Something Beautiful and Wicked

After washing up, Wu Genji found Yuan Ning by the bed, dressing into the clothes he tossed aside before they—fornicated. He was half-dressed, his shirt unbuttoned, leaving the skin of his chest and abdomen bare. He was sliding into his pants, wrapping the belt between the loops. Wu Genji watched, heart lurching, before she went to pick up her clothes Yuan Ning left folded for her on the bed. She glanced at him wearing a short towel, as he said, "Shun should be here soon."      

"Right," Wu Genji replied with an awkward chuckle, knowing that they couldn't stay in the hotel room longer than they should have.      

She unwrapped the towel from her body, and Yuan Ning glanced away, giving her privacy as if he hadn't seen and explored every part of her body just twenty minutes before.      

Wu Genji quickly dressed, and Yuan Ning was about to say something until they heard a knock on the door.      

They both looked at each other alarmed. Yuan Ning then said, "go to the bathroom while I check who it is."     

"No," Wu Genji refused. "I'm staying right here."      

Yuan Ning gave her a concerning look before he went closer to the door, not quite in front of it as he asked, "Who is it?"      

"It's me," said a voice.      

Yuan Ning furrowed his brows. "Who?"     

A deep, hopeless sigh. "Fang Qi. It hurts that you can forget about me so quickly. I am not a mere side character in some action-romance drama."      

Yuan Ning opened the door wide and fast, his eyes glaring. "Like I could forget about the one tainting my little sister."      

"Tainting?" Fang Qi started before he glanced at Yuan Ning and then at Wu Genji, who lingered behind him. He took a good look at both of them, taking in their dishevelled appearances and their creased clothing and tangled hair.      

He coughed and cleared his throat. "Um…your brother and sister-in-law are waiting downstairs."     

"We're coming," Yuan Ning said bitterly.      

Fang Qi nodded and took a few steps down the hall before he paused and turned around to say, "Actually, you might want to take another five minutes to get ready because you two look—"     

Yuan Ning grabbed Fang Qi's shoulder tightly and leaned forward. "Finish what you're about to say, and the police will spend weeks looking for parts of you scattered across the city."      

Fang Qi squealed. "You're right. Never mind, let's go. We can't keep the others waiting."      

They took the elevator to the lobby finding Shi Yen wearing a large white fur coat, her arm locked with Yuan Shun's. She then broke from her husband's grasp and stalked toward him. Yuan Ning prepared himself for her interrogation, asking what they know and what had they been doing to lead them into hiding, but instead, she embraced him. Yuan Ning stiffened.      

He glanced at his brother, who gave just gave him a nod to accept the hug. Yuan Ning stretched out his hand and patted Shi Yen on the back, unsure how to respond. Shi Yen then took a step back from him and gave him a small smile. "I'm glad you're okay," she said, surprising him.      

He didn't think she cared much about his well-being, but something about the thought and gesture made him warm.      

Shi Yen then stepped around him toward Wu Genji. She removed her fur coat and placed it over Wu Genji's shoulders. "Let's go," she said to her. "You must be tired."      

Wu Genji briefly nodded and smiled as the two walked outside with a special security team toward the car.      

Fang Qi, Yuan Shun, and Yuan Ning followed shortly when his younger brother said, "You look flushed and alive."     

"I don't know what you're talking about," Yuan Ning responded dryly.      

Yuan Shun smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "Hm. Perhaps you do know."      

…     

"What are we doing at your house?" Yuan Ning questioned his brother. It was Shi Yen that replied. "I want you two to be as close to us as possible. Things are becoming dire, and I want you to be safe," she paused. "Besides, you can have the entire east wing to yourselves. I promise you that we won't hear a thing."      

Wu Genji's face turned into a deep shade of red. She had never been so mortified at what Shi Yen insinuated, and she's been through a lot.      

Shi Yen flashed them a knowing smile. "Well then, please make yourselves at home. You should find everything you need in the rooms, but should you need anything else, please let us know."      

