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Wei Wuxian is miserable.
He misses his boyfriend, who is out in the wild. Well, not really in the wild. He is working as a goodwill ambassador to help build a water irrigation system in a rural area where there is no network coverage.
For 2 weeks.
Wei Wuxian sighs. His only salvation is a picture of his boyfriend on the online website 'Untold Truths', the only tabloid that is allowed to cover monarch life and is usually privy to insider royal tea.
Lan Wangji looks tan, muscly, sweating, and oh so delicious. He supports a new haircut. Wei Wuxian imagines feeling those sharp hairs rubbing on his palm, on his chin, on his chest, on his….
Somebody clears his throat. Wei Wuxian wakes up from his salivating over his lover. He blushes while clicking his laptop to close the 'Untold Truths' website.
"What were you doing?" Jiang Cheng walks to his laptop, while Wen Ning just smiles knowingly. Wet Wuxian is embarrassed. It is not the first time Wen Ning found him ditching his work to gaze at his boyfriend.
Jiang Cheng is curious. He opens the last closed tab on his laptop's Chrome. There is a new notification on the web.
Breaking News! Prince Lan Wangji's relationship with Wei Wuxian is FAKE!
"What the f*!" Wei Wuxian jumps from his chair.
His breath hitches. His heart clenches. He feels suffocated.
"How dare he!" Jiang Cheng growls, punching the surface of the table with his angry fist.
"It's not his fault?" Wei Wuxian quickly defends his boyfriend, but even he can hear that his defense is weak, unconfident.
"You are blinded by love, Brother," Jiang Cheng's tone highlights some pity.
"He loves me! That should be proof enough!" Wei Wuxian tries again. This time he is trying to convince himself as well.
Jiang Cheng looks at him like he is in denial. Maybe he is. No, he is a logical person. He is super smart. He will make Jiang Cheng believe him. He will make himself believe.
"He has no internet! He would not be talking to any reporter," he starts to use his brain.
"Don't you think a tabloid that continuously has access to his life would find a way to contact him?"
Wei Wuxian has mixed feelings. Jiang Cheng makes sense.
But the news is bullshit!
Maybe this time he should just believe his feelings rather than logic. Lan Zhan will never do that.
He was miserable. Now he is devastated.
"It's clickbait," Wen Ning tries to calm him down. He has opened the news on his phone.
Wei Wuxian is back at his laptop. He clicks the offensive banner with his trembling hand.
Proofs that they are faking their relationship:
Proof no 1.
They hardly date. It's a fact that Wei Wuxian is too busy with Stygian Hologram that he has abandoned our beloved Prince. Seeing how easily the prince takes on the abandonment issue, it is safe to say that he is not that into Wei Wuxian. We don't think our beloved Prince Lan Wangji is the type to accept that kind of treatment if he really deeply loves Wei Wuxian.
Conclusion: Prince Lan Wangji doesn't think spending time together with Wei Wuxian is important.
An advertisement shows up.
Click to get to the second proof.
Wei Wuxian clicks it.
He has to wait for a 30 seconds ad in which time he just curses while his brain turns.
Am I the one who takes Lan Wangji for granted?
Am I the one who doesn't put him as a priority?
The ad ends.
Proof No 2.
Have you seen the way their PDA? It's even less romantic than puppy love. If you think that our beloved Prince is incapable of great passion, you are wrong. He might support an expressionless face. But he is capable of love so powerful that his entire body moves.
Conclusion: Prince Lan Wangji doesn't love Wei Wuxian.
Another advertisement appears.
Click to get to the third proof.
Wei Wuxian clicks again, waits another 30 seconds, and lets his mind wander.
This is wrong. Lan Zhan is capable of love so powerful that his entire body moves. His breaths, his eyes, his lips, even his toes, move like a force, like his life depends on it.
Wei Wuxian moves him all the time. They have healthy bedroom activities. They just decided to tone it much, much down for PDA and 'shameless only' for FDA (Family Display of Affection).
This proof is untrue. That means the first proof is also untrue. Isn't it?
Wei Wuxian winces.
Proof No 3.
Our beloved expressionless prince hardly smiles at anyone. People said he smiles for Wei Wuxian and only for Wei Wuxian. He doesn't. This is a smile that he shares with nice people. Granted, Wei Wuxian is nice, but he is not the only one.
