Sundays were for relaxing too, and since everyone had had a long night filled with exciting car chases and police interrogations, the four friends had decided to meet closer to lunch time, a little later so that they could catch up on their sleep.

There was a lovely little restaurant that specialised in light meals and finger foods that they all loved, and Huaisang had suggested they make their way there by midday.

Lan WangJi was the sort of person who had to go to sleep at a certain time, and wake up at a certain time and if his sleep cycle was disturbed for any reason, he could not simply stay in bed.

The reason for this was unclear even to himself and he wished it wasn't so, and  unfortunately because it was, he found himself sitting on their couch trying to meditate when his body wanted to sleep.

He gave up and let his head rest against the back edge of the sofa and fell asleep anyway. Sometime later he felt a warmth against his legs and then a weight on his knees.

It was Wei Ying, who had come and sat down next to him, resting his head on Lan Zhan’s knees.

His fingers automatically began combing through soft silky hair and he heard a sigh before he fell asleep again.

A few hours later, he woke up definitely more horizontal than he remembered. Plus the warmth and the weight was mostly on his chest now, and he felt incredibly comfortable. As sleep disappeared and his fingers resumed their previous task, he realised that Wei Ying was actually lying on top of him...and that he was in fact, very well rested.

So was Wei Ying because he was awake.

"It feels so good when you do that, Lan Zhan." Wei Ying whispered softly.

"Mn."

Lan WangJi felt him shiver and he pulled Wei Ying’s blanket from their bodies, tucking it over Wei Ying’s shoulders firmly in case he was cold.

There was a peacefulness to this morning that hadn't been there last night, sipping hot chocolate and staring into each other's eyes.

Today was without pretence, just a casual, easy existing. Listening to their breathing, and finding it uncomplicated, just lying here together. Lan WangJi did not allow himself to question how or why they were both laying down there, basking in this quiet tranquility. The serenity of the morning drifted over their hearts and minds, healing them in ways they didn't know they needed.

"How is Wei Ying feeling this morning?" Lan WangJi asked after a while.

Even speaking seemed to disturb this quiet bubble of untroubled paradise.

"I'm okay, I guess." He sighed softly. "The whole afternoon...no, actually the whole day yesterday felt surreal. Maybe it's me...but I refuse to believe that."

"What do you mean?" Lan WangJi asked. He kept his voice low and unhurried.

"Well, a part of me wants me to believe that I'm inadvertently attracting weirdos, people who I would never actually have a relationship with, you know what I mean? Like my subconscious is trying to sabotage my love life. But there's no way I would do something like that...so I think it's like learning to drive." He snuggled closer, adjusting his hold over Lan Zhan's body.

"Driving?" Lan WangJi asked. He must have sounded as lost as he felt, because Wei Ying giggled.

"Yeah, think back to the first time you got behind the wheel."

Lan WangJi did.

"Mn." He prompted.

"So no one drives perfectly straight away, right? Sometimes there are bumps in the road, or signs you don't understand etc, etc, etc. My point is, after a while, you get better at it. With practice."

"Xiongzhang taught me. He says I was great, even in my first lesson."

"I bet you passed first time, huh?" Wei Ying looked up into Lan Zhan’s eyes, resting the point of his chin on Lan WangJi ’s chest.

"Mn." Lan WangJi didn't mean to sound smug but that was the truth.

"Alright, everyone else normally doesn't drive correctly. What I mean is, I'll get better too, with practice. Maybe I just need to widen the search. I shouldn't be so particular about the kind of people I remove from my list of suitors. I mean, it's to be expected that I can also make mistakes...I haven't really got any experience dating."

"Mn. Wei Ying shouldn't be so hard on himself." Lan WangJi said, without thinking.

The relaxed haze of sort of sleeping was sweeping over him and he didn't actually get what he had said until Wei Ying quietly celebrated a few minutes later.

"I just knew you'd understand!" He not-squealed. "You're so supportive, Lan Zhan...you're the best!"

Lan WangJi hummed along feeling on top of the world...until his own words sunk in.

Had he just encouraged Wei Ying to date more?

Oh...no...

His eyes snapped open to find silver starlight ones watching him carefully. There was a resigned look in the gunmetal flecks glimmering. An undercurrent of...sadness maybe?

"It is okay to be upset." Lan WangJi tried to make him feel better. "People go on dates all the time. Some can be good, some can be bad...doesn't mean anything."

Wei Ying shuttered his eyes, hiding his thoughts.

"I guess you're right, Lan Zhan. I just gotta keep trying." He said after a while.

Lan WangJi could have kicked himself.

