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Chapter Text

Wei Ying doesn't think about the past often. Things that happened years, months, and even seconds ago cannot be changed, so they are not worth worrying about. His life motto has always been “ What's done is done” , and at twenty-five years old it has worked for him.

His disconnection might come from losing his parents in a car accident when he was just a child and spending several months wandering the streets, living from scraps, never owning anything. Or perhaps it’s the result of his morbid work as the owner of a funeral parlor, which requires him to shed all sentimentality. In any case, Wei Ying doesn't have many friends and doesn't mind not having them either, but the few who have gained his trust are very dear to him.

Nie Huaisang is his newest addition to the list. A young makeup artist he met by chance when the plant employee quit and Nie Huaisang took his position.

At first, Wei Ying believed that Nie Huaisang would not bear the sight of a corpse on the table, waiting for its turn to be embellished, and he would faint on the spot. However, despite his designer glasses and two-piece outfit, Nie Huaisang proved to be brave enough to work in a funeral home without losing heart, something that, coupled with his playful personality, soon catapulted him to the position of Wei Ying’s best friend.

Thus, Nie Huaisang is the first to notice that something is up when Wei Ying's face lights up upon seeing a new notification on his phone and he starts playing with the red ribbon that holds his hair into a ponytail.

“Oh. I wasn’t expecting this.”

“Who is it?” Nie Huaisang asks, trying to peek at his friend’s screen. As far as he knows, none of Wei Ying's acquaintances would make him smile like that just by sending him a message. “A new prospect you haven't told me about?”

“Something like that,” Wei Ying says, still staring at the screen. “Have I ever told you about Jiang Cheng?”

Nie Huaisang shakes his head, though Wei Ying isn’t looking at him. In any case, Wei Ying doesn't need to hear his answer to start talking about Jiang Cheng, the son of the man who took him in for almost ten years until Wei Ying came of age.

"Ah, A-Cheng," Wei Ying sighs. “He was eight years old when his father, Jiang Fengmian, took me in. We grew up together, almost like brothers, fighting all the time, sharing everything… He was my first kiss and I was his, I'm sure.”

Nie Huaisang makes an admiring noise. He's never seen Wei Ying like this, his eyes clouded with memories and grinning from ear to ear, and he's dying to hear more.

“That was the beginning. The awakening of our teenage hormones, although no one in the house ever imagined it. If Uncle Fengmian knew about it, I'm sure he would have kicked me out for corrupting his cute white lotus.”

Wei Ying laughs like a child who got away with a prank.

"He never cared about A-Cheng," he says, tone full of bitterness. “He didn't know that his son was loud-mouthed, quick-tempered, and as eager to discover the hidden pleasures of adults as I was. Ah, we spent so many nights together and did so many crazy things–we even promised to get married.”

“Why didn’t you? You're still in love with him.”

Wei Ying snorts.

“Me? No, not at all. Besides, our relationship would never have worked out. It was fine while we were teenagers, but I need a more mature partner.”

“I see.”

Nie Huaisang goes back to his food, thinking there’s nothing more to say. Yet he can feel Wei Ying dying to keep talking, like a kettle left on the fire for too long.

“I'm surprised he sent me a message. I haven't heard from him in years. We officially broke up when we started college.”

“What’s the message about?”

Wei Ying hands the phone to his friend. The chat with A-Cheng ❤ ️ only shows a single message. Hey.

"I'm sure he wants us to get back," Wei Ying says, shaking his head. “He was very hurt by our separation, even though he tried to hide it by acting angry.”

“So? Are you getting back with him then?”

Wei Ying is about to answer when he notices that Jiang Cheng has started typing again. Immediately, Wei Ying raises his hand in Nie Huaisang's direction, requesting silence as if he were interrupting something very important.

“ I need to talk with you. Tell me when I can call you. It's urgent ,” Wei Ying reads aloud. “Oh, no. I'll have to break his heart again. And the faster the better.”

Wei Ying holds up a finger, asking for silence. Nie Huaisang sighs and rolls his eyes, but he does as he’s told if only to hear the gossip in its entirety.

Wei Ying dials Jiang Cheng's number with a condescending smile before putting the phone in the middle of the table with the speaker on. Luckily, they don't have to wait long as Jiang Cheng answers after two rings.

“Wei Ying?” a deep and overly serious voice says.

“Hey, A-Cheng! How are you?” Wei Ying asks, resting his chin on his palm.

Nie Huaisang wonders if his friend is aware that he’s playing with his hair like a fool in love, but keeps the question to himself. 

“Long time no hear from you. What have you been up to?”

“You know, the same as always. Work at my father's company. Hey, are you busy?”

“Nope. Why?”

“Do you have plans for the weekend?”

“I don’t~ What do you have in mind?” Wei Ying asks as he winks at Nie Huaisang, bragging about Jiang Cheng’s undying love for him.

Jiang Cheng clears his throat.

“I met someone.”

Wei Ying's smile fades.

“And,” Jiang Cheng takes a breath before speaking, even so, Nie Huaisang guesses the smile on his features. “We are getting married this Sunday.”

“What?” Wei Ying says, turning as pale as the bodies he works with every day.

Nie Huaisang doesn't know whether to laugh or cry when he sees the disappointment on Wei Ying’s face, the fear, when seconds before he was so sure of an affection that he despised.

“I was wondering if you'd like to attend as my best man. I know I'm giving you a short notice,” Jiang Cheng adds when Wei Ying keeps silent “But I would like you to come. I don't think I can get married if you're not here.”

Wei Ying opens and closes his lips, but his brain has a hard time coming up with the right words for such a situation.

"Don't make me beg you," Jiang Cheng says. “Also, A-Jie would like to see you and introduce you to her husband and son. Will you come?”

Jiang Yanli is married? And she has a baby? Wei Ying puts his hand on his chest as if wounded by an arrow. He had no idea that so many things had changed since he left and lost contact with the family.

“I'll go,” he says, looking at Nie Huaisang.

Jiang Cheng hangs up after thanking Wei Ying, and though he pretends to be happy for him until the last minute, his façade melts as soon as the connection cuts off.

"Jiang Cheng can't get married," Wei Ying says, throwing his phone at the nearest table. “He's too… he's like a cat. He’s difficult to handle, quick-tempered, and prone to pleasing his mother no matter what. His future husband doesn't know what he's getting himself into. No. I have to stop that wedding.”

Wei Ying paces around the room, mumbling to himself. Nie Huaisang hears words like madness, foolishness, theft, and more nonsense until Wei Ying comes to a halt in the middle of the room. 

“What are you doing?”

Wei Ying shows Nie Huaisang the Weibo app. Seconds later, he finally gets to know the face of the man who has turned Wei Ying's life upside down with a phone call.

Jiang Cheng has an angular face with cheekbones so sharp they could cut a diamond. His appearance (at least in the photos he uploaded to the internet) seems as serious as Wei Ying said, but that doesn’t make him less attractive. Jiang Cheng’s gray eyes, inky black hair, and tan that hide the freckles on his nose and cheeks make him look like a model in a high-end clothing commercial. Upon seeing him, Nie Huaisang can understand why Wei Ying still has a crush on him, even though he denied it moments before.

However, Wei Ying doesn't stop to admire his beloved A-Cheng. He’s not looking for him among his publications, for he knows Jiang Cheng very well—much better than the usurper who intends to steal him. Wei Ying knows Jiang Cheng's hearty laugh, how his features soften when he sees a dog, how he furrows his eyebrows before cumming, his little habits and manias... No. Wei Ying wants to see the thief.

Luckily (or unfortunately?), Wei Ying doesn't have to scroll down a lot, for Jiang Cheng, always so private about his love life, hasn't been shy about uploading dozens of photos of his boyfriend to Weibo.

“Lan Xichen,” Nie Huaisang reads over his friend's shoulder. “Sounds familiar. Have you heard it before?”

Wei Ying doesn't respond. He’s too busy examining the man who dared to believe that he could make his A-Cheng happy. He's handsome, Wei Ying can give him that—dark brown hair combed back, broad forehead, amber eyes, and broad shoulders and arms. But precisely because of this, Wei Ying doesn't think he is the best option for Jiang Cheng.

Since when is Jiang Cheng so superficial to date a man like that? Dressed in a navy blue suit without a single wrinkle, Lan Xichen looks out of place in his photos with Jiang Cheng, all black T-shirts, leather pants, and chokers. What the hell is Jiang Cheng thinking?