Wu Genji nodded. "Thank you for your hospitality."      

Shi Yen flashed her teeth. "It's no problem." She then turned and grabbed Yuan Shun, walking toward the main wing of their home, leaving the two of them alone, together.      

It turned out there were plenty of rooms, and Yuan Ning and Wu Genji went into separate ones. Wu Genji washed up and properly changed before she found Yuan Ning in the kitchen—already washed—standing beneath the dim lights. He was making something to eat.      

She awkwardly stumbled in when he paused to look at her. "Are you hungry?"     

"Very much," she answered.     

"Go and sit down. I'm cooking for both of us."      

Yuan Ning then quickly whipped up some eggs, toast, and bacon for the two of them. "Sorry if it's not exactly a dinner. I wanted to make something quick and easy."     

Wu Genji shook her head. "No. No. It's fine. It's too late to make anything elaborate anyway."      

Yuan Ning gave her a small smile as he handed her some tea.     

"Thank you," she told him. Wu Genji then chugged the drink, devoured her food, and washed her dishes quickly, all while Yuan Ning was only half into his meal.      

Wu Genji left the kitchen and returned to her guest room and went to sleep—and failed.      

She decided to rise out of bed and walked and walked, slipping into Yuan Ning's room. He was sitting up, propped against the pillows with a lamp turned on. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked her.      

Wu Genji nodded.      

"Me neither," he said, tapping the side of the bed next to him.      

Wu Genji took his gesture and slid onto the bed next to him.      

"What's on your mind?" he asked when she settled beneath the blankets comfortably, facing him.      

"What's on yours?" she countered, nestling her head on two of the pillows.     

"I asked first."     

"Well, you're the one who doesn't open up," she replied. "I don't know what you're thinking most of the time."      

He gave her a steady glance as he said, "Fair, but it's difficult to explain. A lot is crossing my mind right now."      

"Like what?"     

He sighed. "To be completely honest, like how today I had incredible sex with a friend, and I don't even know what to make of it."      

Wu Genji tried to hide the flush that bloomed on her face, but she couldn't. "It was casual, wasn't it?"     

"Nothing about us is casual," he replied. "But it sure has complicated things, and I haven't entirely moved o—"     

"I know," Wu Genji cut him off, not wanting to hear the rest. Yuan Ning hasn't entirely moved on from his lover—his wife. He hasn't entirely healed. And she doesn't blame him. It wasn't easy. Even though thoughts of Yuan Ning occupied her mind, longer than she wanted to admit, but it was something she kept herself. Yuan Ning never said he was ready to open his heart again. It wasn't his fault that she already fell so deep.      

Wu Genji then swallowed the lump in her throat. "You forget, Ning, that physical attraction between two people is a normal thing."     

Yuan Ning looked at her. "But I—I've never," he replied.      

"Me neither," she countered. They never had casual lovers. "But is it such a bad thing?"     

He looked at her puzzled, lifting a hand, brushing his fingers across her cheek and lower lip. Wu Genji tried to calm her nerves, hoping he did not hear the sound of her heart racing.      

"It isn't a bad idea," he said, gazing longingly into her eyes.      

"Good," she said, releasing a breath. "It was just a casual exchange between us—now extended. But let's just get some rest and talk about it tomorrow. It's been a long day."     

Yuan Ning nodded as Wu Genji flipped sides, shutting her eyes. Yuan Ning then nestled beneath the blankets and came around her, and Wu Genji realized she should have explained their situation better. Just because they were now friends who shared a bed and made love, Yuan Ning didn't have to act like an affection lover. He didn't have to wrap his arms around her midriff; he didn't have to rest his chin snug over her shoulder or tangle their legs like a needle and thread.      

He didn't have to kiss her senselessly across her cheek and beneath her jaw the next morning when they woke. Otherwise, it would lead her to misunderstand things.