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“This is awful Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying wailed down the phone.
“Mn.” Lan Zhan agreed although he secretly did not think it was awful. The news had actually improved his mood considerably.
“What am I to do? I don’t deserve this! I’m going to be homeless! I can’t believe they are evicting me because they want to sell the place! This is the worst news ever!” Wei Ying cried.
Lan Zhan almost laughed. As if he would allow Wei Ying to be homeless. Never. Wei Ying would never suffer if Lan Zhan had the power to do something about it.
“Wei Ying, we will find you a new place to live,” Lan Zhan soothed. He would offer his spare room as soon as Wei Ying was calm and ready to accept it, he would accept and everything would be…
“I know! I’ll ask Wen Ning if I can live with him! Bye Lan Zhan! I’ll call you later to let you know how it went!”
The line went dead and Lan Zhan’s eyes widened. “No,” he told the empty room, then picked up his phone and dialed Wen Qing.
**********
Wei Ying rang Wen Ning and told him the news and of course Wen Ning immediately offered to help because he was a perfect angel.
“You can stay with me, Wei Ying. I only have the one bed but it’s a double we can maybe share?” Wen Ning offered.
Wei Ying smiled. “Oh Wen Ning don’t worry I can sleep on the sofa or the floor even…I don’t mind…”
Wen Ning gasped. “I wouldn’t make you sleep on the floor! I could never…oh JieJie is calling, can I call you back, Wei Ying?”
“Of-course! Of-course! No problem, goodbye!” Wei Ying said cheerfully.
Ten minutes later…Wen Ning called back and did something very strange.
“I’m sorry Wei Ying but you cannot live with me, JieJie says a distant cousin is coming here for work and they need to stay with me for many months.”
Wei Ying frowned. He thought Wen Ning and Wen Qing were estranged from their family members? Oh well, it wasn’t like he knew everything about them, maybe it was a recently reacquainted family member.
“That’s okay, Wen Ning, no harm done. I’ll find somewhere!” Wei Ying replied.
Wen Ning coughed awkwardly. “I have to go, I’ll speak to you soon, Wei Ying.”
Wen Ning hung up and Wei Ying was left feeling very confused but he shrugged his shoulders and moved on to the next person he thought could help him out of his sticky situation…
**********
Wen Ning rang his sister back as soon as he had hung up on Wei Ying.
“I did it, JieJie, I told him he couldn’t stay with me.”
“That’s very good, thank you,” his sister replied.
“I can’t believe Lan Wangji offered you so much money to fund your research and all he wanted in exchange was for me to tell Wei Ying he couldn’t stay with me.”
“Do not worry, Wei Ying will be fine. Lan Wangji will see to that,” Wen Qing replied.
“I hope you’re right, JieJie,” Wen Ning replied.
**********
Lan Zhan received confirmation from Wen Qing that Wei Ying would not be staying with her brother, took a deep breath, and called Wei Ying. He practised what he was going to say as he waited for Wei Ying to pick up the call…
Wei Ying, I want you to move in with me, Wei Ying, please live with me, Wei Ying be my…
“Lan Zhan! So I rang Wen Ning and guess what? He can’t put me up but it’s okay! My brother has said I can live with him! Isn’t that great! Lan Zhan? Lan Zhan?”
Lan Zhan hung up the phone and reluctantly called Jiang Cheng…
**********
“What the fuck do you want?” Jiang Cheng demanded.
“Tell Wei Ying he cannot live with you,” Lan Zhan instructed.
Jiang Cheng snorted. “He’s gonna be homeless, fuck you, he’s going to live with me, what the fuck does it have to do with you?”
“How long have you wanted Jiang industries and Cloud Recesses Inc to form a partnership?” Lan Zhan coaxed.
“For ten years but you have always said no,” Jiang Cheng replied.
“Tell Wei Ying he cannot live with you and I will do whatever I can to strengthen relations between our companies.”
“Lan Zhan what the fuck?” Jiang Cheng retorted.
“I promise you, Wei Ying will be well looked after. I will not allow any harm to come to him, but you must tell him he cannot live with you,” Lan Zhan insisted.
Jiang Cheng frowned and considered Lan Zhan’s offer…
**********
Wei Ying was busy packing up a suitcase when Jiang Cheng called him back.
“Jiang Cheng! I was just putting a few things together…”
“Wei Ying, you can’t live with me, my spare room was suddenly flooded, goodbye.”
Jiang Cheng hung up and Wei Ying was left staring at the blank screen with his mouth wide open. Okay, this was fine. He had options. Everything would be okay. He took a deep breath and phoned the next person he knew should be able to help him…
***********
Lan Zhan was once again waiting for his call to Wei Ying to connect, this time he would offer Wei Ying his spare room straight away, that way there could be no more…
“Lan Zhan! Hello! You are such a good friend to keep checking up on me but don’t worry, Huaisang is going to put me up! He’s so good! I have to go, I have so much packing to do!”