“So? What's the plan?” Nie Huaisang asks when Wei Ying looks up from his phone and their gazes meet by chance.

“I’ll go to Yunmeng, stop the wedding, and steal the groom.”

Chapter Text

Wei Ying feels like a complete idiot when his heart skips a beat upon spotting Jiang Cheng in the crowd at the airport. He’s not ashamed though, but angry at himself for not realizing his feelings sooner so he could have avoided all that madness. But it doesn't matter anymore, this time he will do things right, even if it means breaking Lan Xichen's heart.

“Jiang Cheng!” Wei Ying waves his hand to get Jiang Cheng’s attention, still several meters away. Then, incapable of waiting a second longer, Wei Ying starts running in his direction and throws his arms around his astonished friend’s shoulders. “A-Cheng.”

Wei Ying breathes in Jiang Cheng's scent, nuzzling his neck, and it's almost as if no time has passed. However, the spell is broken when Wei Ying opens his eyes and meets Lan Xichen face-to-face.

“The famous Wei Ying. It's a pleasure to meet you,” Lan Xichen says, holding out his hand, thus forcing him to let go of Jiang Cheng. His voice is soft, and pleasant to the ear, and he’s even more attractive in person, making Wei Ying grind his teeth as he returns a fake smile. “A-Cheng has told me a lot about you.”

“ Infamous ,” Jiang Cheng emphasizes but no one pays him attention. “I see you’re still wearing that old thing.”

“Of course! You gave it to me, how could I throw it away?” He caresses the red ribbon’s tattered end with a fond smile. “Also, don’t change the subject! What did you tell him?” Wei Ying asks after shaking hands with his rival, his eyes always fixed on Jiang Cheng.

Lan Xichen signals for them to start walking before Jiang Cheng can respond. Their story, when Jiang Cheng tells it, is short (typical of him), turning the happiest period of Wei Ying's life into a couple of bullet points in a list.

“We grew up together, we came out of the closet together, we dated, we broke off. What else is there to know?” Jiang Cheng asks from the co-pilot seat.

Lan Xichen drives a state-of-the-art car with air conditioning and leather seats, but even that fails to discourage Wei Ying. He may not be rich as hell, but he knows Jiang Cheng best.

“The way you say it offends me. Does Lan Xichen know that I was your first kiss?”

“I know,” Lan Xichen says not looking away from the road. “You were ten, right? You kissed under A-Cheng's bed.”

“And then A-Cheng got scared and promised that he would marry me if his parents found out that he had been tainted forever.”

Jiang Cheng blushes.

“Shut up. I was just a child.”

“That didn't stop you the second time you kissed me. Or the third. Or the fourth,” Wei Ying says, evoking memories with such ease that he only has to close his eyes to return to those hot afternoons when he and Jiang Cheng used to crash their lips with no rhythm or logic. “And not when we touched each other for the first time.”

“Wei Ying, you better shut up or I will ask Lan Xichen to turn around and I will throw you head first into a return flight myself.”

Wei Ying bursts out laughing but ultimately obeys. Lan Xichen keeps silent, which means that Wei Ying has succeeded in planting the seed of discord between them, now he just has to water it periodically, and there will be time for that.

Wei Ying is so busy weighing his next moves and staring out the window that he doesn't notice Jiang Cheng covering his fiancé's hand over the gear shift and staying like that until they reach their destination.

.

Jiang Yanli opens her arms as soon as she looks at Wei Ying. However, he does not respond to her call immediately.

The clash between the memory of the girl Wei Ying considers his older sister and the woman who addresses him is so great it paralyzes him. Although Jiang Yanli has not lost her sweet smile, now her lips are framed by two lines that will only deepen with time, she has dark circles under her eyes and a baby resting on her chest, where she used to cradle her dolls.

A grim-faced man stands next to her, the spitting image of the little boy napping in Jiang Yanli's arms.

“A-Jie? Is it really you?”

His A-Jie's arms seem as familiar to Wei Ying as Jiang Cheng's, bringing with them a new wave of memories. She had comforted him when he woke up crying in the middle of the night after having a nightmare, she had wiped his tears with her sleeves, and she had always mediated between him and Jiang Cheng whenever they fought. Maybe she can do it again.

“What do you think of Lan Xichen, A-Jie?” Wei Ying asks once the introductions are over and they have caught up with the latest events in each other's lives. In addition to getting married, Jiang Yanli opened her cake shop, so she will bake the cake for Jiang Cheng’s wedding.

“He’s a good man. I think they make a nice couple.”

Wei Ying should have known that Jiang Yanli would say something like that, but he still feels disappointed.

“How did they meet? They are so different that I can't understand what they saw in each other,” Wei Ying comments casually. Luckily, Jin Zixuan took little A-Ling away to give them privacy, or else his brother-in-law would have seen through his false curiosity, avoiding the upcoming chaos and broken hearts.

“He’s the CEO of Lan Corp., A-Cheng closed a business deal with them a couple of months ago.”

“I see.”

“A-Cheng liked him right away,” Jiang Yanli says. “Although he pretended he didn't. You know what he’s like. He was very happy when Lan Xichen invited him to dinner. I still remember his smile when he returned home with a huge bouquet of roses.”

Wei Ying feels like vomiting. Flowers? Really? Jiang Cheng hates flowers, considering them a waste of money and an attack on nature.

“Are you sure Lan Xichen didn't drug him or something? The wedding seems so rushed now that I know that they have only known each other for a couple of months…”

“I can't question A-Cheng's decisions when I did the same,” she says, looking in her husband and son’s direction. They’re walking through the garden of the Jiang house, while Wei Ying and Jiang Yanli talk sitting at a table on the terrace. “When I met A-Xuan I knew immediately that he was the one. The person I had been waiting for my entire life. I think A-Cheng might have felt the same way when he met Lan Xichen.”

Wei Ying nods as if all those nice words made sense. However, he feels like pulling his hair and yelling. How can Lan Xichen be Jiang Cheng's soulmate when he has only known him for a few months? Did all the nights Jiang Cheng fell asleep in Wei Ying's arms mean nothing? What about the promises he whispered under the covers to protect them from reaching Jiang Fengmian and Madame Yu's ears?

Wei Ying jumps up and manages to mumble something about the toilet before running out of the living room. Luckily, the house has not changed, it has not betrayed him like all its inhabitants, so Wei Ying soon locks himself inside the bathroom. Then he dials Nie Huaisang's number with trembling fingers.

Nie Huaisang answers after the second ring, hungry for gossip. However, Wei Ying doesn't make much sense at first, as he spews out all of his thoughts about Lan Xichen and the wedding mixed with questions that he would like to ask Jiang Cheng but he can't.

"He's so bland. Always smiling like an idiot. I don't get it. What did Jiang Cheng see in him? What do they even talk about? I bet he can't last more than a minute in bed. He's such a wet blanket!"

Once he calms down, his voice becomes so cold that it's scary.

“You better prepare the best coffin in the funeral home, Huaisang, because I will stop at nothing to avoid this wedding.”

“Wei Ying?” A voice asks from the other side of the bathroom door, startling him. “Are you OK? A-Cheng sent me to find you.”

“Shit,” Wei Ying says. “Yes. I'm coming out,” Wei Ying flushes the toilet and then opens the faucet to make his lie more believable. “I must go. I'll keep you posted on how everything goes, okay?” he murmurs into the phone before hanging up. Then he opens the door to confront Lan Xichen, wondering how much he heard.

“A-Cheng asked me to accompany you to get a suit for the wedding.”

Wei Ying raises an eyebrow.

“Where is he?”

“Supervising the distribution of the tables for the banquet. So we have the rest of the afternoon to ourselves,” Lan Xichen smiles, trying to be friendly but he only makes Wei Ying's hair stand on end. Does that man never stop smiling? What is he? A clown? “Now we can chat openly and get to know each other better. Any friend of A-Cheng is a friend of mine too.”

No. It's not like that , Wei Ying thinks but bites his lip and follows Lan Xichen out into the street, where they get into his car again. Besides, he and Jiang Cheng are not friends—they're soulmates. Do friends know each other down to their fingernails? Deep in these thoughts, his chin resting on his palm, Wei Ying looks out the car window as Lan Xichen drives.

The city has also changed. The stores have new facades or have disappeared completely to make way for new businesses. The passers-by are not the same he and Jiang Cheng used to dodge while running around, and the streets seem small and a little dirty. Still, Yunmeng remains as warm as ever, inviting men and women to wear as little clothing as decorum allows. As soon as he realizes it, Wei Ying thinks that wearing a suit for more than half an hour is a sure invitation to sunstroke.

