The evening wound down gradually. Conversations got quieter, glasses got emptier, people started gathering their things without anyone having to say it was time.

Jae stood up and picked up his glass.

"Tian Huan, two years is a long time," he said. "There were moments none of us knew how you were doing over there and I won’t lie, it wasn’t easy sitting with that. But you made it back and you’re here with us tonight and that is everything." He raised his glass. "Welcome home. We’re all glad you’re back."

Everyone at the table raised their glasses.

Tian Huan looked around at each of them. "Thank you," he said. "I mean it."

"Good." Jae sat back down and looked at Hao Lin. "Now did you finish the dumplings or is there any left?"

"I finished them," Hao Lin said.

"I knew it," Jae said.

The table laughed and the conversations started back up again.

---

Guiying slipped back inside just as people were beginning to move from the tables. Liuxian found him within seconds.

"Where did you go?" he said.

"I stepped out for some fresh air," Guiying said. "It was getting a little warm inside."

Liuxian looked at him for a moment then nodded.

Lindong’s wife appeared at Guiying’s side before he had fully rejoined the group.

"I have to ask," she said. "Who styles you? Because everything you have on tonight is perfect and I need to know immediately."

"I styled this myself actually," Guiying said.

She stared at him. "You put this together yourself?"

"I did," Guiying said.

"The corset piece especially," Hao Lin’s girlfriend said, appearing on his other side. "Where did you get it from? I’ve been staring at it all evening."

"I got it from Suwen," Guiying said. "They had a new collection in recently. If you know what you’re looking for they have some really good pieces."

"And the heels," Lindong’s wife said, looking down with visible respect. "How are you still standing in those? I would have taken them off two hours ago and walked around barefoot without a second thought."

Guiying looked down at them briefly. "You get used to it," he said. "The real trick is to not move around too much. The moment you start walking back and forth it’s completely over for your feet. You just have to find a spot and stay there as much as possible."

Hao Lin’s girlfriend nodded seriously. "That is the most practical heel advice I have ever received."

"I learned it the hard way," Guiying said.

Liuxian, standing just behind him, looked at the heels and then looked away.

The goodbyes took another twenty minutes. Jae hugged everyone including people who had not expected to be hugged. Hao Lin’s girlfriend exchanged numbers with Lindong’s wife. Lindong shook Liuxian’s hand and told him it had been too long. Tian Huan said goodbye to each person quietly and briefly and meant every word of it.

At the door Jae looked at Guiying one more time.

"It was good to meet you Tang XiaoYu," he said. "Come back next time."

"I will," Guiying said.

Jae looked at Liuxian. "I like him," he said. "Don’t mess it up."

Liuxian looked at him flatly. "Goodnight Jae."

"Goodnight!" Jae called after them cheerfully as they walked to the car.

The Rolls Royce pulled away from the venue smoothly. The city moved past outside, quiet and lit, and the interior of the car was warm and still.

Guiying leaned back in his seat and said nothing for a moment. His feet were making their feelings known with considerable conviction.

Liuxian looked at him. "How are your feet?"

"Destroyed," Guiying said simply.

Liuxian reached over without a word, lifted Guiying’s legs onto his lap, and began unbuckling the crystal ankle strap on the first heel. He removed it carefully and set it aside then did the same with the second. He held Guiying’s feet in both hands, his thumbs pressing gently into the arch, and said nothing about it.

Guiying looked out the window.

"Next time I’ll get better shoes," Liuxian said quietly.

"You better," Guiying said.

Guiying looked out the window and said nothing further but he did not move his feet from Liuxian’s lap for the rest of the drive home.

He was asleep before they crossed back into the Golden Willow district.

His head tilted to the side and came to rest against the seat, one leg sliding across until it settled on Liuxian’s thigh. Liuxian looked at him for a while, his hand resting on his leg, rubbing it slowly.

When they pulled into the driveway Liuxian picked up Guiying’s bag and his heels then gathered him up carefully. Guiying stirred slightly but did not wake. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Wang Chengli appeared in the entrance hall and moved forward to assist.

"I have him," Liuxian said.

Wang Chengli nodded and stepped back.

Moying was in the sitting area with his phone. He looked up when Liuxian walked in carrying Guiying.

"I’m leaving for the States tomorrow," Liuxian said. "Go to Tiantian’s while I’m gone and prepare for your audition there. I’ll be back next week and I’m expecting good news."

Moying looked at him. "And if it doesn’t go well?"

"It will go well," Liuxian said, and headed upstairs.

He laid Guiying down on the bed and sat beside him. He reached over and removed the wig carefully, setting it on the nightstand. Then the contacts, easing them out gently without waking him. He took off the jewelry next, the pearl necklace, the gold cuff, the thin ring, setting everything aside one piece at a time.

He unhooked the corset from the bottom up and slipped it off, then changed him out of the blouse and trousers and into his pajamas, moving carefully and efficiently. Guiying slept through all of it, completely out, his face relaxed and unbothered.

Liuxian pulled the blanket up over him and smoothed it once.

He picked up the heels and the bag from where he had set them, placed them by the wardrobe, and stood up to leave.

Guiying’s hand shot out from under the blanket and closed around his wrist.

Liuxian looked down.

Guiying was still asleep. His eyes were closed and his breathing was even but his grip was firm, the automatic grip of someone who had registered movement nearby and responded to it before waking up.

Liuxian looked at his wrist. Then at Guiying’s face.

He sat back down on the edge of the bed.

The grip did not loosen.

Liuxian looked at it for a moment then reached down and kicked off his shoes. He shrugged off his waistcoat and unbuttoned his shirt and dropped it on the chair. He undid his trousers and stepped out of them and got into the bed in just his boxers, pulling the blanket up.

Guiying, still entirely asleep, shifted toward him immediately.

Liuxian lay in the dark and looked at the ceiling.

Then he closed his eyes.

He’s going to flip tomorrow Luxian laughed.