Xie Bian expected Fan Wujiu to have a strong reaction to being so bluntly put on the spot, but he continued undressing until he was down to his underwear. Now they were both wearing very little. Xie Bian shifted in the water hugging the edge of the tub. With Fan Wujiu on the other side of the room he didn't feel as exposed.
But the longer Fan Wujiu went on without commenting on his remark the more vulnerable Xie Bian felt.
The last straw was when Fan Wujiu climbed up into the bed and turned his back to him with only an offhand: "Goodnight."
Xie Bian submersed himself until the water covered his head to hide from his own embarrassment. If he could have drowned himself he would have done it.
He couldn't be sure if Fan Wujiu was asleep yet, but neither could he sleep in the tub. He finished his bath as quickly and noiselessly as he could, berating himself all the while for opening his mouth.
Why did he have to go and say that? Fan Wujiu's silence left him feeling undignified, and questioning what he had seen. Was he imagining that spark of desire in Fan Wujiu's red eyes? He supposed there was something hazy about them in general. They looked distant most of the time, but sometimes Fan Wujiu's gaze would grow half-lidded and indolent and it was like a fire burned around his pitch black pupils.
Xie Bian wasn't sure when he began noticing.
He climbed out of the wooden tub and toweled off carelessly. He wasn't planning on washing his hair so late at night, but after submersing his head he had no choice. Illness was another thing he probably didn't need to concern himself with, being dead and all, so he didn't bother drying it.
He climbed up next to Fan Wujiu into bed taking pains not to touch him. The straight line of Fan Wujiu's back revealed nothing, it moved with the cadence of his slow breath but it was impossible to tell if he was sleeping or faking it.
Xie Bian stared up at the canopy wiling sleep to come. Now that the embarrassment was fading he felt annoyed. The more he thought about it more convinced he became that he wasn't imagining after all. It made sense for Fan Wujiu to be attracted to him and yet resent him for it. How else to explain his secret acts of care when he though Xie Bian was asleep?
He never wanted a colleague in the first place, he was fine being a lone Underworld General, of course he would react badly to any stirring of attraction towards Xie Bian.
And he would ignore any mention of it; he would never rise to Xie Bian's bait.
Xie Bian was tired of being at a disadvantage, and this was something he could hold over Fan Wujiu. Personally, he had no strong feelings either way on the matter. It was as inconsequential to him as Wei Xiangsi's blatant infatuation.
Except Fan Wujiu wasn't interested in a carefully constructed character.
Xie Bian cursed Fan Wujiu about twice a day and thrice in his sleep and Fan Wujiu was still attracted to him -- despite how much this vexed him.
All of Xie Bian's other attempts to get a rise out of Fan Wujiu had failed. He was pretty good at keeping up his impassive facade, but now Xie Bian had a new shiny blade with which to pry under his armor.
He couldn't wait to put it to use.
---
Jiang Lu crossed the Magnolia Viewing courtyard with tea and candies for the two guests hosted there. As per Young Master Wei's instructions, his first stop was what was colloquially called the 'Peach Room' on account of the decor.
He announced himself with trepidation and was bid entry not long after. Young Master Xie was sat at the table writing. Checking ledgers it looked like. It seemed to Jiang Lu he did little else.
He was a merchant, traveling with his 'colleague' as per Wei Xiangsi's curt description. Jiang Lu served him in silence and then left after being thanked for his service. He had nothing to complain in regards to Young Master Xie's treatment of him. He was neither rude nor overly familiar and he didn't order him around as other guests had done in the past.
But Jiang Lu couldn't help hating him.
The man had been staying at the Wei residence for two days and already Jiang Lu couldn't wait to see the back of him.
He couldn't stand how clearly smitten with him Wei Xiangsi was. These days, whenever he called Jiang Lu it was to ask him what Xie An was doing or if he had said something about Wei Xiangsi.
Jiang Lu always answered these questions truthfully, never mentioning how much they pained him, or how useless they were; considering that whenever Xie An wasn't in his rooms he was sequestered with Wei Xiangsi discussing 'trade opportunities'.
It seemed impossible that just a few weeks ago he'd been the one meeting in secret with Wei Xiangsi. The one whose opinions Wei Xiangsi couldn't wait to hear, whose wellbeing was a constant source of worry and attention.
He found it hard to believe how callously Wei Xiangsi was treating him now by parading this new infatuation in his face. It was as if he had completely forgotten the passion soaked nights they spent together.
But he was only a servant, what rights did he have to Young Master Wei's affection?
He carried his basket with tea and sweets to the next room over. This guest was no less attractive, but it was clear he didn't have Wei Xiangsi's attention.
For some reason, he always tried to engage Jiang Lu in conversation whenever he brought him meals or informed him of Wei Xiangsi's invitation to dine together.
He smiled as soon as Jiang Lu walked in. "Young Master Wei sends refreshments? Too kind," He folded the book he had been reading and scooted away from the table so that Jiang Lu could do his job more easily.
He appreciated the consideration, but not the keen way Young Master Fan's gaze followed his every movement.
"I'm sorry if this comes across as forward, but I must ask. I've been here two days, and you're the only servant I've seen, why is that?"