Work Text:
II
"Lan Zhan! Look what Mingjue Ge made me do! He said that I spent too much money already on the R&D, so we will have to use me as the main artist on the new product's advertisement."
"Not the main artist, but the sole artist. And you will not be paid at all," Nie Huaisang adds delightfully.
Wei Wuxian frowns, "Why did we use you as our advertising expert? You are expensive! We could've paid me!"
"I won the bid fair and square. Plus, you got a friend and brother discount. You know how scary your CFO is, especially when he negotiates prices. Let me tell you, there was a silent threat involved in this deal."
"You just did that so you can torture me," accuses Wei Wuxian.
"Hey, I gave you a low price. Might as well get something out of it."
"See, Lan Zhan? They bully me!" He whines while hanging on Lan Wangji's forearm.
Lan Wangji consoles him, kissing the top of his head.
"Lan Zhan is handsome. Can he help? He is also free!"
Lan Wangji lifts an eyebrow.
"Don't worry, Lan Zhan, I will pay you in private," he says seductively.
"A monarch cannot be differential, so we cannot support any ad." Lan Wangji regretfully says. He looks torn between following the rule and wanting to get the payment (also helping his boyfriend).
He is adorably cute.
Nie Huaisang hisses, "No. He is expressionless. He can't be in the ad, although he needs to be there during the shooting," Nie Huaisang smirks at Lan Wangji. "I need that expression from him. The one that only you can evoke."
"What expression?" Wei Wuxian asks innocently.
"The expression you wear whenever you look at him. A fool in love. Only he will be standing behind your product away from the camera."
Lan Wangji seems very proud of his skill, which can contribute to the success of the ad. Nie Huaisang is right. He is an idiot when it comes to Lan Wangji. "I will still pay you for your time," Wei Wuxian murmurs.
Lan Wangji gulps. Elegantly.
Wei Wuxian doesn't understand how he can gulp, eye roll, smirk, and wince with style. And to think Nie Huaisang is wasting his ability.
"I will leave you alone. Too yue ! Keep it up, and I am charging extra for damaging personal wellbeing."
"Contradicting, Nie Xiong! Do you want him there or not?"
"I am not fighting a losing battle. He will be there anyway. Please remember that we need to finish filming in 3 days. Any delay, you are paying me!" Nie Huaisang says as he leaves the room.
Wei Wuxian shrugs.
"Lan Zhan. You have to see the outfits that Nie Huaisang prepares. I can bring them home!" He shows him the portfolio.
Lan Wangji's eyes widened.
"Wait till you see me in these," Wei Wuxian winks.
***
Their new product is an affordable hologram touch screen monitor. Just like futuristic movies like The Avengers.
They made it. Wei Wuxian is very proud of his team.
Nie Huaisang's advertisement concept is also out of this world.
The past, the present, and the future.
The past, when an immortal who has been locked in a cave is out and mesmerized by this technology.
The present, an alien who is curious about Earth is amazed by this technology.
The future, when a time traveler who wants to start investing in good technology decides on this technology.
All stars Wei Wuxian.
It blows up. The product is awesome to begin with. But Wei Wuxian as the ad star made him the new artist of the year.
His handsomeness is off the chart. The way he looks (at Lan Wangji, not at the product) with love, pride, and joy helps, too.
And of course, Lan Wangji is always paid for helping him achieve that look. The payment is Wei Wuxian allowing his boyfriend to thoroughly debauch him all 3 nights after shooting. (Nie Huaisang's costumes help a lot, too).
If Wei Wuxian once was an internet sensation, now he is the country's lover, the boy next door. He is the perfect man; handsome, brilliant, and rich. And that makes Lan Wangji anxious. Mostly because people lose their minds when they see his boyfriend. The screaming, he can stand. The gazing, he still can handle. But when people start touching him, he fumes.
"Hei, hei… look at me?" Wei Wuxian reaches both his wrists to anchor him.
"Mn." He looks at him with a straight face, but Wei Wuxian can see anger there. Lan Wangji is furious.
"Stop being angry?"
"He touched you," he snarls.
"I walked away, didn't I? I protected myself." Honestly, he was also upset during the talkshow because the other guest kept trying to flirt with him physically, so Wei Wuxian stood up and took a seat on the host's desk. He managed to look so sexy and defiant, too, adding to his charm, that the crowd actually screamed so loudly that they had to put in advertisements to calm them down.
