I can give you the rest of the credit,"the older joked.
"Your studio or mine?"
"Yours of course."
"Right...yours feels like a haunted house."
"What?!"
Chen Hao turned around to walk away ignoring the older's request to clarify further what he had meant by his words. Li Yang walked silently behind him, watching the younger as he walk,there he was the outspoken Chen Hao that he had always known from his observations before. The younger was a walking ball of energy- dripping with enthusiasm.
When the two leaders stepped inside the studio,the other members were seated inside each holding a slice of pizza, howling loudly while playing games. Li Yang once again noted the difference between his team and the other. They were not allowed to eat in the RDS studio. It was a big crime to do so.
"Yang-ge why are you here?"Ren Siyuan asked in surprise.
"Why can't he be here?"Chen Hao retaliated on behalf of the older.
"Are you having another match? Will he beat you again today?"
"Idiot!"Chen Hao slapped his best friend.
"Yang-ge why don't you play with me ?I swear I won't lose to you," Ren Siyuan declared making a three finger salute.
"If I lost against him do you think you stand a chance against him?"Chen Hao mocked him and the rest of the crew laughed.
"I'm a lucky person unlike you so I won't lose,"Ren Siyuan uttered confidently.
The RDS leader watched the two best friends bicker for almost half an hour. It was a new experience for him considered he and his teammates didn't talk this much. The Ocean Emblems' members chatted carefree , switching between jokes, teasing and sarcasm.
"Do you want a slice of pizza before the match?"Chen Hao asked finally shifting his attention to the RDS leader.
"Sure."
Li Yang picked a slice of pizza before settling down to munch on it.
"You like it,right?" Chen Hao asked his eyes sparkling with what seemed like excitement as he watched the older enjoy the pizza.
"How do you know?"
"You were making ...sounds of excitement,"the younger revealed.
"Huh?!"