My heart's in your frying pan[2/2]
Changmin rubbed his temple slightly. Kyuhyun frowned. This was not going to be good.
“Is it me, or does this have the makings of a disaster?”
“I think it’s going to be catastrophic. You hang out with them, don’t you? Surely you can handle them.” Changmin demanded.
“Changmin, don’t say it as if you don’t know them very well. You know the two of them together can spell certain doom. It’s like say, if we put Yunho-hyung and Jaejoong-hyung on the show together.”
The pair (the station’s director and the other, the head publicist) would likely be awkward, kill each other; then passionately kiss and make up.
Kyuhyun squeezed his eyes shut. Maybe when he opened his eyes, the paper indicating next week’s guest lineup would not have the names Hankyung (idol) and Kim Heechul (actor) on it.
Together.
“Why must they do this to us?” He complained. The schedule had been planned long before the incident last week, he understood, that didn’t mean he was happy with it.
Zhou Mi who just arrived on set, walked up to the pair. He saw their despair and asked,
“What’s the matter?”
“War’s going to break out next week and we’re all going to hell.”
Zhou Mi looked at them confusedly and stared at the paper in Changmin’s hands, reading it quickly.
Oh.
“Kim Heechul, whom you know, is going to be on our show. He’s going to be on the same episode with Hankyung, top idol and unfortunately, a friend of mine as well.” Zhou Mi nodded. This he very well knew.
“The problem is, how should I say this... The two share a long history and have a relationship that’s about as dysfunctional as any Hollywood power couple.”
“I’m sure it’s not that bad.” Zhou Mi said but his voice was a little uncertain, not after what he’d witnessed.
“It’s worse. I really wonder how they can even still remain together till now. It’s okay when they’re ‘on’ but recently, they’re ‘off’ and messily so.”
“It’s my stage; our show. Nothing’s going to happen.” Zhou Mi said with a sort of confidence that Kyuhyun and Changmin only wished they had at this point.
“We’ll see. Maybe I’ll check with Siwon if Heechul can be paired off with another guest instead?”
They knew the chances were ridiculously low though. The rest of the agencies were waiting to see if the show would continue to prosper before letting their artistes on the show. They’d been steadily climbing, but it was too early to declare a victory yet: fortunes constantly shifted.
Besides, knowing the actor’s stubborn personality, he wasn’t likely to want a switch.
Zhou Mi had met and briefly worked with Heechul before and had now become exceeding close to him since Heechul realized he was actually seriously fashion savvy and loved to pick his brains about clothing. Yet, the incident of last week was however, the first time he saw the other more vulnerable side of the actor.
Hankyung he had never met personally though his name was definitely well known in most of Asia. From what Zhou Mi heard and knew, the man was by far one of the most popular male idols around; the dream man of teenage girls and older ladies alike, with a captivating voice and impressive stage persona along with crazy dance abilities.
Kyuhyun scoffed when he heard this description.
“Please. He’s… I guess it’s true, but we’ve been friends a while now, so to hear him being described like that is a bit odd.”
Zhou Mi heard the hint of genuine, easy friendship in Kyuhyun’s tone. He diced his onion before earning a smack on the hand by Kyuhyun.
“Not like that! Wrist down, remember. The audience can’t see what you have inside the bowl if you hold it in that angle.”
Zhou Mi frowned and tried to follow what Kyuhyun was doing.
“Kuixian, would you tell me more about them? Like Heechul hyung always looks so listless nowadays.”
Kyuhyun shrugged.
“They’re going through a tough patch I guess. It’s not like you haven’t read the tabloids about the strange rumours surrounding Heechul hyung or Hankyung hyung’s bajillion scandals. But they’re also not entirely true.”
Zhou Mi added a pinch of salt and then asked thoughtfully.
“Why do they seem to have miles and oceans between them then?”
“Maybe it’s because they often are separated too?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know. They didn’t use to be like that. Maybe because they’re in entertainment, they all kind of lose what they used to be.”
Zhou Mi didn’t say anything; but indicated that he was listening and wanted to know more.
Kyuhyun thought for a moment as he quickly stole an olive off the cutting board.
“I’ve known them since I was in college, introduced by mutual friends. At that time they were already a couple, always disgustingly close and so happy.”
Zhou Mi swirled the eggs in the bowl experimentally as he continued to listen.
“Despite them having no time for each other; what with Heechul hyung’s acting classes and Hankyung hyung’s vocal and dance practices, they still maintained an okay relationship. Or as okay as it could be anyway.”