Conclusion: Prince Lan Wangji doesn't think Wei Wuxian is special.
Below is a picture of Lan Wangji and a handsome man smiling together under the sun. The man looked like he was showing something to Lan Wangji and was animatedly moving his hands.
That's the end of the article.
Wei Wuxian just sits there, like he just ran a marathon.
"He wouldn't accept our shovel talks sincerely if you weren't special, A-Xian," Wen Ning starts.
Wei Wuxian shakes his head. His mind is finally on the same page with his heart. He knows Lan Wangji loves him. He has no doubt. That man is truly a perfect creature, and Wei Wuxian has made a list of his proofs of love on Twitter. It has already reached No. 83 now.
It is him that he is afraid of.
"Just talk it out with him. When is he coming back?" Jiang Cheng pats his shoulder hard.
"Tomorrow evening," he murmurs. He needs to wait and talk it out with him. Now is not the time to worry. He needs a scene change, he needs a distraction from thinking about it.
"Jiang Cheng, Wen Ning. Let's start the meeting somewhere other than here."
Jiang Cheng scoffs, "Discussing my new security company is a diversion to you?"
"You know how proud I am of you for doing this. Leaving your comfort zone and starting a new thing. Of course I'll back you up!" Wei Wuxian smiles, pulling himself up from his comfortable office chair. He has to hold on to the table due to his wobbly knees.
Jiang Cheng glares at him. He probably recognizes Wei Wuxian's smile as one of the shields he is wearing when he doesn't want to discuss his problem.
He sighs, a sign that he'll play along. "Yes, our last meeting was good. I already did some planning like you told us."
"Let's go to that cafe again? That place's coffee was strong, and we came up with good ideas," Wen Ning suggests. He is such a nice friend.
"I like that. It's also very near to A Qing's hospital, so I can pick her up again."
"Let me pick her up this time, A Cheng. I need 20 minutes of walking exercise. I had a big lunch," Wen Ning laughs, rubbing his belly.
"She will beat you up when she hears your reason to pick her up. She has been complaining that you work too hard."
"Tell that to my boss."
Yes, I definitely need this diversion.
Their discussion this time was also fruitful, Wei Wuxian thinks. The gang decides to continue with dinner, but Wei Wuxian goes home. They understand his uneasiness and recognize his 'I need to sulk alone' front that only Lan Wangji can enter.
He is finally back to his apartment, which he has neglected for almost a week. Stygian Hologram is in the middle of a breakthrough. He and Wen Ning have been doing lots of trials and errors to perfect their new product.
Maybe that's what made him neglect Lan Wangji, just as he did his apartment.
It's dark, and he suddenly feels bad. All the worry that he has felt since he saw the tabloid's breaking news is eating him.
He misses Lan Wangji.
He needs to talk to him.
He opens his phone, but when he sees that face smiling at him, he can only throw the phone on the couch.
I can wait.
He returns tomorrow.
He throws himself into the bed only to feel a body under him and hear someone groan.
He is startled. Lan Wangji is the only person besides him who knows his apartment passcode.
"Lan Zhan?"
He doesn't have much time to be surprised because Lan Wangji can locate where his mouth is in that dark room and attack it.
Wei Wuxian responds with the same passion. Their tongues claim each other's.
The time and distance apart really make the hearts grow fonder.
The tea, however, makes the need grow stronger.
"Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, I miss you...." He whispers when Lan Wangji starts biting on his neck.
"Mn… miss you more." His voice has gone an octave deeper. His hands are everywhere on Wei Wuxian's body.
He wants this. He needs this.
"Please, Lan Zhan," he moans, calling to Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji knows him so well. He starts unbuttoning his shirt, and Wei Wuxian reciprocates.
They operate on the same level. The same urgency, the same hunger, the same passion, the same desire, the same desperation.
Their kiss is lust.
Their kiss is love.
It speaks for them.
Their bodies dance together. In an ancient rhythm.
Real. This is real.
They are satiated and clingy. Wei Wuxian is in Lan Wangji's arms, where he can smell a strong scent of sandalwood.
His home.
And although they are sweaty and slimy, they keep close, like no distance is allowed.
