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Lan Zhan was desperate. Each day looking at the calendar, watching the time tick down to his doom, his desperation grew.
February 14th was the deadline, the day his life would be signed away.
His uncle, a traditionalist that had immigrated to raise Lan Zhan and his brother, had given him until Valentine’s Day of all days to find his own partner. If he failed, he would be made to sign the contract for an arranged marriage to the omega son of an old friend of his uncle’s, Su She.
He’d met Su She many times as his uncle tried to push them together in the hopes of engendering interest between them. While Su She was certainly interested in Lan Zhan, it was not reciprocated. Su She was arrogant, incompetent, exceptionally classist, and overly vengeful against any perceived slight. And quite frankly, the man made Lan Zhan’s skin crawl the way he looked at him.
But there was no way he could see out of it if he couldn’t find a partner. His uncle had seen to that. If Lan Zhan refused, his uncle had sworn to block Lan Huan’s inheritance, dismantle the music program for the under advantaged that was Lan Zhan personal project and, worst of all, destroy the charity that assisted domestic abuse victims that was Lan Zhan’s mother’s legacy.
Perhaps, strictly speaking, he could still refuse and walk away but it would be trading other lives for his own freedom and he would never be able to live with that.
Looking at the wall calendar again, Lan Zhan winced. February 1st. How could he find a partner in less than fourteen days? He didn’t have time to weed through the dreck of the dating scene in bars and clubs. He couldn’t take Nie Huaisang’s advice and find someone looking for a sugar daddy that didn’t want sex. His uncle would realize it was a farce very quickly. Finding a proper match on a dating app sounded as likely as finding an actual antique qin on the Marketplace.
Speaking of, he pulled out his phone and opened the Facebook app to check on the inquiry of provenance he’d made about the qin he’d spotted on said Marketplace. No response, unsurprising.
He navigated to the Marketplace tab to see if the listing was even still active and froze as soon as he saw the first listing.
A sternum up picture of a very pretty man with long hair that didn’t fit with the police uniform he wore, wearing wrap-around sunglasses and smirking at the camera. Directly beneath that was a picture of a white car that looked similar to police vehicles. Beside the two stacked pictures was a white space with text.
‘Valentine’s Special!’ in bold sat between two red light emojis and underneath was the price of five hundred dollars.
Reading further, Lan Zhan’s lips parted. This...this could be at least part of the answer if he couldn’t find a partner before the fourteenth.
The details of the service were insane but he was desperate.
‘I arrest you in front of your wife & release you on Monday.’
The service package apparently included a camping fee, a fishing license, a tent, and beer. At least two of those Lan Zhan was unlikely to have need of. However, it sounded like he would be absconded off to some wilderness for at least two days.
Checking the calendar he nodded. Yes, two days. Two days more to find some way to, at the bare minimum, find a way to protect his brother, the Gentian Garden, and the Wangji Foundation from his uncle.
It was madness, utter insanity, but Lan Zhan messaged the man, Wei Ying according to his user name.
“Hello, I would like to purchase this service. In regards to this service, is it a requirement that it be a spouse you ‘arrest’ me in front of or will a potential fiance be sufficient?”
Lan Zhan moved to set his phone aside only to jolt when he received a near instant response.
“Nah, that’s fine. Doesn’t matter how far along in a relationship you are. If you want to be saved from V-Day obligations, it’s all good. So how long before V-day do you want to be arrested?”
Lan Zhan considered his schedule.
“Is the twelfth acceptable?”
“Sure. Do you have gear you’d like to stash somewhere before the drama?”
Lan Zhan thought about his closet and experience with outdoors activities.
“I am inexperienced with camping. What gear would be appropriate?”
He watched the ellipses pop up then disappear, pop up and vanish, pop up and go away before a response came.
“Wilderness virgin huh? I can give you a list or, if you send me your clothing and shoe sizes, I can pick up what you’ll need and you can pay me back after the arrest. I promise to provide no bullshit receipts. No miscellaneous crap.”
Lan Zhan felt his ears burn at the joke regarding his experience but otherwise swallowed his embarrassment to contemplate the best option. He didn’t really have time to shop for outdoor gear himself. He was also rather certain that his uncle had someone watching him and if he was seen buying such unusual things it would arouse his uncle’s suspicions and ruin everything.
“It would be best if you purchased the necessary gear. I suggest not purchasing extra fishing gear as I am not a fisherman.”
He followed up that message with his measurements and went through another round of watching ellipses flash. This time it took a little longer before a response.
“It’s your V-Day rescue. If you don’t want to fish then we’ll stay on shore or just troll along the creek if you want. Got any colors you like best for the gear?”
“My wardrobe tends toward white and light blues and grays. I suspect light colors are not widely available in outdoor gear.”
“My guy, I am delighted to inform you that you’re wrong. Might have to settle for a darker shade of gray when it comes to pants but the rest? Totally doable. Unless you’ve got, like, material restrictions?”
