Archive of Our Own

Wei Ying grinned at Jiang Cheng. It was a naughty grin too.

"You're such an idiot." Jiang Cheng said, scowling. 

"Just you wait and see. Every shop needs a gimmick and this can be ours. The orders will come flying in and then guess who's gonna be eating humble pie?" Wei Ying laughed, grabbing the creamer.

Lotus Pod Coffee House was approaching its fifth year in business, a mean feat since Coffee bars and shops were springing up all around them like voracious weeds. Everyone wanted a cut of their business and times were hard, especially if they wanted to stay ahead of their competitors. 

But even Jiang Cheng had to admit, ever since Wei Ying joined their team of baristas, sales had gone up. Factoring his food-on-the-go suggestions for quick snacks that people could eat while walking to work and you could say that Wei Ying had singlehandedly contributed to a thirty percent increase in revenue. 

So while Jiang Cheng hated Wei Ying’s newest idea, he knew that in all likelihood it was going to be a success. He went into the back to wash some dishes, needing to get away from that cheeky smile.

"Hello! And what can I get for you?" Wei Ying greeted the beautiful stranger in a professional manner, he told himself. 

Privately though? He was swooning.

Golden eyes so intense with grief stared back, uncomprehending at first before speaking in a quiet but deep voice.

"One green tea with orange blossom and lotus flower, one caramel latte and one cupcake. Do you have any birthday candles?" He said, making Wei Ying shiver.

There were so many questions on the tip of his tongue just bursting to get out. The first one and most important in his opinion was, why did this beautiful Gege look so sad?

Wei Ying looked around and saw no one else accompanying him...so both the drinks were for him? And the cupcake? A single candle? And not just any candle...but birthday candles?

Whose birthday was it?

He probably had someone special coming, on their way to meet him now.

Wei Ying sighed, his smile dimming subtly.

"I'll get your order ready, Handsome Gege. Why don't you just sit over there while you're waiting?" Wei Ying told him.

"It's Lan Zhan." The beautiful man said, just as quietly. 

His stunning ochre orbs roamed over Wei Ying’s face, a spark of interest growing.

"Huh?" Wei Ying was never easily flustered.

But the way this man just stared at him? It was as if he could see right through to Wei Ying’s soul.

"My name. To write on the cup." Lan Zhan clarified, the hint of a smile on his lips before he remembered why he was there.

Today of all days.

"I'm Wei Ying." Wei Ying beamed at him. 

It was interesting to know his name. And Wei Ying decided then and there that Lan Zhan was going to be the first recipient of his newest idea. Who knew? It could be the very thing to cheer him up. He wondered what Lan Zhan would look like if he did smile...

"Thank you. Wei Ying." Lan Zhan replied, turning around to go and sit where Wei Ying had indicated, and missing the way Wei Ying shivered at the sound of his name spoken on those enticing lips.

Wei Ying quickly got to work, brewing the tea and the coffee simultaneously and while the machines did their magic, he hunted around for the old pack of birthday candles he had once spotted in the back of an old drawer.

He picked the prettiest cupcake; it was an ordinary Victorian sponge with pink and blue frosting and sprinkles, and added the candle. He put the tea to steep while preparing the caramel latte and now he was ready to begin.

Hopefully this new idea of his would take off and bring a different type of customer to their humble business: Instagrammers. They even had a feature wall where customers would take pictures and upload them on their pages. Anything for more views, because more views meant more interest and more interest equalled more business. 

He studied Lan Zhan’s profile as the latter stared outside, watching the rain. There was something so melancholy about his expression that it was hurting Wei Ying to  see that emotion there.

What would somebody so serious like? What kind of things would he find amusing? And as Wei Ying studied him, he saw a pin on the lapel of his jacket. His sharp eyes caught an image of a white bunny and BAM! He had his answer.

With an expert hand, he guided the coffee wand and drew two bunnies...and then he went a bit further. What if they were facing each other? No...even better, he made them kiss!