“A-Cheng told me my ears would bleed from listening to your babble,” Lan Xichen says, looking at Wei Ying out of the corner of his eye.

Wei Ying clicks his tongue, hurt at the thought that Jiang Cheng has talked about him to Lan Xichen as if he were a funny anecdote instead of his boyfriend of at least ten years.

“People change.”

“I can see it.”

“Does A-Cheng still wear those ridiculous dog pajamas?” Wei Ying asks after a brief silence. He may not stand Lan Xichen, but if he doesn't get information about his relationship with Jiang Cheng, he won't be able to ruin it.

“Yes,” Lan Xichen sighs dreamily. “It’s falling apart, not to mention it’s too small now, but A-Cheng refuses to buy a new one.”

Wei Ying can't help but share Lan Xichen's smile as he imagines Jiang Cheng with the beagle ears from his pajama top covering his face. The last time Wei Ying saw Jiang Cheng wearing it, it was already too small for him, giving Wei Ying glimpses of his abdomen every time he moved, and that was seven years ago, so now it must let Jiang Cheng’s whole navel out.

However, his smile fades when he realizes that Lan Xichen has seen Jiang Cheng wearing it and, most likely, without it as well. Imagining Jiang Cheng beneath Lan Xichen, however precocious he may be, makes his mouth fill with bile.

“Where are you going for your honeymoon?” Wei Ying asks, trying to change the subject and regretting it immediately. The word honeymoon brings to his mind images of the happy couple locked in a hotel room for days on end, exacerbating his stomach ache.

“Egypt. Then we'll see. We have two months to travel the world.”

“Won't such a long absence affect your business?”

“Even if it did, I'd rather be with A-Cheng. Money comes and goes.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Wei Ying grimaces and then adds, as an afterthought, “I gave those pajamas to A-Cheng. I'm glad he still has it.”

“I know,” Lan Xichen says, expression unchanged. “And now, to thank you for that, for how adorable A-Cheng looks when he wears it, let me pay for the suit that you will wear as his best man.”

“No, thanks,” Wei Ying says immediately. He doesn't want to owe that thief anything, not even a coffee.

However, Lan Xichen insists, thinking that his refusal comes from modesty rather than the creepiness Lan Xichen makes him feel. It's not normal for someone to smile so much, it's not normal for someone to be so kind—the more time passes, the more Wei Ying becomes convinced that Lan Xichen must be a serial killer or something. Only Jiang Cheng’s intervention, whom Lan Xichen calls for moral support, gets Wei Ying to accept the offer in exchange for the promise to go drinking later.

.

Lan Xichen must be under the impression that he and Wei Ying became close after the two hours they spent in the suit store because the first thing he does as soon as he enters Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying's favorite bar is to stick to them.

Zidian is a bar in the city center frequented by rock lovers. With its dark aesthetic, leather armchairs, and purple neon lights, it was the perfect refuge for two teenagers, now nostalgic-looking men, who wanted to eat the world.

“Look, A-Cheng! It's the table !” Wei Ying says, pointing to a corner. “Hey, can we sit there?” he asks a waiter and when he nods, Wei Ying puts his arm around Jiang Cheng's shoulders to guide him as if Lan Xichen did not exist.

“It can’t be. It's been years, they must have changed it by now,” Jiang Cheng shakes his head.

“What table?” Lan Xichen asks, following them as closely as the layout of the place, with tables placed randomly, allows him.

“A-Cheng threw up his fries and the three beers he drank the first time we came here, on this table! On the entire table," Wei Ying says, gesturing at the surface with one hand without caring about the disgusted faces of the customers near them. “God, do you remember? It was so green it looked radioactive.”

“That day I swore never to drink again…” Jiang Cheng says with a half smile.

“And you did it again.”

“Yes, but now I can handle alcohol much better.”

“We'll see,” Wei Ying says, taking a seat. Then he orders a round of the best liquor in the house for everyone, pretending not to listen to Lan Xichen when he says that he would prefer a soda since he can't handle alcohol very well.

Drinking with Jiang Cheng is like going back in time. Wei Ying could spend hours talking to him, ignoring the passage of time while the local band plays its best hits. He and Jiang Cheng talk about everything and nothing at all, just like in the old times, reminiscing about the silly things they did when they were together (like sneaking out of the city every weekend with just a handful of yuan in their pockets) and catching up with each other's lives as if Lan Xichen wasn’t there.

Wei Ying only remembers his existence when he and Jiang Cheng finish their fourth round of drinks and he notices Lan Xichen’s glass is finally empty.

“I want one more, please,” Lan Xichen says even though he had refused to drink before.

“No,” Jiang Cheng says, turning to his boyfriend. “Xichen? Are you OK?”

“Come on, A-Cheng. Of course he is!” Wei Ying says, trying to get A-Cheng's attention once again.

Lan Xichen's cheeks are slightly flushed and his eyes are unfocused, but otherwise, he looks as flawless as when he was waiting for Wei Ying outside the changing rooms at the tailor's shop.

“A-Cheng… Have I ever told you that you are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life?” Lan Xichen asks, slurring his words. Then he nuzzles Jiang Cheng's cheek while chuckling. Only then does Wei Ying realize that Lan Xichen wasn't lying when he said he couldn’t hold his alcohol.

Jiang Cheng blushes like a schoolgirl, to Wei Ying's surprise.

"Yes, you've told me before, Xichen," he says in a soft voice, caressing his fiancé's cheek. “And you know I think you're exaggerating.”

“Mmn. I am not.”

“You're the one who looks like a model,” Jiang Cheng says, combing Lan Xichen's hair with his fingers.

Wei Ying feels like vomiting, although not due to the alcohol in his body, but upon seeing how Jiang Cheng lowers himself, for when they were together he wasn’t like that. If Wei Ying complimented him, telling him how attractive he found him, Jiang Cheng would cross his arms and ask him to stop joking, but now he’s as sappy as a drama protagonist.

“I still don't know what you saw in me.”

“You are kind, hard-working, fair, loyal,” Lan Xichen responds immediately. “You're honest, responsible… you have an amazing ass,” Lan Xichen says, squeezing his fiancé's buttocks, uncaring if anyone could see it.

Jiang Cheng laughs. He laughs!

“Hey, you have to wait until we're married,” he says, gently removing Lan Xichen's hands from his ass. “We promised. Just a few more days, Xichen,” he adds after seeing his boyfriend's abandoned puppy face.

“But I already know your every crook and cranny, A-Cheng. Plus, no one will know if we break that rule.”

“Ok, stop it,” Wei Ying says, standing up. “We better go. Lan Xichen needs to rest,” he says to soften his words.

Jiang Cheng nods and that's how the perfect night to reconnect with the love of his life ends with Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng carrying an incoherent Lan Xichen towards the guest room of the Jiang house. There, Lan Xichen falls asleep as soon as he rests his head against the pillow, so Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng leave him alone after covering him with a blanket and taking off his shoes. But Wei Ying goes further and locks the door before leaving, just in case Lan Xichen feels like breaking the rules.

Chapter Text

One of the reasons Wei Ying left the Jiang household, breaking Jiang Cheng's heart in the process, is his mother. Yu Ziyuan never considered Wei Ying to be good enough for her son, so she did her best to discourage the friendship between them once it became clear that Wei Ying was here to stay, but the more she tried to separate them, the closer they became.

She never knew for sure the degree of intimacy that Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng achieved over the years of sharing a bedroom. However once they discovered the forbidden world of sex, they came close to giving each other away on more than one occasion for being unable to control their moans. However, Yu Ziyuan is not stupid and she can guess what her son and his best friend did when they went on trips together, sometimes for weeks.

Wei Ying expects a cold reception from a woman who not only refused to be his stepmother but also denied him any kind of affection, so he almost falls on his ass when Yu Ziyuan hugs him upon seeing him.

“A-Xian. You've grown," the woman says after stepping back, letting him take his usual spot at the breakfast table. “When did you arrive? Have you already had the pleasure of meeting my future son-in-law? A-Cheng couldn't have made a better choice.”

Ah, so that's how it is. Wei Ying puts on his best smile, the one he perfected after listening to Yu Ziyuan’s countless scoldings. The smile that says “ You are right, I am just an insect who does not deserve to be in the presence of your child” . Luckily, Wei Ying doesn't have to keep it on for long, as Jiang Fengmian enters the dining room followed by the rest of the family.

