Drunken Mistake

DM 27

“Oooo, nice party. I didn‘t think Hanguangjun knew how to have fun,” Wen Qing teased as she downed another shot. She had a long day at the hospital, rather a long week and this celebratory party seemed to hit the right spots for her. The party was held at her brother’s bar which was a place Wei Wuxian was always comfortable with. “Is A‘Xian alright?” Mianmian asked from behind her.

Lan Wangji nodded, his eyes scanning for his spouse who was huddled in a bar stool at one corner. “It’s affecting him. I can see him reacting to his returning memories but he is still unwilling to share with me and I don‘t know how to coax it out of him,” he admitted.

“Give him time. Given the nature of your relationship he may feel a hesitation to open up to you. And don’t forget that you share the same surname as the perpetrator,” Wen Qing warned.

“The alleged perpetrator. Whenever Wei Wuxian spoke before he presented his Lan Ge as someone whom he desired and who rejected him. It‘s difficult to reconcile that perception with what you are telling me. Could it be that there was another abuser in his past and he sought this Lan Ge as his refuge but he failed to protect him?” Lan Wangji theorized.

“Whatever be, it is your onus to protect him now,“ Mianmian pointed out.

“Why is Xue Yang coming this way?” Wen Qing suddenly asked.
Lan Wangji looked around and found Xue Yang making a beeline for them through the crowd. “Hey, what‘s up?” he greeted the two women.

“Hello Xue Yang. How have you been?” Mianmian asked.

“I’m good, sister-in-law. I heard the lovebirds scared you out of their lovenest,” he joked.

“It‘s not that. Wen Qing’s apartment is closer to the hospital. I was planning to stay for a few days till I settled in a routine but she went through a recent break up and needs a shoulder to cry on,” Mianmian explained.

Xue Yang exhaled sharply and looked at Wen Qing who pretended to look the other way.
“Dr. Wen, can I speak to you in private?“ he requested.

“There‘s no need Mr. Xue,” Wen Qing replied.

“Kitty Kat, please,” Xue Yang called out.

Wen Qing turned around and gasped, tears of embarrasment flooding her eyes. Mianmian put a hand to her mouth, realizing her mistake as Lan Wangji pursed his lips preparing for an unpleasant exchange. She huffed and charged out of the bar as Xue Yang followed.

“What’s their deal?” Mianmian asked.

“Xue Yang doesn‘t do relationships. He makes that clear to every one he is ever with. But if Dr. Wen is hurting, he won’t leave her in pain either, ” Lan Wangji assured.

***

Outside the sound from the bar dimmed to a thrumming that resonated with Wen Qing‘s heart. “I know. You don’t do relationships. I don‘t do relationships but I should be the one to break it off. I don’t do well with rejections,” Wen Qing wailed.

“You‘ll ruin your make up, kitty,” Xue Yang teased.

“Fuck you Yangyang, " Wen Qing cursed.

"You did and I fucked you back but tell me Wen Qing, is that all you want from life? A body to pleasure you when the mood strikes. I'm twenty seven and it's about time I had my first serious relationship and you give that childhood crush of yours a try," Xue Yang convinced.

Wen Qing dried her cheeks with the back of her hands. "When did you grow up?" She asked.

"Since I met my white tiger," Xue Yang responded fondly.

"Who's that?" Wen Qing asked, genuinely interested.
Xue Yang gave a wide smile before answering. Just as he was about to open his mouth a voice called out from behind. "Mr. Xue."

Xue Yang turned around and his eyes sparkled as Xiao Xingchen arrived with Jiang Cheng and Luo Yangyang closely on his heels. Jiang Cheng and Yangyang were holding hands. Wen Qing's eyes briefly turned to their joined hands before she turned around and went inside.

"What's up with Wen Qing?" Jiang Cheng asked no one in particular.

"She had her heart broken recently. So she's a bit sensitive," Xue Yang replied.

"Wen Qing, broken heart. You've got to be kidding. She's made of steel," Jiang Cheng scoffed.

"That may be true. Unfortunately for her, I'm radioactive," Xue Yang stated with a laugh but the laughter got caught in the middle as Jiang Cheng landed a punch on his face.

"Director Jiang, what are you doing?" Xiao Xingchen asked.

"Ow, did you work for a caveman before?" Xue Yang asked.

"I'm so sorry Xue Yang. Director Jiang always had a temper problem," Xiao Xingchen apologized.

Jiang Cheng didn't bother to reply but brushed passed them and into the bar.

"Am I missing something?" Luo Yangyang asked.

"Oh Jiang Cheng and Wen Qing, that's old history. It won't affect you two. He is too much if an ass to realize it," Xue Yang explained.

"You provoked him intentionally?" Xiao Xingchen explained.
He gave an apologetic smile without elaborating further. He then turned to Yangyang. "I'm sorry for cutting your date short," he said.

"No, no. It's not a date. Director Jiang was just supporting me. I'm going to meet my Jie after almost a decade. She's inside. I'm nervous," Yangyang replied.

"Ah, we can do that. Can't we Xingchen?" He turned towards the man beside him. Xiao Xingchen was taken back by the informal address. He couldn't help the rising blush that covered him.
Yangyang noticed the tension between them and rolled her eyes.

"Can you get a room you too? But first take me to my Jie. I have to sort this through and go home. I've got a seven year old waiting for me there," she huffed as the two men flanked her guiding her to Mianmian.

Inside neither Jiang Cheng nor Wen Qing could be seen. Mianmian recognized her meimei from a distance and rushed to her. Soon they were swept away in their own bubble of catching up.

Xue Yang turned to Xiao Xinchen.
"Aiyo boss, you have a black eye forming," the latter noticed.

"It's for a good deed," Xue Yang boasted.

"Director Jiang is really into Yangyang," Xiao Xingchen explained.

"Jiang Cheng asked Wen Qing for a dance during high schools prom. She turned him down and regretted it since. That regret has overshadowed all her relationships or the lack of it. Jiang Cheng can go back to dating Yangyang but the question is will he want to," Xue Yang explained.

"You could date her," Xiao Xingchen offered.

Xue Yang scoffed. "She's not my type," he retorted.

"What's your type then?" Xiao Xingchen asked sincerely.
Xue Yang did not reply but smiled staring him down. Suddenly Xiao Xingchen stepped aside and went forward to speak with someone. Xue Yang noticed that it was Song Lan, Lan Wangji's partner in the law firm. He stiffened.

Song Lan came forward. "You have some audacity, showing your face in public, that too with a black eye,"Song Lan taunted.

Xue Yang shook his head. "I didn't do or say anything to provoke you in a long time," he reminded Song Lan.

Song Lan tsked. "Once a criminal is always a criminal," he commented. Xiao Xingchen, though baffled, chose to follow Song Lan.

A/N This chapter will make more sense in hind sight than it does now. I promise. Please please vote and comment.