It was super cute and fun and Wei Ying hoped to see a smile on Lan Zhan’s face as a reward for his hard work.

He prepared the tray with Lan Zhan’s order and went to deliver it personally. 

Lan Zhan was startled by the cups of hot beverages placed in front of him. He saw the cake first as it was the most bright and sparkly out of everything, but then as his gaze fell on precious artwork Wei Ying had drawn, there was the slightest tilting of his lips before his expression returned to that stoic mask.

"Do you like it, Lan Zhan? I tried to draw something you would appeal to you..." Wei Ying asked him eagerly. 

Lan Zhan looked up at the bright, beautiful man and again, he had no idea what to say. He could only look at him with a deep appreciation. He saw a sincerity in those shimmering silver eyes that he had not seen in a long while.

"Wei WuXian! You have a customer waiting!" Jiang Cheng yelled, serving his own customer and smiling at the second one apologetically. 

Wei Ying smiled brightly at him and lifted his hand up, wiggling his fingers in a goodbye gesture while walking backwards.

Lan Zhan tilted his head returning the gesture before his gaze fell on the lit candle on the cupcake.

He watched the candle burn now, thinking of that special person who was no longer around to buy him this cupcake anymore. He pulled out his camera from the case next to him and took a few pictures of the bunnies, playing around with the angle and the lighting until he was satisfied. 

When Wei Ying next had the chance to look up, he saw that the gorgeous gentleman was no longer there. He jumped over the counter and went to collect Lan Zhan’s tray, filled with disappointment because he had hoped to speak some more with him. But he was surprised when he saw the tray and the leftovers.

Only the green tea was finished, but the uneaten cupcake remained with the candle burned to its stub, and the untouched caramel latte with the beautiful bunnies.

********

The next day at exactly four in the afternoon, Wei Ying looked up and saw two bright golden eyes watching him carefully. 

"Lan Zhan!" He said brightly, the smile transforming his beautiful face. His silver eyes sparkled with a little more happiness upon seeing Lan Zhan. 

For just a second, Lan Zhan forgot what he was going to say. But the weight of the bag in his hand reminded him.

"Can you draw something else?" He asked quietly. 

"Draw something else? Oh! You mean the latte artwork?" Wei Ying beamed, glad that his extraordinary idea was creating interest.

He caught Jiang Cheng's eye and stuck out his tongue in a childish act of retribution, to which Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes and scowled.

"I can draw whatever you like, Handsome Gege!" Wei Ying waggled his eyebrows suggestively. His confidence grew with every word.

"Surprise me, then." Lan Zhan replied, his gaze turning intense. He gave his order of a green tea with orange blossom and lotus flower, and an ordinary latte today, and returned to his seat, the same place he sat yesterday. 

Wei Ying thought hard as the coffee brewed and the water boiled for the tea.

Something else...? What could be good enough for this mysterious and oh-my-god-I-want-to-die drop dead gorgeous specimen of a human being? 

Wei Ying realised in a panicky sort of way that he wouldn't mind staring at that handsome face forever...

He snapped out of it when the coffee maker pinged, signalling that the drink was done.

He poured the mixture into a cup, still having no idea what to do and this was doubly difficult because bunnies were off the list. The creamer went in, a dollop at a time and soon it became a shape. The wand helped and Wei Ying expertly spread it around working quickly. Five minutes later, he picked up the tray and took it to the heavenly person waiting for him.

Lan Zhan looked at the latte and his golden eyes widened with surprise. 

Wei Ying had drawn a tree shadowed by a sunset of cream using cocoa powder to enhance the darker parts, and the effect? It was simply stunning.

"That's not a smile, though..." Wei Ying tapped his nose, more than a little disappointed. 

Lan Zhan looked up in surprise, not sure of what he had heard.

"Nevermind! I shall do better tomorrow!" He recovered brightly full of renewed enthusiasm, and in his sunny way, he returned to his place behind the counter. 

There weren’t many customers in this hour, and he knew that come rush hour when people would leave their places of work, there would be a frantic crowd so Wei Ying had some time for now.

