Work Text:
Wei Ying looks up and finds Nie Huaisang casually fanning himself at his own desk, his sharp eyes winking to signal the all clear. Wei Ying hits the send button, and he knows that by the time he reaches the office supply room, his newest story will be printed and ready for collection. Readable on high-quality 120gsm eggshell white paper, waiting to be collected by him.
He and his partner-in-crime, Nie Huaisang, have been running a lucrative side business for a year now, ever since they got drunk at an office party and talked about their favourite tropes and how disappointing some of their latest reading experiences had been. It was Huaisang’s idea that Wei Ying tried his hand at creative writing, and Wei Ying had joked that that's what he was already doing with the reports he had to write. But it made him think about the idea, and as it germinated, plots began forming until he was daydreaming possible scenes that explained them.
One evening, having nothing better to do, Wei Ying began writing his first ever work of fiction. Then he discovered that he was already in too deep, that he had finally caught the writing bug of his life and the enjoyment of putting all his thoughts down in a concise manner that managed to make sense and be interesting at the same time was an itch he happily scratched every day afterwards.
To cut a long story short (pun intended), that had been the very first chapter in a long-lasting series called The Spicy Adventures Of Suibian And Bichen.
Each chapter consisted of office shenanigans between two people, using those pseudonyms. Wei Ying had based his story on the Enemies to Lovers trope first, and how the sparks that flew every time they met was a prelude to what would later become their passionate secret love affair. While it was totally fictional, Wei Ying had a secret. Truthfully, when he was writing his favourite scenarios and lively conversations, he imagined himself and his boss, Vice CEO Lan WangJi, their elusive and strict person in charge. But because he wasn't stupid and wanted to avoid being taken to the cleaners via a lawsuit, he of course, changed a few details about their real-life physical attributes, but he couldn't resist keeping a few precious details the same.
Huaisang had loved it, and without telling Wei Ying, started a rumour about an exciting new story that only he had access to. Human nature predictably wanting something explicitly refused to them made people, namely their co-workers, desperate to get their hands on the implied illicit material. The demand was so high that Huaisang was inundated with gifts to sweeten the deal, and that's when he told Wei Ying about what he had done. He also entered into a verbal agreement with Wei Ying that since they could both do with a bit of extra cash, they should charge their fans and split the income.
Huaisang sold Wei Ying’s work exclusively online, but since his first ever published copy came from the printer on their floor, (mostly because Wei Ying couldn't afford splashing out on printer ink and paper when it was just a hobby, and besides, who has the extra time to do it elsewhere?), he insisted on continuing the tradition.
They are considerate thieves, though, never going ahead with the next chapter when current deadlines on projects were needed, and always putting the company first, doing their work during ‘slow’ periods.
Wei Ying and Nie Huaisang have a system: as Huaisang’s desk is closer to the office supplies room where the printer is located, he sends a text to Wei Ying giving him the all-clear to start printing. Then he or Wei Ying goes to retrieve the document to alleviate suspicion for what they're doing on company time (and using company resources).
Today is no different. Wei Ying keeps an eye on the comings and goings of the supply room, waiting the necessary fifteen minutes it will take to print out his many words. This latest instalment is longer because he didn't want to end the chapter in the middle of an intimate scene. His last published instalment had ended just when Bichen got his strong capable long-fingered hands around Suibian’s tantalisingly small waist for the first time, but also because Wei Ying loves cliffhangers and being a gremlin to his readers.
The best thing about all of this is the double life he's leading. Nobody knows he's responsible for the lively office gossip centering around the spicy couple, and because the fic is sold and available exclusively online, Wei Ying gets to see ‘live’ commentary on whatever he's writing along with suggestions for future chapters and what his fans want to see. His favourite reader is WuJiBun1, whose comments are always respectful but full of interesting scenes they want to happen to the two main characters. Wei Ying always looks forward to their input and detailed feedback, even going back to change a few things at their suggestions that some of what Wei Ying had written didn't make sense in light of other events. WuJiBun1 is just as invested as Wei Ying is about the story, and their insights have improved upon what Wei Ying’s vision entails. Wei Ying gets a thrill every time he sees their name on top of a paragraphical exposition, enthusiastically mentioning their favourite parts of the latest chapter. They're such a fan and seem to keep an eye on updates because they're always and without fail, the first person to comment whenever Wei Ying publishes his chapters.
However, it's not just the hundreds of comments online that Wei Ying is secretly thrilled about. Gossip around the office is rife with predictions, conversations in the break room and around the coffee machine is all about Suibian’s first time and wanting Bichen to be the ‘One’, on whether or not he will admit to his love interest that he actually has no real life experience, despite his Casanova-esque flirtatious behaviour that implies otherwise. Debates spark of trust between partners and being vulnerable, opposing the less popular belief that all Bichen is interested in is a quickie, that he's too cold to actually care about Suibian, and his pursuit of the supposedly experienced man is just about conquest, to add another notch on his belt. But Bichen has his fans too, readers who faithfully believe that under his freezing exterior lies a man of limitless passion and the capability to love deeply.