That old geezer apparently hasn't had enough of him, showing up from Wei Wuxian's behind. "Wei Wuxian, may I have a picture with you?"
Lan Wangji pulls Wei Wuxian, steps in between them, and blocks him.
"Over my dead body." he firmly says, challenging the man.
Wei Wuxian is touched by his boyfriend's overprotectiveness. He backhugs him, putting his right hand in Lan Wangji's pants' left front pockets and the left in his right front pocket, crossing his arms over Lan Wangji's body, and putting his chin on Lan Wangji's left shoulder. "I wouldn't provoke him if I were you."
"Ah, don't be too serious. I can see you are busy. Until next time, then, Wei Wuxian," he says before chuckling and leaving from where he came from.
Wei Wuxian is frantically holding onto Lan Wangji because the man is ready to go after the scumbag.
"Let him be, Lan Zhan. He wouldn't have a next time," the threat in his tone is obvious.
Lan Wangji stops.
"Lan Wangji, I can defend myself. You should know that I will not involve you when I do my fighting. When and if I need you, you will be the first to know."
Lan Wangji stiffens, "I want to always know your fights. Do not fight alone."
"Don't worry. You won't hear his name after this. Jiang Cheng will have another project: collecting the evidence against that predator."
"You do know that is your sister's father-in-law."
"The more reason we have to do it."
He licks Lan Wangji's ear, pressing their thighs and whispers seductively, "Meanwhile, what you did was so hot. Protecting me with a calm, threatening tone, like I am a damsel in distress, and in dire need of my knight in shining armor. I feel so much gratitude that I need to express it now."
Lan Wangji codes his secret service to come. "Car key," he says in a husky tone.
"And your long coats, Sirs, please..." Wei Wuxian adds. There is no way he lets Lan Wangji walk around with an evident bulge in his pants.
Lan Wangji gives him a look.
"I will never be the reason that you lose your dignity. Whether it is for defending me against a stupid sex offender, for wanting me so much, or for any other reason," he winks.
***
Wei Wuxian gets a message from Nie Huaisang to open the 'Untold Truths' website.
Latest News: What Are The New Stygian Hologram's Ads Trying To Say?
He heaves a deep sigh from his position on Lan Wangji's lap.
"Mn?"
"The 'Untold Truths' strikes again. It seems that it is really after me just because I date you. You are lucky. I love you so much to put up with this."
"Wei Ying," he smiles. "I appreciate the sacrifice."
"Remember it tonight. I sacrifice a lot for you," he pouts.
"I will," Lan Wangji promises, licking the back of his neck.
Wei Wuxian shivers. "Wait, wait… Let's see what they do now before we get distracted."
Wei Wuxian clicks the title.
Wei Wuxian, the CEO of Stygian Hologram and the unproven 'boyfriend' of Prince Lan Wangji, just launched 3 record breaking advertisements. While their product may be a breakthrough, let us deeply analyze the meaning behind the ads.
Ad Analysis No. 1: Wei Wuxian is a time traveler.
This new product has made him a rich new unicorn. When someone has a chance to go back to the past, that person will of course try to right some wrongs. So based on the fact that Wei Wuxian's team managed to launch this amazing product within a short period of time, we can guess that he had the knowledge beforehand. And where did the knowledge come from? The future. He is now rich and famous, and these can still grow.
So, is Wei Wuxian a time traveler? Answer this question first: Can someone get so smart in such a short period of time?
An advertisement shows up.
Click here to get to the second analysis.
Wei Wuxian clicks it.
A 30-second ad shows up.
"Wow. This is deep."
"Stupid," his boyfriend frowns. Stupid.
Wei Wuxian chuckles. "I agree with you. How low can they go?"
"There would be two of you in this world if there was another you from the future."
"What would you do with two of me?" Wei Wuxian is intrigued.
Lan Wangji shrugs, "Both are you. I don't mind spoiling two Wei Yings."
"You won't have to. There is no way a future Wei Wuxian would leave a future Lan Wangji just to make money."
"There is no way a future Lan Wangji would let us go without him."
"So maybe there are two of us?"
"If they are together, we must have done something right. We would not need to come back to the past."
Unless they don't work out, that is left unsaid.
The ad ends.
Ad Analysis No. 2: Wei Wuxian is an alien.