He quickly opened up Google and looked for interesting coffee art...and there was a lot of it.

A part of him knew that Wei Ying could if he wanted to, copy some of that...but it didn't feel right. Not only would he feel bad about that because imitating someone's work wasn't right at all, but he felt like it wasn't enough. Whatever he was seeing now could be improved upon and Wei Ying decided to try a few experiments. There was nothing wrong with using his own brain and he wanted to make an extra special effort.

Anything to make Lan Zhan smile.

Lan Zhan drank his tea and got up.

"Oh...are you leaving now, Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying looked incredibly disappointed. 

He had just finished his research and was engrossed in sketching out a few designs on paper napkins when he saw Lan Zhan moving towards the exit.

"Mn. What did Wei Ying want?" He asked.

"Did you enjoy your tea?" Wei Ying asked, too flustered to think about anything else.

Lan Zhan had given him much to think about and Wei Ying appreciated a challenge. Maybe this was exactly what he needed to create something other than hearts and swans.

"Mn." Lan Zhan wasn't sure what to say next, beyond a confirmation of the asked question. 

Wei Ying truly was quite beautiful. 

And it wasn't skin deep, either. Lan Zhan had a feeling that Wei Ying was a beautiful person too.

But the silence deepened as both of them tried not to be too obvious about looking at each other. And then the door in front of Lan Zhan opened, the bell on top of it ringing and breaking the spell.

Lan Zhan left immediately and Wei Ying watched him go.

However, now that he had a goal, Wei Ying felt the beginning of real excitement coarse through his veins. 

***********

The next day, Wei Ying was waiting eagerly for Lan Zhan to come. Every time the little bell rang over the door he would look up, hoping to see those brilliant golden eyes looking for him.

Maybe Lan Zhan wasn't actually...really looking for him, but Wei Ying thought there was nothing wrong with pretending. 

At four in the afternoon, today there was a queue and so Wei Ying busy with customer after customer, had no time to keep an eye out for his favourite person. When the lady with the big hat moved away and Wei Ying finally saw those familiar golden eyes, he sighed under his breath with relief.

He put on his brightest, happiest smile and greeted Lan Zhan warmly.

"I missed you, Lan Zhan! What'll it be today?"

Lan Zhan asked for exactly the same thing he ordered yesterday. 

Wei Ying was curious though; he had one question he was desperate for Lan Zhan to answer: why order two drinks when he only intended to drink one?

But he pushed it down and began. Today, Wei Ying was going to go the extra mile and he didn't care if it took longer than normal to create his masterpiece. He had even dreamed about it.

Lan Zhan watched as the artist inside Wei Ying came out to play. Today he waited by the counter, partially because it was so busy and he didn't want to make Wei Ying move from behind his space, but mostly Lan Zhan was curious about how Wei Ying created the beautiful artwork. 

He wanted to watch.

Those elegant slender fingers picked up the jug and began to work his magic.

Wei Ying made the frothy creamer slightly thicker than normal and began to push and pull it apart on the surface of the latte. There were gasps from the orderly queue members who gathered around the counter just to see him draw. As the image became clearer, there were whistles of appreciation...but the one person Wei Ying wanted to have approval from the most, remained silent.

Wei Ying drew a long tailed dragon with a lighter underbelly, its tail winding around the inner rim of the cup, and the fire from its mouth created a heart shape in which the dragon was the centre.

When he finished the last stroke of his wand, there was a round of applause as he pushed the tray towards Lan Zhan. 

Lan Zhan’s eyes were definitely warmer as he accepted it.

But there was still no smile.

Wei Ying tapped his own nose, thinking fast.

He would just have to try harder.

********

Two weeks had passed and Lan Zhan came in everyday to request a green tea with orange blossom and lotus flower, and an ordinary latte. Every day, he drank the tea and left the coffee.

And every day, Wei Ying created masterpiece after masterpiece, each design as unique and individual from the one created the day before, and yet he was no closer to making Lan Zhan smile.

It was very frustrating. 