Kyuhyun snatched the bowl over and whisked the eggs briskly. Zhou Mi frowned both at the loss of his batter and pause in story.
“Then what happened?”
“Then Heechul’s first drama broke ratings for that summer; Hankyung’s agency decided to let him debut and that’s pretty much the downward spiral of destruction?”
They had grown apart; Heechul becoming a successful A-list actor but also a temperamental, perfectionist thespian. Hankyung had all the popularity and love an idol could ask for but also grew jaded and tainted.
The cycle of hurting each other had begun.
“But they still have feelings for each other.”
Kyuhyun looked at Zhou Mi slightly strangely. The older man had a very thoughtful sort of voice that indicated that he had something in mind.
“I guess they do.”
“I’m sure they do.”
Kyuhyun nodded slowly while wondering what Zhou Mi was thinking.
“It’s just buried under a lot of resentment.”
Further along the week, Kyuhyun realized that Zhou Mi was up to something when he met him all too coincidentally at Donghae’s bar, chatting to the veritable bartender. He caught the tail end of their conversation that vaguely sounded like,
“That’s all I’m very sure of; but I can check with some friends that I know will be able to confirm it.”
Zhou Mi had nodded cheerfully at Donghae’s statement before Kyuhyun appeared, slightly stunned.
“Why are you here!?”
“Kyuhyun-ah! Why have you never introduced Zhou Mimi to me? I wouldn’t have known he was Miss Stir Right until he told me.”
“Now you know, Donghae-hyung.”
He turned to the host sitting at the bar stool scribbling things into a notebook. Kyuhyun’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as he tucked it out of sight into his massive bag quickly.
“You’re up to something.”
Zhou Mi just calmly sipped his drink and gave him his most innocent ‘who-me?’ expression that was likely learnt from a certain stylist named Sungmin.
“Let me see. Ryeowook hyung told you about this place?”
“Very clever producer-nim.”
“And you’re not going to tell me what in the world you’re doing.”
Zhou Mi smiled mysteriously and shrugged, instead, he stood up. Kyuhyun couldn’t help but stare at the long legs encased in denim.
“I’ll see you on set on Friday.”
“So he’s the one that Sungminnie says you have a crush on?” Kyuhyun promptly choked on an ice cube and gave Donghae a glare.
“But don’t worry. I think he likes you too!” Pfft. Donghae made it sound like a schoolgirl crush but it still made him feel a tiny bit of happy inside.
“What did he say?” Kyuhyun blurted, before realizing that it sounded very very corny teenager-ish.
“Not telling you. But… he did say Hankyung and Heechul are going to be on the show this week?”
Donghae’s voice had a tinge of worry to it but his smile indicated otherwise.
Kyuhyun nodded a little.
“I think it’ll work out fine.”
Kyuhyun gave Donghae a skeptical, doubtful expression.
“You agree with his confidence? But you’ve known them even longer than me and you’ve seen how they’re like.”
“Have faith.”
Kyuhyun really didn’t have much of faith; not when they were facing what was one of the largest crises the show was facing for the season. It could totally make or break the entire show.
Heechul refused to even look at Hankyung.
Hankyung, on the other hand, pretended to be nonchalant while catching up with Kyuhyun and Siwon (Heechul’s manager who he was actually quite familiar with) and getting to know Zhou Mi but anyone who could see could tell that his gaze often drifted off to the actor.
The gaze was a mixture of annoyance and bitterness but also with longing and hinted of the deepest love.
The normally cool actor was fiddling with the myriad of rings on his fingers which indicated discomfort.
Zhou Mi leaned into Kyuhyun and whispered,
“The tense air is killing me. Can’t breathe~”
“Think of it this way, why do you think Changmin and I were so skeptical? We’ve all been acquainted long enough to realize this would happen.”
Zhou Mi gave a sigh.
“So my confident host; I hear you have a plan? You better hope it works.” Kyuhyun said grimly staring at the frozen lockdown in front of them.
As they got the cameras rolling, it was evident to get the two guests to cooperate was not going to be an easy task.
“So I hear you’re quite the ladies man, Hangeng?”
Heechul shot as the free conversation segment begin. It was still quite agreeable; albeit frosty when Zhou Mi started the introduction segment but had completely gone downhill once they were supposed to ask questions ‘as if they were in an intimate dinner party setting’ without the host’s interference. That was one of the main draws of the show and let guests interact with each other. Changmin had already expected this to happen, but completely cutting out this segment would have been strange.
