The caliginous sky was volleyed by blazing streaks of roaring purple and white, as the clangorous thunder kept on assailing and piercing through the bosom of the dim and dull dismal sky that was shrouded by the Stygian subfusc colossal chunks of grave clouds, glaring and flaring at the barmy mortal world and deriding the creations as if they were nothing but a fatuous unit of fragile glasses and inane illusions.

Under the umbrella of the dreich, gloomy atmosphere, is sprinting a youth, radiating ebullience of a youthful age of mid twenties. The jocund exuberance from his long, sturdy, jaunty and hurried steps wiped through a thin streak of dullness from the dim air, as a bright, illuminating smile was playing across his lips from time to time.

His bright, sparkling, grey eyes were glimmering from a spark of sheer mirth, and his cheery face was sheening from bounty of joy. A sharp tune of ringtone resonated amid the thick disdained air, and he hurriedly fished out his expensive latest model phone the polished surface of which twinkled with sheen.

"Yes yes. I will reach there in few minutes. Just hang on for a moment. I love you too honey." His cheery silvery pleasant voice was filled with fresh joy. His handsome face with white Moon's pulchritude was adorned by a spring of pitch-black waist length hair dangling aross his back, with few two stream of ink cascading over either side of his face.

A bulk of his hair was tied in a half ponytail, lending his face a sharp, brilliant, handsome look. His chiseled jaw and sharply sculptured nose was occasionally shining with a straight luminous line, giving a glimpses of the polished skin intermittently.

Few minutes later, his steps halted, lending to his floating bulk of swaying hair and the long crimson ribbon a rippling halt simultaneously. His handsome face broke into a joyous grin, as he spotted his fiance sitting at the wooden table inside the cafe through the transparent automatic door.

Entering the cafe, he strided towards his fiance with jittery steps, the smile never fraying his pink lips and fervour eyes. Before his fiance could rise up from his chair and give him a warm hug, he draped his body on the broader man's muscular arm, tilted his face and gave an open mouthed kiss on the soft lips, startling the other man a little.

Breaking the kiss, he let out a breathy laugh, as he came across his fiance's flustered expression. Lan Wangji rose up and advanced his arm towards Wei Wuxian.

"Shall we go upstairs Wei Ying? " Lan Wangji's even and gentle baritone voice was rejoiced by a very enthusiastic Wei Wuxian. The latter smiled and nodded. They went upstairs which was actually a lavish and luxurious hotel, built specially for the elite classes.

"Lan Zhan. It's third floor right? We have to take the elevator." He received an indifferent nod.

"Receptionist." Lan Wangji softly uttered and fished out the booking card from his wallet. Wei Wuxian waited patiently till his fiance came back, and as the latter returned, he took the muscular arm in his own, and walked like a king across the corridor.

Turning his head sidewise, he basked the beauty of his fiance.

Lan Wangji, one of the most potent bachelor in the country, was shareholder in all the prominent business sectors, as the 'Lan Emperor' is one of the most influential and powerful company, expanding and booming each and every minute. At a young age of twenty seven, the 'Young Lan Jade' has reached a high zenith and is a very well accomplished businessman.

Not only deluged by oppulence of wealth, he was blessed with a beauty so blinding, that even the beauty of the most brilliant Pearl shall grovel before his pulchritude. His six feet tall frame was embellished with broad shoulder, wave of rippling muscle, sharply sculptured face with perfectly chiseled jaw; virility always drips along his grave, solemn, expressionless face, and the manliness in his demeanor gives a picturisation of a live statue, carved perfectly by the skilled hands of Michelangelo.

The most important aspect of Lan Wangji's beauty that Wei Wuxian adores the most, are those brilliant articulate eyes. Large, finely traced eyes, with slits at the ending point, giving a portrayal of delicately sheared pointed gourd. Amid the wide, glossy slit of the eyelids, lie pool of melted-gold; so warm and vibrant, as if every scintilla of emotions has been drained from his face and sedimented in those deep, amber tiny moons by a river of unspoken words. The soft shadows of his long thick eyelashes casts a soothing shadow over his orbs and the white, smooth, cheeks, like a cold shadow of banayan tree.

Elegance and grace burnish the Jade's manly pulchritude into a persona of dignified poise. The common eyes have barely witnessed his smile. He is always cold, frosty, distant - like a cold moon that tries to stay hidden under shadows of the earth from distasteful prying eyes. No emotion paint themselves across the fair alabaster skin, and the honey gaze are most often indifferent and distant, and recondite unless they are used to prove something to someone.