Wei Ying secretly wants this to be true. Not just for himself because it's so easy to put himself in Suibian’s shoes, but because he has a romantic soul as Nie Huaisang keeps telling him. So Wei Ying keeps his private thoughts to himself, that it's so important to him not to give away any firsts to just anybody. He wants to save his first kiss for someone special, to the point where even holding hands with a person he likes has become linked to this idea.
But while Wei Ying might be holding this secret wish to his chest, he is not naive. He is aware of who in their micro community of same-floor work colleagues are together, or indulging in love affairs, or even sleeping around. But in his mind, there is no judgement based on what others do; this is simply human nature to him, and he understands the parallels of how he conducts himself and how others behave around him. If anything, the gossip factory is rife for potential fiction in his book.
This next chapter features the dirtiest, filthiest acts in the history of smut-writing, and Wei Ying can already imagine the kind of shameless commentary of the fans salivating in advance of what they will say. It's ready and waiting on his laptop at home to be published, sailing on the current of momentum so that it will continue on from the last scene in the previously published chapter of having only one bed in the last available room where Suibian and Bichen have to share it. The cliffhanger was Bichen staring down at Suibian after pinning him to the mattress, both of their lips kiss-bitten and red from the hottest kiss Wei Ying has ever written. He hopes that all the material he's been exposed to via Huaisang’s spring books will compensate for his own lack of experience in this department; and he's relying on Huaisang’s opinion and feedback as an unofficial beta reader. He wants his writing to sound real, as if he knows what he's talking about.
It's the thought of the reactions to the steamy scenes about to be made public that makes him start fanning himself, as he saunters in what he hopes is nonchalance on his way to the supply room. He ignores Huaisang, who keeps his eyes glued to his monitor as Wei Ying goes by.
But then, disaster strikes.
Su She, not looking where he's going, collides with Wei Ying and all of the unfiled separate sheets of paper in his weak grasp fly into the air like seagulls swarming on a beach. And because Wei Ying isn't a dick like the man in front of him, he actually helps him up and assists in picking up the errant papers, handing them over when he's done.
“You should look where you're going,” Su She sneers, blaming Wei Ying for what was clearly his fault.
Before Wei Ying can answer, a deep voice from behind them says, “One should take one's own advice.”
Wei Ying looks up into his favourite intense golden eyes staring back at him. Lan Zhan’s eyes remind him of sunlight rays bursting through amber stained glass, sharp and direct, hot and cold at the same time. This sensation never lessens, but only gets stronger every time they meet.
Su She can't argue with their boss and he scuttles away like the cockroach he is. Wei Ying has often wanted to call him Mastercard because of the credit he takes for the work done by others, and yet, in the presence of Lan WangJi, Vice CEO of the Lan Corporation, all thoughts disappear like early morning frost at sunrise.
Lan Zhan, the name Wei Ying only dares to call him in his own head, is stunning. The man is the epitome of beauty as if he has been carved right of jade. Tall, broad shouldered and filling out his silver grey cashmere and wool suit perfectly, his Windsor knot matching tie and pocket square impeccably sitting properly on his attire, his gorgeous golden eyes assess Wei Ying carefully. Perhaps Wei Ying has gotten carried away by his own longing, because a fleeting look of softness passes by so fast, he's convinced his mind is playing tricks on him.
“Are you alright?”
His voice makes Wei Ying shiver even as he imagines how hot it would be if Lan Zhan, no, Bichen, murmurs things to Suibian like that just before things get heated in the next chapter of his story.
“Wei WuXian?”
Wei Ying belatedly recalls the question and blurts out, “Yes! And you can call me Wei Ying!”
For some reason.
Totally unrelated to the situation in his pants that he's hiding via the empty file cover he's supposed to smuggle Huaisang’s copy over to him with. That's the thought that snaps him out of his trance. He's only a few inches shorter than Lan Zhan but somehow, his boss always makes him feel smaller, in a good way. Delicate, even.
“That would be unprofessional,” Lan WangJi replies.
Wei Ying gets the feeling that Lan Zhan is amused. His lovely gem-like eyes run up and down Wei Ying’s body in a slow perusal, and with every blink, Wei Ying feels like a lit candle; fever bright and burning with heated cheeks.
“What about when it's just the two of us, then?” It's a daring question, and Wei Ying has absolutely no idea where the courage to ask it came from. But something about being around this magnetic man makes him reckless, wanting to step across unspoken boundaries just to see if he's allowed.
“Mn.”
Well, that could mean anything, though Wei Ying is seventy-five percent sure it's a positive.
As Lan Zhan strides off towards his office (with his perfect back) at the end of this floor, Wei Ying sighs watching him go. In fact, he's not the only one; all twenty-one people of different orientations are sighing just as deeply because talking to Lan WangJi, Vice CEO, is akin to a religious experience. Nirvana is beckoning on the horizon, Wei Ying is sure, because it feels like he's achieved every worthy goal there is by that small interaction.
“You can stop drooling otherwise we'll have to call the janitor,” Huaisang mutters in a calculated trip past him to the water fountain.
His voice triggers the former hidden urgency in Wei Ying’s secret mission to retrieve his printed story from the supplies room, and he hurries towards his destination, still floating on a cloud of bliss. Lan Zhan is so dreamy…the way he talks, the way he walks, the way he carries himself with the utmost confidence, as if not even a stone could be unturned without his express wish for change in the universe. Wei Ying likes him so much.
He can't even explain it.
He finds everything about Lan Zhan fascinating, with a capital ‘F’. Lan Zhan might appear cold and aloof to others, but Wei Ying once spotted a pair of bunnies in a photo frame on his desk, when Wei Ying had to approach him on the other than usual side of it to explain something in the documents that Lan Zhan didn't understand at the time. Wei Ying has never forgotten that briefest of glimpses into Lan Zhan’s preferences. It further proved his obsession with his boss; at the secret Santa gift giving party last December, Wei Ying had bribed whoever had plucked Lan Zhan’s name out of the hat to exchange it with the one he had and gotten Lan Zhan bunny keyrings. It was with a great deal of satisfaction that he'd seen the tiniest of smiles grace that stoic face afterwards, and the sight of it had made Wei Ying warm all over with pleasure. It was the best feeling, bar none.
He's resorted to buying sandalwood air fresheners, candles and oil, just so he can put himself in the imaginary vicinity of his boss and the mood to write - it's the scent he associates the most with Lan Zhan, and if he was ever to write an Omegaverse story, that's totally the smell of Alpha Lan Zhan for him. But that's for later Wei Ying to think about. He has so many ideas running around in his head, all possible plot bunnies to play with, that he can't think about anything else for now. The Spicy Adventures Of Suibian And Bichen are keeping him busy enough trying to keep up with the popular demand.
Speaking of which, where exactly is his story?
Wei Ying walks into the supply room with the confidence of a runway model on a catwalk only to deflate like a balloon stuck on a sharp pin. By rights, there should be a stack of approximately forty-five pages with a grand total of twenty-two and a half thousand words waiting for him here. But there isn't.
He looks around in case someone forgot to put the paper tray back in place (it's happened before!) but no, there are other printed documents here…just not his. Wei Ying drops to the floor quickly, checking under the printer, and all around it, but there's no trace of his story. Where is it? Did someone take it out and remove it? But then where would they have put it?
Huaisang comes in after knocking, with a broken pencil in his hand, a fact he loudly announces before closing the door behind himself.
“You were in here longer than normal,” he whispers to Wei Ying, raising a brow at the beads of sweat now dotting on the latter's forehead. He passes Wei Ying a torn off paper towel, kept here for the days when their temperamental printer has a blow-up and vomits ink all over the place.
“Thanks,” Wei Ying replies and in a panic, tells him what's happened.
“You've looked properly?” Huaisang demands, taking a look for himself.
“No, I decided to practice the tango in privacy, that's why the door was shut!” Wei Ying snaps back, going into full-on panic mode.
“Easy, easy,” Huaisang unbends with an apologetic tone. “If it's not here, then–”
“Someone else has it,” they both finish together with worried eyes.
“Well, we've both been in here long enough,” Huaisang flies into action. He smoothes over Wei Ying’s hair and efficiently ties it back into a neat ponytail. Wei Ying had accidentally tugged on his hair when he started to freak out about his missing story. “The first thing you're going to do is make sure you printed it. We could be panicking about nothing. You need to go back to your desk like everything is okay.”
Wei Ying’s expression clears as he realises that he's about to leave the safety and solitude of this private place and go outside; that's where he must appear as normal as possible, as if nothing is wrong. He hopes Huaisang is right, even though he knows that his finger hit that print button to send his document to the printer. He takes a deep breath with his hand on the door knob. Whoever has taken it might be watching them, waiting for uncharacteristic behaviour. So far, anonymity is both lucrative and what might end up saving them in the end - it is an advantage that shouldn't be taken lightly.
“A-Ying, if someone HAS taken it, I won't rest until I find them,” Huaisang promises.
“Let's put a halt on further chapters until we find it,” Wei Ying suggests.
“Good idea. We can put the price up too, now that we have them eating out of your palm.” Huaisang beams at him, and Wei Ying can see that he's only trying to make him feel better. But there's a real worry in his hazel brown eyes, and it's not for nothing.
If the document of his story turns up in the wrong hands, for example, a senior, both Huaisang and Wei Ying could lose their jobs and be disgraced, fired without a recommendation. If that happens, they can say goodbye to another corporate job, and even if they find one after the fact, everyone knows that the Lan Corporation looks after their employees. There's a reason why people once they start working here, don't want to leave. It's not just the salary, and the extra benefits including health care, it's also the working environment. Nowhere would be as good as here.
And nowhere else has a Lan Zhan working there.