“Why can’t they just even be fucking civil to each other? They’re like little kids. If this goes on I’m getting Yunho hyung and Eeteuk hyung to interfere.” spat Changmin.
Zhou Mi was doing his cooking so he couldn’t really step in anyway. Kyuhyun prayed that the two wouldn’t break out into a quarrel mid-show. They were professional yes, but both were prone to letting their heart rule over their head.
Hankyung just winced lightly before retorting in a more emotionally charged tone,
“I hear you are too, Heechul-sshi. Especially with the guys huh.”
The frozen smile remained on Heechul’s face. The actor looked like he wanted to throw his drink into the idol’s face.
“Oh my god.” Kyuhyun stood up and caught Heechul’s eye. Kyuhyun mimed a throat-slitting, ‘you-fucking-stop-that-or-die’ hand action. They both understood and Heechul just gave a small, bored nod. Siwon looked like he was about to have a heart attack; the way he was wringing his hands. Sungmin just clucked sympathetically and patted his back.
Fortunately, Zhou Mi stepped in to steer along the conversation.
“Ah, I know both our handsome guests are very popular lady-killers and have quite a cult following!”
“So I have our main dishes in the oven, but we’re starting off with something very simple.” Said Zhou Mi chirpily (or fake chirpily anyway).
He held out a plate of samgap kimbap to them, passing one to each man.
“Hankyung-sshi has one with kimchi filling; while Heechul-sshi has one with tuna inside.”
Strangely enough, as if clockwork, Hankyung passed the one he hand in hand to Heechul just as the younger man held out his.
“Ah?” asked Zhou Mi mock-confused as he tilted his head at the silent exchange.
The two guests also seemed shocked that they had 'traded' their riceballs so naturally.
“Ah! I just prefer kimchi, it has such a refreshing flavor.” Heechul said as if it were normal and simply bit into his without missing a beat. Hankyung followed.
“They still do this all these years huh.” Siwon mused.
Anyone who knew Heechul knew that the diva had always been fairly food conscious and was extremely picky with his tastes. Hankyung used to give into his every demand and coddle him to eat when he didn’t want to. It was also the only one thing Heechul could make that was actually edible.
Heechul let out a practically inaudible sigh when a bowl of steaming ramyun was placed in front of him.
It wasn’t something he would voluntarily eat nowadays. It forever reminded him of late night meetings with Hankyung at the nearby GS25 eating awful cup noodles. The late dinner/supper sucked; but the memory of the two of them wrapped together, hungry when practice ran late and simply dying to see each other would be branded in his heart always. They’d been so young and foolish and carefree and in love then.
He stabbed at the noodles before remembering he was on TV and took a bite reluctantly.
“What in the world is that?”
“It’s a bokkeumbap? But it looks a bit different.”
Kyuhyun rubbed his temples as he silently agreed with the cameramen. Yet, there was a pleasant aroma in the studio.
When presented in front of the two guests; not a word was uttered.
Hankyung looked at the dish for a long while before breaking out into a small smile. Kyuhyun almost exploded and told the cameramen to immediately zoom into the idol’s face- Hankyung actually smiling on a program was seen as almost a legend nowadays.
The producer looked at the host. Miss Stir Right was as relaxed as can be.
“Beijing fried rice?” Heechul had said slowly while looking at the same dish.
Fried rice?
So that was what Zhou Mi had approached Donghae that day at the bar for?
“Yes. Simple and fuss free! And here’s another dish, viewers! Dumplings-mandu or gyoza or jiaozi. No matter what you call them, they’re delicious.”
Ah.
Heechul had lowered his chopsticks slowly.
He looked at Hankyung steadily.
Hankyung said nothing but instead, scooped some of the fried rice and put it in the older man’s bowl.
“Eat up.”
The exchange was minimal but the feelings were clear as a stream in springtime.
It had been a long time since Kyuhyun had seen the two of them like this and goose bumps rose gently on his arm. The producer finally understood what the host was doing.
Zhou Mi had used food from a long time ago to help the old feelings resurface. The feelings that Kyuhyun could feel were those from yesteryear- a time where everything was alright and they meant the world to each other. Zhou Mi looked up past the cameras at the producer and shot him a dazzling smile.
Kyuhyun returned a smile to him; his heart beating in double time.
The guests seemed to be in a world of their own; eating their fried rice and dumplings.
