I don’t know what it is, but of all the characters I’ve written fic for, Zhao Yunlan is one of the more out of control when it comes to him doing his own thing that has nothing to do with me.
Loki was worse, but…Loki! He’s a trickster! And I mostly avoided writing from his POV – for that reason! Now I’m just finishing a fic entirely from Zhao Yunlan’s POV and there is a biggish reveal near the end that was as much a surprise to me as it (hopefully) will be to the readers, because I had no idea what was going on until it happened, despite being in Yunlan’s head for all of it.
Like, Zhao Yunlan isn’t even that complicated a character, his motivations are, in order:
Before and after of Zhao Yunlan realizing that doesn’t matter what time period it is, if Shen Wei is naive or hardened, nothing can stop him to look at Zhao Yunlan with so much love and sincerity in his eyes..not even 10000 years.
(I worked so hard on this -my very 1st- gifset uhh..you have no idea. Tumblr hates me but I couldn’t give up on this idea and I finally pulled through for Weilan. The realization in Lan’s eyes is killing me ugghhhh!!)
He wants to lean into Yunlan’s touch, to let Yunlan continue to make a mess of Si’er’s room searching for the pink dress he thinks they left at Yunlan’s apartment. He wants to keep Yunlan here, in their lives, with them, wants Yunlan to be a part of their lives so badly.
Yezun dies after an accident, leaving his baby in Shen Wei’s care.
Shen Wei doesn’t know how to be a father. He only understands flowers language. But it’s okay. Yunlan, coffeeshop owner at next door will help him.
“What are you doing, Yunlan?” Shen Wei asks.
Yunlan frowns a little at Shen Wei, and turns back to continue flicking through Si’er’s wardrobe. “What do you mean what am I doing? I’m looking for that pink fairy princess dress,” he says. “I could’ve sworn I just saw it in here the other day. Did you put it in the wash?”
“Yunlan…”
“Or did we leave it at Wang Zheng’s place?” Yunlan mumbles. “Do you think Si’er will mind wearing the white one instead of the pink? I think she looks adorable no matter what, but she is very attached to that pink dress.”
“Yunlan,” Shen Wei says firmly. “Zhao Yunlan, what are you doing?”
Yunlan’s father is a businessman, he wants his son to be a next ceo but Yunlan only wants to make art. So he studies art. His father let’s him, with one condition. He will marry with Shen Wei.
Shen Wei is a strong willed man. He is determined to make this marriage work.
Ooooh I absolutely love the idea of this. But listen, what if Yun Lan and Shen Wei’s families have been rivals since they’re young? Yun Lan did not know of this but Shen Wei has always been in love with the Zhao’s family heir. So when Yun Lan’s father puts forth a business proposal to join both families together, Shen Wei jumps at the chance with a condition that he lets Yun Lan to pursue his Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts.
The terms and conditions of the arranged marriage are drawn and signed behind closed doors so not even Yun Lan is privy to its dealings. Not that he even cares. He can’t believe that his father has sold him off like a prized cow to a man 10 years his senior! The absurdity of it makes Yun Lan wants to laugh and get stupidly drunk. Stupid Shen Wei. Who does this man think he is? Galloping into his life and trying to take over everything? He hates him already and he’s supposed to marry this guy? Oh damn it to hell.
Zhao Yunlan really tries to be upset about the whole situation -he acts out during the wedding reception, gets too drunk and too rowdy, avoids Shen Wei like the plague every chance he can- and to hate Shen Wei for agreeing to this whole farce of a marriage to begin with. He really does!
But Shen Wei… Shen Wei is not what Yunlan’d expected him to be.
Shen Wei is nice and sweet and takes care of Yunlan, never expecting Yunlan to reciprocate. He makes Yunlan food, and buys Yunlan random art supplies because he just happened to see them. He’s respectful of Yunlan’s personal boundaries, and respects his choice to continue studying art. That one time Yunlan came home drunk after a night out with Da Qing and Lin Jing, Shen Wei’d carried Yunlan to his room, tucked him into bed, and left a glass of water and an advil on the bedside table for Yunlan!
It’s almost inevitable that Yunlan develops a crush on his own husband, really. What was the universe expecting?
The Last Good Bar 
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