The fact that Wei Wuxian is not from this world has come out so many times in the last week. His beauty is so mesmerizing that people start to see him in a new light. Have you ever thought that there would be a person so perfectly made? Or maybe it is a combination of all the best features of the best-looking people in the world. Alien made. Like a skin, perfected over trials. Even the renowned playboy Duke Jin was so taken by his charm that he acted untowardly and got bullied because of it. Even our beloved Prince is enchanted by his beauty and has never looked at anybody else.
So, is Wei Wuxian an alien? Answer this question first: Can someone be that perfectly ethereal?
"My beauty becomes my downfall."
"Next time, don't act in an ad. I hate sharing," Lan Wangji is furious. He hates being reminded of the sleazy man.
"They can enjoy the 2D view of my face, Lan Zhan. But only you can enjoy my whole body in 4D."
Lan Wangji doesn't answer, but takes that statement as an invitation from the most beautiful person himself to start roaming his body.
"Mine," he mutters. As he claims his boyfriend's lips with vigor.
Wei Wuxian gives in with pleasure.
As Lan Wangji pushes him on the couch for better access, Wei Wuxian throws his phone on the carpet and cups his lover's face while backing down on the couch.
On the top, Lan Wangji has better access and gravity power as he starts his attack on Wei Wuxian's pretty mouth.
This is more fun to focus on.
It is 30 minutes (not 30 seconds) later when they return to the 'Untold Truths'.
Ad Analysis No. 3: Wei Wuxian is an immortal.
No need for an explanation for this. We have proof.
Below are 20 pictures ranging from the 1800s to the present, with Wei Wuxian as the main focus. Some of them are too blurry, some of them are black and white, and some of them are torn. But all have his face.
"He must have hired a Photoshop artist. He/she is very good."
"Wei Ying… Aren't you afraid that some people will believe this bullshit?"
"Lan Zhan! You said bullshit!" Wei Wuxian's eyes twinkle.
Lan Wangji nudges him; he is worried, as Wei Wuxian can tell.
"It is hard to prove that these are photoshopped," Wei Wuxian agrees. "But even if they believe it, what can they do, Lan Zhan?"
"They can destroy you."
"They can try, Lan Zhan. Let them try. I wonder what they want to do to me."
Lan Wangji is quiet. He avoids looking at Wei Wuxian.
"Tell me the truth?" Wei Wuxian coaxes, pressing his forehead against his, forcing Lan Wangji to see him.
"They can destroy us."
Wei Wuxian detects fear in his eyes. He reaches out to hug his lover as tight as he can, and his head parks on his shoulder. "We won't let them, Lan Zhan. We are going strong. The first article only made us stronger. And I doubt this article does anything at all for us."
Lan Wangji closes in to hug him back so that he can feel their hearts beat in their chests.
“Mn, let them try. We have forever,” Lan Wangji agrees.
“Forever,” Wei Wuxian chants their promise.
***
Nie Huaisang stops by his office. "Hello, Mr. Romantic."
Wei Wuxian furrows, "What are you talking about?"
"'Untold Truths' made you a romantic, mysterious hero instead of an outcast. Whatever objective they aimed for has failed miserably."
"I am still nervous. Jiang Cheng only found out that the journalist's name is Su She and he works for the inner royals. There are too many secrets surrounding that damn tabloid."
"Don't worry, Jiang Cheng will figure it out. I have faith in him."
"I sure hope so. He is also busy building the case against Jin Guangshan."
"You are making enemies, Wei Wuxian." Nie Huaisang's tone is sharp, a friendly warning.
He shrugs, "Somebody needs to do it."
"I just hope you know what you are doing."
"I don't, but it has never stopped me before." Maybe he is being hotheaded. He doesn't care.
"This time, you need to think on Lan Wangji's behalf, too."
"I will never bring him down, Nie Xiong."
Nie Huaisang's expression is unreadable. "Let him join your fight. I bet you hide this from him. Jiang Cheng warned him to be your confidant. You promised Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji. What are you doing now?"
"I can handle this by myself. Lan Zhan will be involved when I need him," he answers with finality.
Nie Huaisang sighs, "You owe him that much." He pauses, then changes the topic. "I have something that you will want so much that you grant me a wish." Nie Huaisang shows him a long bamboo item.
Wei Wuxian chuckles, "I am not that stupid, Nie Xiong!"
"I can always make it a bet. I bet that you will want this so much that you will give me a wish. Then, after I win, I will get my wish."