Sometimes he wondered if he had truly mastered brain to hand-eye coordination as well as he seemed to think, because there had definitely been moments recently where he wanted to say things differently to what his mouth had already said...and then it was too late to change his words.

This difficulty always happened whenever Wei Ying was around, his brain had a blackout and stopped functioning altogether and Lan WangJi berated himself mercilessly inside his head.

Get it together, Lan WangJi, he told himself. You have to do better. The next time Wei Ying wants advice, tell him the truth. Tell him you'd rather he didn't date anyone else, certainly no one but you...TELL HIM!

Lan WangJi opened his mouth at the same time as Wei Ying spoke.

"What time is it? I guess I'm feeling hungry." He didn't wait for an answer, instead off Lan WangJi and took his blanket with him.

Lan WangJi was left alone on the couch, feeling cold.

*********

They left their apartment soon after, once both of them had showered and freshened up. Wei Ying had recovered his good spirits and was bouncing along making light conversation.

Lan WangJi was surreptitiously watching him, delight flooding his heart. Wei Ying was like an excited bunny hopping from one pretty bloom to another, flitting from one shop window to the next, commenting on what he liked and what he didn't.

He wished their lives were simpler and that Wei Ying didn’t have to go through the arduous steps he had chosen though. He wanted life to be happier and easier for him, so that all obstacles were removed.

Jiang Cheng and Huaisang were already sitting at their usual table when they reached the cute little restaurant.

Lan Zhan handed out sanitary wipes and then wiped his menu before passing it to Wei Ying. Then he wiped his one, and carried on as if this was normal behaviour, which it totally was, for them.

Huaisang and Jiang Cheng looked at one another, on the same page.

How could those two idiots not know how the other felt about them?

Were they too close to the problem? What was the deal?

Once they'd all ordered, Jiang Cheng got down to business.

"So why were the cops after Xue Yang?" He asked.

"I'm really not sure." Wei Ying shrugged. "As far as I could tell, he's wanted for fraud, manipulation and embezzlement. He's left the country by the way."

"What a shame." Jiang Cheng deadpanned. "You two would have made a sweet couple." He joked.

"What's Russian Roulette?" Wei Ying asked, just as innocently as before.

"It's when-" Jiang Cheng was about to explain when Huaisang said, "show him, don't tell."

Jiang Cheng nodded and searched for the correct video on YouTube. He held his phone long enough in front of Wei Ying's face for him to pale suddenly.

"That's what he wanted to do?" He asked.

Huaisang nodded, seriously.

"I stalked him on all the apps, Facebook, Instagram and any obscure ones I could think of, there was zilch, nada...that alone had alarm bells ringing in my head."

"Everyone posts something on social media, idiot." Jiang Cheng told him. "If they don't, then they're definitely hiding something. Capiche?"

"That may be, but I would prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt, you know what I'm saying?" Wei Ying defended himself. "I don't want them to think I don't trust them, right off the bat."

"Wei-Xiong...let me tell you, there's a fine line between self-preservation and sticking your nose into someone's life. In this day and age, you have to protect yourself first, because there are all sorts of dangerous people out there, and every single one has access to a computer." Huaisang told him, as the waiter arrived with their food.

"These are basically strangers, okay? And while I commend you on being brave by going to meet them in the first place, don't be stupid about it." Jiang Cheng softened his words with a smile. He bit into a spring roll.

"So what do you suggest?" Wei Ying grabbed the plate of nibbles and emptied out half of it onto Lan WangJi’s plate.

Lan WangJi was busy heaping rice into Wei Ying’s bowl and pushing the chilli oil towards him.

Jiang Cheng, watching their interactions wanted to knock their heads together. Why were both of them so dumb all of a sudden? His brother was one of the smartest people he knew, and Lan WangJi wasn't exactly a dummy.

So why wasn't one of them at least taking the initiative and confessing? Since it looked like they were both head-over-heels in love already?

Before the other two had arrived, he and Huaisang had been discussing this very topic, and thinking about how to fix this stupid problem. Huaisang had suggested something which Jiang Cheng thought they should definitely put out there. His chance came when Wei Ying suddenly stood up, waving the empty chilli bottle in their faces and leaving to go get another one.

"Listen, Lan WangJi, we've been thinking about this," Jiang Cheng waved a hand in between him and the empty seat Wei Ying had sat in.

Lan WangJi scowled.

Internally.

Jiang Cheng paused, feeling intimidated for no apparent reason other than a frostiness emanating from the silent one, who was sending him an icy glare. Still bravely, he ploughed on.

