Archive of Our Own

-

By his own humble opinion, the first thing that he believed people must know about him was that he was the kind of person who doesn’t believe in love. That while he was open in entertaining anyone who had captured his interest (or showed him reciprocation of it) in a short while or in a long time, he was really not the type who was ready to fully commit to them and ask their hand in marriage.

To even consider feeling the notion of pure, unadulterated love for them and to spend the rest of his life doing things only with them was just something that seemed too draining to him. Especially if his chosen partner chose to want to have kids around - which he somehow dislikes, seeing as having children around also meant that he would need to change in order to become a good parent and a role model to them.

Which made the idea of commitment become too boring and distasteful for him. It also didn't help the fact that two people must work together and sacrifice some things about them in order for a marriage to last. 

(He wasn't as selfless as most would like to believe.)

Soon, his choice of avoiding commitment became more of the best and a practical choice for him not to consider; mostly when war broke out and affected all their lives. He had witnessed how too much love can destroy a person in a normal day - what more now that the effects of war was still being felt?

So. He never bothered learning the intricacies in it. The importance of the sacrifices done in behalf of it, and to even disillusion himself of being so much of a happier and more content person in life if he did.

Once, he remembered having a conversation with some of the aunties in Yiling about love. That love was a very precious thing that a person can give you. That at the same time, it was also a curse - one that curses you for the rest of your life because such love doesn’t just end once your most adored passes. They cling unto you - influences the way you speak and act in a way more different that how they’ve done that when they were still living.

As someone who had long given up on love, he remembered laughing off at that, thinking that they’ve read too many romantic books in their free time and romanticized its concept. That they’d soon be disillusioned if they captured their spouses do something that would break and destroy them in many ways.

Years later, looking at the cold figure of the person he’d once deeply cared for, peacefully settled in a never-ending slumber in his arms and with a copious amount of blood staining the front of his robes and dirtying the ground he was kneeling on, he can say that he can understand the sentiment of those women.

And he decided that he didn’t like the feeling that the repercussions of his late realization gave him. At all.

-

In retrospect, Jiang Cheng should've known that disobeying his parents' plans for him in the future in favor of running off on his own with nothing but a bag full of clothes and his pride would only lead him to more bad decisions.

To be fair, his life with his parents wasn't exactly as perfect and good as what others may think. While they may have a roof that sheltered them from the harsh conditions of the world, that doesn't automatically mean that they were also sheltered from other things. And while they also have the wealth to buy anything, that doesn't mean that they could buy everything that they -especially he- wanted.

Peace of mind in the household, for one. Jiang Cheng could count on his one hand as to when he and his family managed to eat together without any kind of arguments happening between his parents. The rest?

Jiang Cheng wouldn't even know where to start, seeing as they would have a (mostly one-sided) fight about everything. From his father's tendency to stay longer in his office to the rumors about his father's affair with someone in the past. It could even go to the point that Jiang Cheng and/or his sister would also be brought into the fight just for them to prove some point.

It was only his sister being with him that made their lives in their household bearable. His sister was the one who would always accompany him in his dark lit room whenever those arguments worsened. His sister was the one to comfort him -hold his hand, pat his head, lull him to sleep- when their mother chose to involve him in her heaps of anger. His sister was the one to encourage him whenever they would catch a look of disappointment in their father's eyes that glanced at their direction.

It seemed embarrassing to him to remember that his early teenage self still needed his sister's presence most of the time in order to calm down and fall soundly asleep at night, but Jiang Cheng had always treasured those moments. Because without his sister, he didn't know what his younger self would do in that kind of home. He didn't know what could have happened, if his sister wasn't there to be the peacemaker that their household direly needed.

Jiang Cheng had once wished that his sister wouldn't leave him once she graduates. But there also came a time where his sister had her own goals. Where those goals also involved pursuing a career in a different city and building a family with her lover. To which, consequently and inevitably, caused her to move out to accomplish those and also leave Jiang Cheng under his parents' full care.

Jiang Cheng was happy that his sister was living the way she wanted. He really is, since his sister deserves everything good to happen and come to her after what she'd also been through.

What he just wasn't happy about this new development was that his mother's attention seemed to redirect to him. 

Since his sister left, he's been the only one his mother poured her whole attention to. Everyday without fail, she would find something to scold Jiang Cheng about. His grades, the distant relationship he had with his father, his choice of university - his college degree that was different from what his parents wanted him to take and him staying in the dorms. Even the few friends he made in highschool and in college didn't escape her scrutiny.

That's why when his graduation neared, he decided that enough was enough. He didn't want to endure this until he grew old, so he started scheming his way to freedom by not telling them about it. Lied through his teeth that they all had an extra requirement to finish before the graduation commences. 

Went to that event alone, got his diploma, packed his bags and changed his number after and took the train that led him to a city very far from "home".

While he never regretted his decision of cutting off his parents from his life, Jiang Cheng did regret the way he did it. For one, his impulsive decision made from trauma and emotional turmoil wasn't a smart move on his part. He should've just let them attend his graduation and let them drag him home to have a pretense of a celebratory family dinner. 

After all, he has most of his savings kept in his room, and running away without them in his hand was just plain stupid. Especially when he still hadn't paid for a place where he could stay in for a while. Or found a stable job with a somewhat big salary that can sustain him and his needs.

Or he could have also, you know, left a note or something that could have dissuaded them from reaching out to him again. Because his sudden departure caused his family (save his sister whom he continued to contact with in secret) to make a big deal out of it and try to find him. Because of fucking course they would .

The Jiang Cheng now could only sigh in embarrassment as he remembered his recklessness years ago. It taught him to hide his identity - which consequently crossed him out from finding jobs connected to his degree. Which also led him to meet many shady people and numerous questionable places and jobs, nearly causing him to be arrested multiple times because some of his previous bosses turned out to either be swindlers or illegal dealers.

Thankfully, his era of being naive to how the world works and his optimism to people's good side and shit has long vanished. He had become very cautious as to be alert whenever his sister would inform him of their parents' presence in the current city he's living in. He also became meticulous as to which job offer he would accept despite the promise of a high salary. God knows how many peaceful days would have left if he continued to live recklessly and unguarded.

And now here he was. Still cities away from his parents that he'd never contacted again after his disappearance despite his sister's encouragement that they'd somewhat changed. Juggling to balance his time between his shifts in his three jobs a week. 

Now sitting in a corner inside the cafe where he was working. Drinking coffee in his breaktime with a highschool friend he'd met by accident a week ago and set up to meet him again for good time's sake.

The same friend who was now offering him a job in a funeral home in a somewhat wide and isolated area in the Yiling province . Specifically the area where, if some hearsays were to be believed, a place where mysterious and unexplainable things come about.

Even Jiang Cheng can't wrap up as to how they've come from having a small talk about Nie Huaisang's newly adopted dogs to this. This being a situation where he's being offered with another somewhat of a shady job. Again.

