The Mad Ҡìղց

Unexpected Kiss

"I will check it when I return to my chamber tonight," Wanji assured him, though his mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with someone—other than Nie's mysterious object.

"When do we start our party?" Wanji asked after a brief pause, shifting his focus back to the present.

Nie laughed, already feeling the lightness of the evening. "It's already started," he said, passing Wanji a jar of alcohol. He handed out more jars to the other men gathered around. "No cups tonight!" Nie added with a chuckle, encouraging everyone to drink straight from the jar.

Wanji accepted the alcohol but his expression remained distant. When he had asked about the start of the party, he wasn't asking about the drinks or the revelry. He was asking about someone more important.

His thoughts turned to Wei Ying. Wanji had been hoping Wei Ying would join the gathering, and now his absence was painfully noticeable. The night seemed incomplete without him. As the others laughed and drank around him, Wanji couldn't shake the feeling that someone—was missing.

Nie, always the observant one, noticed Wanji's distant gaze. "He'll be here soon," Nie said, leaning in closer so only Wanji could hear. His tone was light, but there was a knowing look in his eyes.

Wanji nodded, his face softening just a little. He took a small sip from the jar Nie had given him, though the alcohol did little to ease the longing he felt. The fire crackled in the background, the sound almost comforting, but it was the thought of Wei Ying's arrival that brought the slightest hint of a smile to Wanji's lips.

Across the fire, Ayana watched the group of men from her spot, her own thoughts still swirling around Niobe. The night was still young, and though the fire burned brightly, it was the connections and unspoken feelings between people that truly lit up the evening.

Wanji's senses remained alert, his mind unable to shake the peculiar blend of perfume oil lingering in the air. It was the exact fragrance Ayana had concocted, a scent no one else could match. "She kept saying it was not time yet to teach anyone," he muttered under his breath. Though his eyes scanned the gathering, he couldn't pinpoint the wearer of the scent. Unease crept over him.

On the other side of the fire, Ayana's sharp eyes spotted Wei Ying huddled behind Niobe. At first, she was confused, but her eyes widened in surprise when she noticed Wei Ying draped in Wanji's robe. A knowing smile tugged at her lips, and she let her gaze drift to Wanji, watching the grim expression that settled on his face.

Wei Ying moved cautiously, whispering to Young Master Nie as he handed him a small basket of snacks. Freshly baked, their aroma filled the air, mixing with the tension of the moment. Nie accepted the basket with a smile, though his attention flicked back to Wanji. Without a word, Nie tugged at Wanji's robe, silently summoning him into the unfolding scene.

When Wanji turned, his eyes landed first on his own robe, now hanging awkwardly on Wei Ying's slim frame. Then, he saw Wei Ying's face partially hidden behind Nie's broad shoulder, his expression a mixture of nervousness and shame. For a brief moment, their eyes met, but Wei Ying quickly averted his gaze, bowing his head instinctively as if in submission.

"Are you alright?" Wanji's voice broke through the silence, gentle but probing.

Wei Ying nodded, avoiding eye contact. "I didn't want anyone to recognize me and tell on me... This is no place for a slave," he mumbled, his voice low and uncertain, unaware of who he was speaking to.

"Slave?" Wanji thought, the word cutting through him like a blade. "Do people still keep slaves?" He felt an unexpected pang of sadness for Wei Ying. What kind of world was this where such a thing still existed?