Wei Ying nods once, as serious as he's ever been and pastes on a convincing grin, wanting to portray his easygoing, fun side like usual. He pauses at Mo XuanYu's desk and chit chats for a few seconds with the younger, fresh-faced man, internally trying to calm himself down. In reality, he wants to jump over all the desks to get to his own faster, so that he can see if he really did send his stuff to the printer. It's one hope out of a million. His heart is thumping erratically in his chest, and he can feel a temperature spike in his body, making sweat dribble horribly down his back. He's as uncomfortable as he's ever been when he finally sits down in front of his computer.
No one's looking at you, he tells himself in his mind as he checks his printing history. Ironically, this is exactly what will be repeated when or if his story writing is exposed. It will be easy enough for anyone to discover his side career just by a quick search on his computer, and then Wei Ying’s life as he knows it will be over. The evidence is right there, on his screen. At exactly 11.28 am, Wei Ying sent a forty-five page smut filled kink-fest document to the office printer.
Note to self, he thinks with a sickening feeling, write shorter chapters that can be easily disguised as reports in the future.
For now with a horrible sense of Deja Vu, he looks up at Huaisang and nods. Yes, he did send his story. Yes, it has been stolen.
Huaisang’s eyes go dark with anger and he, too, nods once in reply.
Moments later, he walks past Wei Ying’s desk and accidentally drops a piece of paper. It's scrunched up as if it's rubbish, but Wei Ying knows better. Huaisang doesn't move an inch without purpose, so he waits for a few minutes before pretending to drop a pen and then he bends down to retrieve it. He surreptitiously picks up Huaisang’s note as well, and silently opens it. It reveals a single word: Lunch.
Minutes feel like hours as Wei Ying pretends to work. His thoughts are far too jumbled to allow any kind of concentration needed to be productive.
Who could have taken his story? That's the looping thought that eats away at his patience and when everyone else begins packing up to go and eat, he finally gets a reprieve from his own mind.
Huaisang already has a loaded lunch tray when Wei Ying arrives at the cafeteria. He waves him over to the corner table where only the two of them can sit after Wei Ying grabs something to eat. He doesn't particularly care; his presence here is purely for appearances’ sake, because he'd rather be searching the desks and work stations of his colleagues instead, looking for the thief.
Huaisang keeps his voice low and they know they won't be overheard in the steady hum of conversation around them.
“Is there anyone you suspect?”
Wei Ying shakes his head, playing with his food. “Your desk is the closest. Did you see anyone leaving the printer room?”
“No, but then we had that debacle between you and Su She. I am ashamed to admit that I had my popcorn out when he was warned off by Lan WangJi.” Huaisang points to Wei Ying’s bowl of food with his chopsticks. “At least pretend to eat.”
Wei Ying nods, absentmindedly shovelling food into his mouth and ignoring his trembling fingers. He has no appetite left. There's just a cold feeling of dread where his stomach should be.
“Listen, let's not worry for the sake of it. It should be easy to identify the culprit.” Huaisang acts as if he's talking about something as unimportant as the weather.
“How? There are twenty four people on that floor, in immediate close quarters with the printer at the time. Any one of them could have taken it. We can rule out ourselves for obvious reasons but that still leaves twenty-two suspects. We need a plan of action.” Wei Ying puts his chopsticks down, giving up the pretense of eating.
“Well, the way I see it, twenty-four hours after the fact is our danger zone. If the person who has taken it realises what they have and decides to do something about it, this is the time when they'll do it. I mean, it could've been an honest mistake and now they can't exactly come forward, right? They don't know who's responsible for starters, and secondly, if they put anyone on the spot, they're in danger of the repercussions themselves for reading it. Win-win, for us.” Huaisang smiles, far more confident than Wei Ying can safely feel. “All we have to do is watch our colleagues for anything unusual. If they behave in any way opposite to what they normally do, that's our guy or gal, or person.”
“That's a shit plan.”
Huaisang snorts out a laugh. “I am also going to search all the desks tonight, after everyone leaves.”
“Bastard,” Wei Ying grins back at him, affectionately. “Way better, though. I was going to publish the chapter that got stolen tonight, like usual. But I think we should send a message to the thief instead.”
Huaisang’s eyes gleam with cunning interest. “Like what?”
“Oh, nothing obvious. We can hint at what we know, and only they will understand because they've taken it.” Wei Ying taps the side of his nose thoughtfully.
Huaisang turns serious. “A-Ying, just between you and me, if this thing goes south, I'll have a word with Da-Ge. I'll get you into the family company. You won't be unemployed, alright? If we get kicked out by the Lans, he'll look after us.”
Maybe the stress of all this is making Wei Ying far too emotional, because he has to blink back tears. He nods since words are proving too difficult right now.
Huaisang stands up. “Just pay attention is all I'm saying. I suppose this is my fault for fueling the fire of interest, and yours for writing too well, but it's the bed we've made.” He saunters off, hiding his chameleon ways.
His ability to mask his creativity, his amazing life skills is astounding. Maybe that's why Huaisang thrives here, Wei Ying muses. If he did end up working for his brother, perhaps that environment would be stifling for him. He stands up and goes to take care of his tray and the leftover food that he can't stomach.
“Rule sixty-six, do not waste food,” a most familiar deep voice says, just as Wei Ying is about to toss his noodles into the recycling bin.
