Past

 As the evening draws closer, Xian returns to YiJun's chamber and finds the prince studying at his desk. "Jun," He calls, and walks over to the Prince. 

 "Mn." Jun turns and hugs the younger boy.

"I need to go home tonight. Maybe, tomorrow night as well."

"Why?" YiJun asks, letting go of Xian.

"I am working something. I will show it to you when it's done."

YiJun doesn't ask anything else. He hugs the younger boy and bids him goodbye.

*

 *

 *

*Night, Xian's home*

As soon as Xian returns home, he runs to meet his father.

 "Father, in the books you gave me to read, I read something about blood protection. Can you help me understand it better?"

Cong's eyes widen in surprise, "Son, you are too young to understand it."

"Father, trust me, I will understand it. I have read enough books in your library to understand the concepts."

"Son, there is no point in understanding it. What will you do with it? It's not like that knowledge is going to help you." Cong says, trying to discourage Xian.

"Father, it may be useless, but I still want to understand it. Please, father, there is no harm in learning, right?" Xian urges.

Cong keeps mum. He doesn't like the idea of teaching the intricacies of a spell to the young boy.

Xian changes his method, "Father, I miss Jun. The magic books help me; distract me."

The method works; Cong melts. "Fine. I will explain it to you, just this once. You know that talking about magic and spells can get you into trouble, right?"

"Mn. Don't worry, father. Your son is smart." Xian says, smiling brightly.

Cong had to admit that Xian was indeed, a smart boy. During the week, when they were putting the spell on Xian, Cong and Xi Xi had seen a change in the young boy. He had become more mature and strong-willed. 

To keep himself distracted from the pain, Xian had occupied himself with books on various topics. He had read several ancient ancestral books that mentioned magic spells that had protected their people for centuries.

He had become curious and asked his father why magic was not practiced by their people now. And Cong had explained how the ability to perform magic had been snatched away from them due to an evil curse that had plagued the region around a century ago. Cong had not elaborated on the curse; Xian had not pushed him for details.

"I trust you, Son," Cong says, before explaining the intricacies of the blood protection spell to Xian.

The next day Xian goes to YiJun's chamber. He closes the door and takes off his top garments.

YiJun holds Xian's wrist, "What are you doing? And since when do you have this mark on you?" The prince asks, lightly touching the lotus-shaped mark on Xian's chest.

Xian smiles, "I got it a few days ago. It's nothing." Xian pauses and removes YiJun's top garments as well.

"Xian! What are you doing?", YiJun tries to stop Xian once again, but Xian merely gives a squeeze to the prince's hand as if to say that he knows what he is doing, "I need you to do something. Jun, I told you that I needed something from you. I am here to collect it."

"Xian..." YiJun wants to ask many things, but something tells him that he will not be getting any answers today. Instead, YiJun looks at Xian questioningly.

Xian takes out an object wrapped in old rags and hands it to YiJun, who unwraps it to reveal a Jade handled knife.

 "Xian, what am I supposed to do with this?"

Xian puts his right hand over YiJun's heart, "Jun, close your eyes and think of the moment when I found this shell and cut my finger. Then take the knife and pierce right in the center of the lotus."

"No, I won't hurt you." YiJun protests.

"Don't worry. You can heal it, remember?"

"Xian, why must you do this?"

"I have my reasons."

Xian turns the locket in his palm, "The blood from my heart," he hands over the locket to YiJun, "I need you to collect it in this. Just a couple of drops. And then close it. Make sure the drops fall on the pearl." Xian instructs.

"If it is blood that you need, then use mine." YiJun offers.

"It wouldn't work."

"What wouldn't work, Xian?"

"I can't tell you now," Xian says, avoiding YiJun's eyes.

"If I do this, will you be happy?"

"Mn." Xian nods excitedly.

"Fine, but you have to spend the night with me. I won't let you go home."

"I accept," Xian vows, and proceeds to do the spell, the way his father had explained. YiJun collects the blood and hands it to Xian. Xian seals the locket and wears it.

"Is it done?" YiJun asks, as soon as Xian wears the locket.

"Mn."

YiJun pulls Xian close. He puts his lips on Xian's bleeding wound and starts licking. As soon as the wound heals, YiJun catches Xian's eyes. Just like before, Xian's blood drives YiJun crazy with lust. His body shivers with want, and his eyes turn red. "I love you, Xian. I am yours. I want you!" YiJun growls, backing the younger boy towards the bed. 

He ignores the pain in his chest and captures Xian's lips between his. Xian doesn't resist. He kisses back. He had expected his blood to have this exact effect on YiJun. 

Xian calms his heart and kisses back. But when YiJun's hands wander lower, Xian breaks the kiss, "Jun, I am willing, but it...it will hurt me... My body is not ready to receive yours."

YiJun suddenly becomes aware of his intentions; of what he wants to do, and for the first time, he realizes how right aunty Xi Xi had been to take such a step. He distances himself from Xian, "I am sorry. I forgot."

"It's okay, Jun. It's not your fault; time flies. We will be strong in a few years. No one will be able to keep us apart then." Xian promises, hugging YiJun.

Present 

 *After nightfall, Jin Pharmaceutical*

Jin Gayo sits in his office with a laptop open in front of him. He turns to his subordinate, "The cameras and the witnesses, both were perfect. Then why is Lan Wangji not behind bars yet?"

