Sit Softly On Your Shoulder

Chapter 30: Emperor's Smile

Partying, according to Lan Zhan, means making sure Wei Ying has an abundance of spicy food at his fingertips and a nice glass of wine in his hand. They're seated indoors, inside a lovely little family restaurant where every dish is made from scratch, seasoned with hundred year old recipes originating from the matriarch of this establishment. It's tasty, eye-wateringly red, and more importantly, appealing to Wei Ying's palette. And because they make everything fresh, Lan Zhan can tell them to hold back on the spices for himself.

The best thing is, they also serve jars of Emperor's Smile, and Lan Zhan makes a point of buying extra to keep at his other home for Wei Ying.

Once they're done eating, their driver takes them to Lan Zhan's house.

Evening has fallen, and the stars are dimmer because of the city lights. Lan Zhan's house is located on the periphery of the hustle and bustle of Caiyi Town, and yet there is a peacefulness surrounding the property. The car door closing echoes in the well-lit street, the quietness like a background hum to the little noises they make getting to the gate.

Wei Ying looks down the curiously deserted road, wondering why it looks so different. Here, two walls run parallel straight down as far as he can see, with uneven grooves where the doors to other properties must be. The walls are far apart to allow cars to pass by each other, and high enough to need a ladder, but the spirit of parkour rises in the back of his mind and he lets his hands feel the roughness of the grey stone standing guard. With a pair of trainers, especially if they aren't too worn and with a good grip, Wei Ying thinks he might like to try scaling the wall in the daytime, certainly when he's not been drinking. He's not exactly drunk, but there's a pleasant hum zinging in his veins.

The driver asks when he should return the next day and Lan Zhan tells him to call after midday; he leaves after Lan Zhan and Wei Ying enter the gate and walk along past the zen garden to the front door, where Lan Zhan lets them both inside.

He frowns as soon as the motion sensitive lights in the hallway turn on.

Wei Ying glances at him as he exchanges his sneakers for house slippers. "What's wrong?"

"I should have carried you over the threshold." Lan Zhan looks genuinely upset over this, and he's staring at the doorstep as if contemplating whether or not this is still possible.

Wei Ying waits for him to change his footwear before sliding up against him. Pressing his body close, he draws in a deep breath, appreciating the fragrant sandalwood scent as it surrounds him. Lan Zhan's eyes turn from a pale amber into a sparkling molten gold, blisteringly hot as his gaze intensifies. Briefly, his attention drifts to Wei Ying's lips, lingering for a second before catching himself and bringing his focus back to Wei Ying's lovely silver eyes.

Who needs the stars up in the velvet sky when he has this gorgeous view right here, in his arms? Wei Ying's beautiful eyes shimmer and change according to his mood, and now, as he licks his lovely plush lips begging to be bitten, desire makes him shiver in response. A current of tingling fire spreads between them, anticipation hot and heavy in the air.

So far, neither has made another sound. It's as if the world around them is also holding its breath, waiting.

"We're not married." Wei Ying whispers, his lips coming closer ghosting over Lan Zhan's mouth.

"Yet." Lan Zhan's hands squeeze tighter where he's holding onto Wei Ying's hips, his own lips twitching with satisfaction when the other trembles.

The subtleties of his life have magnetised to this man. Every movement, every innocent wink, is catalogued and kept safely within the chambers of his heart. Every time something he does makes Wei Ying smile, each one is saved like a precious petal pressed between the layers of his soul to be remembered eternally. All of his reactions are recorded in Lan Zhan's mind, wanting to bring only endless pleasure to his partner. It is not limited to the physical side of their relationship but enhanced to include the nuances of what makes Wei Ying happy every day. Nothing is too small to be remembered, even inconsequential facts such as Wei Ying not liking extra salt on his pizza, or the correct amount of marshmallows in his hot chocolate...all these details being logged and stored in the computer of Lan Zhan's brain for the sole purpose of letting Wei Ying know that he is loved.