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Chapter Text

“The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” 

Chinese Proverb 

**************

Lan Zhan stares out of his office window, appreciating the view. His is a corner office with ceiling-to-floor sheets of glass separating him from the outside, and high enough to escape the sounds of the traffic below. Sometimes, the clouds sink low enough to provide a misty blanket below him, the sky a pale icy blue, serene and beautiful without trying to be. He is fortunate because on one side, he can see the tall skyscrapers of Suzhou, the urban jungle that has risen up in the last decade made from steel and concrete, painfully modern and futuristic. But on this side, he can look down and see the old gingko tree, the one planted by Lan An, four generations before him, a hundred years ago and still thriving. Each spring sprouting forth lush green leaves, that are curiously fan shaped and fluttering, turning a magnificent gold by autumn and bringing joy to his heart. To protect the living testament to the enduring Lan Institute, XiChen had built a fountain around its circumference, a feat of engineering that showcased his genius in the field, and brought recognition to their company worldwide, giving the elders proof of his expertise and dedication to take over as the next CEO after their Shufu, Lan Qiren. 

The fountain is not only aesthetically pleasing, a sort of moat surrounding the tree of their heritage, but there are four bridges to commemorate the four directions, the side walls carved into the sinewy bodies of four celestial dragons, their gaping maws lifted up in reverence towards the tree. The actual spouts of the water display are simpler to enhance the beauty of the stone carvings, allowing visitors and staff members to fully appreciate the visuals. The fountain also ensures that the tree is well nourished and hydrated, though there is a team of horticulturists dedicated to its wellbeing. 

If Lan Zhan looks towards the east, he can see the “Venice” of Suzhou, a throwback to when the canals and waterways connected the distant towns and villages by boat travel, flourishing trade of goods and supplies. He can see the network of old bridges, another visual delight, surrounding pockets of greenery and beauty. Tiny boats that look like ants from this height, red brick-coloured roofs contrasting against the shimmering blue-green waters, and his mind goes back to that wonderful day when his mother took him out on one. Just the two of them and the boatman, roaming the city and sampling the street food, delicacies that Lan Zhan had never even seen before, but that his mother assured him was okay to try. That day, she had discovered that Lan Zhan had a sweet tooth that was denied or perhaps ignored seeing as he hadn't known it either, by a large part of their family. He had thoroughly enjoyed the grape tanghulu she had purchased to share, and with sticky wet lips, he had kissed her soft pale cheek to thank her for the experience. She had left the residual sugar there, the vague shiny imprint of his lips, not bothering to wipe it off.

When they'd gotten back home, it was to a telling off that resulted in banning them from ever doing it again, and a lecture that made Lan Zhan doubt the severity of their crime; how could it be unseemly for him and his mother to go out like ‘common people’ when they had enjoyed themselves so much? But in asking that question, he received a punishment that ensured never talking back again to his father. His intention had been curiosity rather than rebellion, but his father had not recognised it as such. His mother had been shocked at the violence and threatened to take him away, and that was the last time he ever saw her.

The polite, quiet knock on the door behind him brings him out of his thoughts and Lan Zhan turns around as XiChen enters.

“Ready, A-Zhan?” He says, looking far too happy about the meeting they are about to host.

He nods, feeling nervous. He hates huge gatherings, especially when he has to look out towards a sea of people, all looking towards them with anticipation, the main Lan family, for guidance and competence, expecting integrity and diligence. All those qualities are there, but that doesn't mean Lan Zhan wants to be perceived as such. 

XiChen smiles kindly at him, patting his shoulder in commiseration. He does not need to acknowledge Lan Zhan’s feelings because nobody has been able to read him better since the absence of their mother, and though he understands what is going on in his younger brother's mind, they have no choice but to go ahead with today's agenda. 

Outside Lan Zhan’s office, a team of staff directly responsible for reporting back to them, including their secretaries, senior managers and personal assistants, follow them silently to the huge conference room two levels below the executive top floor, where the offices belonging to the senior CEO, COO, and the previous elders who have filled managerial positions in the past are.

Their entourage accompanies them through the middle path dividing hundreds of rows of blue and gold chairs, every seat filled. The air is full of excitement, a building crescendo of silent music growing towards an impossible climax. However much Lan Zhan doesn't want to be here, he knows he will be swept away willingly or not, in the tides of change that are rising like a tsunami wave.

Everything familiar will be different after this meeting, and Lan Zhan wants to dig his feet into the sand, hoping to root himself in what he already knows. But sand is a terribly unstable material to use solely in a foundation. 

Lan Zhan forces himself to put one foot in front of the other, too conscious of all the eyes following them. It's one deep breath following after another as their group makes its way onto the elevated stage so they can look out across all the recognised and unfamiliar new faces watching them back. 

They are seated at a long table horizontal to the stage and slightly shorter. There's a bottle of water and a notepad with a pen placed at each seat. On the right are the Lans, XiChen, Lan Zhan and their uncle, Lan Qiren. The other three seats are taken by the senior managers, and the rest of their group stands behind them. On the other side of the double podium, first is Nie MingJue, and next to him is his brother, Nie Huaisang, who mirrors the same position as Lan Zhan in their security firm. Lan Zhan nods towards him, and his answering grin vanishes behind his trademark fan, a new one depicting a set of mountains and flying birds. Lan Zhan likes it immediately, imagining how something must have startled the birds to make them take to the skies so suddenly. He imagines himself to be one of them, maybe one of the solitary cranes he manages to catch sight of sometimes, up in the Cloud Recesses, his childhood home.

The movement next to Nie Huaisang catches his attention and Lan Zhan looks towards an unfamiliar, if beautiful, face. Stunning, intelligent silver eyes are watching him, an impossibly gorgeous, freely given smile enhancing the features of the stranger whose wave, a waggling of long golden-skinned fingers, have drawn Lan Zhan’s focus away from the current proceedings.

“Hello everyone, and welcome to this meeting. I know all of you are curious about why we have insisted on gathering you all here, and the moment you have been waiting for is almost upon us.” XiChen smiles towards his audience, having stepped up to the podium while Lan Zhan was distracted. 

Lan Zhan refuses to look anywhere over on the other side, his pink ears betraying his embarrassment at being caught not paying attention. As the scar across his palm phantomly itches again, he reminds himself how hazardous it is to his wellbeing that he not lose focus on why they're all here. His actions, as reminded to him by his father, do not only affect him, but all innocent people around him too, and he must set an example on how to behave. He must never ever forget his responsibilities. His mother paid the price last time, and Lan Zhan vowed ever since then, that nobody would get hurt again because of himself. He forces himself to listen carefully, willing away the suddenly clear image of the man with the beautiful starlight eyes.

“Some of you have speculations, I'm sure,” XiChen laughs in a way to include all those listening to him.

A quiet chuckle rises among the ranks, supportive and gentle. 

That's a skill Lan Zhan admires but not once has he envied his brother's ability for charming strangers into eating out of his hand like tamed and trusting wild animals. No, thank you. He tries and fails to suppress a shudder at the thought. All he wants is to go back to his office and continue working from his desk. It is a solitary, fulfilling job. Alone and listening to guqin solos, imagining the way the player's fingertips would pluck each string, producing a high class sound of elegance and melody. It is as close to heaven as he can imagine getting. 

“So please allow me to introduce Nie MingJue, the Director of the Unclean Realm, the leading security and cyber protection firm. However, not only is he the Chief Executive of the innovative, voted most successful company with a breakthrough achievement in their professional field, for the year ending twenty twenty-five, but it was his idea that we move forward with the long discussed merger of our two companies. This is in line with a more personal merger of our two families, because I am delighted to announce to all of you that Nie MingJue has asked me to marry him.” XiChen holds out his left hand where a huge sapphire of the finest water is set into an extraordinary filigree gold platinum ring.

It is ostentatious, massively obscene, and probably weighing down his entire left side, Lan Zhan thinks uncharitably, making sure his face is still unreadable. But then, XiChen has always been the showier out of the two of them, and Lan Zhan berates himself for not being happier about his brother's newfound joy.

Nie MingJue has been a familiar figure within their circles for a long time now, and honestly, the inevitable marriage proposal shouldn't have come as such a shock to him, but Lan Zhan can't say he was expecting it. Now that they've made it official, he must come to terms with losing his brother. No more impromptu midnight cookies and milk snacking, or sharing a late night cup of tea, both of them not not complaining about the latest round of lectures from Shufu, but talking around the issues with a perfect understanding of what the other means. XiChen will most likely move out of their home, leaving Lan Zhan with no other buffer to protect him from Shufu. 

Maybe he ought to think about moving out too. Or finding someone else to move in with them. He'll probably have to compensate them for the noise pollution they will undoubtedly have to endure. That part, paying for a replacement, should be XiChen's responsibility since he is solely at fault for the necessity, he thinks, pettily. 

The audience cheers and claps, a few wolf whistles are thrown in, and then XiChen holds a hand up for some quiet so he can continue.

“I am sure that many of you will be wondering about the security of your jobs since there might be a duplicate position held in the merging company. At the moment, we need everyone on board as we slot together with our new partner and we expect there to be a few bumps along the way, but it will be worth it in the end. It's always difficult in the initial stages of any merger, and if faced with any challenging situations, I hope all of you will extend the kindness in your hearts that I know you already carry, turning it into a deeper understanding towards our counterparts. In a few days, we will have a proper support system in place, with a chain of command designed to bring easy solutions to any points of contention. In the meantime, it is business as usual!” XiChen steps back and everyone claps, gladly cheering for him again.

He makes space for Nie MingJue to say a few words, and Lan Zhan stops listening after hearing the same corporate jokes and platitudes about working together well, and hoping they will do well in the future.

There is also coloured note paper post-its on the table in front of him, and he begins making a white origami bunny, a practice he developed a long time ago to calm himself. He once read about an ancient Japanese belief, that if a person folded a thousand paper cranes, then they could make a wish and it would come true. His thing is bunnies, and to him, there's no difference. 

Nie MingJue's speech lasts enough time for Lan Zhan to make two bunnies. He sets them in front of him, impatient about leaving as soon as possible. 

Camera flashes light up the stage in a multitude of blinking bursts and Lan Zhan realises that if the press are here, then this is far from over. Both companies are large enough and possess a significant amount of business clout to reach the headlines of the financial news, and trust his brother to make it into a PR stunt. 

Lan Zhan is fully aware of what is expected of him, and he stands up with the rest of the Lan side, ready to shake hands with the other side. This is the least enjoyable part of such proceedings, and Lan Zhan will locate the nearest bathroom as soon as it is deemed politically correct to wash his hands. Journalists shout out questions that are mostly ignored in favour of hand shakes and enthusiastic smiles as more platitudes are exchanged about a prosperous future for both companies. 

Nie MingJue claps him around the back, pulling Lan Zhan into a fierce bear hug. “Welcome to the family, A-Zhan!” he booms, his thunderous voice probably reaching the next continent. 

Lan Zhan does his best to smile politely and nod. Nie MingJue is probably aware that he loathes such public displays because XiChen must have told him something along those lines. The next person in line is Huaisang, whose soft hand drops Lan Zhan’s fast, lasting only long enough to barely be counted as shaking his hand. His fan is truly exquisite, up close. Lan Zhan can't stop looking at it, even as the next person takes his hand. 

Lotus flowers…and cinnamon? The scent forces Lan Zhan to look across at who's hand is resting in his. 

“Hi, I'm Wei WuXian but you can call me Wei Ying,” the beautiful man says with a confidence hard to ignore. Then he winks.

“Shameless!” Lan Zhan hisses out before he can stop himself, shocked at the man's audacity. Luckily, it is said under his breath so no one hears him…except for the recipient, who throws back his head and laughs! Lan Zhan glares at him, too incensed to reply further. 

But his loud amusement causes people to stare, and Lan Zhan’s discomfort increases as he swiftly moves on, or tries to, because the beautiful man still hasn't let go of him.

“You haven't told me your name, Lan WangJi,” he grins, making Lan Zhan’s ears burn as brightly as a beacon in the night. 

Oh no! Wei Ying has noticed and he opens his beautiful mouth to say something no doubt even more shameless, but before he can tease him further, Lan Zhan pulls his hand out of his grasp and storms off, shaking. It's too late to wonder if he's been noticed as cameras flash behind him, and then he hears his brother say something about an overseas call meeting, and he knows that he's been saved from any embarrassment. People are too stunned to stop him and Lan Zhan decides to take the stairs to avoid further unwanted public engagement. 

But on the second flight of stairs, he runs into his secretary, Su MinShan.

“Oh, aren't you supposed to be on stage?” he asks, and feeds Lan Zhan’s guilt.

“Emergency overseas call,” Lan Zhan blurts out, not exactly pushing him out of the way. He's always found this man to be a tad on the slimy side, and to be called out by him is worse, but since he's not done anything wrong, Lan Zhan hasn't got an excuse to fire him. Plus the added palaver of trying to train someone else feels like a chore he just can't dredge up the willpower for.

“There's nothing on the–” Su MinShan tries to say.

Lan Zhan’s control snaps and he replies cuttingly, “Emergency implies unexpected.”

“Yes, of course. I'll block out a half hour from your schedule,” he glares at the tablet in his hand.

Lan Zhan’s patience died somewhere two floors down so he didn't bother replying, instead taking two steps at a time and returning to his office as soon as possible. There's a tall money tree in the corner of the office space, and now Lan Zhan moves to stand right between some of its branches and the warm glass. His palms press against the hard surface and he pretends he's flying high above the hustle and bustle below. He rests his forehead against it too, closing his eyes and hoping the too sharp, sparkling silver orbs disappear. Breathing deeply works, lowering his anxiety slowly until he's ready to step away from his favourite spot.

There is fortunately a lot of work waiting for him to do, and Lan Zhan just takes a step towards his desk, when he hears loud words outside his office door.

“Sir, he's on a call–”

“We'll wait inside!” 

His brother's voice gives him a warning of the impending interruption and Lan Zhan braces himself. 

He expects XiChen, but not the second person following him in. It's that man, Wei Ying. He's distractingly too good-looking.

Lan Zhan makes a point of glaring at his brother, who smiles as if there's nothing wrong with what he's doing. 

That's it! 

Lan Zhan suppresses the urge to stamp his foot like an angry rabbit, but he's going to make sure the next time the city marshal Yao phones, he's going to be busy. He's going to direct every single call from the most annoying man on the face of the planet to his dear brother, for pulling this little stunt.

“Hi, Didi, did you finish your call?” XiChen asks him, like they both don't know about the blatant lie.

Before Lan Zhan can answer, Wei Ying steps forward. “Ah, I just wanted to apologise to you,” he says, stuffing his hands into his tight, tight jeans. He rolls back and forth on the balls of his feet as he talks, and he's not smiling and joking like before. His lovely silver eyes are sincere, hoping for understanding from Lan Zhan. 

Lan Zhan takes in the whole picture of him, his deep maroon shirt, black on the edges and opened all the way down now that there's no need for formality. Under that is a soft-looking black cotton t-shirt or vest matching his skinny jeans that are tight around his slim hips. His hair is tied up in a ponytail secured by a red ribbon, and he looks hot. And not temperature-wise.

“Apologise for what?” Lan Zhan asks him, ignoring the other traitor standing just behind him.

“I was too…um, friendly? Flirty? I'm not sure what, but I know whatever I did upset you, and that wasn't my intention. But to be fair, look at you! Can you really blame me?” He blushes, a deeply pleasing colour, looking horrified at himself. “Um…any chance you could maybe…forget that last part? Sometimes, my mouth runs away with me!” He sticks his right hand out at Lan Zhan. “Please, can we start again, Lan WangJi? This time, I'll try and hold myself back, pinky promise!”

Behind him, XiChen is frantically nodding, urging Lan Zhan to make peace. Lan Zhan, having this ample opportunity to get back at his brother, pauses a moment longing it out. He wants to accept Wei Ying’s apology because he doesn't like conflict in the workspace, seeing it as a failure of perfectly good communication, but he doesn't have to make it easy for his brother. Let him sweat.

There's a sigh of relief when Lan Zhan takes Wei Ying’s hand, but this time, a current zips up his arm and they both look warily at their joined hands. 

“Lan Zhan,” he absently murmurs, still staring at where they're touching.

“Did you feel that, Lan Zhan?” Wei Ying whispers, looking as shocked as Lan Zhan feels.

“Mn.” Lan Zhan drops his hand quickly, hating the way the heat of him lingers on his palm. “No need to apologise,” he offers. “We can put it behind us.” After all, it's doubtful whether they'll meet again anytime soon. Even if the companies will soon be operating as one with separate branches for their existing clients, Wei Ying will probably go back to work with the Nies. So Lan Zhan feels quite magnanimous about the whole thing. Maybe, he thinks, he might have overreacted. 

“Great, glad that's sorted,” XiChen says, as Lan Zhan narrows his eyes at him. “That'll be good because we're all meeting tonight for a business dinner.”

“What?” Lan Zhan demands, because he's always cried off these things, and XiChen has always let him.

“Sorry, Didi, Shufu insisted,” he replies, ushering Wei Ying out with himself, before Lan Zhan can make a reason to excuse himself from what is surely going to be an awful evening. 

The door closes with an ominous click, leaving Lan Zhan alone again, plotting his vengeance on an unsuspecting brother…

There goes all possibilities of a quiet evening spent reading, or listening to music. 

**********************

The restaurant is in a nice part of town. XiChen insisted on arriving together with Lan Zhan and their uncle, more, Lan Zhan suspects because otherwise his brother knows Lan Zhan would have found a way to ditch them and the dinner. They're all dressed nicely in traditional hanfus, white with ivory plum blossom for Uncle Qiren, a deeper plain navy silk for XiChen and powder blue so pale, it's almost silvery, for Lan Zhan. 

Soft music plays in the lowlit restaurant, a family favourite that the Lans frequent regularly. Lan Zhan does not particularly like eating out since he believes himself to be better at cooking for his own tastes. That's on the rare occasion he gets to cook at all, otherwise, their in-house chef knows his preferences. 

The maitre d’ ushers them to a private room where rowdy laughter can be heard before they reach the door. It looks like the Nies and their party have just arrived, because they are being shown to their seats as the Lans enter. Nie MingJue sits on one end with XiChen on his left and Huaisang on his right, Lan Zhan is shown to the seat next to him, and that places him directly opposite Wei Ying. Lan Qiren sits at the other end of the table, deference towards his status as the oldest among them.

Wei Ying stands out because, well, he's beautiful, but also because he's the only one wearing a black hanfu with spectacular curling dragons climbing down his chest. It fits him like a second skin, molded to his slim shoulders and narrow waist…not that Lan Zhan is looking or anything. 

The Nie brothers are decked out in shades of green, deep bottle on the background with lighter sage green guardian seals depicted all over.

Nie MingJue raises his cup to offer a toast, three cups of wine and three cups of tea clink auspiciously and then the meal begins. There is ample fare for all palettes, both meat-centric and vegetarian dishes laid out in the centre of the table. 

Lan Zhan eats quietly, listening to the conversation that traverses several topics ranging from the upcoming wedding, speculating around June or July, and of course, the company merger. Lan Qiren also dines in silence, with most of the conversation being carried by Nie MingJue and XiChen. It is peaceful though, and Lan Zhan is grateful that it doesn't feel overwhelming. He is almost glad he came.

Almost.

“So, how did Wei WuXian join your company, A-Jue?” XiChen asks, amid the sound of wooden chopsticks clinking against porcelain dishes.

“A-Sang went to school with him,” the boisterous man replies, his ruddy cheeks already pink with the wine.

“Really? And what did you study?” XiChen uses the question to push himself more towards his fiance, though bodily he's turned towards Huaisang. He glances at Wei Ying, too.

Lan Zhan rolls his eyes and then gets embarrassed because Wei Ying grins at him.

“Business studies, this and that,” Huaisang offers with a conspiratorial smirk towards Wei Ying. “A-Ying held five degrees though, and if it hadn't been for him, I would've flunked so badly!” He raises his cup in a salute to Wei Ying, who is already shaking his head with flushed cheeks, silver eyes sparkling. 

“Hey, I'm only responsible for keeping you awake and holding up those memory cards!” Wei Ying laughs.

“You did more than that, and you know it,” Huaisang insists, his expression fiercely sincere.

“Five degrees?” Lan Qiren asks, as soon as he's swallowed his last mouthful. 

Huaisang answers for Wei Ying. “All of them with distinction, highest score across the board. Once he was allowed to shine, he showed everyone what he's made of.”

“Allowed to shine?” Lan Zhan blurts out, looking between them.

“A-Sang…” Wei Ying murmurs, shaking his head, an action so small and barely noticeable that Lan Zhan wouldn't have caught it if he hadn't been looking at him.

“Ah, slip of the tongue,” Huaisang says amicably, though his hazel eyes are sharp. “Still, Da-Ge says the best thing he ever did was hiring him, and since he's my best friend, I get credit for that!” 

“Wait till I screw up and then you'll be anxious to dump me!” Wei Ying laughs goodnaturedly. 

But to Lan Zhan, there's something off about it. His smile doesn't quite reach his lovely eyes. He looks away when caught, Wei Ying’s gaze landing and staying upon him.

“No way,” Huaisang insists.

“Wei WuXian, you know better than anyone how you've managed to secure our cyber network with countless firewalls. Your ‘Yiling Laozu’ programme has devoured hundreds of malware viruses just in the last year, and your ideas on improving running code and bringing the current software into the future are beyond parallels. Don't sell yourself short.” Nie MingJue says firmly, his tone a little sharper even if he's on the wrong side of completely sober.

“Mn. Credit where it's due,” Lan Zhan agrees, surprising himself. 

“Credit is overrated,” Wei Ying replies, but he looks pleased. His fingers are busy folding and refolding the cloth napkin next to his place setting, and moments later, he pushes a bunny towards Lan Zhan. 

Lan Zhan blinks at it. It has made all of his thoughts quieten down into nothing.

“Wei…” Lan Qiren says as though to himself. “What are your parents’ names? I knew someone, a while back. Wei Changze and–”

“Cangse Sanren!” Wei Ying finishes, their voices merging together. “Really?” He looks so hopefully back at Lan Qiren that Lan Zhan has to look away.

“What a coincidence,” Lan Qiren agrees. “I think I might have some pictures, too. It was tragic how they passed.”

Lan Zhan listens intently, moved by how Wei Ying blinks very fast as if he's trying to stay calm and not get emotional. One good turn deserves another, he thinks, not moving his eyes away from the cloth bunny. Wei Ying even managed to get its ears right.

“Perhaps Shufu would be open to showing them,” he says, uncharacteristically. He can feel everyone's eyes on him, and it makes him uncomfortable. But he's sure there is nothing wrong with his words and he didn't want the matter swept under a carpet, not if it is a big deal to Wei Ying. Though why he cares is something he'd rather not examine too closely. 

“Of course. I will find them and make copies,” Shufu promises.

The rest of the evening passes with gossip about rival companies and their ongoing interests, and Lan Zhan listens like an outsider; he's not affected in any way with the topics, so he can't bring himself to care. His ears perk up when XiChen mentions a breakthrough design by the Jins leading the Koi Tower Architectural Conglomerate, and only because his own interest and job centres around the subject. Lan Zhan is not simply an architect by trade, he is the mastermind behind impossible solutions to whatever their high-end clientele wish for. If a client wants a beautiful waterfall inside their building, or a garden filled with rare plants, then it is Lan Zhan's job to find a way to make it happen. His designs have won accolades and awards in bulk, rocketing the success of the Lan company sky high.

“A-Yao was hinting at something groundbreaking,” XiChen adds, “though he was playing the cloak-and-dagger spiel well.”

“As long as all the kids play nice in the sandpit, there's no problem,” Wei Ying says sharply, downing his drink in one go. “We all know what the Jins are like. And their nonexistent principles,” he scoffs.

“All of our fields are competitive,” XiChen begins, glancing at Nie MingJue who is bristling at the mention of the Jins. “It's part and parcel of the business world. Competition is a healthy way towards achieving success, striving to beat your rivals via outthinking them in terms of finding new and improved solutions, patenting them and moving onto the next thing. It's what makes us tick.”

“Ahuh,” Wei Ying smirks, and this time, it's a dangerous look full of confidence and swagger.

“Care to explain?” XiChen lets go of his casual tone, swapping it out for something far more serious. “I don't appreciate being mocked,” he adds.

Wei Ying immediately becomes contrite, dropping his attitude and tilting his head, acknowledging deference. “Lan XiChen, I apologise if I sounded rude. I wasn't laughing at you, promise. The disbelief belongs firmly on the Jins’ doorstep. I didn't mean to offend you.”

Nie MingJue places a hand on XiChen's forearm. “A-Huan, I will explain later. It is a delicate matter.” He grins, clearly aiming to coax Lan XiChen out of his current mood. “Also, I will need to be sober. Can't talk about Koi Tower without a clear head.”

“We can discuss it tomorrow,” XiChen says abruptly. “ And I think I'll stay the night at home, MingJue.” He stands up to leave, and that's their cue; Lan Qiren and Lan Zhan also rise. 

Nie MingJue tries to stop him, but it's clear as day that XiChen is upset about the criticism aimed at the Jins. It is unusual given that XiChen is the most flexible of all the Lans, his easygoing attitude attracting friends, clients and acquaintances in equal measure. His adaptability to any situation and smoothing ruffled edges is unparalleled, so to find him on the opposite side is notably concerning. Lan Zhan makes a note of asking him about it when they're alone.

They make their farewells and Lan Zhan is the last of the Lans to leave the private room. As he turns to pull the door shut, he hears Huaisang say to a worried-looking Wei Ying, “Don't worry, A-Ying. Da-Ge will explain to XiChen-Ge tomorrow. They'll both cool down a bit and be able to see the situation more objectively.”

Something is definitely going on, though Lan Zhan wants no part of any business politics. He hates the way people are rarely straightforward, hiding their agendas behind calculating smiles and underhanded dealings. XiChen is definitely the better of the two of them at dealing with such matters. 

When they get home, Shufu leaves them in order to go straight to bed but Lan Zhan follows his brother into the kitchen which is deserted at this time of night. 

“Tea?” He asks, hoping XiChen will say yes.

“Alright, Didi. You've twisted my arm,” XiChen smiles, going to collect a couple of mugs and plates. 

While he locates his hidden stash of chocolate cookies that their cook keeps on standby permanently, Lan Zhan goes to boil the water. He chooses a soothing  jasmine tea for his brother and a delicate silver needle tea for himself. Neither need to sweeten their drinks, and Lan Zhan bites back his amusement at how much their mugs would've upset their uncle if he had seen them now. He's a staunch advocate of only ever drinking tea out of a cup - anything else is a heinous crime.

The rebellious Twin Jades sit down and divide the cookies equally, waiting for the tea to steep properly. 

“Why is Brother upset?” Lan Zhan asks him, not having the patience at this late hour to beat around the bush.

“Ah…it's complicated, Didi.” XiChen smiles ruefully. “And I might have overreacted.”

“Mn?”

“It's just that, you know I'm friends with Meng Yao, right?” He doesn't wait for Lan Zhan’s acknowledgement. “He's had a tough time of it, what with being Jin GuangShan's illegitimate child as a result of a night spent in a pleasure house. His peers, other siblings, in fact, anyone who learns of his heritage mocks him for it. And the thing is, he's really sweet. I mean, I would challenge anyone to find a more accommodating person anywhere in the world. He's so good, you know? And I have to stand by and see him get slandered just because of who his parents are.” Angrily, he lifts the tea bag out of his mug with the little card and dumps it onto his plate, keeping it away from the cookies. He bites into one of the biscuits with the same ferocious passion, giving Lan Zhan time to think about what he just said.

“There is the possibility of unknown criteria,” Lan Zhan offers, taking a sip of his tea. Really, nothing beats tea and biscuits.

“That's my point!” XiChen agrees, though Lan Zhan is sure he meant the opposite. “No one is willing to give him a chance! They just lump him in with the other Jins, expecting him to be just as awful as his father. But it's not fair to paint everyone with the same brush, is it, Didi?”

“Mn.” Lan Zhan makes a noncommittal noise. Evidently, XiChen is too worked up to listen to reason tonight. But something is niggling him about tonight. 

It's not just this conversation; during the dinner, Wei Ying’s subsequently too-smart commentary has been making him feel on edge and Lan Zhan doesn't like it. The Nie’s side obviously knows something that the Lans do not, and that cannot be a good thing. Obviously, Wei Ying and Nie Huaisang do know, and perhaps they'll be willing to talk to Lan Zhan tomorrow. 

The brothers finish their snacks and deposit the dishes into the dishwasher, parting ways at the top of the landing. The house is large and each person has a separate wing to themselves.

Lan Zhan continues ruminating on Meng Yao and his brother's response to Wei Ying’s verbal thoughts as he changes into his bunny pyjamas, slipping the stolen cloth bunny from the restaurant out of his pocket and placing it gently on his nightstand. He pats its head affectionately before climbing into bed, hoping tomorrow will be less complicated. 

********************

Lan Zhan stares at the screen in shock. He's looking at his laptop, feeling colder than he ever has. His breakfast rolls ominously in the pit of his icy stomach, goosebumps spreading across his skin.

Su MinShan came into his office a few minutes ago with his phone, bringing Lan  Zhan’s attention to the press conference the Jins are currently hosting live, and Lan Zhan wants to throw up. His design, the air-filtering breakthrough engineering design he was working on for the Sultan of a remote island has somehow been copied–no, stolen by them, and is being talked about on live T.V. right in front of him.

How is this possible?

Months of research, a top-secret project that would've catapulted the Lan firm into the stratosphere with the innovative design, all wasted because someone else was a smarter thief.

A terrified but at the same time, cautious Su MinShan stares back at him, watching Lan Zhan’s every reaction. Lan Zhan is trying to keep every one of his feelings suppressed, in turn, outraged and disbelieving. This cannot be happening to him.

Even if he came up with the idea by himself, before the Jins, there's no way to prove it now. Credit will automatically go to the ones sharing with the public first. If the Lan company were to put out a public statement about their research, with timestamps cataloguing their progress to validate their work, it would only serve to make them look petty as if they can't abide the success of their rivals. What makes this worse is that if their client sees the news, and he inevitably will, then the chances of him switching to the Jins is highly likely. 

XiChen doesn't even bother knocking when he bursts in, the same shock on his face.

“Su MinShan, give us a moment in private, won't you?” He's not asking.

Su MinShan nods deferentially and leaves. XiChen waits until the quiet click of the door is heard and then he's by Lan Zhan’s side in an instance. 

“Didi, I'm so sorry!” He pulls Lan Zhan out of his chair and into a fierce hug.

“Did you tell him?” Lan Zhan demands, his voice coming out too rough. His throat feels scratchy and coarse.

“What?” XiChen lets go of him to step back. “What are you talking about?”

Lan Zhan points to Meng Yao and tamps down on his anger, reminding himself that this is his brother. XiChen would never do anything to harm him or their company. Intentionally. But what if it was accidental? “We have been keeping the exact design under wraps. I've only shown it to you. And I haven't told anyone what I was working on. So that leaves you.”

“Wow. I never knew you thought so little of me,” XiChen gasps. “I haven't breathed a word of it to anyone, not even Shufu!”

Right.

Well, his reaction means it's obviously not him, and Lan Zhan has to do damage control now. “No, I did not mean it like that,” he offers quickly. Even though he did. “I am talking about who else could've betrayed us.”

XiChen nods, looking uncertainly relieved. “Is there any way your account could have been hacked? Compromised?”

“I don't know,” Lan Zhan replies honestly. How would anyone know unless the hacker made it obvious? A person could commit such a crime and never be exposed if they remained in the shadows and were silent about it.

“Okay, Didi, lucky for us, I know a man who can help.” XiChen whips out his phone and makes a call.

*******************

The drive to the Unclean Realm building is a blur. Twenty minutes later, Lan Zhan, Lan XiChen, Nie MingJue, Nie Huaisang and Wei Ying are ensconced on the highest floor, in a top secret meeting. The room is soundproofed for added measure. 

None of this makes Lan Zhan feel better.

Wei Ying is the Security Operations Manager, and he proves his efficiency by asking Lan Zhan pertinent question after question, trying to ascertain when the leak happened and how the Lan security was breached. What makes it impressive is that he's running an anti-malware program simultaneously, checking and rechecking the firewall. 

“So, Lan XiChen, I'd make jokes about how you're the only suspect, except I don't think they'd go down very well,” Wei Ying quips, a dangerous expression on his face.

To Lan Zhan, he does not appear as if he's joking.

“Thank you for refraining,” XiChen replies with a tight, tense smile. “But I'm afraid A-Zhan beat you to it.”

Wei Ying’s head snaps towards him so fast, Lan Zhan is scared he'll give himself whiplash. But he doesn't say anything further, his gaze controlled and enigmatic. Lan Zhan realises that up until now, Wei Ying has been open and friendly towards them, his every thought apparent on his face, proven by word and deed. But he seems excellent at being able to hide whatever he's thinking just as well.

Nie MingJue's gruff voice is loud behind them, and they turn their swivel chairs around to face him.

“A-Huan, I don't have to tell you how serious this is. Until the culprit is found and we discover how they managed to do it, you can't work on anything new except encrypt all your existing data to minimise the risk.”

“I thought you would say something like that,” XiChen admits. He looks paler than normal. “The worst part is that it's someone we know. It has to be. Someone who already works for us.”

Lan Zhan thinks he's grieving about the betrayal. XiChen is like that; being an honest, open person, his world view reflects the sincerity he expects from everyone he meets. To think that anyone from their own company has done this, corporate sabotage, is the same as if that person actively took a knife to XiChen's heart.

Meanwhile, Lan Zhan is livid in contrast. But he hopes it doesn't show. He's not a man who likes being exposed in that way. His thoughts are for himself and not for others unless he wants them to know.

“At the same time, you can't do it openly,” Wei Ying muses, turning back to his computer when it beeps. “Otherwise, if the guilty party thinks we're on to them, they'll just go underground, and we'll never find out who the mole is.” He rubs his hands together almost gleefully.

“A-Ying, you're the expert. Do what you have to,” Nie MingJue tells him.

Huaisang's lips curl upwards and as soon as he sees Lan Zhan looking at him, he hides behind his fan. This fan is a different one, with lots of exotic birds depicted beautifully, a riot of feathers and colours. The style is similar to his previous one, though Lan Zhan is unable to pinpoint why he thinks that.

“Yes, Da-Ge.” Wei Ying grins, giving him a bow and a salute.

MingJue snorts.

“I would like to be part of the investigation,” Lan Zhan says, surprising himself and apparently everyone in the room.

“Well technically, you are, already,” Wei Ying tells him, raising a hand to pat his shoulder in commiseration, but Lan Zhan glares at it and he drops it before he can touch him, inching his seat away. Lan Zhan cannot appreciate the humour. He can still smell the lotus flowers and cinnamon scent, and it's annoying. 

But nice.

“Seeing as you can't work on anything new online yet, maybe you can help Wei WuXian,” XiChen suggests with a furrowed brow.

“I work alone,” Wei Ying states confidently. 

“But WangJi can help you,” XiChen insists. “If the leak came from someone under him, he will be able to provide background information.”

“Uh, sorry to burst your bubble but I've been inside your database for the past couple of hours. I've got everything I need already.” Wei Ying's mouth curls up.

His confidence in himself is … rather hot. 

Inspiring, Lan Zhan corrects himself. 

“If you don't mind, I feel responsible for the breach. I want to help if it's possible, and I promise not to get in your way.” Lan Zhan looks at Wei Ying directly, correctly assuming it's his call.

Today he is wearing black skinny jeans again but these are different to his other pair, the ones Lan Zhan had seen him wearing at their initial meeting. These are well-worn and scuffed, slashed at his knees and one cut crosses his mid-thigh where tantalising golden skin peeks out, mocking Lan Zhan by drawing his attention away from the matter at hand. The black leather jacket looks soft, studded with silver and a multitude of chunky silver zips, over a red t-shirt that spells out B-I-D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R in kidnapper font, namely newspaper cutout alphabet. Before Wei Ying answers, he yanks on the hairpin currently holding up his hair in a messy bun, and Lan Zhan gets a good look at it; it's a black bamboo dizi with a red tassel that is clenched between his teeth because he needs both hands to gather up his hair. In a single mesmerising move which proves he does this regularly, Wei Ying winds his hair into an ‘8’ shape and pierces it with his unique hairpin. The vivid tassel moves every time he does, and Lan Zhan feels like a cat because he's helplessly unable to look away. 

“First off, you're right to feel responsible because all of your work should be more than just password protected. I'd do the biometrics thing too, especially after today.” Wei Ying tells him.

Lan Zhan likes the fact that he's not afraid to say what he's thinking. The fact that Lan Zhan is Second-in-Command means nothing to him, and that's…refreshing. “We have to share some passwords for ease of document sharing, but it's only a numbered few people who would have that information.”

“All it takes is one. And they could share with anybody they wanted to.” Wei Ying replies, glancing at his screen.

“Wei WuXian, you said you've been inside our database for hours,” XiChen looks at his watch, “But we only arrived forty-five minutes ago.”

“I saw the breaking news,” Wei Ying replies, twirling a pen between his fingers. “It was a hunch.”

“A hunch?” Lan Zhan fires back, trembling. He's lying.

“Alright, fine! You caught me, Gege!” Wei Ying pouts. “I might’ve seen something on your desk yesterday, that looked like whatever those bastards were talking about.” 

“What?” Lan Zhan stands up to pace, clearly agitated. If it's this easy for a random stranger to see what he's working on, then why is it such a shock about the security breach? Anyone could've walked into Lan Zhan’s office and stolen the data.

“Explain yourself, Wei WuXian.” XiChen looks just as angry as Lan Zhan feels.

“A-Huan, you can trust him. I would trust A-Ying with my life. He's not your traitor.” MingJue comes to stand right next to Wei Ying, clapping him on his back so hard, Lan Zhan winces internally. 

XiChen's lips become a hard, thin line of suspicion. “A-Jue, just because you say that, I can't just suddenly start trusting him. I need to know. Wei WuXian, what exactly did you see?”

“Da-Ge, I don't mind, really,” Wei Ying tells him, a gentle smile on his face. It's enough to reassure MingJue that he's okay with this line of questioning because he moves away, muttering things about closing doors after the horse has bolted. Wei Ying faces XiChen head on, his body language open and relaxed. “Honestly, it wasn't much. Just some details on the tile composition and placement. I only got the context and why it's so evolutionary because of the Jins actually. And, just because you don't know me, I want you to see that I'm a straightforward kind of guy. What you see is what you get. Now, having said that, I could've sold everything on your database within seconds of getting inside it, but I'm not like that. Don't just kill the nearest scapegoat because it's convenient.”

