Explore, Create, Inspire.

Rating - Mature

Category: M/M

Title - Perfect Illusion

Genre - Heist, Danmei, BL, Romance

Pairing: Lan Xichen/Original Male Character

Hey, I’ve been working on this MDZS fic for a while. It’s a modern AU casino heist inspired by Ocean’s Eleven, centered on Lan Xichen and my male OC. Slow-burn M/M, ongoing. Would love for anyone to check it out if that sounds like your thing 🙂

Title: Perfect Illusion

[Excerpt]

As Jin Ling completed his security scan, confirming the space was indeed surveillance-free, Jin Guangyao took position at the head of the table.

"Gentlemen," he began, activating the central display with a precise gesture. 

“Eight years ago, the Lan brothers began their expansion into Macau's casino market. Six years ago, they opened Cloud Recesses. Two years after that, Caiyi Bay and Gusu Pavilion followed." His voice remained perfectly steady, only the tightness around his eyes betraying the personal cost of the timeline.

"Six months ago, they initiated a calculated campaign to undermine my position on the Casino Alliance board. Three months ago, they succeeded in removing me entirely." 

His gaze swept across the gathered specialists. "One week ago, they began the process of hostile acquisition of Koi Tower itself."

Wei Wuxian settled into a chair, his casual posture belying his focused attention. "And now they've made the crucial mistake that all empire-builders eventually make."

"Which is?" Nie Huaisang prompted, arranging himself artfully in a corner chair.

Wei Wuxian's smile carried predatory edges. "They got comfortable. Created patterns. Established routines that even the most sophisticated security systems can't protect against."

Jin Guangyao nodded once, acknowledging the assessment. "The Lan brothers believe their three properties are untouchable. Our objective is to prove otherwise—simultaneously."

Jiang Cheng shook his head. "Three casinos. One night. What could possibly go wrong?"

"One point six billion in combined accessible assets," Jin Guangyao confirmed. "Plus certain... proprietary information they've acquired."

"This was never just about money," Jin Zixuan realized, looking up to meet his half-brother's gaze.

"It rarely is," Jin Guangyao replied, the simple acknowledgment bridging more distance between them than hours of conversation might have.

Wei Wuxian clapped his hands together once, the sound cutting through the momentary silence. "Well then! Shall we discuss how exactly we're going to make the Lan brothers regret ever setting foot in Macau?"

Jin Guangyao activated the central display with a precise gesture. The three-dimensional rendering of Cloud Recesses Casino rotated slowly, highlighting structural features and security placements.

"Cloud Recesses is the crown jewel," Jin Guangyao explained, zooming in on specific areas. "The other two properties funnel their high-value assets there every night."

He gestured, and the image shifted to show the gaming floor. "Two hundred fifty-eight tables, seventeen private rooms, and a high-roller section that processes more money in a night than most banks see in a month."

Wei Wuxian leaned forward, his casual posture at odds with the intensity in his eyes. "The Lans' security isn't just about cameras and guards."

"Their player monitoring system is beyond anything else in the industry," Jin Zixuan confirmed, professional respect evident beneath his reluctance. 

"Facial recognition algorithms track micro-expressions for signs of cheating. Temperature sensors embedded in the tables detect elevated heart rates."

"Plus biometric scanners in the VIP chip trays,"Jin Guangyao added. "If you so much as breathe wrong while placing a bet, three different systems flag you for review."

Jiang Cheng tapped at the security schematic on the main display. "They've integrated an AI system they call 'The Eye of Cloud.' It compares betting patterns against known cheating profiles in real-time." 

His expression remained severe, though a hint of professional respect was evident. "The system cross-references twenty-three physical markers simultaneously."

"Which explains why no one has successfully beaten their tables in the last five years," Qing Yi observed.

"The slot machines aren't merely programmed," Jin Zixuan noted, "they're networked. Every play, every win, every loss is monitored for statistical anomalies. The house advantage is mathematically perfect."

Nie Huaisang twirled his cocktail pick. "And their cage?"

"Triple-chambered," Jin Zixuan replied. "With security glass developed for military applications. Twelve-inch steel doors, time-locked between nine and five."

Wei Wuxian smiled, the expression carrying a predatory edge.

"On a good night, they pull close to fifty million. On a slow one, about thirty, across all three properties."

A stunned silence fell over the room, broken only by a single appreciative whistle.

Qing Yi turned from studying the blueprints, a measured smirk playing at the corner of his mouth, emerald eyes calculating. 

