Work Text:
The metal curled up and around the gemstone, the individual tendrils shining in a myriad of metallic shades—accomplished by using different chemical treatments and different firing heats, giving the impression of shifting flames. And, in the middle of the blaze, a glittering rainbow moonstone stood proud. It caught the light of the room and gave off iridescence.
Jin Yu Zhen examined the brooch where it sat pinned to a matting board. Dangling from a jewelry tree next to it was a pair of matching earrings, casting rainbows on the table below. Off to the side, Bai Xiao Qian, Wang Jing, and Wu Si Qi watched with bated breath. Wang Jing was even biting his nails. While it was true that Jin Yu Zhen had become infinitely easier to work with since the whole thing with the single rule was over, he still had a discerning eye and wouldn't let a flawed product pass.
Shi Lei's heart was beating hard in his chest, but it was anticipation, not worry, that ran through him. He knew the product was good. And he knew Jin Yu Zhen would agree.
Finally, after several minutes of assessment, Jin Yu Zhen put them all out of their misery. With a nod, he said, "It's good."
Everyone took their first breath in what felt like years.
"We can hand it off to the client tomorrow," Jin Yu Zhen said. He turned to look between the faces of his workers, no doubt taking in their tired eyes and happy smiles, and gave his own smile in return. "Good job."
Bai Xiao Qian made a slightly hysterical sound that Shi Lei was pretty sure meant she was happy, and then pulled Wang Jing in for a hug. She probably would've kissed him, but her boss was literally two feet away.
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…
When Jin Yu Zhen retreated to his office to alert the client that the product was ready, Shi Lei gave him exactly six minutes before following after. But he knocked first, so Jin Yu Zhen couldn't be mad that he barged in. In fact, with how calmly Jin Yu Zhen glanced up at him while he typed, Shi Lei was sure his boyfriend had been expecting him.
Was he becoming predictable? Was that bad?
Shi Lei stood just to the side of Jin Yu Zhen's desk with his hands behind his back and waited patiently while Jin Yu Zhen finished up the email. It only took about ten seconds. People could say many things about Shi Lei, but they couldn't say that he didn't know how his boyfriend worked.
As soon as Jin Yu Zhen looked away from the laptop, Shi Lei produced a small bakery box from behind himself and held it out with a smile. "Enjoy this small cake in celebration of another major client happy and satisfied." When Jin Yu Zhen didn't immediately take it from him, Shi Lei set the box on the desk. "Don't worry. There's no nickel content. I triple checked before I bought it," he reassured the older man with a smile.
Jin Yu Zhen stared at the box, his eyebrows pulling together, and Shi Lei's confidence wavered. He'd thought Jin Yu Zhen would like the cake. He'd said he liked sweets for special occasions, rather than a daily dessert, and this had been a request from a high paying client. Maybe Shi Lei should've gone with a cookie or a scone or, he didn't know, chocolate covered fruit.
After a too-long silence, Jin Yu Zhen sighed and pushed the box closer to the edge of the desk. "If anyone deserves a celebratory cake, it's you, Shi Lei," he said, lifting his eyes to meet Shi Lei's.
Eyebrows furrowing in confusion, Shi Lei pointed to himself. "Me?" A nod. "But you made the sale."
"I connected with them originally, yes, but that was an order for their group," Jin Yu Zhen agreed. "But they reached out to me with this personal request on their own. And you and the team brought their wish to life. You did the hard part."
Sometimes, Jin Yu Zhen really knew how to make a guy's heart flutter. Shi Lei crossed his arms over his chest, then immediately moved them to his hips. "We—"
Before he could get more than a word out, Jin Yu Zhen continued, his tone one of quiet wonder.
"She wanted to do something to remind her to be strong after losing half of her house to a fire, and you came up with that design," Jin Yu Zhen said. "You took into consideration details I never would have thought to include on my own."
It had seemed obvious. The client had said that everything in that side of the house had been destroyed except—somehow—a moonstone pendant they'd found while clearing the rubble. Even though moonstone should have cracked or shattered, or at the very least, discolored, the pendant had been in perfect condition—if a little sooty. She wanted to remember that she was stronger than her loss. What better way than to be the indomitable moonstone that had withstood the inferno?
"You always do this," Jin Yu Zhen continued. He shook his head. "You see beyond what the client is asking for to what they need."
Blushing, Shi Lei scratched his cheek. "I don't know. I just…do what feels right." He shrugged and glanced to the decorative fire installation in the corner.
Standing from his seat, Jin Yu Zhen rounded the table to stand before Shi Lei. He put a hand on Shi Lei's chin to make him meet Jin Yu Zhen's eyes, then smiled. Shi Lei's heart raced in his chest—at the proximity, the physical touch, the soft look in Jin Yu Zhen's eyes, the cute way he smiled. Ah, but he wanted to kiss his boyfriend.
"You see people," Jin Yu Zhen said. "That's a good skill. One that I lack," he admitted with a slight frown.
Shi Lei reached up to lightly smack Jin Yu Zhen's cheeks with both hands and hold him there, earning him a startled look. Narrowing his eyes, Shi Lei said, "Hey. You see me, don't you?"
Jin Yu Zhen shook his head before reaching up to remove Shi Lei's hands from his face. "Only because you saw me first," he argued. Then he reached behind himself to grab the cake box from the desk and hold it up for Shi Lei. "You deserve a celebration more than me."
It was sweet of him to offer, and normally Shi Lei would be thrilled to get a gift from his boyfriend, but—
"Fine," Shi Lei accepted, but took Jin Yu Zhen's free hand rather than the box. "We can both eat it, because we both helped make this sale a success."
"What about us? I want meat!" came Bai Xiao Qian's voice through the door, and both men jumped.
"And drinks," Wang Jing piped up, just loud enough to be heard. "It's been a long two weeks."
Wu Si Qi didn't say anything, but that was even more suspicious. He was definitely also leaning his ear to the door. Stalkers.
With a sigh, Jin Yu Zhen set the cake down on the desk again. "I guess I'm treating the team to dinner," he said, already reaching for his jacket.
Shi Lei narrowed his eyes at the door. "And getting a thicker door," he said. Then, louder, "What if I want to make out with my boyfriend in here? I wouldn't want anyone to hear us!"
Three sets of feet hurried away from the door. Instead of telling him to be professional at work, Jin Yu Zhen merely let out a laugh. Then, jacket hanging over one arm, he used his free hand to pull Shi Lei in for a kiss. And, well, Shi Lei definitely wasn't complaining.
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fin