Lan Zhan twitched as he thought about his reaction to polyester. Plastic based fibers made him itch.
“No plastics against skin.”
“Gotcha. Do you know where and what time you need to be arrested yet?”
Lan Zhan settled in to continue working out his ‘arrest’ plan, hope beginning to shimmer in him.
Wei Ying finished his planning session with the unfairly gorgeous man that had actually responded to the ad he’d put up. He had done it as a joke, certain that no one would actually contact him. Except a man whose profile picture, if it was actually his face, looked like an actual god, and who had very tailored body measurements that were unreal had reached out. Wei Ying wondered if he was being catfished, which would be fair in response to the ad really.
Then his payment account sent him a notification and the five hundred had been sent.
Looked like he’d be doing a background check on this Lan Zhan and, if he wasn’t a dangerous psychopath, kidnapping him to a lakeside camp ground for a few days.
Lan Zhan opened his e-mail three days after sending a stranger five hundred dollars to ‘arrest’ him on Valentine’s Day, already somewhat haunted by regret and anxiety, and saw an email with the subject line ‘Contract for Valentine’s Day Special’ from a [email protected] waiting for him.
Opening it, he found a link to a legal document on DocuSign detailing the expectations, payment, and a waiver regarding potential criminal charges against Wei Ying for kidnapping, posing as a police officer, and any accidental harm incurred during the normal activities outlined in the expectations that were not a result of gross negligence on Wei Ying’s part.
It was very well drafted, legally binding, already signed by Wei Ying, and calmed Lan Zhan’s worries. Such a document would not be sent, already signed, by a scam artist or someone playing a joke.
He reread the contract, consulted a few legal books to be certain he understood all the terminology, then signed and submitted his digital signature.
He would be getting arrested on the twelfth, during another interminable dinner with his uncle and brother and the Su family.
He was looking forward to it.
Wei Ying pulled his Charger up to the front of the restaurant, one of his own favorites funnily enough, with the fake light kit flashing, and got out, hair up, sunglasses on, and uniform neat and pressed.
The valet did a double take. “Mr. Wei? What-”
He grinned and put a finger to his lips, pulling out a paper that wasn’t a warrant but would appear to be so from a distance should anyone get nosy. “I have a warrant for the arrest of a Lan Zhan. I believe he’s currently in the restaurant.”
The valet bent close, read the ‘warrant’ and snorted before sobering. “I see. I’m afraid I’ll have to get the manager, officer.”
Wei Ying felt eyes on them and heard the start of whispers so he nodded, his face in stern lines. “You have two minutes.”
In less than one the manager came out briskly. “Officer, our valet says you have a warrant for the arrest of one of our patrons.”
It was a good thing he was wearing sunglasses or Wei Ying would have blown the whole thing with the way his eyes gleamed in delight at the way Luo Qingyang, perfectly coiffed and in a neat suit, was giving him a gimlet stare. “Yes, ma’am.”
She snatched the paper he held out and read it quickly before heaving a great sigh, muttering only for his ears, “I swear to god, you chaos gremlin, you’d better take good care of him,” before handing the paper back to him. “Very well, the Lan party is in the back right of the restaurant, beside the stingray tank.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Wei Ying knew she’d make him pay for the ‘ma’ams’ later but he thought it would be worth it.
He strode very quickly into and through the restaurant. What would make this work would be speed. Using shock and chaos to prevent anyone from questioning the authenticity of the arrest and officer until after he had Lan Zhan well away from here.
He beelined for the table where he could see Lan Zhan, holding himself very stiffly as another man, pretty enough but with a nasty look on his face that warped any beauty he could claim, leaned far into his personal space, entirely too close to his throat. That was just rude and Wei Ying was already feeling a great deal of satisfaction stepping up to the table, breaking the creepy omega away from Lan Zhan as he announced, “Lan Zhan, you are under arrest for assault and battery.”
He hauled Lan Zhan up, having to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning when the man tried to pull away as planned, by a truly fantastic bicep. “Please don’t resist sir.”
An older man in a navy tang suit embroidered with gray clouds, obviously Lan Zhan’s uncle, shot to his feet and shouted, “What?! What is the meaning of this?!”
“Get your hands off him!” The ugly-beauty squawked and tried to slap out, only the quick thinking of his mother beside him catching his hand stopping the limp wristed swat.
“A-She, don’t!”
Wei Ying gave ‘A-She’ a cold, sharp smile. “Really don’t. You don’t want to get tossed in a cell for obstruction of justice and assaulting an officer, now do you?”
On the idiot’s recoil, Wei Ying pulled out handcuffs and manhandled Lan Zhan’s hands behind his back. “The meaning of this,” he said to Lan Zhan’s uncle, “is an arrest.”
