Zhan descended the stairs, his footsteps quiet on the carpeted steps. He had taken a few moments to collect himself after the mysterious encounter, and now he was ready to rejoin the party.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he scanned the room, his eyes locking onto Wangji’s familiar figure. Wangji was standing by the bar, sipping a drink and chatting with a group of people.
Wangji noticed Zhan’s arrival and excused himself from the conversation. He made his way over to Zhan, a hint of concern in his eyes.
“Hey, everything okay?” Wangji asked, his voice low and gentle.
Zhan nodded, smiling reassuringly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just needed a minute to myself.”
Wangji’s gaze lingered on Zhan’s face, then dropped to his clothes. His eyebrows furrowed slightly as he took in the change of attire.
“New clothes?” Wangji asked, his tone curious.
Zhan laughed, a little too quickly. “Oh, yeah! I, uh, spilled something on my previous outfit. One of the guests here kindly lent me some clothes.”
Wangji’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t press the issue. “Glad to see you’re taking care of yourself,” he said, his voice softening.
Zhan felt a pang of guilt for the deception, but he knew it was necessary. He couldn’t reveal the truth about the mysterious encounter, not yet. He smiled again, trying to appear nonchalant, and Wangji seemed to accept the explanation.
The two men stood there for a moment, the tension between them palpable. Wangji’s eyes never left Zhan’s face, and Zhan could feel the weight of his gaze. He knew Wangji was trying to read him, to understand what was going on behind his eyes. But Zhan kept his secrets locked away, hidden behind a mask of calm.
Wangji’s noticed the discomfort growing in Zhan’s look. The noise, the crowds, the stifling air – it was all starting to get to Zhan.
“Hey, do you want to get some fresh air?” Wangji asked, his voice low and gentle. “We can step outside for a bit.”
Zhan’s eyes lit up with relief, and he nodded eagerly. “Yeah, that would be great.”
Wangji smiled and gestured towards the door. “Lead the way.”
Zhan made his way through the crowds, Wangji following closely behind. They pushed open the doors and stepped out into the cool night air. The sounds of the party grew fainter as they walked down a winding path, the darkness illuminated only by the soft glow of lanterns.
As they turned a corner, a beautiful garden came into view. The moonlight cast a silver glow over the lush greenery, and the sound of a gentle fountain filled the air. Wangji’s eyes widened in amazement.
“Zhan, this is incredible,” he breathed. “I had no idea this was here.”
Zhan smiled, his eyes softening. “It’s my favorite place in the whole estate. I come here to escape when I need some peace.”
Wangji’s gaze turned curious. “You hate this place, don’t you?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Zhan’s smile faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. “Let’s just say it’s not my favorite place to be.”
Wangji nodded, his eyes never leaving Zhan’s face. “I’m glad you have this garden to escape to, then.”
They walked in silence for a moment, the only sound the gentle burble of the fountain and the distant music from the party. Wangji slowly reached out and took Zhan’s hand, his fingers first grazing on Zhan's before intertwining their fingers in a gentle grasp.