The way Jiang Fengmian’s face (the man who rescued Wei Ying from the streets) lights up as soon as he sees Wei Ying gives him hope that not all is lost. Although it's not right for Wei Ying to say it, Jiang Fengmian has always favored him as much as his wife has despised him, so he could become a vital ally if Wei Ying can convince him that the wedding shouldn’t happen. The problem is, how does he bring up the topic?

Half of the breakfast passes by while Wei Ying racks his brain for a way to kidnap Jiang Fengmian for at least half an hour between all the wedding rehearsals and last-minute arrangements. But since it's weird that Wei Ying remains silent for more than half a minute, he ends up attracting everyone's attention.

“You have matured,” Yu Ziyuan says. “It was good for you to be away from home, to see new things, to meet new people.”

It was good for my son that you left.

“I might come back. Funeral services are always needed in a city as big as this,” Wei Ying says, pretending to enjoy his breakfast more than usual to hide the joy that the panic in Yu Ziyuan's eyes causes him.

“What a morbid occupation,” the woman says, grimacing.

“Would you really leave your life there so easily? It's seven years of experiences, A-Xian,” Jiang Yanli tilts her head.

“Well, I only have A-Sang. I'm sure he wouldn't mind moving to Yunmeng if I asked him to.”

“A-Sang?” Jiang Cheng asks, raising an eyebrow.

Is there jealousy in Jiang Cheng's voice? Wei Ying decides to test it out. He gets comfortable in the chair and rests his elbows on the table.

"Haven't I told you about him? He is my boyfriend. My fiancé, actually,” he adds upon seeing Jiang Cheng frown.

“It's the first time you mention him." Jiang Cheng's eyes search for Wei Ying's left hand, resting carelessly on the table. He's looking for an engagement ring as expensive as the one that sparkles on his ring finger, and although Wei Ying is quick to hide his hand, it's too late to pretend that he always wore one too.

Oh. Jiang Cheng is jealous. His cheeks are puffed out in that characteristic (and adorable) gesture that stayed with him from childhood. The murderous glint in his eyes doesn’t bode well for Wei Ying unless he does something to remedy the situation immediately.

“I didn't want to overshadow your wedding with my great romance.”

“Oh yeah?”

Now Jiang Cheng looks absolutely angry. His mouth is but a line and he stares at the table through half-closed eyelids like a vengeful god contemplating a failed creation. Wei Ying wants to squeeze Jiang Cheng’s cheeks and kiss him like he used to do when he made him angry in the old days, but he will have to leave it for later when they finally declare their eternal love for each other after having gotten rid of the smiling creep named Lan Xichen.

“You should have invited him,” Lan Xichen says, finally meddling in the conversation.

“A-Sang is very busy.”

“It will only be a couple of days,” Yu Ziyuan says, the corners of her lips twitching suspiciously.

“We would love to have him over, A-Xian,” Jiang Fengmian says. Everyone (except Jin Zixuan, Jiang Yanli's husband, and Jin Ling) nods. “Call him. If necessary, I will convince him.”

“No, no. No need,” Wei Ying says, breaking into a cold sweat. Moments before, Yu Ziyuan gave him a rare compliment, calling him mature, but considering that Wei Ying just got into a lot of trouble because of his mouth, he doesn't think he deserved it. “I'll call him right away and tell him that my family is dying to meet him. If you'll excuse me…”

Wei Ying leaves the dining room and once he’s out of earshot, he runs towards his old room. His mind works at full speed, weighing the possibilities of acting one way or another, so he barely pays attention to the room’s decoration, untouched since he left the house to go to university.

On the one hand, it would be very easy to lie and tell his family that Nie Huaisang is sorry, but he has commitments that will keep him busy all weekend, thus avoiding digging an even deeper pit around himself. But, on the other hand, the presence of his fiancé could be the push Jiang Cheng needs to remember who the love of his life really is.

Wei Ying paces the room for several minutes, and when he’s about to go to the dining room with his best sad face, his cell phone starts ringing. Wei Ying almost goes into hysterics when he sees the name on the screen, but in the end, he manages to contain himself and accept fate's decision.

“Hello. How's it going…?”

“Nie Huaisang, I need your help,” Wei Ying says, ignoring his words.

“What is it? If it's money, I can't lend you any. I spent it all on clothes this weekend.”

“I need you to pretend to be my fiancé and come to Yunmeng immediately.”

“What?”

Wei Ying gives Nie Huaisang a rather convoluted account of the conversation he had with his family minutes ago, putting a lot of emphasis on Jiang Cheng's reaction to the news. Although at first Nie Huaisang flatly refuses to participate in the farce, the opportunity to see and experience the drama convinces him.

“So? When will you arrive?” Wei Ying asks in a low voice, not because he wants to keep it a secret, but rather because his relief is so great that it has made him let out a monumental sigh.

“Tonight, my love,” Nie Huaisang says before hanging up.

.

Wei Ying doesn't have to ask Jiang Cheng to take him to the airport to pick up Nie Huaisang, even though his flight is scheduled to arrive a little before midnight. Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen to boot, volunteer to do so. On the one hand, this tells Wei Ying how jealous his beloved A-Cheng is, so he wouldn't be surprised if Jiang Cheng punches Nie Huaisang on sight, but on the other hand, he’s worried about having to improvise a story.

“He better not keep us waiting too long,” Jiang Cheng says, crossing his arms as soon as they reach door three. The plane has just landed and it has to carry out some checkups before allowing the passengers to get off. “It's already past time for Xichen-ge to go to bed.”

Wei Ying glances at Jiang Cheng out of the corner of his eye, wondering if he’s playing a prank on him. However, he doesn’t burst into laughter after suggesting that his future husband has a sleep schedule like that of a toddler, instead, Jiang Cheng caresses Lan Xichen's eyelids as if by doing so he could make all his tiredness disappear.

“Ah, here he comes!” Wei Ying says to separate the couple, for he hasn’t yet seen Nie Huaisang among the crowd that begins to enter through door three. His tactic works perfectly, as Jiang Cheng stops pampering his fiancé to look in the same direction as Wei Ying.

“Where?”

“I'm sorry, I got confused.”

Jiang Cheng grimaces, just like his mother does.

“I see that you chose someone as irresponsible as you.”

Wei Ying turns his back on him, seemingly offended. However, his smile is brighter than ever. Jiang Cheng is about to break down, he can feel it—one more push and he will relent. The question is, if Wei Ying dares to kiss Nie Huaisang as soon as he’s close, will it be enough to end everything once and for all? Wei Ying is still weighing the pros and cons of acting so impulsively (“Look, Madam Yu, I've matured!”), when he spots Nie Huaisang in the distance.

Wei Ying starts running towards him, enjoying how Jiang Cheng starts shouting. However, his plans to indulge in a moment worthy of a romantic movie by throwing himself into Nie Huaisang's arms fail miserably when he begins to scream upon seeing a figure dressed in black approaching at full speed.

Nie Huaisang drops his bag and tries to run in the opposite direction before recognizing Wei Ying. He then rectifies his course, heading into his friend’s arms until they both collide and end up on the floor.

“What the hell are you doing?” Wei Ying asks while rubbing his chest, trying to mitigate the pain of the impact.

“Yeah, you tell me. You scared me to death and then almost killed me! Next time, let me know what my lines will be so I can learn them beforehand." Nie Huaisang frowns as he looks for tears or wrinkles in his silk shirt. Then he stands up with as much dignity as possible and adjusts the strap of his backpack on his shoulder, waiting for the next scene to begin.

“Oh, come on. I'm sorry. It's just that A-Cheng is here,” Wei Ying says, standing up. “And so is Mr. Perfect–Lan Xichen. I had to impress them.”

“With an attempted murder?” Nie Huaisang shakes his head. “Fine, but I expect a payment on par with my performance.”

Wei Ying chuckles.

“Go it. I will reward you well.”

“For what?” asks a third voice, making Wei Ying startle. Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen have finally caught up with them.

“For leaving everything behind and running to his side,” Nie Huaisang says before Wei Ying can ruin everything; he’s terrible at lying on the spot. Besides, Wei Ying told him to act his ass off, and by God he will. After all, he would have studied acting if he hadn't found a job as a professional makeup artist. “Oh, honey, I hope you're ready because I won’t let you sleep tonight. Not without getting my reward first.”