Sighing, Jiang Cheng looked to the ceiling in favor of asking some questions to the divine because seriously, does he look so gullible to fall for questionable jobs that so many people (even the ones who looked trustworthy!) offer him to join them?!

"But A-Cheng!" His 'friend' started to whine. "This really is legit!"

"I've heard that line before in my job interviews." Jiang Cheng delivered his lines in a deadpan. "and the next thing I know, police started to surround the building because apparently, its owner has illegal possession of some goddamn firearms. "

"But this one's different!" At Jiang Cheng's raised brow, Nie Huaisang scrambled to explain himself further. "I actually and personally know the business owner—"

"Already heard that before, too."

"---and he has a clean track record, I swear! My brother could even vouch for that since they've been kind of friends since highschool! So please reconsider? Or at least give me names who are somehow interested? It'll really be helpful for us!"

"Huaisang," Jiang Cheng sighed for what seems to be the nth time. "When are you even an agent who looks for potential employees and why are you even doing this for someone else? This isn't even the field you're interested in and, as far as I know, you're not really the type to do this thing."

Nie Huaisang now has a sheepish grin on his face. "Well…it was kind of my fault why their previous employee there got fired. I made the mistake of exposing their bad attitude with their previous clients, and now my brother kinda wants me to rectify it by replacing them?"

Jiang Cheng found himself inhaling for patience.

"So you, knowing that I occasionally go from one place to another, decided to involve me with helping you with this?"

Nie Huaisang nodded, eyes sparkling.

Not wanting to rage at his friend like his mother would (because somehow, Nie Huaisang is still a friend regardless of whatever and wherever the fuck he wants to drag Jiang Cheng in), he found himself saying these words in the end:

"Fine. I'll think about it."

Jiang Cheng knew that he said that he'll think about it but in reality, he doesn't really plan on taking the offer. He trusted his friend, but that doesn't mean it automatically extended to the people Nie Huaisang trusts. After all, shouldn't that employer Nie Huaisang told him about finding people either with a degree or skills related to that kind of business? So what the hell were they thinking, just accepting anyone that can do it at their workplace?

Not to mention that they also provide the living arrangement free for whoever would be accepted in the job. Something shady must be going on under all that and their business might only be a cover for something more sinister if they don't bother looking for the credentials that their potential employee has, you know. 

So nope - Jiang Cheng didn't become this cautious all over the years just to fall for and be involved in a potential trap like this.

But then he suddenly received a message from his sister, telling him about their parents doing some business in the city he's in. Also told him about how they decided upon that after accidentally seeing Nie Huaisang's post of the two of them in the cafe yesterday.

Cursing himself for not telling Nie Huaisang to block his parents on social media, Jiang Cheng all but fled out of his bed to pack his things. Dialing Nie Huaisang's phone despite it being late at night and telling him that he will be ready to go with him to Yiling tomorrow.

Because if there's something worse than being involved in questionable workplaces, it is being caught up by the family you swore to never come back to as long as you live.

No matter what.

-

The first thing he did when the realization of his most adored was gone, it was to secure and hide him in a place far from people. After finding the perfect place for it and in making sure that no one knew or was suspicious of what he did, he sent a letter to one of his friends and asked his assistance for something.

Something that revoked around doing Inquiry to find the lost soul of his most adored and ask him some important questions.

Thankfully, his friend found no issues in helping him with his request. Was even quick to come to him and do what he’d asked of him with no questions asked.

Unfortunately, his most adored isn’t so willing to respond to their calls. No matter how many times they played the piece on the guqin and no matter how many months had passed with their attempts, there was not even a simple answer given to them.

At all.

It frustrates him to no end at how unreachable his most adored had become. How upset he was of being too much of a coward in not maintaining the connection they once had when he was still with him in the world of the living.

If only he’d done that, he wondered what would have changed this present time they’re alive. Would his most adored be still alive as of the moment? Would they have the relationship in the same way they had before, or even better?

Thinking of thoughts like this had become part of his routine, and before he knew it, years had passed. Decades had passed. A century had passed, and yet his most adored was still nowhere to be found. The empty feeling in him in normal days still remained, and his grievances still followed him wherever he went.

Then one day, he’d seen him. On the now somewhat improved  streets of Yiling, walking around with a face of unbreakable concentration before entering an establishment for some business he is still yet to know.

That’s when a feeling of hope started to bud in his heart. A smile to form in his now gotten used downturned mouth. A crinkle in his eyes that now felt more real than just fake niceties he gave to everyone else.

Along with a feeling of covetous obsession of doing everything he can for this beloved of his to never slip through his fingers again.

-

Months working in a funeral home is, apparently, like any other normal job out there: full of effort,  takes most of the time of your day and is kind of tiresome dealing with people. 

Thankfully, Jiang Cheng's coworkers weren't so toxic and stressful to talk to compared to his other colleagues from his previous jobs. He also wasn't in-charge with the complicated processes done on a funeral home; he was only responsible for the cleaning and preparations of everything needed before, during and after the funeral formalities, talking with the families and being an overall assistant, so his work environment is kind of fine most of the time. It also helps that he doesn't have to split his salary to pay for rent since he was offered a place to stay.

So, life was good. That is, if you can ignore the fact that you're also living in a kind of a huge eerie place and kind of taking care of it, facing the peaceful faces of the dead on a daily basis and bearing witness to the occasional scenes made either by people turning up and revealing themselves to be the hidden mistresses of the dead or the passive-aggressive relatives who want to settle inheritances.

Either with verbal jibes or with their fists.

Jiang Cheng could only sigh as another one of the flower arrangements he took his greatest care to fix and organize for days went tumbling down on the floor as he witnessed two men now starting to engage into the familiar act of fistfighting. There were some loud shouts that reverberated around the room coming from the other members of the family, and Jiang Cheng knew that it should have been his cue to stop the brewing commotion in the place.

But the last few times he did, he also got involved in those fistfights their clients and guests did. Gave him some bruises on his skin and what remains of his ego. Even being blamed as the one to instigate the fight when he was the one stopping it from escalating in the first place!

Jiang Cheng’s already waning patience was always being tested in these situations, you know.

On the other hand, his other workers didn't seem to care about this kind of disturbance. If anything, they seem to fucking thrive at the drama happening in place - placing bets on who would win the fight or gossiping about them even before the guests and their clients leave, so what can one, grumpy and jaded assistant could do with all those factors considered?

Besides, the very last time he attempted to do what his job as an assistant entailed, their funeral director and boss Wei Wuxian just laughed at him. Told him that this was already the usual scene of different families that employed them. That no amount of perseverance and dedication in being a peacemaker for them will just be outweighed and defeated by the family’s spite and rage. 

So. It is pointless to stop a conflict that will only come back to the family members later on when left unresolved, so why not help them resolve their shit right then and there?

After all, why only stop at helping them have a last moment with their "loved" one if we can help them settle their last family issues as a bonus for their very generous pay?