"Again, I am not that stupid."
"Since you are my bestie, I'll let you see what I got first. But I still want a wish."
Wei Wuxian smirks, "Sounds fair."
Nie Huaisang hands him the bamboo. "Be careful. It's fragile."
Wei Wuxian curiously holds and checks the bamboo. There is a carving on the bamboo surface.
Two forces, one light and the other dark, one a chief cultivator of the four righteous sects, the other a demonic cultivator who raises dead armies.
Two eternal soulmates, together in harmony, a melody, an unbreakable bond.
Wei Wuxian rubs the carving gently and finds an opening. Wei Wuxian opens it slowly. Inside is a delicate scroll that looks hundreds of years old. He unrolls it with care and gasps when he sees the picture on the scroll.
A man in several layers of white traditional ancient robes, supporting an intricate cloud pattern jewel, tied by a white ribbon around his forehead, is playing a guqin.
Leaning on his back, another man in black robes sits comfortably. He is playing a dizi, and his red ribbon flows around his long hair.
Wei Wuxian's heart jumps when he sees their faces: Lan Wangji's and his.
Then it stops when he sees the names:
Hanguang Jun and Yiling Patriarch .
"What do you want for this?" his voice is low.
"Grant me a wish. I will let you know what my wish is when the time comes."
"You got it."
Nie Huaisang grins.
"I am glad you like the exchange. Remember, a treasure this valuable will not be paid for by a simple bogus wish. My wish will be grandeur."
"Anything you want."
"I'll leave now and let you enjoy it then, oh Yiling Patriarch. It turns out you are not an alien, an immortal, or a time traveler. You guys just love each other enough to be granted a bond for at least two lifetimes."
Wei Wuxian keeps staring at that scroll for hours.
In this lifetime, they found each other again.
Lovers that last two lifetimes.
Eternal soulmates.
Unbreakable bond.
***
Bonus:
A few minutes of Nie Huaisang’s hell during the 2nd shooting day.
“I like this look on you,” Lan Wangji says as Wei Wuxian is done being made up. But he is actually pouting when he says it.
“That’s not good?” Wei Wuxian teases.
“No. People will worship you.”
“I only let you worship me, Lan Zhan. You know that.”
Of course, Lan Wangji leans in, and Wei Wuxian is pulled back by Nie Huaisang.
“Behave! We spent a lot of time achieving this look!” he scolds.
Wei Wuxian rolls his eyes but obeys. “You like me with blue skin and red hair? I look like an Avatar."
“What’s an Avatar?” he asks, rubbing his thumb on the blue of Wei Wuxian’s wrist. It smears.
Wei Wuxian takes his thumb and licks it, trying to remove the stain. He likes that hungry eye of Lan Wangji devouring him.
“Whatever it is, you are a thousand times more handsome than it,” Lan Wangji compliments. “I recall you will be wearing a shirt?”
“Minimum. Only a chest piece, Nie Huaisang changed the design.”
“Where?” Lan Wangji asks.
Wei Wuxian pulls Lan Wangji’s hand to touch his blue chest.
“Here?” he asks while going down on Wei Wuxian’s six packs.
“OMG! Stop!!!!!”
“He started it!” Wei Wuxian feigns innocence.
“Do you think I’m blind, A-Xian?”
“I can finish it,” Lan Wangji offers.
“What? Lan Wangji! Don’t stoop to his level!”
“I can't help touching the chest and the abs. Or you can cover them.”
“Is that a threat? It is, isn’t it! You will keep smearing the ink unless I cover him up? Why is my job so hard today????” Nie Huaisang throws his hands up in the air.
“That’s what you said yesterday,” Lan Wangji reminds him nonchalantly.
“Yet yesterday he had three layers of robes,” Nie Huaisang threads his forehead.
“He was so hot being an immortal,” Lan Wangji states the fact.
“That was the objective of the ad!”
“But it is cold here. He needs to wear something.”
“No.”
“You will regret it if he is too sick to shoot tomorrow.”
“A-Xian! I demand more payment for the torture your boyfriend put me into.”
“I am not torturing you. I am intimidating you," Lan Wangji explains.
“You! You dare use my word against me!” Nie Huaisang glares.
“Will you put clothes on him, then?”
During all this banter, Wei Wuxian just beams at his lover with pride. “I trained him well.”