Jiang Cheng wrinkles his nose as Nie Huaisang throws his arms around Wei Ying's neck.

“I guess introductions are not necessary. I already know way too much about your fiancé,” Jiang Cheng turns around and heads towards the exit, barely giving Lan Xichen time to apologize for his abruptness, as he pulls him by the hand to get him out of there as quickly as possible. However, neither Wei Ying nor Nie Huaisang care and even give each other approving gestures before following them to the car.

“When is the wedding?” Lan Xichen asks to break the ice once they hit the road.

“In three months,” Wei Ying says.

“In half a year,” Nie Huaisang says.

Wei Ying catches a glimpse of Jiang Cheng raising an eyebrow through the rearview mirror and elbows Nie Huaisang in the ribs.

“We haven't decided it yet. I want to get married as soon as possible, but A-Sang wants a grand wedding, which would take longer to plan,” Wei Ying explains hastily, receiving only a hum from Jiang Cheng in return.

“Of course, you are invited!” Nie Huaisang says, poking his head in between the front seats.

Lan Xichen thanks them and since it seems like they are going to plunge back into an awkward silence, Nie Huaisang starts babbling about everything and nothing at the same time until he accidentally brings up the topic of children.

“Do you plan to adopt? Or do you not want children?” he asks, ignoring Wei Ying's furious gaze. He would love to respond in the couple's place, telling Nie Huaisang that there will be no children, at least not from Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng, since the wedding will not take place, but he remains silent, ruminating on his anger.

Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen share a look full of affection.

“We have thought about adoption, yes,” Lan Xichen says. “In case that doesn’t work, well, A-Cheng has always wanted to have half a dozen dogs.”

The mere mention of dogs makes Wei Ying's skin crawl. But more than the fear of imagining a pack of those horrible animals with their mouths open to show him their dozens of teeth, he’s overcome by a feeling of betrayal.

Wei Ying is terrified of dogs since he lived on the streets and had to fight them tooth and nail to get some food. Jiang Cheng got rid of his dogs when Wei Ying came into his life (well, Jiang Fengmian made him do it, but Jiang Cheng ended up accepting it), and once they both went through an acclimatization period, Jiang Cheng promised Wei Ying that he would always protect him from those horrible animals. And yet now he's talking about having half a dozen as if everything they went through together no longer mattered.

“We’ll move to Xichen's house on the outskirts of the city.”

Wei Ying wakes up as if from a nightmare to Jiang Cheng's voice adding even more details to his torment.

“It has a garden big enough for all the puppies and even…” Jiang Cheng looks askance at his fiancé with a smile trembling at the corners of his lips. “A child or two.”

.

“Shit, the wedding is tomorrow,” Wei Ying says after checking his wristwatch. It’s one in the morning on Friday, so there are only about thirty hours left before Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen walk to the altar. “We don't have time for games. We have to do something now before A-Cheng ruins his life forever by marrying that wet blanket of a man.”

“I think they look good together,” Nie Huaisang says while sitting at the foot of the bed in Wei Ying's room. In the end, Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen believed that Wei Ying and Nie Huaisang would spend the night together, which forced them to share a room, much to their dismay. There’s only one bed and judging by Nie Huaisang's gaze, he will be the one using it.

“Don’t be ridiculous. A-Cheng has always loved me! I am the love of his life and he is the love of mine.”

“You’ve made that clear already. The question is: what are you going to do about it? The wedding rehearsal will be in a few hours,” Nie Huaisang says without suppressing a yawn. However, Wei Ying pretends not to listen. “And then you will lose him forever.”

Wei Ying shakes his head.

“Tomorrow we will be the sappiest couple, understand? And if that doesn't help, I'll steal the groom,” Wei Ying says. The idea is pretty cool actually—eloping on a motorcycle with Jiang Cheng sitting behind him, leaving a trail of smoke behind them, sounds much more fun than enduring the scene Lan Xichen will make once he discovers the truth. “Dress up as best you can and try to get some sleep so you'll be fresh tomorrow.”

Wei Ying crosses the room and turns off the light before Nie Huaisang can answer, then lies down on the sofa in the guest room. Seconds later he snores loudly, making Nie Huaisang think that he won't be able to rest well at all.

Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen opted for a Western-style wedding, so the whole family drove to the largest church in Yunmeng for the rehearsal.

Wei Ying has never been inside a church before, but he doesn't let the white marble columns and figures of foreign saints intimidate him.

It's all a farce; white everywhere, trying to give the idea of purity—Wei Ying wants to laugh out loud at the thought, for Jiang Cheng certainly isn't pure. All his firsts were Wei Ying’s, but he bites his lip to keep from shouting it to the winds. It's not the right time to make his move yet, and who knows? Perhaps Jiang Cheng will realize the absurdity of the situation after rehearsing what should be the happiest moment of his life until there’s no trace of emotion left, turning it into a stage performance.

“Very well,” Lan Xichen says, once the Jiang family, his uncle (Lan Qiren, if Wei Ying remembers correctly), and Nie Huaisang take their seats in front of the altar.

Wei Ying lets Lan Xichen lead him to the altar along with his brother and best man, Lan Wangji. He’s right next to Jiang Cheng (who is waiting outside for the signal to begin the rehearsal), ready to hand him the ring that he will give to Lan Xichen as proof of his vows, while Lan Wangji stands on the left side. Though judging by his droopy eyelids and lips pressed into a thin line, Lan Wangji is as excited about the wedding as Wei Ying himself. Could he be an ally?

The wedding march tears Wei Ying out of his thoughts. Jiang Cheng walks down the main hallway wearing black jeans ripped at the thighs and a t-shirt from his favorite band, but he still manages to steal Wei Ying’s breath away. Jiang Fengmian walks by his side, followed by two children who must belong to the Lan family, pretending to throw rose petals into the sky.

Lan Xichen sniffs loudly. "I understand,” Wei Ying thinks. “I feel the same way.”

Wei Ying has never thought about getting married, not even to Jiang Cheng. For him, it’s enough for two people to love each other and live together to consider themselves united until death does them part. However, seeing Jiang Cheng walking to the altar makes a lump form in his throat.

His A-Cheng, the boy who used to cry when an animal died in a movie and wouldn't calm down even when Wei Ying told him it was fiction. The teenager who got his first piercing in the bathroom at home, and called Wei Ying holding back tears to take him to the hospital, obviously all behind Yu Ziyuan’s back. His partner, his friend, his soulmate. The young man whom he left at the city airport, uncaring about his pleas disguised as complaints.

How easy it is to imagine that Jiang Cheng is heading towards him with flushed cheeks. How easy it would be to take his hand, look into his eyes, and swear eternal love, but it is not Wei Ying who does it, but Lan Xichen. Still, nothing’s set in stone yet, not as long as there is no legal document that says otherwise. Wei Ying has less than twenty-four hours to turn his life around.

If all goes well, Wei Ying could go ahead with the ceremony. Otherwise, the blue and purple forget-me-nots that decorate the place (although he would prefer more showy flowers, like red roses), the food that will be served at the reception, and the band will go to waste. The only thing that will change will be the groom. Surely the guests won't mind as long as they have food, drinks, and entertainment, right?

Wei Ying spends the entire rehearsal fantasizing about what will happen once Jiang Cheng comes back to him and only comes to his senses when Lan Xichen announces that they are done. The next thing on the agenda is a family meal (the last proper family meal, since the next day at that same time, Jiang Cheng will no longer be part of the Jiang family) and then the grooms will leave with their friends for their bachelor party. It’ll be Wei Ying's last chance to steal Jiang Cheng.

“I'll take care of Lan Xichen,” Nie Huaisang says in the privacy of the taxi they took to head to the Jiang house. “No. Don't get any weird ideas,” he adds after seeing Wei Ying raise an eyebrow. “I mean, I'll make sure he doesn't contact Jiang Cheng all night. So don't waste my efforts, and do something now before it's too late.”

“Like what?”

Nie Huaisang rolls his eyes.

“How about confessing your feelings?”

“What? No! He knows how I feel,” Wei Ying says, frowning. “He’s the one who must realize that he still loves me!”

Nie Huaisang sighs.

“Yeah, of course. Well, whatever it is, do something or you'll lose him forever,” Nie Huaisang gets out of the car, ready to lock himself in his room all afternoon getting ready to perfection for Lan Xichen's bachelor party. “Good luck.”

“You will need it.”

.