The cuffs clicked into place and he began to perpwalk Lan Zhan out of the restaurant. “Lan Zhan, You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”
Lan Zhan, trying not to allow the petty glee that seeing Su She gasp dramatically and wail about how he couldn’t marry a criminal gave him show to Lan Huan, said, “Yes.”
Wei Ying moved quickly, noticing that Lan Zhan moved very well and smelled fantastic even through the scent patch he wore, around tables and other diners to the door. He had to get them out and into the Charger before the omega that looked nearly identical to Lan Zhan, who was now rushing after them, caught up. “With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?”
Lan Zhan pretended to stumble so that his foot caught a rolling cart and sent it careening into his brother’s path, blocking his way for a little while. “I do not.”
They reached the doors and the hostess helpfully held them open, having a hard time keeping a smile off her face, so they were out of the restaurant and Wei Ying was opening the back door of his Charger in a blur of movement. “Watch your head.”
He put his hand on Lan Zhan’s head and carefully put him into the back seat, strapping him in before shutting the door and hurrying around to the driver’s side. He got behind the wheel, shut his door, and peeled out of the parking lot in a squeal of tires. He gave one wild, exilerated laugh, said, “Fuck that was fun,” and sped away, leaving chaos behind them.
In the back seat of the car, Lan Zhan felt a little like he’d taken a heavy club to the back of his head. Part of it was the thrill bubbling in his blood of having gotten away from the dinner, away from Su She pushing into his space and leaning too close to his scent gland, away from his uncle’s expectations and his brother’s quiet misery. But more of it had to do with the man he’d hired to give him a few days away from the looming engagement.
Wei Ying was far prettier than the photo in the ad had gotten across. There was a vivacious energy to him that made an already attractive man reach a level of beauty reserved for celestial beings and that simply didn’t come across well in photos. His voice, by turns brightly cheerful and deeply husky, rang pleasantly in Lan Zhan’s ears along with the beautiful laugh that had made Lan Zhan’s heart beat too fast as they’d left the parking lot. And his scent.
Spice, cinnamon and cloves and cardamom with a hint of peppercorn, vanilla, and a touch of yuzu that made Lan Zhan want to bite. Wei Ying smelled like the most delectable treat.
He was most likely an omega, though Lan Zhan couldn’t see where Wei Ying’s scent gland was with the costume’s high collar, with that indescribable quality that all omegas carried threaded in his scent. They hadn’t discussed their secondary genders when they’d arranged this, and perhaps they should have as Lan Zhan was having a reaction that was very unprofessional as a client to someone who was taking him camping to save him from his uncle’s choice of intended for a few days.
He closed his eyes and focused on getting himself under control as the car took several turns before coming to a stop.
Lan Zhan opened his eyes as the door beside him was opened and was greeted by the sight of Wei Ying without the sunglasses. Silver eyes. How could eyes be silver instead of gray?
Wei Ying leaned in, keys to the cuffs in hand. “Lean forward a bit so I can take off the cuffs.”
Doing so, Lan Zhan nearly bit his tongue as Wei Ying’s scent intensified as he got closer and his bare fingers brushed against the skin of Lan Zhan’s hands as they unlocked the cuffs. “Wei Ying.”
A shiver went through Wei Ying at the sound of his name. Lan Zhan’s voice was...mmm. But, Wei Ying was a professional and stuffed his reaction down into the mental bucket of ‘Later, much later’ so he could pretend to be normal. “Yeah?”
“Do you need to replace your scent patch?” They only lasted six hours at the most after all and Lan Zhan knew from experience that particularly strong scents could wear out a patch in two.
Wei Ying jolted as he moved back. “Ah fuck. No. I forgot it. Sorry,” he winced, “I know my scent’s strong. I’ve probably been giving you a headache since we got in the car. I’m s-”
“No.” Lan Zhan could not let this man think he found his scent unpleasant.
Silver eyes widened in surprise. “No?”
“I am not uncomfortable with your scent.” A nigh obscene understatement that had Lan Zhan’s ears heating.
Wei Ying blinked and tilted his head faintly, studying Lan Zhan. He caught the blush on one ear as Lan Zhan moved his arms out from behind him and suddenly the later bucket was trying to spill over. His eyes went to the large, elegant hands that were rubbing at wrists that hinted of strong forearms and he pursed his lips, trying not to drool. “Okay but I do have patches if that changes. Or if you want them.”
“Understood.” Lan Zhan got out of the car, brows lifting when Wei Ying barely stepped back just enough to allow it without bumping into him. Close, he was so close. Lan Zhan wanted to lean in and inhale his scent from his throat. Inappropriate. Shameless. Yet something told him it might be welcomed.
Wei Ying stepped back suddenly, shaking himself out of the visceral tug toward Lan Zhan that hooked in his belly. They had to keep moving. “Alright so, we're switching vehicles. I've got an all-terrain ready with the gear. You want to change in the garage supply closet before we get going again?”
