"We have a more aggressive option. One that I think we'd all agree to except for one thing..." he looked over at Mei and KO, waiting for the pair to give him their permission to share the details they had discussed before everything started. When they nodded at him, Xiao Nai closed his eyes briefly, hating what he was about to do. "But this options relies on Hao Mei and KO leaving. Not just Zhi Yi, but Beijing."

To say their friends weren't happy would be an understatement. It took the rest of the day for Xiao Nai, KO and Mei to explain their plan and by the time everyone was on board, night had fallen and Wei Wei had ordered a food delivery.

"I still don't understand why they have to leave Beijing." Li Qiang spoke around a mouthful of rice. "I hate to say it, but leaving the company makes sense if Mei's parents are only targeting the company to get at him. But why Beijing?"

"Pa will correctly assume that if we stay in Beijing, then we're still in contact with Xiao Nai and still working for the company on the sly. It will only make him focus on the company even more." Mei added more meat to KO's bowl before filling his own with rice.

"I don't get it." Ban Shan leaned back in his chair and waved his chopsticks for emphasis. "Spreading rumours like this, targeting Zhi Yi as an "immoral influence" because we have a gay couple on the team... his son is one half of that couple. So don't rumours like that hurt his own business as well?"

"The rumours don't name anyone." Shaking his head at the foolishness of it all, Xiao Nai reminded his friend of the basics. "There's no record of KO available to the public and they won't risk naming their son. This is about forcing me to make a public statement denying the rumours without firing the staff members involved, and therefore confirming, in the eyes of the conservatives, that Zhi Yi will be promoting homosexuality in our games."

"Which is why laosan needs to fire us. Publicly." For someone who's life was about to turn upside down, Mei was surprisingly calm. "That will reassure the conservatives about the company's morals and has the added bonus of naming and shaming my parents, without actually calling them out."

"But, Mr Beauty, why do you have to leave Beijing?" Wei Wei's eyebrows furrowed in concern. "Why do you have to be fired and then leave? Isn't that too much?"

"Distance." It was KO's turn to help clarify further. "We need to show that Zhi Yi is completely rejecting us. Xiao Nai has based his company on treasuring Chinese culture and sharing that culture, in a respectful manner, with a younger generation through gaming. Being seen to support homosexuality? Xiao Nai doesn't have the influence in the industry to survive that. Combine that with the rumours that certain parties are trying to spread about the demonstration for Dreams of Jiangshu 2 and whispers on the wind could make even a brick house fall over."

Everyone ate in a silence only punctuated with the click of chopsticks on bowls. When the last person leaned back from the table, replete and with all food containers empty, Mei abruptly rose to his feet.

"I'm sorry," he bowed to his colleagues. "This situation is of my making. I apologise."

"Sit down." KO's voice was harsh. "You did not cause the situation. It is not your fault."

"I could make it all go away so easily... but I'm selfish and I don't want to. That makes it my fault." Head down, Mei couldn't see the anger clouding his friends' faces.

"It's not your fault."

"You didn't try to force someone to be something they're not!"

"Children should be dutiful to their parents but parents are supposed to care for their children first."

"Why should you have to make it right? You didn't start the rumours!"

"Don't say you could fix it when the solution would tear yourself apart." Wei Wei's soft words cut

through the male outrage. "That's not 'fixing it'... it's martyrdom and we won't let you sacrifice yourself and KO to pander to the hurt pride of an overgrown man-child."

She rose and started clearing the dirty bowls. Mei finally lifted his head, eyes meeting Wei Wei's over the table.

"Saosan..." The lump in his throat stopped him from saying more, but Wei Wei seemed to understand.

"We'll play the game that you guys have planned but," she lifted a finger in the air and everyone knew that what she was about to say was absolute, "The game will be played with the understanding that this.... exile... is only temporary and that you will both return, to Beijing and to us."

