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Standing in the corner of the room, under one of the dimmed lanterns, Jiang Cheng took in the results of his hard work.
The place he chose was unique, starting off as a square, then turning into a semi-circular area with a high, dome ceiling.
The space looks gorgeous - gold and lavender tulles arch from the center of the ceiling to the beige walls, where they are gathered neatly with silky ribbons before cascading gracefully to the dark wooden floor.
From underneath the sheer fabrics, flowers peek shyly, as if interested to know what they are about to witness.
The tables lining the walls are draped in matching tulles, their folds hiding glasses of various sizes filled with moss, wood, violets, and small candles.
It looks delicate and magical, like a fairyland, just like A-Li wished for it to be. And he was the one who designed it all, spending countless hours on comparing materials, shades,choosing the perfect place and decor.
After secretly stealing glances around himself and passing by a few chattering guests excitedly discussing the ballroom, Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but smile proudly.
Everyone, including even his father, seemed to be impressed with the final look.
When it comes to the bride, whose opinion Jiang Cheng treasures the most, he couldn’t ask for a better reaction. The moment A-Li entered the ballroom this morning, which was kept a secret till the very last minute, she burst into tears and knocked his breath out with how tightly she hugged him.
Wei Wuxian and he spent over 15 minutes trying to calm her down, but she didn’t stop, repeatedly thanking him for preparing the most beautiful wedding hall straight from her dreams.
Even now, a few hours after that, Jiang Cheng’s chest was still bursting with pride that he helped her make this day perfect. Because it would be perfect, he will make sure of that.
They were already a few hours into a wedding party, having already witnessed the emotional speeches of the newly wed couple themselves and their family; first dance; and a few games that would last through the whole night.
Most of the people around him were tipsy, giggling out of nowhere, enjoying food and music, dancing without holding anything back.
Good, he thought as he collected a few abandoned glasses to take them to the kitchen.
Although the owner of the ballroom provided them with staff, very qualified staff, Jiang Cheng couldn’t help the urge to move around, check on the guests, and overall act more like a manager than the guest he was.
What could he say? He made it his point of honor to see to it that A-Li’s wedding party would be the most perfect event they would ever attend.
On his way back from the kitchen he noticed that the table where Zixuan's closest business partners sat ran out of juice, so he directed his steps there, however, he was stopped by a few alcohol-flushed aunties.
“A-Cheng, A-Li said that you were the one who chose the place and the decor!”
“It’s magnificent! Aren’t you by chance acting CEO of the Jiang corp? I had no idea you are so talented when it comes to wedding planning!”
“You should open a business, I would be your first client! See, my granddaughter is getting married next year, and she is very dissatisfied with her current wedding planner. They don’t have what you got, A-Cheng!”
They kept talking through each other, not letting him utter a word, so he simply smiled and nodded to everything they said. It was amusing how by the end of their chit chat they had already formed a whole business plan for his new wedding planning company.
Huffing a laugh, Jiang Cheng raised his hands, trying to staunch their impending excitement, “I appreciate the praises. Unfortunately, I am too busy leading the Jiang Corp to make this hobby any more than that. However, if I ever do try my hand in this business, you will be my first customers with a handsome discount.”
It got him another wave of tipsy giggles, and their conversation took an unexpected turn.
“You are such a handsome young man, A-Cheng. When will we attend your wedding, hm?” Oh boy, not this again.
“Right, right!” Sing-songed her friend who was holding her arm like her life depended on it. And honestly? It could, seeing how hard it was for her to keep the balance.
He was trying to come up with some excuse, but he had a few glasses of champagne earlier, and he wasn’t in top condition to fight off such questions.
But then, when he was already desperate and ready to blurt the most ridiculous excuse, a strong pair of arms encircled his waist and a solid wall of muscles clung to his back. His body relaxed right away when a note of jasmine tingled his nose.
It was Xichen, his lovely fiance. They were dating for the last 3 years, until this summer, on an unusually unplanned for A-Huan trip, the man proposed to him.
The closest family knew they were together, however, both of them valued privacy, so they didn’t make a big deal neither about dating, nor getting engaged, thus why seeing the affectionate gestures, the aunties got very excited.
Fortunately for him and unfortunately for them, his A-Huan was a pro at handling such situations.
“Excuse me, my ladies,” oh he already got them blushing. The one auntie that couldn't keep her balance had even more troubles now that all her energy went into ogling another handsome young man that graced them with his presence. “Would you allow me to steal him for a while? I believe I was promised a dance, and yet, here I find myself growing restless in a wait for that promise to come true.”
They stood no chance against the charming smile thrown their way, and neither did Jiang Cheng.
The moment those amber orbs fell on him, he was helpless, enchanted, and ready to do whatever the man wanted with and to him.
