Chapter Text
Dear Beautiful Readers,
I watched Cherry Magic in the last few days and although I'm late to the party, here's my offering, WangXian style. I loved Kurosawa's unwavering devotion and Adachi's character arc, though they are quite different people from WangXian, I still think this story might turn out quite sweet. I'll miss out on some of the angst at the end of the show because Lan Zhan is too kinky and Wei Ying is far more confident of himself than the two leads of the show. If you haven't seen it, then I highly recommend watching it. (It's on Viki). To read this story, no prior information is necessary, the plot is self-explained.
All my love,
Charlie
🌸
Su She knocks into Wei Ying's back from behind, making him drop all the files in his arms. He doesn't bother helping him pick them up, just sneers, "Watch it!" As though it is Wei Ying's fault for the present situation.
Wei Ying ignores him, having found out early on in this job that it's the best way to avoid further complications. Su She is his senior here, though if the quality of work defines status over age, then Wei Ying thinks it might be different. He sees a pair of shining, impeccably smart shoes in front of him before the person crouches to help him. A second too late, Wei Ying recognises the beautifully elegant pale fingers, long and so pretty to look at, that belong to Lan Zhan, their office manager. He is related somehow to the main family, but Wei Ying can't remember exactly how; there are far too many Lans working here, and by definition, probably all of them are connected to the main family.
When he looks up, Lan Zhan's face is angry. It's usually hard to tell what Lan Zhan is thinking, at least for others and of course, if they haven't been studying Lan Zhan's micro expressions every spare minute like Wei Ying tries not to do, then they might be able to distinguish between his emotions.
But Wei Ying likes playing games with himself, and he tries guessing what Lan Zhan is feeling at least six times a day. Practice makes perfect, he thinks fondly, though he and Lan Zhan rarely actually talk. He gives himself a reward every time he's right, and it's hard not to just jump up in jubilation when he's successful.
Lan Zhan is a quiet man but he still manages to give everyone encouragement and keep them motivated, especially when they have to pull all-nighters. The company designs fabrics and stationary as well as innovative gadgets and there's a lot to do starting from the main concept through planning, execution and sales. There are different departments to deal with each stage of the manufacturing and it's an interesting job, one Wei Ying enjoys when he isn't pushed to his limits.
The open plan office is a pleasant atmosphere to be productive in, and everyone is usually busy enough not to engage in smalltalk. Except for Su She, apparently.
As Lan Zhan stands up, handing Wei Ying his files back, Wei Ying smiles and thanks him. It lessens the furious glare somewhat as those beautiful golden eyes sweep towards Su She, who has obliviously returned to his seat behind Wei Ying's desk. But as Lan Zhan walks away, Su Shit, as Wei Ying calls him in his head, rolls backwards on his chair and says rather loudly for Wei Ying's comfort, "Hey, isn't it your birthday tomorrow?"
"What of it?" Wei Ying tries to be pleasant anyway, but it's annoying.
"Well, I've noticed you don't really date. So I was wondering if you knew the urban legend." He chuckles greasily.
Wei Ying can see Lan Zhan being stopped by someone who wants help with their project, not too far away. He hopes that's enough of a deterrent for Su She to stop talking, but apparently not.
That awful nasally arrogant tone continues. "It's your thirtieth birthday and that means, if you're still a virgin come tomorrow morning, the curse will turn you into a wizard."
"Su MinShan, the Suzhou reports, are they on my desk?" Lan Zhan sounds far too close suddenly. And definitely pissed off.
Wei Ying shivers in his seat, trying to ignore the drama. Office politics have never interested him; he likes knowing what is going on, but getting involved is a different thing altogether.
Su She flails about and thankfully rolls back to his own desk after muttering an apology. Wei Ying carries on working, hoping his flaming face will be ignored. It's embarrassing enough to be a virgin, but to be called out on it in front of the rest of the office staff is just bad manners. Wei Ying hopes one of the wheels on Su She's chair falls off.
Huaisang sits down next to him and passes Wei Ying a note.
"Drinks tonight?"
Wei Ying nods quickly, disposing of the evidence by crumpling it into a tight ball and flinging it in the trashcan under his desk. After the day he's having, drinks sound wonderful.
🌸🌸
Huaisang buys the first round and everyone takes turns paying for the drinks. Cheap beer and roasted peanuts are the way as they huddle and whisper about office gossip. The topic inevitably returns to romance.
"What a beautiful ring," Huaisang comments, grabbing Mianmian's hand.
It's just the five of them; Song Lan and Xiao XingChen, Mianmian, Huaisang and Wei Ying. Wei Ying likes everyone, though he gets on the most with Huaisang and Mianmian. They all hate Su She, though.
Mianmian blushes, retracting her hand quickly. "A-Ming proposed yesterday. At least that will get my mother off my case now," she rolls her eyes goodnaturedly, smiling.
"Ah, yes, parental expectations," Huaisang downs his drink, signalling the waiter.
"You two are lucky you found each other," Mianmian says, toasting Song Lan and Xiao XingChen.
Everyone joins in.
"So who asked who out?" Her eyes are sparkling when she asks them.
Wei Ying looks over to them and he can't help the twinge of longing in his own heart. Oh, to be looked at like that by your significant other! Song Lan is totally gone for his boyfriend and Xiao XingChen is similarly affected, both of them wearing twin expressions of awe, admiration, love and disbelief. He has no doubts that they're probably even holding hands underneath the table. They're pressed up so close to each other and they both look like they're in heaven.
A loud booming, and quite familiar voice laughs in the next booth along and Huaisang cringes, sinking further into his seat.
Wei Ying knows he's right to assume that it was Nie MingJue they just heard nearby. There's a flash of white in his peripheral vision and Wei Ying ignores it in favour of listening to the lovebirds.
"Guess?" Song Lan grins widely back at them.
Huaisang and Mianmian point towards him and then everyone looks at Wei Ying. He's not drunk yet though that might be what he's aiming for tonight, so he chooses his answer slowly. "Xiao XingChen," he says, triumphant when Song Lan nods.
The waiter brings over a tray with another pitcher of beer and more snacks. In the corner, someone whoops with joy and when they all look over, it's a man hugging another man, the gold rings flashing on their third fingers unmistakable for highlighting their successful proposal.
Wei Ying's mood sinks because why is the universe conspiring against him today? Is it a sign? Why is everything about romance and finding someone suddenly?
"How did you do it?" Mianmian winks at them. "At work or did you make it special? Maybe going out for dinner, or a surprise?"
"By the water filter," Xiao XingChen admits, hiding his blushing face in Song Lan's shoulder. "I couldn't help myself. He was wearing that black silk shirt."
"Oh! THAT black silk shirt!" Huaisang nods along knowingly, as if it makes sense.
"What black silk shirt?" Mianmian and Wei Ying both say and then they look at each other and laugh.
"Listen, I got eyes, okay?" Huaisang is a little bit drunk, it seems. "When Song Lan wears that shirt, he ain't messing around, let me tell you." He grins dopily at Wei Ying. "You know, like when Lan WangJi wears his pale blue silk shirt with the clouds embossed on the collars. You cannot look away from him then, either."
Wei Ying kicks Huaisang under the table, aiming for nonchalance. Mianmian sighs dreamily, saving him.
"That's unfair, Huaisang. That blue shirt should be illegal! And by itself, okay, it's lovely. Especially on him. But then?!!" She clutches her heart dramatically. "He pairs it with that waistcoat and that jacket, and that's just a stylist's kiss, you know?"
Wei Ying DOES know. He knows exactly what she's talking about. Lan Zhan is perfection manifested in a human being, though he could be mistaken for being a God, or a celestial beauty. There's nothing he's not good at. Everything he attempts, Lan Zhan wins by being the best, and he's so wonderful, so amazing, that Wei Ying can only watch from afar, basking in his radiance. He's so far out of Wei Ying's league that it's laughable.
The evening goes on and later, Song Lan and Xiao XingChen are the first to leave. Mianmian follows suit twenty minutes later.
They can still hear raucous laughter nearby, interspersed with low humming chatter. This place is still busy while the hour grows late. Huaisang is resting his head on his arms and Wei Ying has switched from beer to water because it looks like one of them will have to remain sober tonight. Nevermind, he thinks grimly, his head will be thanking him tomorrow.
"Su Shit wasn't wrong, you know," Huaisang slurs, bleary red rimmed eyes staring back at Wei Ying. "It's not too late to get laid."
Wei Ying stares at his own glass, tracing the condensation droplets all the way down to the bottom of his glass. He shakes his head.
"Why not?" Huaisang sounds genuinely curious.
Wei Ying lets go of holding back for once. "This might not be a popular opinion nowadays, but when I decide to sleep with someone, I want it to be special." He sighs, feeling as if the bar has gone quieter than usual.
"Special only comes after practice. Sex is like anything else requiring multiple attempts," Huaisang confides in him. He sounds like he knows what he's talking about. "Skill takes time."
"Isn't that all the more reason to wait?" Wei Ying retorts, annoyed suddenly. "Why should I be pressured into taking that step if I'm not ready? I'm not giving that kind of power over me to anyone. And if it never happens, then that's okay, too. I have nothing to base my expectations on, therefore I'm not missing out on anything."
"I still don't get it," Huaisang admits, forlornly picking up his empty glass and staring at it before putting it down again.
"It's important to me, okay? I want my first kiss to be with someone who cares about me. It's a valuable thing, what I'm offering them. The logical next step should be just as important. I want us to give each other the experience for the first time. I want to share it because it's meaningful. I respect myself too much to throw my cherry away on a one night stand. Now, come on. It's time to go home."
"Wei-Xiong!" Huaisang whines so loudly that there's a commotion next to them, and then Nie MingJue is looming over his baby brother.
"Huaisang!" He roars, clearly drunk too, because he's teetering. He's only standing because of...oh, shit. That's Lan Zhan's brother, Lan XiChen. And it only gets worse because just behind them is Lan Zhan, glaring at Wei Ying's table all silent and judgily.
Shit.
"Da-Ge!" Huaisang whines even more. "I think I drank too much," he slurs, holding his head.
"Let's get you both home," the smiling Lan brother says. "Are you alright Wei WuXian?" He asks politely. "Otherwise, A-Zhan can escort you home."
Wei Ying stands up and bows. He hopes he looks steadier than he feels because he's nowhere near as intoxicated as he wanted to be by the end of tonight.
"I'm fine, Lan XiChen, Sir." He glances at Lan Zhan, who is staring back at him with a frightening intensity. "If you're handling getting them home, then I will excuse myself. Thank you," he adds when Lan XiChen nods.
He makes a hasty exit, breathing in deeply as he passes by Lan Zhan. Whatever he's using, be it aftershave or deodorant, it smells amazing, he thinks, appreciating it. Sandalwood, his brain supplies helpfully after the fact.
It's only when Wei Ying is lying down in his bed, later that night, that he jolts upright groaning.
Lan Zhan was sitting next to their booth. All night. He must have heard everything Huaisang and his friends were talking about, including his beautiful pale blue silk shirt with the clouds on it.
"Ugh!" Wei Ying's hands rise to clutch at his hair.
Oh. Oh, no, it's worse than that...
Lan Zhan must have also heard his pathetic excuses for why he's still a virgin. Is that why Lan Zhan appeared angry? If so...well, that's his problem, Wei Ying decides. He's not going to let himself be swayed by an unfairly attractive man who gets a thousand degrees hotter when he's furious. Those stupidly gorgeous golden eyes have got nothing on Wei Ying, so there!
Sticking his tongue out at nothing, he lies back down again, hoping for sleep to come quickly.
He's going to have to face Lan Zhan and Huaisang at the office tomorrow, and it's going to be embarrassing enough as it is, because of tonight's shenanigans at the bar. He doesn't need to feel exhausted on top of that. He closes his eyes and prays for oblivion. When sleep finally arrives, he isn't even aware of it.
🌸🌸🌸
Wei Ying sleeps past his alarm and waking up late has a domino effect on his morning routine. He's out of the door with a glance towards his rice container thinking how nice it would be if he was able to take something homemade for lunchtime ... but Wei Ying thinks that every day, and this is nothing new. He actually likes the rice ball snacks he buys daily from the cheerful chubby-faced vendor outside the Lan office building.
Today the vendor seems quieter than normal. Wei Ying hands over the notes and collects the little white plastic bag which contains his lunch. But then as he's receiving his change, he hears, "I bet this fellow works hard. Look how skinny he is! Would he be offended if I slipped extra snacks inside his bag?"
"What?" Wei Ying blinks at him, sure that the man's mouth hadn't opened at all.
"Your change," the vendor helpfully points out before dropping his hands and turning around.
That was weird.
Wei Ying thinks he might be tired after his inability to fall asleep quickly last night. He puts it out of his mind and continues hurrying into the Lan building. There's already a crowd of people waiting for the elevator and he stands among them to do the same. But he's not prepared for the rush of them, pulling, pushing until all of them are inside the small metal box waiting to ascend. They're packed tightly together and for a moment, Wei Ying is overwhelmed by the noise.
Everyone is focused on different things, and apparently, it's sharing day today because they're all highlighting personal aspects of their lives. It's only when Wei Ying glances surreptitiously around that he realises no one is talking. Out loud.
"Is my tie too bright? I really wanted to wear it today. My mother bought it for me."
"I wonder what the cafeteria has on the lunch menu today."
"I hope Chang Ping goes easy on me at the morning meeting. I've barely slept. One of the twins woke up last night at three and I couldn't go back to sleep after that."
And so on. Snatches of personal information better left inside.
It's relentless, a cacophony of private thoughts just out there, all of which Wei Ying is gobsmacked by, and shockingly bewildered. What the fuck is going on? When he focuses on being in the elevator, he's peripherally aware that no one is actually saying any of this out loud. Then how come Wei Ying can hear all this??
He gets his answer when the elevator stops and some people get out. The noise level reduces greatly and Wei Ying is able to move himself closer to the corner where no one is touching him. Heavenly peace is restored and he relaxes against the hard surface, clutching his backpack to his chest protectively.
This is wild.
Why? Is? This? Happening? To him?
Okay, calm down, Wei Ying, he tells himself, on the verge of hyperventilating. He forces himself to breathe in slowly, and it gradually calms him down a bit. Let's think about this rationally.