"Maybe you should join a dating app too. Just so my idiot brother understands that you might be unavailable soon."

"Better yet, join the same one. That way, he'll come across your picture and fall into your lap, as it were." Huaisang added. "You have to have a picture otherwise I'd have said use a fake name."

Was that why Wei Ying was looking for someone? Was it because he didn't know how available Lan WangJi was?

But Wei Ying had never shown an interest in him at all...to date.

It was certainly something to think about, if they couldn't talk about it now because Wei Ying had returned.

"As I was saying," Jiang Cheng continued, as if he hadn't just turned Lan WangJi's world upside down. "Since you're not very safety conscious, why don't you let us help?"

Wei Ying narrowed his eyes at his brother.

"Help how?"

"We can be there. Just as a backup in case you need us."

"What, all three of you?" Wei Ying asked in disbelief, looking around at all of them. His gaze skittered over Lan WangJi before returning to Jiang Cheng and he missed the way Lan WangJi's ears reddened.

"If not all three of us, then at least two." Jiang Cheng pushed.

"I'm not some helpless damsel in distress, you know!" Wei Ying tried not to be so annoyed, but he was. Jiang Cheng was painting him and his endeavours in an unflattering light, and he was too aware of Lan WangJi's heavy gaze upon the side of his face.

"I promise we won't interfere." Jiang Cheng held his hands up defensively.

"You won't even know we're there." Huaisang injected, smiling to hopefully reassure him. "Just because, two for two, both your dates weren't... the best." He finished.

"Lan Zhan agreed with me, I just need to broaden my horizons. Maybe change up my requirements?" Wei Ying carried on eating, oblivious to the daggers being aimed at the golden-eyed man beside him.

Lan WangJi shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

It had been a slip of the tongue...

Jiang Cheng had a look of 'what the hell?' on his face, and Huaisang seemed to be seconds away from a facepalm.

"How do you put out there what you're looking for?" Huaisang moved on swiftly before Jiang Cheng accidentally impaled Lan WangJi with the bluntest spoon he could lay his hands on.

"Oh, there's a section you can add to. It helps filter out people who you're not going to be interested in and saves a ton of time." Wei Ying carried on munching through the carrot sticks Lan WangJi had discreetly put on his plate, using the chilli oil as some weird dip.

It seemed to annoy Jiang Cheng, so he did it more.

"What's on your list then?" Huaisang was continuing his interrogation, and wishing the other two would pay more attention to what he was coaxing Wei Ying to divulge.

Lan WangJi caught on and turned his whole body towards Wei Ying, listening intently.

"Oh, you know, the usual. Someone who's not afraid to be kind, who can be loyal and on my side. Someone who can accept me for who I am, who doesn't mind that I'm basically quite messy to live with. Someone who lets me have my own space, who doesn't mind if I want to cuddle, someone who likes watching the same shows as me, someone who enjoys cooking, because let's be real, I cannot." He smiled shyly.

Lan WangJi was looking at the dreamy look in Wei Ying's silver eyes, how he seemed to go all softer and somehow squishy.

And as each item on Wei Ying's list was said out loud, he became more and more disheartened because he was none of those things...not really. And Wei Ying deserved someone who could look after him so well. Who could pamper him, and love him so much better.

Lan WangJi stood up and went to the counter as his phone chimed. He never thought he would ever want to get away from Wei Ying before, but his list caused a strange sort of depression in his mind, and he needed a chance to breathe and think clearly.

It was the Lotus Stalks group chat.

JC: what the hell are you doing? My brother all but confessed just now, and you walk away???

Lan WangJi stared hard at the message.

Then he calmly paid for all their food.

Except Jiang Cheng's portion.

When he returned to their table, the atmosphere was quite different to how he had left them.

It was tense.

His phone chimed again.

JC: my brother all but described you! Why are you not saying anything?

Lan WangJi put his phone away.

When it continued to chime, Lan WangJi switched it off, because Wei Ying was looking at it and then him.

"Work." Lan WangJi replied to his curious glance.

"On a Sunday? That's taking liberties!" Wei Ying was affronted on his behalf.

"Mn." Lan WangJi stared pointedly at Jiang Cheng until he stopped typing.

It wasn’t that he didn't want to say anything to Wei Ying...he did. But there were so many emotions crowding his head that Lan WangJi needed time to sort them out, to think.

And he wanted to be alone to do it.

Everything that was happening was too important for him to just jump in and say something that could potentially ruin his chances. He couldn’t risk it.

Not yet...it was too soon.

"So what now?" Jiang Cheng was scowling at both of them.

