xparrot:

Rewatching Guardian, we caught this bit in episode 5. At night Shen Wei is out on the university campus communing with the foliage (introducing himself to the flower yashou chieftain). It’s presumably quite late, as he materializes his weapon to prove his identity without worrying about being seen. While out, he sees Zhao Yunlan ride past on his bike:

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Then Zhao Yunlan is at Professor Shen’s office door, and is about to give up when Shen Wei answers

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And they proceed to grin at each other happily and go into his office to talk.

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Two things about this:

One, Shen Wei clearly teleported across campus into his office, so he wouldn’t miss the chance to spend time with Zhao Yunlan.

Two, it being so late, why would Zhao Yunlan know Shen Wei was still in his office? Either he knows his office hours (1-3 a.m. on alternate Tuesdays?) or more likely he was loitering outside their apartment building, waiting for Shen Wei to get home to casually bump into him and chat, but eventually got impatient and just went and sought him out.

In conclusion: these absolute goobers, they both have it so bad.

dialogue prompt 12 “I never thought I’d be so lucky, especially not in this lifetime.” for weilan pls :)))

yumi-chan-hamano:

I swear I started working on this but then I got distracted by the doodle art asks hahaha

Shen Wei felt a little self-conscious as Zhao Yun Lan kept staring at him. It wasn’t the first time the man was trying to undress him with his eyes, nor was it the first time he did it in front of their co-workers in the SID. 

Zhu Hong coughed into her fist and the chief reluctantly pulled his eyes away.

Zhao Yun pulled the lollipop from his lips with a loud resounding pop and now it was Shen Wei’s turn to be distracted.

He could see that the chief was making an address to the new case at hand. He could see Zhao Yun Lan’s lips were moving, but the words felt on deaf ears. Shen Wei was no longer paying attention to the meeting, but admiring the man he had the fortunate of calling his lover.

When Kun Lun disappeared several millennia ago, Shen Wei could feel a part of him disappear along with him.

Everything around him changed with time, but the feelings within him were still as fresh and painful as the day he hid away from the world. He had a duty to carry out; he was the Black Cloak Envoy. But when Zhao Yun Lan appeared, his world was turned upside down.

He let Kun Lun slip away once, he couldn’t let it happen. No, he won’t.

Not when he learned that the man he fell in love with had already been by his side. Whether he was Kun Lun or Zhao Yun Lan, the man was the same person, and the one he fell in love with.

Zhao Yun Lan looked over at him and smiled. Shen Wei reciprocated it without a second thought, momentarily forgetting about their audience.

“Please stop flirting in the office,” Da Qing groaned and the rest of the office gave some form of support ranging of head nodding and sounds of agreement. Zhao Yun Lan looked at them, feigning hurt which caused Guo Chang Cheng to shift nervously but everyone else simply rolled their eyes at the chief’s antics.

“Fine, Xiao Wei and I will be taking the rest of the day off. The rest of you, do your jobs.”

Shen Wei flushed at the nickname, but no one noticed as they were too busy cursing the chief in their mind before moving to their respective work stations. Zhao Yun Lan snorted at the reactions he got.

He then reached over and intertwined his hand with Shen Wei’s.

Seeing the other man look at him like a deer caught in the headlights, Zhao Yun Lan flashed a bright smile before pulling him along as he exited the office. 

The sun was bright, Shen Wei noted when they were out on the streets. But his life was dark before the Zhao Yun Lan entered his life, after all, the other was the sun to his dark presence.

“Hey Xiao Wei, guess what I’m thinking about!”

Shen Wei shook his head at the question but a smile pulled onto his face as they drove through the city in Zhao Yun Lan’s car.

“If I knew,” Shen Wei started as he watched the people and buildings go by, “I would not be so worried about you.”

Zhao Yun Lan laughed.