Jiang Cheng's friends take him to a strip club in the city center. They rented a private room for thirty people with a tube in the center where men and women alike (Jiang Cheng is bisexual after all, plus many of his friends are heterosexual) undress for them under a strobe light while they eat and drink freely.

Given the nature of the gathering, with people yelling out the songs coming from the speakers, men cheering at the pole-dancing men and women, and half a dozen people chatting about everything and nothing at once, Wei Ying has a hard time finding the right moment to approach Jiang Cheng.

The young groom is always surrounded by people offering him another beer, joking with him, or giving him advice about married life. Before, he had been a withdrawn boy, surly like a cat in front of strangers that only Wei Ying had known how to handle. Now Jiang Cheng has changed and the realization makes Wei Ying feel a pit in his stomach.

“Hey, A-Cheng! Don't forget about me,” Wei Ying says, approaching him as soon as he's left alone for a couple of seconds. As soon as Jiang Cheng turns to look at him, Wei Ying shoves a beer into his hand and clinks it against his. “For the old times!”

“I shouldn't drink so much or I'll have a hangover tomorrow.”

“Oh, come on! You have drunk with everyone, why am I the only one getting left out? Besides, I'm sure Lan Xichen won't mind.”

“Because by then he won't be your fiancé anymore.”

Jiang Cheng bites his inner cheek, which means that he will give in to Wei Ying's request as he has done so many times before. He raises the jug into the air and slams it against Wei Ying's before emptying it in one gulp.

“Yes! That’s the A-Cheng I know.”

Wei Ying pats Jiang Cheng on the back before imitating him. Without Lan Xichen, it's easy for them to revert to how they were before, laughing at stupid jokes, arguing over even sillier things, and drinking until they can’t stand straight while the party goes on around them. Already feeling confident, Wei Ying dares to ask, “Nervous?”

“A bit,” Jiang Cheng says, looking down.

“Are you having second thoughts about it? I don't blame you. Getting married is not just anything, especially to someone you barely know and who is very different from you,” Wei Ying presses Jiang Cheng while examining his face for the slightest sign of regret. Alcohol always makes people more honest, so Wei Ying hopes for a full-fledged confession.

“No. Of course not. But I'm afraid. You know better than anyone what my parents' marriage is like,” For the first time in the night, on an evening that should be full of joy, a shadow crosses Jiang Cheng's features. “I don't want Xichen and me to end up like that.”

“If that happens, you can always come live with me.”

“To the funeral home?” Jiang Cheng asks, raising an eyebrow.

“We can leave tonight if you want,” Wei Ying says, ignoring Jiang Cheng's attempt to make the matter less serious with a joke. “I’ll explain everything to your family and Lan Xichen, so you won't have to worry about anything or have any contact with them.”

Jiang Cheng frowns. However, before he can answer, one of Jiang Cheng's friends grabs him by the shoulders to guide him to the nearest table. It's time to cut the cake.

Wei Ying has no choice but to join the celebrations. Although he eats cake with the rest of the guests and drinks a couple more beers, he keeps an eye on Jiang Cheng. But the opportunity to talk to him alone does not arise again, which frustrates and exasperates him in equal measure. He was so close to having him back! A couple more minutes and they would be on their way to Qinghe… Has he really lost Jiang Cheng forever because of a piece of cake?

Wei Ying snoozes all the way back to the Jiang house, overcome by the alcohol and grief. However, when he already believes that there’s no solution and has fallen into a nightmare in which he ages and dies alone, Jiang Cheng's voice calls him back to reality.

“We're home. Get up and go to your bed. Your boyfriend must be waiting for you.”

Wei Ying smiles lazily when he detects jealousy in his A-Cheng's voice. He comes up with the idea of pretending to be too drunk to get up, thus forcing Jiang Cheng to slide an arm under Wei Ying's armpit to help him up. That way Wei Ying can inhale the scent of his aftershave cologne mixed with that of the cake, and feel his muscles flexing against his body.

Jiang Cheng drags Wei Ying to the entrance and then pauses to look for his keys. All of his friends have left to prepare for the wedding, so they are alone—Wei Ying doesn't plan to waste the opportunity.

“A-Cheng.”

“Hm?”

“I need to talk to you,” Wei Ying gets out of Jiang Cheng's grasp with grace and speed, but before Jiang Cheng can complain, Wei Ying adds, “It's important. It's about your marriage…”

Jiang Cheng continues to fight against the front door. His trembling fingers don't let him fit the key into the lock and the fact that Wei Ying is talking doesn't help him concentrate.

“A-Cheng…”

“I'm trying! It would be easier if you weren't yelling in my ear. What's more, if you want to enter so badly, why not...?”

Already fed up, Wei Ying takes Jiang Cheng by the shoulders and turns him around so that they are facing each other. Then, before Jiang Cheng opens his mouth to ask what the hell he's doing, Wei Ying smashes their lips together.

Jiang Cheng's lips are soft and mold perfectly to Wei Ying’s. The sweet aftertaste of the cake drives Wei Ying to lick them, deepen the kiss, and lose himself in how right it feels. Why didn't he try it sooner? He would have saved himself a lot of headaches if he had only remembered that actions are louder than words.

“I love you,” Wei Ying whispers into Jiang Cheng’s ear. The distant light of a streetlamp doesn’t let him see Jiang Cheng's expression, as if drawn with ink on a sheet of paper. “I have always loved you. A-Cheng,” Wei Ying takes his beloved's hand and squeezes it, looking for any reaction except that heavy silence that threatens to suffocate him. “Don’t get married, please. At least, not to Lan Xichen. Marry me. I will make you happy, much more than he ever will.”

Wei Ying makes to seal his promise with a second kiss, but Jiang Cheng dodges at the last moment, his wide eyes fixed on a point behind Wei Ying.

“What…?” Wei Ying asks.

“Xichen!”

Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng pushes Wei Ying, making him stumble.

“Xichen, wait! It's not what you think!”

Wei Ying turns around to see Jiang Cheng running full speed to the opposite sidewalk, not even considering he could get hit by a car at any moment. His footsteps echo on the pavement, definitive, moving further and further away from Wei Ying.

“Xichen, please!” Jiang Cheng's voice tears through the stillness of the night, waking up all the dogs in the neighborhood. However, his plea is not enough to stop Lan Xichen, who in three quick movements opens the door of his car, gets in, and starts the engine.

The taillights of Lan Xichen's car illuminate Jiang Cheng, kneeling on the pavement, before speeding away. Upon seeing him like this, defeated, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably, Wei Ying realizes his mistake.

“A-Cheng!” Wei Ying says while trying to lift him off the ground by taking his arm.

Jiang Cheng shakes his hands off violently.

"What the hell are you doing?" He asks. "What about Nie Huaisang? Huh?"

Wei Ying looks down. He can't withstand Jiang Cheng's gaze.

"I… lied. We're not dating. I just," the more he talks, the silliest he feels. His heart is pumping so fast he can barely hear himself talk, but he powers on. "I wanted to make you jealous. I thought you were…"

"What? Jealous?" Jiang Cheng laughs derisively. "I was mad you didn't tell me about Nie Huaisang!"

"You didn't tell me about Lan Xichen either," Wei Ying can't help but snap. "Do you know how I felt when you told me you were getting married ? When we promised we'd be together forever?"

"You broke that promise seven years ago. Are you surprised that I moved on? It's too late, Wei Ying."

Wei Ying's eyes redden, but he restrains his tears from falling.

"I know," he says in a broken voice. He knew it all along but didn't want to face reality. He didn't want to accept the fact that he had lost the love of his life out of fear of commitment.

“It's too late for the both of us."

"Not for you."

Jiang Cheng shakes his head.

"I lost him forever,” Jiang Cheng says, meeting Wei Ying's eyes. Big fat tears hang at the corners of his eyes before sliding down his cheeks, yet there is no hatred in his gaze.

Jiang Cheng believes that he’s to blame for what happened, instead of blaming Wei Ying for ruining everything. Wei Ying would rather face his anger, always visceral but manageable, than his tear-strained face, pale and pitiful like that of a child lost in the dark.

“You didn’t, A-Cheng.”

“He hates me.”

“That's not true, A-Cheng. And he would be an idiot if he lets you go because of this,” Wei Ying says as he drags Jiang Cheng to the doorway. “Lan Xichen adores you. Everyone can tell. He looks at you as if you were the most precious thing in the world. He's mad at me, not at you. He'll come back.”

Wei Ying is not surprised to find Yu Ziyuan waiting for them at the entrance, her arms crossed.

