Chapitre 4: The Unfair One
-Yunlan-
"Die… I'm sorry." Zhao said, really mining it. "So, it was you after all…" He added a bit sad. He wasn't expecting to find that guy, which once attracted his full attention.
"Yes, I believe so. I honestly wasn't paying any attention to anything else back then, but it seems you had that déjà vu feeling first." Shen said, changing topic, because he missed his brother still, even after so many years after his sudden death.
"Maybe we are fated? Do you think that's even possible?" Zhao half joked and Shen smiled. It was a bit too soon, but Zhao couldn't help himself to flirt with the handsome man. Although it helped, looks alone wasn't enough to make him completely fall for another male, but this professor was charming not only physically, but also internally. He intrigue him in a way no other had, even if they just truly meet hours ago.
"Who knows? Are you really interested, Zhao Yunlan?" Shen boldly asked him, making Zhao cough in surprise from the other side. Damn Chu, he was truly going to kill him at his first chance. Yet, this was getting even better.
"If I told you that I am, what will you do?" Zhao asked, looking out at the city again, imagining the professor expression. Was he pleased, was he angry? Did he even liked men? Was he going to run away? Hang off the phone and give him the cold treatment from there on?
"I honestly don't know… I have never been involved with another man." Shen said flushing a bit. Just why was he leading such a conversation with a stranger at midnight? Maybe he was too tired to think straight.
"Then, are you willing?" Zhao asked, hoping he would say yes.
"Right now, I have too many things to take care off and to be honest so do you. I trust Chu passed the information I sent you. It's not going to be an easy trip in any way with so many uncertain things that could end up happening. Do we really have time to think about something else?" Shen asked, and soon enough he hear Zhao laughing.
"You truly are a scholar, so diplomatic avoiding both, the question and the answer at the same time… That's fine, Shen Wei. I guess I will leave it all to our fate. If it's meant to be then so be it, if not, that's fine too." Zhao said and Shen smiled.
"With your luck, is that even fair? What do I have in my favor against such odds?" Shen found himself joking back and Zhao laughed a bit more. Damn, he was already falling for him big time.
"It sounds to me like you don't really mind it, Shen Wei…" Zhao said humorlessly. "But unfortunately for me, you are indeed right. I have way too many things to take care off, so let's leave it at that for now. I advise you to go to bed now, because tomorrow will be a very tiring day." Zhao said.
"Ah wait, there is something else… about the military…" Shen begin.
"Let me deal with them. I know their involvement is something to be wary off, I myself had my own suspicious about their small group. Early in the morning I got the files of all four of them and judging for their specialties, I presume they are more interested in finding about the things released in the Kunlun Mountains than in finding the missing professor. So, we are on our own, assuming they don't try to interfere with our search at some point. We are going to join them directly at village closet to the mountains. They decided to go ahead of us, so we must be extra careful, just in case." Zhao added.
"I will trust our lives to you, then." Shen said seriously.
"By all means, I will protect you all from nature's dangers or human's ones, be sure of that." Shen smiled satisfy.
"Then, you have some good rest too, Zhao Yunlan. I will see you back, in a few hours." Shen said.
"Sure. Have a good night, Shen Wei…" He hang on, happily walking toward his room. That night, he will dream with the professor, although probably not in a decent way.
-Shen Wei-
The next morning, the small group of volunteer's professors, gather in front of the Dragon City University gate. They had been told to pack only warm clothes for their journey, because the Black Dragon Guardians were going to bring them the rest of the needed camping equipment. Apparently, they made their own, depending on the job, risk and location. This highly pleased his colleges, because in extreme cold weather, it was fatal to choose the wrong equipment and none of them were experts.
Shen looked at his small team with some mixed feelings, because he had been the one who choose them. Giving the nature of the journey, he had try to keep his group as younger as possible, refusing the willing, yet unfit to make such arduous trip and accepting those who deeply respect the missing professor work and could keep up with the hazards. Most of the volunteers worked for a project or another of professor Ouyang as assistants at one point, so putting aside Guo, who was still a student of the history department, the remaining four ages, varied between thirties and forties. He just hoped that those chosen could come back home safety, including himself.
Soon after they gather at the entrance, they were left speechless when seen a few deep black bad ass battle ready SUV's, fully equipped, with the black dragon logo pasted on the sides. Dear gods, just how well is he doing with his company to have four of those? Shen asked himself, looking at the impressive small fleet of Conquests Knight's.