“Finally listening to my advice, Cheng-cheng?”

Speaking of the devil.

Without even looking at Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng filtered his snort with a sigh.

“Unfortunately so.” Jiang Cheng started, crossing his arms in defense. “They seem to be in a much more intense disagreement than we're used to. They are also a family with a higher status than most of whom we catered to. I don’t want to risk our business’ reputation just for simply stopping them from their unresolved issues, sir.”

Wei Wuxian chuckled, approaching Jiang Cheng until they stood in the same area side by side.

“I’ve told you this many times, that you don’t need to be formal with me.” Wei Wuxian leaned to the wall behind them, totally relaxed as he surveyed the commotion unraveling before them. “No one in this place calls me ‘sir’ or whatever formalities you’re used to calling your previous bosses. Just call me by my name and it’s fine by me. We’re like family here, you know.”

Jiang Cheng internally cringed at the lines Wei Wuxian gave him. Those were something Jiang Cheng heard from his previous bosses already and, based from experience, nothing good resulted in Jiang Cheng when he took those words seriously.

With another sigh, Jiang Cheng remained unmoved.

“With all due respect, sir, but I can't do that.”

"And why's that?" Wei Wuxian raised a brow, tilting his head to look at Jiang Cheng.

"You're still my boss. It is only right that I provide you the respect that your higher status demands."

Wei Wuxian chuckled.

"You have a nice work and professional ethic, Cheng-cheng." Jiang Cheng slightly startled when he felt Wei Wuxian's hand settled on top of his head, ruffling his hair. "From Huaisang's stories, I had an idea why you're distrustful with some things at work and how you cope with it. I understand that, but don't you think you should consider this job as a different one?"

"Why would I?" Jiang Cheng asked, curious.

"Because for one, you're also living here." Wei Wuxian reasoned. "Compared to your previous jobs, you see me and your coworkers before, during, and after your shift from work. It is inevitable that you'll encounter us wherever you go, so it would just be easier if you build connections with them that aren’t  just work-related, hmm? And besides,"

Wei Wuxian's smile became softer, eyes crinkling as he stared at Jiang Cheng.

"If you are really into giving respect to your boss, shouldn't you follow whatever he asks of you without questioning him?"

Jiang Cheng seemed to ponder about this. He knew that he should consider Wei Wuxian's weird insistence as a command. He knew that Wei Wuxian was also right - to foster a kind of relationship with his coworkers that does not only revolve around work since they all literally live together and see each other more than they see other people.

Still. Even with the interactions they managed to have in the past few months he was working here, it was just hard for Jiang Cheng to get used to the fact that his coworkers seemed to be…more friendly than the previous ones he'd encountered. That their boss Wei Wuxian was also too…casual to let informalities slide that he even encourages it. That compared to his previous bosses who were either too vocally aggressive or silently manipulative, Wei Wuxian was so chill and full of life that one wouldn’t even expect him to be working in an industry that was generally known to be saddening and sobering.

Wei Wuxian was just too…lively and vibrant to everyone that completely contrasted the leaden and gloomy atmosphere that their workplace possessed. While he can advantageously tone it down for mourning families, he certainly does not hold back when it comes to his staff. He greets them with a pleasant day when he encounters them in the halls of his home. Asks them about their day and listens to them when they have something to say. 

He was just too trustful and amiable - especially to Jiang Cheng that he had even mistaken Wei Wuxian to be his new fellow worker who was too energetic the first time they met.

Jiang Cheng found Wei Wuxian’s behavior mystifying. And interesting. It was  just so odd for him to see a boss so nonchalant that he didn’t bother to correct Jiang Cheng when Jiang Cheng informally addressed him during the duration of their first meeting. That Jiang Cheng only found out the truth from Nie Huaisang through texts and even with that, Wei Wuxian still wanted to be close with him.

So with a hesitant nod, Jiang Cheng tried to be the member of the staff that Wei Wuxian asked him to be.

Surprisingly, he ended up liking it.

Sure, there are times where Jiang Cheng would prefer if Wei Wuxian weren’t too friendly to him. That the kind of relationship they have must only be work-related, seeing as talking to Wei Wuxian about things outside of work can be a bit draining for an introvert person such as Jiang Cheng. Wei Wuxian just turns out to have this tendency to be a bit clingy when it comes to Jiang Cheng: sticking to him in their free hours (and sometimes even in their work hours), coinciding their meal times together, accompanying Jiang Cheng whenever he does business and coordinated with other people and clients outside their work home. Even asking him to hangout - just the two of them, in places where Jiang Cheng surprisingly found comforting.

It was too excessive - the way Wei Wuxian seemed to talk and follow him around. It even came to the point that their other coworkers thought that wherever Jiang Cheng went, they would surely see Wei Wuxian with him.

Even considered them as the new pair of best friends in their goddamn home.

("Not wanting to ruin your lunch, sir," Jiang Cheng found himself saying one day during lunch, instantly catching Wei Wuxian's attention by the way he addressed him. "I just want to ask you something."

"So long as you don't address me that way, I'll answer that." Was Wei Wuxian's quick answer, raising a brow.

Jiang Cheng sighed. 

"I just want to ask why you kept on accompanying me everywhere. " Jiang Cheng finally told him. "I've been working here for months. I already know the different areas in the house, so I just also want to ask if my performance isn't satisfactory. Do I need your supervision? Am I on a probationary period?"

"Oh, I'm not supervising you or anything." Wei Wuxian waved his concerns off. "I already knew you'd do your job well, so you don't have to worry about that."

Then Wei Wuxian offered him a small smile.

"I followed you around because I simply chose to be with you."

"But why ?" Jiang Cheng prodded.

The small smile on Wei Wuxian's mouth turned into a grin.

"Why? Because you're my favorite employee since the day you stepped in this place!" Wei Wuxian wrapped an arm around Jiang Cheng's shoulder, oblivious to the judgment Jiang Cheng's mind is supplying him at the thought that his boss also has favoritism of all things. 

"You light up the ambience here the most, Cheng-cheng, so I want to be with someone who does that!"

"But what about your work?" Jiang Cheng asked, very much lost at Wei Wuxian's answers. "Aren't you busy? Aren't you doing most of the job here?"

The grin on Wei Wuxian's face only got bigger.

"That's why I have other employees doing those little errands in my stead."

Jiang Cheng didn't know whether to be flattered by his boss' regard for him or to judge him by Wei Wuxian's way of making decisions that involved his other fellow workers.

In the end, Jiang Cheng decided to choose the path of deflection.

"If this is your main reasoning, then your job as our boss is seriously too idle and way too overpaid!")

It annoyed Jiang Cheng a bit as to how the only peace he’ll get from people and from Wei Wuxian for the day is when he goes to bed. While he appreciated that his workplace is full of kinder people than the last, he needed some space from everyone else too, alright?! He's lived his life so far not being this amiable and talkative with others, so this really takes a toll in his energy too!