The woman's steely gaze, identical to that of her son, tells Wei Ying that she knows what happened and was expecting it. However, Wei Ying doesn’t have time to feel bad (nor the right), because he must fix the situation before it’s too late.

“A-Cheng, listen to me,” Wei Ying says, putting his hands on Jiang Cheng's shoulders. He makes no move to shake them off, nor to look at Wei Ying, he just sits on the sofa with his eyes fixed on the floor. “I'll bring Lan Xichen back no matter what, so go to bed. You have to look good for the wedding tomorrow. Do you hear me?”

“I'll take care of him. You make sure you keep your promise,” Yu Ziyuan takes a seat next to her son. “Otherwise, you'll have to deal with me. Come on! What are you waiting for?”

Wei Ying jumps to his feet, although he doesn't know where to start looking. He barely knows Lan Xichen, so he has no idea where he might have gone. Still, Wei Ying grabs Jiang Cheng's car keys from their usual place at the table by the entrance and heads off into the night.

Jiang Yanli texts him Lan Xichen’s address, but his car isn’t outside the residence. Time is slipping out of his fingers at great speed. Suddenly his watch shows half past one in the morning and he wastes another half hour getting back to the city’s center.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Where has Lan Xichen gone?

Wei Ying drives around the city aimlessly, hoping to find Lan Xichen's car parked somewhere, but to no avail. Lan Xichen doesn't drink, so bars are out of the question, and since all the buildings are closed, for the city sleeps, Wei Ying can't check a random library or cafe either. But even if he could, how many libraries, cafes, and parks are there in the city?

Now the clock reads two in the morning, but Wei Ying feels more awake than ever with the weight of his guilt pressing down on his back. He promised Jiang Cheng that he would return Lan Xichen to him even if it’s the last thing he does. Maybe Wei Ying should have asked Jiang Cheng about Lan Xichen's favorite places before leaving, but it was too late to do so since he didn't want to risk waking up Jiang Cheng if by some miracle he managed to fall asleep.

Things would be easier if the fugitive was Jiang Cheng. Wei Ying knows all of his favorite places. If Jiang Cheng needs to de-stress, he visits the zoo, for all the silly things animals do make him smile. If he is angry, he goes to the gym to hit the punching bag until he gets tired.

As for his joy, Jiang Cheng is more private about it. Still, Wei Ying is sure that the Jiangs were the first to see his engagement ring and appreciate the sparkle in his eyes, but they might never know about what happened tonight. Jiang Cheng always hides his sadness from the world, running to the city's port, also known as Lotus Pier, whenever he feels like the world is crashing down on him.

The moonlight reflected on the still waters, the croaking of frogs among the lotus flowers, and the city lights in the distance always calm Jiang Cheng down. It’s his secret place, to which Wei Ying only had access several years after gaining his trust.

Wei Ying snaps his head up from the steering wheel, making himself dizzy in the process. However, even though his head is spinning, the idea—no, the certainty—blooming in his mind doesn’t go away. Jiang Cheng has always placed a lot of importance on trust in a relationship as a result of his parents' difficult marriage, so if he agreed to marry Lan Xichen, it means he trusts him. Enough to show him his secret place? Wei Ying thinks so.

The car screeches when Wei Ying forces it to go from zero to eighty in a second, but luckily there's no cop in sight to give him a ticket. He doesn't find any on his way to Lotus Pier either, as if fate were helping him do the right thing for once in his life.

Wei Ying sighs, relieved when the car's headlights illuminate Lan Xichen's car parked on the side of the pier. However, his relief is momentary, as finding Lan Xichen is only the first step–now he must face him.

Lan Xichen is leaning against the fence, looking at the moon reflected on the water's surface, his hands in his coat pockets. He doesn't turn around when he hears Wei Ying's footsteps.

"Lan Xichen."

No response. Wei Ying would wonder if he was dealing with a ghost if he didn't recognize Lan Xichen's perfectly slicked-back hair and his broad shoulders.

"Lan Xichen."

"Have you come to boast about your victory?" Lan Xichen asks, still staring at the moon swaying on the lake. His voice is cold, almost ghostly.

"No. Do you want me to?"

"I would rather not. Is A-Cheng with you?" Lan Xichen asks and his voice breaks when he says his beloved's name. "No. Don't say anything, A-Cheng. I just want you to be happy and if Wei Ying is your happiness…"

"Who are you talking to?" Wei Ying asks, unable to avoid the sarcasm in his voice. "A-Cheng is not here! He's at his house, resting for tomorrow's ceremony. But if you insist on playing the victim, if you're not going to fight for him, I'll try to steal him from you again. Who knows? Maybe luck will be on my side this time."

Lan Xichen turns around.

“You don't understand,” Lan Xichen says, walking towards Wei Ying with long strides. Fury burns inside his brown eyes, making Wei Ying take an involuntary step back. "All I want is for A-Cheng to be happy and I'm willing to get out of the way for him to be. Isn't that what you wanted? To separate us?"

"I…"

“I've been watching you,” Lan Xichen says, speaking just inches from Wei Ying's face. "A-Cheng told me so much about you and everything you experienced together, that I couldn't help it. At first, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, making me see things, but the way you look at A-Cheng…*

Lan Xichen shakes his head and clenches his fists.

"Your comments, your attempts to be alone with him. You're so obvious I'm surprised A-Cheng didn't notice. You would have saved him a lot of pain if you had confessed years ago."

"Fine! I admit it! I love A-Cheng! I always have," Wei Ying closes his eyes, ashamed of himself for what he has caused. "And I thought that he would feel that way forever too, even if we were apart, even with no promises to bind us together and without me doing anything to keep that feeling alive. I was so arrogant to think that he would run back into my arms after seeing me, so I came back to Yunmeng intending to steal him from you."

Wei Ying fights the impulse to grimace and hurts his throat swallowing the lump that threatens to turn his voice into a croak.

"But I was too late, Lan Xichen."

Wei Ying and Lan Xichen look at each other for a long time, until Wei Ying musters the courage to put the truth into words.

"Because A-Cheng loves you."

He's finally done it. He said it. It no longer matters if Lan Xichen sees his eyes moisten and take on a reddish hue, all the veins standing out on the white sclera. And what if Lan Xichen notices that Wei Ying's trembling shoulders are not due to the wind rushing along the pier but from repressed sobs? There is no greater humiliation than accepting defeat and Wei Ying is already on the ground, he can no longer fall any lower.

However, instead of kicking his fallen enemy, Lan Xichen extends his hand. Literally. After all, despite their many differences, there is something that unites them and that is their love for Jiang Cheng.

"I will make him happy, that I can assure you."

Wei Ying should hate Lan Xichen even more for being so good, too good to be true with millions in the bank, the face of a model, and a gentle personality–but he can't. Jiang Cheng deserves someone like him. After years of living abandoned by parents too busy fighting among themselves, someone has finally chosen him above all else. And that someone is not Wei Ying.

"You better do. Or else…"

"Don't worry. I'll never give you the chance to take him away from me."

Is that possessiveness in Lan Xichen's voice? Wei Ying can't help but shudder. Gods, it's so cold out there.

"Can you drive?" Wei Ying asks, pretending to look in the direction of Lan Xichen's car so that he doesn't see his tears. "Otherwise, I'll take you back. I don't want anything to happen to you. I promised A-Cheng that I would return you safely to his side and I plan to keep my promise."

Lan Xichen smiles. He's back to being the good-natured man Wei Ying met a few days ago.

" I should take you home. You don't look very good."

"I'm perfectly fine," as if to prove it, Wei Ying begins to do push-ups, making Lan Xichen giggle. "Come on. It's getting late and I won't forgive you if you oversleep and leave A-Cheng waiting at the church."

“I would never,” Lan Xichen says. "There is nothing I want more than to call A-Cheng my husband."

"Right."

Wei Ying starts walking to Jiang Cheng's car, ignoring the pain in his chest spreading throughout his body. Luckily, he'll be back home and back to his old routine in less than twenty-four hours, which will allow him to work through the pain at his own pace, but first, he has a few more challenges to face. The first is Lan Xichen's following request, "Could you take me to the Jiang house first? I want to tell A-Cheng that everything is fine."

Wei Ying tilts an imaginary hat in response.

.

Wei Ying tries to make himself as small and insignificant as possible considering that he is a few inches short of being two meters tall. Luckily, the darkness of the night (it's barely three in the morning) and the poor street lighting help him camouflage himself among the shadows inside the car. But there is nothing he can do to avoid listening to the conversation between Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng.

