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The jilting fails.
The Crown Prince Lan Xichen has ordered the secret service to use their spare key to drag them out of the suite. It is fortunate that both are still fully clothed, although the activity has moved toward the bedroom (and has increasingly become a hotter scene).
Due to 'time constraint' (the urgent order from Lan Xichen), the secret services shyly offer to lend them their outer coats to hide the bulging tents in their pants.
They graciously accept.
"Is your brother always this strict?" Wei Wuxian whispers on the elevator's ride down.
Lan Wangji nods gravely. "He is strict when he needs to be." I just think he doesn't need to now."
He is buttoning Wei Wuxian's buttons that were left unbuttoned in their prior activity. It is such a sweet, intimate thing that the secret services pretend that they can't see them.
Lan Wangji's suit is still rather immaculate because Wei Wuxian hasn't been able to do much with his hands bonded.
"Do I look presentable?" Wei Wuxian grins.
"Mn," he lies.
Wei Wuxian looks like a delightful wreck, and Lan Wangji is pretty proud of his handiwork. He is possessive like that. A feat he didn't know he had before gaining a boyfriend.
Wei Wuxian shrieks when he sees his reflection on the elevator door. But it is too late to do anything about that. Wei Wuxian hits his chest playfully. "I look like cake!"
"A very delicious cake," he agrees.
When they enter the restaurant, people start taking out their phones and snapping pictures of them. Lan Wangji tightens his grip on his boyfriend's waist. His smug face tells the world how much he is proud of the man in his arms. Wei Wuxian beams at him.
They are led into a private room, where Wei Wuxian's family plus Crown Prince Lan Xichen have already started their dinner.
"Ah, sorry we are late," Wei Wuxian greets them. He is definitely not sorry.
Lan Wangji nods.
"Glad you finally decided to join us," his brother smiles as if he wasn't the one who disturbed their activity.
He tries not to look at his brother's knowing look. But the whole family gape at them.
"We didn't do anything!" Wei Wuxian claims instantly.
"Yet," Lan Wangji adds, squeezing the side of his boyfriend's waist.
"Yet," Wei Wuxian echoes, smiling adorably.
Lan Wangji leads them to Lan Xichen. "Brother, meet my boyfriend, Wei Wuxian."
"Your Highness," he bows.
"You never bow to me," Lan Wangji frowns.
"I'll kneel for you," Wei Wuxian whispers in his ear so so quietly.
That personal information makes his ears blush. "Shameless!"
Lan Xichen chuckles. "Nice to meet you, Wei Wuxian. Wangji, you look happy."
"I am." He simply answers. His eyes show the depth of love he feels for his boyfriend.
Lan Wangji pulls his chair for him, being a gentleman and wanting to score points in front of Wei Wuxian's family.
"Everybody. This is my boyfriend, Lan Wangji. Lan Zhan, meet my family: Jiang Cheng - my brother, Wen Qing - his girlfriend, Wen Ning - my bestest friend, Nie Huaisang - you know him, Jiang Yanli - my sister; and Duke Jin Zixuan."
Lan Wangji nods to each of them. If he slightly furrows at Wen Ning, nobody would notice.
"I need an explanation," Jiang Yanli starts. She looks extremely calm but really fierce at the same time. "How could people who had only met five times before tell the world they were boyfriends before they informed their own family?"
Wei Wuxian cowers.
She might look petite, but she is something else. Lan Wangji recognizes a powerful lady when he sees one. He heard rumors that the Duke, ranked third among the most powerful youths, is afraid of his wife.
He is forming his thoughts when a waitress comes in and politely asks Jiang Yanli, "The suckling pig that you ordered is done. Do you want us to cut it and serve it in small servings for each person?"
She answers with a smile. "No need. I will serve it for us. Just give me the knife."
The waitress nods.
"Well?" she prompts.
"Duchess Jin, it is because I believe that he was sent by my late mother for me," Lan Wangji answers, thinking that playing the dead mother card will get her sympathy.
Wei Wuxian suddenly looks at him with interest. He props his elbows on the table to support his head and waits for more words from his mouth.
It seems like he thinks Lan Wangji is playing the wrong cards and is waiting for the next development.
Lan Wangji swallows. He probably has better explanations, but suddenly he can't think of anything. He'd better stick to the original plan.
"We first met in a cemetery when we were 11. I was talking to my mother, asking her to send me someone because I missed her so much. Then Wei Ying appeared."