Lan Zhan considered his tailored suit and the closet before nodding. He didn't know how long the drive to the campground would be but he didn't want to be in the suit for it.
“Okay then.” Wei Ying headed for a black SUV with red detailing after locking up the Charger. He popped open the back of the SUV and pulled over a reusable shopping bag. “I already washed all the wearable gear and packed the changes in the backpack.”
He pulled out a white tank top, white long sleeved tee, a light blue chek flannel shirt, a pair of light gray thermal leggings, a pair of dark gray tactical trousers, a pair of thick socks, and blue and gray hiking shoes, passing all of it to Lan Zhan. “The shoes are non-slip and water-resistant so unless you step fully into the lake your feet'll stay dry. And I've got garment bags here for your suit and dress shoes too.”
Lan Zhan took it all from Wei Ying, feeling a little awed by how well prepared he was. “I did not pay you for the garment bags.”
“Didn't need to buy any. Those are mine.” Wei Ying smirked a little. “I don't actually make my living this way. This was an impulse.”
Lan Zhan blinked once, slowly, before stepping into the closet to change. He should probably feel uneasy about that revelation but something about Wei Ying told him he could trust the other man.
The outdoor wear fit him perfectly and, to his relief, was made of cotton for the most part where it went against his skin.
When he stepped back out, suit and dress shoes in the provided bags, he felt his brain screech to a halt.
Wei Ying had changed as well and was bent over with one foot on the SUV’s bumper tying the laces of a black hiking boot. No longer in the police uniform, he now wore black jeans and a closely fitted red tee underneath a dark gray plaid flannel shirt that hung open. His hair, that had been hiding underneath the police cap, spilled down from a high tail that ended at the calf that wasn’t propped up.
If Lan Zhan’s spatial understanding was working, unlike the rest of his brain that was focused on the truly incredible ass that was displayed to perfection, then that meant the ponytail would likely end right in the center of that glorious ass when Wei Ying wasn’t bent over.
Thoughts that belonged only to the darkest hours of the night, or on very exclusive porn sites, flashed through Lan Zhan’s mind before he wrenched his mind under control again and deliberately made a loud step.
Wei Ying glanced over his shoulder with a smile. He’d been fully aware of when Lan Zhan had exited the supply closet and of where his gaze had landed; it didn’t bother him in the slightest. In fact, the later bucket might just get to tip over sooner than expected if things went well. “Hey, those look good on you. You can go ahead and put the garment bags up in the back and get settled in the front passenger seat if you want. I’ll just be a minute more.”
“Mn.” Lan Zhan held tightly to his decades of self-control as he drew up beside Wei Ying, close enough that the spice of his scent nearly enveloped him, to hang the bag with his suit up on one of the hooks above a window and settle the shoe bag neatly beneath it in the shadow of the wheel well. He stepped back quickly before he gave in to the urge to sniff at Wei Ying, went to sit in the passenger seat, and practiced meditative breathing to center himself.
It didn’t really work all that well and when Wei Ying hopped in behind the wheel what little internal composure he’d found was shot to hell. His hand wrapped around the solid door handle and gripped tightly as they pulled out of the garage and got underway.
Wei Ying flicked on his stereo at the first red light and the sound of a guzheng filled the SUV. After a minute and a half he felt Lan Zhan staring at the side of his face.
“Is this Katy Perry? On the guzheng?”
“A medley of Firework and Teenage Dream. I have a whole album of traditional instrument covers.” Wei Ying pulled onto the highway and began to sing along with the music. “Be your teenage dream tonight. Let you put your hands on me in my skin-tight jeans, be your teenage dream tonight. Baby, you’re a firework. Come on, let your colors burst!”
Lan Zhan was speechless, watching the vivacious man he’d hired to spirit him away from an unwanted engagement belt out bubblegum pop to the accompaniment of a guzheng. It was so outside of anything he was used to but as the pleasant voice continued to fill the vehicle, he found himself relaxing. Unexpectedly he liked the sound of the guzheng being used for modern music and leaned his head back, closing his eyes to better appreciate it.
The ride passed quicker than he’d expected thanks to the music and Wei Ying’s voice and before Lan Zhan knew it, they were stopped and Wei Ying was turning off the SUV.
“Here we are!” Wei Ying chirped it, hopping out.
Lan Zhan slid out of the SUV as well and scanned the camp ground. It was at the edge of a lake, with a pebble beach and a small dock that had a johnboat tied up to it. The SUV was parked off to the side of a gravel road under the branches of a large oak tree. The beach itself faded into patchy grass and forest debris then into scrub and trees. It was quiet, with a few animal sounds and the gentle lap of water against the shore.
He took a deep breath and exhaled a good half of the tension he’d been carrying ever since his uncle had put forth the ultimatum.
“Pretty, isn’t it? It’s better in late spring, when things are in bloom but I like it even in winter.”