Zhou Mi very coolly regarded the cameras and said,
“China indeed is a wonderful place. Ah, I’ve not been there in a long time! I know Hankyung-sshi is from there, but Heechul-sshi, you’ve been there?”
Hankyung and Heechul locked eyes for the briefest of moments and a tiny grin broke out on the actor’s pretty face.
“Beijing is a gorgeous place. It’s really so hot and dusty, since we went in summer but very interesting.”
Heechul had tried to describe the city, before looking at Hankyung as if asking him to help.
The idol returned the brief glance with a slightly shocked expression: Heechul had used we- the one that meant you and I- before finally saying,
“It’s got dumplings that taste of home.”
Heechul rolled his eyes but smiled.
“I… don’t get it.” Changmin said softly to Kyuhyun; but even he could see that they seemed enchanted. The whole crew seemed slightly spellbound too.
Zhou Mi just smiled along with the guests and when Changmin finally called for cut, everyone actually seemed unwilling for it to end.
“Thank you very much for the hard work.” Changmin bowed and Kyuhyun followed.
Zhou Mi returned the bow along with Hankyung and Heechul. As soon as Heechul straightened his back; Hankyung held him fast by his right hand. Kyuhyun noticed the older man wrapped his own left hand around it. They looked at each other; full of unspoken words.
“We’ll be leaving first; I’ll talk to you all later.” Hankyung raised a hand to salute them before walking off silently with Heechul.
“Do you think they’ll be alright?” Changmin asked; despite already knowing the answer.
It would take time, but the two had a certain bond that was still evidently unbroken.
“They’ll be.” Kyuhyun nodded his agreement.
As Kyuhyun looked at the smiling visage of Zhou Mi, he realized that if Hankyung could hold on to a relationship, maybe he might have found his own Mr. Right. Zhou Mi turned to him and just smiled.
A few weeks later
“Are you serious Changmin. Oh my god! Yes!” Kyuhyun shouted, almost dropping his cellphone in his excitement. Zhou Mi ran out into the living room; frying pan still firmly in hand.
“What the hell happened !? Somebody burnt their soufflé?”
Kyuhyun’s megawatt smile lit up his whole face. The younger man took the frying pan from his hand and set it down onto the table gently. And very suddenly, he hugged him tightly.
“We got an average viewership rating of 34.3 percent; the station’s moving the show back to weekend golden hour. And you got voted for most popular television personality!” Kyuhyun practically screamed. This display of happiness was very out of character for the producer. A beam broke out on Zhou Mi’s face.
All their efforts were not for naught!
He wrapped his arms around the younger man equally excitedly as the impact of what Kyuhyun was saying set in. He squealed and practically jumped onto him. And only then they realized they were… entwined in each other.
“Ah!” Kyuhyun broke away from his embrace. Zhou Mi’s face had the tint of a blush to it that was so adorable.
“I’m sorry I just… I’m just really so excited and happy!”
“Ah no, it’s okay. I’m really overjoyed too!”
Kyuhyun looked down a bit awkwardly.
Ask him out, Cho! His inner voice screamed to take action. It was weeks since he wanted to properly ask Zhou Mi out on a date, but repeatedly couldn’t and didn’t.
Zhou Mi stared at him as if predicting he would say something.
Say it, Cho Kyuhyun, say it.
“Ahem. Zhou Mi?”
“Yeah?”
“Would you… go out with me?”
THERE. He said it.
Zhou Mi laughed. That… wasn’t quite the response Kyuhyun was hoping for. The younger man frowned.
“Do you know I’ve been waiting months for you to say that?” Zhou Mi gestured to the honey-colored apron he was wearing and continued,
“The fact that I’m here in your kitchen wearing your apron says a lot, don’t you think? Of course I’ll go out with you, silly.”
Kyuhyun’s heart burst in joy. He promptly bopped the older man’s head but hugged him close like one would treat priceless treasure.
That night, a young man stood before a window just as he had over twenty years ago, hands tightly clasped in prayer.
“Dear God, thank you for granting my one very simple wish. I’ve found him.”
A/N: oh god. This is technically my first suju fic, but it’s the longest oneshot I have ever written. I am so fucking scared I mess up their characters but this has been one of the most fun AUs I’ve ever written. So, thank you for reading! I don’t know much about production teams and stuff, so I apologize for discrepancies. Uh. I do hope everyone understands the intended Miss Stir Right-> Mr. Right pun. But if not, never mind, I still hope you enjoyed!