From what he can work out, if he's touching someone in any way, he can hear their thoughts. It even sounds crazy to him. Well, he HAS been working harder than usual lately...maybe he needs to unwind a bit more and all of this should go away, right?
Okay, plan made. By five thirty tonight, he's going to work so hard, he can leave by then. He can even go to sleep early tonight, which is rare for him, and when he wakes up tomorrow morning, everything will have gone back to normal because he will be well rested.
Right?? Right.
Wei Ying reinforces positive vibes and leaves the elevator...only to falter when he finds several people waiting for him at his desk. What's wrong? Did he accidentally fuck up something important? Why are they just...waiting there?
A small cheer quietly goes up when he reaches them.
"Happy birthday," several of them say with hushed voices.
Mianmian gives him a bar of chocolate with a red bow on it, Huaisang gifts him a beautiful silk fan, and there are cute little trinkets from everyone smiling at him. They are quick to disperse because personal time is frowned upon during office hours. They all glance guiltily at Lan Zhan, their office manager, as they scurry back to their work stations, including Wei Ying. He almost falls down in shock though, because Lan Zhan is, well, he appears to be angry again. Wait, why is he standing up? Wei Ying can't look away, mesmerised by his lovely frosted glass eyes that haven't looked away either.
Lan Zhan navigates the route between desks like a shark cutting through currents underwater, a graceful, sleek, focused predator on the hunt. A tiny squeak leaves Wei Ying's mouth as Lan Zhan arrives in front of him with a long narrow pale blue box.
For just a second, Wei Ying wonders if he's going to say anything about last night but then Lan Zhan gives him the tiniest of smiles, barely there really, just a twitch of his shapely pink lips and then he's gone, pressing the box into Wei Ying's hands.
Their fingers brush for just a second and Wei Ying hears, "I hope Wei Ying likes it," and then because he's so shocked, the back of his knees hits his office chair and thankfully, he slumps into that instead of the floor.
"You should be working," Su She glowers at him.
Wei Ying hastily dumps everything into his backpack and gets on with his day.
🌸🌸🌸
It's only when Wei Ying is sitting by himself in the cafeteria for lunch, biting into his rice balls, that he makes the connection. He's here a little earlier than normal precisely because he wants to avoid touching anyone and the best way to do that is arriving either too early or too late. He's been distracted all morning and at this rate, he'll be stuck here until midnight if he doesn't get his act together, work-wise.
But really, who can blame him for what's happening to him??
Earlier, while sitting at his desk, he was jolted out of his fractured thoughts by the images of a strange man he'd never met before and then Mianmian's voice in his head talking about how kind he is and how much she's looking forward to meeting him tonight. They're going to tell one set of parents about their wedding this evening and she's nervous.
"Don't worry," Wei Ying blurts out, wanting to be kind.
"I never said anything," she retorts sharply, glancing at him.
Shit.
"I was talking to myself," Wei Ying apologises, gesturing frantically at his screen.
Her demeanor immediately relaxes and she smiles shyly. "A-Ming is taking me to meet his folks tonight. Sorry for snapping at you. I'm just nervous."
"Hadn't noticed," Wei Ying grins back. And then he realises that their feet are touching and that's why he's getting a barrage of thoughts about what Mianmian is going to wear tonight before he pulls his feet back.
There were numerous other encounters from eight o'clock to midday and now rightfully Wei Ying is frazzled. His fingers brush up against the chocolate bar in his backpack as he reaches for his energy drink and suddenly, the thought slams against the walls of his skull.
It's his birthday.
That's why the gifts.
But also...the fucking mind reading.
Fucking hell.
What else could explain the craziness he's going through today? The urban legend is not so much a myth as a fucking truth. He slumps in his seat, defeated. Now he's got questions.
How long is this weirdness going to last?
How does he make it go away?
What is he going to do about it?
"You're early," Huaisang says, sliding into the seat opposite him.
"Hungry." Like a tortoise, Wei Ying sits upright again, withdrawing himself from any possible contact.
"And you look troubled. What's wrong?"
Wei Ying barks out an inelegant, hysterical laugh. It's too loud and he shrinks in on himself when there's momentary quiet around the cafeteria and he has to bow apologetically to everyone before the low hum of conversation resumes again.
"You won't believe me if I told you." Wei Ying miserably throws back his head to finish his drink.
"Try me." Without warning, Huaisang reaches across the table and covers Wei Ying's hand.
Immediately, Wei Ying hears, "I hope Wei Ying knows he can trust me. I value him as a good friend and I want to help."
He snatches his hand back, stunned. Huaisang isn't fast enough to mask the look of hurt, and so of course, Wei Ying has to blurt out the truth.
"I can read minds."
Huaisang stares back at Wei Ying for a full ten seconds before laughing. The thing is, they have to be quiet so he's clutching at his mouth and going increasingly red while simultaneously trying not to make a sound. He looks like he's going into cardiac arrest. "That's a good one," he finally gasps, clutching his sides.