Lan Zhan turned to look at Wei Ying, who had a bright orange duffle shaped bundle in his arms. “Mn. Is that the tent?”
“Yeah. C’mon and I’ll show you how to set this bad boy up.” Wei Ying led Lan Zhan to an open area and began to show him how to pitch a tent.
As he taught Lan Zhan the basics of camping, he found himself watching the other man fondly. As he concentrated, Lan Zhan developed a faint line between his brows and his mouth pursed the slightest bit. It was adorable.
By the time the tent was up and the sleeping bags were set inside it, the sun was setting and Lan Zhan’s scent patch had worn off. The later bucket wobbled again as Wei Ying got an unadulterated whiff of cool woodsy pheromones that reminded him of his Waipo’s home. Of the altar she maintained and the incense she burned all day long.
Sandalwood. It suited Lan Zhan, suited the steady and calm man that had thus far taken every turn of this adventure in stride. Wei Ying didn’t think the composure was solely because Lan Zhan had asked for this adventure. No. The equanimous behavior was ingrained, part of who Lan Zhan was at his core and was reflected in his base scent.
Wei Ying wanted to press close and just breathe the man’s scent in. He wanted to draw Lan Zhan into his lungs like a free diver drew in air upon surfacing. He wanted, he realized with a jolt, to initiate a scent bond, something he’d never wanted with anyone. And he didn’t even know Lan Zhan’s story, the reason he was willing to pay a stranger to ‘arrest’ him in front of his family and unwanted fiance.
Oh this was trouble.
Lan Zhan sat on a log on the pebble beach and watched as the flames of the fire Wei Ying had built licked away at dead fallen branches they’d collected and Wei Ying roasted a fish he’d caught. Lan Zhan had a purple yam Wei Ying had provided from who knew where. It was cozy and oddly comfortable. He could understand why people liked to do this.
“So, not to harsh the mood, but you maybe wanna talk about why you needed the rescue?” Wei Ying turned his fish for a more even roast. “I mean you look like a grown ass adult to me. What kept you from just saying no?”
Lan Zhan considered his yam as he debated whether or not to say anything. Then decided that he’d already pulled Wei Ying into the situation so he might as well explain it. “Do you know who my family is?”
“Yeah, I ran a full background to make sure you weren’t a psycho. Your family’s company is at the forefront of several technological advances and ranks in the top ten ethical companies every year. Your uncle is the acting CEO, right?”
“Mn. My brother is supposed to inherit the position in October, after his birthday. I have no interest in being CEO. However my uncle is...traditional. He does not believe that an unmarried omega should inherit such a ‘stressful’ position.”
Wei Ying snorted. “Thinks they should be barefoot and pregnant, tied to the home by apron strings?”
“Mn. It has been a hard won battle for Ge to get uncle to agree to abide by the terms of inheritance Mother set down. Uncle thinks I am too old to be single, that I should have a mate and children to carry on the family legacy.”
Wei Ying lifted an eyebrow. “You’re what, thirty-three? That’s hardly past the prime of your life.”
“Thirty-five. Uncle is of the opinion that is a decade past the age one should be mated.”
“Yeah? Where’s his mate and kids then?”
Lan Zhan’s lips twitched. “The hypocrisy does not seem to register to him.”
Checking his yam, Lan Zhan pulled it away from the fire so it would cool enough to eat.
“Uncle threatened to block Ge from assuming the CEO position, from his inheritance, if I did not find a mate or accept the arrangement with Su She by Valentine’s Day.”
Wei Ying frowned, sitting a little more at attention. “Legally he couldn’t possibly succeed.”
“Not for long, no. But it would be long enough for him to dismantle my charity, the Wangji Foundation. And while I could easily restart that, he also threatened to destroy the Gentian Garden.”
Wei Ying’s jaw dropped. “The DV survivor’s charity? The one that provides food, safe-houses, higher education, jobs, and legal representation for those escaping forced bondings and abusive partners?”
Lan Zhan nodded. “My mother founded the Gentian Garden. It was very important to her, and to Ge and I. If my uncle destroys it, there are so many who will be harmed.”
“Son of a bitch. So you’re trying to buy some time? Think he’ll swallow it if you’re past the deadline ‘against your will’?”
“I am hoping that a solution will occur to me over the course of this experience.”
Wei Ying hummed. “I don’t suppose your uncle made these threats in writing. Just verbally?”
Lan Zhan blinked. “Uncle sent me e-mails.”
“Wait, really? You have e-mails containing the threats he’s made? To your brother’s inheritance and the charitable organizations?”
“Mn. Multiple.”
Wei Ying grinned, sharp and a little savage. “Lan Zhan, consider me your solution.”
Lan Zhan felt his pulse leap. That grin went directly to his hormones. Wei Ying didn’t mean to pose as his partner, did he? The mere idea of that made his hand clench on the stick holding his yam so he didn’t reach out to grab Wei Ying, reel him in, and kiss him senseless.