"You're home early," he says while nuzzling on Lan Wangji's neck. They are almost the same height. He loves the fact that he can entangle their whole bodies. Starting from their weaving legs to their intertwined fingers to the perfect spot for his head on Lan Wangji's shoulder.
"Mn. I needed to see you," he answers, moving his neck closer so it touches Wei Wuxian's lips. Wei Wuxian kisses it.
"So you didn't return to the castle? You went directly here?"
He is his priority. Wei Wuxian is giddy with love.
"Mn. I took a shower and waited for you. I guess I fell asleep. The trip was a 5 hour truck ride plus a 2 hour plane ride, so I was pretty tired."
"That long?"
"And that excruciating."
"Yet you performed so well," Wei Wuxian doesn't tease, this is a sincere compliment.
"I am glad," Lan Wangji seems to notice the non-teasing.
"You should have called. What if I didn't go home? I spent most of last week sleeping in the office." He says, licking his neck. They are already dirty, what's a bit more.
Lan Wangji chuckles, "You are my soulmate. If I want you here, you'll be here."
Wei Wuxian is touched by that simple statement. His heart leaps to his throat. "I am glad you are here."
"I love you, Wei Ying." This time, Lan Wangji tilts his head so he can kiss Wei Wuxian's forehead. He can feel the ghost of his smile through the tender kiss.
Lan Wangji just manages to break all of the proofs against them being fake within 30 minutes.
"I love you, Lan Zhan." Wei Wuxian beams; he is so happy right now.
"Let's sleep now. You must have been very tired, and I am definitely too comfortable to move."
"Mn. Sleep," he yawns.
Wei Wuxian smiles. When Lan Wangji's breath becomes steady, he whispers, "Thank you for being real."
It is morning. Maybe not at 5 a.m. but soon after.
Wei Wuxian feels him and smiles.
He is still here.
"You're awake."
"I am not," he replies, but he cannot hide the grins that escape his mouth.
"I want to wake up and take a shower, but I don’t want to let you go. Care to join me?"
"Now?" He opens one eye. His eyebrow is raised. The view before him is so good that he immediately opens both eyes. Wei Wuxian is feasting on his boyfriend's muscular and tanned body. The real thing is really better than the picture.
"Be a nice boy and shower with me. I'll cook for us, and you'll do the laundry. This bedsheet needs changing. And the blanket, too."
Wei Wuxian groans. "What do I get when I am a nice boy?"
"A kiss?"
"Stingy!"
"What do you want?"
"16 kisses."
"If you behave, you'll get 28."
He behaves. Of course, he needs those 28 kisses. He also got a bonus in the shower after he was done soaping those new muscles.
They are sitting down with their faces too close to each other for an alleged breakfast, with their feet hooking under the dining table, dressed only in the matching kimono towels.
"You don't need space?" Wei Wuxian asks nonchalantly. He hasn't stopped smiling.
"Not close enough."
He can practically feel his breath smelling like toothpaste.
"Ah, Lan Zhan. What do I do without you?"
Lan Wangji feeds him the fried noodles, and he takes one scoop as well. It goes back and forth while they are gazing and smiling at each other.
Wei Wuxian has missed him so much.
"Wei Ying. I did something awful yesterday," he says when there's one mouthful left of noodles. He sounds regretful.
"What did you do, Sweetheart? I will be sure to forgive you, after punishing you." Wei Wuxian teases him, rubbing his foot on Lan Wangji's calf.
Lan Wangji sighs, feeding him the last scoop of noodles, "I left the job early."
He doesn't take his flirtations. This is a serious conversation. "Do you have a reason?" He asks, somewhat afraid of his answer. He is reminded of that damn article again.
Lan Wangji looks deeply into his eyes, "You," he answers.
Wei Wuxian nods. They are having this conversation. He hopes he is ready.
"Wei Ying, my whole life has been article after article of gossip, judgment, and untrue news. I grew up just fine…." He pauses. It is a while before he continues with a slight tremble in his voice, "I'd like to say that we should ignore it like I usually do."
"But you can't." Wei Wuxian hears his doubt.
Lan Wangji takes out his phone and opens the 'Untold Truths' website.
He shows it to Wei Wuxian.
Proof no 4.
Wei Wuxian has a real lover. We can agree that Wei Wuxian is an upstanding citizen. Therefore, he is not a cheater. If this relationship is true, then he is not in love with our beloved Prince.