Huaisang muffles a snicker. This time, he speaks up. “XiChen-Ge, really, you're barking up the wrong tree. Sorry, A-Ying,” he hurries to apologise after Wei Ying flinches. “Just a figure of speech. My point is, Wei WuXian has worked for us over the last six years and before that, I went to school with him. Da-Ge and I have trusted him with life-threatening information and he's come through every single time. Not to mention that's why he's our Chief of Security Operations. He's a whizz at anything to do with computers and I'm personally vouching for him. If you don't trust him, that's on you, and not to be rude or anything, but he's the best chance you've got to plug your leak. No joke.”

XiChen sits down heavily, but his face clears of any doubt. “Wei WuXian, please accept my apologies. It's no excuse, but right now, everyone looks like a suspect.”

“Understandable,” Wei Ying replies easily, again rocking back and forth on his feet.

“During the dinner last night, you said something about not trusting the Jins. Can you tell us more about that?” XiChen turns his gaze towards Nie MingJue. “A-Jue, you said you had to be sober about it.”

“Yes. That's true.” Nie MingJue wanders over to the windows, hands in his trouser pockets and looking out across the expansive city spreading out towards the horizon. “Five years ago, Meng Yao began working for the Unclean Realm. He started as an intern, and it was just a chance meeting that made me overhear his co-workers disparaging him, saying that he was the son of a prostitute, a loser because he had failed to convince his biological father, Jin GuangShan, of his familial connection. Apparently, Jin GuangShan had told him that his sons were a ‘dime a dozen’ or something to that effect. And he kicked that boy down the stairs of Koi Tower. You might have heard something about that because Meng Yao tried to press charges against him, but a lowly rat can't go up against a lion. Jin GuangShan's wealth made it easy to bury the allegations and turn it around. He blacklisted Meng Yao, making it impossible for him to find a job. But the boy was resilient and smart and instead of coming directly to me, he preyed on Huaisang by appealing to his soft side. Got himself a job and a place to stay after spitting out some sob story about how rough life had treated him.”

“I'm sorry, Da-Ge,” Huaisang blurts out, putting his fan down for once.

“No, it wasn't your fault!” Both Wei WuXian and Nie MingJue say that at the same time, a small smile playing across their faces.

“I know you both believe that, but if I hadn't fallen for his lies, nothing bad would've happened.” Huaisang says that adamantly. 

“But A-Sang, they weren't lies! Whatever he told you about his circumstances was the absolute truth. It's what he did afterwards, and that's all on him.” Wei WuXian turns bitterly towards his computer again, a scowl on his features. “That's why it was so hard to catch him out.”

“What did he do?” Lan Zhan asks, unconsciously moving towards Wei Ying. Then he catches himself and turns around as though he's still pacing. But he doesn't like the way Wei Ying looks right now. Angry and upset. It feels wrong, as if Wei Ying should always be smiling.

“Nobody noticed in the beginning, and to be fair, why would any of us suspect we were being sold out to our competitors, in the first place?” Nie MingJue says, continuing from his place by the window. “It was small inconsequential things, easy to overlook. That's how it started. But A-Ying noticed a pattern. Once he found the loose thread, everything began to unravel for Meng Yao, the lying bastard.” His tone is vehement and since his back is towards them, he can't see XiChen's flinch. “You have to give him credit for the genius of his thinking, though. A-Ying, tell them what you found.”

“I started with the latest information that suddenly turned up outside of our company, and it wasn't with the Jins, but surprisingly with the ZiZhens. Theirs is a much smaller company, even smaller back then. The data passed along to them was an improvement to their security system, something that unbeknownst to Meng Yao, was already in the pipeline for a deal. When they backed out suddenly on the day of the contract signing, we knew something was up. Then, my programs were finding their way into the hands of people I'd never even met before, so I had to encrypt all my stuff. Yanking on that tiny piece of information, I had to work backwards and then a trail of seemingly unconnected breadcrumbs started appearing. At the same time, Da-Ge okayed a total system lock down, and we spread it about that we'd been hacked by malware. It gave us the excuse of being able to visit every single device with the company login, checking the email history. But Meng Yao was smarter. He had his own tablet and he was using the incognito mode to sell our secrets. Long story short, Huaisang and I brought him to Da-Ge, who revoked his employment and kicked him to the curb. Next thing we know, Jin GuangShan is welcoming him back with open arms. I can only speculate that Meng Yao, ah, sorry, Jin GuangYao now, sold him enough confidential information to earn himself some clout. There's no other explanation for the sudden turnaround.” Wei Ying turns back to his computer screen and starts hitting the keys in rapid succession. “We're going to have to do something similar on your end too, so we don't spook them.”

“You can't use the same excuse,” Lan Zhan murmurs. 

“No, but nowadays, systems are shut down temporarily to accommodate new features, updates, that sort of thing. We can say we're trying out a company-wide code application. Use big words and it'll be fine.” Wei Ying snickers. “Half of them will pretend to know what we're talking about, even if it's utter bullshit, and the other half will just go along with whatever we say. No one wants to appear less than qualified because that would immediately put a question mark next to their name for why you're still keeping them. Anyway, subterfuge is the name of the game.”

“I like it,” XiChen mutters. “But then I'm assuming you're going to look at all the computers … that's a lot of tech. Won't it take too long?”

“We'll only have to take that route if our first group of suspects aren't guilty. The immediate ones under scrutiny have to be your personal teams,” Wei Ying says, turning back to the group. “We must check who had the opportunity and clearance to pull it off, and tackle them first.”

“What story are we going with?” Lan Zhan asks him.

“Why don't we use the same circumstance as they did? They stole valuable company secrets when they knew all of us were busy with announcing the merger. And Lan XiChen already told everyone that things were going to be up and down until we manage to fit the two companies together, so let's build on that scenario. It makes perfect sense for the tech side of the business to reboot and install some major changes, and while we investigate because there has to be a trail, we can make the existing graphics look pretty and cover our backsides in one go. I bet you a hundred K A-Sang, that some over-qualified grunt is gonna come up to Lan XiChen and tell him in a variety of words how much his system has improved and how the applications are smoother.” Wei Ying chuckles.

“Deal,” Huaisang says, shaking his hand. “I'm only doing this for your credibility. I know I'm gonna lose this one.” 

“If that's what you're doing, then A-Ying, I know you want to work by yourself, but I believe A-Zhan is right. He needs to be seen with you so that the Lan employees can see that whatever you're doing to their computers is fully endorsed by someone higher up the chain of command. And while you're doing your thing, A-Zhan can pay attention to the individual, checking them out for suspicious behaviour. Can you do that?” Nie MingJue asks him.

Wei Ying shrugs with a naughty grin. “What you're really saying is, I get to do my job with first class eye candy by my side. If I get to look at a work of art while sifting through endless emails, that's worth it.”

“Shameless!” Lan Zhan splutters, unable to believe that Wei Ying is capable of flirting despite the dire situation. 

Wei Ying just chuckles to himself. 

“What a great idea,” XiChen enthuses, smiling at Lan Zhan with a knowing look in his eyes. “Mergers can get complicated, and you're right. Many of the staff would think they had to choose between us and you, and if we can show them how easily we're working together, then a cohesive working balance will be achieved that much faster.”

“Right, Partner?” Wei Ying nudges their shoulders together. He's somehow snuck up next to Lan Zhan without him noticing.

Partners?

Never before had Lan Zhan ever thought a single word could give him hives.

*******************

Sunlight glares through the windows of the Lan car, reflecting off the surface of Wei Ying’s tablet. Lan Zhan has never seen one like this before, a high-tech, personally modified version, he suspects. A super gadget the likes of which probably isn't available on the market. Anywhere. 

Watching those long golden fingers type on the screen, Lan Zhan feels suddenly too hot, nerves tingling in his belly. He's never felt like this ever, and he tells himself that his condition is due to the monumental fuck-up on his end. His lack of protection is what caused this security breach and he feels responsible. Just because he had thought the basic password protection would be enough to guard his work didn't mean it was, and the Lan company as a whole is paying the price of his naivety. He still can't get over the fact that his work was something someone wanted to steal. Not because it wasn't important, because it absolutely is, but because he's never been at the focal point of nefarious interest before, and he hates it.

Wei Ying pulls up a list of the Lan personal staff, scooting closer to Lan Zhan in spite of the seat belt that confines both of them to their own spaces.

He shows Lan Zhan. “Look, these are our main suspects.”

“Please do not call them that.” Lan Zhan stares at the names.

“Why not?” Wei Ying asks him flippantly. “You can't get attached to them, Gege. We've got a job to do, and that means staying unbiased. One weak chain link in the armour and that's as good as stabbing yourself on behalf of your enemy.”

A shudder passes through his body before Lan Zhan can stop it. “I know these people.”

“Correction: you think you know them. But Gege–”

“Stop calling me that!”

“Okay, fiiinnnee! Lan Zhan. I'm serious. You need to understand this. The people working for you are only loyal in so far as their next paycheck. None of them care about you beyond how long you can keep their salary ongoing. In your mind, you have to cut off any personal threads that are gonna stop you from being able to take necessary actions. That includes firing anyone, should the need arise.” Wei Ying pats his hand. “And you can trust me. The need WILL arise.”

Again, the current that travels up his arm zings with electricity. With the way Wei Ying flinches, Lan Zhan knows he felt something too.

“Have you always been so callous?” He bites out, hating how affected he is.

“Detached is a better word.” Wei Ying stares at him, giving him a long, thoughtful look. “It takes practice. But I'm not heartless, Gege. If you can't do it, then let me do the talking. Whoever is behind this, and bear in mind that more than one person might be involved, we have to be clever about it, outsmart them. And between you and me, I suppose I could find a way to hack into the Jin security system, but this way is more fun. Besides, if I did that, we probably wouldn't be able to use anything we find in court. Otherwise, we'd have to admit to illegal hacking, and then there's nothing to stop them counter-suing us.” Wei Ying actually laughs at that.

He's so annoying. 

“Why do you do it then, if it's illegal?”

Wei Ying balks at him. “Wait, you're serious?”

Lan Zhan will not grace that with an answer.

“Listen, Lan Zhan. Do you really think our enemies are going to say, “wait, I can't possibly hack into the Lan company or the Nie company because it's wrong? I might get into trouble because it's illegal!”? No way! The bad guys are doing it because of money, nothing else. They'll just find a way to hide their tracks better. There's no similarities between what I do and what they do.” He looks affronted that Lan Zhan is comparing him to whoever stole the data in the first place.

“How so?” Now Lan Zhan is genuinely interested. 

He wants to know why Wei Ying makes the choices he does, and why he thinks it's different when he's clearly doing the same thing. In Lan Zhan’s book, it's black and white. You're either with the law or against it, no in-between. Grey is nonexistent in his world. This is the first time he's come across someone who skirts the line between right and wrong, and so effortlessly as if it doesn't matter. And Lan Zhan is surprised because he wants to understand. It isn't just because his conscience wouldn't let him work alongside a questionable character but he wants to dig deeper on the moral issue.

Why is it alright for him to break the law but not for others?

“I use my powers for good, not evil,” Wei Ying explains, jabbing his own chest with his thumb. “It's not all about hacking.” He thrums his fingertips on his knee, thinking. “Hmm, maybe a better way to explain it is like this. A sword can be used to kill or to protect, right? The responsibility lies with whomever is holding it. When I investigate, and if I have to hack into a system to do it, it is a hundred percent because I'm protecting someone. These days, it's mostly Da-Ge and A-Sang, but I'd do it for anyone who needed it. Otherwise, how could I sleep at night? My peace of mind is worth more than some kind of temporary gain, or whatever it is you're imagining.”

Oh.

Lan Zhan hadn't been expecting it to make sense. Mulling over everything Wei Ying has said in the space of a twenty minute car ride makes him blink when the vehicle comes to a stop. He looks around, for some reason still expecting them to be on the road but the well-lit Lan underground parking lot is all he sees.

“Have I broken your brain, Gege?” Wei Ying snickers, seconds before he gets out of the car.

For the first time in his life, Lan Zhan wants to swear.

Wei Ying is pushing all of his buttons. At the same time, and having fun while he's doing it. He's so annoying! And this isn't the first time Lan Zhan thinks this. He checks his phone in the elevator that will take them up to his office floor. 

XiChen has remained with the Nies to discuss something other than the immediate security infiltration problem, but he’s already sent an email informing their personal teams of an immediate software update managed by Wei WuXian and overseen by Lan WangJi. 

The space inside the elevator feels suffocating and hot, and Lan Zhan feels every one of the sixty seconds it takes to reach the twentieth level. He's tense and that's unusual for him. It has everything to do with the man standing a few feet away from him, grinning from ear to ear.

“You need to relax, Lan Zhan,” he whispers conspiratorially, leaning towards him. “Otherwise you're going to give the game away even before we've started.”

Lan Zhan sighs deeply, knowing he's right and simultaneously hating him for it. Ugh! He's so professional!

Lan Zhan stomps out of the enclosed space, forgetting to manage his breathing and glaring at everyone standing there with the force of a thousand suns. Oh, yes, the email.