“Is it me, or does this have the makings of a disaster?”
“I think it’s going to be catastrophic. You hang out with them, don’t you? Surely you can handle them.” Changmin demanded.
“Changmin, don’t say it as if you don’t know them very well. You know the two of them together can spell certain doom. It’s like say, if we put Yunho-hyung and Jaejoong-hyung on the show together.”
The pair (the station’s director and the other, the head publicist) would likely be awkward, kill each other; then passionately kiss and make up.
Kyuhyun squeezed his eyes shut. Maybe when he opened his eyes, the paper indicating next week’s guest lineup would not have the names Hankyung (idol) and Kim Heechul (actor) on it.
Together.
“Why must they do this to us?” He complained. The schedule had been planned long before the incident last week, he understood, that didn’t mean he was happy with it.
Zhou Mi who just arrived on set, walked up to the pair. He saw their despair and asked,
“What’s the matter?”
“War’s going to break out next week and we’re all going to hell.”
Zhou Mi looked at them confusedly and stared at the paper in Changmin’s hands, reading it quickly.
Oh.
“Kim Heechul, whom you know, is going to be on our show. He’s going to be on the same episode with Hankyung, top idol and unfortunately, a friend of mine as well.” Zhou Mi nodded. This he very well knew.
“The problem is, how should I say this... The two share a long history and have a relationship that’s about as dysfunctional as any Hollywood power couple.”
“I’m sure it’s not that bad.” Zhou Mi said but his voice was a little uncertain, not after what he’d witnessed.
“It’s worse. I really wonder how they can even still remain together till now. It’s okay when they’re ‘on’ but recently, they’re ‘off’ and messily so.”
“It’s my stage; our show. Nothing’s going to happen.” Zhou Mi said with a sort of confidence that Kyuhyun and Changmin only wished they had at this point.
“We’ll see. Maybe I’ll check with Siwon if Heechul can be paired off with another guest instead?”
They knew the chances were ridiculously low though. The rest of the agencies were waiting to see if the show would continue to prosper before letting their artistes on the show. They’d been steadily climbing, but it was too early to declare a victory yet: fortunes constantly shifted.
Besides, knowing the actor’s stubborn personality, he wasn’t likely to want a switch.
Zhou Mi had met and briefly worked with Heechul before and had now become exceeding close to him since Heechul realized he was actually seriously fashion savvy and loved to pick his brains about clothing. Yet, the incident of last week was however, the first time he saw the other more vulnerable side of the actor.
Hankyung he had never met personally though his name was definitely well known in most of Asia. From what Zhou Mi heard and knew, the man was by far one of the most popular male idols around; the dream man of teenage girls and older ladies alike, with a captivating voice and impressive stage persona along with crazy dance abilities.
Kyuhyun scoffed when he heard this description.
“Please. He’s… I guess it’s true, but we’ve been friends a while now, so to hear him being described like that is a bit odd.”
Zhou Mi heard the hint of genuine, easy friendship in Kyuhyun’s tone. He diced his onion before earning a smack on the hand by Kyuhyun.
“Not like that! Wrist down, remember. The audience can’t see what you have inside the bowl if you hold it in that angle.”
Zhou Mi frowned and tried to follow what Kyuhyun was doing.
“Kuixian, would you tell me more about them? Like Heechul hyung always looks so listless nowadays.”
Kyuhyun shrugged.
“They’re going through a tough patch I guess. It’s not like you haven’t read the tabloids about the strange rumours surrounding Heechul hyung or Hankyung hyung’s bajillion scandals. But they’re also not entirely true.”
Zhou Mi added a pinch of salt and then asked thoughtfully.
“Why do they seem to have miles and oceans between them then?”
“Maybe it’s because they often are separated too?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know. They didn’t use to be like that. Maybe because they’re in entertainment, they all kind of lose what they used to be.”
Zhou Mi didn’t say anything; but indicated that he was listening and wanted to know more.
Kyuhyun thought for a moment as he quickly stole an olive off the cutting board.
“I’ve known them since I was in college, introduced by mutual friends. At that time they were already a couple, always disgustingly close and so happy.”
Zhou Mi swirled the eggs in the bowl experimentally as he continued to listen.
“Despite them having no time for each other; what with Heechul hyung’s acting classes and Hankyung hyung’s vocal and dance practices, they still maintained an okay relationship. Or as okay as it could be anyway.”