"I have another date tonight." Wei Ying said.

Those words snapped Lan WangJi out of his stupor.

"Who? Where? When?" Huaisang pulled out a pen and started writing on a napkin.

Wei Ying sighed and gave him all the details reluctantly.

While they were engrossed in their conversations, Jiang Cheng was conveying a whole other litany of speech through his eyes as Lan WangJi tried to avoid looking in his direction.

"Okay, so it's decided." Huaisang announced, switching his phone off suddenly. "Tonight, Lan WangJi and Jiang Cheng can go eat at the same place tonight. I'll send any information I can gather from home, and if there's anything sus about this guy, you get up and leave. If you feel uncomfortable in any way, you know what to do." That last part, he directed to Wei Ying.

Wei Ying smiled tightly and stood up.

"Are we done here?"

Lan WangJi stood up too. "Mn."

Chatting among themselves, they began to walk away, when there was a shout from the waiter who had served their table. As Jiang Cheng paused with Huaisang, Lan WangJi led Wei Ying away, knowing exactly what that was about.

*********

They got to the restaurant at exactly seven and Wei Ying after checking his phone, said that his date, Su MinShan was already inside.

So they agreed to go in separately for obvious reasons.

Jiang Cheng and Lan WangJi waited to be seated while Wei Ying followed the hostess to his table. After they had greeted each other, he sat across from the man at their table, watching his brother and Lan WangJi walk past, feeling more nervous than ever.

Was it because they were there too? Or was it because he'd had a bad run of dates so far and it was kind of humiliating to have them witness another possible train wreck?

Wei Ying shook off his spiralling thoughts and decided to throw himself into this date fully, because he owed his date his complete attention at the very least. His own baggage was not welcomed here, and he should properly focus on what could be someone he cared about in the future.

Now that he was sitting right in front of Su MinShan, Wei Ying noticed quite a few things.

For starters, he had no hair.

Well, that wasn't true...he had hair...but it wasn’t where it was supposed to be. Especially not according to his profile picture.

So if it turned out that Wei Ying would ever be in a position to actually buy him a present, a nose hair trimmer wouldn't be a bad idea...

Wei Ying couldn’t resist and pulled out his phone. He showed Su MinShan his profile picture.

"So..." He wanted to give the other a chance to explain himself.

Meanwhile, on the other table, a similar conversation was happening three ways.

NHS: holy moly, you guys aren't going to believe this!

JC: what? WHAT??

LWJ: Explain.

NHS: Give me a chance! I'm sending pics.

When he did, both Lan WangJi and Jiang Cheng were shocked.

They looked over to the table where Wei Ying was sitting, facing them.

"It looks like he's calling him out on it." Jiang Cheng remarked, looking back at the two very different pictures in front of him.

Su MinShan had clearly used an old picture.

That one showed a young man, reasonably good looking, and tall. This one was wearing a designer suit with dark glasses and a cocky expression. Huaisang had sent another picture dated two days ago.

It was definitely more accurate.

This Su MinShan had probably never seen the inside of a gym before. Jiang Cheng said as much to his silent dinner partner.

Lan WangJi couldn't shake his dark mood.

It had settled on his shoulders as soon as they had returned home to their apartment where Wei Ying had hidden away in his room and Lan WangJi had decided to play his guqin for a while, trying to sort through his feelings.

He'd ended up playing something tumultuous and frightening instead of calm and peaceful, and this mood stayed.

Lan WangJi was feeling dangerous.

"I bet he doesn't even know what a weight looks like." Jiang Cheng said, snidely.

"Or his toes."

Jiang Cheng stared at him for a full twenty seconds before cracking up.

Lan WangJi turned his attention back to Wei Ying's table. Thanks to Huaisang and his spectacular listening device, they could hear everything going on over there.

Wei Ying looked expectantly at the other man.

Su MinShan seemed to not realise what he had done.

"You do realise that this app requires an up-to-date picture, right?" He pushed, after Su MinShan wasn't forthcoming.

"It was authentic at the time." He replied, signalling the waiter.

Before Wei Ying had a chance to look over the menu, Su MinShan was already ordering for the both of them. And then he plucked the menu out of Wei Ying's fingers and handed it back to the waiter without asking.

Wei Ying was shocked at his bad manners.

A movement on his left and he saw Lan WangJi standing to come to their table, vibrating with anger. There was a question in his golden eyes.

Wei Ying shook his head discreetly.  He saw Jiang Cheng say something to pacify him because then Lan WangJi sat back down again.

But he was glowering at Su MinShan.