Wei Ying looks up into concerned golden eyes. “I'm not feeling well,” Wei Ying replies, and it's not a lie. He's sick to his stomach out of worry for his job, and the uncertainty surrounding the theft of his writing.
“Why? What's wrong?” Lan Zhan looks even more worried, and he steps forward as if he wants to touch his arm. But he catches himself and lowers his already raised hand quietly, as if it doesn't matter. His eyes though; they are the true mirror to his thoughts.
Wei Ying struggles to come up with a convincing reason. He can't say, “I've been writing borderline smut on company time and someone has stolen it, also I'm sitting bricks because I will get fired for that, also, I don't know who's out to get me, and the anxiety of all this is really doing a number on me”.
This time, Lan Zhan does step closer. Surprising them both, the back of his cool hand rests against Wei Ying’s forehead and it feels so good, Wei Ying whimpers.
“Perhaps you have a fever,” Lan Zhan murmurs.
“Bullshit,” Wei Ying replies and then winces, because one does not curse in the presence of their God-like boss. For any reason. His contrition must be showing because Lan Zhan’s lips twitch like he's trying to not smile.
“If for reasons unclear to both of us, since neither are medical professionals, I believe it to be acceptable if you take the afternoon off. Wei Ying has not taken a single sick day since the beginning of his employment.” Lan Zhan’s eyes are twinkling. It's a stark contrast to his strict, serious demeanor.
Wei Ying gapes at him. “Are you telling me to play hooky?”
“I am merely suggesting rest might be in order. The wellbeing of our staff is paramount to excellence in productivity.” Lan Zhan strides away, his ears getting pinker. “I will clear your absence with HR as long as the time is used to rest.” He pauses by the doors of the cafeteria and waits on the threshold, turning only his head and waiting until Wei Ying nods.
This is breaking a rule. Or lots of them, actually. It also dawns on Wei Ying that Lan Zhan called him by his birth name. Wei Ying.
He looks around in a daze, kind of furtively, looking to see if anyone noticed their interactions. Everyone seems to be busy eating, engaging in their own conversations…except one guy. Oh, that's Su She. He scowls at Wei Ying and goes to leave when somebody else stops him.
“When are you going to stop following Lan WangJi around like a faithful puppy?” Another worker says, laughing at him.
His friend adds, “I bet it must suck to see your crush showing interest in another guy?”
“Don't be ridiculous!” Su She exclaims with a ripe tomato-red face.
“Oh, come on! Su She, the way you feel about him can be seen from space!” They all laugh together at him.
The cafeteria goes silent as Su She looks around wildly.
“Everyone knows the Vice CEO only started eating here since that popular guy started working here. How many times has he rejected you before that, huh? You should stop because you're making a fool of yourself!”
To his surprise, Su She whirls around and glares at Wei Ying, hatred sparking in his dark eyes. He storms out of the area as if his butt was on fire. Too many people are staring at him, so Wei Ying hastily exits too, making his way back to the office floor where he works.
Huaisang looks over to where he's packing up for the day; Wei Ying deletes his printing history even though he knows it'll still show up on the company servers, and he closes all his tabs, switching it off. He pauses by his friend's desk. “I'm going home. Keep me posted.”
Huaisang asks him, “A-Ying, are you really not feeling well?” He's worried and it makes Wei Ying feel guilty.
“Lan Zhan said I should rest. So, since I can't do much else, that's what I'll do. But let me know if you get a lead.”
They both know he's talking about the stolen chapter.
“Okay, will do,” Huaisang assures him quietly.
Wei Ying leaves, and it's his first ever sick day. He might as well be ill for how bad he feels, but it's mental gymnastics causing his physical stress.
He enters his apartment and throws his keys into the ceramic gold bowl by the door, relishing the familiar clatter of metal on porcelain. He'd bought that bowl because it reminded him of stormy golden eyes that always seemed to be directing an insane amount of intensity at him, unmatched by others. In a way, Wei Ying likes that. To be at the centre of Lan Zhan’s whole focus as if he's the only thing that matters to him. It's a heady feeling.
And one that might not last much longer.
What will Lan Zhan say when the truth comes out? Now that the physical proof of Wei Ying’s private desires is out there, stolen, he's at the mercy of an invisible enemy. Someone out there, a faceless adversary, is holding Wei Ying’s life in their hands. But what's worse in Wei Ying’s mind is the fear of Lan Zhan’s reaction. Will he be angry? Or worse, disappointed? Wei Ying’s actions have broken at least twenty rules of company conduct, and all of them are serious. The breaking of them carries heavy consequences. What if Lan Zhan wants nothing more to do with him afterwards?
That sobering thought makes Wei Ying go and wash his face. He lies down on his couch and again, goes through all the possible culprits that he works alongside in the office. He can no longer trust any of them except Huaisang.
He opens up the app on his computer that helps him sell his story, and he checks the reader numbers again, feeling lightheaded at the increase. More people have paid him once again. At this rate, if it continues in the same way, his income even after splitting it equally with Huaisang will rival his actual pay for the legitimate job. That is a shocking fact to him. The fans are a mix of people demanding updates both in a nice way and a not nice entitled way; Wei Ying discards the latter as coming from people who have nothing better to do and pays it no extra attention.