Kyuhyun snatched the bowl over and whisked the eggs briskly. Zhou Mi frowned both at the loss of his batter and pause in story.
“Then what happened?”
“Then Heechul’s first drama broke ratings for that summer; Hankyung’s agency decided to let him debut and that’s pretty much the downward spiral of destruction?”
They had grown apart; Heechul becoming a successful A-list actor but also a temperamental, perfectionist thespian. Hankyung had all the popularity and love an idol could ask for but also grew jaded and tainted.
The cycle of hurting each other had begun.
“But they still have feelings for each other.”
Kyuhyun looked at Zhou Mi slightly strangely. The older man had a very thoughtful sort of voice that indicated that he had something in mind.
“I guess they do.”
“I’m sure they do.”
Kyuhyun nodded slowly while wondering what Zhou Mi was thinking.
“It’s just buried under a lot of resentment.”
Further along the week, Kyuhyun realized that Zhou Mi was up to something when he met him all too coincidentally at Donghae’s bar, chatting to the veritable bartender. He caught the tail end of their conversation that vaguely sounded like,
“That’s all I’m very sure of; but I can check with some friends that I know will be able to confirm it.”
Zhou Mi had nodded cheerfully at Donghae’s statement before Kyuhyun appeared, slightly stunned.
“Why are you here!?”
“Kyuhyun-ah! Why have you never introduced Zhou Mimi to me? I wouldn’t have known he was Miss Stir Right until he told me.”
“Now you know, Donghae-hyung.”
He turned to the host sitting at the bar stool scribbling things into a notebook. Kyuhyun’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as he tucked it out of sight into his massive bag quickly.
“You’re up to something.”
Zhou Mi just calmly sipped his drink and gave him his most innocent ‘who-me?’ expression that was likely learnt from a certain stylist named Sungmin.
“Let me see. Ryeowook hyung told you about this place?”
“Very clever producer-nim.”
“And you’re not going to tell me what in the world you’re doing.”
Zhou Mi smiled mysteriously and shrugged, instead, he stood up. Kyuhyun couldn’t help but stare at the long legs encased in denim.
“I’ll see you on set on Friday.”
“So he’s the one that Sungminnie says you have a crush on?” Kyuhyun promptly choked on an ice cube and gave Donghae a glare.
“But don’t worry. I think he likes you too!” Pfft. Donghae made it sound like a schoolgirl crush but it still made him feel a tiny bit of happy inside.
“What did he say?” Kyuhyun blurted, before realizing that it sounded very very corny teenager-ish.
“Not telling you. But… he did say Hankyung and Heechul are going to be on the show this week?”
Donghae’s voice had a tinge of worry to it but his smile indicated otherwise.
Kyuhyun nodded a little.
“I think it’ll work out fine.”
Kyuhyun gave Donghae a skeptical, doubtful expression.
“You agree with his confidence? But you’ve known them even longer than me and you’ve seen how they’re like.”
“Have faith.”
Kyuhyun really didn’t have much of faith; not when they were facing what was one of the largest crises the show was facing for the season. It could totally make or break the entire show.
Heechul refused to even look at Hankyung.
Hankyung, on the other hand, pretended to be nonchalant while catching up with Kyuhyun and Siwon (Heechul’s manager who he was actually quite familiar with) and getting to know Zhou Mi but anyone who could see could tell that his gaze often drifted off to the actor.
The gaze was a mixture of annoyance and bitterness but also with longing and hinted of the deepest love.
The normally cool actor was fiddling with the myriad of rings on his fingers which indicated discomfort.
Zhou Mi leaned into Kyuhyun and whispered,
“The tense air is killing me. Can’t breathe~”
“Think of it this way, why do you think Changmin and I were so skeptical? We’ve all been acquainted long enough to realize this would happen.”
Zhou Mi gave a sigh.
“So my confident host; I hear you have a plan? You better hope it works.” Kyuhyun said grimly staring at the frozen lockdown in front of them.
As they got the cameras rolling, it was evident to get the two guests to cooperate was not going to be an easy task.
“So I hear you’re quite the ladies man, Hangeng?”
Heechul shot as the free conversation segment begin. It was still quite agreeable; albeit frosty when Zhou Mi started the introduction segment but had completely gone downhill once they were supposed to ask questions ‘as if they were in an intimate dinner party setting’ without the host’s interference. That was one of the main draws of the show and let guests interact with each other. Changmin had already expected this to happen, but completely cutting out this segment would have been strange.