That frosty layer breaks, and exhibits a raging blaze of authority and austerity, while the Jade faces the businessmen, who try to outstare him at the time of hot business discussions; the same eyes elicit a blaze of sheer confidence, while he immaculately presents business statistics, and persuades his fellow businessmen to invest in the Lan company.

However, this same distant, esoteric person emanates warmth and unalloyed affection, while he spends time with his cherished family. The frosty man becomes a Romeo in romance, affectionate, loving, caring, and a perfect husband material, who takes care of his beloved, and lets down the frosty guard, exhibiting only comfort of fervent love.

Wei Wuxian would have long ago melted into a puddle of honey by the fervid warmth and love he receives from this man, if not because of the fact they are getting married next month, is still holding him back.

However, an uncanny feeling was creeping into his heart at this moment; a vague premonition. His precious Lan Zhan, in whose mollifying golden eyes, he melts everytime he rejoices the warmth of the avid love and affection, is unusually cold today. There are no warmth in those honey eyes which are usually present for him to bask, but an unceremonious indifference and uncaring coldness are heaped over them, shrouding the warm honey into dull amber.

His fiance didn't pull him close, and feel his presence and put a kiss on his forehead like he usually does the moment he sees him, nor did he kiss him hungrily yet lovingly inside the elevator. His cheerily spoken words were attended subtly and coldly, not usual ardour and attentively. He has attempted to make small talks while walking along the long corridor before reaching their room, but they were subsided by spurning hums.

"The weather is so gloomy and dull today Lan Zhan. I am glad it did not start raining, or else I would have been drenched from top to bottom."

"Hmm." Only an indifferent hum greeted him. Wei Wuxian was stranged. He had expected arrant of an usual string of words of concern like : "carry umbrella. Why don't you? " Or "never come outside without raincoat when weather is bad" Or "I have told you to use personal car" Or "Wei Ying, don't be so casual with yourself. "

But Wei Wuxian was not greeted with neither of these concerned admonitions, the avid care and concern in which he usually cherishes in the voice of the Jade.

He would lie if he said that the odd behavior from his fiance did not make him stand at the bar of uneasiness. Perhaps he is overthinking? They are going to get married within a month, and his fuddy duddy is perhaps feeling shy; who knows... Though the Lan Jade let's go every restraint in front of him, but the surreal truth of finally getting married is so thrilling that he is saving his Adobe of affection.

Wei Wuxian is an easy going person, but he pays keen attention to each and every trace of changing emotion on Lan Wangji's face, as each subtle change on that stoic face carries a hue of deep meaning.

Without his consciousness, they have reached their booked room, and entering through the door, he was mesmerized by the beauty of this lavish Adobe.

"Wow Lan Zhan, this hotel is really beautiful. You have the top choice you know. " He chirped, and reaching the bed, he let himself fall on the soft mattress, relishing the pleasing repose and comfort. He raised his head up and looked at his fiance playfully and mischievously, and beckoned him to sit beside him.

Lan Wangji sat near Wei Wuxian's legs, at the edge of the bed, and took out his phone. Wei Wuxian frowned. He reached up, tugged at the end of Lan Wangji's blazer's sleeve, and carried his sulking expression until the Jade turned to look at him.

"Why are you being so mean to me today? Aiyo, since we are getting married, you are loosing interest in me right Lan Zhan? You will get me all to yourself, and thus you have lost interest didn't you? "

He knows, the empty words which were spoken completely out of sulk and frustration would be paid back with some coaxing words, cajoling touches, and perhaps few kisses. But he won't give in to the Jade's consoling tricks so easily today.

He fell back on the mattress and buried his head deep inside the soft sheet, waiting to be washed with his fiance's fresh sandalwood scent, but all that he got was empty room aroma lurking on his back.

Why is his fiance not doing anything?

"Get up. We have to select the suit design and also the rings. We don't have much time. " Lan Wangji's tone was unusually stern and forcing. Though as gentle, calm and slow as the feeble wind, the baritone voice was stormy today.

Wei Wuxian's heart felt a pang, and he landed a frustrated punch on the muscular arm, and pulled few strands of the Lan's hair lightly - in attempt of exhibiting his annoyance.