“I was just thinking about what a lucky man I am,” Zhao Yun Lan said as he briefly turned to look at Shen Wei, “to have you in my life. To have you love me back. To have you come save me time after time, even if I did stupidly rush into danger head first.”

Shen Wei wanted to cry. Just before they reached their destination, he whispered, “I never thought I’d be so lucky, especially not in this lifetime.”

It didn’t matter if Zhao Yun Lan heard him or not. As long as they were together, nothing else mattered.

weilongfu:

andwebegin:

GUARDIAN FAKE SUB: You two are a couple?

@andwebegin

Guo Chang Cheng watched as Zhao Yun Lan kept putting food on Shen Wei’s plate. He noticed the touches to Shen Wei’s shoulder, to his waist. He even noticed the looks Chief Zhao kept giving Professor Shen. 

It wasn’t all one sided either. Professor Shen had a look of longing on his face the entire evening. He always seemed to know where Chief Zhao was at any point in time.

They reminded him of his peers from school, young and in love. Even his aunt and uncle still acted this way, kind and doting on one another. 

But had Chief Zhao and Professor Shen actually gotten together? When had this happened? 

The questions swirled in Chang Cheng’s head until Chief Zhao looked over and demanded he spit out what he was thinking so hard about.

“Chi-C-Chief Zhao… Y-You and Pr-Professor Shen… You two are a couple?”

Professor Shen’s pale face turned pink immediately before he quickly said, “We are not a couple.”

“Yet!” Everyone turned to look at Chief Zhao after his interjection. “We are not a couple yet.”

Professor Shen got a dreamy look on his face before he came back to himself. “Wait, what?”

“Xiao Wei…” Chief Zhao snatched up several skewers like a bouquet and bowed while presenting them to Professor Shen. “Please do me the honor of being my boyfriend.”

“I…”

“Oh d-do say yes, Pr-Professor Shen!” Chang Cheng immediately slapped a hand over his mouth after his outburst. Lao Chu also hit Chang Cheng, calling him an idiot under his breath. “I-I mean…”

Professor Shen sighed and accepted the skewer bouquet. Although Professor Shen sounded burdened, his eyes seemed to be shining. “I accept, Ah Lan,” Professor Shen said with a teasing lilt to his voice. Chief Zhao immediately stood up, a beaming smile on his face. “As your first duty as my boyfriend, I want some tea.”

“As you wish!” Chief Zhao then kissed Professor Shen’s knuckles and ran off to the staff kitchen. 

Everyone stared dumbly at what had just happened. Da Qing was suddenly the first to speak up. 

“So who else are you going to end up matching together, Xiao Guo? Or has your taste for matchmaking been satisfied?”

Chang Cheng made a face which made everyone else but Professor Shen laugh. 

(Later that night, Professor Shen pulled Chang Cheng aside. “Thank you, Xiao Guo. Your words gave Yun Lan and I courage today. I hope you also find a similar happiness.” Chang Cheng took the blessing to heart and thanked Professor Shen in return.)

thesilentdarkangel:

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Guardian fic attempt 1

Elegant fingers was plying the strings of a guqin.

The player’s features was empty of expression. Fair like the most exquisite of jade, craved with perfection.

Though the melody was that of a familiar song, known to everyone with a Haixing ancestry, it was however imbued with a strange melancholy, deep and helpless, tugging at the feelings of any listener.

The sorrow and yearning, cried out by this instrument, sung of truths that the young gentleman carefully hidden from view. Only now, in the relative privacy of a solitary pavilion within the lavish gardens of the Dixing Envoy’s embassy compound, that he dared to unfold a glimmer of his emotions. Pouring all into the wooden guqin placed upon the polished floor in front of his folded knees. His back remained straight, posture impeccable, even as his hands danced with abandon upon the guqin.

A storm had raged fiercely, leaving devastation within his soul. Only his eyes, crowned with charming lashes unfairly long, gave hint of the unhappiness within.

