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Zhao Yunlan doesn't really give it much thought when he takes Shen Wei with him to the SID. Shen Wei has met most of them before, after all. All Zhao Yunlan really thinks about is that Shen Wei's first class is in the afternoon, and just because Zhao Yunlan needs to show up at work is no reason not to spend time with his boyfriend. So he asks Shen Wei to go with him.
Zhao Yunlan maybe doesn't take into account the effect that having a dragon with him might have. But it's not like he asks Shen Wei to turn into a dragon and curl up on his shoulders, like the world's most adorable and impractical scarf, that's entirely Shen Wei's decision. If he's fine with the SID seeing him like that, then who is Zhao Yunlan to argue? He might even be a tiny bit pleased with the fact that Shen Wei trusts his team enough.
It only really hits Zhao Yunlan that maybe he should have given this more thought when Zhu Hong turns around to look at him. There's that familiar look on her face like she might say something snappy about tardiness and certain Chiefs, but then her eyes clearly catch on the tiny dragon on Zhao Yunlan's shoulders. Her mouth snaps shut and there's a sudden pinched look on her face.
Zhao Yunlan just about has time to wonder if maybe Zhu Hong, or snakes in general, don't like dragons, before she suddenly bows. He's pretty sure that's not for him.
"It's an honour," she says a bit stiffly, but with clear respect in her voice. He can feel Shen Wei moving, and from the corner of his eyes, he can see Shen Wei lift his head and then nod at her. And clearly, Zhao Yunlan has no clue what's going on here.
Maybe he should have tried to find out a bit more about dragons, after all. He could start by actually asking Shen Wei, he supposes.
Whatever it is, the nod from Shen Wei seems to be enough as Zhu Hong straightens and nods just slightly herself before very quickly finding something else to do. Apparently, something that takes her off in the direction of Lin Jing's lab. Zhao Yunlan is pretty sure the only thing Zhu Hong might need to do there is bother Lin Jing about something.
She didn't even say hello to him.
"What was that about?" Zhao Yunlan asks quietly and wonders if he should just go straight to his office and away from everyone else if they're going to be weird. Zhao Yunlan doesn't really care that much, but he doesn't want Shen Wei to be uncomfortable. He's really hoping Shen Wei will actually get along with his team.
He can feel Chu Shuzhi glaring at him silently. It's not entirely unusual, of course, Chu Shuzhi glares at everyone, but there's a whole other level of intensity to it this morning. Zhao Yunlan glances in his direction and grins, mostly because he can. Chu Shuzhi's jaw clenches and then his eyes flick down to the dragon on Zhao Yunlan's shoulders and… he visibly rearranges his face into something more neutral and nods. It's not a bow, but it's really not that far from it.
Yeah, that's weird alright.
Shen Wei sighs softly, bobbing his head slightly in Chu Shuzhi's direction, in a brief acknowledgement. "I'm a dragon," he answers Zhao Yunlan, like that's explanation enough. It might be, it's just that Zhao Yunlan clearly doesn't have a clue what that actually means.
At least everyone else seems to be acting more or less normal. Zhao Yunlan glances towards his office and then makes a quick decision and throws himself down on the couch instead, one hand rising up to keep Shen Wei in place, just in case. Shen Wei is pretty good at staying exactly where he wants to be though, which usually seems to be somewhere on Zhao Yunlan.
"So, did I miss anything?" Zhao Yunlan asks the room at large.
Da Qing wanders over to flop down on the couch next to him, and instead of saying anything to Zhao Yunlan, he sticks his face all up and close to the side of Zhao Yunlan's head, touching his nose to Shen Wei the same way he'll do at home in cat shape. Zhao Yunlan bites back a laugh and lets them do their whole thing. His cat and his dragon are getting along, and mostly that's all Zhao Yunlan needs to know.
It's still cute, even if Da Qing isn't cat-shaped.
"Nothing new," Da Qing tells him a moment later, sighing and leaning back in the couch.
"You're having a meeting at the ministry, boss," Wang Zheng tells him from somewhere behind his back, sounding far too cheerful for that announcement.
Zhao Yunlan lets his head fall back against the couch, and curses under his breath. He feels Shen Wei poke his nose at the side of Zhao Yunlan's neck and lifts his hand to pet him quietly. "With the minister?" Zhao Yunlan asks, with a small sigh.
"No," Wang Zheng answers and Zhao Yunlan is momentarily relieved until he remembers that that probably means he's going there to deal with some mindless bureaucracy again. But that's still better than the alternative.
He's about to ask Wang Zheng when exactly he's supposed to be at the ministry for whatever it is when he hears a quite loud, "But he's tiny," in Lin Jing's voice.
Zhao Yunlan turns his head just in time to see Zhu Hong swat Lin Jing's arm and glare at him. Lin Jing pulls his arm back, taking a step away from her. Zhao Yunlan feels Shen Wei moving on his shoulders, stretching his neck up, his head held high like he's trying to look bigger. It makes Zhao Yunlan want to coo at him. He desperately bites back that urge and instead gives Lin Jing a look.