“Hello, everyone!” Wei Ying bows serenely to the personal teams, managing to sound polite and friendly at the same time.

Lan Zhan is consciously aware of the contrast between them: Wei Ying, wearing mostly black and yet shining like a happy star, while Lan Zhan, wearing all white, looks like a storm ready to dump hail, ice and snow on them. He doesn't blame all twenty-four members for taking a slight step backwards when he looks past them.

“Good morning,” he addresses them, forcing himself to act naturally. This is one of the times he can be glad for training his own features not to give away his thoughts. But it's hard to be genuinely friendly when one of these people could have snuck into his office and stolen his design. Furthermore, not content with stealing, they've actively sold it to the highest bidder. “I trust you've all received the email about the software update?”

There are nods and murmurs attesting to that. 

“That is the reason for our early morning meeting at the Unclean Realm. Wei WuXian is here to facilitate the mentioned software update, and it's the start of merging our interests with that of the Nies. I trust you will give your full support in this matter and treat him as one of our own.” Then Lan Zhan escapes to his office, where it's nice and quiet.

He hasn't run away, he tells himself firmly but even then, it's hard to believe. 

********************

Hours later, there's a knock on his door and Lan Zhan shakes himself out of his hyper focus to look up.

“Come in,” he calls out.

It's obviously not Su MinShan, who usually enters straight after he's knocked without being asked to. Lan Zhan has a private theory that the grumpy young man is out to catch him doing something necessarily evil, like smiling at his collection of bunny pictures. (Neither has happened. Yet.)

“Lan Zhan!” The too loud, extremely cheerful sound bounces around the office and echoing off the walls as soon as Wei Ying enters. “It's lunchtime!”

“I'm working!” Lan Zhan feels bad for biting that out, and then for the inevitable confusion at his own feelings/the contrary nature of them/angrily blaming Wei Ying for being the root of everything wrong with today, and then summarily disappointed with himself about all of it.

And all of that just goes flying over the criminal's head as if it doesn't matter. 

“You've still gotta eat! Come on!” He wheedles. “My treat!”

“The cafeteria is perfectly adequate,” Lan Zhan replies, standing up. 

Well, he hadn't intended to give Wei Ying the impression that he's joining him. But it's too late now because Wei Ying has lit up like a Christmas tree, his smile impossibly brighter. Lan Zhan huffs out an annoyed sound and goes to lock away the papers that he's been working on manually, putting them away from prying eyes inside the safe hidden behind the secret bookcase.

“You know, I'm right here,” Wei Ying warns him. “I can see what you just did.”

“I trust you,” Lan Zhan admits begrudgingly. He might have a lot of varying issues with Wei Ying, but somehow in between yesterday and today, trust isn't one of them.

Wei Ying sweeps into a low, dramatic bow, still as bright and beautiful as the sun. “Well, then, I'm honoured. That's no small thing coming from Lan Zhan himself,” he says, amusement in his voice. 

“Do you take anything seriously?” Lan Zhan asks him incredulously, turning around. 

“Beauty, namely yours,” Wei Ying replies, without missing a beat.

Lan Zhan absolutely detests his faithless ears that respond accordingly by changing colour. He can feel how hot they are and the reason is a frivolous teasing by one who does not mean it. He doubts Wei Ying has a sincere bone in his body.

“Ah, you'll have to forgive me again, Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying bounces towards him.

“For?” Lan Zhan feels helpless for the frisson of anxious nerves that light up and down his spine. Wei Ying is standing far, far too close.

“The flirting,” Wei Ying gesticulates wildly with a hand, even as he grabs Lan Zhan’s wrist. “I can't seem to help it around you. And the cafeteria is out for obvious reasons. We can't talk shop with that many interested ears.” He even pauses to stare longingly at Lan Zhan’s ears.

Ah, so this is supposed to be a business meeting.

Lan Zhan shoves every one of the myriad feelings away from him as if they were lepers. But curiously, the disappointment lingers. His efforts at avoiding the examination of his reactions results in a fugue state which he only comes out of when he's guided into a fake-leather booth. He wrinkles his nose, unaccustomed to the strong pungency of fried garlic and sizzling onions. Wei Ying has brought him to a restaurant.

A busy one.

“So no one overhears us,” Wei Ying says, making Lan Zhan realise that he may have spoken aloud.

Lan Zhan recognises the decor from passing by this place on occasion, and there's always been a line of people queuing up to eat here, so it must be good.

There's a steady hum of conversation, sometimes lilting into a merged crescendo as more people join in, lessening when groups suddenly turn quiet, like the rise and ebb of an evening tide. 

Wei Ying pushes a greasy laminated menu towards him, not batting an eye when Lan Zhan pulls out wet wipes to clean first it from the infestation of germs and then another for his hands, and a third one for his place setting. He goes straight to the back section of the menu because in an illustrious place such as this, if they have any vegetarian options, they'll be hidden away like contraband. Almost like the establishment is ashamed of having them in the first place. He's also surprised that he doesn't mind eating here, as long as it's clean, and he's just taken care of most of that. 

Lan Zhan selects plain bottled water and what is dubbed as ‘Zen Noodles’ in a clear broth with a side dish of lettuce. He does not wince when Wei Ying’s food arrives, bringing with it for him, a side dish of running eyes and a snotty nose, extra, because Lan Zhan did not ask for them. All of Wei Ying’s food is red, like the chillies that the insane chef has used for decoration (??) on top of his fried rice and lava-like mapo tofu.

“Would you like to try some of mine?” Wei Ying offers, as the fiery sauce oozes from his chopsticks when he presents some cubed tofu towards Lan Zhan’s horrified mouth which snaps shut out self-preservation. He shakes his head quickly. 

He is shocked when the drop of that toxic red sauce falls on the white tablecloth and doesn't burn through it. Or the table itself. The entire dish looks radioactive. It's still smoking, steam curling ominously from the “food”, and the jury is out if this is because it's hot, temperature-wise or spice-wise. He wonders if a certificate of the restaurant’s non-liability must be enforced before consumption, like the people who sell particularly harmful spices such as Carolina Reaper and Ghost Pepper powder - Lan Zhan read an article that said those staff members had to get a form signed by the taster that their store wasn't to blame for any impending heart attacks. 

Hunger makes them use their mouths for eating first, both of them making quick work of the food in front of them. Lan Zhan tries not to stare but Wei Ying’s glistening red lips are … nice to look at. He is an incredibly attractive man, and if Lan Zhan were being honest, then he is also the most beautiful person he has seen. Ever. That's just a fact.

“So…you seeing anyone?”

“Just you and the people around us?” Lan Zhan looks around pointedly. 

Wei Ying gapes at him before throwing back his head and laughing. “Lan Zhan! You're not allowed to be funny on top of all that!” he waves a hand at all of Lan Zhan to encompass him. 

“Mn?”

“I mean, look at you! Gorgeous, smart to boot, elegant, refined, just … you ever feel that the words at your disposal aren't enough? And then, on top of all that, you're funny as well.” Wei Ying smiles earnestly at him, a flicker of something uncertain in his lovely eyes.

Lan Zhan can look into them forever. He's so expressive when he wants to be and Lan Zhan is reminded of earlier that morning when he wasn't, when Wei Ying deliberately chose not to expose his thoughts to the room. Having witnessed that side of him, being allowed to see what he's thinking now feels like a privilege. 

“I'm not flirting, that's just the truth. But if you're single then you can bet your bottom dollar that I'm changing it to “definitely flirting”.” Wei Ying winks.

Lan Zhan is honestly bewildered. He really doesn't have any thoughts in his head and the absence of them is kind of worrying. What does he do now?

“That's up to you,” Wei Ying says easily.

This is the second time today that Lan Zhan has unconsciously spoken aloud. And both times were around Wei Ying. 

“What are my choices?” Lan Zhan looks back at him openly, asking for help.

“Wow…okay, then. Woo-kay!” Wei Ying seems to be having some kind of breakdown. He breathes deeply like he has to calm himself before speaking. Then he lifts a finger. “One, I can ask you on a date and you can say yes. Or no,” he deflates and then perks up immediately, lifting a second finger, “or! Or, we can get to know each other a bit and then decide. It's up to you.”

“I could ask you for a date,” Lan Zhan speculates, again, out loud. “If we are going to be fair. And you could say no, if you wanted to. We can both decide.”

“Gege, I think I'm pretty much a sure bet, at this point,” Wei Ying giggles. “But like, I'm kinda floored that you would even consider it. With me.”

“Likewise,” Lan Zhan tells him, and means it. There's definitely something wrong with his mouth, though. It seems to do whatever it wants to when Wei Ying is around. “Then, were you not serious about asking me?”

“Oh, no! I'm very serious. People say I flirt all the time, but honestly, I like complimenting people. Spreading good vibes, you know? For example, if I saw someone wearing a nice dress, or a piece of jewellery and I liked it, I'm going to tell them. Make them feel good just for the sake of it. But flirting? Real, honest-to-god flirting? I don't do that at all. I wouldn't like to lead people on, you know? Especially if it wasn't going to go anywhere. It's just that well, look at you! You are so out of my league, like, dude, you're a star and I'm just a lonely telescope looking at you, you know?” Wei Ying blushes hard, his dark lashes curling against the curve of his cheek. He has freckles. Not usually visible except when his cheeks turn pink, and then like the stars he mentioned, they come out when the sky turns to dusk.

Lan Zhan feels hot under his collar, too. He can sense that his ears are feeling the same, and if Wei Ying carries on talking, there's the distinct possibility of steam coming out from them. Wei Ying’s hand is on the table and Lan Zhan rests his own hand close to his. He marvels at the contrast in colour; his so much paler than Wei Ying’s golden sun-kissed skin. His fingers are just as long as Lan Zhan’s, his nails a little imperfect. Not chewed, but the ordinariness of them makes them even more special. Lan Zhan likes his hands. Wei Ying’s first finger taps silents on the white cloth. It's as if they're both holding their breath, waiting to see what will happen. Lan Zhan lifts his finger experimentally, and ever so slowly, he strokes the side of that tapping finger.

They both gasp quietly. 

The current is real, running up that single point of contact and zapping through their bodies so fast, Lan Zhan almost thinks he imagined it. But when he looks up, Wei Ying’s face is just as full of the same wonder as Lan Zhan feels.

“I am curious. I would like to date you and see what happens,” Lan Zhan’s stupid mouth says, with absolutely no input from Lan Zhan himself. And it carries on, “But if we start dating, then I would want nothing to take away my focus from you.”

“Jesus-fucking-Christ, Lan Zhan! Warn a guy! What are you doing to me!??” Wei Ying pretends to swoon, clutching his heart and falling backwards against his seat. He's smiling, pleased. 

That in turn makes Lan Zhan feel proud. He did that. He made Wei Ying look like that.

“It's the truth.” Lan Zhan wants to throw his hands up in the air. Just what the hell is up with his mouth today?? Fuck it, do whatever you want, he thinks wearily. 

“So…what you're saying is that it isn't a no.” Wei Ying whispers, still giving him heart eyes.

“Mn.”

“But that thing about focus. I'm guessing you want to wait until we root out the mole.”

“Yes.” Lan Zhan feels his anger stirring again, swirling in the pits of his stomach.

“Wow…I guess I've got an angry kink.” He smirks.

Wei Ying says that in such a low voice, for a moment, Lan Zhan wonders if he heard that correctly. 

“Alright,” Wei Ying says, louder this time. “We can get to know each other, in the meantime. And that brings me back to why we're in some greasy spoon having an undercover meeting.”

“Greasy spoon?”

Wei Ying gestures around them. “Slang for a joint like this. Okay, let's get down to business.” He leans forward, lowering his voice so Lan Zhan must copy him to hear better. “All twenty-four members check out clean. No dodgy emails, no questionable history, cos you can delete that shit but it still shows up if you know where to look. It's not one of them.” He sounds disappointed. 

“Not even Su MinShan? As my secretary, he would have the best opportunity. And he has access to my passwords.” Lan Zhan is also disappointed. Partly because if the traitor is one of their personal team, then the matter is resolved. Case closed, moving on. Also, it would clear the way for what they just discussed, about dating each other. There's more than one reason for getting to the bottom of this situation as soon as possible. 

“I checked him out even more thoroughly than the others. He's just, I don't know, really sus? Like, he kept asking me proper, in-depth questions about what I was doing on his computer and lucky I had coffee so I could match him, point for point. But there's just this greasy layer to his personality that I can't come to terms with, you know? Call it what you want, but my bad-guy radar has it in for him. I was so pumped, like, I was expecting there to be something incriminating on his computer. But I got zilch. Nada. Nuthin’.”

“His computer, you say?” Lan Zhan murmurs, a memory rising in his mind. 

“Yeah, he's only got the one device registered with the company.” Wei Ying sits up suddenly. “What?”

“You know that day, yesterday, actually. When I left the conference, I didn't take the elevator because I didn't want to talk to anyone.”

“Yeah, I'm sorry I was kind of respo–”

“No!” Lan Zhan interrupts him impatiently, and then realises he must keep his voice down. “You said sorry, that's the end of that matter. But! I met Su MinShan in the stairwell. He bumped into me because he was using his tablet, and not looking where he was going. I remember it clearly. He was flustered and asked why I wasn't on the stage. XiChen made up a bullshit excuse for an overseas call and I used that…but looking back, he was definitely shifty.”