His identical twin entered the structure, kneeling carefully behind the musician, and encased his elder brother in a hug. Hooking his chin on his brother’s shoulder, the younger of the two began to softly hum, a jarring counterpoint to his twin. An old folk ditty from their Dixing motherland.

Faced with such provocation right next to his ear, the musician’s fingers left the guqin. “Ye Zun,” he softly chided, turning to face his mirror image.

His little brother smiled an unrepentant grin, familiar and so comforting. For a moment, Shen Wei felt as if they were back at the Palace, still in the safekeeping of their old guardian the crafty Lord Justice. Giving in to nostalgia, Shen Wei sighed and rested his forehead against his twin’s. Ye Zun lowly complained that he “preferred your drum playing, our clan’s energetic beats, rather than this slow nonsense!”

Shen Wei chuckled. Ye Zun never took to any Haixing culture with grace. That he agreed to forgo the Dixing mode of dressing was already a great concession. There were even tantrums thrown on the day their clan beads were combed out of the twin’s intricately braided hair, as they exchanged their customary Dixing robes for Haixing’s garments.

A gentle breeze flew by, playing with the unbound half of the brothers’ long tresses, styled in the common Haixing fashion meant for unmarried youths. The ticklish sensation of unbraided hair flying against their faces broke the moment and their embrace.

Pushing the guqin out of the way, Ye Zun threw his head in his brother’s lap, forcing Shen Wei to change his seat, the better to accommodate his twin’s antics. They had always been close, such behavior was nothing out of the ordinary for the openly affectionate Ye Zun. The only difference between him and the politely reserved Shen Wei.

Grabbing Shen Wei’s left hand, Ye Zun grumbled at the reddened marks left by the sharp strings of the guqin on his twin’s fingers, before launching into a litany of complaints, strings of grievances against the current Dixing ambassador tasked with hosting the twins. Shen Wei felt his face broke into a helpless smile at his brother’s bratty deportment.

He knew that Ye Zun was trying to distract him from the encroaching despair that was haunting Shen Wei.

With each sunset, his wedding —sight unseen— to the sole heir to Haixing’s Grand Duke Zhao Xin Chi, the famous young Lord Guardian Zhao Yun Lan, grew nearer.

…•…

Crouching on top of a wall, three young gentlemen was trying their level best to catch a glimpse of the Dixing nobleman betrothed to their good friend and ringleader Zhao Yun Lan. Accompanied by one apathetic guide, the son of the diplomat who’s courtyards they were intruding.

One hapless soul, the innocent Guo Chang Cheng was pressed to be the lookout, despite his many protestations and teary eyes.

“Old Chu, which one of them?”

Lying on his back along the wall, eyes closed and head resting on folded hands behind him, Chu Shu Zhi carelessly answered, “They’re identical twins. One face is as good as the other.”

He was soundly shushed for his pains.

“Lower your voice!”, one baby faced individual hissed. “Old Chu, you might be safe from the swords of your father’s guardsmen, but we’re not!”, another one added, his normally cunning face twisted with anxiety.

Their leader, too busy focusing his questing eyes towards the secluded pavilion, choose not to admit the inadvisable nature of their antics.

Zhao Yun Lan refuse to be wedded to a groom —no matter how prestigious— sight unseen, traditions and superstition be damned.

Guardian Fic Attempt, Part 2

Perhaps it was a stray breeze that carried their voices beyond sight, perhaps it was the cracking of tiles burdened with unaccustomed weight, or perhaps it was the sharpness of Zhao Yun Lan’s intent gaze.

Both of the twins froze and, in an eerily synchronized move, turned accurately towards the interlopers.

In a flash, a few throwing knives thudded home into the wall, right where those young Haixing aristocrats were huddling. Sunlight glittering on their edges. With a yelp, two of the trio tumbled down and scrambled to get away. Leaving one apathetic son of Dixing diplomat to continue with his sunbathing and one newly appointed Lord Guardian standing his ground and seizing the opportunity to meet with his mysterious future groom.