Lao Ming, Jin Gayo's right-hand man and the one who takes care of all of his illegal deals, answers, "It was officer Bai Zhau. He somehow convinced everyone that the proof was not conclusive enough, and they needed to investigate more."

"Damn it." Gayo stands and walks to the window that has a dark black tint to it, "What of the boy?"

Ming gulps, he knows that the news he is going to deliver will only sour his Master's mood further, "He is joining The Emperor's Smile as the live stage singer from tonight."

Gayo sighs, "Shin, demands to feed off of him. It's like she is obsessed; even in her pitiful state, she still thinks and acts like a princess."

"Master, should we try again tonight?"

"No. I will try to change her mind somehow. The last eighteen years have been a living hell for both of us. Her body is recovering slowly, but her mind is stuck in the past. All she has said after regaining conciseness are two names: YiJun and Xian."

He glances at the computer screen and once again at Ming, "The shooter, did he get Shen?"

"No master, Zhau protected him."

"Who the hell is this man!? He keeps getting in my way." Gayo says, banging his hand on the desk. He sighs once again, "Call XiChen. Tell him that I need him."

Once Lao Ming leaves, Gayo turns his attention back to the laptop screen. 'Shin, who is Xian? How do you know that name?'

He touches the screen where a woman is lying in a porcelain-white bed, dressed like a bride. She looks like Sleeping Beauty, except for the red stains that dot her lips and the white bandage wrapped around her neck.

*The Emperor's Smile after Dusk*

The white Porsche in the owner's lot screams to get noticed. It's Limited Edition and parked in a place that usually remains empty.

Inside the club, the tension in the air is palpable. Lan Wangji doesn't just come to 'The Emperor's Smile' without reason. Every time he has graced the club with his presence, it has spelled bad news for someone or the other.

But tonight is different; staff can feel it too. Wangji had come to the club. But instead of going to his office like everyone expected him to, he had come to the main hall. He had gone to the liquor counter and taken stock before checking the live stage. Afterward, he had personally fixed the instruments.

If the staff has to guess, they would probably say that their elusive owner had finally gone mad or had developed an interest in something other than freaking people out.

Wangji keeps glancing at the door now and then. Even though he had been subtle, the staff had realized that Wangji is waiting for someone.

"God knows who fucked up this time." One of the waiters says in a hushed tone. 

 "I will pray for the poor soul." Says another. 

Of course, no one knows that Wangji can hear them. 'Do I only come here as the bearer of bad news!!' The immortal wonders, feeling a little disappointed.

He is about to turn and reprimand the men when he feels Xian's presence. 'He is close.' Wangji thinks, motioning a waiter towards him.

"Damn it! Why is he calling me?" The waiter mutters under his breath; Wangji hears it. He ignores it. "Shortly, our new stage performer will arrive. Send him to me as soon as he arrives." Wangji starts to leave but stops, "Make sure he comes alone."

"Yes, Sir." The waiter says, avoiding Wangji's eyes.

'He will be here soon.' Wangji thinks, making his way down to his office. His heart thumps wildly in his chest. He had never felt so unprepared; so undone.

He gives his office a once over, 'Everything is perfect.' he tells himself, his hand moves to his chest. He takes out the shell-shaped locket from under his shirt and caresses it gently, 'I hope it's you. I hope it's finally you.' 

He kisses the locket before putting it back under his shirt.

Shortly after, there is a knock on the door. 

"Enter." Wangji orders in a commanding tone; he feels unsure and confused.

Xian steps into the office, and their eyes meet. He bites his lip: Nervous.

Wangji looks away, 'Damn it!' he forgets what he is supposed to say.

After seconds of awkward silence, Xian speaks, his voice trembles, "I was asked to come and meet you."

"Ah, yes. Please, take a seat." Wangji says politely, surprising Xian.

'Why is he being so polite with me?' Xian wonders. "Thank you."

Wangji passes over a few documents to the younger man. "Look through it, and if it satisfies you, sign it."

"Mn." Xian nods and starts going through the documents one by one. All the while, he feels Wangji's eyes on him. 'The Fuck is he looking at!? I hope he doesn't try anything funny. But I am in his domain. He can do anything to me. Anything.' The mere thought of Wangji's hands-on him start making Xian feel warm. A light shade of pink colors his cheeks. He gulps, 'What the hell is wrong with me!? Why does he affect me so?' Xian closes his eyes. 'Concentrate on the documents for fucks sake!'

In the meanwhile, Xian's scent starts driving Wangji crazy. He wants to hold the young man. He wants to make Xian moan; moan his name. Wangji closes his fist, trying to calm down.

Xian finally looks up.

"Is everything to your liking?" Wangji asks, holding Xian's gaze.

Xian feels like his whole body is on fire. Like Wangji's gaze is trying to burn his very soul.

Xian doesn't want to sound presumptuous or rude. Afterall, Wangji had let him win, even after he had rejected the Ice Prince. "I was wondering if this," Xian points to the documents, "is all that is required of me?" He asks, avoiding Wangji's eyes and bites his lower lip.

'Stop doing that... Just stop biting on your lip like that!' Wangji begs. 

"Mr. Wei, could you please"...' Kiss me, touch me, hold me, love me!'...."could you please elaborate?"

{Note:- Word count 2127

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