[曦澄 | XiCheng][MDZS Modern AU]: All The Things I Never Told You [~PART 2~]

〽️👁‍🗨 Chapter 196: Wen Ning's Graveyard (Shift).

Link:  https://mobile.twitter.com/heartfeltbot/status/1608180987946733569 

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Tonight Wen Ning came for work a little too early  –  he was a little too worried about Mister Jiang's mental state.

But he arrived in the frosty New York evening just to find Mister Lan already here, at the bar, telling Mister Jiang a funny story, obviously, about someone having sex in the middle of a busy street downtown, in an expensive Audi.

He admired that, and he couldn't understand it. How freely they were talking about sex! Well, at least Mister Lan was. There were a few people at the counter, and they seemed to be listening in  with great interest, but Mister Lan Xichen did not mind, at all, and Mister Jiang Wanyin only had eyes for him, focused 100% on him, and catching every single word he spoke. He seemed flushed tonight, but as far was Wen Ning could judge  –  medically  -   it wasn't because of shame, or ailment, but rather because of... infatuation.

He sighed a little, sitting to the side, watching them closely, watching for symptoms, any symptom that something might be wrong. Ever since the interrupted assault at New Year's, he somehow felt... responsible. Mister Jiang was not really his friend, and he wasn't really his boss, but after their heart-to-heart, he in a way became his confidante,  and this meant a lot to him. Jiang Cheng himself became a little more than just a colleague  –  he became a potential patient, someone to take care of, and observe.

Today he definitely looked better, or so Wen Ning assessed, from a distance. The two lovers were talking, not minding the world, as if it was just them in the whole room.

He envied them. He envied the closeness they had. He probably only shared such closeness with his sister, but it was quite a careful and detached closeness.

Wasn't that an oxymoron?

Mister Jiang greeted him cordially, and he tried to smile and look friendly. He needed some more practice in that. Lately, he had been practicing his friendliness,  and it was quite the task, because it was required for his job, but his own nature was rather rational and calculating, logical. He just could not see the point of becoming friendly with a person who was going to be gone in 20 minutes, just after they'd finished their drink.

But his observations in Psychology and Psychopathy were multiplying, and he was accumulating his data, writing everything down meticulously in a private journal, which he diligently re-visited once a week, pondering upon his findings and conclusions.

- Good night, Mister Jiang, Mister Lan!  –  he tried to pull his lips to the sides, imitating a broad smile.

- Yeaaaa, don't do that. It's creepy!  –  Jiang Wanyin huffed, raising an eyebrow.

But Mister Lan just laughed out loud, and hugged his waist, blabbering something about a chauffeur.  He didn't quite understand, but he enjoyed the little wave he gave him when they reached the front door, on their way out of the bar. Mister Lan was nice. Both of them were nice, but in so different ways!

Tonight the bouncer had called in sick, so it was just him for the night shift. He didn't mind. Tonight's clients were going to be his guinea pigs. He had to practice smiling more.