[Fanfic Love O2O] Hao Mei's Alluring Smile Ch 1

Title: Hao Mei's Alluring Smile
Author: WinterBubbleTea
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Fluff
Pairing: Hao Mei/KO
Summary: That bright smile.


He knows he is too old to be this excited and petty, but after losing his father and mother, he loosen the grip over his self control.

It all comes to a head when young KO joined a fantasy space game. The graphics were attractive to him and he was instantly hooked onto the game.
KO was a dreamer that dreamer always linger but was buried when his family was reported to being killed in a car crash.

While he understands that the landlord of their home couldn't let him stay for free. He was lucky enough to be allowed to work at a shop while attending his classes and given a small closet space to settle down by an elderly woman. But even time was against that elderly woman and she passed away right when he finished his schooling.

KO debated over what to do. With his work with the old lady he was able to fend for himself by cooking delicious food. Yet when he couldn't sleep he enjoy borrowing the computers and salvage items he picked up from the garbage disposal. Cobbling together a workable laptop for his own usage.

The work and the hacking wasn't anything hard for KO to learn. The library was opened to the public and he self taught himself how to build and program. Then the challenges came and he recall the game he played and the disappeared boy that he later on discover was playing a female avatar.

He wanted compensation in a way. KO never lied to himself that he was different. Women and men mean nothing to him, but the intelligence and spirit of the soul was what he was seeking. He wanted to find that escaped soul and track him down too - what exactly?

Time was an issue for him since trying to live and eat he worked hard. He had a nice figure and some of his hacking was enough for him to earn a little bit pay though he never reveal his identity. Though that question always linger in the back of his mind. He begs one night to think it over, when he dreams about the messages of the character.

Witty intelligence was an attraction and he thought he knew the person behind that avatar. Then one day a childish man appeared and smiled brightly. As he holds out plates of food and watches the voracious appetite he enjoy the silly chatters and drunken exclamations.

Hand itching KO holds out his hand and lifted the chin to look into that alluring smile and arrows felt like it was shot into his heart. He followed after that smile because it was real there was no falseness and he wanted to bend down and swallow Hao Mei whole.

~_~_~_~

Indeed KO followed Hao Mei into the company the man worked in. It also meant he met another that was better then him at hacking and since he lost he would work for free. It didn't meant he wasn't still working his part time jobs. Though he was allow to work from home, it meant less sleep but he could deal with it.

KO would have more time to learn about Hao Mei and his friends. A particular day that he was working he went out to lunch with Bei Wei Wei, Hao Mei and Ban Shan. The chatter of love and feeding Manager Nai was nauseating, but he continued to eat slowly.

Yu Ban Shan commentary of saving him from the dazzling affection was indeed felt by KO as he tries to swallow the little rice he place into his mouth. His ears perked up at Hao Mei's words.

"I once had a sincere online romance right in front of me." Hao Mei dances his chopsticks in his rice. "But I didn't cherish it. Now that I think about it, I really regret it."

Wei Wei voice filled with amusement stated, "Senior Hao, online romance are not appropriate."

"Then what about you and Xiao Nai?" Hao Mei retorted bitterly.

Wei Wei countered, "We met each other online and then got to know each other in real life. And then..."  KO raises his eyebrows at her switch of topic, "Whose was yours with? Let's hear it."

KO sighs thinking that Manager Xiao really was affecting his girlfriend that she was able to navigate Hao Mei into the topic that he was curious about.

"It wasn't in 'A Chinese Ghost Story.'" Hao Mei brows pucker together. "Before I was playing 'A Chinese Ghost Story' I played a game called 'Fantasy Planet.'"

KO stopped in chewing and lifted his head slowly listening intently, Fantasy Planet was the same game he was playing.

"I played a Heavenly Healer character." Hao Mei nodded along.

KO hand froze and he was in disbelief that this was possible. Heavenly Healer characters were females and it was too coincidental that Hao Mei could be that boy. 

Wei Wei addresses his thoughts, "I remember vaguely about that game, but I think only female players played as Heavenly Healers. You played a female character?"

Hao Mei nods, "That was the only character in the game that fit my aesthetic tastes."

KO almost snorted because it would be just like Hao Mei to pick a character because of the art design and form didn't offend him.

"A lot of my friends formed partnerships, so I wanted to find a partner too." Hao Mei wasn't eating focus on the tale.

KO already was wrapping his mind around Hao Mei's sort of story, wonder if he perhaps formed up with someone and felt jealous.

Wei Wei lifted her hand to her chin and gave a smile, "In general couples are formed by a man and a woman. You had a female character, were you looking for a male player?"


"You're wrong. I was looking for a woman playing as a man." Hao Mei shook his head. KO felt disappointed but the tale was slowly forming in his mind. After all there were over twenty three characters in the game there was no way that Hao Mei could have been that boy.

Wei Wei asked, "That worked?"

Hao Mei looking smug nods, "Of course." He pointed his chopsticks. "There was a male character in the game named Blossom Arrow. It was designed to be very feminine. Most guys wouldn't choose to play that character." 

KO wanted to protest since he did pick the character consider the stats were nicer then the other selections.

"Instead, it was very popular with the girls." Hao Mei reasoned. "I thought I'd look for a Blossom Arrow. I even found someone whose name looked like a girl's. It was Plucker of Stars."

Well there goes that theory KO thought, but he was amazed that Hao Mei still recalls the name of the avatar.  He started to think deeply wonder if that name was too female like, but Wei Wei dis-allude that it wasn't.

"That name sounds very bold and imposing, why would it be a girl?" This obviously places KO into thought that he didn't pick anything remotely feminine like.

"I thought only girls would want to pluck the stars." Hao Mei said agitated. "And to express my sincerity I never asked about gender, until in the end, I found out...he was a she-male."

