Sit Softly On Your Shoulder

Chapter 29: Wedding Plans

Uncle Qiren pulls out a large notebook and an expensive looking pen.

"Right, let's get to work. XiChen, take notes and send the relevant information to the people in charge. I've already told them what to expect and that the time might be short, and almost all have replied favourably. I think you should give your staff a three day holiday, possibly four, if they want to recover from Sunday an extra day. Also, call your boyfriends over."

"Uh, Uncle, we still have to run the company." XiChen looks between everyone in the room, a beseeching look on his face.

"I am not an idiot. I understand perfectly well, however, since time is short, we can utilise your workforce to help us. In this, we have the element of surprise. Today is Thursday, so technically, only one day is lost. Last time I looked, our company does not open its doors on the weekend. And it's high time your significant others saw a wedding in motion, and who knows? You might get lucky. If not, well, then, your boyfriends should expect a good talking to. Why are you not calling them yet? Time is of the essence, you know!" Uncle Qiren then proceeds to ignore him in favour of grabbing the first file off the coffee table.

Meanwhile, Wei Ying had been shrinking into Lan Zhan's side, the more he listened to Uncle Qiren firing out orders like a captain of the guard in charge of a shooting squad. There was a reason why this man had single-handedly run a successful company and brought up his two nephews with a frightening efficiency. He is, in one word, formidable.

Wei Ying looks up at Lan Zhan, catching him mouthing the words to his brother, "You asked for this," and having no remorse on his face, partially because XiChen DID ask them to agree, so really, he had brought this upon himself, and mostly because Lan Zhan still hasn't forgiven his brother for investigating Wei Ying.

But because Wei Ying has always been an empathetic soul, he jumps in, also because this might be his only chance to ask XiChen questions that matter.

"Oh, does this mean we're gonna get to meet your boyfriends, XiChen-Ge?" He says, silver eyes sparkling with mirth.

XiChen's honey-coloured eyes flicker towards his brother, the obvious uncertainty apparent with regard to how much Lan Zhan has told Wei Ying about his situation.

"I'll phone them now," he says smoothly.

"Do that," Uncle Qiren adds, "Weddings are when family comes together."

Unfortunately for XiChen, he calls Nie MingJue and Meng Yao and hits the button for the speaker.

Immediately, a long moan fills the room.

"Harder!" A breathless higher pitch follows before XiChen fumbles with his phone and all but runs out of the room.

In the stunned silence that follows, punctuated by the frantic whispering out in the hallway, Wei Ying tries his best to keep it together, but goddammit, no one prepared him for the nature of THAT call. He dares not look up, biting his lip until he tastes blood.

"Nie MingJue is probably putting up a picture. The correct pressure must be applied to hit the nail on the head," Lan Zhan murmurs.

"Yeah," Wei Ying chokes out, "that's exactly what that was. After all, you don't want to miss the spot. That would be an anticlimax, missing." He glances at Lan Zhan from the corner of his eye, while both Uncle Qiren and Lan Zhan not-glare at him. It doesn't help that Lan Zhan's ears are redder than a ripe strawberry.

XiChen comes back with a contrite expression on his face, his ears resembling apples left out in the sun.

"They'll be here in about half an hour." He does not look at anyone.