Conclusion: Their relationship is fake.
Below that statement, there are two pictures. One shows him and Wen Ning at a cafe; the other shows them lurking outside a hotel room.
Lan Zhan doubts me! Wei Wuxian looks at Lan Wangji with horror. His worst nightmare.
"Lan Zhan… I can explain." Wei Wuxian reaches his hands and intertwines their fingers.
"I'd like to say no explanation is needed. But while I trust you, my heart still hurts."
Lan Wangji looks at their joined hands.
"I am sorry," he whispers. "I keep telling myself: You love me; Wei Ying loves me. He loves me so much. He lets me be his only confidant. He is my soulmate. He loves me." Lan Wangji tears up.
He looks at Wei Wuxian then, when a tear rolls down his cheek. "I hate myself for asking."
Wei Wuxian takes one hand and goes to wipe that bead of tears. "Lan Zhan. We are new. We have only been dating for six months. We have doubts. I also doubted myself. No! The fourth proof is so far from being right. Not a doubt on that one!" Wei Wuxian says when he sees Lan Wangji's fear in his eyes.
"The first picture was taken a few days ago. We had a meeting with Jiang Cheng about his new security company. Sometimes during the meeting, Jiang Cheng went to pick Wen Qing up from the hospital. They returned together to the cafe within minutes. You can ask the waitress. She knows us already. We spent today there as well, but this time A Ning was the one who picked Wen Qing up."
Lan Wangji looks more guilty. Wei Wuxian rubs his hand with his thumb.
Wei Wuxian takes a deep breath.
"The second picture is more difficult to explain."
Lan Wangji's eyes widened.
"Because it involves your brother," he says quickly before Lan Wangji comes to his own conclusion. "Last week, we had an investor meeting in that hotel to raise more capital. You know your brother is one of the investors in Stygian Hologram. The meeting was successful. Mingjue Ge asked us and your brother for a celebratory drink. Your brother refused. We were going to go on without him, but Mingjue Ge spotted Jin Guangyao. He was furious and suspicious. So he forced us to follow him to Jin Guangyao's hotel room. His hunch was true, your brother was with him. He almost banged on the door to get your brother. They had an extremely heated discussion in that room while Wen Ning and I just stood outside being awkward. That's when the photo was taken. You can check the CCTV or ask Mingjue Ge for confirmation. I don't think asking your brother would be wise."
Lan Wangji stands up and pulls Wei Wuxian along with him. He uses so much force that he basically pulls him across the dining table and starts kissing him with fervor.
He is crying. Wei Wuxian can feel the salty taste on his lips.
"Forgive me, forgive me… Wei Ying, forgive me." There is an underlying relief there, along with guilt.
"Lan Zhan, I love you. Only you. Never anybody else. You have my heart. Completely. Yours," Wei Wuxian babbles of reassurance throughout their tender kiss.
When they reach for air, Wei Wuxian creates some distance between them.
"Lan Zhan, Lan Wangji, I promised you forever. Forever ... Not a single second will my heart stray from yours. I promise."
Lan Wangji presses their foreheads together. "Forever," he echoes.
Wei Wuxian loves this hug—the closeness between them, the innocence. His hands rub on Lan Wangji's short hair that he has been dying to touch, and Lan Wangji's hand envelops his body, their foreheads pressed together, their noses brush, their eyes on each other's, their hearts touching others—the silent language of love.
He enjoys this so much. But something is still bothering him. He pulls from his lover's embrace.
"My turn, Lan Zhan… Do I take you for granted?" He bravely asks, readying himself for the inevitable answer.
"No. Why do you ask?" He frowns.
"Do you ever feel that I am not as dedicated to this relationship as you?"
"Is it because of the first proof? You abandoned me for Stygian Hologram?"
Wei Wuxian nods, resigned to his answer.
"Stygian Hologram is your baby. You do a lot of good with it. I can share."
That is not an answer Wei Wuxian wants to hear. But he himself doesn't even know what answer he expected from Lan Wangji.
He lets it go for now. Until he knows why he is bothered by his answer, he is not going to pursue this.
"While we are discussing it, what do you think of proof number 2?" Again with the diversion.
"Our PDA is the right amount. What we have, I don't want to share with others. It's private."
Wei Wuxian smiles at that.