The phone went dead and Lan Zhan let out a scream internally before collecting himself and ringing Huaisang.
“Why Lan Wangji, why ever would you be calling little old me? Perhaps something to do with Wei Ying? I have offered him my home, of-course I have, what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t? But somehow I feel you will want me to withdraw this offer?” Huaisang purred.
Lan Zhan huffed out a breath. Huaisang always did seem to have a way of knowing the score before the game had even begun.
“What will it take for you to withdraw your offer?” Lan Zhan asked.
“Well I wouldn’t know! This is so unexpected! Perhaps…the fan you won in a bidding war against me in 2015.”
“Done.”
“Pleasure doing business with you, Lan Wangji.”
The call ended and Lan Zhan stood up, this time, he would go to Wei Ying, no more misunderstandings. As he stood his phone buzzed in his pocket. He looked at the number and swallowed hard then pressed accept.
“Good afternoon Jiang Yanli,” Lan Zhan said as eveningly as he could.
“Good afternoon Lan Wangji, I understand you are making people rescind their offers to help my poor brother out of his current predicament, you will explain, right now.”
Lan Wangji swallowed hard. “I want…I want Wei Ying to live with me. I am about to go to him and offer my spare room right now. He will want for nothing, I will make sure of it. I will cook for him, I will look after him, I will…”
“Okay,” Jiang Yanli’s voice was much softer now. “I understand, but you must clear this up with him today or I will offer to put him up in our spare room and you realise that would mean he would be an entire plane ride away from you.”
“I understand.”
“Good, then go make this right.”
“I will, thank you.”
**********
When Lan Zhan arrived at Wei Ying’s door he was feeling elated. Surely this time he would be able to make his offer and it would be accepted. He knocked. No answer. He knocked again and waited longer…no answer.
Lan Zhan called Wei Ying.
“Lan Zhan! Hey! So guess what? Huaisang offered to put me up but then his brother suddenly needed to come to town on business and needed the room. Anyway, it’s all sorted now!”
Lan Zhan could hear many voices in the background. Many male voices. His stomach started to churn. “What do you mean it is all sorted now?” he asked.
“I’m gonna live with our boys!” Wei Ying declared.
Lan Zhan closed his eyes. The boys Wei Ying were referring to were their old students and Wei Ying’s nephew who had graduated a few years ago but had kept in touch and even moved into a shared apartment in Wei Ying’s building. Lan Zhan looked at the floor beneath his feet. “You are at Sizhui’s?” He asked.
“I am,” Wei Ying confirmed.
“I am coming to you,” Lan Zhan replied, hanging up the call and heading down the stairs to the boy's apartment.
**********
Lan Zhan knocked on the door and Jingyi answered.
“Lan Wangji! Come join the party!” he cried.
Lan Zhan sighed. He entered the apartment and immediately turned down the music playing. Everyone groaned except Sizhui who beamed at Lan Zhan. Sizhui had always been his favourite.
“Where is Wei Ying?” Lan Zhan asked.
Wei Ying popped his head up from behind the sofa. “Here I am!” he called. “Isn’t it so good of the boys to put me up?”
“Yes, so good,” Lan Zhan said glaring around the room at all four younger men.
“It’s gonna be a party everyday!” Wei Ying exclaimed.
Jin Ling came to stand in front of Lan Zhan. “We’re gonna take care of him,” he said stubbornly.
Lan Zhan softened his expression. It was nice that after a rocky start Jin Ling had become so attached to his Uncle. He could understand the urge to protect Wei Ying, after-all, he felt the same way.
“It’s going to be so much fun having our favourite lecturer live with us!” Zizhen piped up from the sofa.
Sizhui gave him a look and Zizhen cleared his throat. “Um I mean joint favourite lecturer of course,” he told Lan Zhan.
Lan Zhan took a deep breath and stepped into lecturer mode. “It is very kind of you to offer Wei Ying shelter in this difficult time however, there are already four of you staying in this small space and I would remind you that I believe there are only two names on the official lease, it is risky to add a third unaccounted for occupant, what if the landlord was to find out?” he glared at each junior in turn to make sure that they understood his threat.
Wei Ying laughed. “Come on Lan Zhan, the boys have lived here for two years and the landlord is still none the wiser. Nothing bad will happen.”
“Mn…all it would take is one phone call…” Lan Zhan told the room, inspecting his nail beds.
Sizhui always was the brightest and seemed to catch on the quickest. “Erhh I think Lan Wangji is right, I think you shouldn’t stay here.”
“Sizhui! You break my heart!” Wei Ying wailed.
“He can stay here,” Jin Ling said firmly.