When their food arrived, Wei Ying wasn't happy, but he didn't say anything, instead he ordered the most expensive wine available.

"So...what do you do?" Wei Ying asked him, determined to make an effort.

"I socialise. Once people hear me talking, that's enough." Su MinShan laughed as if he had made the best joke ever. "My father used to say, connections are everything, you never know when you might need someone. So I take my time to get to know everything there is to know about people. Knowledge is power, my friend."

Wei Ying smiled politely and downed his glass. It was actually quite good.

"I always say, it's not what a man looks like, it's what he carries in his pocket. The size of your wallet matters." He pulled out his wallet as if to reiterate his point.

"Um...that's not necessary." Wei Ying tried to say.

But Su MinShan wasn't done. He began laying out his cards, like a magician about yo perform a card trick.

Wei Ying decided it was not worth saying anything, not when the other couldn't stop talking.

"I've met so many influential high profilers. Look, this person has a million followers on Instagram and we message daily. And this one, look! That's just today."

Wei Ying was forced to look at a screen with a one-sided conversation. Luckily, the waiter appeared and with a sympathetic flourish, mercifully filled his glass again.

Su MinShan liked to, no, loved, talking.

Mostly about himself.

Wei Ying was already exhausted by him and his relentless monologue.

Lan WangJi was increasingly worrying about Wei Ying. Every time he looked up, Wei Ying was throwing back his glass of wine and looking terribly sad.

And all throughout the boring and tedious conversation was hurting Lan WangJi's head, and first he wondered how Wei Ying was putting up with such an uninteresting character, but he soon realised Wei Ying’s plan.

Jiang Cheng had kept up a steady stream of insults, and for once, Lan WangJi couldn't fault him.

But when Su MinShan stood up to leave, that's when they intervened.

Wei Ying was almost passed out on the table, having pushed away his plate so he could rest his head on something. And Su MinShan was about to dine and dash.

But not on their watch.

Jiang Cheng and Lan WangJi stood shoulder to shoulder stopping him from going anywhere.

"Bill please." Jiang Cheng told the now scared waiter, without losing eye contact with the self important man.

"I was just going to the bathroom." He lied.

"You can go after you pay." Lan WangJi gritted out.

He stopped himself from checking on Wei Ying until this face hugger had left.

Once Wei Ying had shown him a film about Aliens and their procreation methods involved planting eggs inside human beings to "hatch" later via eating their way out. This Su MinShan wasn't far off, as far as Lan WangJi was concerned. And there was no way he was going to let him flee without paying for it.

Su MinShan pleaded and cajoled until Jiang Cheng grabbed his shirt, and then only did the snivelling toe rag actually pay up.

Once he had gone, with empty threats of calling the police, did Lan WangJi turn to Wei Ying.

He looked so peaceful, like this.

And so beautiful.

Lan WangJi couldn't stop looking at him. His pink cheeks were like a sky as the sun was setting, all peaches and golds, and if his silver starlight eyes had been open, that would have made the picture perfect.

He batted away Jiang Cheng's attempts to help, single-handedly picking up Wei Ying into his arms.

They had parked close by, and Jiang Cheng updated Huaisang as they walked to their car.

Lan WangJi didn't let go of Wei Ying, not even to sit in the back.

He managed.

Jiang Cheng drove them home in silence, kind of upset at his brother. And Lan WangJi.

Somehow, because Lan WangJi had been carrying his brother, Jiang Cheng ended up paying for himself and Lan WangJi’s dinner...could the evening get any worse?

Lan WangJi carried Wei Ying all the way up to their apartment, dismissing any attempts from Jiang Cheng to help. He wasn't even sure when Jiang Cheng left to go home; he was just immensely relieved that Wei Ying was safe.

He placed Wei Ying on his side and tucked him in. He made sure pillows were placed so Wei Ying wouldn't accidentally sleep on his back either. When it came to Wei Ying, Lan WangJi wasn't taking any chances.

Then he returned with painkillers and a glass of water, in case Wei Ying woke up in the night with a headache.

And then, because he couldn't resist, he leaned down and kissed Wei Ying's forehead gently, finally feeling comforted himself. He left his door ajar so if Wei Ying called for him, he would hear his voice.

And then he returned to his room to carry out his plan.

While he had listened to Jiang Cheng complain about Wei Ying’s date, Lan WangJi had made an important decision. Now, he was going to take measures.

************

A/N

Dear lovely readers,

So what do you think Lan Zhan is going to do?

Will Wei Ying continue going out with bad choices?

The suspense is real...

Have a beautiful day everyone...

Charlie.