Most of the comments on his last chapter centre around what's to come; the unintentional conquering of the ice Prince who had fallen in love without knowing it, and finally showing his true affections to the one who has been saving himself for someone worthy enough, hiding his inexperienced self behind outrageous flirting and playfulness. Suibian will live up to the saying, “Fuck Around And Find Out”.
Before the theft, Wei Ying had been excited to publish this next chapter. But now, he has a feeling of dread that just won't go away. He's in two minds. Ideally, it's probably better to stop everything and wait to see what happens. But on the other hand, if the Lans go after him and Huaisang, they could stop him publishing legally, and if that happens, this forty-five pages of explicit lovemaking might never see the light of day, except in a court room. Wei Ying blushes.
There are a few more hours to go before the end of the work day. Huaisang will no doubt make up an excuse to stay behind so he can search the desks of their colleagues. Wei Ying drowns out the feeling of guilt at that by telling himself that whoever has stolen his story doesn't deserve his sympathy. They started this.
And with Huaisang’s help, Wei Ying is going to finish it.
*****************
He ends up falling asleep on his couch. The sound of the doorbell around eight o'clock is what wakes him up, and Wei Ying startles upright, dragging himself towards the sound. He opens the door to a paler Huaisang carrying bags of takeout and cheap beer.
“A-Sang?” Wei Ying can't stop the hopefulness in his tone.
Huaisang shakes his head. He looks around before he hurries inside, wanting to be behind closed doors before he gives away anything incriminating. He follows Wei Ying into the living room and starts to unpack the goodies as he talks.
“I hid in the restroom until Lan WangJi left,” he says, pulling out Wei Ying’s favourite from the hotpot place a few streets down.
“Rumour has it that he's always last to leave,” Wei Ying agrees.
“Right? I had to sneak back in.”
“How did you know? When to go back, I mean.”
“I have two phones. I put one facing his door and live streamed it to myself. And I waited an extra ten minutes in case he forgot something and had to come back.”
“Good thinking. Then what happened?” Wei Ying dumps packets of extra hot sauce over his food, licking his lips.
“Obviously I skipped our desks to save time, but I swear A-Ying, I went through every single drawer there, even the locked ones. Whoever has it must have taken it with them.” Huaisang opens two beer bottles. “Here's to our last night of freedom.”
Wei Ying toasts him and digs in.
“Did you put up a message like you said?” Huaisang asks after taking a long swallow of his drink.
“Yeah. Unforeseen circumstances. They're going wild.”
“I figured. Got notifications from our joint account.”
They eat peacefully for the next few minutes, both of them too hungry to worry about their impending doom.
“Here's to working at the best company for as long as we have,” Wei Ying claims another toast.
The melancholy of it sits heavily over both of them as they finish off the rest of the food and drink. Neither wants to be alone tonight, and Huaisang is too tipsy to send him home in that state, so he ends up sleeping on Wei Ying’s couch.
Tomorrow is another day, Wei Ying thinks, drifting off to that thought.
*******************
They're late.
On a day when they might be fired. Wei Ying chugs back painkillers for his hangover symptoms, making Huaisang do the same before they race back to work. It's as if the universe is conspiring against them too, because the traffic is insane and there's been an accident at the narrowest junction causing severe delays, as if they weren't already behind schedule, and to top it off, there's no parking left at work. Wei Ying has to put his car in a public car lot, and come back on his lunch break to bring it into the company car lot or risk a fine. If he still has a job after this morning, that is, his traitorous brain helpfully supplies.
They enter the elevator climbing to their floor, and with each stop, Wei Ying’s mounting anxiety gets worse. He's sweating up a storm when they finally reach their floor, and suddenly it feels as if all eyes are on them. The usual chatter and morning greetings are missing, simply because they're incredibly late.
Huaisang leaves Wei Ying’s side first, giving his elbow a quick squeeze before he goes. Wei Ying plasters a smile on his face and hopes it looks authentic as he hurries to clock in. Just as he switches his computer on, there's an unpleasant cough above it. Wei Ying looks up to see a scowling Su She staring down disdainfully back at him.
“Lan WangJi wants to see you. He's been looking for you all morning.” His tone is full of curiosity like he's dying to know why Lan Zhan wants to see him.
“Thank you for telling me,” Wei Ying says in his most pleasant, professional voice. Then he adds, because he's a petty gremlin that can't resist mischief at heart, “It must be about that confidential, secret project we're working on. Together.”
“What?” Su She takes the bait immediately. “What secret, confidential project? What are you working on?”
“Oh, sorry. If I told you, then it wouldn't be secret OR confidential any more, would it?” Wei Ying smiles politely and moves past him, not letting himself consider why exactly he's been summoned into the Vice CEO's office as soon as he came in.
He can take a good guess, though.
