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The young man sitting underneath the magnolia tree in the open courtyard looked eerily familiar. He was dressed casually in all white and carried the air of someone thoroughly comfortable with the austere aesthetic of Cloud Recesses.
At the far end of the courtyard, Lan Xichen cautiously stepped out of his quarters – his first time outside since A-Yao’s betrayal. It had taken him 6 months to decide that today he would have his talk with Jiang Cheng.
They had been high school sweethearts. Their union was well accepted by their families, who allowed them to finish their business degrees together in the United States, half-way around the world.
*****
Their last conversation was unforgettable.
“Xichen-ge, what do you mean? We will be celebrating our 8th anniversary next week.”
Jiang Cheng was gripping his phone so tightly his knuckles were turning white.
The wrecked look on his face did nothing to change Lan Xichen’s mind.
“Is this the reason why I haven’t seen you the past week?
I visited your office yesterday and your Secretary told me you have been having lunch meetings. But when I asked Uncle Qiren, he told me none of your meetings were scheduled during lunchtime.
Were you even…?
Oh my god…”
Lan Xichen stood coldly aloof as grim realization painted Jiang Cheng’s flushed face. His eyes bloomed red - tears had begun to cascade silently down the crevices of his face.
“It’s Meng Yao, isn’t it? You- you --- you have been sleeping with him…”
Jiang Cheng was not shouting or angry as he had been expecting, instead, he looked defeated as he slid back into his chair – shoulders slumped, head hung low.
“The bruise on your neck – it was not an allergy… i-it w-was… -- why am I so stupid?... why am I so blind?”
Jiang Cheng’s tears turned into tiny sobs as he twisted his chair away – its tall leather back hiding him from Lan Xichen’s view.
The sobs were becoming more anguished and choking.
Lan Xichen did not deny the statements, they were the truth.
Instead, he chose to reason, “Our relationship has long been over A-Cheng. It held no excitement, no passion for us. We were no longer happy.”
Having Meng Yao in his life filled it with laughter, excitement, and passionate, toe-curling sex, while his long-term relationship with Jiang Cheng was turning tepid, dry, and commonplace - where Jiang Cheng was straight-forward, honest, open; A-Yao was coquettish, seductive and adventurous.
He felt no pity for the man before him, their time together was over.
“Is that what you feel A-Huan?
I’m sorry but… I continue to love our time together - your smiles continue to keep me warm.
I find delight and hope in your laughter.
Your short messages in the morning provide me fuel to face the day.
Your touches blow wind to the butterflies in my stomach.
Everything I have done and continue to do, I do it for our future together…
I --.”
Jiang Cheng’s sobs filled the room with such agony and torment that a lesser man would have changed his mind.
Lan Xichen was resolute in his decision.
He wanted this relationship over, he was looking forward to spending the rest of the afternoon in the arms of his lover.
The sobs transformed into silence.
“I trusted you. I trusted that you would tell me how you felt.
I trusted you enough to be confident that you would at least give me the dignity of a break-up before you jumped into bed with someone else.
I trusted that you would treat me with respect.”
Each word out of Jiang Cheng’s mouth accompanied a twist in his heart wringing his emotions out until the last word left him numb.
Emotionless.
“I’m sorry A-Cheng…” - the words that broke the proverbial camel’s back.
The temperature in the room turned frigid.
Gone was the warmth of love, understanding, companionship. The thread that tied their hearts together lay discarded in the arctic chill.
They were no longer lovers. They were merely people who knew each other.
This chapter was over. Their story concluded.
Lan Xichen did not flinch or batt an eyelash at the alarming indifference that permeated the air.
“You are NOT sorry Mr. Lan and I am not you’re A-Cheng. You are not longer welcome in this office. Please close the door when you leave.”
The dismissal was curt, but Lan Xichen was too relieved to give it a second thought.
His thoughts were filled with his excitement to spend his time with his A-Yao.
*****
The same A-Yao, who - in the span of ten short months- had caused his best friend's death and sent GusuLan Pharmaceuticals reeling to near bankruptcy.
He fell into Meng Yao’s seduction so completely he was willing to turn a blind eye to everything around him. He was naïve, trusting, and the betrayal so vile it hacked into his soul with deep and vicious strokes -he was a lifeless shell of a man in its aftermath.
It was his brother-in-law’s close relationship with his brother that had saved them from disaster. Wei Wuxian begged Jiang Cheng for help and Jiang Cheng saved them.
Jiang Laboratories saved GusuLan Pharmaceuticals.
Jiang Cheng’s team of private investigators and forensic accountants were able to trace well-placed, covert, fraudulent transactions siphoning assets from Gusulan Pharmacies, Jiang Laboratories, and Nie Drugs Ltd.
Nie Drugs Ltd lost its vibrant young CEO, but GusuLan was the hardest hit because its CEO was sleeping with the enemy.
*****
His last words to Meng Yao as the police led him away handcuffed were, “Why was I so stupid? Why was I so blind? I trusted you…” the same words thrown at him by a lover whom he betrayed and yet saved them all…
It was time to ask forgiveness from Jiang Cheng.
He was willing to spend the rest of his life earning his forgiveness – and love - the thought of his own betrayal filled him with melancholy and regret.
“Lan Xichen, are you alright?”
He looked up to see the honey golden eyes of the young man - up close he looked like a younger Lan Wangji.
The young man laughed at the surprise on his face.
“Cousin Xichen, it is me Lan Weifeng. I came back from Beijing when I heard about the trouble GusuLan had with the Wens and the Jins.”
“A-Feng! Welcome home! You are looking more and more like Wangji now that you’ve grown.”
“No Cousin Xichen, Uncle Qiren teases me that I am more like you. Even A-Ying tells me I smile too much to look like his husband.”
The young man let out another hearty, confident laugh.
There was warmth and comfort in that laugh.
“Oiii Brother Xichen, I’m so glad to see that you’re out-and-about today!” Wei Wuxian’s voice broke into the harmony of the courtyard.
“And you’ve met Cousin Weifeng! That’s nice!”
Wei Wuxian draped himself clumsily around the shoulders of the young man. Lan Xichen smiled indulgently at his brother-in-law, curiously observing the display of familiarity between the man had with his cousin.
“A-Feng is one fine forensic accountant. He and A-Cheng were able to find the link between the financial documents and the fraud. They make a good match!”
The youth blushed at the praise.
“Cousin Xichen, A-Ying, I should get back to the meeting. They might be looking for me to explain the document trail.”
With a slight nod at his elders, the young man made his way out of the courtyard towards the pavilions.
“I was actually looking for you, Brother Xichen. A-Cheng wanted to invite you to Lotus Pier next week.”
Wei Wuxian smiled fondly at the mention of his brother’s name, searching his pockets for – an envelope.
*****
Lan Xichen eagerly reached for the elegant, purple envelope that Wei Wuxian was offering to him.
Hope for another chance and a future with his A-Cheng bloomed beautifully in his chest.
The smile on his face rivaled the midday sun…
Until it fell.
Within the dainty, formal envelope was a glaringly red card – a wedding invitation.
“A-Cheng and A-Feng decided they wanted to get married as soon as possible. They are a good match after all!”
Wei Wuxian’s excited chattering voice faded into the sweltering heat of the midday sun.
His knees buckled - he knelt on the ground in shock.
His agony was wretched, tormented, and dry - he had no more tears left to cry.
It was his fault after all.
Jiang Cheng found another Lan Xichen – and they ARE a good match.