Wei Ying ends the call, his fingers trembling.
"Who do you think they mean?" His voice shakes, and Wei Ying hates that. He's got to be brave now. He knows Lan Zhan's super sharp hearing means he heard what was said.
"No way to tell, but Wei Ying has no reason to be afraid. It's a public event, they won't try anything there. And, I am here."
There is more than just a promise of protection in those three words. It is also a challenge, issued out to all those who think they can just try to take Wei Ying from him. Let them try, he thinks, feeling his canines extending, a low growl echoing in his chest.
He thinks back to that Tuesday, when Jin something tried to attack Wei Ying in the alley behind the Coffee Carousel. They've already tried to do something, notably hurt his mate.
Lan Zhan is ready to rip apart anyone who tries that again.
"My love!"
It is the urgency in Wei Ying's voice which has the red haze filling his vision to clear slowly, as Lan Zhan blinks a few times, and then he sees Wei Ying looking anxiously up at him.
Lan Zhan calms himself with a few deeper than necessary breaths, until his canines retract, and he's back to normal. There's something to be said for muscle memory.
"Don't worry, Sweetheart. We both have these, and there's no way I'm leaving your side tonight!" Wei Ying promises, showing him his wrist.
Lan Zhan takes it and brings the pulse point right up to his mouth, kissing the soft skin next to the bunny tenderly. Wei Ying's eyes darken until they're almost totally black, deep with desire as he too, lifts Lan Zhan's wrist up to his mouth, kissing the same spot. But he does a little something extra: his teeth bite down in the cutest way, because Lan Zhan knows only another vampire can break his skin, and definitely not another human.
But it's adorable that Wei Ying is trying so hard. His bunny teeth are exactly that, and only that.
Lan Zhan threads their fingers together as they walk towards his car.
Whatever happens tonight, it's going to be interesting.
**************
Lan Zhan wasn't kidding about the red carpet, Wei Ying thinks as the valet takes his keys to go and park their car.
They've ended up in a queue, despite the expansive and very bare red carpet stretching out beyond the veritable sea of photographers and their specialised cameras with the extended lenses that could probably pick out his hair follicles, Wei Ying decides, rather uncharitably.
There are three celebrities in front of them, and they have to wait as Dylan Oceanwave (is that really his name??) sets each couple up for an interview. The waiting does two things: they can see exactly what they will have to do, because the ones in front are leading by example and it's basically a circus (omg, Lan Zhan was right!), and unfortunately, waiting is making Wei Ying more and more nervous as the seconds go by.
It's a good thing he's part of a couple, Lan Zhan thinks, remembering the mortifying time his uncle had decided to join him on the red carpet and glowered at anyone brave enough to ask them something. Fortunately, the press thought it was cute, rather than labelling him as some kind of loser, who couldn't even get a date for the night.
It would take a braver person than himself to walk that red carpet by themselves.
Finally, it's just a body builder model and his husband, standing in front of them waiting to go ahead. Luckily, events like these push homophobia away, in their eagerness to come across as accepting, and thankfully, that's something Lan Zhan can work with.
He's so proud to be here with Wei Ying tonight. To walk on that red carpet with Wei Ying on his arm...it brightens all the dark places within him, because Wei Ying brings the glory of real sunshine with him, wherever he goes.
Wei Ying squeezes his hand as he swaps it out to take his arm.
Lan Zhan looks down at him, his beautiful guileless smile radiant and free, and thinks back to his original assumption, that someone who looked like Wei Ying wouldn't ever need makeup, but were they to put any on, the effect would be heart shattering and lethal.
His gorgeous silver eyes have lit up his face, easy to see here under the glare of the many spotlights and white canvas lighting, so that nothing can be missed. He's curious but not hungry for what is to come, undervaluing the sure attention he's about to receive, unlike those attendees who seem to think that more is more, and would definitely have improved their look had they actually used a mirror.
Lan Zhan can see the centrefold pages of all the trash magazines and newspapers tomorrow, judging what everyone has worn tonight.
It's so boring, and yet he's seen the desperation to be noticed in any way, on countless faces before tonight, and probably will see more of them indoors, too.
At least from what he can see at this distance, the venue has been decorated tastefully. Up ahead, there are golden columns in the same shape as the award trophy to be handed out to the lucky winners, and red organza is twisted around them from the bottom up, leaving the long ends to flutter loosely in the gentle breeze. It's warm for October.
The Plaza is usually home to concerts from famous artists, and the odd live show. Opera and ballet performances are usually conducted in the better part of town, so that those who can afford to attend don't have to slum it by travelling downtown to where they are now. But the Architecture Awards have always been held here, going back to the founder's roots, who had grown up in downtown Denver, all those years ago.
And suddenly, it's their turn.
At the speed of light, Wei Ying plants the wettest kiss on his cheek, and Lan Zhan visibly relaxes, before leading him to the front where the red carpet stretches out ahead, and they have to get past Dylan Oceanwave first.
There are numerous obstacles ahead, and he's just the first one.
It's like defeating a boss in a computer game, and having to do it again and again until the final big Boss right at the end is faced for the final battle.
"Soooo, tell me, WHO are YOU wearing TONIGHT?" Dylan Oceanwave speaks exactly like that, and Lan Zhan knows that in his old body, a migraine would have cheerfully made its presence known by now.
"Lorenzo Marquez," Wei Ying lies with the biggest shit-eating grin Lan Zhan has ever seen on his face. Then he turns and winks at Lan Zhan.
Luckily, no one can tell what Lan Zhan is thinking because his face is a blessing right now.
"Oh, ah, haven't heard of them! And yet, the cut is just so dynamic!" Dylan Oceanwave replies with obvious panic in his eyes, but he manfully pulls himself together and launches into the next question.
"Well, it looks like you're both dating!" He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively. "How did you two meet? Dating app? Mutual friends? Chance meeting?"
"Chance meeting!" Lan Zhan quickly interjects, before Wei Ying says something scandalous.
But Wei Ying has other plans, and he actually pulls Dylan Oceanwave's microphone towards himself, beaming as he adds to that answer.
"I think Lan WangJi definitely bit off more than he can chew!"
"Oh, ha! HA!" Dylan Oceanwave barks out a laugh, which grates on their nerves at the same time. "And do you, Lan WangJi, agree to that challenge?"
"That was a statement." Lan Zhan primly and curtly corrects him. "And I believe I got the better half of the deal."
"Yes, yes, now would you like to move onto the Glam Bot? That's our special 360° camera shot extravaganza, so your outfits can be fully appreciated in surround High Definition. Just over there! And after that, you'll be directed to pose for the waiting cameras. So nice to see you both, here today."
And with that, they were summarily dismissed like items on a conveyor belt.
Attendants directed them one at a time and then the third shot was together. They had to enter a circular room with strong lighting, dark sheets around the outer edges and cameras set up all around. All they had to do was stand still, all three times, but when they had their joint photo, Lan Zhan turned to Wei Ying and he's already looking back up at him.
Together, they are unaware of anything else except each other, a snapshot moment meant to last forever.
Wei Ying's eyes do not let him blink lest he miss even one second of seeing the gorgeous, golden man staring back at him as if he could hang the stars and the moon in the twilight sky.
Their love was a physical thing, humming between them like radio waves, unseen and only experienced by them. A current that glowed because of the power they were generating towards each other.
They're brought back to the present by one of the girls who were waiting to escort them onwards, and even she looked a little teary.
"The cameras are waiting," she told them politely, smiling gently at the way Lan Zhan's hold became so much more protective.
"Just one thing," Lan Zhan tells him, in the short space between the Glam Bot and the quarter mile stretch of hungry reporters. "When you pose, don't wave."
"Don't wave? Why?" Wei Ying fixed a polite smile on his face in case an early bird wanted to snap a fast picture.
"It makes for blurry hands in the pictures and then the photographers can't sell them." Lan Zhan continues, and then there's no chance to do anything except smile and pose, and strut their stuff, as Wei Ying had put it.
Lan Zhan was concentrating on doing what was wanted of him, and getting out of there as soon as possible, so he hadn't noticed the flurry of movement right next to him, and then he was mildly horrified to note that Wei Ying was waving enthusiastically in EVERY single photo frame.
And it wasn't as if he could glare at the naughty little gremlin to stop it, because he doubted that even the most frustrated camera person wasn't going to take his side. If anyone looked at Wei Ying in anything else but pure adoration, Lan Zhan had a feeling that public opinion was going to turn against them very fast.
Wei Ying's natural ability to charm and entertain the most difficult of audiences was coming in good stead here, because he winked, cajoled, flirted and pouted, and every time he twisted this way and that, encouraging the photographers to take more pictures from other angles in order to 'get his best side', cheers erupted from the strangers who had no idea they were playing right into his capable hands.
Lan Zhan had to stop and wonder why exactly he'd been worried, when this type of social aptitude was a skill right up Wei Ying's alley.
Though he was able to think of a couple of other items which could also be 'right up his alley'...
Luckily, there were more celebrities in front of them and other candidates for the most prestigious awards for architecture waiting to follow them at the back, so within twenty minutes, they had entered the glamorous foyer of the Plaza.
Red and gold banners hung from the ceiling, streamers with the names of sponsors fluttered in the slight breeze afforded by the open doors, and Wei Ying was glad of his jacket which seemed to be lined with a lightweight thermal lining.
He smiled brightly at everyone, pointing out the huge peonies and roses decorating the staircases on either side, and the scarlet velvet tablecloths on the information desks just outside the main hall.