“Wow,” Wei Ying chuckles bashfully. “I like it when you swear, Gege.”

This time, Lan Zhan doesn't correct him about the use of the familiar term. He draws Wei Ying’s attention back to his point. “His tablet?”

“Right,” Wei Ying sits up, all business now. He pulls out his phone and checks it. “He denied any other electronics. But if he's our guy, then of course he's going to lie about it.” Wei Ying’s face goes hard, his beautiful silver eyes turning as sharp as flint. He taps his nose thoughtfully. “It's gotta be close to him at all times. So he can use it whenever the opportunity strikes.”

“In his desk.” Lan Zhan feels sure about it. “I do not know but it seems to me that to put an incriminating device elsewhere requires more than one brain cell."

“Ouch,” Wei Ying snickers, sobering immediately. 

Lan Zhan stands up, his only thought to go back and confront the lying little toe-rag as soon as possible, but Wei Ying stands up too, and pulls him back down. 

“Wait,” he says, grinning as their server appears with the bill.

But Lan Zhan is faster and pays for both of them. “Why?”

Wei Ying makes himself comfortable. “I've got an idea. And if it's successful, it will take care of all our problems for the foreseeable future. But I need you to be calm, first.”

“I'm calm.” Those two words come from clenched teeth.

“Ha, Gege, I've known you less than a full day and okay, I might be a bit horny about it, but that's by-the-by. Su MinShan will be able to tell straight away that you're not okay about something. And we need him to be oblivious to the fact that we suspect him.” Wei Ying holds up a hand to stop Lan Zhan speaking. “Listen, just because he has a tablet that he “forgot” to mention,” he does the sign for speech marks with his two index fingers on both hands, “that alone isn't enough to prove his guilt. I have to make sure of it first.”

“You're thorough,” Lan Zhan approves, his fury slowly evaporating.

“A lot hangs in the balance, Gege. But see, if we have to delve deeply into his hard drive, that takes time, and we can't risk him finding out that we know. That means his tablet has to stay there, and I have to be with it. The only way I see that happening is if you take him out for lunch and keep him there for about an hour. That should be long enough to check whether he's our guy. Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying suddenly laughs at him. “Don't look like that!”

But Lan Zhan can't help it. “I don't like him.” He knows his expression has given him away, and yet he doesn't care if it's about his secretary. 

“I'm not asking you to marry the guy!” Wei Ying snickers helplessly. “We just need him away from his desk for long enough that I can do my job.”

Lan Zhan’s face has apparently decided to join the revolution that his mouth has started, because he can't make himself be alright with this. But the thought of spending more than thirty seconds with that slimy if efficient man makes his skin crawl.

Then he has a light bulb moment.

“XiChen can do it.”

“Won't it look a bit sus if he takes out YOUR secretary for lunch?” Wei Ying protests. “He kind of gave the game away by announcing his engagement to Da-Ge.” His long pretty fingers select a paper napkin and as Lan Zhan watches, effortlessly folds it this way and that, and a few moments later turns it into a paper bunny that he offers to Lan Zhan cupped in both of his palms.

“It can be a thank you to the whole team. All twenty-four of them,” Lan Zhan replies, accepting the gift. He likes this idea as it grows. Anything is better than one-on-one time with Su MinShan. The paper bunny is carefully put inside his pocket.

“You'll have to go with them, otherwise he'll suspect something. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that types like him are super paranoid about getting caught. I bet even me being around you and doing the fake update thing was making him antsy. And actually, if you're with them, you can be my eyes and ears, Gege. Let me know when you're all coming back.”

Lan Zhan feels a thrill of anticipation run up his spine. That's an excellent plan, and he can tell Wei Ying thinks so, too.

Wei Ying lifts up his glass of water in a toast, which Lan Zhan joins, a heartbeat later. “Partner,” he says in a deadpan voice.

Wei Ying cackles, full of mirth. “Partner,” he agrees.

****************

That same evening, Lan Zhan confides in XiChen and Shufu, telling them what he and Wei Ying suspect about Su MinShan. XiChen gets on board immediately after his initial anger at the man, and they spend a few minutes searching for a restaurant which is far enough away to buy Wei Ying extra minutes in time.

“You work well together,” XiChen says, after Shufu retires for the evening.

Lan Zhan’s ears are already a member of the Let's-Embarrass-Lan-Zhan club, and predictably, they give him away right on cue, turning a vivid pink instead of remaining a neutral ivory.

“Mn.”

“Do you like him, Didi?”

Wow, don't beat about the bush, XiChen. Get to the point, why don't you? Lan Zhan thinks, putting aside his feelings. “Mn. But we are taking things slowly for now until the matter with Su MinShan is resolved.”

“Wise decision.” XiChen looks distracted. 

“Is there anything else on your mind?”

“I'm thinking about A-Yao. He's my friend, so when people say less than flattering things about him, it upsets me. But if he's behind the security leak at our firm, then I have to face some ugly truths about him. These past few days, I've been putting him off and trying not to talk to him too much. But I keep hoping that he's merely doing what his father wants him to do, and that he's not directly involved in sabotaging our company.” XiChen rubs the side of his head anxiously. 

“Even if his conduct stems from filial piety,” Lan Zhan can't help the distaste at the thought of Jin GuangShan's role, “if Meng Yao is your true friend, he should have given you a heads up about their press conference. One cannot play both sides of conflicting interests indefinitely because at some point, the truth will force the person to pick a side.”

“But that's what I'm worried about, Didi. Does A-Yao value his father above our connection? What if he doesn't choose me?”

***************

XiChen's words stay for a long time in Lan Zhan’s head, and he messages Wei Ying early in the morning. They end up getting breakfast together in a coffee shop about a block away from the Lan office building. 

“I'm glad you organised this,” Wei Ying says, after taking a sip from the heart-attack-in-a-cup drink he ordered. Six shots of dark coffee with a splash of caramel sauce. No cream. “I want you to play along with me, just a fun interesting game I wanna play with that two-timing weasel. When it's time.”

“Okay,” Lan Zhan readily agrees before he tells Wei Ying all about XiChen's dilemma. 

At the end of it, Wei Ying looks thoughtful. “So your brother wants to know for sure which way his supposed friend swings.”

“Mn.”

“Well, I suppose that's easy enough to find out. But if you want to take them to the cleaners legally, then we have to do things by the book. Luckily,” he grins beautifully, “I have a friend too, working for the Peacock. Well, she did before he cut his losses and left. Mianmian has been talking about leaving for a long time now…and we might be able to help her out. Leave it with me, Gege.” He winks.

“The Peacock?”

“Promise I'll explain later.” Wei Ying stands up to leave. “It will be better if we're not seen together before lunchtime when I will come to your office. All you have to do is agree with whatever I'm saying and I'm a hundred percent sure that by doing so, we'll be giving Su MinShan enough rope to hang himself.”

“Mn.” Lan Zhan also stands up, and gives Wei Ying the paper bunny he just made a few moments ago. “For good luck. Where are you going now?”

“Thank you,” Wei Ying replies. He darts forward and presses his warm lips against Lan Zhan’s cheek, blushing furiously. “For good luck,” he replies, still smiling shyly now. “And as for where I'm going, think of it as a metaphorical hardware store. I'm going to ask about the size of the rope we'll need,” he chuckles.

Lan Zhan watches him leave, his hand on his cheek where the beautiful man just kissed him. Something in him unfurls, like a fist opening up to release the pent up tension. In just three extremely long days, his entire world has changed. 

But it's not over yet…

*******************

Lan Zhan hears Wei Ying outside his office talking to the reptile that is Su MinShan. He looks at the time, realising with a start that the morning has fast fled while he was immersed with researching a new idea, and it is now lunchtime. A.K.A. Operation Nail-That-Bastard.

“There's no meeting scheduled,” Su MinShan objects loudly in that nasally sneer that Lan Zhan dislikes.

“Oh, yeah, I know!” Wei Ying’s voice carries through the wall. “It's because he's just made a breakthrough in that new project he's working on, and he messaged me about how to secure it. We don't want to take any risks this time,” he laughs as though he's sharing a secret with Su MinShan. “I'll take a look at it now, but I can't do anything solid until after my lunch meeting. I just wanted an idea of how many gigs it will take.”

“I'll see if he's free–”

Lan Zhan opens his door, unable to wait any longer. “Wei Ying. Please come inside.” Lan Zhan notices Su MinShan looking annoyed before he masks it, and he gets a thrill inside about it. He doesn't know exactly what Wei Ying wants to do to him, but one way or another, they'll know for sure if his secretary is guilty or not by the end of the afternoon. 

Wei Ying joins him by the door and as he closes it, he says in a loud voice, “Did you transfer it over to your computer like I said?” As soon as the door clicks shut, Wei Ying beams at him and winks.

Lan Zhan gives him an unimpressed glance but he's melting inside. Wei Ying is…cute.

They move towards his desk, and as Lan Zhan sits down behind it, he turns his computer towards Wei Ying. Wei Ying pulls the sleeves of his hoodie up his lean arms and Lan Zhan gets to see his muscles bunch and release underneath all that golden skin. He wants to feel them moving under his mouth. It is very distracting. Those wonderfully efficient fingers pull out a USB stick - in the shape of a fist with the middle finger sticking up - and Wei Ying inserts it into the laptop.

“Should I ask what you're doing?” he murmurs quietly. 

Wei Ying shivers because Lan Zhan has turned his face to speak softly, and they are already positioned so close together. His mouth is just an inch away from Wei Ying’s beautiful ear…on purpose. 

“No,” Wei Ying replies a little shakily, his fingers trembling as they don't stop typing.

Lan Zhan looks at the screen and the file name. “Top Secret Product?”

Wei Ying giggles sharply, breathless with anticipation. “We don't wanna be subtle, Gege. That's the whole point. When he steals this file, you'll have all the proof you need.”

“Mn.”

“Now, don't touch your computer until I say, okay?” Wei Ying waits for him to nod, his face turned so that they're looking at each other.

Lan Zhan can see a scattering of shining flecks like all the stars of the night sky glimmering in his silver eyes. He can't even blink for fear of missing something so beautiful. 

“Ah, did I forget to send the email?” XiChen's voice can be heard outside. “I knew there was something I had to do!” He laughs self-deprecatingly. “I'm taking everyone out for lunch. My treat.”

That's their cue.

Wei Ying pulls away from Lan Zhan, who gets the feeling that he's just as reluctant to move. A second longer and something else might’ve happened. But instead, they both go towards the door. Outside, a flustered Su MinShan is protesting.

“There's too much work and I can't leave it for–”

“Oh, are you guys going out for lunch, too?” Wei Ying easily interrupts him, feigning ignorance.

“Why don't you join us?” XiChen says warmly, “the more, the merrier!”

“Oh, I'll have to take a raincheck. A-Sang already messaged that he's waiting for me, but I'd love to next time.” Wei Ying turns to Lan Zhan. “My business lunch will take a few hours but I should be back around three,” he grins.

Lan Zhan sees Su MinShan glance at his watch surreptitiously. He makes sure not to give anything away and reminds himself that they don't know for sure that he's working for the Jins yet. Innocent until proven guilty. 

“Very well, I won't touch my laptop until you return.” Lan Zhan makes a point of ignoring Su MinShan when he says that. Part of him gets a secret thrill at the plan they've hatched, setting out a trap to catch the two-faced bastard.

Wei Ying says his goodbyes and he leaves; Lan Zhan knows he's just going down a floor and then returning via the stairs, so he turns to Su MinShan.

Think of bunnies, he tells himself harshly, so that he can school his features and not give the game away. It won't do, to let it slip about all the different ways Lan Zhan has thought about getting back at his duplicitous employee. To his secretary, he says, “Su MinShan, you are a hardworking member of our team. The lunch my brother is treating us all to is a reflection of that, to celebrate how well the merger is going. It will be rude to refuse.”

“Yes,” XiChen replies, nodding enthusiastically, and there are murmurs behind him from the other twenty-three members of their personal team. “I will take it personally if you don't come along now,” he adds.

“I'll just get my jacket,” Lan Zhan replies, as Su MinShan also stands up reluctantly. 

They leave together, and Lan Zhan doesn't bother locking his office. It's only now that he's looking for it, he can see the way Su MinShan glances back towards his desk as if he hates leaving. To anyone else, it could signify a dedication to his job, but now with suspicion-tainted glasses on, Lan Zhan just feels his rage simmering under the mask of fake calmness. He realises that just because loyalty is a trait for himself, and he could never fathom doing something as vile as selling company secrets to their competitors, the sad truth is that Wei Ying has been right all along. Su MinShan is only as loyal as the money he gets, and wealth is a fickle mistress to serve. Silently inside, he wishes all the luck for Wei Ying to be successful. 

**************

Wei Ying hums softly to himself as he takes three steps at a time to return to the floor he just came from. Su MinShan's desk is neat, he observes when he reaches it, noting how carefully all the pencils are sharpened and three different coloured pens are lined up next to the notepad. His computer is shut at the moment and Wei Ying isn't interested in it because he's already checked it out.

