Lan QingYu twirled around in LiangLin's room, mesmerized by his reflection from the mirror.
"Brother LiangLin, you're good! I look gorgeous!" QingYu was patting his eyelashes at LiangLin, grinning like a madman.
"Of course you look good if you look like me." LiangLin pointed out lightly as he watched the thin, green fabric move in rhythm with QingYu's steps. Were their robes always that see-through?
The robe was hanging by QingYu's shoulders, dipped low enough to reveal his collarbones. A tight sash held the drooping fabric around his waist while a slit ran down the side of the robe, revealing his thigh and the golden rings around his ankles.
LiangLin had combed Lan QingYu's hair up and away from his face, letting the long strands of auburn lean to one side in a ponytail. The gold hoop dangled on his right ear, accentuating his slender neck.
LiangLin was terrible at dressing others up, a thing his sisters reminded him of most frequently. Every time they asked for his opinion, he had blanked out in front of all the colours and patterns. That's why, in the end, he ended up dressing Lan QingYu to look identical to him, except in green.
But, this look was perfect for QingYu, LiangLin nodded with approval. No matter how bad he might be at dressing others up, at least he knew how to make himself look presentable.
"What do I get as a prize, if you catch a wealthy mate?" LiangLin teased as he sprawled out on the bed, looking at QingYu's little excited jumps around the room. QingYu pondered over the question as he winked at his own image in the little mirror.
"Hmm, I can make him find you a mate too." QingYu chirped.
"Not that." LiangLin groaned. He didn't want a husband, nor a wife. He would die alone, he already decided on it.
"Why not? You'll be set for the rest of your life." QingYu drawled as he sat down on the bed and peered over LiangLin, curiosity raising its head in the depths of his eyes. "You won't even need others to harvest you any life-force anymore after that."
LiangLin perked up, his full attention now on QingYu. "What did you say?" he snapped.
"Huh? Set for the rest of your life?" QingYu batted his eyes in confusion.
"No, what did you say about life-force?" LiangLin had never heard of this before. Surely his father would have at least mentioned it to him?
"Ah, that. You will only feed from your mate. He or she will be the provider, simple as that. But you will have to feed them well, or you might drain them dry. Ah, talking about that, I will have to learn which food items makes him fat and plump. My soon-to-be husband is too lean. He will die from me feeding from him once." QingYu's mind was jumping around, and he started mumbling to himself of different food dishes.
LiangLin sat upright, flicking QingYu on his nose gently. QingYu yelped and held onto his nose as if it were a frail vase.
"Why did you do that? What if it broke?"
"You are overthinking already. First, bag the man, then think of cooking him."
"... Anyway, with this look, he's already in the bag." QingYu was shivering with excitement. Shooting a nervous look at LiangLin, QingYu said, "Ah, maybe you should be there, brother LiangLin. I need some mental support."
"No," LiangLin said and smirked at QingYu's pleading eyes. "Besides, despite dressing up to your prettiest, it's your kind self that will truly make him yours - if he is worth it."
QingYu broke into a wide grin as he pushed LiangLin lightly over his shoulder. "You always know what to say to me!"
Anything to get out from working, thought LiangLin with a smile. But he did mean it, QingYu was gorgeous, inside out.
---
In the end, LiangLin was too lazy to change out of his outfit. He took a stroll under brightly lit lanterns that glowed like little suns against the pitch-black sky. The streets were filled with people.
Why were they all here instead of watching the performance? Thought LiangLin with a little disdain. He had hoped the paths between the low roofed buildings to be almost empty, so he could enjoy the peace of the night. Things never seemed to go the way he wished!
He pulled his drooping robes up to cover his collarbones and held the open slit of his hem closed with his hand. He was receiving stares, and they were unwanted. He just wanted a calm and peaceful walk, but even that was ruined.
Shooting the old geezer who had stopped to stare at him, a murderous glare, LiangLin halted mid-step, turned around abruptly and marched his way back uphill. Despite knowing his work and way of dressing and looks were to gain attention from pervs like this, he was not in the mood to deal with them!
What happened with the performance? Did QingYu trip and fall again?
"Someone booked the inn?"
"And I was planning to go tonight, too."
"I got turned away at the entrance."
LiangLin's steps faltered as he listened to the men talking. Booked the entire inn? He didn't like the sound of it. The last time anything was booked, he had lost his snake!
He hurried his steps. It couldn't be the sorcerer. Every shapeshifter was notified of the fingerless one-eye. But could this be another sorcerer, who had heard of the shapeshifters living in this area?
He was now running, his robe fell over his shoulders, the slit over his thigh flapped open, revealing more than he would have liked, but his mind was now occupied with only one thing, who the hell was this husband-to-be of QingYu? and more importantly, was QingYu in danger?
That daft little snake was too distracted by pretty men to fully use his head! Simply put, he was an idiot!
LiangLin ended up winded as he stood on the other side of the river, taking in shaky breaths, his gaze fixated towards the back of the inn. The backdoors of the inn were flung open. The light inside streamed out over the river, making the rippling water dance under the faint light like thousands of stars.
Upon the stage, he could see QingYu dancing with fans in his hands, as graceful as ever. He had a seductive smile on his lips as he twirled in rhythm with the music, each flick of the wrist and ankle precise and alluring.
To LiangLin's relief, QingYu looked perfectly unharmed and enjoying his private performance.
LiangLin strained his neck, curiosity pushing anxiety out of its way. Who was this patron who booked the inn? Judging from QingYu's smile, this must be the 'soon-to-be husband'.
LiangLin frowned as he couldn't catch the glimpse of the man. He sat right before the pillar between doorframes, perfectly hidden from view if one looked over from across the river. LiangLin nearly dislocated his neck as he stood on his tip-toes.
Just a little peek. He just wanted to see if the guy was truly as good-looking as QingYu had made it out to be...
LiangLin took a step forward, plunging his feet in the river. Ice-cold water attacked his ankle, freezing his toes, and he hissed, jumping backwards. He started to regret walking around barefoot. But wearing shoes would have prevented him from using ankle rings. LiangLin was a vain one, he wasn't even ashamed of it.
Pulling the hems of his robes up, he dashed down the river bench. There would be a small bridge for him to cross over. It wasn't far up the river.
He had to see this man. His curiosity had now peeked. He was just going to make sure the man was not his - err - the sorcerer. LiangLin could feel his cheeks heat up of the thought and thanked the gods it was dark. His mind was simply playing tricks on him for plotting revenge on that asshole all this time.
As if there was anything likeable about that one-eyed pervert! He was going to kill that bastard if he ever saw him again! He just had to make sure QingYu wasn't planning on catching his - no - a sorcerer as a mate.