XiChen and MingJue came and joined them, a few minutes later. They had obviously been hanging around here, waiting for them to show up.
Lan Zhan points at some decorations on the pretext of getting closer to his brother, and leans forward to whisper in his ear, "the Wens are planning something. Wei Ying's grandmother warned us of them being here, though it was to be expected. Wen Chao."
That's all he has to say for XiChen to smile and point at something else, murmuring under his breath, "don't worry. If you have to go up on the stage, we'll look after him." He meant Wei Ying.
"It is appreciated, Ge."
XiChen squeezed his arm affectionately, noting that Lan Zhan somehow always reverted to using the more familiar term when he was stressed.
Meanwhile, Wei Ying was looking around slowly but furtively, searching for the familiar faces his grandmother had promised him would be there.
It didn't take long to find the person in a white suit, and when Xiao XingChen caught his eye, there was only a tilting of his head in acknowledgement, before the elusive man disappeared out of sight. To be able to blend in so seamlessly was an amazing talent, Wei Ying thought proudly, before scanning the crowd for A-Qing.
They had only met a couple of times so far and she was harder to spot, but as long as she was here, Wei Ying felt infinitely better. And since this was his first time at such an event, it looked completely normal for him to be cranning his neck excitedly, taking in everything he saw with the eyes of a novice.
They are shuffling forward slowly as the doors to the venue have turned this part of the foyer into a bottleneck, as tickets are scanned and admission allowed in.
Bodies are pressed to each other and it's a little uncomfortable, so Lan Zhan brings Wei Ying forward to stand in front of him safely as they continue ahead, one tiny step at a time. MingJue had the same idea because he's brought XiChen in front of himself in a protective tank kind of way, until all four emerge into the freedom on the other side.
Bright lights are warm and inviting in this large area, and Wei Ying's eyes are pulled towards the sparkling curtains hiding the stage at the moment. It feels surreal to be here, in such glamorous surroundings, with all kinds of wealthy people parading their partners around, dripping with expensive jewellery and reeking of costly perfumes.
Men and women and everyone in between flitted like priceless butterflies from one social group to another with fake smiles and attitude, wearing cloaks of self-importance.
Lan Zhan was reminded time and again of why he hated such gatherings.
It was all so duplicitous, the pretence of pretending to like someone to their faces, only to turn around and express fake hatred about the same person to others a moment later.
It was abhorrent to him.
He remembered his mother telling him that if he couldn't say anything nice, then it was better to say nothing at all, and Lan Zhan had taken that advice to heart, especially when XiChen had made him watch Bambi in later years. The story was so close to his own and then with a gasp, he looked at Wei Ying.
If ever there was a reincarnation of a character, then Wei Ying was Thumper.
Wei Ying's obvious delight in where they were was in direct contrast to how he felt, and as he watched his boyfriend pick up a champagne flute and chug it down with gusto, he had to smile.
"Liquid courage, my love." Wei Ying whispers to him, as they make their way to their table.
All around the seating areas, huge round tables stood draped in red linens, with gold centrepieces of cream chunky lit candles in red floral holders, with golden dishes and plates set out with golden cutlery, placed at each seat. Even the chairs were covered with sparkly gold fabric and tied at their bases with crimson satin sashes.
Overall, the effect was meretricious and glitzy, designed to wow.
"It is the golden anniversary of the Architecture Society." Lan Zhan tells him helpfully, as Wei Ying snags another drink.
"Oh, right." If Wei Ying was honest, he was beginning to feel a little overwhelmed. "That's why everything is gold."
It was hard not to feel like that, to think he didn't belong here.
All of these people were rich and had no trouble spending oodles of cash on silly things just because they felt like it, and although Wei Ying's own financial status had only recently changed, he was nowhere near the mindset it took to behave like this, as if money was the most important thing.
He couldn't stomach it really, having been on the other side of wealthy for so long, he was and probably always would be cautious about spending money.
But the more he looked around, the more he was starting to feel a little green.
"Just out of interest," Wei Ying whispered to Lan Zhan in his ear, "how much did our tickets cost?"
"Five K. Company expense, don't worry." Lan Zhan tells him, smiling at his wide eyes.
That meant their four tickets to come here, cost Lan Zhan's company twenty thousand dollars.
That every single person here had to have spent that amount as a minimum was mind-boggling.
Wei Ying couldn't help but think of the time he was working two jobs just to put food on their table for himself and A-Yuan.
What a contrast in life!
He's looking around in disbelief still, and that's why he doesn't notice when they stop because their path is blocked.
"My, my, my, of all the places in the world, I never expected to find you here." A cold, sneering voice, far too familiar and unwelcome, echoes in the air around Wei Ying and he looks up to find himself staring back at Madam Yu.