"You are mine." Lan Wangji pecks at his eye. "Your expressions are mine." Another peck on the other eye. "Your tones of voice are mine." A peck on his lips. "I know you the best." A peck on the nose. "Our PDA is perfect." The last peck for his jaw.
"Possessive!" Wei Wuxian laughs, showing his long neck to Lan Wangji's delight.
"Mn. You've been warned," he says, leaning in to kiss him again.
"Wait, wait, wait…. I'd love to do you," he stops Lan Wangji's face with his palm.
"But I have a meeting at 9. Let's go!" He gives the pouting Lan Wangji a pinch on his sharp nose. "Your secret service can drive me to the office."
Lan Wangji seems reluctant to go. "You got to see Hanguang Jun and Yiling Patriarch, your father, your uncle, and return to pick me up. I scheduled the day free for you. I was gonna pick you up at the airport with flowers and banners, you know…"
Lan Wangji's mouth curves upward. That's cute, he thinks as he kisses that side of his boyfriend's mouth.
"Hey, what do you think if I really do that? So as to prove that we are not fake!"
"Anything you say, Wei Ying."
"Then we'll do that. Dramatically!" Wei Wuxian grins.
***
In the car to his office, Wei Wuxian is finally able to quench his curiosity about a slight anomaly. "Lan Zhan, if you had no internet coverage, how did you know about the article in 'Untold Truths'?"
"There was this guy who came to bring our team home. He kept bothering me. So I said to him that I was in a relationship. He claimed it was fake and showed me the article."
Lan Wangji's ears turn red. "I think I was not being myself when I told him off."
"Were you mean? Hahahahahaha… Tell me, is this the guy on Proof No. 3?"
"Wei Ying, if you are jealous, you only need to ask," he adoringly pinches his cheeks. He looks smug, though.
Wei Wuxian smirks and responds with Lan Wangji’s own lines. "You are mine." He pecks at his eye. "Your expressions are mine." Another peck on the other eye. "Your tones of voice are mine." A peck on his lips. "I know you the best." A peck on the nose. "It was only a smile; don’t get too hyped." The last peck for his jaw.
Lan Wangji pouts. He doesn’t seem to like that answer.
"I am a little jealous. Just a very tiny bit," Wei Wuxian relents, unable to stand that cute little pout.
Lan Wangji is more content with that answer. "That's Song Zichen. He is the program coordinator. He showed me how he was going to propose to his boyfriend."
"Ah, I feel better knowing that he is taken. He is very handsome!"
"I am a bit more handsome?" Lan Wangji sounds jealous now that Wei Wuxian compliments another.
Wei Wuxian shakes his head, biting his bottom lips to keep a smile from escaping.
"Just a tiny bit?"
He still shakes his head.
Lan Wangji pouts again.
"You are a thousand times more handsome!" He teases.
"So are you," his boyfriend nudges his nose.
***
At the office, free from Lan Wangji, the first thing Wei Wuxian does is call Jiang Cheng.
"Jiang Cheng, here is your company's first assignment. I hereby hire Lotus Security to find out about that tabloid, 'Untold Truths'.
I can't sue them for defamation because of how they wrote that article. But they are definitely up to something. That proof no. 4 is too deliberate."
Someone is out for us, and I want to know who and why.
***
Bonus:
"Lan Zhan!!!!! I miss you!!!!" Wei Wuxian runs to the airport's gate with a bang. A big bouquet in his left arm, a big bunny plushie on his right, both holding balloons that say 'Wei Ying', 'Misses', 'Lan Zhan', 'so much' and 'he almost died'.
He is also wearing a red cape, a few meters long, that says 'Property of the Prince's', on his forehead is a red scarf that represents their love story.
Once he reaches Lan Wangji, his boyfriend catches him around the waist (and his whole baggage), lifts him up, and they swirl. Swirls! Several times! With Wei Wuxian in his arms.
When he puts him down, Lan Wangji envelopes him and puts his head in the crook between Wei Wuxian's neck and shoulder.
"I miss you. I hate being far from you," he whispers.
Wei Wuxian drops all his presents and cradles Lan Wangji's head.
"I am here, now."
The crowd goes crazy with the PDA but to them, this is what they have. A simple act of love, a profession of their love. Not a display.
The world may see. But what matters is them.
Real. This is real.