Jin Zixuan, feeling considerably more relaxed than earlier, silently opened his brother's door but paused with it only cracked.

He could hear Lan Xichen speaking to his brother.

"It will be okay, A'Yao. We'll get everything figured out. Shhhh..." the doctor's deep voice comforted. Soothed.

It took a second for Jin Zixuan to realize his little brother was apparently curled up in the larger man's lap.

Meng Yao had always been slight of build. Slender and at five foot six inches, well, tiny compared to his older brother. He was entirely hidden by Lan Xichen's six foot two, broad shouldered build.

"When you're feeling better, may I cook you dinner?"

"Y-you would want to cook for m-me?" Meng Yao stuttered in his astonishment.

"Mn. Very much. I make a mean xiang long bao.** They are Wangji's favorite." affirmed Xichen.

"I like to cook too. My japchae** is really good. Well, at least I think so." Meng Yao's voice wasn't much above a whisper but he seemed excited. He sniffled.

Lan Xichen reached into the pocket of his white coat and pulled out a small packet of tissues. He removed a single tissue.

He seemed to be wiping Meng Yao's eyes.

"Better? Here." he said as he got a second tissue. "Blow your nose. You'll breath a bit easier."

His voice was kind. Caring.

Jin Zixuan looked down at his wife who was eavesdropping as eagerly as he was.

They grinned at each other and closed the door.

Inside the room, Lan Xichen continued holding Meng Yao. Clueless the moment had been witnessed by anyone else.

He was perfectly content. Holding the smaller man was comfortable.

It felt good.

Meng Yao's head was leaned against his chest. Seemingly as content with the situation as he was.

"May I ask a question?" Xichen asked, his voice still soothing.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you turn the evidence into the Prosecutor's Office or the police?"

"I know there are others being paid off by the traffickers. It only makes sense. Problem is I don't know who they are. I was afraid the information would be suppressed. Disappear. Then I would disappear. How long until they asked Jin Guangshan who had access to that information? I'd be dead and everyone would know what happened to those who revealed the traffickers but no one would know what their mayor was doing. No one would be saved. The news agencies make a living revealing information. I had hoped it would already have been splashed across every news venue but I don't think it has." He looked up at Lan Xichen.

"I have heard nothing regarding it."

A sigh. "As for the tax collectors, have you ever seen one who wasn't angry at the thought of a single yuan being missed?"

Lan Xichen chuckled. It was a pleasant laugh. "Now that you mention it, no."

"If no one else would look into it, I knew they would." His voice became even softer. "I also thought I would have a better chance to survive, at least succeed, if all the information was already out there. They might kill me to prove a point but it wouldn't stop everyone from knowing."

He couldn't help snuggling a bit further into Lan Xichen's chest. His heartbeat was too comforting.

Lan Xichen couldn't help his arms tightening around Meng Yao. The resigned tone in his voice as he spoke of his own death. It was painful to hear.

He laid his cheek on top of Meng Yao's soft curls.

"You aren't dying. Not allowed to. You owe me a meal." he whispered. "I always collect what's owed me."

Meng Yao snorted a small laugh. "When did I incur this debt, Dr. Lan?"

"That is the price of my services as a doctor. For you anyway. One meal. Made by you. Just for me."

Lan Xichen looked down at the man in his lap. "Deal?"

Meng Yao grinned wide enough both of his dimples showed and, surprisingly, his lip didn't bleed.

"Deal."
-----

"Shall we congratulate them? Jin Zixuan grinned at his wife.

"Of course not! You have to let them make it known." her grin was just as happily smug as her husband's.

"If life was normal currently, I'd say we make some dinner together, have a glass of wine, eat the wonderful dinner we cooked and make love half the night. Things, however, aren't normal at the moment so what would you like to do, my heart?"

"I would like a coffee and a quiet booth. A'Cheng showed me some pictures..." Yanli's voice trailed off. "I have a lot to tell you. If - no when - this all comes out, I think we're going to need your security people."