"See?" Wei Ying sits back, upset.
Huaisang frantically tries to calm himself down.
"You don't believe me." Wei Ying starts to get up and Huaisang clutches his arm, shaking his head.
"Wait, wait, you were serious?" The thoughts continue after he stops speaking and Wei Ying opts for voicing them out loud so Huaisang knows the truth.
"He can't be serious, shit, I didn't know that was a possibility but then, it's not the first time it's happened to someone. Let's face it, thirty-year-old virgins are pretty rare and-you get the point?" Wei Ying trails off and pulls his arm out of reach, relieved by the sudden peace. Huaisang is far too smart for his own good. He'll get it.
He's been watching the changing expressions on Huaisang's face go from disbelief into shock and awe as the realisation dawns that Wei Ying is in fact, not joking. He had just repeated out loud all of Huaisang's thoughts in real time, proving his condition.
"Oh, my fucking god," he whispers.
A throat clears politely and they suddenly sit up straighter.
"May I sit here?"
It's Lan Zhan who wants to sit opposite Wei Ying, too, right next to Huaisang.
Really? The timing couldn't be worse! Huaisang looks like he's going to burst with it, this secret that he's just discovered, and meanwhile, Wei Ying is going to combust just from this close proximity to his crush.
"Yeah," they both realise that Lan Zhan hasn't sat down because they haven't answered his question yet.
Huaisang starts shovelling food into his mouth super fast and Wei Ying is just contemplating leaving because he's finished eating and there's no excuse to stay, when he hears thoughts that are clearly not his own.
"I hope this is okay. Am I coming on too strong? I don't know what the correct protocol is here, in the staff cafeteria. This is my first time. Should I have done what I usually do and eaten at my desk? But I wanted to see him."
What? Wei Ying furtively looks around. Whose thoughts are those now? He narrows his eyes at Huaisang in case he's messing with him. But Huaisang is busy slurping up the remnants of his noodles. Then...?
Wei Ying looks down and sees his shoe accidentally touching Lan Zhan's foot.
What the actual fuck?
Does Lan Zhan like someone? Who? Who did Lan Zhan want to see? And that's kinda sad, if this is truly the first time he's eating here with everyone else. Wei Ying feels bad for him. He's also getting antsy because no one is saying anything. Lan Zhan is quietly eating, staring at his tray while Huaisang is behaving like a man newly discovering food, guzzling it down without, Wei Ying suspects, chewing.
Wei Ying glances behind him in case Lan Zhan is looking at the object of his interest somewhere there. That's when he notices the other empty places scattered around the cafeteria, and actually, one whole completely deserted table, so why did Lan Zhan come here specifically? Or would sitting alone have made him even more uncomfortable?
Well, Wei Ying can try to make things easier, he thinks, dragging his foot away so he's not intruding on Lan Zhan's thoughts.
"We eat here at roughly the same time, every day." What?
Huaisang glares at him.
Lunchtime is for gossiping about their colleagues, catching up with their lives, and whatever else is going on. Not for leaving open-ended invitations for eating together without prior consultation. Plus all of the above will be nixed if they have to eat with their superior.
Wei Ying shrugs and pouts.
"I've got to go," Huaisang says, with a look clearly meaning, "this ISN'T over!". He walks away, leaving an uncomfortable Wei Ying staring at his rice ball wrappers.
"I did not mean to intrude," Lan Zhan says quietly, also standing up.
Wei Ying is so surprised at being talked to directly that he finds himself scrambling up, clutching his rubbish as he hurries to join Lan Zhan by the trashcans where he's sorting out the recyclable stuff from the others. Wei Ying helpfully points out the correct ones and then shows him how to stack his tray for washing.
"HE'S TOUCHING ME."
Wei Ying startles back, apologising. Their shoulders touched briefly and he's reminded why he's already in a swamp of trouble.
"Er, you weren't intruding," he reassures Lan Zhan, and because he's always been a tactile person, he puts a hand on Lan Zhan's arm to reinforce his words.
"Wei Ying always smells so nice. Clean and fresh, with a hint of lotus flowers and cinnamon. Is it his shampoo? Or a laundry detergent? Can I buy it somewhere? I wonder where he shops?"
Wei Ying pulls back with a sharp intake of breath. What? What is going on? He feels like he's losing his mind! And what the fuck is happening to Lan Zhan? Why is he thinking about Wei Ying? Like that? Is that normal? What even is normal in this situation?? Unable to suffer the worrying glance Lan Zhan aims in his direction, Wei Ying quickly moves past him to leave the cafeteria. But the thing is, he and Lan Zhan work in the same section of the Lan building and so inevitably they wind up standing behind a few of their fellow colleagues as they all wait for the elevator.