At the same time, Jiang Cheng can secretly admit that some part of him likes what he had in here - especially with Wei Wuxian. He likes that he has someone he can talk to or surely rely on work; having someone like that kinda dispels the eerie mood that the house emits by default. He likes that Wei Wuxian was attentive to him - attuned in his moods that Jiang Cheng still can't understand how Wei Wuxian can sense it.

He likes how being here - meeting Wei Wuxian and having this chance to be this close to another person aside from Huaisang - made him feel more alive compared to his life before. As ironic as it may sound considering their line of work, Wei Wuxian's presence just didn't make him feel as alone and lonely as he did a long time ago.

He likes that he’s feeling as if he was being taken care of - a sensation he had thought he'd forgotten until Wei Wuxian reminded him of it again.

Which leads him to gain another reason as to why he somewhat wished that Wei Wuxian didn't pay too much attention to him: because he, the one and only Jiang Cheng under Wei Wuxian’s employ, found himself falling for his boss.

Admittedly, these feelings he had for Wei Wuxian weren't too deep. It was just interest and intrigue, followed by a bit of a giddy feeling that his heart carries whenever Wei Wuxian’s eyes would meet his.

That’s it; his romantic fondness for Wei Wuxian was nothing so deep that it could bring potential heartache. In fact, Jiang Cheng believed that whatever he felt for Wei Wuxian was only a bit of an attraction that he could get rid of if he chose to.

But Jiang Cheng finds himself having a hard time to do so. With every smile that Wei Wuxian gave him, the shadows that seemed to follow him in his path seemed to leave him. With every casual touch they shared, he felt himself welcoming the warmth it emitted. And with every single time Wei Wuxian expressed his enjoyment of being with Jiang Cheng through his smooth words and consistent actions?

Jiang Cheng found himself unable to move away. From the irresistible charm Wei Wuxian possesses, to the home that Wei Wuxian unknowingly built himself to be.

So. Jiang Cheng thought that he can be a victim of an unrequited love that can possibly last for the longest time, and honestly? While some part of his mind warns him to prevent that from happening, he doesn’t care. Yes, it was kind of scary for him to let himself get swayed by feelings this way to someone he just met almost a year ago, but Jiang Cheng decided that he doesn’t mind if he ended up taking that path. He’ll spend much longer time working with Wei Wuxian anyway, so Jiang Cheng probably thinks that subtly expressing his adoration for him regardless if Wei Wuxian would only see him in platonic interest can help him move on from his feelings. If not?

Alright. He’ll accept it. If that’s what fate plans for him, then he’ll be content to let it be. Because if anyone is deserving to be treated with all the love and care and loyalty, it’s Wei Wuxian who has made efforts of making them feel comfortable in a gloomy, somber place.

That is, until Jiang Cheng had been dissuaded of the notion by making the mistake of discovering a secret underground room in the house he'd started accepting as his home.

You see, one part of Jiang Cheng's job was to arrange the caskets that are being delivered in their workplace. He was in charge of placing them either in the rooms where their clients would want to pick for some reason, or in storage rooms if the delivered caskets were too much in number.

Today was one of those days when he was just informed that the number of caskets arriving in their place was much more than the number they expected. Jiang Cheng, being the efficient worker that he was, decided to curse the person responsible for changing the number of that without his consent all before he decided to move and clean the other storage rooms.

Being given only the estimated number, Jiang Cheng decided to take the initiative of cleaning some of the rooms he is yet to enter in their home so as to be prepared. It was good timing too, seeing as Wei Wuxian wasn't with him at the moment to distract him.

And that’s when he encountered something that caught his curiosity. Something that was located on the ground floor, where in a room that was in the farthest corner of the floor, his eyes found nothing in it saved from the sight of another old wooden door located at the farthest corner of the room. Its handles were chained, held in a padlock as if whatever was behind the door was something that shouldn't see the light of the day.

-

Even without meeting the eyes of his friend, he could sense the judgment that was settling in his neutral-looking stare.

“Wei Ying.” He heard his name being called, making him stop on whatever he was working on.

“Aiya Lan Zhan, don’t be like that.” He tutted, gently placing the thing he was holding on the floor before turning to properly greet his friend.

He smiled faintly as he confirmed the judgment that clouded his friend’s gaze.

“It’s been a long time since we've seen each other. Please don’t start telling me what I did wrong again.”

“It has been years, Wei Ying." Was how Lan Zhan greeted him. “You have to let him go.”

"And?" He challenged, crossing his arms and raising a brow. "It isn't exactly harming anyone now, is it?"

"This is becoming out of hand.” Was the response his friend gave him, gaze resolute. “It is disrespectful for him and his family if you keep doing this.”

Wei Ying looked at his most treasured possessions properly arranged and kept with care all around the room. At the new one he was working on to add in his collection, and the stability of the conservation spells he’d put in each and every one of them.

Then he remembered the reason he was doing this. Of the opportunities in the first few lives that he’d let go, and in one instant had Jiang Cheng completely disappear in his life because of him. Of the regrets he’d still carried along with the unpleasant revelations that still gave him nightmares.

Of the only way he found for Jiang Cheng to continue to be his. No matter if life and death meddled with him.

The smile on Wei Ying’s face widened, becoming faker and more accusatory.

“I think it doesn’t suit you to lecture me about what is disrespectful.” Wei Ying started, the glint in his eyes becoming predatory. “After all, isn’t what you did of guilttripping him in any way he can about the core I’d willingly gave him disrespectful not only to him, but to me ?” 

Hearing Lan Zhan’s breath hitch,  Wei Ying cruelly smirked.

“You’ve contributed to this curse he’d given me, Lan Zhan. If only you hadn’t meddled on affairs that didn’t concern you, then he shouldn’t have reached the point of cultivating that core into immortality and returning it back to me.”

Not hearing any answer from his friend, Wei Ying scoffed.

"Why are you even here, anyway? I chose and hid this place so I'm the only one who could enter here." He paused, before letting out a soft smile. "Possibly A-Cheng too, but I'm still working on a talisman for that. So, this room's currently just for my eyes and appreciation, Lan Zhan. If you don't have anything good to say, I would just appreciate it if you leave. "

Moments of silence were shared between the two, their stare off to one another becoming more intense as if ready to defend themselves from whatever possible thing they could say.

Soon, once his friend ceased from telling him what he shouldn’t do and entered the mode of reevaluating his conscience and morals, Wei Ying returned to what he was initially doing. This time, with much more energy and much more dedication than he’d have the first time he’d done this.

After all, working with these things that vividly reminded him of Jiang Cheng and his memories with him were the only things that kept him afloat and felt alive with the curse of immortality he was unwillingly saddled with.

As well as the prospects of meeting him again in his shidi’s future lifetimes.

"I can't wait to see you again, A-Cheng." Wei Ying whispered to himself as he cradled the thing in his arms closer, pressing a kiss on it before placing a rose to where it suited it.

