Title: A little light deception
Fandom: Guardian
Rating: G
Length: ~1400 words
Notes: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, Zhao Xinci. Pre-slash, fake relationship, set after episode 5. Also for mecurtin's prompt of ZYL, "Can too." Thanks to trobadora for read-through. No warnings apply.
Summary: Zhao Yunlan’s father tries to send him on a blind date.


When Zhao Yunlan was just a little older than Xiao Guo, his father decided it was time Zhao Yunlan married and, accordingly, set him up on a blind date with the daughter of a minister from the Department of Supervision. Zhao Yunlan showed up late, in torn jeans. “I’m sorry to have wasted your time,” he told the perfectly nice girl, sitting there in her nice, bland, blind-date outfit. “I already told my father I have no intention of getting married.”

The girl was not impressed. Neither was her father.

The next time Zhao Yunlan received such a summons, he didn’t go at all. Instead he threw out all his “respectable” clothes and bought a motorbike. His father gave up in disgust.

Until now, that is, a sunny Monday afternoon when Zhao Yunlan is walking through the Dragon City University campus with Professor Shen, on their way to the professor’s office to consult on a case. Zhao Yunlan’s father intercepts them smoothly, and it’s so obviously an ambush that Zhao Yunlan would have laughed if he weren’t overcome with involuntary fury, as he always is when their paths cross.

There’s a moment’s silence while they all face each other, then his father opens with, “Zhao Yunlan, I was looking for you—”

“This is Professor Shen of the Biology Department,” interrupts Zhao Yunlan, hiding his anger under a veil of polite introductions. Gripping his case file so tightly it threatens to crumple in his hand. He’s in no mood to be reprimanded in front of the professor. “Shen Wei, meet my esteemed father, Zhao Xinci.”

His father gives the barest of acknowledgements and continues on regardless. “I’ve set up a blind date for you on Wednesday evening at five-thirty. You will attend, and you will dress appropriately.”

There’s almost a foot of space between them, but nonetheless, Zhao Yunlan feels Shen Wei stiffen.

For his own part, Zhao Yunlan deliberately relaxes his posture. “Can’t. I have a case.”

“You can take leave from your duties for a couple of hours, Yunlan. Learn to delegate,” says his father, always ready with a criticism. “It’s time you were married, if only for your career’s sake.”

“No,” says Zhao Yunlan. “Besides—” He flicks Shen Wei a quick glance, then squares up to his father again. “—I’m already seeing someone.”

“I’ve heard no such news. Who is she?” Zhao Xinci frowns.

Of course he’d assume it was a woman. “You don’t need to know.”

“Someone disreputable, then.” His father’s tone is scathing. “Forget her. It’s time you were settling down.”

An incongruous burst of laughter from a gaggle of students drifts across the campus lawn.

Zhao Yunlan swallows bile and smiles grimly. “Not disreputable at all. Quite the opposite.” And he can’t help himself. He rests his hand, the one holding the case file, pointedly on the small of Shen Wei’s back and sends him a silent apology for enmeshing him in this familial battle.

Shen Wei looks briefly startled—but thankfully, it’s just surprise, not disgust or discomfort. Zhao Yunlan, you can’t possibly mean to mislead your father in this manner? says his expression before it reverts to its polite mask.

Can too, replies Zhao Yunlan with a covert wink. He grins defiantly at his father. “It’s Professor Shen. We’re dating. So, you see, I can’t attend your appointment. Sorry to upset your plans! Maybe you should go instead.”

“What nonsense are you saying?” His father’s reaction is out of all proportion. Zhao Yunlan always knew his father didn’t approve of him, didn’t even like him, but he does have friends who are gay. Not officially out, but they live together, and it’s an open secret. Zhao Xinci has never objected to their situation; the vagaries of human behaviour are not where his bigotry lies. But now, with Zhao Yunlan, he looks beyond incredulous, as if Zhao Yunlan has declared he’s dating an alien.