It takes a long time, or maybe it's taking the usual amount of time but Wei Ying is panicking because elevators are the last place he wants to be in when there's this many people going in it together. What if he waits till the end? He could make up an excuse to go in last and therefore hug the door when it shuts. He does NOT want to listen to other people's thoughts.
So he lets people go in front of him, even the stragglers rushing to catch this ride up to their respective floors. His hand brushes Lan Zhan's hand accidentally as he moves out of the way.
"Wei Ying is so considerate. He cares about his fellow workers so much. I've seen him accept work from others just to help them out. Though I've noticed Su MinShan takes advantage of that more often than others. Should I-"
Wei Ying moves to grab his own backpack, clutching it tightly to his chest and pretending that he isn't affected so much by this whole-whatever the fuck is happening to him!
The elevator is packed and just as Lan Zhan is the last person to get on, Wei Ying steps back, mind wild with his own thoughts. There's no way he's subjecting himself to that! However, he's not expecting Lan Zhan to step out of the elevator too, coming to stand next to him again amid the hushed cheering cries of the staff who whisper among themselves about how chivalrous Lan Zhan is for not wanting to let Wei Ying go up alone.
Lan Zhan is great, Wei Ying thinks wistfully.
"We could use the stairs," Lan Zhan murmurs as Wei Ying makes sure not to enter his personal space.
"Ten floors?" Wei Ying raises a brow.
"Too scared?" That deep voice coupled with Lan Zhan's raised brow and the challenge in his sharply intense golden eyes sets off a trigger in Wei Ying's mind.
"Fuck you," he laughs and takes off, hearing Lan Zhan's feet smacking the ground right on his tail.
The door to the stairwell bangs against the wall and they both ignore it in favour of speeding up the stairs. Wei Ying's long legs take two steps at a time and he imagines feeling Lan Zhan's hot breath on the back of his neck as he keeps up with him, and those ten flights of steps really take it out of him. It's a blur, that's all he can say as they reach the landing before the door that opens onto their floor. Wei Ying is bent over grabbing onto his knees while Lan Zhan calmly straightens his tie.
"How are you still so perfectly composed?" Wei Ying side-eyes him, gesturing to his whole form.
Lan Zhan looks as impeccable as usual, smart and hot and way too attractive for his own good, and Wei Ying is pretty sure he's a sweaty mess of an unfit human who should definitely be exercising more.
"I work out regularly," he murmurs.
"Wow..." Wei Ying opens the door for him, stepping back so that Lan Zhan can walk past him.
🌸🌸🌸
Huaisang manages to corner Wei Ying in the toilets.
"Do it again!" He says, grabbing Wei Ying's arm. He's already checked the rest of the stalls are empty and that they're completely alone.
Wei Ying sighs, glaring at him. "Wei-Xiong wouldn't joke about something like this," he parrots, continuing, "let me think up something random, oh yes, what about that show I was watching, the Untamed with the hot acting leads and wow, Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo are super super hot-Ugh, Huaisang, haven't I proved it by now?" Wei Ying pulls out of his grasp. He'd rather not know about Huaisang's embarrassing crush on real life people, thank you very much.
Huaisang leans his hip against the granite sink counter. "So...what are you gonna do about it?"
"I'm hoping it'll go away by tomorrow," Wei Ying admits, shrugging.
"Wow, planning to get laid tonight? Who's the lucky person?" He waggles his eyebrows suggestively.
"What? No? I told you, I'm not falling into bed with just anyone! Get off my case."
Huaisang is about to retort back when the door opens and Lan Zhan walks in. For a second, everyone freezes, staring at one another. Wei Ying moves first and grins hesitantly at Lan Zhan before making a fast exit, with Huaisang hot on his heels. Outside, just before they reach the office, Huaisang whispers in a low voice so no-one can hear, "Wei-Xiong, if you think what you have is going away just because of time, think again. Two factors came into play to trigger that curse, your birthday and your cherry. Changing one out of the two isn't gonna cut it. And I didn't take you for someone that naive." Huaisang pats his shoulder and leaves, purposely keeping his thoughts at bay.
Wei Ying watches him go to their shared desks and sit down, and a growing sense of dread flips his tummy. Goosebumps rise across his skin and he shivers uncontrollably. Oh no...
🌸🌸🌸
It's five thirty and Wei Ying is just putting his coat on when Su She sidles up to him with a bunch of files in his arms. He stumbles and Wei Ying catches his arm out of reflex to stop him from kissing the ground.
"I already asked Wei WuXian to help me out twice this week. If I ask him again, Lan WangJi is sure to notice. But I've got that meeting later on, and after that, I'm meeting my girlfriend. This is going to take a few hours at least so I'll have to cancel one or the other..."
Wei Ying stops touching him, feeling icky. He knows before Su She opens his mouth to ask, and he knows he's going to say yes before he does. He takes off his coat and switches his computer on again, sighing to himself. At least it's going to be mundane statistics and he can work and think by himself at the same time. The office will be empty and no one can bother him with their thoughts.