He watched Wei Ying lift his hips up, mentalling whimpering over the arch of his body, and dig out his phone to make a call.
“Hey, shushu! Lemme put you on speaker real quick because boy do I have a case.”
A tap and then there was a serene voice with a hint of humor coming from the phone.
“A-Ying, I thought you were camping with someone who answered your ad. You know we don’t do divorce cases.”
Wei Ying stuck his tongue out and razzed the phone. “Oh no, shushu, wait til you hear this shit. So apparently the acting CEO of Lan Industries has threatened to withhold the inherited CEO position from the eldest son and dismantle both the Wangji Foundation and, hold on to your shorts for this one, the Gentian Garden if the second son doesn’t sign on the dotted line of an arranged marriage.”
“I beg your pardon?” The voice was rife with disbelief.
“Oh it gets better. The old fart sent e-mails detailing these threats to said second son.”
Silence stretched for several seconds before the voice said, “Well, the acting CEO isn’t particularly bright is he,” lightly.
“Oh absolutely not. So, slam dunk?” Wei Ying moved his fish out of the fire before it burnt.
“Who is our client?”
“Lan Zhan, aforementioned second son, who answered my ad to get a few days reprieve.”
“Ah, I see. If the e-mails contain what you say they do, yes. Slam dunk. Is Mr. Lan in on this call?”
Wei Ying sent Lan Zhan a wink. “Yup. Lan Zhan, how badly do you want to wreck your uncle’s shit?”
Lan Zhan blinked. “Could you be more specific? Case?”
“Ah, sorry. I’m a lawyer.” Wei Ying shrugged. “You heard of the Wuxian Law Firm?”
Yes, Lan Zhan had absolutely heard of them. They took a variety of cases, divorce cases being a notable exception but for cases they took on for The Gentian Garden or other domestic violence charities, and had a ridiculously high ratio of wins to losses. They were particularly infamous for taking on civil rights cases and squeezing the tiniest drop out of big entities for their clients.
He nodded numbly, staring at Wei Ying.
“Wuxian is an inside joke between me and my Waipo but I thought it was better for a law firm than listing out everyone who’s a ‘partner’.” Wei Ying rolled his eyes. “My shushu takes on most of the corporate cases; his husband does inheritance law. While all of us can and do take on domestic violence cases, Qing-jie-”
“Wen Qing,” the man on the phone interrupted smoothly.
“Is the righteous queen of victory for the victims. A-Yu-”
“Mo Xuanyu. Honestly A-Ying, it’s good you’re not in charge of marketing.”
Ignoring his uncle, Wei Ying continued cheerfully, “Is our child advocate. He’s precious, the kids love him, and he’s a honey badger in a slick suit.”
Lan Zhan was beginning to feel like he’d been hit over the head again.
“You left yourself out. Wei Ying, our patron saint of the downtrodden, the nightmare of corporations, government entities, and landlords, and several right-wing business owners, whose specialty is civil rights. I’m told the defendant in his last case wet themselves when they saw his name.”
Lan Zhan watched Wei Ying’s face darken with a blush in the firelight just before he ducked his head.
“Ah-hem. So anyway, my shushu, Xiao Xingchen, would be handling your case with some input from Song Zichen in regards to your brother’s inheritance. So how much do you want this to sting for your uncle?”
Lan Zhan looked at Wei Ying as if he was a magical creature that had materialized out of the woods to grant his every wish. When he’d answered the ad, he’d only expected to gain a few days to make a plan. Instead he now had a legal way to ensure his uncle could not make good on his threats and had found someone who actually stirred him on multiple levels. “I...” he closed his eyes to gather himself enough to think through the answer to the question.
His uncle had come from across an ocean to raise himself and his brother. Ill-equipped and more harmful than helpful for their young psyches though he had been. His uncle had taken on two children when he’d never planned on children for himself so that he and his brother wouldn’t be put in any kind of foster or state care. Lan Zhan could appreciate that.
But Lan Qiren, though he loved them, had been too controlling and harsh, held opinions that were not only outdated but had caused both Lan Zhan and Lan Huan serious emotional and mental harm. Rather than change and learn gentleness, Lan Qiren had been stone and worn them down on the rough surface of his will until Lan Zhan had become diamond and his brother had learned to conform to what was expected to minimize the hurt.
And then this attempt at forcing Lan Zhan to marry someone he sincerely didn’t like all for a lifestyle his uncle viewed as ‘proper’ for an alpha of his age.
Lan Zhan opened his eyes and met Wei Ying’s. “Enough to chase him back to Beijing.”
Wei Ying shivered a bit at the intensity in Lan Zhan’s eyes, they were almost glowing with a long banked rage. “We can do that. Right, shushu?”
“Certainly. Mr. Lan are you capable of forwarding the e-mails to me from your current location? And do you happen to have digital copies of the will and trust you can access?” The teasing tone Xiao Xingchen had taken with his nephew had been replaced with a brisk but reassuring inflection.