Wei Ying could turn on the car radio, but doing so would mean breaking the moment between the happy couple and giving away his position to Jiang Cheng. As for covering his ears with his hands–well, he is not so childish that he can't survive hearing the words of love between Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng.

“I know it's bad luck to see the groom before the wedding,” Lan Xichen says, leaning against the front door of the Jiang house. Jiang Cheng is on the other side. He hasn't moved an inch since Wei Ying left, ignoring his and Yu Ziyuan's orders. "But I couldn't help myself, A-Cheng. Then I saw… it doesn't matter anymore."

"Do you still want to marry me?" Jiang Cheng asks in a tearful voice.

A few more tears slide down his cheeks when Lan Xichen responds, "More than anything. Do you…?"

"Yes."

"Then don't worry, my heart," Lan Xichen caresses the wooden door as if it were his fiance. "Go to sleep and I will do the same. Everything's fine. Everything's fine, my love."

"Ok."

"See you in a few hours at the church."

“Yes,” Jiang Cheng says, his voice so soft that Wei Ying gets a lump in his throat. "Good night, Xichen."

"Good night, my love."

Lan Xichen doesn't leave immediately, instead, he stands on the sidewalk in front of the house, staring in the direction of Jiang Cheng's window until the light from the only bedside lamp in the room goes out. Only then does Wei Ying take him to the Lan house.

.

Nie Huaisang only needs to take one look at Wei Ying's swollen eyes, framed by large dark circles, to guess what happened. The poor guy looks so haggard that Nie Huaisang doesn't dare ask him for details and respects his silence at the breakfast table, where they eat something light before the ceremony.

The house is in chaos, with servants running around and members of the Jiang family opening and closing doors on the upper floors. Judging by the noise, they must be getting ready and don't have time to have a bowl of soup, like Nie Huaisang and Wei Ying, who have opted for simple tuxedos. However, the busiest of all is Jiang Cheng, for Wei Ying does not see him all morning, and therefore can't properly apologize to him.

“I need to talk to him,” Wei Ying says when Nie Huaisang asks him why he keeps looking at the door that leads to the hallway. Wei Ying wants to see Jiang Cheng one last time as the man he fell in love with before losing him forever.

Sadly, his wish doesn't come true. Jiang Cheng doesn't leave his room before Wei Ying and Nie Huaisang have to leave for the church along with Jin Zixuan and his family. 

Wei Ying only sees Jiang Cheng clad in a white suit on the other side of the altar, half hidden by Lan Xichen, until he has to hand him the ring that will tie his life with Lan Xichen's forever.

Jiang Cheng looks radiant even though he spent the night crying. It's no wonder a couple of tears roll down Lan Xichen's cheeks as he says his wedding vows. The light in Jiang Cheng's gaze gets reflected in Lan Xichen's eyes, who looks at him with adoration, as impeccable as if he had slept ten hours straight, and it's as if the rest of the world did not exist.

Wei Ying applauds like the rest of the guests when the ceremony concludes. Although at first he can't smile, as soon as Jiang Cheng nods at him, thanking him for keeping his promise, the corners of his lips rise naturally.

The newlyweds cross the church's threshold in a shower of rice and the family gathers behind them, following them to the street, leaving Wei Ying and Nie Huaisang far behind. By the time they make their way to the sidewalk and feel the kiss of the sun on their heads, Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen have already headed to the hall where the reception will be held.

“You don't have to go,” Nie Huaisang says as they wait for an empty taxi. "You have already fulfilled your duty as the best man. I'm sure Jiang Cheng will understand if you don't show up at the reception."

“I want to go,” Wei Ying says.

Nie Huaisang shrugs, thinking Wei Ying is a masochist.  He'd need a special level of masochism to endure the long reception, which begins with a light meal before the newlyweds open the dance. More so considering that, given his role as Jiang Cheng's best man, Wei Ying has a table right before the dance floor.

Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen dance surrounded by marble columns wrapped in lotus flowers and blue forget-me-nots. The soft melody of the piano seems to have transported them to another world judging by the way they look at each other as they slide across the floor. Lan Xichen holds Jiang Cheng's right hand in his and circles his waist with his left, while Jiang Cheng rests his free hand on his husband's chest, letting himself be guided.

They are the textbook definition of happiness.

"Hey, let everyone else have fun too!" Wei Ying says and his chest feels a bit lighter. He doesn't regret helping them, he never will. He's happy to see Jiang Cheng happy, but everything has a limit.

Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng blink, breaking eye contact to look around as if they have broken free from a spell. Then Lan Xichen smiles and leans in to whisper something to Jiang Cheng that makes him smile too.

"I want to see you dance, if you're complaining so much!" Jiang Cheng says, making the guests laugh. It's the first time Jiang Cheng addresses Wei Ying directly since he kissed him and his eyes don't show any resentment, making Wei Ying get a lump in his throat.

Wei Ying jumps to his feet, grateful for Jiang Cheng's forgiveness, and the rest of the guests take the gesture as permission to join in as well.

"You dance?" Nie Huaisang asks, raising an eyebrow.

“You'll have to find out,” Wei Ying says, holding out his hand.

In the crowd (Jiang Cheng is now dancing with Lan Xichen's uncle and Lan Xichen is dancing with Yu Ziyuan, while Jiang Yanli gives a few minutes of her time to Lan Xichen's stone-faced brother), no one notices poor Nie Huaisang, who keeps grimacing every time Wei Ying stomps on his feet. Luckily, the romantic ballads soon give way to more up-tempo music, thus saving Nie Huaisang's big toe from being amputated.

An hour of dancing manages to whet the appetite of the guests, preparing them for the wedding cake. But first, the people closest to the newlyweds must say a few words to them, Wei Ying among them.

“I would never give A-Cheng to someone who didn't love him,” Wei Ying says, raising his glass to the couple when it is finally his turn to speak. He is a little tipsy after drinking several glasses of wine, but only then does he feel brave enough to speak. "And you are, Lan Xichen. I wish you all the happiness in the world."

Wei Ying takes his seat again and after a few seconds in which the guests look at each other, wondering if that was all, people begin to applaud. This is how the speeches end, giving way to dinner and then to the cake–a monstrous creation at least five feet tall, completely white, and with frosting roses on each of its three floors that end up being reduced to crumbs after half an hour.

The newlyweds get up to leave shortly after ten when the party is in full swing. The waiters still walk the rows of tables, arranged in concentric circles around the dance floor, bringing new bottles to the guests and serving more food to whoever asks for it (Jiang Yanli is proud of her success). The couples on the floor are as numerous as at the beginning, so no one will miss them.

Still, people surround Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen after they announce their departure. It's now or never , Wei Ying thinks, pushing his way through the people dancing.

“Jiang Cheng!” Wei Ying calls him, afraid that he won't be able to reach him in time. His voice rises above the music, making those present open a path for him.

Jiang Cheng stops and, after letting go of his husband's hand, heads back to Wei Ying.

“Congratulations,” Wei Ying says, trying not to complicate the situation with his feelings.

“Thank you for bringing him back,” Jiang Cheng says, dismissing his cliché words. "You will always be an important person in my life, A-Ying, so you better keep in touch. But if you don't want to, I will understand."

Wei Ying shakes his head.

"Give me time."

"As much as you want."

"In the meantime, be happy. Don't worry about me,” Wei Ying says, unable to prevent the tears from swelling in the corners of his eyes. How ridiculous he must look, contradicting his words with his tears.

"You too. Be well."

Wei Ying nods. It will take him a while, only God knows how long, but he will get over it. But since that moment has not yet arrived, Wei Ying dares to give Jiang Cheng one last hug, holding him close for several seconds.

“Have fun,” Wei Ying says after breaking the hug, pushing Jiang Cheng in the direction of his husband.

Lan Xichen nods, silently promising Wei Ying that he will take care of Jiang Cheng and treasure him for the rest of his life. Then, Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen walk down the hallway until they reach the street, where a car will take them to the airport.

The guests who gathered to see the couple off at the entrance soon disperse, leaving Wei Ying alone. And although it takes him a couple of minutes to make himself presentable again, when Wei Ying finally retraces his steps, he's smiling.

Wei Ying unties the red ribbon he's been wearing since he was fifteen, letting his hair loose. And as he stuffs it inside his pocket, someone addresses him.

"Good evening, would you like to dance with me?"