Lan Zhan fixed his eyes on Jin Ling. “Your dedication to your Uncle is admirable. My only fear is that perhaps it gets back to your mother that you are living with four other men. I'm sure with knowledge of such a crowded situation she would suggest you move back home where there is lots of space for you, but alas, also none of your close friends.”
Jin Ling took a defeated step back. “You shouldn’t live with us,” he told Wei Ying.
Wei Ying’s shoulders dropped. “Yeah I know. It was a stupid idea anyways. I just got caught up in the excitement of reliving my youth! Don’t worry boys, I’ll find somewhere to live, you are still all my favourite children!”
“Wei Ying, may I talk to you in the hall?” Lan Zhan offered.
“Sure!” Wei Ying said cheerfully following Lan Zhan out into the corridor.
Lan Zhan took a deep breath. “Wei Ying, there is something I would like to…”
Wei Ying’s phone started to ring. “Oh, hold that thought Lan Zhan, this could be a lead on a room!”
Lan Zhan imagined destroying Wei Ying’s phone then started silently meditating in order to control his anger.
“What? Do you have a room for me? You do! Oh my god I could kiss you!” Wei Ying grinned as he spoke to whoever the caller was.
Lan Zhan’s hands balled into fists. That should be him being offered kisses from Wei Ying, who on earth was stealing his kisses?
“Oh my god, thank you, thank you, thank you. Can I start moving in today? Yes! Thank you!” Wei Ying cried.
Wei Ying hung up and danced around the hallway. Lan Zhan was momentarily distracted by his beloved’s excited mood.
“I have a room Lan Zhan! I’m not homeless!” Wei Ying announced.
“Mn, who made the offer?” Lan Zhan pried.
“Oh don’t worry Lan Zhan, he is an upstanding citizen, a property developer and a landlord and he has a room for me! He said I would have to share with a rather grumpy roommate but that’s fine! I can break through anyone’s icy demeanour, I did it with you!”
“Who made the offer?” Lan Zhan asked again.
Wei Ying sniggered. “You’ll never guess, Lan Zhan! Try to guess, go on, try to guess!”
Lan Zhan swallowed his frustration down and grabbed Wei Ying’s wrist, he rubbed it slowly with his thumb. “Wei Ying, who made the offer?” he asked calmly.
Wei Ying blinked up at him. “Your brother, your brother made the offer.”
**********
Betrayed. Betrayed by his own blood. Lan Zhan called his brother on his way back to his car.
“Wangji! What a pleasant surprise! I take it you heard the news?” his brother chirped.
“I did,” Lan Zhan gritted out.
“Well I couldn’t very well not step in and offer to help my little brother's best friend in his time of need could I? Don’t worry, I have found him the very best roommate. He will be very happy and close to you! I knew that would be an important factor!”
Lan Zhan swallowed his anger. His brother was genuinely trying to look out for him and maybe this was for the best. Maybe having Wei Ying in his own space with him everyday was something he didn’t deserve, he had gone around all day blackmailing all of Wei Ying’s friends and family. That didn’t seem like the behaviour of a good friend.
“Thank you for your assistance, ge,” Lan Zhan offered.
“Oh it was no trouble at all. Don’t worry, Wangji, everything will work out for the best.”
“Mn, I know, goodbye brother.”
**********
That evening Lan Zhan did not sulk. Yes he sat in the dark playing sad music and stroking his rabbit as though he were a Bond villain, but he was not sulking, he was merely…regrouping.
Things would be okay. Wei Ying would have a nice new place to stay. Lan Zhan trusted his brother. He would find Wei Ying the best accommodation and he would still see Wei Ying often and that would be enough…
There was a knock at his door and Lan Zhan went to open it when…
“Surprise,” Wei Ying was on his doorstep with a duffle bag and a smile.
“Wei Ying?” Lan Zhan asked.
Wei Ying smiled nervously. “Now listen, I know you are a private person and it might be hard having me in your space but your brother explained that he owns this building and he thought you and I living together would be a great idea! But if you don’t think you can handle it…I could call him back and see if…”
Lan Zhan was hugging Wei Ying to his chest before his brain caught up with what he was doing. “Wei Ying,” he said softly against Wei Ying’s throat.
Wei Ying laughed and patted Lan Zhan’s back. “Does this mean I can stay?”
“You can stay,” Lan Zhan confirmed. He stepped back and allowed Wei Ying to enter. Wei Ying threw himself down onto the sofa.
“This is going to be great, Lan Zhan. You and I, living together…I mean…it might be a bit weird if one of us gets lucky but maybe we can devise a system for that or noise cancelling headphones could be…”
“No,” Lan Zhan said before he could stop himself.
“No?” Wei Ying questioned then laughed. “Do you expect us to live like monks then?” he joked.
This was his chance. No more misunderstandings. He had to make Wei Ying understand. Lan Zhan steeled himself and moved to kneel near Wei Ying. “I do not want you getting lucky…with anyone else,” he said carefully.