“Why can’t they just even be fucking civil to each other? They’re like little kids. If this goes on I’m getting Yunho hyung and Eeteuk hyung to interfere.” spat Changmin.
Zhou Mi was doing his cooking so he couldn’t really step in anyway. Kyuhyun prayed that the two wouldn’t break out into a quarrel mid-show. They were professional yes, but both were prone to letting their heart rule over their head.
Hankyung just winced lightly before retorting in a more emotionally charged tone,
“I hear you are too, Heechul-sshi. Especially with the guys huh.”
The frozen smile remained on Heechul’s face. The actor looked like he wanted to throw his drink into the idol’s face.
“Oh my god.” Kyuhyun stood up and caught Heechul’s eye. Kyuhyun mimed a throat-slitting, ‘you-fucking-stop-that-or-die’ hand action. They both understood and Heechul just gave a small, bored nod. Siwon looked like he was about to have a heart attack; the way he was wringing his hands. Sungmin just clucked sympathetically and patted his back.
Fortunately, Zhou Mi stepped in to steer along the conversation.
“Ah, I know both our handsome guests are very popular lady-killers and have quite a cult following!”
“So I have our main dishes in the oven, but we’re starting off with something very simple.” Said Zhou Mi chirpily (or fake chirpily anyway).
He held out a plate of samgap kimbap to them, passing one to each man.
“Hankyung-sshi has one with kimchi filling; while Heechul-sshi has one with tuna inside.”
Strangely enough, as if clockwork, Hankyung passed the one he hand in hand to Heechul just as the younger man held out his.
“Ah?” asked Zhou Mi mock-confused as he tilted his head at the silent exchange.
The two guests also seemed shocked that they had 'traded' their riceballs so naturally.
“Ah! I just prefer kimchi, it has such a refreshing flavor.” Heechul said as if it were normal and simply bit into his without missing a beat. Hankyung followed.
“They still do this all these years huh.” Siwon mused.
Anyone who knew Heechul knew that the diva had always been fairly food conscious and was extremely picky with his tastes. Hankyung used to give into his every demand and coddle him to eat when he didn’t want to. It was also the only one thing Heechul could make that was actually edible.
Heechul let out a practically inaudible sigh when a bowl of steaming ramyun was placed in front of him.
It wasn’t something he would voluntarily eat nowadays. It forever reminded him of late night meetings with Hankyung at the nearby GS25 eating awful cup noodles. The late dinner/supper sucked; but the memory of the two of them wrapped together, hungry when practice ran late and simply dying to see each other would be branded in his heart always. They’d been so young and foolish and carefree and in love then.
He stabbed at the noodles before remembering he was on TV and took a bite reluctantly.
“What in the world is that?”
“It’s a bokkeumbap? But it looks a bit different.”
Kyuhyun rubbed his temples as he silently agreed with the cameramen. Yet, there was a pleasant aroma in the studio.
When presented in front of the two guests; not a word was uttered.
Hankyung looked at the dish for a long while before breaking out into a small smile. Kyuhyun almost exploded and told the cameramen to immediately zoom into the idol’s face- Hankyung actually smiling on a program was seen as almost a legend nowadays.
The producer looked at the host. Miss Stir Right was as relaxed as can be.
“Beijing fried rice?” Heechul had said slowly while looking at the same dish.
Fried rice?
So that was what Zhou Mi had approached Donghae that day at the bar for?
“Yes. Simple and fuss free! And here’s another dish, viewers! Dumplings-mandu or gyoza or jiaozi. No matter what you call them, they’re delicious.”
Ah.
Heechul had lowered his chopsticks slowly.
He looked at Hankyung steadily.
Hankyung said nothing but instead, scooped some of the fried rice and put it in the older man’s bowl.
“Eat up.”
The exchange was minimal but the feelings were clear as a stream in springtime.
It had been a long time since Kyuhyun had seen the two of them like this and goose bumps rose gently on his arm. The producer finally understood what the host was doing.
Zhou Mi had used food from a long time ago to help the old feelings resurface. The feelings that Kyuhyun could feel were those from yesteryear- a time where everything was alright and they meant the world to each other. Zhou Mi looked up past the cameras at the producer and shot him a dazzling smile.
Kyuhyun returned a smile to him; his heart beating in double time.
The guests seemed to be in a world of their own; eating their fried rice and dumplings.