On shaking legs, he thinks, this is it. The last time he gets to look upon the most handsome face ever. Wei Ying takes a deep breath, his heart thumping painfully in his chest as he raises his fist to knock, and there's a single moment when it feels surreal. As if this is all happening to somebody else. There's a high pitch ringing in his ears and then just as his knuckles make contact with the pale oak wood of the door, it opens.
Lan Zhan’s wonderful golden eyes widen ever so slightly that he's there, and Wei Ying would have missed it if he hadn't already been looking at him.
“Lan Zhan,” he says, because he's not thinking straight, and then his hindbrain adds that it must be okay especially if he's going to be fired after this last ever meeting. He may as well take the gamble and go all in.
“Wei Ying. Please come in.” Lan Zhan, as professional as ever, holds the door open for him.
“Thank you.” For what, Wei Ying doesn’t know, but it could be for something as priceless as letting him look at Lan Zhan’s face for all this time.
“Please sit down,” Lan Zhan leads him over to a very expensive looking sofa set where he does not choose the single seat option but joins Wei Ying on the longer couch part.
Wei Ying is too tired to think about that for now. He's too busy checking out two Meroki cups, shocked because he's never seen this version of them. He can't believe his eyes. He looks up at Lan Zhan’s face, too startled to think about his adorably pink ears. And right next to the cups is a neat pile of familiar writing.
It's his missing chapter, the one that should be in Huaisang’s private collection by now, he's hoping all forty-five pages are there.
His frightened eyes stare back at Lan Zhan. “I can explain,” he says, and to his horror, his eyes start filling up with too much water.
“Wei Ying, I believe I owe you an explanation, before you say anything else,” Lan Zhan tells him firmly, sounding far too kind for a boss about to fire his employee. He doesn't waste any time, either. “I have had these cups commissioned a long time ago, because I like to read online, and about a year ago, I discovered an amazing story. It was about two people who knew each other only as the alter egos of their swords, as Bichen and Suibian. At first, I thought the trope was ridiculous, but the writer's unusual take on their feelings, and the constant page turning twists and turns in the story kept me entertained. I wanted to show you these in good faith, because I know you are very scared right now. But I also want to assure you that nobody else is aware I have the next chapter in my possession.”
“What?” Wei Ying’s brain is numb. He can't compute. What's going on?
Lan Zhan passes him a handkerchief. Oh, it has tiny bunnies embroidered on the corners, and it's really cute.
“I realise that this may come as a shock to you. But it's the truth.” Lan Zhan puts a weight on Wei Ying’s knees and it's his laptop, open at his account page where it says WuJiBun1 very clearly on the top.
Wei Ying gapes at him. He's pretty sure his jaw isn't coming off the floor any time soon. And then, because this is the moment when he's supposed to say something clever, his mouth makes a word. “What?”
Lan Zhan’s lips do that thing again where it looks like it could be a smile on a normal person.
“Hard to believe?”
Wei Ying gives himself a hard slap. It works, jogging his brain into action although it comes with a stinging, hot cheek and a startled Lan Zhan cradling his face with a cool fingers.
“Wei Ying!”
“That's me!” He sounds far brighter than he should. But to be fair, this is not normal. How often does one's boss actually show positive affirmation over one's secret porn kinks that may or may not have been inspired by them? The physical reboot is effective and allows Wei Ying to actually produce thoughts. “If you're going to fire me, then I want you to know that I was working on my own and nobody else was helping me. If you sack me, then that'll be the end of the matter.” Getting caught is Wei Ying’s fault and he knows it, but he won't let Huaisang suffer the consequences of his actions, especially when his friend loves working here, and Wei Ying knows how much he wouldn't want to work for his brother.
“Wei Ying, nobody is getting fired,” Lan Zhan says insistently, and he sounds like he means it.
Wei Ying is altogether too aware of Lan Zhan’s big hand on his face, the coolness of his palm soothing the now sensitive skin. He can't look away from those lovely eyes which seem to be trying to communicate something more to him. This is closer than normal that they've ever been. Wei Ying likes it so much that his own fingers wrap around Lan Zhan’s strong wrist as if he wants to keep him there.
“What are you going to do now?” His words come out in a whisper, and he's so nervous. His lips feel too dry, and he has to lick them.
He's not prepared for Lan Zhan’s own lips to part as his eyes are drawn to the movement.
“May I kiss you?”
The words register too late because Wei Ying, unable to resist, pushes forward and kisses him first. The glide of soft, plush lips is intoxicating, making Wei Ying feel like he's soaring. He's vaguely aware of Lan Zhan’s big hands tugging his waist and he wonders if they're big enough for his fingers to touch completely, but as he's hauled onto Lan Zhan’s lap because all of this makes more sense, doesn't it? And then all thoughts float away on a pleasure boat of sensation and euphoria. How can this be so good? Not only that, how come they haven't been doing this sooner? Wei Ying sinks into the kiss like a starving man, wrapping his arms around Lan Zhan’s neck because he wants to get even closer, and this is a great idea of how to do that.