"He must be filthy rich." Ye Huo, one of his colleges said.
"Definitely." Ying Chun, agree.
"Well, at least we know we are in good hands." Lai Su said, glad they were going to travel with such group.
"Indeed." Tan Xiao added, as Zhao Yunlan got out of the first car and walked to greet Shen Wei first.
"Ah, professor Shen, so good to see you again. I hope you had a good night, although not as good as mine, because I assure you it was quite pleasant." Zhao said, making Shen blush a bit. Seriously, this guy was really something else, considering he was already shamelessly flirting with him at first sight and was happy about it. He wonder just how big of a pervert Zhao Yunlan truly was and just for how long he could resist him.
"Never mind that. Let me introduce my team to you. These men and woman had all worked or knew professor Ouyang well and insisted in coming with me to this expedition. This is Ye Huo, a chemistry professor, Ying Chun, a botanical professor, Lai Su, a literature professor, Tan Xiao, a scientist doing research at our campus and Guo Changcheng, my assistant and a history student of this university." Shen said.
"Oh, no. Wait, Shen Wei… you can't possible allow this kid to go with us." Zhao protested glancing at Guo. Full adults were one thing, but barely twenty something guys was another matter entirely.
"Don't bother Zhao, he is professor Ouyang nephew and I already try to persuade him yesterday. He is going to stick to us no matter what you said and I am more intimidating that you will ever be." Chu intervened, making Zhao arch an eyebrow. Chu had told him yesterday about his old friendship with Shen Wei and as he talked so carelessly about the kid, he assumed they already knew each other, perhaps from that same past.
"Are you sure kid?" Zhao try anyways.
"Y… yes. I'm going to find my uncle." Guo stated and Zhao sighed.
"Alright then. This is my team… Zhu Hong, Lin Jing, Da Qing, Chu Shuzhi and my favorite married couple, Wang and Sang. I asure you, despite their appearance they are all experts in a field." Zhao said, as his team of 'professionals' were whispering back and forth with each other, most likely about Shen Wei and himself. Why did he hired them again? Ah, yes, because the bunch of idiots were truly good at what they specialize.
Shen Wei offer Zhao's team a devastating smile that made Zhao curse under his breath, because it was going to make his team who was already having the time of their lives an even funnier time. He just hoped they will have enough restrain not to fully laugh in front of Shen Wei.
"It's nice to meet you all." Shen Wei said politely, making the team broke their chattering to reply him back with equal politeness. He shook the hands of all the team members, one by one, until it was Wang's turn. She stared at him for a second before coming even closer.
"Wang…" Zhao was going to pull her away from Shen, when she suddenly put a hand at one side of his neck.
"Just like me, you had been touched by death before." She whisper, making Shen widen his eyes in surprise.
"Pardon me, what do you mean?" Shen asked, glaring back at her.
"Ah, Shen Wei, never mind her. She had some shaman ancestors and she gets a bit odd at times, but she is the best healer you can find in this country." Zhao quickly said, pulling Wang away and smiling at him in a way of apology for the rudeness.
"We better go, the journey to the mountains is long and tiring." Chu said, slightly taping Shen's shoulder. "Really, don't mind her, she is mystic that way." Chu whisper, making Shen relax a bit. After the odd encounter, Zhao distribute the professors in the cars, making sure Shen Wei was by his side and they were on their way to the airport, in which a private airplane was waiting for them. The military had approved to transport them, along with their equipped SUV's to the nearest airport to the mountains. The flight to the west mountain, lasted a few hours, which gave them time to know each other a bit better, then they took the road, highway 219 to the west until they reached a small town.
"Alright then, we need to find Xiao Bai, our guide, as well as our military companions for the rest of our trip. If we had good weather, we may leave tomorrow morning, because it's kind of late to go up now and I need to explain a few things about the equipment you will be using, as well as distribute a very special jacked and watch none of you can't refuse." Zhao said, already moving to ask around about Bai's whereabouts.
A bit later, they found their lively guide, who take them straight to the Inn in which they would pass the night. The military group had decide to go ahead and make their own camp in the mountain, in which they will wait for them. He had his suspicions about their independent actions, but he couldn't control that group as he wished, because it was obvious they had their own agenda and orders to follow.