Smirking a significantly bloodthirsty expression, Ye Zun slowly rose from his brother’s lap, twirling a throwing knife between his fingers.

“Didi, remember what we promised to Lord Justice,” Shen Wei cautioned.

“Don’t worry, Ge. There won’t be a diplomatic incident if there’s no body to be diplomatic over.”

Guardian Fic Attempt, Part 3

Unfortunately, there was a diplomatic incident.

Zhao Yun Lan, unsure of the identity of his attacker and not wanting to accidentally maim his own fiancé, chooses to return the strikes he received from Ye Zun in an exaggeratedly careful manner. Softening his stances and turning aside the full potential impact of their exchanges. And as per his manner when facing an unexpected opponent, his lips was jokingly running full tilt with his usual stock of flirtatious words. Each of his sentences either begun or ended with a variation of praises on the charms of his sparring partner.

Da Qing and Lin Jing simultaneously facepalmed. From a safe distance, of course.

Chu Shu Zhi, still on the wall, was content with shouting out critiques.

Ye Zun, recognizing the way that he was being handled, was incensed at the perceived disdain from someone who was clearly a capable fighter. This snooping young lordling was pulling his punches, as if Ye Zun isn’t capable of answering his blows! To one from the noble House of Gui, widely acknowledged as one of the best pugilist in his motherland, this was a slight that could not be tolerated. Can’t this moron tell what skill it took to not kill someone in a blow when each of his attack was meant to be a singular death strike?

When his ears finally caught up with the nonsense that was sprouting from that smarmy mouth, his irritation ignited to honest fury.

The fight turned into a brawl, with Ye Zun chasing after Zhao Yun Lan all over the place.

Passersby —attracted by the noise of the fight— alerted the nearby station of the Capital Guardsmen. Who then arrived with alacrity. To witness the young Lord Guardian in a spar was a great treat to these enthusiastic fans of the popular Zhao clan. The Grand Duke, veteran of countless battles, was held with high esteem by all those who served to protect the nation and everyone shared great hopes and pride for his sole heir.

The cheerful nature of these patrolmen changed when they finally got to the scene.

Hapless Guo Chang Cheng was cowering by the walls of the Dixing embassy. Too scared to move. His crimson and burgundy attire, paired with elaborate golden embroidery and a gilded crown on his head, instantly proclaimed his identity to all. The fight between the Lord Guardian Zhao the younger and this unknown youth took on a different story.

Even the most illiterate beggar can tell you that there stood the Dowager Empress’ eldest grandson, in mortal peril.

With a shout the guardsmen surrounded the two fighters, a ring of spears appeared with grim determination. The sole survivor of the decimated MuShi Wangfu must be protected!

Because the plot bunny decided to go back to the depths of Dixing motherland ……here’s a cover?

Guardian Fic Attempt, Part 4

“Didi, please step back.”

A clear voice broke into the commotion, during a lull in the standoff between the two combatants, metaphorically taking in the deep breath before the plunge.

One half of the fighters surrounded by a forest of spears abruptly changed his tack and nonchalantly shrugged, appearing to be as if he’s out on an extremely boring stroll. A noble gentleman that wasn’t —just seconds ago— doing his level best to take Zhao Yun Lan’s head.

Nonplussed, everyone was searching for the owner of the voice, and taking cue from the strange youth in silver and grey, they looked up towards the walls of the Dixing embassy. Another copy of the miscreant opponent of Lord Zhao the younger was standing up there, with his white and azure robe fluttering in the wind. Exactly the same, down to the shape of their brows, and yet completely, unmistakably different.

If the one in silver was a smiling demon incarnate, sent to sow chaos amongst mortals, then the one in azure was an icy celestial, descending to taunt hopeless human infatuation.