Hopefully this thing, the mind-reading and knowing people's thoughts thing will go away by tomorrow and everything will reset back to normality. Huaisang needs to be wrong about it.
While the rest of the office staff leave, shuffling out in ones and twos chatting about their evening plans, Wei Ying settles down to work. He feels a presence next to him and looks up, expecting to see Su She impart more bullshit, but it's Lan Zhan. He's holding out a thick pile of folders, all colour-coded and no doubt, alphabetised within the five year categories.
"I have some data that can help you. If we work together, we can get it done faster." He glowers towards the door where the flash of Su She's white coat vanishes as he leaves.
"Oh, um, you must have plans," Wei Ying falters, touched that Lan Zhan is willing to share what must have taken him ages to compile and sort through, and that he's willing to stay. Anything after five thirty is unpaid extra time.
"No, actually. I don't," Lan Zhan says firmly, pulling the adjacent wheelie chair closer so that they can sit together.
"Okay, then," Wei Ying smiles at him, a little part of his heart glad for the company.
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Lan Zhan was right - they did get it done faster. But what neither of them realised was that Su She had made lots of mistakes on his work, messing up facts to misrepresent important data. The study is supposed to consolidate information about their consumers, which departments are flourishing and which sections need a push to appeal to a wider population. Su She's information only went back two years when a five year investigation led to a more concise report uncovering the exact moment consumer opinion changed.
When they finish working, Wei Ying groans, stretching out his back muscles. Even Lan Zhan looks weary and he's trying not to show it. They file the report and leave the building, and Wei Ying waves at the security guards letting them out.
But outside, when he checks the time, he realises that the trains have stopped running for the night.
"Wei Ying."
Lan Zhan stands far too close to him, and Wei Ying knows his distress is visible on his face. He smiles far too brightly for how he's feeling, which is tired and hungry, resigning himself to finding somewhere else to stay for the night. Maybe he can pick up something to eat on the way, it doesn't have to be fancy.
"There are no trains, it is too late." Lan Zhan checks his watch. "Why don't you come and stay at my place? I have a guest room. And I live nearby."
"Ah...uh, that's okay, Lan Zhan! I'll just find an Internet cafe or something. Get the early train home and go shower and change in the morning." Wei Ying makes to step back but Lan Zhan gently takes his wrist.
"Please," he says out loud, but it carries on in his head, "I wish Wei Ying would accept my help. I only want him to be well rested. It would mean everything to me if he just said yes."
"Alright," Wei Ying says, feeling like he's part of two bodies. He can see himself floundering after that answer, but he also knows that he would like it a lot if he made Lan Zhan happy. If he could.
The smallest smile appears on Lan Zhan's face, his lovely full lips upturning fractionally enough to suggest joy. God, he's so beautiful! Especially like this. Wei Ying, well on the way to earning his Figure-Out-What-Lan-Zhan-Is-Thinking degree, hopes, no, he knows that Lan Zhan doesn't just give these smiles away to anyone. So far, he's only seen this particular one when Lan XiChen came to take Lan Zhan out for lunch one time and he mentioned bunnies.
In fact, Wei Ying sees an image of himself and a bunny right next to him, and he snaps to attention, realising too late that it was Lan Zhan's thoughts. He gently untangles himself from Lan Zhan's grip, still trying to smile.
"Lead the way, Lan Zhan. Your guest room sounds nice."
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Lan Zhan's apartment is lovely and spacious and minimalistic in decoration and furniture. There's a simple elegance to the layout and placement for the couch and the television, a coffee table and a whole wall dedicated to books.
"Would you like to take a shower while I make us something to eat?" Lan Zhan offers, holding out a pale blue towel and a pair of flannel white pyjamas with fluffy pink bunnies on them.
"Oh, you don't have to cook for me as well," Wei Ying quickly replies, touched that Lan Zhan is such a nice host when the bare minimum is already a great kindness.
"I have vegetables about to go bad in the fridge," Lan Zhan says, taking Wei Ying's hands so he can put the clothes and the towel in them. His thoughts are loud in Wei Ying's head as his lips remain firmly shut. "I hope he doesn't mind. It is not really a lie but I would like to eat with him. Wei Ying is too thin. Why does he not look after himself? I want to do that. I would do anything for that privilege. Maybe-"
"Wow! Thanks, Lan Zhan, I'll do that!" Wincing because Wei Ying knows that was too loud, even for him, he quickly scampers off to the bathroom, not looking back.
When he comes out of the bathroom, dressed in the pyjamas Lan Zhan gave him, he passes the kitchen where Lan Zhan looks up and smiles at him again. It makes something warm and comforting bloom in Wei Ying's chest, that he's the one who's making Lan Zhan look like that. Like...like he's happy. And it's such a small thing, right? The pyjamas fit him so well and they're so comfortable and warm, so soft to the touch. They must be expensive, he thinks, wondering about the cost as his thumb rubs the seam at his wrist.