“I do not have any of my devices. I was concerned about tracking.”
“If you remember your password for your e-mail account, I’ve got a laptop you can use.” Wei Ying jabbed the end of his roasting stick into the ground and got up, handing his phone to Lan Zhan, to go to the SUV and dig in the back.
Lan Zhan’s eyes were fixed to the curve of his ass, the urge to bite the supple flesh pulsing in his blood.
“Do you remember your log-in information for the e-mail, Mr. Lan? I expect A-Ying is already digging out his gaming computer.”
“Yes,” he answered Xiao Xingchen.
“Are you alright? I understand that this must all be disconcerting. Not everyone is equipped to be subjected to the Wei Whirlwind. A-Ying can be overwhelming for the unprepared.”
“He is amazing,” Lan Zhan’s tone was firm with a hint of the awe and hunger Wei Ying stirred in him.
Xiao Xingchen was silent for a few moments before saying, neutrally, “Yes. He is. Mr. Lan-”
“Ah-ha! Got it!” Wei Ying crowed, backing out of the SUV with a sleek laptop in hand. He bounced over, ponytail swinging cheerfully, and handed the computer to Lan Zhan. “I made a guest profile for you.”
He nipped his phone from Lan Zhan’s hand and sat back down to balance the phone on his thigh while he grabbed his fish to eat.
Lan Zhan quickly opened the browser and went through the process of accessing his e-mail and the online document storage where copies of the will and trust were held. He attached all the necessary items then asked, “What address should I send everything to?”
“Shushu’s e-addy is [email protected] and you can CC the one you already have for me.” Wei Ying licked his lips to catch a bit of oil from the fish, vaguely aware that Lan Zhan watched that flash of tongue like a cat watched a wounded mouse. His later bucket was going to runneth over soon.
Lan Zhan quickly filled in the necessary fields and sent everything that had been thus far requested. “Please let me know if you need any further information, Mr. Xiao.”
“Not regarding documents, at least not yet. Is there anything particularly objectionable about the unwanted prospective fiance?”
Wei Ying swallowed his bite of fish. “I definitely got creeper vibes. When I was walking to the table to arrest Lan Zhan, he was right up at his throat. Way too close, like a hair away from legit sexual harassment charges close.”
Lan Zhan shuddered at the memory. “Wei Ying’s assesment is accurate. Su She often pushes the boundary of acceptable invasion of my personal space.” He shut down and closed the laptop, setting it aside to pick up his yam.
“Yes that does sound like a creep. Anything else?”
“He is arrogant, entitled, and classist. I suspect he has ties to right-wing organizations.” Lan Zhan considered for a moment. “The younger brother of Ge’s oldest friend calls Su She a ‘wannabe-trad-wife pick-me’ if that is helpful?”
Wei Ying snorted a laugh, nearly choking on his next bite of fish, and coughed to clear his airway. “Fuck, sounds like my ad was divine intervention, Lan Zhan.”
“Mn.” It was emphatic agreement.
“Hm, I’ll see if A-Yang can dig out anything on him,” Xiao Xingchen murmured.
“If there’s anything to find, Xue Yang will dig it up. Including actual bodies,” Wei Ying drawled.
“He had permission to dig and was not looking for bodies, A-Ying.”
“Just like he wasn’t looking for actual bodies when he found the witness in concrete shoes beside the shipwreck, and the three saponified bodies in the oil drums, and the woman literally stuffed in her fridge, and the man sewn into his mattress, and the dismembered body in the suitcase. Your special project has a talent for finding dead bodies, shushu.”
Lan Zhan stared, hands frozen in the process of peeling the top half of his yam.
There was a heavy sigh from Xiao Xingchen. “I swear I don’t know how he manages it.”
Catching Lan Zhan’s look, Wei Ying grinned. “Xue Yang isn’t part of the firm but we do pay him to do some, legal, snooping now and then. He’s a PI, more than a little feral about making sure he documents every stage of an investigation, and was never properly socialized. He’s good at his job, loves his work, and, as discussed, has an uncanny ability to find bodies were you would not expect bodies to be.”
Lan Zhan blinked, once, slowly, then inclined his head. “I will trust Wei Ying and Mr. Xiao in this matter.” And hope to hell he wouldn’t have to meet this Xue Yang without either man present.
“Alright, Mr. Lan,” Xiao Xingchen’s voice had returned to business, “the e-mails alone should be enough to immediately block Lan Qiren from performing any action against the charitable foundations. I will review everything further and be in touch. A-Ying, a word, in private.”
Wei Ying blinked but set his fish aside and got up to walk closer to the water, turning off speaker mode.
Lan Zhan watched him start pacing along the waterline. He blew on the steaming yam a few times before taking a small bite while Wei Ying started flailing one arm.