Wei Ying's smile widened, eyes now gleaming in glee.

"I can't wait to see and touch you again, my love." 

-

Usually, Jiang Cheng knew better to mind his own business lest he got possibly involved in a disagreement he never meant to instigate. He’d learned this wisest decision since the day he was nearly arrested for something he didn’t do because he became too nosy to keep himself from what was already spelled out as trouble, so he promised himself to never do the same mistake in the future.

But the longer he stared at the door, the more his resolve started to crumble and the more curious he’d become.

It just seemed like there was something calling for him behind that door, as weird as it sounded. That if he didn’t do something about that call, he will be bothered about it for the rest of his life.

So, with the impulsiveness left in him, he let his feet carry him to where the door was.

Reaching out, he was surprised to witness how the padlock unbolted from its latch just by his touch. As he watched the lock fall onto the ground along with the chains with a loud thud, Jiang Cheng nearly jumped into his feet when the door before him moved an inch inward.

As if it was really signaling Jiang Cheng to come in.

In ordinary circumstances where the rational part of Jiang Cheng usually wins, Jiang Cheng would have listened to it with no questions asked. Especially in circumstances like this wherein it tells him to get the fuck out from this room and forget everything that he'd seen.

It even reminded him of how he should have expected this kind of shit to happen to him, what with the province he's in being known to be a place where unexplainable and mysterious things frequently happen. Him working in a funeral home that could've been lived by spirits he couldn't normally see or sense was also a fucking hint too so really, he should've backed out and just do whatever his rationality tells him.

To Jiang Cheng's credit, he actually did. He closed the door and left the room altogether, forcing himself to forget whatever kind of creepy shit he encountered there.

It didn't mean that he stopped thinking about it, though. He kept thinking about it at different times of the day, drawing up different assumptions as to what was kept in that room and why no one told him about it.

Because if it's really a secret and not to be touched, then shouldn't they be warned? It can help them all not succumb to their own curiosity and go check that room and mess with it in any kind of way.

Just as what was happening with it a month later, where Jiang Cheng did what probably was his most stupid decision in life that involved going back in that specific room and making his way inside the once locked door with no hesitation whatsoever.

Which turned into bits of regret once he started to trek his way down the stairs that was hidden behind it all this time.

But Jiang Cheng, with the uncharacteristic way his mind shut down any of the rationality in him, continued on his way.

If the funeral home he’s working and living in was already a bit eerie due to the kind of business being done in the place, it was nothing compared to the ambience emitted by the dark walls that hid this hall for who knows how long. It didn't help that the source of light he only had were the lightbulbs in the candelabras attached to sconces, and it also didn't help that the longer his steps took, the colder the atmosphere was starting to be.

Finally, after long moments of walking to what seemed to be the stairway of nothingness, Jiang Cheng finally reached the very bottom of the staircase. Into which his eyes met the sight of another wooden door before him - this time without locks that could hinder him from opening it.

He had once mentioned that his first encounter with the room above filled him with a sense of creepiness that hindered him from stepping inside the room. The calling he'd also felt back then was louder this time, making him more nervous and more curious as to what was really hidden in this place.

Heart loudly beating in his chest, he opened the door with one soft push.

Stepping inside, Jiang Cheng observed that the room was wide; wide enough to accommodate too much space and eleven open-lidded coffins. Five of those were vertically arranged on each of his sides while one was horizontally placed at the center and farthest of the room. Each of them have some sort of numerous flower arrangement placed in front of them, as if they were just being readied for a funeral.

The room's light source also came from the old-fashioned chandelier stationed at the very center of the room, making the room creepier than it already was. 

As if adding more reasons for Jiang Cheng to regret his decision of coming here, the coffins at the side weren't also empty as Jiang Cheng would have liked to believe. Inside were what seemed to be very well polished waxed dolls - no, figures , dressed up not in the traditional clothing worn by the dead but in clothing that was…styled as if they came from different eras.

Those figures looked completely human - as if they were alive and only staying put for a tableau. But Jiang Cheng noticed one similar detail that was visibly present in each figure. One detail that overshadowed the eerie feeling emitted by the strange light source and the cold that seemed to come from nowhere. One detail that made him forget the aversion he felt with the wax figures residing in the coffins.

One detail that made him stop in his tracks and felt fear overtake his system and cursed himself for not listening to his rationality.

Because on a closer look, one can see that the waxed figures, despite the different clothes they wore and the way they style their hair, all looked like him.

Especially the one lying on the coffin in the middle. Even with this one having the longest hair out of all the figures and wearing historical clothes with a matching sword lying on top of the figure, Jiang Cheng cannot mistake the uncanny resemblance they both shared.

After all, it was something that he'd always seen in those stolen photos his A-Jie has of him asleep.

Suddenly, everything started to make sense. The eeriness that the place naturally emits regardless if the people working in it tried their best to liven up the place. The calling he'd felt since the day he'd stumbled the once locked door upstairs. Why not all rooms in this house were cleaned monthly and this door was locked in the first place. 

Why he was invited to work here despite living in a far city and with no prior knowledge regarding funeral homes.

Why Wei Wuxian, the fucking owner of this place who would be very much aware of this hidden storage room, wanted to get to know him and be closer to him more than he was to the other employees.

There are a lot of questions Jiang Cheng wanted to ask. Does Nie Huaisang know about this? Did Jiang Cheng do something for Wei Wuxian to do this?

Did their coworkers know about this and enable Wei Wuxian to do this? Or even helped him set this up?

While some things confounded him like how it wasn't clear to him on whether Wei Wuxian did this because he was somehow in love with Jiang Cheng or obsessed or out for his blood for some reason he couldn't understand, Jiang Cheng understood one thing: that whatever Wei Wuxian was feeling for him, it was something not worth delving into deeper. It was something dangerous, so he knew that it was time to finally, finally listen to his rationality and leave, because whatever Wei Wuxian's reason was for doing this?

It wasn't good. At all.

Maybe I should file for a resignation tomorrow, Jiang Cheng thought, taking a deep breath to calm his heart and forcing his eyes not to look at the waxed figures that looked a lot like him. Pretend that I never saw this room and just say that I'm getting homesick with my family or something.

Jiang Cheng sighed, forcing his hands to stop shaking.

Don't worry Jiang Cheng, you'll get this through. You'll ger the fuck out of this place, lose communication to the man you thought  of differently and forget that this has even happened.

Heart beating so loudly in his chest, he turned around and readied himself to take off to a run.

And finding himself unable to. Literally, because for some startling and unfathomable reason, Jiang Cheng found his legs unable to move no matter how much he forced his legs to do so.

Then he looked at the door and felt all air leave his lungs.

There by the doorway stood Wei Wuxian in all his handsome glory, looking very calm and not out of place. In his hand he held some sort of talisman Jiang Cheng thought he would only see in the movies and dramas, glowing bright and dripping with blood.