And so, he found himself being led to the dancefloor, amongst the other couples.
His willpower came back to him only when he realized that A-Huan had his claws deeply buried into him, meaning, he held his palm in an iron grip, meanwhile his other hand rested possessively on the small of his back.
“No, A-Huan, please! You know I can’t dance! Not to such music.” The melody was very lively, some disco song he didn’t know, perfect for dancing, except for the fact that he really couldn’t dance.
“It doesn’t matter, my heart. Everyone is too busy or too drunk to look at us. You can just relax and let me lead you. Have I ever led you wrong, my love?”
His response was immediate, “no, of course not.” He didn’t mean the dancing, A-Huan knew that. It would be impossible to count how many times Xichen had saved him in a difficult situation, so it wouldn’t be exaggeration to say that Jiang Cheng would trust him with his life blindly.
With a pained sigh, he added miserably, “fine, do whatever you want.”
He watched with fascination how Xichen threw his head back in a fit of laughter. The expanses of the pale skin of his neck were calling out to Jiang Cheng, to mark it, to claim, but he refrained, watching in trance how his Adam's apple bobbed as his laughter died out.
“My sweet A-Cheng. Shouldn’t you know by now to not say things like that to me? I could take them seriously and do exactly what I want.” Gone was the previous amusement, replaced by something darker, something that made Jiang Cheng squirm under the hungry gaze of the man holding him tightly in his arms.
Suddenly, he was very aware of how close they were standing. Their bodies pressed together, breaths mingling. Warmth radiated from every spot they were joined, clouding his senses and urging to lean even closer into Xichen.
“For now, let me have my promised dance,” A-Huan said with a mischievous smile ghosting in the corner of his lips. “We will think about more later.” Shameless! Trying to hide his blushing cheeks from his fiance, Jiang Cheng placed his head onto his shoulder, allowing Xichen to sway them into a rhythm.
Like with anything else, Xichen was amazing. A natural dancer. No stiff movements, no awkwardness - a stark opposite of himself, who was like a duck waddling outside of the pond.
Yet the smile on Xichen’s lips was enough for him to know that he would stomach such humiliation a thousand times more just to see it.
Xichen took a step back, gently prompting him to take a turn, still staying in the rhythm. However, when their bodies rejoined to keep swaying together, Jiang Cheng made the same mistake as usual.
Instead of letting Xichen lead, he tried to take the reins and moved forwards, while Xichen did the same, causing them to bump into each other.
He was already opening his lips to apologize, when a chaste kiss pressed to his mouth stopped him before he could even begin. Xichen effortlessly changed his plans and used the momentum to swirl them together, slipping a sly leg between Jiang Cheng’s things and letting his hand travel dangerously low.
“Hello there,” the words breathed right into his lips made him shiver, taking away the embarrassment and ability to think.
“Hi,” he huffed out, suddenly lacking air in his lungs.
Instead of dancing properly, they were shamelessly rubbing against each other. Heat prickled his cheeks when Xichen turned him once again, this time plastering his front to Jiang Cheng’s back.
He could feel the delicious muscles moving as Xichen danced behind his back. He could also feel Xichen’s desire on his buttcheeks.
“Xichen,” he whimpered quietly, suddenly aroused and needy. After all he’d been so busy with preparations that they haven’t really had any time to get intimate,
“Yes, sweetheart?” The man tried to pose as oblivious to Jiang Cheng’s struggles, but the hitch to his breath told a different story. He wanted Jiang Cheng just like Jiang Cheng wanted him.
“I believe we were talking about one dance. The song’s ended.” He pressed his cheeks further into Xichen’s crotch, swaying his hips seductively and enjoying how the man froze behind him. “We could continue, or…” he let his voice linger suggestively.
“Definitely or.” Strong hands that just a second ago were roaming over his body, were now pushing onto the small of his back, leading him out of the ballroom.
“Where are we going, silly. We are in the middle of the wedding,” he laughed upon seeing Xichen’s determined expression.
“Don’t play innocent now, A-Cheng. You were the one who seduced me, you must take responsibility.”
“I seduced you?” Jiang Cheng squeaked. “I remember it differently!”
Suddenly, he found himself pressed to one of the walls in the hallway leading to the elevators.
“We could bicker about how it went, A-Cheng, but I think we could use that time on something much more pleasurable, don’t you agree?” Feeling the puffs of air teasing his neck as Xichen spoke into his ear made his skin tingle. He wanted more.
“I always agree with you.” Having his compliance, Xichen smiled in a very un-Lan like way, and threw him over his shoulder, not minding the delightful squeals of the aunties who were back from their trip to the kitchen to sneak out some more booze.
They would have a lot of explaining to do why did they suddenly disappear, but it was worth it in the end.