Lan Zhan was extremely polite, too.

He answered the questions that Wei Ying dared himself to ask and none of the ones in his heart. All of them superficial and it felt as if he was dancing around what his insatiable curiosity wanted to know.

Wei Ying really really wanted to know more about him...but for the first time in his life, he was listening to the doubts created by his own mind. He made up a silly superstition that were he to actually ask Lan Zhan why he came in to order a drink that he had no intention of drinking, Lan Zhan would stop coming in.

And now, Lan Zhan was the highpoint of his every day.

Wei Ying looked forward to four o'clock on the dot, every afternoon, and saved his most welcoming smile for this one person...this one person who talked so little that Wei Ying was truly mystified. 

He could count on a single hand sometimes when Lan Zhan had spoken less than five more words other than those he used for his order.

Wei Ying wasn't even sure if Lan Zhan liked him...or even if he was gay...and a part of him really wanted to know.

But Lan Zhan looked incredibly uncomfortable every time Wei Ying made an attempt at conversation and so eventually, Wei  Ying stopped. Yet his first challenge was what fuelled his creativity and made him want to create something different every time.

He still wanted Lan Zhan to smile.

*********

Twenty nine days had passed since Lan Zhan had first come in, requesting a solitary birthday candle for his cupcake; today was the thirtieth. 

Today was the day, Wei Ying promised himself. 

Today, come four o'clock, he was going to complete Lan Zhan’s order and then he was going to take a break. And in that break, he was going to sit down and try talking to Lan Zhan. 

For real.

Wei Ying had even planned it out: a recreation of the two bunnies from his very first cup of art. But this one was going to be a 3-D version. Wei Ying had been studying how to thicken the cream that he used to make shapes on the surface of the hot liquid so that it did not immediately dissolve; and after a few experiments, he had concocted the best possible mixture for today.

Using melted marshmallows, he whisked it into the cream and smiled when the peak stayed from the utensil. Now he was ready.

At exactly four o'clock, Lan Zhan walked in and Wei Ying was delighted, thanking his lucky stars that it was quiet again. He prayed that it would remain that way and he would be able to take full advantage of his break.

Lan Zhan had taken to watching him at the counter after placing his order, and Wei Ying was not going to lie to himself; it was infinitely more exciting to be watched by the object of his fascination whilst doing his best to wow Lan Zhan. It bordered on a performance as silver eyes anxiously watched golden ones for approval.

Two bunnies remained upright in the latte on top of the hot beverage, and Wei Ying began to blush as he pushed their mouths together. A slight dusting of chocolate powder, and a heart surrounding them...and he was done. He shifted the tray with the completed cups of Lan Zhan’s order towards him and looked up...and he let out an audible gasp...

Shock because Lan Zhan was smiling.

Finally...at last...and Wei Ying felt as if he could fly!

What a wonderful moment! He wanted to take a picture of Lan Zhan’s face, exactly as he looked right now, so handsome and so beautiful...like a work of art.

Not just any art, but a culmination of an artist's experience to create the best, the masterpiece of his life.

Wei Ying noted, breathlessly, that his eyes were lit up from within by a golden fire, a magnetic intensity that stopped Wei Ying from looking away. Tense energy crackled between them making nervous tingles spread out, dancing along the surface of his skin.

There was clapping from his fellow members of staff and the next customer...but Wei Ying had eyes only for Lan Zhan, who seemed just as involved, just as taken as him.

Lan Zhan fell out of this mysterious trance first and jolted. He picked up his tray and moved towards his usual chair with the same elegance and poise as before, just as Wei Ying whipped off his apron and jumped over the counter, after telling his co-workers that it was time for his break.

Today was the day.

Today...in a few moments, he was going to ask Lan Zhan out on a date...if he could just drum up enough courage to do so. It kind of depended on his answers to Wei Ying’s questions...

Wei Ying watched as Lan Zhan took out his super duper complex looking camera and played around with shots, using the ambience of the low lighting to photograph his drinks.

Wei Ying had wondered about this and assumed that Lan Zhan was an amateur Instagrammer, posting a photo with himself as many of them were wont to do.

He hoped Lan Zhan would get many likes and comments on his page and who knew? Maybe if he had enough followers, it would mean more business for the Coffee House.

When he thought Lan Zhan was done with his photos, and after he took his first sip of the green tea, Wei Ying stepped up to the small table, his hands nervously holding onto the vacant chair as he looked hopefully at Lan Zhan. 

"Lan Zhan...it's my break now. I was saving it for you...do you mind if we spend it together?" He could not stop his eagerness from leaking out through his words, holding his breath and waiting for Lan Zhan to answer.

Lan Zhan looked pleased for just a second.

He nodded.

Just that action alone had Wei Ying smiling with relief as he sat down opposite the most beautiful man in the world. 

In his humble opinion. 

Which was always right...

"So...um...Lan Zhan...May I ask you a few questions?" He ventured.

His nerves were back though Wei Ying suspected that they had never really gone away to begin with. He felt like he was hovering on the cusp of something so important...that after this, there was going to no going back.

This was a pivotal moment and he hoped he wouldn't make a mess of it.

Lan Zhan studied him carefully. 

He had come here, to this specific coffee house just for Wei Ying. He could have gone anywhere else because there was a coffee house on the corner of every single street, and all of them claimed to sell the perfect cup of coffee...but there was only one shop that had a Wei Ying. 

There was something so incredible, so touching about every single cup of coffee that he created. Lan Zhan felt as if he was in the presence of magic every single time Wei Ying made him something special. Though he had one clear favourite, way above and beyond all the others.

It was as if Wei Ying was putting a piece of his soul into every stroke of his coffee wand, creating legitimate shapes and tangible art from mere blobs of white foam resting on brown liquid.

Lan Zhan loved his dedication, his sincerity and his desire to do even better day by day...it was one of the reasons he refused to show any kind of approval until today: because he didn't want Wei Ying to stop trying to do better. And today, he had finally managed to blow Lan Zhan away with his design.

An upright bunny design, stunning and so cute complete with a dusting of cocoa...it was truly magnificent. 

So Lan Zhan nodded again, kind of anxious to know what Wei Ying wanted to ask him.

"Okay...so...um..." Wei Ying wiped his palms on the crease of his trousers nervously. "Why did you want a birthday candle on that cupcake...that first day? Why did you look so sad?" It broke his heart all over again as Wei Ying remembered what Lan Zhan looked like on that day.

Lan Zhan was surprised. 

He hadn’t expected Wei Ying to pick up on his mood or to be able to sense the depth of his feelings. He just assumed that because no one could usually tell what he was thinking or feeling that he would be ignored. But it seemed, Wei Ying was different. 

Lan Zhan suddenly felt extremely relieved.

And he was unprepared for that.

Here was someone willing to take the time to try and understand him..and he was spot on, and it felt nice. To be able to open his heart to someone...someone as stunning as this man...it felt surreal as if Lan Zhan was imagining it all.

It made Lan Zhan want to try.

Try to explain himself and find out if Wei Ying was still there, wanting to understand. 

So he told Wei Ying the truth.

"My mother passed away earlier this year. Suddenly...none of us knew she was ill." His voice cracked as a fresh bout of pain exploded in his heart.

Wei Ying immediately leaned forward and covered Lan Zhan’s hand with his own, warm one, cooing softly. 

"I'm so sorry, Lan Zhan." He said quietly, full of sympathy. 

But it seemed whatever inhibitions Lan Zhan had about speaking were gone because he opened his mouth and many more words came out.

"My mother was the only one who ever bought me a cake on my birthday. It was always just the two of us...she would sneak me out of the house and we would go to a gallery or a park or somewhere fun. Then at the end of the day, she'd take me to a coffee house and buy me a cake. She would order a coffee for herself and a hot chocolate for me."

"Why did you change it up?" Wei Ying asked him.