"I was wondering who had managed to find and enter this room I've kept hidden for a very long time." Wei Wuxian softly told him, now making his way towards where Jiang Cheng was forcibly immobilized.

"I should've known it was only you." 

Wei Wuxian smiled at him. 

"After all, anyone's blood I keyed in here would manage to break inside. And that includes yours, my dear A-Cheng."

Even without understanding how Wei Wuxian had immobilized him and even as he was uncomprehending of why he suddenly felt more intimidated at the aura surrounding Wei Wuxian, those words from him sent shivers running down Jiang Cheng’s spine.

Because if there’s one thing that Jiang Cheng was sure of as of the moment, it’s the fact that Wei Wuxian was not the same as an ordinary human being as what he’d originally assumed.

“How are you enjoying your first tour in this room, A-Cheng?” Wei Wuxian asked him with a faint smile, moving to the side so he could pay attention to the creepy waxed figures on Jiang Cheng’s left side. “Didn’t expect this one coming, no?”

Struggling to find a response for that, Wei Wuxian didn’t wait for him and continued his speech.

“No matter. The important thing here is you’d already seen them, so I no longer have any reason to hide them nor of my sentiments about it any longer.”

Plucking a flower from one of the flower arrangements, he approached Jiang Cheng once more.

“What do you think of this room and these figures I’ve managed for years? Aren’t they lovely?” Wei Wuxian asked, eyes crinkling as he placed that same flower behind Jiang Cheng’s ear. “Even as lovely as you are now. Perfectly still, beauty very much captured even with their eyes closed.”

Another set of shivers shot down his spine at those words.

“Unpleasant, actually.” Jiang Cheng spitted out, narrowing his eyes warily at Wei Wuxian as he tried his best to hide his apprehension for the man. “And goddamn confused about the reason for their existence. I’m surprised you even had the time to create these things when you’re always glued to me. The fuck are all these stupid waxed figures for, anyway?”

Wei Wuxian gasped.

“Your words hurt, A-Cheng.” Wei Wuxian placed his palm on top of his chest, feigning a look of offendedness in his eyes. “They aren’t just some ‘stupid’ waxed figures modeled to capture your features, you know.”

With a snap of his finger, Jiang Cheng was suddenly shifted to face the front of the room. Soon, Wei Wuxian started walking again until he reached the coffin placed at the center.

“Don’t you wonder why they look so closely similar to you? As if they were replicated into perfection?” Wei Wuxian then stopped, facing where Jiang Cheng stood. Reaching out, Jiang Cheng now found himself watching Wei Wuxian holding the waxed figure that disturbingly looked like him in a seemingly tender embrace.

“They aren’t just some simple waxed figures made from materials, A-Cheng.” Wei Wuxian said, gripping and carressing the chin of the waxed figure that was placed on the center coffin of the room. 

“They are not just waxed figures that are made from your previous bodies from lifetimes ago.” Wei Wuxian’s smile turned soft. “ They are, indeed, your bodies from before. Well preserved and polished into the perfection you’d possessed as if you were still living that lifetime.”

Despite the vulnerable position he’s in, Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but gape at Wei Wuxian’s words. Even with Wei Wuxian’s capabilities of immobilizing him, hearing those words just sounded stupid.

“Are you implying that these - these figures in this room are the - the bodies of my past reincarnated selves?” Jiang Cheng asked, very much not believing Wei Wuxian’s failed attempt of justifying his some sort of sick obsession over Jiang Cheng.

“You’re fucking creepy. And too imaginative, and probably needs some goddamn therapy if you really think I’ll believe that shit.”

To his surprise, Wei Wuxian only regarded him with amusement.

“If that’s the way you like it, then let me convince you otherwise.”

“Don’t come any closer to me, you fucker!”

But his demands went unheard. Instead, Wei Wuxian approached where he stood. With a snap of his fingers, the immobilization spell that held him captive suddenly went loose, causing Jiang Cheng to stumble forward at the suddenness of how he was now capable of moving.

He was then caught by Wei Wuxian by his waist, all before Wei Wuxian’s palm covered his forehead.

There was a warm sensation he felt at the touch. Then, as if something was unlocked in him, a sudden surge of memories flooded on the front of his mind. Memories that seemed to date since the beginning of time, what with the much more different ambience it contained. Memories that Jiang Cheng swore to never have done in this life - but familiar, as if they were something that traveled from a far place for a while before coming back to the home that was his mind.

Then Jiang Cheng remembered. He remembered the names that he’d adopted since then and the lives that he’d lived. The families he’d learned to love and resent, the ambitions he’d carried and the different struggles he’d faced and the symbolism of how he’d carried himself and the sacrifices he'd made even before his deaths.

Even when his life differed from its good to bad, it still consisted of only one constant: Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian, who became either his friend, his neighbor, his employer, his employee or his lover and shixiong in those lifetimes. How Wei Wuxian was someone Jiang Cheng held important and the closest to him in one way or another, prioritizing him even if it meant endangering his own self.

How Wei Wuxian was always the cause of his death whenever he remembers. Self-inflicted or not.

And then Jiang Cheng screamed, cursing Wei Wuxian all to hell and back.

“You sick motherfucker!” Jiang Cheng shouted, glaring at Wei Wuxian in anger and disbelief as he pushed him away with a shove. 

“Why would you even do this?! What do you get out of this?!” Jiang Cheng screamed at Wei Wuxian’s face once more, getting more horrified as the second passed what with the realization that even in death, Wei Wuxian can't leave him alone. Even making his dead bodies as waxed figures displayed for Wei Wuxian's eyes.

Then, as if he wasn’t vulnerable enough, tears started to form at the ridges of his eyes.

“Fucking hell Wei Wuxian, why do you keep on tormenting me even when I'm dead or alive?! After all these years, aren’t you already content?! I’ve listened to your words of leaving everything in the past! I've let you live the way you wanted! I’ve even given you your core back - much stronger too so you can enjoy the kind of life you were deprived of! I’d already repaid everything you’d done for me! So what do you still fucking want from me?!”

With an involuntary sob, he weakly shoved Wei Wuxian one last time.

“It’s been my 12th lifetime, Wei Wuxian. What do you still want from me that you still can’t leave me be?”

Panting from all the overwhelming feelings in him, Jiang Cheng failed to notice how his words caused Wei Wuxian to stiffen, as if those sentiments triggered in him.

"I never asked you to entirely ignore me." Wei Wuxian told him quietly, staring at Jiang Cheng intensely. "I never asked you to cultivate your core into immortality and switch it with mine."

Jiang Cheng startled when he felt Wei Wuxian wrap an arm around him, with his other hand now holding up his cheek in a gentle touch.

"You didn't have to go to that extreme, A-Cheng." Wei Wuxian rested his forehead onto Jiang Cheng's. "All I wanted was for us to start anew and have a second chance to be together again. So, A-Cheng,"

Wei Wuxian offered him a sad smile.