He feels Wei Wuxian kick his shin under the table. It's painful, but he stops himself from wincing.
"You asked for a new mom, and she sent A-Xian?" Jiang Yanli is horrified.
Lan Wangji is shocked. "W-what? No! I asked for someone who would stay with me always."
Wei Wuxian caresses his leg now. Good sign. He is a bit relieved.
Knock on the door. The waitress comes with the fat pig and a huge knife.
Jiang Yanli holds the knife like an expert and stabs the pig, all the while looking at Lan Wangji. He involuntarily shivers.
"So that was why you decided that you wanted my brother?"
Lan Wangji nods.
"Want him enough that you dragged him to your hotel suite without even saying hi to his family and with reporters taking pictures?" She makes that gesture again, stabbing the pig.
She is scary.
Lan Wangji knows he has made a grave mistake now. He silently thanks his brother for forcing him down here before more damage is done.
"I am sorry, Duchess Jin. I wasn't thinking," he apologizes to her as if she were his kindergarten teacher.
Wei Wuxian caresses his leg again. Good. Even when it embarrasses him so much to apologize in front of Wei Wuxian's family at their first meeting.
"No, you were not thinking! You let your other organ think for you," Jiang Yanli scolds him.
She might be right, but being chastised in public is a first. Plus, Wei Wuxian was also driven by the same organ. Why does he get away with that?
He glances at his boyfriend, who is still paying attention only to him.
"I want an old-fashioned courtship. Nothing until the day you marry. Can you do that?" She asks politely, but under her tone lays a threat.
What?
He doesn't answer. Wei Wuxian is now frowning at his sister.
"You both are public figures. I think we should teach the youths how to properly behave. Plus, you are a prince. If one day you break up, my A-Xian will be the talk of the country."
She talks like her brother is a saint, a virgin, and a devoted lover.
Maybe he is? (Crossing the saint part.)
"Well?"
Apparently, she is still waiting for his confirmation.
Lan Wangji gulps. "I can be an old-fashioned gentleman," he finally answers, and successfully gets a painful kick from under the table. He winces this time.
Jiang Yanli seems satisfied. "I will hold you onto it, Prince Lan Wangji."
She smiles and hands him a plate with a perfectly cut portion of suckling pig. "I am good with knives, don't you think?" she asks when Lan Wangji mumbles his thanks.
He can only nod, sweating. He puts the plate down, unable to eat. A headache is forming, he threads his forehead.
How can things go very wrong in a very short time? 15 minutes ago, Wei Wuxian was still in his arms, being deliciously licked. What promise did he just make?
Wei Wuxian pushes his chair out and stands up. He gently coaxes Lan Wangji to stand up and opens his long overcoat for him. He dabs his forehead with his wrist to wipe away his sweat. He does all that so lovingly while talking.
"Jiejie, you were so mean to the man I love. We met five times before. Once as children. The rest, well, I met him as a vigilante trying to break into the castle, as a fake to do illegal bidding for A-Cheng, as an offender doing a punishment, and as a blind date at your wedding, in which I rejected him when he wanted to date me."
Wei Wuxian pushes him gently back to his seat, and he himself sits down and takes a hold of his hand. "He has loved me since the beginning and waited 16 years to get me. He might not act like a perfect prince tonight, but he acted like a man in love. I believe he doesn't need to apologize for his act. If anything, he should be applauded," he says while kissing his hand.
He is in awe of his boyfriend. He should have let Wei Wuxian do the talking from the start.
Jiang Yanli smirks. Wen Qing and Nie Huaisang stare at Wei Wuxian in awe.
His brother frowns and maybe remembers the words 'vigilante', 'fake' and 'offender'. He will have to show him his precious newspaper clipping of Wei Wuxian at the castle later.
"He might have promised to be a gentleman, but I didn't," Wei Wuxian adds. "I will win the battle of will." He flirts again! In front of his family! Of course, he will win.
He will let him win.
"Ah, A-Xian, do you know how much gold a word from a prince is worth?" Jiang Yanli asks rhetorically.
Wei Wuxian just laughs it off. "Watch me, Jie."
The rest of the dinner goes pretty smoothly.
"You'd better behave now!" Jiang Wanyin chides.
"I always behave, A-Cheng. What do you mean?" Wei Wuxian winks.
"Behave like royalty!" Wen Qing laughs so hard. "Can you imagine him doing 'the queen wave'?"