Granted, it wasn’t the most important question on his list, but Wei Ying wanted to know everything there was to know, about Lan Zhan. 

When Lan Zhan looked confused about his question, Wei Ying looked pointedly at his green tea.

"I make a mean hot chocolate if you're ever interested." He added.

"I am always interested in Wei Ying." Lan Zhan added too quickly and reached for the green tea, anything to stop his mouth from speaking. 

His ears were bright red.

So was Wei Ying’s face, a delightful rosy shade and he gave a small whine of embarrassment. 

"I grew up." Lan Zhan replied, when he was sure he could fully form the words.

As if that was an explanation. 

Wei Ying clicked his tongue, disappointed. 

"Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan...don't you know? You're never too old for hot chocolate. One day I'm gonna make you the best cup you've ever had!" Wei Ying smiled at him.

"Wei WuXian! Break's over!" Jiang Cheng yelled. 

Wei Ying looked around and saw that in these few minutes he had spent by Lan Zhan, the coffee shop had grown extremely busy and there was a double queue at the counter.

Jiang Cheng glared at him and mouthed, "now!" Pointing to his usual spot.

Wei Ying gave him his best, brightest smile as if to say, "what? You're coping just fine!" And turned to Lan Zhan. He grabbed a paper napkin and quickly wrote down his phone number on it. He pushed it into Lan Zhan’s hand and returned to the front of the queue where he scooted over the counter.

Feeling Lan Zhan’s eyes on him, he returned to performance Wei Ying and brought out his flirty side, charming all the people impatiently waiting while making drink after drink.

When the rush was over, his eyes naturally lifted to corner seat where he had left Lan Zhan sitting...he looked at his watch, over an hour ago.

It was empty and someone had thrown away the tray and the drinks.

Wei Ying sighed to himself, working out the kinks in his neck and back as he stretched.

He felt better though; even if he hadn't managed to ask Lan Zhan out on a date, it was okay because he had passed on his number and he could do that first part tomorrow, when Lan Zhan came back.

Without a care in the world, Wei Ying swung his jacket on and locked up for the night.

********

The next day, four o'clock came and went and Lan Zhan didn't show up.

At first, Wei Ying was rather surprised at that; he'd been too busy restocking to notice the time, and by five, that's when he realised that Lan Zhan’s seat was empty.

He wondered if Lan Zhan had been merely delayed and this resulted in anxious looks every time the door jingled open or close...but no golden-eyed beauty walked in.

Wei Ying was distracted after that, and got an order wrong, spilled burning coffee on his wrist, and overtoasted someone's panini.

His eyes kept drifting towards the door but no Lan Zhan turned up.

He refused to worry though, they were friends, right? If not today, Lan Zhan would definitely come tomorrow. 

Thursday passed and no Lan Zhan.

Friday through the weekend and no Lan Zhan came, and Wei Ying was beginning to worry. He was distracted at work and he felt agitated because his superstition had come true and now he didn't know what to do. 

It wasn't as if he knew where Lan Zhan was, or if he had a way to contact him...Lan Zhan had simply disappeared out of his life and Wei Ying...missed him.

Their door never failed to draw his eyes every time the little silver bell jangled on top of, and Wei Ying was devastated every time an ordinary pair of eyes met his gaze.

"What's wrong with you?" Jiang Cheng shoved him lightly after a week of his moping around. 

"Nothing..." Wei Ying slouched at the counter, doodling on a paper napkin. He didn't have the heart to come back with a witty reply, either.

"You're been hanging around with the most pitiful expression on your face for a whole week so don't lie to me, alright?" Jiang Cheng said, those last few words coming out softer. "You look like a kicked puppy, okay? I can't stand it."

He smiled at Wei Ying’s horrified face.

"Sorry, sorry...I won't mention dogs." Jiang Cheng said, knowing how Wei Ying felt about them.

"It's just...I felt a connection with him...you know? And it....didn't seem like it was only me...that's all." He sighed for the hundredth time today.

