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“Now…” Wei Wuxian says, clearing his throat, “we all know Lotus Incorporated would be nothing if not for the hard work and dedication of our very own wonderful, talented and generous CEO…please welcome to the stage, Jiang Cheng”
The room erupts into rumbustious hoots and hollers, as everyone in attendance cheers and claps.
“What are you up to?” Jiang Cheng hisses, as Wei Wuxian smirks down at him while he nervously makes his way up the stage steps. This wasn’t part of the plan.
“Now, now Cheng-Cheng, play nice” he whispers while side hugging him and lightly shoving him towards the center of the stage.
“Ah—thank you! Thank you, everyone!” Jiang Cheng called out as he shyly bowed, hands clasped together in thanks out in front of him. His face was burning, and he was glad Wei Wuxian hadn’t decided to blind him with some sort of stage light.
He shuddered, it still wasn’t too late, so with a resigned sigh, he sent out a silent prayer to the universe.
“Settle down, my dear friends!” Wei Wuxian spoke, laughing into the microphone. The attendees settled and gave him their full attention. “Like I said previously, Jiang Cheng is a wonderfully generous man…so much so that he organizes and funds these events twice a year in order to give to those less fortunate than ourselves. Tonight, as one of Forbes most sought out powerful bachelors, Mr. Jiang has so kindly volunteered his precious time. We are now auctioning a date with CEO Jiang…shall we start the bidding at a thousand dollars?”
“I’m sorry…a what now? Wei Wuxian! Get back here!”
Jiang Cheng’s subtle hissing goes ignored and Wei Wuxian giggles maniacally as he carries on walking forward.
“One thousand dollars!” he hears an exclamation, Jiang Cheng squints and sees across the room his best friend is waving his fan.
Of course Jiang Cheng could always count on Nie Huaisang to have his back no matter what. It warmed his heart.
There’s cheers and jests, and for a second Jiang Cheng feels relieved. The thought of people bidding for a date with him, well it’s a bit nerve wracking to say the least. Plus, he’d be absolutely mortified if no one ended up even bidding a single absolute dime just for him. And well, after getting over his mortification, he’d just have to murder Wei Wuxian.
That wouldn’t go well for the company. And their sister would probably pitch some kind of a fit.
“Okay, do I hear two thousand?” Wei Wuxian asks excitedly.
“TWO THOUSAND!” he hears the rumbling voice of Nie Mingjue. He watches as Huaisang hits his older brother with his fan and tells him off.
Jiang Cheng purses his lips to keep himself from laughing.
“Three thousand then”
Lan Xichen shocks a few screams and cheers out of the audience and Jiang Cheng’s cheeks grow hot.
“Five thousand”
The crowd hushes down in shock, gasps all around as they all turn to stare at the person who spoke.
Lan Wangji.
With his palm raised, face ever so calm and passive, the man had bid five thousand dollars for a date with Jiang Cheng.
It had to be a joke?
He makes direct eye contact with Jiang Cheng, who grows even redder in the face and watches in amazement as Lan Wangji’s lips curve into a satisfactory smirk.
“Whoa, okay five thousand! Anyone wanna go for six?”
Jiang Cheng hopes to the gods someone does. He’s not sure what he would do if he ended up having to go on a date with Wangji.
He’s not opposed to the thought whatsoever, it’s that he likes the idea a little too much for his own good.
“Six thousand!” Huaisang exclaims.
“Eight thousand” Wangji counters, still calmly but the smirk sipping from his lips.
“Ten thousand!” Huaisang challenges right back, and Jiang Cheng is about five seconds away from passing out.
“TWELVE THOUSAND!” says a new voice, and the audience gasps as Jin Guangyao raises his hand and intercepts Huaisang and Wangji’s bidding battle.
“THIRTEEN!” Huaisang screams, glaring daggers at Yao.
“Fifteen thousand” Wangji says, less loudly of course, but fiercely glaring at Jin Guangyao for even daring to look at Jiang Cheng.
All the while, Wei Wuxian cackles delighted at the outcome of events. He turns to look at Jiang Cheng, whose attention is focused on the men bidding insane amounts of money for a date with him. His eyes ping pong from one man to the other, face redder than anyone’s ever witnessed it before.
“TWENTY THOUSAND!” Huaisang yells, now on his feet, unwilling to back down.
And for a second, Jiang Cheng thinks this is the end. No way is Lan Wangji willing to bet anything higher than that. Why would he?
He’s not even sure why Huaisang let it get this far, anyway.
“Fifty thousand dollars” Wangji says, now getting on his feet, as if daring anyone else to utter another word. The entire room keeps silent, and Wei Wuxian chuckles, shaking his head.
Huaisang, bless his soul, blanches and sits back down sending Jiang Cheng a sad defeated pout. Jiang Cheng smiles back at him and shakes his head. It’s okay, his best friend fought valiantly for his honor.
“Okay, well…fifty thousand going once?”, silence, “twice?”, crickets. “Sold, Mr. Lan, do step up and claim your price!” Wei Wuxian exclaims motioning towards Jiang Cheng.
“You’re so dead, I hope you know that” Jiang Cheng tells him calmly, Wei Wuxian merely chuckles and shoves him towards Lan Wangji. He catches him easily and smiles down at him.
Jiang Cheng pulls away, straightening up and dusting invisible lint from his violet suit.
“Ah. Well…thank you, for your generous donation” Jiang Cheng tells him, a bit awkwardly.
“I’d have bet my entire fortune and company” Wangji confesses, the tips of his ears growing red.
“Why?” Jiang Cheng asks, laughing hysterically. “I don’t think Uncle Qiren, or Lan Xichen would have appreciated that. I doubt they appreciate the amount of money you just threw away” he rambles.
“Did not throw anything away” Wangji states as a matter of fact, “I call this an investment”
Jiang Cheng scoffs, and rolls his eyes. “Didn’t peg you for a flatterers, Lan Wangji”
“Only for you, of course”
“If you wanted a date with me, all you had to do was ask”
“Didn’t know that was an option” Wangji tells him truthfully.
Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes once again and says, “You never answered my question, why?”
“Did you enjoy your gifts?” Wangji asks instead, and Jiang Cheng frowns.
“What?”
“Your gifts” Wangji repeats, flexing his fisted hands.
“What are you—what?”
“I—the gifts. Your secret admirer” Wangji mumbles, clearly losing bravado the longer Jiang Cheng looks at him puzzled. It takes him a couple of minutes before Jiang Cheng gasps.
“All those coffees, flowers, lunches and gifts—that was all you?” Jiang Cheng asked, stepping into Wangji’s space.
“Mn”
“Lan Wangji” Jiang Cheng gasps in awe, before taking him by the collar and reeling him in for a heated kiss.
“Is that a yes?” Wangji gasps.
“Yes, now shut up, and take me home I am literally losing my mind”
Lan Wangji doesn’t need to be told twice before he takes Jiang Cheng’s hand is own and hauls him towards the exit.