Zhou Mi very coolly regarded the cameras and said,
“China indeed is a wonderful place. Ah, I’ve not been there in a long time! I know Hankyung-sshi is from there, but Heechul-sshi, you’ve been there?”
Hankyung and Heechul locked eyes for the briefest of moments and a tiny grin broke out on the actor’s pretty face.
“Beijing is a gorgeous place. It’s really so hot and dusty, since we went in summer but very interesting.”
Heechul had tried to describe the city, before looking at Hankyung as if asking him to help.
The idol returned the brief glance with a slightly shocked expression: Heechul had used we- the one that meant you and I- before finally saying,
“It’s got dumplings that taste of home.”
Heechul rolled his eyes but smiled.
“I… don’t get it.” Changmin said softly to Kyuhyun; but even he could see that they seemed enchanted. The whole crew seemed slightly spellbound too.
Zhou Mi just smiled along with the guests and when Changmin finally called for cut, everyone actually seemed unwilling for it to end.
“Thank you very much for the hard work.” Changmin bowed and Kyuhyun followed.
Zhou Mi returned the bow along with Hankyung and Heechul. As soon as Heechul straightened his back; Hankyung held him fast by his right hand. Kyuhyun noticed the older man wrapped his own left hand around it. They looked at each other; full of unspoken words.
“We’ll be leaving first; I’ll talk to you all later.” Hankyung raised a hand to salute them before walking off silently with Heechul.
“Do you think they’ll be alright?” Changmin asked; despite already knowing the answer.
It would take time, but the two had a certain bond that was still evidently unbroken.
“They’ll be.” Kyuhyun nodded his agreement.
As Kyuhyun looked at the smiling visage of Zhou Mi, he realized that if Hankyung could hold on to a relationship, maybe he might have found his own Mr. Right. Zhou Mi turned to him and just smiled.
A few weeks later
“Are you serious Changmin. Oh my god! Yes!” Kyuhyun shouted, almost dropping his cellphone in his excitement. Zhou Mi ran out into the living room; frying pan still firmly in hand.
“What the hell happened !? Somebody burnt their soufflé?”
Kyuhyun’s megawatt smile lit up his whole face. The younger man took the frying pan from his hand and set it down onto the table gently. And very suddenly, he hugged him tightly.
“We got an average viewership rating of 34.3 percent; the station’s moving the show back to weekend golden hour. And you got voted for most popular television personality!” Kyuhyun practically screamed. This display of happiness was very out of character for the producer. A beam broke out on Zhou Mi’s face.
All their efforts were not for naught!
He wrapped his arms around the younger man equally excitedly as the impact of what Kyuhyun was saying set in. He squealed and practically jumped onto him. And only then they realized they were… entwined in each other.
“Ah!” Kyuhyun broke away from his embrace. Zhou Mi’s face had the tint of a blush to it that was so adorable.
“I’m sorry I just… I’m just really so excited and happy!”
“Ah no, it’s okay. I’m really overjoyed too!”
Kyuhyun looked down a bit awkwardly.
Ask him out, Cho! His inner voice screamed to take action. It was weeks since he wanted to properly ask Zhou Mi out on a date, but repeatedly couldn’t and didn’t.
Zhou Mi stared at him as if predicting he would say something.
Say it, Cho Kyuhyun, say it.
“Ahem. Zhou Mi?”
“Yeah?”
“Would you… go out with me?”
THERE. He said it.
Zhou Mi laughed. That… wasn’t quite the response Kyuhyun was hoping for. The younger man frowned.
“Do you know I’ve been waiting months for you to say that?” Zhou Mi gestured to the honey-colored apron he was wearing and continued,
“The fact that I’m here in your kitchen wearing your apron says a lot, don’t you think? Of course I’ll go out with you, silly.”
Kyuhyun’s heart burst in joy. He promptly bopped the older man’s head but hugged him close like one would treat priceless treasure.
That night, a young man stood before a window just as he had over twenty years ago, hands tightly clasped in prayer.
“Dear God, thank you for granting my one very simple wish. I’ve found him.”
A/N: oh god. This is technically my first suju fic, but it’s the longest oneshot I have ever written. I am so fucking scared I mess up their characters but this has been one of the most fun AUs I’ve ever written. So, thank you for reading! I don’t know much about production teams and stuff, so I apologize for discrepancies. Uh. I do hope everyone understands the intended Miss Stir Right-> Mr. Right pun. But if not, never mind, I still hope you enjoyed!