"No man...or woman is worth you feeling so out of sorts like this." Jiang Cheng motioned towards Wei Ying’s body. "Snap out of it, okay? Your face is bad for business."

Wei Ying stuck his tongue out snarkily, mimicking Jiang Cheng's words back to him in a higher pitch.

Then his phone chimed.

It was an unknown number.

Wei Ying’s thumb hovered over the delete button and then he decided to open it.

The shop was empty anyway and he had time.

There was no actual message, not in the way of normal messages anyway, just a time and a date, and an address.

Nothing else.

He was staring at his phone, trying to make sense of it when his phone was snatched out of his hand.

Wei Ying looked up at Jiang Cheng, who was staring at the message. 

"What's this?"

"Do I look like I know?" Wei Ying replied, reaching for his phone.

Jiang Cheng scooted out of his range, holding the phone up high.

"Is that all? Do you know who sent it, at least?"

"You're such an idiot! Give me back my phone!" Wei Ying tackled him and managed to elbow him in his ribs before Jiang Cheng dropped his phone with a grunt.

"I don't know who this is." He clarified, staring at the message again.

"But you're gonna go...?" Jiang Cheng asked him, crossing his hands in front of his chest.

"I didn't say that." Wei Ying tried not to snap.

"I can see it on your face." Jiang Cheng shoved him again. "And if you're seriously considering it, then I'm going with you. Don't blow me off. It's after we close anyway,  right?"

"Yeah...seven this evening." Wei Ying typed the address into Google and both brothers pored over the results.

It was an old building in the better part of town, but other than that, they had no clue as to what could be waiting for them there, or even who had sent the message in the first place.

The rest of afternoon passed in a daze, and Wei Ying was actually grateful to whoever sent the message because, it distracted him from the torment his heart was suffering at the constant absence of Lan Zhan, who had still not turned up.

Too soon, they were locking up and driving to the mysterious destination. 

Wei Ying kept fidgeting in his seat, and Jiang Cheng clenched the steering wheel harder, trying not to verbally bite him.

They had to park around the corner of the building and walk the rest of the way, and this delay caused them to be late at least ten minutes after seven.

The building glowed white with the amount of lights shining on it, and there were posters up all around.

Jiang Cheng gripped his arm hard.

"Isn't that...-"

"My coffee...?" Wei Ying looked just as confused as he did. "Why is it here? Who did this?" He asked, in a daze.

Jiang Cheng pointed to a sign.

"One night only, experience the magic of Coffee Art."

And when they entered, they were stopped at the doors.

"Name, please?" The attendant asked.

"Wei WuXian and guest." Wei Ying said, still not quite believing what he had seen.

"Oh...you don't have to pay." The attendant handed them two tickets.

Jiang Cheng grabbed them and dragged Wei Ying inside.

The walls were painted a soft magnolia, complimenting the beautiful blown up pictures of Wei Ying's artwork. The lighting under which the photos were taken managed to cast the photos in a magical aura so that the golds and browns really stood out.

Already there was a large crowd wandering around the room and Jiang Cheng started following them, looking at each huge picture of Wei Ying's art. They paused at each one and Wei Ying started thinking...if the pictures were here, then where was Lan Zhan?

They were stopped by a solid wall of muscle.

Now it was Jiang Cheng's turn to be dazzled as he took in the image of a man that was so beautiful to look at that it made his heart hurt.

"You're not Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying said, unable to keep the accusatory tone from his voice.

"Indeed, I am not." The man laughed, politely. "I am his elder brother, Lan XiChen. You...May call me Lan Huan." He directed that last bit to Jiang Cheng. 

"Where is Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying asked, looking all around them.

"You must be the Wei WuXian who is behind all this art work?" Lan XiChen asked.

"I am...but how do you know what I look like?" Wei Ying replied, still on edge.

"Two reasons." Lan XiChen held up two fingers. "One, my brother gave strict instructions to the people on the door about you...and I might have seen a few pictures my brother took of you..."

"Xiongzhang!" A sharp but firm voice said, next to them.