But they have to come up for air some time, and Wei Ying can't contain the blush that heats his cheeks again. He ducks his head, burying his hot face in Lan Zhan’s neck to hide his embarrassment. Lan Zhan’s hands are hot on his back and the way they're hugging feels like being wrapped up in a warm comforting blanket, safe from the outside world.
“How did you know it was me?” Wei Ying’s voice comes out muffled, but he's dying to know.
“Your writing style. I had my suspicions for a long time now, because of the reports you've written but the confirmation only came about when I saw your chapter.” Lan Zhan kisses the top of his head.
It makes Wei Ying very pleased, but he petulantly says, “So you're the thief! Do you know how much we've been panicking?”
“We?”
“Uh, I! Just me!” Wei Ying laughs awkwardly and he can tell from Lan Zhan’s expression that he's not fooled at all. “Promise nothing will happen to him?”
“Promise. I have already told you no one will be fired,” Lan Zhan reminds him.
“Okay, fiiinnnnee. It's Huaisang. He's the one who drummed up interest in my story. It's a side hustle.” Since Lan Zhan is a smart man, it's only a matter of time before he figures it out. Wei Ying decides to tell him everything because he doesn't like keeping secrets.
When he finishes explaining how his writing career began, Wei Ying is surprised to see concern on Lan Zhan’s face. They're holding hands and Lan Zhan is slowly running his thumb over Wei Ying’s knuckles, and it's shockingly soothing to him.
“What's bothering you?”
“Wei Ying writes after work.”
“Yeah? It's the only time I get, Gege.”
Lan Zhan looks even more distressed. “Wei Ying! It is too much, isn't it? Aren't you tired when you get home?”
Wei Ying beams at him, his own face clearing of worry about Lan Zhan's reaction. “No, not at all. I can't explain it, but Lan Zhan, I absolutely love writing so much!! It gives me such joy and I can't fathom not doing it! I'm just surprised I never did it before, you know?”
“I apologise for taking your work,” Lan Zhan says, nodding. “I was worried of it falling into the wrong hands.” He brings up one of Wei Ying’s hands to his mouth so he can place a gentle kiss on the back of it.
It's such a small gesture but it makes Wei Ying want to swoon, and he definitely wants to put that in the next chapter.
“It could've gone way wrong, though,” he muses.
“Mn.”
“Lan Zhan…” there are so many questions Wei Ying wants to ask him. Now that he's safe, and Huaisang is, too, Wei Ying wants to know things. “How long have you wanted to…you know, kiss me?”
“That day when Su She was presenting his work and then you went through it methodically pointing out all the mistakes after he refused to talk to you privately. I wanted to push you up against the wall and show you how I felt.” Lan Zhan’s ears are endearingly pink again.
Wei Ying happily traces the shell of his left one, lovingly. “I think I fell in love with you a long time ago, I just didn't realise what it was. Is.”
“Wei Ying, I love you. I just wasn't sure of your feelings.”
The way Lan Zhan is looking at him makes Wei Ying feel seen. And then the penny drops. “Oh. Oh! Oh my God! You read my chapter? You. Read. My. Chapter.” Wei Ying makes a noise like a dying animal and pulls away, hiding his beet-red face with his fingers.
“It was…enlightening.” Lan Zhan replies.
“No.”
“Mn.”
The minutes tick by and still, Wei Ying can't unglue his fingers from his face. It's like burying his head in the sand: if he can't see Lan Zhan, then Lan Zhan can't see him.
“Wei Ying. I am a man who does not share. I would like us to date.” Lan Zhan tells him. Very gently, he takes Wei Ying’s wrists and pries his hands off his still scarlet face. “I would also like to explore some of the things in your story. If you are amenable.” This time, Lan Zhan kisses the centre of his palm, and Wei Ying shivers. They both look at his hand with renewed interest.
“Let me, ah, get this straight,” Wei Ying says, despite several links in the brain to mouth chain missing. “You want to try different things. With me. And you want to be boyfriends. Right?”
“Mn.”
“Huh.”
Lan Zhan pushes him down on the couch and ravishes his mouth for that reaction….
***************
Later, when Wei Ying finally makes it out of Lan Zhan’s office, both of them far too reluctant about it, Huaisang takes one look at his face and shoots off a series of texts with emojis implying enough to make Wei Ying blush right up to the roots of his hair.
At lunchtime, later on, Wei Ying will explain to him that they've got a third person on their team now, one who is going to pay Wei Ying out of his own pocket for first access to his chapters from now on, along with Huaisang, plus Lan Zhan has allocated one day in the week in between projects for Wei Ying to write his story in Lan Zhan’s office so he can free up his evenings so that they can go on dates.
Also, Wei Ying has a boyfriend now, and it's going to blow Huaisang’s mind.
THE END
****************
A/N
Dear Beautiful Readers,
This story came about because of @wwxwashere on Twitter. The story you just read (the bit about having their printed smut fiction stolen while at work) happened to their friend and they made a post about it, and because I willingly admit to being obsessed with WangXian, I mentioned the bare bones of this story and they said yes, they wanted me to write it.
So here you go!
I hope everyone likes it!
All my love,
Charlie