"Are you ready to eat?" Lan Zhan gestures towards the trays in front of him. "I thought we could eat in the living room and watch something at the same time."
"Sure! Let me give you a hand," Wei Ying replies, and so does his stomach, enthusiastically rumbling eagerly at the aroma of well-cooked food.
Forgetting all about his curse, Wei Ying stands right next to Lan Zhan and picks up the tray to follow him into the living room. They sit side by side on the white couch and Wei Ying laughs awkwardly.
"Apologies in advance, I hope I don't mess up your couch."
"No need. The covers are washable. Please make yourself at home," Lan Zhan urges. He grabs the remote and turns the telly on, then presses the device into Wei Ying's hands. "Please pick something for us to watch."
In his head, Wei Ying hears, "I do not know how to concentrate on eating or the screen. I can only watch how I am, with Wei Ying. Is this too much? I'm so excited to have him here. In my home. Right next to me. He's wearing the clothes I bought for him. I can hardly believe it?!! I never thought I would get to see Wei Ying wearing them. He's so beautiful that I don't know what to do with myself!"
Wei Ying bites his tongue and shifts, breaking their contact. He thinks Lan Zhan might be disappointed by that, but honestly, he can't think about that now.
It is mightily obvious to him that Lan Zhan likes him. A lot. Perhaps even as much as Wei Ying likes him back. He mindlessly picks a nature documentary about the lions of Girnar, a mountainous place in West India.
"Oh, my fucking god, this is so good!" Wei Ying exclaims after the first bite.
"You like it?" Lan Zhan looks so pleased!
"Like it? Lan Zhan, if there was a way to inject this into my blood stream, I'd do it! Delicious! You're so talented!" Wei Ying knows he's going over the top, but this is honestly how he feels about Lan Zhan and his wonderfulness.
Lan Zhan makes a huffing sound and Wei Ying's eyes widen. "Did you just laugh?" He's baffled.
"Wei Ying is funny." Lan Zhan returns to watching the screen.
"He's so cute! I want to bite him. He still smells amazing, if slightly different. I am not sure if I prefer his normal scent or this, a combination of my usual fragrances mixed with his own...as if he belongs with me. Wouldn't that be nice?"
A melody fills Wei Ying's ears and it is a flowing sound, reaching for the highest peaks musically before gliding along hidden valleys of yearning and longing. The overall melody speaks of wanting something that seems just out of reach. Meanwhile, just as Wei Ying is getting used to that beautiful song, the images take on a dreamlike sequence, kind of fuzzy and glowing. It's himself and Lan Zhan and they're not doing anything super special, just ordinary things like waking up together, having breakfast together, going on a date together. All very domestic things. And yet, the underlying theme is of great joy and satisfaction, a contentment so deeply experienced that it borders on nirvana.
Wei Ying jolts out of the dream, choking on his food. Those ARE NOT his thoughts! Although they were lovely, he feels guilty for witnessing something so obviously private, intended only for Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan rubs his back soothingly, holding Wei Ying's glass of water for him. His eyes are watering and it's not because he's having trouble breathing. Nope, this is all Lan Zhan.
Lan Zhan, the sweetest guy, and whose greatest ambitions are all about Wei Ying. Just being with him. As if to reinforce this, Wei Ying hears Lan Zhan's thoughts again as he recovers:
"I was happy to see Wei Ying eat what I cooked for him. If I could, I would always cook for Wei Ying. It doesn't matter how but I want more of Wei Ying. I want to hear his voice. He's so thoughtful all the time and nobody notices that side of him. He thinks I don't know, but I am aware of all the times he went out of his way to help someone, even staying later to finish his own work after helping others. He's so kind to everyone, uplifting the spirits of all in the workplace. He hates bullies just as much as I do. If only he could see-"
Wei Ying shifts, taking the glass from Lan Zhan's hand and using the moment to create a distance between them. The relief of not a) choking to death, and b) listening to the barrage of Lan Zhan's Wei-Ying-centric thoughts is immense. He looks up and Lan Zhan is watching him, those gorgeous golden eyes full of worry.
"I'm alright now, Lan Zhan," he reassures him, and they go back to eating and watching.
But Wei Ying is lost in his thoughts, and not a single detail of the documentary remains in his head. He's far too busy thinking about Lan Zhan.
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A/N
Dear Beautiful Readers,
What do you think so far? I was truly going for a one shot and hoping I could do it in about 20K but we haven't even covered a quarter page of my notes and I've got four, both sides!😅😆 We're already past 7k with this chapter and I thought, I'd better break it up into a few more so nobody is overwhelmed.
It's still too hot in London and going to stay that way for at least another week. Bring back rainy summers!🤣🤣🤣
All my love,
Charlie
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