A few of the more green patrolmen were openly gaping at the sight. Those of the more “seasoned” ones just coughed or made some other small movements to get a better grip over themselves.

And then with nary an effort, the gentleman on the wall floated down whisper-soft as a willow leaf blown by the wind. As his garments settled down from the controlled flight, a subtle display of qinggong mastery, he walked towards the amassed crowd who hastily put away their sharp implements and parted to make way.

Lin Jing whistled with admiration. That kind of presence, a silent command that expected and compelled instant obedience only came from those who had spent years in power, or those who was bred with them.

There comes a time in a man’s life that you just have to admit that sometimes there are humans too pretty to be considered real’, Zhao Yun Lan philosophically thought to himself. And hoped really hard that it’s this one that he’s betrothed to, instead of the devil in front of him. Wedding night might get a bit troublesome if otherwise.

“Touch a single strand of his hair, and I shall slay each and every single last of you.”

The threat, delivered by such a soft expression and a cultured voice, was such a whiplash to those present that they were rendered speechless. Zhao Yun Lan dearly wished to restart today. Ignoring them, the azure gentleman then turned around towards Guo Chang Cheng and gracefully apologised for “the sudden fright” before holding out a hand towards his brother. He swiftly flew away —with his twin in hand— into the embassy before anyone could gainsay a word.

“What… just happened?” one brave guardsman piped out, right before a side door to the embassy banged open and Dixing soldiers poured out, sabers rattling, like an overturned jar of bees.

The captain of the embassy’s forces, beard bristling with agitation, stomped over and loudly demanded an explanation.

Guardian Fic Attempt, Part 5

Madam Zhao had her son kneeling in the family altar chamber until her ire was satisfied. His body aches afterwards.

The Grand Duke had Yun Lan overseeing the monthly patrol rosters as well going over the budget for both their household security forces and also the capital patrol. His fingers cramped up from all those writing and calculations that he had to do and Zhao Yun Lan swore that his sight went cross-eyed for a while. His brain hurt.

Being summoned to an audience with the emperor was, in comparison, an evening stroll. It also helps that —next after Guo Chang Cheng— he was a favourite of the Dowager Empress, who was present in the chamber.

Armed with his usual bullshitting and sweet talking, he got out of the meeting fairly intact.

However, he did not escape unscathed from the second meeting with his prospective husband.

That very same evening.

Meeting that beautiful pair of eyes across the street as he was about to be dragged over the doorways of the capital’s foremost flower bower, all Zhao Yun Lan could think about was,” … well, fuck.”

Guardian Fic Attempt, Part 6

“Zhao Yun Lan, you idiot!” Chu Shu Zhi hissed under his breath. Had he knew that the moron was planning on a carousing spree with some of his more feckless acquaintances, the ambassador’s heir would’ve taken the twins he was entrusted with to a sightseeing jaunt somewhere else. But Lord Ye Zun was curious about the nightlife of the capital and Lord Shen Wei was interested in the various businesses established by their Dixing countrymen. On the way, he arranged it so that they would pass by the many song courts and flower houses flourishing in the city. Two bird, one stone.

But that man just had to ruin it.

“Well, now we can be certain that the reputation of my future brother-in-law was earned honestly,” said Ye Zun with a cynical twist to his lips. Glancing at his brother’s frozen countenance, the Dixing princeling felt a surge of venomous wrath. No one should ever get the chance to hurt his brother! “Shall I skin him for you? We might even get a small drum out of it.”

Shen Wei drew in a steadying breath. Seeing the nobleman tripping into a pleasure house, only a bare week away from their own wedding, had crushed something small and fragile within him. A flower chaser! Who seemed to hold the opinion that Shen Wei deserves none of his consideration.

He held no illusions over this marriage contract between the two of them, it was nothing more than just another skein of thread being used to add new colour to the old embroidery of peace held by his motherland and the Haixing kingdom.

