sarahyyy(ao3)
"Kunlun Hall's rules do not apply to you," Yunlan says simply, moving to steep some tea for Shen Wei. "You are the Black Cloak Envoy. Lord Kunlun holds you in high regard."
"And you hold him in high regard," Shen Wei adds before he's able to stop himself.
Shen Wei can hear the wretched jealousy in his own voice, and no doubt Yunlan can as well, because Yunlan's smile turns sly, and his eyes are very knowing when he says, "In a way, I suppose I do."
(Or, the Not-Exactly-A-Courtesan!Yunlan fic.)
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Shen Wei gets there just in time to hear Zhao Yunlan say, "You pay to listen, I get paid to sing." He is smiling, but the look in his eyes are anything but friendly. "Everything else? Do not even think."
"Am I offering too little?" the merchant asks. "I have gold. And when I am pleased, I am very generous."
Yunlan laughs at that. "Your money means nothing to me, Mister." He smirks and adds, "It's nothing I haven't seen before."
"You-"
"There is a price to pay if you break the rules of Kunlun Hall," Yunlan reminds him, in a sing-song manner. "I get paid only to sing. And right now, I do not feel like singing for you, Mister. Will you be leaving voluntarily, or will I have to get some men to invite you out?"
The man sneers at Yunlan, and raises his hand, clearly intending to strike. "You little whor-"
Shen Wei doesn't let him finish.
"Touch him and Kunlun Hall's punishment will be the last thing you'll have to worry about," Shen Wei seethes. "I promise they won't even have a chance to strike you."
The man's eyes go wide at the sight of Shen Wei and he scurries away.
Shen Wei doesn't go after him, though he thinks that he probably should, even if it's just to teach the man a lesson; Yunlan is here, and therefore Shen Wei has no inclination to leave.
"Lord Black Cloak Envoy," Yunlan greets demurely, moving closer to Shen Wei. "I was wondering if you would come in."
Ah, so he had heard Shen Wei outside the door. It's not exactly surprising news — Yunlan seems to always know when Shen Wei is at his door.
Shen Wei should probably check the door for charms, but he's always otherwise distracted whenever he's here.
"I did not want to overstep," Shen Wei says.
Yunlan smiles. "Overstepping implies that there is a limit of acceptability," he says, taking Shen Wei's hand to lead him to a seat in the corner. "You and I both know that where you are concerned, I have none."
Shen Wei doesn't say anything to that. Yunlan is always flirtatious; Shen Wei has come to learn how to not let it appear to affect him.
"What are you after tonight, Lord Black Cloak Envoy?" Yunlan asks, after he sits Shen Wei down. "A drink? A song? A...warm bed?"
Shen Wei had only come because one of his men had reported back to him saying that Yunlan might be in trouble. He knows that Yunlan can take care of himself, knows that Kunlun Hall would be more than equipped to deal with a drunk lusty old man, but Shen Wei still came.
There would never be a situation wherein Shen Wei would not come to Yunlan if he perceives Yunlan to be in danger, no matter how small the threat.
"You get paid to sing," Shen Wei parrots Yunlan's words back to him.