It can’t be because he believes Shen Wei to be Dixingren. He doesn’t know Shen Wei, and if he did, and he believed that, then Shen Wei would be six feet under already. Has his father suddenly developed a distaste for academics?

Zhao Yunlan fishes a lollipop out of his pocket and waves it, still wrapped, between his father and Shen Wei. “Careful, Father! Is that any way to talk in front of your prospective son-in-law?”

A woman old enough to be teaching staff passes them on the path, nodding politely to Shen Wei and then casting a curious look at the three of them. They must make a strange, uncomfortable tableau.

Shen Wei remains silent, but when Zhao Yunlan checks on him, he’s staring at Zhao Xinci with confidence and a hint of challenge. It’s the same face he showed Zhu Hong and Lao Chu in the interview room during the face-stealing serial killer case. My hero, thinks Zhao Yunlan, and wishes for a moment, despite Shen Wei’s suspicious involvement in three out of four of his recent cases and the badly hidden fact of his secrets, that the lie they’re telling his father were the truth.

Shen Wei’s layers are endlessly intriguing, and if what he’s revealed so far is any indication, Zhao Yunlan could happily spend months unfolding the rest and learning all there is to know about him. Not many people can look Zhao Xinci’s disapproval in the face without flinching.

His father is staring back at Shen Wei, rendered uncharacteristically speechless. Then he shakes himself. “We’ll speak later, Zhao Yunlan.”

He means in private, and Zhao Yunlan removes his hand from Shen Wei’s back and lets the case file hang at his side, his next words coming out in a deliberately ambiguous, provocative drawl. “No need. Chances are I’ll be otherwise occupied.”

Shen Wei bows, precisely. “A pleasure to meet you, father-in-law.” The words form a sweet dagger.

Zhao Xinci jerks back a little, but Zhao Yunlan is crowing inside and barely notices. Shen Wei is perfect. Zhao Yunlan could kiss him.

And then Shen Wei smiles at him, a warm, private smile despite the ridiculous circumstances, and the world spins faster for a moment. Zhao Yunlan really could kiss him, spontaneously imagines it, the professor’s lips pressed warm against his own, Zhao Yunlan’s fingers cupping the nape of his neck, thumb sliding into the short hair there.

It makes him lightheaded, reckless, but he reins that in. They’re in the middle of campus, there are staff and students everywhere, and his father is staring at him, his censure palpable. Plus Shen Wei is Shen Wei, and there’s reason to be cautious.

He contents himself with smiling back, not like he can help it anyway. Then he nods farewell to his father, who just stands there, and ushers Shen Wei towards the Biology Department. Where they were heading. For some undoubtedly important reason which momentarily escapes him.

Once they’re safely out of his father’s earshot, he glances sideways at Shen Wei again, tries to read his expression and fails. Zhao Yunlan knows he should apologise, but he doesn’t want to. He wants to accept this unholy gift Shen Wei has offered—the gift of upsetting his father—with both hands. So he unwraps the lollipop and puts it in his mouth, then lets their arms brush together as they walk. “Don’t worry,” he says. “My father won’t tell anyone.”

“It doesn’t matter,” says Shen Wei immediately. “Are you—?”

“I’m fine.” Zhao Yunlan hastily plasters on a grin and spreads his hands wide. “It was just a prank, right?” Shen Wei doesn’t need to be burdened with details of the dysfunctional Zhao family. He’s done enough.

Shen Wei’s expression tightens, a flicker of emotion too fast to make sense of, then he meets Zhao Yunlan’s eye and offers a small, soft smile. It’s not quite sympathy, not enough to offend—just understanding. It gives Zhao Yunlan a warm buzz. He likes this man, and liking someone is a rarer feeling than it should be. Again, he has to remind himself that this isn’t the time or the place.

“About the case—” he says, holding up the ill-used file folder as they ascend the external staircase of the Biology Department, shoulder to shoulder.

“Yes, tell me all about it,” says Shen Wei, without missing a beat. Following his lead.


END