"Won't you choose me again? I’ll do better this time, I promise."

Once upon a time, Jiang Cheng would have loved to hear those words. To huff playfully, willingly forgive Wei Wuxian and accept him back in his life with open arms. Even make the effort of making things work because that's how Jiang Cheng has always been to Wei Wuxian.

But that was then. Now, with the memory of Wei Wuxian following him around? Even desecrating, collecting and preserving his previous bodies as if they were merely a collector's item?

He wanted to leave. To forget that this even happened and live in a place very far away from the man who can't fucking leave him in peace.

With that new resolve, Jiang Cheng gathered all of his strength and smiled at Wei Wuxian—

"Hell no. "

—and pushed Wei Wuxian away from him, catching Wei Wuxian off guard. Knowing the strength that an immortal body can possess, Jiang Cheng didn't wait to watch Wei Wuxian's reaction before forcing his feet to run away from the room as fast as he could.

Jiang Cheng didn't know if it was just his mortal body being weak in the face of an immortal, but the more steps he took, the stairs seemed to increase in number - as if running contributed in making his destination go farther than he'd expected.

Luckily, his eyes caught the sight of the doorway just a bit near his reach.

Then, as he's five steps away from the door that cursed him of remembering what he'd favorably forgotten, the door was suddenly slammed shut.

It didn't take him long to figure out the cause of it, what with the heavy and repressing energy he felt behind him and the feel of fingers wrapped around the nape of his neck from the only person he's stuck in this hall with.

"I've let you go and let you be on more than one occasion, A-Cheng." Wei Wuxian whispered in his ear, his arm now finding its way around Jiang Cheng's waist from behind as he dangerously uttered words that sounded like a dark promise.

"It will be foolish of me to keep on doing that and stop us from a lifetime of being together again. Not when you're already here again, with me ."

Then the lights flickered off.

-

Most of the time, Wei Ying was elated whenever he crossed paths with a newly reincarnated Jiang Cheng. The world is a big place, and while Wei Ying is an immortal with many capabilities that no ordinary man possessed, it doesn't mean that it included being able to pinpoint as to when and where Jiang Cheng was reincarnated.

So, whenever they coincidentally meet on the streets or Jiang Cheng unknowingly comes to him for whatever reason, Wei Ying's mood also lifts. His days started to become brighter and overall, his interactions with people were in the best state.

But sometimes, that wasn't the case. There were times where he wished he'd never met Jiang Cheng in that era or wished that they didn't become as close as before, especially when Jiang Cheng ends up remembering their past together.

Jiang Cheng remembering it usually means one thing: he uses it as his ammunition to either avoid Wei Ying or hurt him. To direct nothing but an angry gaze to him while telling him words that Wei Ying didn't want to hear with vitriol. Threatening to cause harm either to his replicas or to himself in ways that Wei Ying didn't want him to do.

Now wasn't an exception, with Jiang Cheng keeping on expressing his distaste at Wei Ying's collection.

Wei Ying can admit that he has some faults as to why Jiang Cheng was acting uncooperatively. Him locking up and chaining Jiang Cheng in this same room they have that revelation can really dampen Jiang Cheng's mood, especially when he also wasn't prepared to know Wei Ying's darkest secret. Telling Jiang Cheng that staying here for a longer time to finally appreciate the homage Wei Ying has done and kept for him for years wouldn't have helped his case either, and Wei Ying could only curse himself from the lack of foresight at that.

Still, Wei Ying wondered when Jiang Cheng's mood would finally calm. It's been a month, and despite the fact that there are no windows around to let Jiang Cheng have a breath of fresh air from outside, must Jiang Cheng really push himself hard in hating Wei Ying too much? Wei Ying still gives him his basic needs: food, bath, his company to keep Jiang Cheng away from being lonely and his devotion and love solely dedicated to  him. Weren't those enough for Jiang Cheng to consider opening up to him once more? They did have something going on with their previous lives. Did that mean nothing for Jiang Cheng that he won't give Wei Ying another chance?

Wei Ying opened this up to Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng only spitted on Wei Ying's feet.

"No matter what you do, nothing will change." Jiang Cheng told him.

"After all, weren't you the one to say, what was it? To leave the past all behind? "

And Jiang Cheng mockingly laughed, then refused to accept whatever Wei Ying was offering him even his basic needs.

Soon enough, Jiang Cheng proceeded to surprise Wei Ying by not only spouting words of vitriol, but by also using his sword Sandu to wreck the flower arrangements Wei Ying painstakingly prepared and destroy the preservation talismans Wei Ying put on each of his bodies.

And Wei Ying wasn't amused. He was very livid, and he never liked feeling this emotion, especially when directed to Jiang Cheng.

At all.

You see, there is another reason that Wei Ying wasn't very fond of his shidi's retaliation. Of all the times they'd met and of all those times Jiang Cheng reacted badly whenever he remembered Wei Ying, this was the worst response he'd given to Wei Ying.

After what Jiang Cheng had done to himself in order to give him his core back, Wei Ying started to hate it whenever Jiang Cheng did something to harm himself.

In this instance where Jiang Cheng had harmed not only himself but also caused some damage to his previous bodies that Wei Ying made sure to preserve and to take care of, Wei Ying could say that he, very much, wasn't fucking pleased.

And when he wasn't pleased, then the beast that resentful energy created in him gets out, because if there’s something that Wei Ying learned from Jiang Cheng’s previous lives, it was that Jiang Cheng was still fearful of the Yiling Laozu residing in him.

So. Wei Ying let that side of him out. No, not in its worst state that he wouldn’t be able to recognize Jiang Cheng due to the haze of bloodlust which that side of him was always entering during this mode, but in a way that would only push Jiang Cheng to sit still and control himself in order to not repeat what misdeed he just did.

Most importantly, he just let himself be consumed by some of his selfish desires. To let himself touch every inch of Jiang Cheng’s skin the way he wasn't able to from the moment he met this version of Jiang Cheng. Fall into the temptation of leaving trails of kisses from Jiang Cheng’s irresistible and captivating mouth to leaving his own mark on Jiang Cheng’s skin; on his neck, on his shoulders, on his chest, on his thighs.

And as they reach the point where Wei Ying thought his thorough preparation for Jiang Cheng was enough for the man to take him deeper in his tight, wet heat?

Wei Ying relished the sounds Jiang Cheng was making - begging him to  stop don’t continue what he was planning slow down, all before he started moaning out of pleasure the more Wei Ying pounded into him.

It was addicting - how heavenly Jiang Cheng’s voice sounded as he called for his name over and over. How Jiang Cheng looked so beautiful under him - skin prettily glistening in sweat and attractively covered with love bites Wei Ying created. How his eyes remained shut and his tight grip on Wei Ying’s shoulder weakened as Jiang Cheng kept on receiving and receiving what Wei Ying was giving him.