"You are doing this on purpose? Fine. No touching till the wedding. Suits you. " The blether was paid no heed by the Jade. Sighing, Wei Wuxian stopped over the mobile screen, and started studying each and every suit with concentration and devotion.

"Lan Zhan, this white one is quite good. It would suit you perfectly. Your favourite colour is white over that."

"Brother prefers sky blue. "

Baffled Wei Wuxian gazed at Lan Wangji with amused eyes.

"Oh. Are you going to dress up as per Xichen-ge's choice? That's sweet Lan Zhan. Sure sure. He possess the arrant right to convey his didi's wedding in any way he wishes. "

"We are taking this suit. Brother has already given his concent. The color will look good on him."

Wei Wuxian was flabbergasted by the sudden statement.

"Hey. I thought we are buying our suits first. No problem no problem. Your brother will look like a prince in this suit. Let's keep it for him."

"We will choose the ring from the shop. We will need your finger's size." Lan Wangji's tone was impassive, indifferent, and layed by a tone of subtle rush, and his eyes seemed to deliberately ignore the anticipated youth lingering on his arm.

Wei Wuxian did not at all welcome the series of cold mein meted to him, and also the unusual and unwelcomed rush in which they are selecting their wedding accessories. It is a big event in their lives. Shouldn't they choose each and every needed item with care, and together? Why Lan Wangji was in such a distasteful rush, was completely abtruse to Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian rose up his body with the support on his knees, and draped himself over Lan Wangji's body amorously. He was about to take Lan Wangji's alluring lips into his, when a strong hand gripped over his shoulder and shoved him away, making him fall on the mattress.

Wei Wuxian was so dazed from the sudden ambush, that it took minutes for him to detach himself from the shock. He gazed at his fiance with piqued eyes.

"What's wrong with you? Enough is enough. It is our wedding Lan Zhan, a special day for us. Don't act like a coy maiden. You are literally destroying the joy. " Ire was debossed in his pleasing voice, and he evidently seemed raged by the usual behavior from his fiance.

Lan Wangji not only seemed unfazed, but also did not even show the courtesy to spare a glance at the annoyed youth.

"What? Are you finding my touch this distasteful? Okay fine. I won't touch you." Not only rage, but a tone of hurt and dismal also lay in the sulking voice.

"We won't touch each other from now on." Almost in an authoritative tone, the Jade asserted.

What?

Every drop of blood from Wei Wuxian's body rose to his head, and the collected blood started boiling from the inclemency of his irked annoyance.

"Okay fine. Listen Lan Zhan, if you are that unwilling to choose our wedding suits and other things with me, then just say it clearly. No need to beat around the bush. You are disgusting me now. And I won't touch you ever again. Mind it."

He violently got off the bed and was about to storm out of the room when a deep voice made his steps halt.

"Your ring is still due."

"You already know my finger's size. Buy whatever you want. Don't ask me."

"Brother wants his ring to be chosen by you."

Wei Wuxian turned back to stare at Lan Wangji with confusticated eyes.

"What? Where is Xichen-ge coming from? It's your wedding. Have you gone insane? "

"Groom wants the bride to choose the ring for him." Lan Wangji's stern, vehement, concluding tone, and the emotionless, deadpaning cold gaze sent a shiver across Wei Wuxian's spine.

"You are the groom here. What's wrong with you Lan Zhan? " A tired sigh left Wei Wuxian's lips, and he closed his eyes and opened them again, controlling the momentary wrath.

Lan Wangji rose up from his bed and advanced towards Wei Wuxian with his phone in his hand in a short, sturdy, acknowledged steps, and halted in front of the other youth.

"Brother is the groom and Wei Ying is the bride, or groom, whatever Wei Ying prefers. "

Wei Wuxian's jaw dropped on the floor, and he stared at his 'fiance' with confounded and bemused gaze. But very soon that frosty gaze broke, and his face broke into an amused laughter.

"That was a lame joke Lan Zhan. You should try decent tricks to cool down your angry fiance. Understood you fuddy duddy? " He let out a breathy laugh, and shook his head.

But very soon, his smile faded, as he was stared by the same cold and glaring stare. Lan Wangji raised his phone screen and halted it in front of Wei Wuxian's face which contained picture of a gorgeous diamond-emerald ring.

