Jiang Cheng was still gazing venomously at his mask, and Wei Ying half thought it would burst into flames with his intensity.

They were riding in the back of a limousine together with Nie MingJue and his younger brother, Nie Huaisang, who was also doing a piece on cultural diversity but Wei Ying thought that was just an excuse to get invited. It helped if your big brother was going out with one half of the hosts.

During the whole week, other staff members had given Wei Ying envious looks, some even sidling up to him to trade favours and jobs for the chance to go, but Nie MingJue was his boss and had expressly insisted he go.

Not that Wei Ying minded at all, in fact he was rather looking forward to seeing what the famous Lan residence would like from the inside. The Lan brothers were already on the Forbes list of one hundred, proud supporters of gay rights in America, and Lan XiChen was the face of their charity, a work set up to help children all over the world.

The man looked like a God, Wei Ying had seen a few photos on his boss' desktop, and he was definitely eye-catching.

However, not much was known about the other elusive Lan, Lan Wangji. In contrast to his brother, he rarely went outside of their mansion, unless it was for business purposes, otherwise he was a recluse.

That was all anyone knew about him.

Wei Ying found that intriguing. What could be the reason? Was he deformed in some way, that made him feel uncomfortable going out in public? Or was it simply an introvert tendency? Or was there something else, that no-one knew about?

Wei Ying was pretty sure Nie MingJue knew something, but as his employee, it was not professional to ask, and Wei Ying knew that if it bothered him enough, he could find out anything he wanted about the multimillionaire.

He had other things on his plate though, and enough things to worry about.

There was definitely something up with his brain, because the night before, after he had woken up from yet another nightmare, his mind had gone back in time...only he couldn't quite remember where, or what he had been doing. But he remembered more a feeling from there, a feeling of being utterly content, at peace with himself...and one other. A feeling of coming home after a long absence, tired from his travels and finally able to rest.

"You look tired." Jiang Cheng commented under his breath.
"Nightmares still bugging you?"

Wei Ying laughed awkwardly, but the sound was sad.

"When have they not?" He muttered.

There was no time to talk now.

The car lurched to a standstill, before the doors were flung open and a barrage of lights exploded in their faces, especially at Nie MingJue, who protected the rest of them with his broad chest blocking the cameras from taking pictures of the interior behind him.

Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng hastily put their masks on, checking their tuxedos before stepping out of the vehicle. They were the last to exit, and as a result, not the focus of the cameras still flashing away at the Nie brothers.

"Were we supposed to bring a date to this thing?" Jiang Cheng whispered next to him as a red-carpet and photo opportunity platform greeted them. They watched Nie Huaisang pose shamelessly, his fan complimenting his green mask to perfection. His suit was of plain black with dark green lapels and a single feather was tucked into his handkerchief pocket.

Wei Ying looked at his own tuxedo, black with black rhinestones on his lapels, with a scarlet silk shirt. His black tie was slim with a pocket square that matched, trimmed in red edging. And his mask was a mix of the two colours, fitting perfectly on his face, so his silver eyes stood out, like gemstones in the night. His voice-activated recorder sat in his pocket, ready to be put to good use. He eyed Jiang Cheng in his purple clothes, all different shades but somehow making it work.

"You nervous?" He whispered as they followed others into the mansion.

"No. You?" Jiang Cheng was already pulling out his camera.

He had strict instructions on what he could and could not photograph, and he intended to listen, ignoring his brother’s suggestions to break a few rules now and again.

The foyer that greeted them was decorated to the nines, with white and gold streamers covering the ceiling from two grand crystal chandeliers. White and blue flowers were woven into garlands that twisted up on both sides of the extravagant staircase that wound up to the second floor, and Wei Ying was certain there was another underlying scent somewhere, hidden in between the perfume of the natural and the not.

But he didn't have time to dwell upon this, as the crowd surged, pushing them along towards the even grander ball room.

The ceiling was covered in white and blue balloons, ready to be released come midnight, Wei Ying guessed, but even here, the ostentatious decoration matched that of the outer rooms. The live band was already playing a waltz, and many couples were dancing and having fun.

Jiang Cheng grabbed Wei Ying’s arm and pulled him over to the bar.

"I'm going to need a stiff one to get through tonight." He mumbled, ordering two.

Pushing one towards his brother, he downed that glass and waited for Wei Ying to finish his.

Wei Ying could not put his finger on the taste that rested upon his tongue. It was so, so familiar, and yet the name remained elusive.

"What's this called?" Wei Ying asked no one in particular.

Jiang Cheng gave him a funny, disbelieving look, but didn't answer.

They sat back on the barstools watching everyone, taking in their surroundings for a few minutes.

"I guess I should start taking some pictures then." Jiang Cheng huffed out, clearly not wanting to leave. "Have you decided what angle you're going to pursue?"

"I'll pick something later. It's not like it's difficult." Wei Ying shrugged in a noncommittal way. "I think I'll take a look around, see what appeals."

"Right. Then I'll see you later." Jiang Cheng melted into the crowd of party goers, where one outfit was louder than the next.

Wei Ying drifted between the men and women, wondering why the funny feeling in his chest had not dissipated. If it was just nerves from coming here, then he should be over that by now; as it had been over an hour since they'd entered. But if anything, it had only gotten worse.

A static electricity hummed in his veins, an unsettling feeling growing as he moved around, trying to find a quiet spot. His head was just beginning to hurt, the space behind his eyes throbbing to an imaginary beat. And now he felt as if someone was watching him. He made his way out of the ballroom and found himself in the now substantially quieter foyer again.

His feet echoed as they rapped against the spotless and shining marble, taking him somewhere unknown. There was a corridor, blissfully empty, just behind an overgrown fern.

His fingers massaged his temples, willing away the headache, and he looked up to find himself staring at a familiar scene.

There were two pictures framed upon the wall here, both equally mesmerising. The first one was of a lotus pond, with many varieties of lotus flowers resting upon the surface of the water. Wei Ying closed his eyes, imagining that he could smell their sweet fragrance already, and began to feel calmer.

Wouldn't it have been lovely to lie in a boat and drift across the lake with the stars twinkling above, and the soft sweet scent of newly ripened blooms perfuming the air? Wei Ying felt as if, were he to reach out, his fingers would have skimmed the surface of the water, so real was his imagination.

"This area is prohibited." A voice said, close to his ear.

Wei Ying shivered involuntarily, his silver eyes snapping open immediately.

Golden eyes, intense and powerful, stared back at him, questions like lightening bolts aimed right at him. Wei Ying felt as if he was being scrutinised, as if from here on in, every movement, every word would either save him or condemn him.

Those beautiful golden eyes were focused only on him, no blinking, just concentration, and Wei Ying had to tear his eyes away from them, just to take in the whole picture in front of him.

This man was slightly taller than him, maybe only by a couple of inches, and he wore a pale blue mask decorated with silver diamonds. His white suit was dramatically well fitted, a second skin wrapped over a pale blue silk shirt. His hair was long enough to be tied back into a bun, held by a silver and white jade pin.

His hand was moving towards it before he could stop himself, and it was only by the widening of those beautiful eyes, that he realised and stepped back, terribly embarrassed.

"Sorry." His mouth was completely dry, and he wished he had finished the drink Jiang Cheng had bought for him.

"For?"

That voice...

It was doing something to him, to his insides. He was feeling very warm all of a sudden, and traitorous fingers moved to his tie to yank it off, opening his collar.

The stranger was staring at his every move, and now his gaze was focused upon that patch of bare skin, his collar bone exposed.

Wei Ying blushed, unsure of his body's reactions. To take attention away from him, he pointed at the picture he had been staring at.

"Is this a real place?"

He really wanted to hear this man speak some more.

"Was."

"Was? Not any more?"

The stranger nodded.

There was just a flicker of sadness, fleeting and abrupt.

But Wei Ying could feel only incredible sadness that such a beautiful place existed no more. What had happened to it?

"Time."

Wei Ying hadn't realised he'd spoken aloud. His attention drifted over to the next picture.

This was a scene out of a movie. It had to be.

There were two white pillars, obviously a gate of some kind, high up in the mountains. Light clouds or perhaps it was a fog, was painted in wispy white streaks, and all around was greenery amid craggy stone walls.

Wei Ying was feeling dizzy, his headache from before coming back with a vengeance. He clutched his head suddenly, bending over.

Firm but gentle hands grabbed his arm, and led him further down that corridor.

Wei Ying was barely aware of anything but the pounding in his head. When he opened his eyes, he had to squint at the brightness of the modern kitchen they were in. He was pushed into a chair and a glass of water placed in front of him. The stranger showed him a packet of painkillers, and removed two white pills from the foil packaging.

"Drink." He was told.

Obediently, he swallowed the pills and guzzled down the water, feeling only minutely better.

The stranger sat down in front of him.