It was addicting - in a way that encouraged the darkest part of Wei Ying to stay in control and flourish in his consciousness far longer than he’d anticipated. To continue on committing this act of forcing Jiang Cheng into submission showing Jiang Cheng how much he could do and offer in the name of his love for him.

And with all the  pressure attention he was giving him, Jiang Cheng seemed to unintentionally break. Because apparently, while the immortal body Wei Ying gained was gifted with great stamina unparalleled to normal men, Jiang Cheng was also unfortunately lacking in that aspect.

Lacking to the extent that with a few more days of boundless, uncontrollable sex that happened between them for days, his body started to weaken with Wei Ying’s constant and unyielding drive.

All until he found Jiang Cheng now unable to give him even the slightest of a response. A word, a shove, or even a twitch from his finger.

“Ah.” Wei Ying let out quietly, now completely feeling the coldness that Jiang Cheng’s body radiated.

“I overdid it again.”

As he stared at Jiang Cheng’s lifeless form, Wei Ying knew he should have felt remorseful at the disgraceful acts he’d done to Jiang Cheng. Seeing as he’d promised himself to be a better man for Jiang Cheng since Jiang Cheng’s first life, that promise really meant nothing when he was the one who ended up leading Jiang Cheng to his own death.

(Again and again .)

But while Wei Ying tried to control himself and change that course of fate, Wei Ying knew himself best. He knew who he really was, and seeing as his words implied that this wasn’t the first time that this happened to both of them, he had long accepted the fact that what he wasn’t was a better man.

There was also no chance for redemption from that title too, seeing as this wasn’t his first time to touch Jiang Cheng while he’s no longer responsive. This wasn’t his first time admiring the now dull, tearstained eyes that Jiang Cheng possesses. Of the marks he’d left on Jiang Cheng with his mouth nor of the bruises his hands imprinted on Jiang Cheng’s tender skin.

This wasn’t his first time touching an unresponsive Jiang Cheng in more ways than one. Of letting his mouth rove at the expanse of his skin that Wei Ying has always loved. Of preparing him for more marathons of sex as if he were still sensitive from Wei Ying’s touch. Of still whispering sweet nothings and promises to Jiang Cheng’s ear as Wei Ying was thrusting and releasing his load into him, as if he were still alive and just asleep from the tiredness of Wei Ying’s relentless energy in bed.

After all, how did you think Wei Wuxian survived all these years waiting for Jiang Cheng’s reincarnation to appear again? Why do you think he kept and hid all of Jiang Cheng’s bodies in one place, preserving it with talismans and spells as if they were just waxed figures on display?

Wei Ying didn’t just do that for him to stare at Jiang Cheng’s previous bodies to remind himself of what they’d had whenever he misses him. To remind him of the actions that caused Jiang Cheng to gift him this curse of immortality and make him wallow in despair on his worst days.

Wei Ying also did that to fulfill his other needs.

And now, as he was done preparing the new open-lid coffin he’d specially made and dedicated for Jiang Cheng and placed him inside of it, Wei Ying let himself have a moment of just staring at his shidi’s ethereal form. Of running his hands through Jiang Cheng’s hair and letting his hand gently touch Jiang Cheng’s face.

All before he dropped a kiss on top of Jiang Cheng’s head. Then to his forehead down to his nose and cheek, all before Wei Ying reached Jiang Cheng’s cold yet endearing lips.

“Just standby and wait for me, my beautiful A-Cheng. I’ll find you and see you again in the next lifetime.”

-

Opening his eyes with a start, Jiang Wanyin was quick to sit up on his bed and gasp for air. Feeling comfortable in breathing again, Jiang Wanyin reached out for water at his bedside table.

Once he'd consumed the contents of his glass, Jiang Wanyin couldn't help but sigh in exasperation as he remembered what he'd just dreamed about. Rather, who he had dreamt about.

You see, from the moment Jiang Wanyin was old enough to be conscious of his surroundings, he'd always had dreams about the same man at most nights.

Those dreams were also odd, to say the least. Sometimes, those dreams were as if some memory from the past he'd forgotten, but sometimes those felt like they came out from a tv drama, what with them wearing clothes from different eras in history and with them being able to wield some sorts of magic in it.

Sometimes they also go to the extreme of eccentricity and horror, with him also dreaming countless times about him being locked in a room with waxed figures that looked like him and with only that other man as his company.

He never understood why he kept on dreaming about the same man over and over again and, if he were to be honest, Jiang Wanyin never cared enough to think about why that man was a recurring dream to him. Sure, he thought about this an awful lot when he was in his adolescence, but with how the world has dumped him into much bigger problems once he graduated from college? Well…

Jiang Wanyin found himself having a very easy time ignoring these dreams in favor of focusing on other more important things.

As long as it didn't distract him from his work, family and life balance, Jiang Wanyin didn't find any reason for him to bother thinking about something as silly as dreams. He was an adult with responsibilities and a nephew to raise - he had no time for other trivialities that hold no meaning.

Until today, that is. Today, when he finally met in person the funeral director responsible for making his sister and brother-in-law's funeral processes easier, seeing as everything about the director seemed oddly familiar.

His face, his build, his voice and his mannerisms. From the way he gathered himself - his poise and the way he talked, it was as if Jiang Wanyin had witnessed this countless times before at the familiarity he felt from it. Even his name Wei Wuxian seemed to ring some bell in Jiang Wanyin's mind when Jiang Wanyin could have sworn that this was the first time he'd met the other man.

Seeing as Jiang Wanyin has a good memory of the names of the people he'd met before, an impossibility seemed to explain the peculiarities of the situation he's now in.

An impossibility where it told him that Wei Wuxian was the man Jiang Wanyin has been dreaming about all these years.

Of course, Jiang Wanyin was quick in attempting to dispell this observation and to tell his mind how stupid he currently sounded. How could he even consider that to be true? For heaven's sake, this was the first time he met the man!

(Or was it?)

Even with that rationality, this thought didn't leave his mind during the duration of his meeting with Wei Wuxian. It even distracted him from his grief for his sister and brother-in-law's passing and almost made him miss whatever Wei Wuxian was telling him about how he'd like to conduct the funeral and its processes after.

And when their brief meeting came to an end, before Wei Wuxian even managed to stand, Jiang Wanyin was mortified to find himself automatically reaching out his hand to stop the other man.

As well as finding himself asking a question that seemed like a pickup line.

"Sorry for asking this, but have we already met before?"

To Jiang Wanyin's relief, Wei Wuxian didn't take it the wrong way. He didn't make Jiang Wanyin feel embarrassed at the stunt he pulled because god forbid, Jiang Wanyin was already dying inside as to how shamelessly out of character he was becoming.

Wei Ying only smiled at Jiang Wanyin with understanding, patting his hand that gripped Wei Wuxian's sleeve.

All before saying something that oddly sounded ominous in Jiang Wanyin's ears.

-

"Wouldn't you like to know."