Jin Zixuan gently kissed his wife's hand. "Then let's get some coffee and see what we can do."
-----

Wei Ying woke slowly. He had slept hard and deep. Struggling to open his eyes, he realized the room was silent. Still. He could feel A'Yuan snuggled up against him. Held comfortably in place by his arm wrapped around him and his hand lying on A'Yuan's chest. Under his hand, Wei Ying felt... another hand?

He peered over to see Lan Zhan's hand held tightly by his own.

Lan Zhan was sound asleep. An apparently empty cup held slightly tilted in his other hand.

He looked relaxed. Calm. Peaceful.

Wei Ying watched as Lan Zhan slept. He felt so many things about this one man. Gratitude for saving his life and saving his son. But it wasn't just gratitude. It was more.

When the fear and anxiety ripped through him like a cyclone, it was Lan Zhan who helped him calm the winds ripping him apart. Helped him put things into perspective. Reminded him he was safe and then made him feel safe.

The kiss was desperation and desire.

'How long since I've kissed someone?' he paused. 'Someone I wanted to kiss...'

There were always johns** who wanted to make him kiss them. He shuddered.

The memories always lurked at the edge of awareness. Waiting for an opening to launch their latest attack.

How could someone as amazing as Lan Zhan want to be with him? Especially knowing what he had done for over six months.

All the words Wen Chao had used against him, all the acts he had inflicted on him, oozed through Wei Ying. Pooled in his thoughts. A deep, cold wellspring of pain that would drown him if he wasn't careful. He felt it trying to pull him under.

He opened his eyes. Lan Zhan was still softly asleep. This man thought Wei Ying wasn't dirty. Wasn't trash. Wasn't disposable. Wasn't a whore.

Maybe he wasn't.

Maybe he didn't have to carry the weight of those words and actions. Maybe he was more than those six months. Maybe he could rise above being sold into slavery and then sold for sex.

His eyes closed. He saw Wen Chao's loathsome face. Heard all the words. Remembered all the things he had forced upon him. Remembered all the things he had been forced to do.

He would grieve.

He would cry.

But he would also fight.

He would heal.

He would not let Wen Chao and Madame Yu win.

He couldn't.

For A'Yuan's sake.

For Lan Zhan's sake.

For his own sake.

He opened his eyes and gave a shuddering sigh.

He would overcome those two wretched people and what they had done to him.

He would hang on to who he really was.

And on days when the black pool threatened to suck him under?

If he couldn't fight for himself, he would fight for them.

He smiled as he snuggled A'Yuan a little closer and held Lan Zhan's hand a little tighter.

-----

We apologize for interrupting your usual broadcast for this news announcement.

The broadcaster cleared her throat.

"The Xinhua News Agency has uncovered evidence of human trafficking that can be specifically linked to Mayor Jin Guangshan. This may also be connected to both his son, Jin Zixun, who was arrested today on murder charges and Madame Yu Ziyuan who was arrested yesterday for human trafficking.

Please watch tonight's ten o'clock broadcast for additional information or check our website at....
------

For those watching, there was a collective moment of breathless silence.

Then all hell broke loose.

~♡~♡~♡~

Xiang long bao are basically soup in a dumpling. So yummy! They are Wang Yibo's favorite. 😁

Japchae is Korean sweet potato noodles with a variety of veggies and beef. I adore this dish and am more than willing to eat until I'm stuffed. 😂 Add pajeon (Korean veggie pancakes) and I am a seriously happy camper!

Clients of prostitutes are often called johns.

Going back and checking on chapters in an attempt at continuity, I realized there are comments I wasn't notified of and haven't seen. I try to answer all of y'all's wonderful comments so please don't think I'm ignoring anyone. HUGS and thanks for your understanding. 😘🥰❤️

❤️🍫🫖❤️