Wei Ying blinked. “Are you saying…”
“Wei Ying, please live with me, not as my roommate but as my boyfriend.”
Wei Ying was silent for a few moments and Lan Zhan started to wonder if he had misjudged Wei Ying’s feelings for him when suddenly Wei Ying launched himself out of his seat and into Lan Zhan’s arms knocking them both to the ground. Then Wei Ying was laughing and kissing Lan Zhan’s face and asking him what took him so long.
“If you had made this offer this morning you could have helped me avoid a very stressful day!” Wei Ying accused him.
“My apologies for the delay,” Lan Zhan replied, holding Wei Ying against him.
Wei Ying looked down at Lan Zhan. “Are you sure about this? I’m messy.”
“I know.”
“I never stop talking, even in my sleep.”
“I know.”
“I have bad days sometimes, I’m not always this shiny, exciting version of Wei Ying…”
Lan Zhan pushed them both into a seated position and took Wei Ying’s hands. He kissed Wei Ying’s knuckles and looked at him intensely. “Wei Ying, you cannot scare me away. I am your best friend. I have been at your side for ten years, you could sprout a tail and ears tomorrow and I would still want you.”
Wei Ying laughed then looked into Lan Zhan’s eyes. “Lan Zhan, I love you.”
Lan Zhan’s heart soared. “I love you too.”
Their first proper kiss was gentle and tentative but oh so perfect, Lan Zhan would not have changed a thing. When they parted, Lan Zhan could see the mischievous gleam in Wei Ying’s eyes.
“Oh Lan Zhan, shouldn't you carry my bag and also me? I’m so tired! Today has been exhausting! Wait…I was just joking, I can carry my own…wait you don’t really have to carry me too! Lan Zhan, you’re so strong! I’m impressed! Wait…isn’t this your room? Why are we going to your room, Lan Zhan? So forward, Lan Zhan! Don’t I even get a choice? Maybe I’m too tired to…Lan Zhan! How dare you touch me there! No, don’t stop, did I say stop? Do it again!”
**********
A few days later, Wangji received a call from his brother…
“Hi Wangji, how are things working out with your new roommate?”
Lan Zhan looked into his bedroom when Wei Ying was still sleeping naked and curled up in Lan Zhan’s bed. Then he looked smugly at the unused spare room. “Things are going very well,” he told his brother.
“I am sorry about my deception, I just thought it would be a nice surprise.”
“Mn, it was a nice surprise, thank you, ge.”
“You’re welcome, Wangji.”
“Lan Zhan?” Wei Ying suddenly whined. “The bed is so cold without you!”
Lan Huan chuckled. “I’ll leave you to deal with that situation,” he said with amusement.
“Goodbye,” Lan Zhan replied. He hung up the call and moved to the bedroom where a pouty Wei Ying met his eyes. “Lan Zhan, we talked about this…I don’t like to wake up alone.”
Lan Zhan sat on the edge of the bed and leaned down to place a kiss on Wei Ying’s forehead. “My apologies, my love.”
Wei Ying giggles and buried his head in a pillow before reemerging. “Okay, you’re forgiven. I can’t seem to stay mad at you even for a few minutes.”
“Mn, good,” Lan Zhan replied.
Wei Ying grinned at him. “So what is on the schedule for today? A bike ride? Farmers market? A nature hike?”
Lan Zhan undid his dressing gown and climbed back into bed with Wei Ying. “Sex,” he stated plainly as he kissed up the column of Wei Ying’s throat.
“Lan Zhan! Do you mean to keep me chained to this bed forever! I have a life! A job! Friends!” Wei Ying complained even as he pulled Lan Zhan closer.
“We are on annual leave and your friends will wait,” Lan Zhan reasoned as his hands ran over his beautiful boyfriend's body.
“Lan Zhan, I know what you did, you know. Yanli told me the whole story, you went around town threatening everyone not to let me live with them! Lan Zhan, how could you? Such shameless behaviour!”
Lan Zhan ducked his head as his ears turned red. “I couldn’t stand the thought of you living with another,” he confessed gently.
Wei Ying laughed and lifted Lan Zhan’s head by placing his hands on Lan Zhan’s cheeks. “You do not need to act so guilty darling, I was delighted to hear of your antics, I plan to tell the story to everyone on our wedding day.”
Lan Zhan’s heart squeezed to hear Wei Ying mention their wedding day. “Wei Ying you would truly…”
“Shhh,” Wei Ying put a finger on Lan Zhan’s lips. “You already know I would not deny you anything, but let’s not discuss that now. You owe me an apology for your behaviour, show me how sorry you are, Lan Zhan.”
So Lan Zhan did. He showed Wei Ying how sorry he was three times over until Wei Ying exhaustedly announced that he was completely and utterly forgiven.
The End!