Wei Wuxian was not even a bit interested in the ornate ring that was residing ghastly behind the screen. The sky was getting darker and gloomy, and the louring clouds began to accumulate like thick murk. Thunder began to rumble, and the sky was as the brink of breaking down into dreadful pouring.

"Wei Ying is going to marry my brother Lan Xichen next week. And right now, I am asking whether this ring is liked my Wei Ying or not. Brother respects and prefers Wei Ying's choice a lot. "

As much as Wei Wuxian wanted, those resolute pair of frozen steely golden eyes eyes did not allow him to consider those venomous words that have been cramped into his ears as just a trivial joke.

"Lan Zhan.. What.. You are kidding right?" The words were choked. His heart was beating in an uncanny throb of fast pace, and an ominous apprehension was making his blood go freezing cold from the chill of the dire. He wanted to laugh and mock at the Jade's failed attempt of humor, but a sinister anxiousness was freezing his mouth and body into a dead log.

After spending three years with Lan Wangji, it does not take a moment for him to understand the meaning of each gaze of those esoteric eyes, and the subtle change in the Jade's recondite face.

"I am not joking." Lan Wangji fished out something from his blazer's inner pocket, something red, and handed it to Wei Wuxian, which the latter received with a frown.

It was a wedding card.

Wei Wuxian did not triffle time to take out the card from inside the ornately embellished envelope, and straight away torn apart the glistening blue cover, and took out the lavishly decorated card. Mercilessly parting the two folds of the card, he stared at the two names engraved on the red paper with gold thread.

'Lan Xichen Weds Wei Wuxian'

Wei Wuxian's shaky heart and glistening eyes were ogling at the card with scepticism. His hands shook a little, and he pursed his lips inside, trying to confine the wave of inexplicable emotions through the act of holding himself back.

"What's the meaning of this Lan Zhan? " I am telling you, this is too much. I am not taking it lightly." Tell me it is a joke." His vulnerable voice was as fragile as the dry brittle autumn leaves.

"We could not be intimate with each other anymore. The wedding will be held not next month, but next week. You are marrying my brother, who loves you more than himself."

Wei Wuxian listened to the addling words with dazed eyes.

What is the meaning of this?

His heart is screaming with tiding questions, a force is almost tearing apart his insides with tightness of a throttling fleece of torrent emotions. He could not come to voice out the spate of burning demands, as if his voice is being choked by a painful clog, rendering his throat parched.

He knows, Lan Wangji is not lying, neither is he joking. What belies in those cold eyes are a whirl of authoritative force, and a forcing truth. The truth, which was concealed within a maze of well planned labyrinth.

Wei Wuxian's flummoxed brain did not permit him to further assimilate the harrowing reality he has been exposed to.

Loud searing thunder was banging upon the soft chest of the sky, making the Stygian umbrella bleed; tip tapping sound began to echo, followed by loud screaming and screeching of the drops of violent pouring.

Wei Wuxian advanced towards Lan Wangji with three shaky steps; he confronted those cold, cruel amber eyes. He raised his hand up in the air and a crisp burning slap landed inclemently on Lan Wangji's soft alabaster skin, painting a trace of five fingers on the white skin, with a delicate tint of glaring blushed red. The corner of his lips started bleeding little drop by drops, after it collided with the teeth from the sheer force of the slap.

Wei Wuxian violently torn apart the bracelet on his hand embellished with sapphire, injuring the soft shimmering skin on his hand from the scratch of the metallic edge of the accessory, and threw it at Lan Wangji's face. The Lan stood there like a mummified statue.

"I hate you." The choked broken words were as feeble as the vulnerable senile tree suffering from incurable disease.

Wei Wuxian picked his bag up and exited the room with quick steps, as if the air of the room itself was suffocating him to death.

As soon as he exposed himself to the raging outside world, his entire frame drenched from top to bottom. He could not care less. Gliding against the murky air assailed by the violent volley of rain, he ran away as fast as he could from this illusion. The salty fluid streaming down his eyes mixed with the flitting drops of the downpour.

An illusion; he was residing in a fallacious illusion, where the 'love' was nothing but a figment; spurious, treacherous and forged. He was being flimflammered, and played by the illusion, and now as the misty maze dispersed, he could now clearly see the sham he was being tricked to believe in.

The cold shivering rain was violently drenching the enfeebled soul, draining from it every trace of faith in fictitious notions knows as - 'love' and 'loyalty'.

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