"Hey, I can do it well!" He mimics it, pulling his lips into a straight line, raising his hand, and swirling his wrist methodically. Cute.
Jin Zixuan scoffs.
"I heard that, Peacock!" he snarls.
Jin Zixuan snarks back, "I wanted you to hear that, Wei Wuxian. You don't know anything about being a prince's boyfriend."
"I suppose you dated one before?" Lan Xichen joins in. Jin Zixuan reddens.
Nie Huaisang laughs, "He is too whipped on Yanli-Jie to ever date anyone else."
"He is too whipped. I love him." Jiang Yanli pecks him on the cheek.
Jiang Wanyin and Wei Wuxian roll their eyes.
During the whole banter between the family, Lan Wangji and Wen Ning are quiet.
At first, just after Jian Yanli showed her teeth, Lan Wangji was still too shocked to eat. Wei Wuxian had to feed him. And like a robot, he opened his mouth when Wei Wuxian's chopsticks came nearer.
After a while, he is functioning again and feeding his boyfriend, too. Although he is still quiet, he starts to enjoy this family atmosphere where banter and jokes show affection.
Wen Ning, on the other hand, is quietly calm and so in the zone. His focus is mostly on the food, but he glances toward Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian from time to time.
"Is the gossip that Duke Jin made you a lotus pond true?" Lan Xichen asks Jiang Yanli.
Jiang Yanli smiles very smugly and then looks lovingly at her husband. "What do you think?"
"Lan Zhan. Stop feeding me veggies. I want meat," Wei Wuxian whines.
"These are good for you," he chides.
"Meats are also good for me. Feed me the suckling pig," Wei Wuxian orders.
Lan Wangji abides, putting the pork from his plate onto a salad leaf and adding rice and sauce to it before feeding it to Wei Wuxian.
"You added rice?" he asks, wincing.
He nods and says, "You are too thin."
"No, I am the perfect size for you," he unabashedly flirts.
His boyfriend gets a pinch on his waist for that adorable statement.
"Ew! Stop that! It's gross!" Jiang Wanyin complains.
Wei Wuxian defends them, saying, "You are just jealous. I don't see your girlfriend feeding you."
A peanut flies to his boyfriend's head.
"Wen Qing!" he roars.
All over dessert, Wei Wuxian links his feet to his, and that small gesture amuses him. How can a little touch under the table be so special when it comes from him?
He enjoys the rest of the dinner.
Until it is time to go home.
"I think it's best to let Wei Wuxian go home with us. We came together, and we will leave together as well. I have to pick up A-Ling at mom's anyway, might as well drop him there," Jiang Yanli suggests.
Lan Wangji sulks. No staying over.
"Don't sulk. It ruins your handsome face. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye, Lan Zhan. Dream of me tonight."
Wei Wuxian kisses his cheek before he leaves with his sister and the whole family.
"Wangji," his brother calls.
"I promise you, Brother. He is good. Very very good," he is quick to defend his boyfriend just in case his brother is reminded of the 'vigilante', 'fake, and 'offender'.
"With a family like that, I doubt he can do any good," Lan Xichen smiles. "You'd better keep your promise to Duchess Jin. You know you were just given the shovel talk, don't you?"
He gets back to his suite, thinking about what his brother just said.
Wow!
His first shovel talk! He doesn't know whether to be proud or threatened. She is indeed an expert in kniving and cutting. Maybe he should fear for his life. He sighs.
In his suite, everything screams Wei Wuxian. His black suit is still on the floor. The red scarf and white handkerchief are somewhere on the bed.
Lan Wangji picks up the suit and inhales his scent. He again regrets falling into Jiang Yanli's trap. He is still smelling Wei Wuxian's scent when the door opens, and a force jumps on him, kissing him. His body responds without thinking, welcoming this person.
When they stop for air, he sees the smile of the shining boy.
"I am here to get my suit. Jiejie is waiting downstairs. Bye, Lan Zhan. I meant it when I said you should dream of me. I will dream of you, too."
He opens his borrowed coat and throws it to Lan Wangji. It covers his head completely. Wei Wuxian kisses him again through the fabric. He can still feel the warmth of his lips.
"Did I get the right spot?" He laughs.
"Mn."
"Aha! Score! Good night. And have a wonderful dream about me," he tells him, giving him a last peck before he disappears.
Lan Wangji smiles behind the coat.
Yeah, he will do that tonight.