There was never any dream for a great love. Shen Wei realized the foolishness of such notion from an early age. Not with his position in the Dixing aristocracy. He knew that their bloodline was an asset to the empire and will be utilized for the greatest profitable conclusion by the Great One on the throne. And with an ailing guardian rapidly succumbing to old age —his power base gobbled up by various factions, leaving none for the twins to work with— the orphan grandsons of the previous emperor could only bow their head and danced a life between constant blades of suspicion and paranoia. With Ye Zun’s life and happiness as his incentive, Shen Wei was the model of an obedient royal nephew.

But Shen Wei had steadfastly held on to a small hope that perhaps there was room for a quieter sort of affection. Surely his new Lord-husband might desire to cobble together some form of courtesy and cooperation with Shen Wei, to comfortably weather out the rest of their life together. It fueled his actions, ever since the identity of his future spouse was made known. Shen Wei had painstakingly laboured over skills and knowledge that might be useful to a new life in Haixing soil. Perhaps, he had mused, he might even pleased that unknown person, who was also snarled together in this cobweb of power and politics.

But this blatant show of disrespect put paid to even that tiny gleam. ‘So, he’s not even going to allow me some form of dignity as his mandated legal spouse’.

It hurts.

“Thank you for the offer, but I must decline. If there’s any skinning to be done, I shall do it myself.” Shen Wei was thankful that his voice managed to come out even and composed.

“Let’s go. The scent these flower powders are rancid.”

“Eh, Lao Zhao, isn’t that your Dixing twins?” Zhu Hong, dressed up as a boy for tonight’s adventures, remarked curiously.

“Yep.”

“Lao Zhao, you’re dead meat.”

Yep.”

weilongfu:

andwebegin:

GUARDIAN FAKE SUB: Chief Zhao, what’s your favourite colour?

@andwebegin

It had been a while now since Sang Zan had come to join the SID as resident librarian. 

Not that he could read all the characters in the books, but he was good at matching them and Wang Zheng was happy to teach her love slowly. It was a process and Sang Zan had been a committed student. 

Recently Wang Zheng had covered conversation topics with Sang Zan and he was exceptionally happy to practice with everyone that stepped into the library. This mostly consisted of Da Qing and Zhao Yun Lan. 

Da Qing, however, was not one for conversation with Sang Zan. It was more like bullying a child that didn’t know he was being bullied, but Sang Zan happily chatted away regardless in his stuttering Mandarin and Da Qing would preen (cat or human form) over the things he got Sang Zan to say.

Zhao Yun Lan was often too distracted to chat properly. 

“Ch-C-Chief Zhao, what’s yo-yo-your favorite color?” Sang Zan asked.

“Shen Wei,” Yun Lan had replied dismissively. He then immediately pulled his head out of the book he’d been reading before asking, “Wait, what was the question again?”

Sang Zan only smiled with good humor and nodded before going back to sorting books and Yun Lan didn’t think anything else of it. Later, Sang Zan pulled Wang Zheng aside and asked her what Chief Zhao’s answer meant.

Wang Zheng rolled her eyes. A strange expression that Sang Zan was still getting used to. “It doesn’t exactly mean anything. ‘Shen Wei’ is not a color,” Wang Zheng explained patiently. “That Chief Zhao is so in love with Shen Wei that he heard you say, ‘favorite,’ and said the first thing that came to mind.”

Sang Zan was still confused, but he could understand love. And if Chief Zhao loved Shen Wei, then he supposed that made Shen Wei Chief Zhao’s favorite in a lot of things, even if they didn’t make sense.

(Shen Wei would later come into the library, curious to see how Sang Zan was doing. Sang Zan would relate this story with his vague understanding. Shen Wei was amused, and also did not correct the assumption. “Chief Zhao is my favorite color too,” he would say instead. Sang Zan decided that this must be some sort of idiom or saying that Wang Zheng hadn’t taught him yet.)

weilongfu:

andwebegin:

GUARDIAN FAKE SUB: It’s not even a good note! It says, ‘if you’re reading this I’m already dead’, what sort of note is that?!

