Fluffy WangXian Oneshots Book Two

Diamond With A Flaw Part 7

Wei Ying holds his hair up and out of the way so Wen Qing can fasten the delicate red and black rhinestone choker around his neck. It's pretty and suggestive, highlighting the knob of his throat and definitely requires bare skin to show it off to its maximum beauty. The choker shimmers when it catches the light, attached to another chain that falls dramatically to the narrow space between his pecs, where it knots and falls down in two strands reaching his navel. Of course, the jacket will cover his modesty, and what a jacket it is!

From the moment Wei Ying had seen it hanging in the window of a charity shop, he knew immediately it would be perfect for him; he just didn't have anywhere to wear it at the time.

Then, after Lan Zhan contacted him about the wedding and that they would be going together, Wei Ying wanted to wear something matching with him, a couples' outfit to show everyone they were together, even if it was based on a lie. He knew that no matter what, every time he looked at the beautiful intricate brocade on his jacket, the deeply burgundy pattern just a shadow of a design on black silk, he would think about Lan Zhan and this wedding, and have a happy memory to hoard away. Something private and just his, something to take out on a rainy day and remember happier days full of uncomplicated feelings and pretending it wasn't a farce.

He'd convinced Lan Zhan to either buy a cream suit, more Ivory than white, or check his wardrobe for one. He'd even specified the style, and Lan Zhan complied while throwing curious looks his way.

Then the real work started.

Another charity shop advertised a powder blue evening gown, heavily beaded on the corset and Wei Ying haggled, pleaded and charmed his way into a bargain. Once it came home with him, he picked off all the tiny blue bugle beads, the roccailles and shimmering baby blue pearls and began his masterpiece. With an expert hand, he drew a swirling cloud motif on the shoulder of the Ivory silk and wool mix, muttering a prayer every time his pencil made a mark. He did a matching smaller version on the pocket square that would rest next to Lan Zhan's heart and hoped with every tiny stitch that Lan Zhan would like the finished effect.

He spent every spare minute sewing on each bead until the pattern began shining through. Even Wen Qing was impressed with his dedication and when she saw the jacket, stealing a glance under the black garbage bag Wei Ying had modified to hide it, she gasped in awe. That alone told him his design was good.

Now, he only wanted Lan Zhan to like it.

Wen Qing thought he was being silly, harbouring so much doubt.

In spite of his previous conversation with Wen Qing, one of many following a clear theme where she tried to convince him that Lan Zhan felt something more for him, including pictures (and if given enough time, she'd probably have a power point presentation complete with a spreadsheet and charts), Wei Ying is desperately terrified inside.

That's the only reason why he keeps playing ping-pong with her ideas, telling her that it doesn't matter what Lan Zhan feels because the man is happy being single and Wei Ying has no business changing that up for him. That right there, is the real reason why he and Lan Zhan got together in the first place, and Wei Ying is nothing if not a professional. He's been paid to do a job, and goddammit, he's going to follow through.

He'd be the first to admit that while he found Lan Zhan insanely hot, like, God-level scorching, fiery hot at first sight, he hadn't been prepared at all to discover how sweet the man was behind that image. Like, all the fucking time. It was the little things like making sure Wei Ying's glass was always full, no matter what was in it, filling up his bowl or plate without even asking, and it was enough if Wei Ying glanced at something, it would be his within seconds.

Lan Zhan is a gentleman through and through, and ever since Wei Ying has met him, he's gotten used to Lan Zhan opening doors for him, never missing a chance to do it. He's gotten used to that big warm hand on his lower back, just a touch to let him know that he's not alone, and it matters because Wei Ying has been alone for a very long time.