Interestingly enough, Chu Shuzhi is glaring at Lin Jing too and… so is Da Qing actually. Zhao Yunlan lifts an eyebrow and Lin Jing rubs the back of his head awkwardly, clearly feeling the weight of the sudden disapproving looks.
"Ah… Boss, Hong-jie said—" Zhu Hong shifts her weight like she's about to take a step towards him and Lin Jing bites back whatever it was he was about to say. "I've never seen a dragon before," he says instead, his voice rising slightly.
"He's a… a dragon?" Guo Changcheng's shaky voice says into the silence like he'd somehow missed that fact. "But he's not—" Guo Changcheng says and then kind of wilts as Chu Shuzhi's glare turns to him, "—scary," he finishes anyway, mumbling the word so quietly that Zhao Yunlan isn't even sure that's what he actually says. And then he glances at Zhao Yunlan's shoulders like he thinks Shen Wei might decide to eat him then and there, before very quickly looking away and taking a sideways step in Chu Shuzhi's direction.
Zhao Yunlan isn't entirely sure why the kid might think Chu Shuzhi would save him. But he supposes he's been sending him out with Chu Shuzhi often enough that he might have gotten used to Chu Shuzhi coming to his defence. Or at least used to hiding behind Chu Shuzhi.
Shen Wei makes a small, barely-there noise at Guo Changcheng's words and then folds back down against Zhao Yunlan, tucking his head against Zhao Yunlan's neck and very much seeming like he's just decided to take a nap. It's really not a bad idea, Zhao Yunlan thinks. He could do with one too.
"Just… be quiet," Zhao Yunlan tells everyone, which gets him a few looks.
Chu Shuzhi glances at the dragon on his shoulders and grunts in agreement and then grabs Guo Changcheng's arm and drags him away… somewhere. Zhao Yunlan doesn't bother to look over at Lin Jing and Zhu Hong, but by the sound of high heels, and a small yelp from Lin Jing Zhao Yunlan is pretty sure Zhu Hong has things under control.
"Humans," Da Qing mutters quietly and then scoffs.
"The meeting is in the afternoon," Wang Zheng informs him calmly.
"Sure. Thanks," Zhao Yunlan says and closes his eyes.
"Maybe I shouldn't have come," Shen Wei, who clearly hasn't fallen asleep after all, says quietly. Zhao Yunlan's eyes fly open.
"Sorry about them, they're always like that. You'll get used to it," he tells Shen Wei.
There's no immediate answer. Zhao Yunlan sits up a bit and hesitates for just a moment before carefully reaching up to his shoulders and lifting Shen Wei away. He holds the tiny dragon up so he can look him in the eyes.
"Xiao Wei," he says and Shen Wei ducks his head and then coils himself around Zhao Yunlan's forearm. A small smile tugs at Zhao Yunlan's lips, and he moves a hand to gently rub the top of Shen Wei's head, just behind his horns. Shen Wei leans into the touch and lifts his head to look at Zhao Yunlan. "I kind of want everyone to know about my amazing boyfriend, but if you really don't want to be here…" he lets the sentence trail off, the offer to leave hanging unsaid in the air between them.
Shen Wei rubs his head against Zhao Yunlan's fingers affectionately, before saying, "I don't want to be… disruptive."
It's such a… Shen Wei thing to say and Zhao Yunlan huffs out a small laugh.
"Lao Zhao is right." Da Qing decides to butt in on the conversation. "They're all lazy and wouldn't get anything done anyway," he declares and then flops down against the armrest and pokes his feet into Zhao Yunlan's lap.
Zhao Yunlan moves Shen Wei a bit closer and presses the lightest kiss against his tiny muzzle. Shen Wei freezes for a moment, and then makes a small squeak and coils a bit tighter around Zhao Yunlan's arm, quickly tucking his head under one of his coils. Zhao Yunlan has never seen the tiny dragon that flustered, and before he can stop it this small soft noise slips from his own lips.
He quickly bites his lip to stay quiet. "Sorry. No kisses in public, I guess?" There's not even anyone to see them right now, except maybe Wang Zheng. Da Qing just doesn't count.
Shen Wei untucks his head enough to glare at Zhao Yunlan, but the look quickly turns into one of fond exasperation.
"Fine," Zhao Yunlan agrees while grinning unrepentantly. "But really, everyone will get used to you in no time. You'll see," Zhao Yunlan reassures him.
Shen Wei gives him a sceptical look, but then just bobs his head up and down in a tiny nod. And then, in the next heartbeat, he surges from Zhao Yunlan's arm up to his shoulders again, wrapping his tail around Zhao Yunlan's neck rather possessively. Zhao Yunlan startles at the sudden movement, and then relaxes again, patting Shen Wei's tail gently.
Then he shoves Da Qing's feet out of his lap. "Go see what the others are up to, you lazy damn cat."