@andwebegin

Zhao Yun Lan crept back into the apartment. When he stepped over the threshold, the lights immediately flickered on and off before an ominous wind blew and Shen Wei, still in his pajamas, appeared out of a rift in reality. 

“Xiao Wei! There’s no need to be so dramatic!” Shen Wei stomped over, a piece of paper clenched in his fist. “You were sleeping and I didn’t want to wake you. I left you a note before I stepped out for a bit!”

“A NOTE?!” And despite how his lover looked every inch the murderous demon eating, soul hunter he was born to be, Yun Lan couldn’t help the twitch of his dick at the sight of Shen Wei storming forward. “You left me a note? You went out and left me a note?!”

“Well… yeah? It’s better than to ask permission,” Yun Lan said as Shen Wei pushed him against the wall. It took only one hand and a piercing gaze to pin Yun Lan there.

“It’s not even a good note!” Shen Wei unfurled the paper in his other hand and furiously waved it in Yun Lan’s face. “It says, ‘If you’re reading this, I’m already dead.’ What sort of note is that?!” Shen Wei stuffed the note into his pocket before resting his forehead against Yun Lan’s. “I literally spent the last 15 minutes searching all of creation and hell for you because of this note.”

“Xiao Wei, baby, you didn’t have to-”

“YOU LITERALLY LEFT ME A NOTE THAT SAID YOU WERE DEAD.”

“Okay…” Yun Lan cupped Shen Wei’s face in his hands. “But I’m okay. I’m sorry, I thought you’d find it funny.” 

“It’s not funny.” 

“Okay, Xiao Wei, I get that now. I’m sorry.” Yun Lan pressed an apologetic kiss to Shen Wei’s cheek. The effect was immediate. Shen Wei turned from furious god-like entity to a doe-eyed, blushing lover in the blink of an eye. “How about I show you just how okay and still alive I am?”

“Huh?”

Yun Lan stepped out of the cage formed by Shen Wei’s body and slowly dragged him to the bedroom. “You’ll see, come on.”

weilongfu:

andwebegin:

GUARDIAN FAKE SUB: Yes, but I take responsibility for it.

@andwebegin

“Yun Lan!” Shen Wei walked into Zhao Yun Lan’s office and Yun Lan immediately sat up straight. “Of all the irresponsible things you could have done-”

“Xiao Wei, I am responsible!” Yun Lan gestured to all the completed work on his desk. “See! I’m an adult! I know what I’m doing!”

Shen Wei crossed his arms, his eyes were still stern, but the corners of his lips were twitching. Yun Lan knew he just had to push a little harder and Shen Wei would give up the disciplinarian act. “You literally set Da Qing on fire.” Yun Lan paused for a moment at Shen Wei’s raised eyebrow. “Your cat. On fire.”

It was a little more difficult when put like that, but Yun Lan mustered his most charming smile. “Yes, but I take responsibility for it!” Yun Lan pulled out the papers from the vet. “See, I got him treated and we put him out very quickly. He didn’t even get proper burns.” 

Shen Wei heaved a great sigh, but Yun Lan knew he had won. “But still…”

“Is he still whining out there? The fat cat?” Yun Lan pulled Shen Wei close, sealing the deal with a hug. “Yun Lan is sorry, Xiao Wei. But it won’t happen again. Besides, he’s being pampered so well by Xiao Guo out there. He’ll get over it.”

“But…”

“No. No more buts or cat butts,” Yun Lan said with a smirk on his face. “Just talk about my butt.”

Shen Wei wrinkled his nose, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips and Yun Lan knew he’d just gotten away with his little mistake. And when Shen Wei pinched Yun Lan’s butt, Yun Lan knew he was still going to get punished, but he’d enjoy it.