The wind snatched away most of his words but Lan Zhan caught a few, “need the ov-” and “then I’ll happ-” and “Good! I’ll be-” and “-ver and spr-” and “-ot so de-” and “-n’t walk,” and he wondered what they were discussing but it really wasn’t his business so he took another bite of his yam and entertained himself by ogling the way Wei Ying moved.
A lawyer. A feared civil rights lawyer who headed the firm that The Gentian Garden most utilized. One that, from what Lan Zhan had heard, often took cases pro bono no matter how hopeless they seemed. A lawyer that put up an ad to ‘rescue’ someone from Valentine’s Day as a joke, listened to traditional Chinese instrument covers of popular music, immediately leaped to help someone despite hardly knowing them, had a smile that rivaled the sun, a body made for sin, and a scent that Lan Zhan wanted to drown in.
“I just might! So there!” Wei Ying yelled at his phone before hanging up and stalking back over, face burning with embarrassment. He sat back down and cleared his throat. “Ah, shushu says that by Monday we’ll have a case built and will have your uncle served. He won’t get his nasty claws into The Gentian Garden or your Wangji Foundation.”
He looked a little shy, his smile smaller and a bit sheepish and utterly charming, as he told Lan Zhan that he and his firm would have ensured Lan Zhan’s freedom and the preservation of two of the most important things in his world. Lan Zhan opened his mouth and it just popped out, “Marry me.”
Wei Ying blinked. “What?”
Lan Zhan felt his ears start to burn but repeated himself anyway. “Marry me.”
“Lan Zhan, you don’t need a fake marriage. I told you, we’ve got you covered.” Wei Ying’s smile took on a strain.
“Not fake. A real marriage. You...Wei Ying you are...incredible.”
Wei Ying blushed harder. “Aiya, you don’t know that. You just met me.”
“And I have learned that you are principled, generous, kind, funny, clever...no brilliant, and so vivacious it is breathtaking.”
“I’m also an asshole, often. I am a little shit a lot of the time. Song-ge calls me a chaos gremlin. I’m messy and impulsive and when I fuck up I fuck up big and it ruins lives.”
“Innocent lives?” Lan Zhan lifted a brow in disbelief.
“Not yet but it could happen,” Wei Ying muttered. “My point is that you only know a very small slice of who I am. How could that possibly be enough for marriage?” Not that Wei Ying didn’t want to take the offer in both hands and hold tight enough to leave claw marks. There was something about Lan Zhan, something that drew him in and felt right, like it was a perfect fit. Something that told him that this man was where he’d find his peace, his anchor in the chaos that followed him, his unflinching support. In the back of his mind, right down to his little lizard hind-brain, everything was saying that Lan Zhan was his future and fuck being reasonable, responsible, and sane.
“Does Wei Ying not want me?” Lan Zhan’s chest squeezed at the thought that the subtle signals he’d been picking up on had been wrong and he’d made an unwanted advance. He would apologize immediately if that was the case and offer to sleep outside the tent so as not to make Wei Ying uncomfortable.
Wei Ying sputtered. “W-what? Not...not want you? Are you nuts? Have you seen you?! You’re a fucking god, Lan Zhan! And your funny and cute and goddamnit you’re making it really hard for me to be sensible right now.”
Lan Zhan smiled slightly and set aside his yam, moving to kneel in front of Wei Ying, just shy of pushing his body in between his legs, looking up at him. “I want Wei Ying. I want Wei Ying as my spouse. I want to share a home with Wei Ying. I want to share a life with Wei Ying. I want to discover the rest of who Wei Ying is with rings on our fingers.”
He slowly brought his hands up to Wei Ying’s thighs, waiting for rejection as he set his hands on them, enjoying the thick, soft curves covered by the black denim. “I want Wei Ying in my bed. I want to drink in Wei Ying’s scent, to lick up the oils from Wei Ying’s bonding gland, to learn how Wei Ying’s scent changes with arousal. I want to eat Wei Ying up and fill him with myself. I want to claim Wei Ying and be claimed in return.”
The later bucket exploded, practically disintegrating, and Wei Ying made a soft little whine. “You’re so not fair. I was trying to be good but I just can’t...” He made a soft little growl and grabbed Lan Zhan’s hair, pulling his head back meanly. “Lan Zhan, you’d better be sure about this. There’s no going back. It’s all or nothing and you’ll have to run the gauntlet of my people knowing there’s no take-backies. If I say yes, you’re never getting rid of me.”
“Good,” Lan Zhan’s voice was a deep rumble, “Say yes, Wei Ying. Marry me, be my mate.”
Wei Ying shuddered, pupils blowing wide as he looked down at Lan Zhan’s face and the sincerity and hunger in his eyes. This was crazy but no one had ever said Wei Ying was a paragon of sane behavior.
“Yes,” so saying, Wei Ying pulled Lan Zhan’s head up by his grip on his hair so their lips met in a kiss.