KO dragged Mei on to his lap, wrapping his arms around his partner's waist and resting his chin on Mei's shoulder. "Understood. We'll be back in Beijing in time for your wedding."

There was a brief moment of quiet as everyone looked at KO, stunned that the hacker had been the one to tease. The shock quickly passed and everyone laughed at the pink still staining Wei Wei's cheeks. She waved a hand at KO then squeaked as her boyfriend dropped a kiss on her nose.

"That won't happen until after Wei Wei graduates. So there's time." Xiao Nai smiled down at his flustered love. A yawn caught his attention and he turned just in time to see Li Qiang smother a second yawn behind his hand. He smiled. "It's late. We should all go home. Everyone will start late tomorrow because I'll release a statement in the morning. Mei, KO, it might be better for you both to clear your desks tonight. You can have a few days to get everything packed. I'll book your flights tomorrow."

"No need." Mei leaned his head against KO's shoulder. "I booked them after Ban Shan read Ma the riot act. There was only ever going to be one outcome."

Mei's words actually served to reassure his colleagues and friends. It made it clear to them all that he, Xiao Nai and KO had run through all the scenarios and planned accordingly. This exile, as Wei Wei had called it, was therefore no such thing... rather, it was an offence move. As a result, while the mood was somber as everyone helped Mei and KO clear their desks, there was also an atmosphere of determination. Anyone who thought they could cow a new company just through name calling had a harsh lesson to learn.

"It's just as well we never finished unpacking," standing in the middle of the apartment, Mei was surprised at how quickly it had taken to pack their personal items. The furniture and household goods were staying behind (he would rent out the place as a furnished apartment) and all their clothes and knick knacks managed to fit in just three large suitcases. "We don't have a lot to take with us. Wonder if we need to pay for the extra suitcase?"

"We wouldn't need the extra suitcase if you didn't decide to bring that doona with us."

"I couldn't leave it behind."

"It's not a pet- it's not like it would miss us."

"But it's our doona."

"Eh?"

"It was mine and then it was yours and then I stole it back and then you moved in... it's ours."

"You're a romantic, E-Mei."

"Shut up."

"We'll take the extra suitcase." KO ruffled Mei's hair. "It's ours afterall."

Mei briefly leaned his head into KO's touch.

"Do you think Xiao Nai has released the statement yet?"

"Hmm," KO checked his watch. "Should have been done an hour ago."

"Then why haven't I had a phone call? They'd have realised he named the employees the rumours were founded on... why haven't I heard anything?"

With a sheepish look on his face, KO rubbed the back of his neck.

"I changed the SIM cards last night."

"What?" Mei pulled his phone out and opened the back. "Eh! You did! Why?"

"You don't need to hear what those people will say. I saved the numbers of everyone important. And everyone at work already has the new number."

Before he could decide whether or not to take umbrage at his partner's audacity, the intercom sounded next to the front door.

"Sounds like our ride is here." They both took one last look around the apartment before heading out the door. The keys were left with the building security for Xiao Nai to pick up later. They wouldn't get a chance to see him before leaving, their flight coincided with a meeting he had scheduled with Feng Teng Technologies. Maybe that was for the best, saying their goodbyes to everyone like a giant family, rather than having to repeat the process several times over.

Sitting in the backseat of the car Mei had booked for pick-up, the two men watched the familiar sights fly past the window. Just a few years, and then they'd be back. It wasn't even like they'd spend those years languishing in the country; they had a job to do. Linking his hand with KO's, Mei continued looking out the window.

"I'll miss Beijing."

"Hmm."

"Do you think...."

"Yes, E-Mei?"

"I think Taiwan will be good to us."

"Hmm." While Mei was absorbed in trying to memorise as much of the city as he could, KO watched the emotion play over his lover's face. Checking that the driver was not paying them any attention, he raised their linked fingers and pressed a soft kiss to the back of Mei's hand. "You'll be there with me. It will be good."