Wei Wei grimaces, "That's so complicated. So was it a man or a woman?"

Ban Shan interrupted, "It was a pure man!"

"And then?" Wei Wei asked excited.

"Later on? There's no more." Hao Mei said, "After I found out he was a man. I didn't touch that game anymore."

KO wasn't feeling charitable, he always thought that his partner was reciprocation to him. Wei Wei's logic came through, "Mr. Beauty, you are blaming someone else? You were the one who masqueraded as a female player, played with other people's feelings and then abandoned them."

KO believe that Manager Xiao picked the perfect woman, since she was so right in how he was feeling now.

Ban Shan teases, "Scum."

"I am not scum. In the start, my motives were pure." Hao Mei protested and KO couldn't let this go. He had enough of Hao Mei's denial of what he was--the signals he sent the smile she sent. He would ensure that this issue was addressed to further his goals because denial was just not right at this point if he wanted their relationship to progress.

At first he thought he go slow but he now realize that he needed to nip this issue in the bud before it escalated. "Was the server you were on called Chang'an Under the Moon?" He didn't look at Hao Mei when he spoke because he refused to look at those shiny eyes.

"How did you know?" Hao Mei look puzzled.

Turning to now look at Hao Mei to make a point, "Because I am Plucker of Stars."

Intake of air and Hao Mei's shock he watches the emotions flutter over the mans face. Seeing he made his point he went back to eating.

Ban Shan and Wei Wei quickly excited with excuse and he thanked them inwardly because he really needed to punish Hao Mei.His eyes kept staring at the tensing and swallowing of Hao Mei's juice.

"Why..." Hao Mei waves his hands.

KO stated calmly, "You left."

Hao Mei shook his head, "You heard I was looking for a female."

"You keep giving signals." KO stated, "And even now you are..." He narrow his eyes, "Log into Fantasy Planet."

"What?" Hao Mei raises his chest and waves his hands, "Why do I need to do that?"

"Pair up in Fantasy Planet with my avatar." KO insisted.

Hao Mei jerk his head, "Why do I need to do that? Besides I don't play that game anymore!"

"I was ridiculed by others and you need to make it up to me." KO said dryly, his pride was on the line and he wanted to ensure that there was no way that Hao Mei would escape him. He was in a female avatar and he used a male avatar and thus the community would think nothing of it. However, it would give him pleasure to think that everyone would see the two characters together. Even if Hao Mei is a male, after all his name is common to that of a girl so no one would be wiser.

"There wouldn't be any point!" Hao Mei insisted, "Look its been a while and so many people left from the game, even those friends of yours probably are no longer there and no one would see...your pride be replenished. What's the point of doing that?"

KO said with a steady voice, "The point is--you would be my wife in the game. It's the fact of the matter..."

Hao Mei got up, "I don't want to talk about this!" He flounder off and KO shook his head at the thought of Hao Mei running away. Well he would have to be persistent in negotiations.

The next day he continued on his pursuit, "Log into Fantasy Planet." KO said, "And pair up with my character."

The staff turn their attention to the gossiping going on. "Wow...marriage online!" Yong Hou exclaimed. Hao Mei tug on his hair protesting, but Ban Shan had already updated the staff on what had happened and they were egging Hao Mei on.

The entrance of Manager Xiao and his girl friend was not unexpected and KO patiently waited as Hao Mei flutter over in protest to try to gain supporters, but KO knew that Wei Wei understood and sympathize to his plight. It would only be a matter of time.

Instead, Xiao Nai words calling out, "This is good. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep KO here after one year. Now I don't have to worry anymore."

KO knew that Xiao Nai was a wily man and that he could probably see the benefits if he were to marry off his brother to him. He felt smug inwardly, after all Xiao Nai wasn't a discriminating man. KO already admitted some of his reasons and affection toward Hao Mei. Though he never said it it was through his actions that Xiao Nai could read.

"Third Bro, you are so heartless." Hao Mei smile was stun disbelief. "You want to marry me off?"

"I'll give you a bonus." Xiao Nai cajole.

The tempted look over Hao Mei made KO amused, especially when Hao Mei said, he would sell himself for 1,000 yuan the equivalency of 145 USD. The nod from Manager Xiao and Hao Mei went off toward him like a happy puppy. KO was poor and he felt it amusing that someone so rich as Hao Mei was so frugal. Perhaps it was his experience of starving that made him so wise toward money.

"KO let's pair up later." Hao Mei said not realizing that Xiao Nai did something else. He arrange for a permanent marriage between the two of them in a way as a couple. The online was all that Hao Mei thought of his character and KO. Hao Mei look for benefit and gain of pairing his character for the money, but he didn't consider that stating those words, lt's pair up later. Confirmed his agreement toward couple hood with KO.

That poor Naive man.

Already the staffs were laughing and thinking how shameless Hao Mei is...especially when he said "I'll treat you to dinner tonight."

One of the admin stated, "Hao Mei you have no integrity at all."

"Get back to work." Hao Mei wave away the man.

The staff went away but KO continued to program, but Hao Mei was closer to him, he would bargain really well for the contract for another year. If it meant keeping Hao Mei, after all even though he was poor he would have to figure out a way to support his new wife.

The night time, Hao Mei did bring him to eat food with their computers they linked their characters in a small wedding. KO had finished the program and watches the ceremony and characters he screen shot the announcement and felt satisfied.

He may have gone through a few heart breaks, but he felt stronger now, but he would have to be cautious when trying to gain Hao Mei's favor. He was still getting over his denial, but KO hoped to ensure that he would miss him and need him. Just a few shocks should be enough he believe and Xiao Nai would help him.

After all there was a planning for that man and he could never keep the personal life away from the business aspects.

~Master List~

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