Wei Ying’s head snapped up to look into intense golden eyes, zeroed in on him.

"Lan Zhan...?"

There was so much confusion and so many questions which were sparkling in those diamond eyes, that Lan Zhan felt bad for not explaining anything before his mysterious disappearance. 

"Wei Ying...come with me." He held his hand out, palm out and up towards Wei Ying, giving him a choice.

Jiang Cheng stopped Wei Ying before he could move, with a hand on his arm.

"Are you sure? Wei WuXian...look at how he treated you...you don't have to go with him." He whispered loudly, enough that Lan Zhan could hear.

"I believe my brother wants to explain himself. And you are preventing that." Lan XiChen replied, his gaze simmering at Jiang Cheng. 

Wei Ying thought about it, while he looked at Lan Zhan. 

The problem was, Jiang Cheng was right: Lan Zhan had ghosted him.

"My brother has spent the last almost two weeks thinking about that guy!" Jiang Cheng pointed a finger towards Lan Zhan. "He really hurt my brother when he decided to stay away! I think I'm justified in stopping him from making a mistake." Jiang Cheng defended himself. 

Without realising it, he had let go of Wei Ying's arm and pushed up against Lan XiChen.

Lan Zhan said one more word, looking right at Wei Ying. 

"Please."

That decided it for Wei Ying. 

He put his hand inside Lan Zhan’s and nodded, anxiously. 

Lan Zhan took him away from all the people and all of the photos hanging up, bringing him to a blank white door.

"Does Wei Ying trust me?" Lan Zhan asked him, squeezing their joint hands.

Wei Ying looked into sincere golden eyes which were afraid now.

He nodded, hesitantly.

Lan Zhan promised himself that before this night was over, he was going to make sure that Wei Ying felt better about them.

"Then please...close your eyes."

There was that word again...Wei Ying was powerless to resist it...especially coming from that deep voice.

He closed his eyes obediently. 

He heard the door open and then he was being led into the room.

"Did you know?" Lan Zhan said, very quietly. "Out there, there are twenty nine pictures for sale. But this one...this one is not for sale. You may open your eyes now."

Wei Ying did.

He was standing in front of the very first picture he had drawn in Lan Zhan’s caramel latte, the one of two bunnies kissing together. 

"When I saw this picture...I knew Wei Ying was a special person. And then I was blown away by the other pieces that you created...? So I approached my Xiongzhang and asked him for a slot, but he had only today to let me exhibit. I was working nonstop for the past ten days, trying to finish this. For you." Lan Zhan continued.

"F-for me?" Wei Ying turned to face him. "What do you mean?"

"I did it for you. That first evening...Wei Ying may not remember, but he was saying how he was going to try and do this for the Coffee House...and I wanted to help. So I started taking pictures of all your creations, and then I blew them up so people can fully appreciate Wei Ying’s talent."

Wei Ying threw his arms around Lan Zhan’s neck.

"Lan Zhan...no one ever believed in me...not without evidence. You're the first one. You didn’t even know me..."

"I...I feel really close to Wei Ying." Lan Zhan murmured, holding him close.

Wei Ying kissed his cheek, thinking Lan Zhan was the best. 

"You could have texted me, Lan Zhan..." Wei Ying said, softly. 

"There was no time...I pulled a few all-nighters. And..."

Wei Ying could feel his ears getting hotter next to his cheek. "And?" He asked, cautiously. 

"And I wasn't sure how Wei Ying felt about me..." Lan Zhan admitted.

"Okay...Lan Zhan...I want no more misunderstandings between us. I like you...very much. More than just friends." Wei Ying told him, a sudden burst of bravery loosening his lips.

"That is good...because I think I have fallen in love with Wei Ying." Lan Zhan said, kissing his forehead. "And I deeply regret causing Wei Ying any hurt. I am sorry."

"I'll forgive you...if..." Wei Ying licked his lips, noting the way Lan Zhan’s attention fell straight to his mouth.

"Mn?"

"If you kiss me, right now."

Lan Zhan pounced.

THE END.

**********