Once the night came, they gather to have a dinner at the tables outside, which gave them a nice view of the stars you could barely distinguish in the city. Despite the cold, they decide to have a toast for good luck, whatever in finding the missing professor or simply coming back alive. Zhao sat by Shen Wei and rise his cup of rice wine. As he had been named the god of luck, he was going to do the honor.
"Let's have a toast for us all to come back here, alive and well and also sane, if it's not too much to ask…" A few laughed. "And to find professor Ouyang alive and waiting to be rescue. We keep each other in sight at all times and fallow the rules I give you, so we can properly bring you safely back to your love ones. Don't panic, don't go investigate something on your own and if there is danger, you let us take care of it. If I told you to run, don't look back and run, if I told you to stop, you stop in the spot, not a single step forward. May our journey be blessed by the gods, who resided in those mountains, as the legends says and help us along our journey." The all raised their glass cups and drink in good spirit. However, as he sat back, Zhao notice Shen Wei's cup was still intact. He had seen him rise the cup and even slightly hit his cup, yet he dint took a single sip.
"Shen Wei, it's only a toast, not a drinking competition, you can have a sip at least." Zhao whisper at his side and Shen looked at him with a charming smile that make his heart jump a few beats.
"I'm sorry, Zhao, I don't want to be rude, but I don't tolerate alcohol, even if it is just a bit." Zhao arched an eyebrow.
"You kidding me right? Absolutely zero tolerance?" He asked in disbelief.
"Yes. You can call it an allergy if you want." Shen said, looking down at the cup, just before Zhao begin to laugh.
"You are such a rare masterpiece… damn, how cute…" Zhao said in an impulse and Shen Wei couldn't help himself but deeply blush. Seen that it was probably to be like that for the rest of the gathering, he took the cup and in a fast move, he drank from it. It was better to pass out, than blush and be called cute all night.
"What… wait, Shen Wei, you just said…" But the handsome man at his side only sighed, looking at his other side, in which Chu was sat.
"Old Chu, take care of me…" Shen whisper.
"Shen Wei, you didn't…" Chu begin saying, realizing his cup was half drank, but his old friend was already falling forward. Zhao acted first, taking Shen in his arms before he could hit the table or the plates. The others looked at them, but as soon as the professors saw Wei's cup, they just smiled.
"He should had known better than to drink. He had zero tolerance to alcohol." Ye Huo said.
"Seriously?" Da Qing asked. He had never heard of that before.
"Yes, that's why he refuse to go to staff gatherings." Ying Chun responded. "He is cute like that…" She added, blushing a little.
"Never mind that, I will take him to his room. Please keep up, but don't drink more than a cup or two, we had a very hard day ahead of us tomorrow." Zhao said, as he maneuver Shen's body for a piggyback ride.
"Wait Zhao, I will take Shen back…"
"No can do Old Chu. What can I possible do with him like this? Besides, you owe me big time for telling Shen more than you should about me." At this, Chu stop complaining and sat back, allowing his boss to carry his friend to his room.
"Ah, but Zhao… you may be in for a surprise. He does have an annoying habit too when drunk." Chu said to himself, smiling. He knew that a drunk Shen Wei was kind of dangerous, in his own way.
Once Zhao left Shen over his bed, he moved to take off his boots, then he took off his belt and jacket. He sat at the border of the small bed, to take of his eyeglasses and put them in the nearby table. Then he recline himself a bit, to have a better look at those long eyelashes of his, but when he was about to pull out, Shen Wei open his eyes and in a fast move that took him completely by surprise, he put both his arms around Zhao's neck and pull him closer.
"You are quite handsome yourself Zhao Yunlan..." Shen whisper, looking at his lips, before fully kissing him, demanding access to his mouth. Then, after a few heated seconds, his arms fell from his neck and pass out again, leaving Zhao wishing for more.
"You are the one being unfair, Xiao Wei. You even acted way before I dare to… I may have the luck, but you have the power to doom me and I can't possibly kiss you back, in retaliation when drunk like this." Zhao whisper, already feeling the need to have a very cold shower.
"Damn... you just condemn me to a sleepless night, after such an unconscious act." Zhao told himself as he moved away from his bed before he could wake up again and do more damage to his already doomed night, but at least he knew that Shen was indeed willing, which despite the long night ahead of him, make him immensely happy.
AN: LOL A drunk kiss for Zhao! I hope you like this.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone