Fluffy WangXian Oneshots

A Pearl of a Story

"A rough, shapeless pearl of no value, waiting for its jeweller."
Alexandre Dumas, author of The Count of Monte Cristo

Lan WangJi looked around the empty space he had created with joy, wondering and hoping if a certain somebody would like it. The book store remained as it always did, except on Wednesday nights, when he transformed it into the Book Club.

This was a new thing, a new idea he hoped to open the members' eyes to new and exciting books, but also to treasure the older classics. After all, they were classics for a reason, and this shop was more than just a shop, as a story is not just a story.

People looked for many things within the pages of books, be it wealth, health, and happiness. But Lan WangJi believed that the Universe gave you signs...all you had to do was accept them.

So for tonight's book discussion, he had announced last week that anyone wishing to attend, should read The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. And what a story it was!

Love and romance, betrayal and revenge, it was a magnificent story.

He hoped people had read it...he wished Wei WuXian had read it.

Wei WuXian...

The devastatingly handsome man had eyes of silver starlight, his cheeks like the rosiest of peaches...and when he smiled...Lan WangJi forgot to breathe.

They had been dancing around each other for weeks now...every discussion something more than just words. Lan WangJi loved his inquisitive mind, his capacity for understanding every point of view, his reasoning and his ability to tell the truth. Wei WuXian gave his honest opinion and if he didn't like something, or if he thought an author was taking liberties, or committing the sin of lazy writing, Wei WuXian would pick up on it immediately.

And since Lan WangJi had started this Book Club, he began to live for Wednesday nights.

Wine was poured, ten glasses for now and XiChen had prepared some cheese and grapes.

At precisely seven o'clock, the door chimed and Su She walked in. Lan WangJi resisted the urge to scowl, not that he would have been able to tell anyway.

With him was Meng Yao, an invitation forwarded by Lan XiChen, on the basis that Meng Yao was lonely and this would give him a chance to come out of his shell.

Jin ZiXuan and his vile cousin, Jin ZiXun were next. The former always looked too proud to have even picked up the book, and the latter always had an opinion...

Lan WangJi sighed.

An arm came around his shoulders.

"I'm sure he'll come, Didi." XiChen told him, warmly.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean." Lan WangJi smiled a little too politely and carried on looking at the door.

Meng Yao approached wanting to talk to XiChen so Lan WangJi was left on his own again...and as he watched the two of them walk away, he wondered what a certain purple cladded young man would have to say about that...

Just then, the door jangled and Lan WangJi held his breath...but it was MianMian. Following in her footsteps, the Nie brothers entered. Nie MingJue seemed to hold something against Meng Yao for some reason, and he did scowl, transforming his face into a terrifying expression.

Lan WangJi stepped back.

And then finally, Jiang YanLi and Jiang WanYin walked in, the latter checking behind himself.

Lan WangJi waited...

And waited...

And waited...

But the door closed and didn't open again.