Lan Zhan is going to keep him updated at his end and Wei Ying wants to be in and out before their party returns. Despite what he's here for, his mood is cheery, his thoughts lingering on Lan Zhan’s face just after he kissed him earlier at breakfast. Wei Ying wants to see that expression again, preferably as soon as possible. He reminds himself that Lan Zhan wants to take things slowly, but part of Wei Ying wants this situation to be resolved faster so that both he and Lan Zhan are free to explore whatever is brewing between them.

Lan Zhan is such a beautiful man, and his outlook on the world and wanting it to be as good as he is, as a person, is both noble and endearing…but Wei Ying knows better. His experience in catching the bad guys proves that people like Lan Zhan and himself will just have to work harder if they want Lan Zhan’s version of the world to come true.

On a personal level, there is something magnetic about Lan Zhan that has reeled Wei Ying in from the get-go. Ever since he saw those graceful elegant fingers folding an ordinary piece of paper into a cute bunny, Wei Ying knew that a) he had to learn how to make them as well, and b) he wanted to learn more about the enigmatic silent man whose single glance could freeze a cup of freshly made steaming tea. Lan Zhan wasn't just a challenge to him; Wei Ying was both intrigued and charmed by him. Especially his adorable pink ears, giving him away without a care. Someone like that should be protected. 

Someone like that who is intrinsically just good, deserves to be allowed to live however they want, and if that means just password protecting their work, then Wei Ying is going to back him up with everything he's got. He's going to make it so that Lan Zhan never has to worry about his work or his ideas being stolen again.

Part of that protection means Wei Ying is currently lock-picking Su MinShan's desk drawers because he's a paranoid asshole and making Wei Ying’s job that much harder. Wei Ying hopes the lying little shit will think he forgot to lock them, later, because no matter how much he wishes it weren't so, there's no way to pick a lock and then magically return it to being locked afterwards. 

The tablet that the little shit (™) lied about is right on top.

Wei Ying makes himself comfortable sitting cross-legged on the plush carpet, attaching wires and gaining access to the hard drive. There is so much classified information, all of which he downloads onto another USB stick. While he's waiting for that to finish, he checks his phone. It's been about twenty minutes since Lan Zhan checked in, messaging him that they've reached the restaurant. 

Wei Ying messages back, a warm glow spreading inside his chest.

Wei Ying: What did you order, Gege? Anything tasty?

💙Lan Zhan💙: *sends a picture of his plate

There are four pale dumplings, no dipping sauce and a mix of lettuce leaves. Wei Ying smiles at his phone wistfully.

Wei Ying: It's missing something. 

💙Lan Zhan💙: Yes, you. How's it going?

Wei Ying clutches his chest, swooning with fondness. What a delightful man! He quickly types back.

Wei Ying: It's going. I'm making copies to examine later, but it looks like he's our guy. He might try to leave early so let me know.

💙Lan Zhan💙: Will do. He's still at the table.

Wei Ying: Good. This looks like it's going to take a while. We're not even at twenty-five percent yet.

💙Lan Zhan💙: 👍

Wei Ying rests his back against the wall, putting a timer on his watch. If they're still eating at the restaurant, then that's at least another twenty minutes there, plus a good ten minutes walking back. Five for the elevator to pick the little shit up, and Wei Ying hopes he'll be out of here long before Su MinShan comes back. He selects a game on his phone, keeping an eye on his own military grade device in between playing levels. No sense in wasting time…

****************

So…that lying rat bastard really is the traitor, Lan Zhan accepts, glaring at his plate. The poor dumplings shrivel under his fury and his appetite dies a quick death as butterflies erupt in his stomach. He can't eat, his mind thinking back to all the times he trusted Su MinShan with his new ideas, who turned out to be a broken vessel that leaked all over the place. He feels sick with it. 

When he looks up, Su MinShan is watching him back, pretending to pay attention to the young lady talking to him. Lan Zhan nods and tries to take a tiny bite out of his dumplings. It tastes like rubber and ash in his mouth. How dare that guy even look at Lan Zhan? Duplicitous, unfaithful, disloyal piece of shit that he is??

XiChen nudges his foot with his leg under the table, raising a brow when he catches Lan Zhan’s eyes. He's asking if Lan Zhan has confirmation of Su MinShan's crimes.

Lan Zhan nods once discreetly. 

XiChen's anger is a furious, fast flickering thing in his honey-coloured eyes, before he too, stares at his plate. If Su MinShan is the traitor, then now the only thing left to determine is where A-Yao stands in this mess. He spent a sleepless night trying to come to terms with his involvement in all of this, but he doesn't want to think badly about his dear friend without any proof. What is he going to do if he finds out that A-Yao hasn't been following orders…but giving them?

The steady hum of conversation dies a little and XiChen looks up to find the table half empty. This time, his kick is swifter under the table, his panic making the contact harder than he intended to draw Lan Zhan out of his funk.

“Where is everyone?” He asks casually as Lan Zhan’s head snaps up, looking around. 

“Oh, they went to the bathroom,” one of the girls replies.

Lan Zhan is up and moving before XiChen, heading that way. There's a queue inside the gents’ toilets, and no sign of Su MinShan there; so while they wait to check the stalls, Lan Zhan texts Wei Ying exactly what's happening. A few minutes pass and there's no answer. 

He can't just wait around, not when there's a real possibility of Wei Ying getting caught.

“I'm going back,” Lan Zhan tells XiChen urgently. “Tell me if you find him,” he adds as he leaves.

His feet won't move as fast as he would like and yet Lan Zhan reaches the office building in record time. He briefly considers taking a security guard up with him and discards the idea just as fast; he can take the shorter man down effortlessly if it came to it, and he doesn't know what he'll find up there with Su MinShan and Wei Ying. As he approaches the elevators, they open as if fate wants him up there faster and Lan Zhan gets inside, barely holding himself back from repeatedly jabbing the button for his floor. Thankfully, no one else gets in with him. His heart rate is through the roof, matching the escalated ascension of the tin can he's riding in, and it's only decades of meditation that make Lan Zhan not give in to the urge of tapping his foot repeatedly to release the excess energy. 

Finally after what feels like forever, the door opens on the right floor and Lan Zhan strides out, expecting a confrontation outside his door. His mind conjures up an image of Wei Ying with a spear and a shield, gladiator-style protecting his office from invasion…but somehow, there is only Su MinShan sitting at his desk, calmly working.

He doesn't look like he's done anything wrong. But then, he must be used to feigning innocence when all this time, he's been stabbing the Lan company in the back through backdoor deals and illicit trade-offs. 

Lan Zhan dons the mask of indifference that he's trained himself to adapt and he nods curtly as he walks past his corrupt secretary. Where the hell is Wei Ying? Did he manage to do everything and leave in time?

He opens the door to his office and goes inside, quietly closing the door behind himself. His office looks exactly the way he left it, nothing out of place…except for his chair. That's odd, and Lan Zhan goes over to the other side of his desk to correctly push it in, when he sees a black shadow under the top, and a far too familiar grin staring back at him. 

He almost jumps back in shock but Wei Ying brings a finger to his lips, silently showing Lan Zhan that Su MinShan has no idea he's here.

Lan Zhan waits for his heart rate to go back to normal and when he feels sufficiently calmer, he turns and goes back outside. “I have a headache,” he informs Su MinShan. I do not wish to be disturbed. I will ask Wei WuXian to come back tomorrow instead of today.” 

But Su MinShan, after nodding, stops him from leaving. “I'm not feeling well, myself. Perhaps it was something we ate at the restaurant? But I was hoping if we aren't too busy, then may I have the rest of the afternoon off?”

Well, that will certainly make things easier for Wei Ying. 

“Of course. Let me know if you can't make it in tomorrow.” Lan Zhan replies, trying not to sound too eager.

“Thank you, Sir.” Su MinShan avoids eye contact and stands up.

For a second, Lan Zhan has the perverse idea to wait, to watch him leave. He won't risk taking the tablet out in front of Lan Zhan but that could make him suspicious. Also, there's nothing stopping him from coming back after Lan Zhan retires into his office. So Lan Zhan gives him a professional nod and closes the door behind him. He taps his smart watch which is already connected to the speakers via Bluetooth and presses play, letting the calm soothing music wash over him. Waiting one full minute is hard but he makes himself count up to sixty before risking another peek outside of his door.

Su MinShan's seat is vacant and there's no sign of him.

Lan Zhan shuts his door with a click and hurries back to his desk where Wei Ying is attempting to crawl out of the tiny space. It's a miracle he even managed to fold himself into such a small shape to fit. Lan Zhan offers him his hand, liking how such a small act can make that wonderful rosy blush reappear across his soft looking cheeks.

“Has he gone?” Wei Ying asks, stretching his long, lean, extremely attractive body out, shaking away the kinks in his muscles. He puts his black backpack on Lan Zhan’s desk.

“Mn.”

Wei Ying’s phone pings with a notification and when he checks it, he starts smiling delightedly. “My, what an eager beaver,” he says, as if Lan Zhan is supposed to know what he means by that. 

“Mn?”

“A-Sang loves all that cloak-and-dagger shit. He's following Su Shit right now. Your guy isn't going home. It looks like he's going to meet someone. And while we're waiting for more on that end, let's take a look at what your mole has been digging up and where he's selling it.” Wei Ying moves Lan Zhan’s laptop out of the way so he can set up his own things.

“What happened here? Why were you under my table?” Lan Zhan remembers that he was supposed to warn Wei Ying about Su MinShan's arrival. “I am sorry for telling you later than I intended, about him coming back.”

Wei Ying waves away his apology. “No harm done, Gege. I'm always ready for the unexpected. I saw your text and started packing up. Dumped his tablet in his desk drawer and skedaddled out of there just as the elevator pinged. Of course, there was nowhere to hide except for your office, and by the time I pulled the chair towards me, I was panicking because Su Shit might’ve come around to this side. Luckily, he was in too much of a rush. Grabbed your computer and nicked the file from over there,” Wei Ying jerks his chin towards the other side of the desk. 

He pulls Lan Zhan to sit down in his chair and starts typing on his device, his fingertips so light that they barely make a sound. Lan Zhan can't take his eyes away from the sheer efficiency of his actions, because Wei Ying makes a beautiful picture. But then he frowns because Wei Ying’s posture is hunched forward and that can't be comfortable. However, there's an easy solution. Lan Zhan turns his chair slightly and with nimble hands, takes Wei Ying by his waist and settles him down in his lap. So much better.

Wei Ying yelps, his face bright red and foregoing the usual pinkiness that preludes this.

“Carry on,” Lan Zhan gestures towards the screen, calm on the outside and absolutely rioting inside. If he was the kind of person who did cartwheels, then for sure he'd be doing about a hundred of them now.

“L-Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying bites his bottom lip, and Lan Zhan wants to take over from him, wanting to feel the soft plushness of his full lips in his own mouth. 

But unfortunately, they're in the middle of something important. 

“More comfortable for you,” he says gently, meaning it.

“Thank you, Gege,” Wei Ying smiles back.

It's tough to ignore the solid weight and warmth of Wei Ying’s body on top of his, and Lan Zhan thinks a lesser man would have totally failed. But Wei Ying brings his attention to the two simultaneously running programs on his super efficient military grade tablet.

“Look, Gege. This is everything he has on your company, including the air-ventilating tile technology you came up with that he sold to the Jins. Based on this alone, you can take him to court. Even if his lawyers try to blame you for invasion of privacy–”

He stops speaking as his phone and email ping at the same time. He lets the two programs carry on running and opens the third tab. It's an email from someone called Mianmian, who has sent it from a Jin server.

“That's your friend?” Lan Zhan remembers Wei Ying talking about her.

“Yep, she's the one who worked for the Peacock back when he was trying to clean up the practices of Koi Tower. Then he realised it was a useless endeavour and cut his losses. Jin ZiXuan, and that's his nickname, the Peacock. He used to project arrogance but we only found out later on that my A-Jie made him tongue-tied and nervous. He's better now that he's no longer associating with his no-good sleaze-ball dad. He's married to my sister now and they have a tiny angry beautiful baby boy.” Wei Ying sighs gustily. “I don't get to see them as often as I would like. Anyway, Jin ZiXuan told me to ask Mianmian for help and now she's officially our whistleblower.” Wei Ying waves a hand at the encrypted files Mianmian has sent over. “All of that is proof of what they've been paying out, not just to Su Shit, but countless others like him. Anyone in their pockets.” He grins mischievously. “You can give that straight to your lawyers.”

“But we still don't know who his contact is, inside Koi Tower.” Lan Zhan reminds him.

“Right, that's on this.” Wei Ying opens up the chat on his phone and twenty odd pictures pop up. 

Wherever Nie Huaisang is sitting, he's close enough to Su MinShan that he can capture the excited glee in his eyes. They scroll up and it's like a motion-capture film, each shot adding one more detail to the picture. 

“A-Sang is having fun,” Wei Ying muses.