At this point, Wei Ying couldn’t look up. He felt as if his head was weighed down with bricks, his shoulders stiff from the effort of trying to lift it. His hands rested at his temples, and he closed his eyes again.

So he didn't see the hands coming towards him, but he jolted when the warmth of them began to apply pressure to the knots in his muscles.

Unbidden, a moan fell from his mouth as his pain diminished. Those fingers paused and Wei Ying regretted making any sounds. Minutes later, and when he could finally sit properly, those comforting, magical hands left his body.

He missed the touch immediately.

"What is your name?" He blurted out.

Now that he had the privilege of being able to look properly, Wei Ying was in awe at the beauty in front of him. He could feel an ache in his chest, wanting something he could not name. Unconsciously, the heel of his hand was lifted, rubbing the spot where he felt the pain most. He wondered what this man would look like without his mask. Would he be as beautiful as Wei Ying imagined?

"Lan...Zhan."

Wei Ying wondered why he had paused before finishing.

"My name is Wei WuXian, but you can call me Wei Ying." He said, surprised at himself.

Not many people knew his birth name, or if they knew it, did not feel comfortable using it. And he hardly ever divulged it, preferring the double letter syllables of Wei WuXian instead.

He thought it sounded cooler, but Jiang Cheng had told him he was still an idiot, and nothing, especially not his name, could change that.

He smiled at the memory, and hearing a sharp intake of breath, looked up. Lan Zhan was still staring at him.

The way the kitchen lights were angled, they cast a shine on  the white lapels of his jacket, where Wei Ying’s gaze was drawn. Lan Zhan was wearing a brooch, and it was stunning in its detail.

There were two crossed swords, one white and silver with a tassle at the hilt, and the other was a plainer scabbard, a wooden effect with a red tassle. The work of art was barely the size of his palm, and Wei Ying found he could not look away.

Why did they seem so familiar?

His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a little boy in pale blue pyjamas with little white rabbits all over them. He even had fluffy white slippers with bunny ears.

The little boy crawled into the lap of Lan Zhan and promptly fell asleep. Lan Zhan held him close, his lips resting on his temple. The little boy, who couldn't have been more than five years old, sighed and held onto his neck.

All throughout, those golden eyes remained on him.

Wei Ying would have found it unnerving, except for the fact that they looked adorable together. They obviously cared for each other immensely, and Wei Ying felt a pang of disappointment at the thought of there being a Mrs Lan, the mother of the child. Still his eyes drifted over those elegant, pale fingers devoid of a wedding ring.

Somehow, that comforted him.

"There you are!" Nie Huaisang and an irate Jiang Cheng entered the kitchen.

Huaisang was fanning himself, surreptitiously scanning his surroundings.

Lan Zhan stood up ready to leave with his child.

It felt awkward to remain seated, when his benefactor was going to leave, so Wei Ying stood up too.

"Why d'you disappear?" Jiang Cheng whisper shouted, mindful of the sleeping child.

"I got lost. Lan Zhan here, found me." It was only a little lie, and Lan Zhan must have been okay with it, because he walked away.

Wei Ying was sorry to see him leave, but as Jiang Cheng was tugging on his arm, he had no choice but to follow.

They led him back to the ballroom where a countdown was underway.

"Six...five...four...three...two...one!"

The balloons were released with streamers and the opening of champagne. Corks flew amid cheers and congratulations upon the arrival of a new day.

From the viewing gallery above, undetected, Lan Zhan watched the people below, his eyes drawn to the man in red and black.

"What do you think, Didi?" Lan XiChen asked, appearing next to him. "I know you met with him."

Lan Zhan raised a brow, a silent question.

"Nie Huaisang. Told A-Jue." He answered, a slight pinking of his pale ears giving him away.

"So?" He persisted.

"Unsure."

"Really?" Lan XiChen sounded disappointed.

"He did not recognize me." Lan Zhan couldn't keep the same emotion from his voice either.

He had been hoping that it was Wei Ying, and upon seeing him again, he would remember everything.

But that did not happen.

"Don't lose hope, Didi. He may yet remember."

But Lan Zhan was not so sure.

"Investigative Journalism?" He asked, an idea forming in his mind.

"Hm? Wei WuXian? Yes, he did that in New York."

"Arrange a meeting on Monday. Here."

Lan XiChen stared at his retreating back with a smile. Perhaps there was hope for his brother yet.

*****

A/N

So what do you guys think? Too painful? I hope you can trust me as I'm trying something new. Let's see what you think at the end of this series...

Have a great day, everyone. May your days be filled with laughter and chocolate....