The last two pictures are the damning ones. Meng Yao arrives, and Huaisang has caught them shaking hands.

“That answers your brother's question about whose side he's on.” Wei Ying sounds grim.

“Mn. Can you send them to me? I want to forward them onto my brother. He deserves to know as soon as possible.”

“Yeah, of course!” Wei Ying forwards those and the rest as more keep coming.

They watch together as Huaisang gives up sending photos and just sends a video of the two people he's watching. They can't hear whatever's being said, but they see the exact moment Su MinShan hands over his tablet, and Meng Yao pulling out his laptop and connecting the two devices with a lead cable.

“Is he downloading the Top Secret Product File?” Lan Zhan asks, watching closely.

“Yeah…” Wei Ying chews on his bottom lip before ignoring all the action on his devices and turning around to face Lan Zhan. He puts both of his beautiful hands on Lan Zhan’s shoulders. “Um…so I probably should have told you earlier, but I didn't because I genuinely thought whoever Su MinShan's contact was, they would have brought a hard drive to transfer the data. And also, you might have said no. But in about five seconds–”

The scream on Wei Ying’s phone diverts Lan Zhan’s attention and he picks it up for a closer look. Huaisang has zoomed in to the screen of Meng Yao's laptop and all it's showing is a blank void with a window in the corner and lines of coding disappearing. Meng Yao suddenly stands up and grabs Su MinShan by the throat, but before he can actually strangle him, the police complete with flashing red and blue lights swarm in, arresting both of them before they can do much more. Huaisang films a bit more and after Su MinShan and Meng Yao are handcuffed and stuffed into the back of two separate cop cars, Huaisang pans to himself and waves with a satisfied grin before ending his filming. He sends one more message: I was scared for my life. Violent people are so unpredictable, don't you think so?

Wei Ying snickers.

“You were saying?” Lan Zhan turns all of his focus onto Wei Ying. 

“I can explain!” he squeaks, redder than a ripe strawberry.

“Go on.” Lan Zhan has an idea of what he's done, but he would like confirmation after the fact.

Wei Ying swallows hard, unable to stop smiling. “Well, see,” he hedges, playing with Lan Zhan’s collar. “I started thinking about all the start-ups and little companies that the Jins have no doubt stolen from, and I thought, there's nothing to protect them. They can't even afford a person like me to protect their big ideas, and in a business where information is money, that's their meal ticket. So I decided to plant a virus inside their mainframe. Ideally, Meng Yao, or whoever their contact might’ve been, should have taken the data on a hard drive back to Koi Tower, like I explained. But I bet his laptop is connected right to the heart of the Jin Empire and by downloading our Top Secret Product file, he's essentially destroyed everything Koi Tower has been working on for the past five years. Not only their mainframe, but their entire computer network is fried. Including every single device logged in to their system. Basically, they're cooked. The Jins are out of business, baby!” He pumps the air triumphantly with both fists.

Lan Zhan’s hands automatically grip his slim waist to steady him. He's so beautiful. His mouth parts in awe, looking at a jubilant Wei Ying, still pumped because he's taken out the bad guys.

“You know what's even better?” Wei Ying crows. “The fact that they can't even make the specifics of this public because then, they'd have to admit to trying to steal from you, and that would lead to more questions.” 

Wei Ying looks down at him as if suddenly realising what they're doing, how close they are. His blush deepens and Lan Zhan can't get past the thought that he likes him so much. So much.

“Gege…” Wei Ying licks his lips.

Like a lion marking his prey, Lan Zhan’s golden eyes track the minute movement. Everything about Wei Ying is fascinating and Lan Zhan has never, ever felt like this about anyone before.

“Wei Ying,” he says, a little helplessly. 

“Yeah?” Wei Ying whispers, leaning closer.

“Will you go on a date with me?” Lan Zhan whispers back, like they're contained inside a fragile bubble and raising the volume might shatter it. He hasn't blinked once.

Neither has Wei Ying, who nods enthusiastically. His wonderful, gorgeous, talented hands are warm as they cradle his face.

“Lan Zhan?”

“Mn?”

They move closer, unconsciously. 

“Can I ki–”

The door slams open and a wild-looking XiChen bursts into Lan Zhan’s office, making Wei Ying jump off Lan Zhan’s lap with a squeak. Belatedly, XiChen realises what he interrupted.

“Ah, sorry, Didi. But I just saw the pictures…and the video! He–he really–it was A-Yao all along?” XiChen sounds heartbroken about it. He slumps into the chair next to Lan Zhan’s desk, holding his head.

Wei Ying glances at Lan Zhan, his expression full of sympathy towards both of them. At least it wasn't XiChen who was the weakest link.

“We have to give all of that correspondence and whatever else Wei Ying has uncovered to our lawyers,” Lan Zhan says carefully.  

Wei Ying pulls out another USB stick and this time, it has a cute white bunny as a cover. He sticks it into his tablet and makes a copy. While he's doing that, Lan Zhan looks over to his brother, a sense of profound relief making him sit down again.

“I know, Didi. I know.” XiChen rallies, bringing himself under control. 

For a few minutes, no one speaks, letting the magnitude of the recent events wash over them. Then XiChen's phone breaks the silence.

“It's A-Jue.” He stands up and accepts the call.

While he's talking on the phone, Wei Ying turns to Lan Zhan, eyes bright with care. “Will he be alright? It's going to be tough for him, especially if this goes to court.”

“Do you think it will?”

“Depends on the Jins and if they think they can get away with it, cos then, yeah, it's definitely a court matter. But given how much we've got on them, they might have no choice. The Nies and the Lans hold the winning ticket.”

“Mn.” Lan Zhan looks over to XiChen, who begins to stand up straighter the more he continues talking to Nie MingJue. “Da-Ge is good for him. He'll make sure Xiongzhang is alright.”

“Yeah. Both Da-Ge and A-Sang are good people.” Wei Ying strokes his cheek, a small smile making his lips twitch up. “And what about you?”

“What about me?”

“Will you be alright?”

Lan Zhan goes to nod, but then he has a better idea. “No,” he replies, a tiny smile giving himself away. “I shall be inconsolable. Wei Ying should help me recover from the trauma.” He makes sure he's completely serious. 

Wei Ying giggles quietly. “I see. And what can this one do to help?”

“It is natural that both of us are deeply affected by what we went through.”

“Oh, yeah,” Wei Ying plays along, injecting more drama as he holds a hand up to his own forehead. “So traumatised, Gege!”

“Mn. We will need several days off.”

“Fucking genius–yeah, damn straight, we are so distressed! Hurt! Mortified!” Wei Ying tries not to laugh. 

“Mn. Shattered. Overwhelmed. Drowning in anguish.” Lan Zhan tries not to smile, but this is funny. “We will need a week, minimum, to even think about returning to work.”

“Fuck yeah, Gege!” Wei Ying launches himself at Lan Zhan, planting himself in his lap again and hugging him hard.

“As soon as XiChen and MingJue-Ge are back to normal.” Lan Zhan adds, thinking about his brother. 

The company will need leadership as he recovers from the personal betrayal, and though the Nies will help him as well, Lan Zhan can make things easier on the business side for him.

“Good idea, Lan Zhan. I'll help you, too.” Wei Ying says, leaning back so he can look at him. He holds up his hand for a high five. “Partner.” 

“Mn.” Lan Zhan touches his palm quietly to Wei Ying’s offered hand. “Partner.”

*****************

A month later, things begin to return to normal. 

The day after Su MinShan and Meng Yao were arrested, Koi Tower had to release a press statement attesting to the fact that they had a bug and were unable to continue trading for the foreseeable future. That's when the Nie and the Lan lawyers hit them hard with subpoenas, on multiple charges of corruption, fraud and theft. However, no one was prepared for the amount of smaller companies who came forward to join the lawsuit. With the amount of evidence piling up against the Jin establishment, they were the talk of the town and it was pretty much a done deal by that point, that Jin GuangShan was not going to come back from this latest scandal. 

But, his name in the headlines made others braver and a community of women brought up a separate host of charges against him, painting him as an abusive misogynistic harasser of anything in a skirt. His wife served him very public divorce papers, and all of his support networks scattered like cockroaches.

All throughout that time, Lan Zhan and Wei Ying have held their companies together, often pulling all-nighters in helping to keep things running as normal and aiding their lawyers with answers to their inquiries. 

Finally, after another month of exhausting work, XiChen and MingJue give them the all-clear to take some time off.

Wei Ying bursts into Lan Zhan’s office with his brightest smile, just as Lan Zhan is packing up his things in lieu of his impending break.

He catches Wei Ying by the waist, pulling him closer. Wei Ying’s eyes darken to almost fully black, and he dives in for a kiss, one that lingers way past any kind of chasteness. Lan Zhan matches him lick for lick, hungrily devouring his mouth like a starving man. Wei Ying is most delightfully his in all the ways that matter, and they're going to leave on a mini vacation after this. Lan Zhan has planned a surprise for him, and he can't wait to share it.

But right now? Nothing is more important than showing his boyfriend how much he loves him.

Wei Ying kisses him with a desperation that he wasn't aware of before meeting Lan Zhan. He's a tall glass of icy lemonade and Wei Ying is a thirsty, thirsty man. 

“I could kiss you for days,” he murmurs, when they part to take a breath.

“Mn.”

“Are you ready to go, Gege?” Wei Ying says, unable to resist. He presses his lips once more to Lan Zhan’s delectably soft mouth, loving the way it opens up for him, inviting more. 

“Mn. Bags packed. In the car.” Lan Zhan manages to tell him, in between more heated kisses. It's great that their driver is going to drop them off at their hotel. Lan Zhan wants to show Wei Ying the canals and waterways of Suzhou, and wants to know what Wei Ying thinks about all the things his mother loved, all those years ago. It will be nice to relive that time again, but even better than that, he wants to make new memories with this special person.

“Oh, I almost forgot!” Wei Ying pulls back to reach into the bag on his shoulder. “I made you a gift, Gege.”

Lan Zhan is reluctant to let go of Wei Ying and it must show on his face because Wei Ying blushes again, even though they've already gone past the kissing stage, many, many times. He's so endearing and adorable in how innocent he is…was. But Lan Zhan needs his hands free in order to accept the gift, even if the petulant part of his brain protests that the only gift he needs is Wei Ying. 

Surrounded by protective bubble wrap, Lan Zhan carefully removes the sticky tape and gasps. 

Wei Ying has drawn him a masterpiece, a painting of the most exquisite two bunnies, each stroke of their plush fur making them look real. One is white with a blue ribbon around its neck and sitting quietly, while the black bun is chewing on the end of a lopsided red ribbon barely attached to its ear. They're cute and just as adorable as their artist. 

“Did you paint A-Sang's fans?” Lan Zhan suddenly asks him, carefully putting the painting back inside the bubble wrap.

“Yep, how did you know?” Wei Ying slings his arms around Lan Zhan’s neck, smiling at him. There's only an inch between them, and that makes kissing so much more comfortable. Neither has to suffer a crick in their necks because of a height difference. 

“It is as beautiful as the person who painted it,” Lan Zhan says sincerely. 

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying squawks, making a high pitched sound. “Didn't I tell you to warn a guy before you go around saying stuff like that?!”

“You did…” Lan Zhan offers him a teeny smile, just because he's so cute. “I thought my boyfriend wouldn't mind, that he might be used it by now.” He lets that sink in.

“Boyfriend?”

“Mn.”

“Oh…my gosh, that's what we are!” Wei Ying dives in to kiss him again.

“Mn.” Lan Zhan replies afterwards. 

“Okay, Sweetheart, you got everything?” Wei Ying links their arms together as Lan Zhan picks up his gift and takes one last look around the office. He pats his jacket pocket for the hundredth time, just making sure that the velvet box is still there, containing two platinum wedding rings, hoping that when he does propose later today, that Wei Ying will say yes. Lan Zhan has never been as sure of anything as he is now, of them and what Wei Ying means to him.

“Yes,” Lan Zhan makes sure to look at Wei Ying, “I have everything I want and need now.”

THE END

******************

A/N

Dear Beautiful Readers,

By this point, I shouldn't be thinking numbers or length because I hoped this would be at a nice round 12K or thereabouts. It is just past 21K and I had to stop myself from intruding on WangXian's date week and the proposal and the subsequent celebrations! 😅😝 Please go ahead and use your own imagination about all of that.

As for how I'm doing, things are getting better though I'm taking it slow for now. I have some exciting news to share: I will be going over to the States to visit my dear dear Bestie @edzooc8r and Nana, who you will know as @DBDavenport, the bestest best person in the world. I am a hundred percent certain that I knew these two ladies in my last life because we just get each other, all three of us. The level of understanding is beyond comparison, and I can only hope that I will meet them again in my next life, too.

I hope as you read this story and afterwards, you close your eyes and make a wish. I genuinely believe the Universe wants us to be happy and all we have to do is walk through the open doors that appear in our lives. And of course, it's great to appreciate the little things that make us happy.

I hope all of you enjoy a nice piece of chocolate, or get to see a wonderful spring flower and feel joy in your hearts because time passes by with a gift.

All my love,

Charlie

🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