"So we're talking about a place that can measure a player's heart rate through the felt, predict mathematical outcomes better than MIT graduates, and track their chips with satellite precision."

"That is correct," Jin Guangyao confirmed, his voice steady despite the implied impossibility.

Rating - Mature

Category: M/M

Title - Perfect Illusion

Genre - Heist, Danmei, BL, Romance

Pairing: Lan Xichen/Original Male Character

Hey, I’ve been working on this MDZS fic for a while. It’s a modern AU casino heist inspired by Ocean’s Eleven, centered on Lan Xichen and my male OC. Slow-burn M/M, ongoing. Would love for anyone to check it out if that sounds like your thing 🙂

Title: Perfect Illusion

[Excerpt]

The Perfect Mask

The Lotus Pier's premium suite had been transformed from five-star accommodation into a war room in less than three hours. The Jiang family's crown jewel in their luxury hotel portfolio, meticulously overseen by Jiang Yanli from their Hong Kong headquarters, now looked nothing like the elegant sanctuary that commanded over four thousand US dollars a night.

The living room's pristine coffee tables were buried under blueprint schematics and personnel files.

Wei Wuxian lounged on the leather sofa, tossing cashew nuts into his mouth with practiced ease while studying the holographic model of Cloud Recesses Casino rotating lazily above the coffee table. Jiang Cheng sat at the opposite end, scrolling through security files on a tablet, his brow furrowed in concentration. Qing Yi stood silhouetted against the window, eyes fixed on the distant outlines of their target with calculating precision.

"So our problem isn't getting in," Wei Wuxian mused, flicking another cashew into the air. "It's getting in ."

Jiang Cheng didn't bother looking up from his tablet. "Thanks for clarifying."

"Getting into Cloud Recesses? Easy. Jin Zixuan handled it." Wei Wuxian gestured expansively. "Getting into Lan Xichen's private office at his penthouse? That's where it gets..."

"Complicated," Qing Yi finished, still facing the window.

Wei Wuxian flashed a grin. "I was going to say impossible, but let's go with your version. More optimistic."

Jiang Cheng flicked through the blueprints Jin Zixuan had provided, his expression grim. "Jin Zixuan says twenty-two people have tried to access the fourth floor of that penthouse in the past year."

"And how many succeeded?" Wei Wuxian asked, already knowing the answer.

Jiang Cheng lifted his gaze, the implication clear. "Twenty-two people have tried ."

Qing Yi turned slightly from the window, his profile sharp against the brilliance of the afternoon sun. "Northwest corner of the fourth floor. Biometrics, motion sensors, heat signatures?"

"Yes, yes, and not just any," Jiang Cheng confirmed, swiping through security specifications. "The whole system was custom-built by a paranoid German who lives in a bunker and trusts exactly three people on earth - none of whom are us."

Wei Wuxian grabbed the remote and flicked on the projection. A rough schematic of what appeared to be an office materialized, with significant portions rendered as incomplete wireframes and question marks where details were missing.

"This is all we have on Lan Xichen's private office, basement-level building plans and Jin Zixuan's second hand descriptions," Wei Wuxian explained, gesturing to the obvious gaps in the rendering. 

"But what we do know is inside his computer in that office is a terminal with every code, every combination, every protocol we need. One terminal with all the keys to the kingdom."

"Getting past the biometrics is just the first hurdle," Jiang Cheng said, calling up another file on his tablet. 

"The security system changes its verification protocols every seventy-two hours. We can't just copy his fingerprints or voice pattern - the system would detect the forgery. Nobody gets in that room without him physically present."

Qing Yi studied the incomplete schematic. "So we need to map it from the outside."

Wei Wuxian nodded. "Exactly. We need detailed scans of the interior to build a proper replica. Without precise measurements, we're guessing at sensor placement, blind spots, terminal location..."

"And the only way to get close enough for those scans is through Lan Xichen himself," Jiang Cheng added.

"Jin Zixuan says he hosts private gatherings at the penthouse," Wei Wuxian continued. "Exclusive parties for select high-rollers, business partners, potential investors."

"Invitation only," Jiang Cheng emphasized. "And those invitations don't go to casino employees, no matter how valuable."

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng exchanged glances—the kind of wordless communication that came from years of working together.

"We need someone who can catch his interest," Wei Wuxian said, watching Qing Yi carefully. "Someone..."

Qing Yi turned fully from the window, the light behind him accentuating the cold emerald of his eyes. "Someone with a certain skillset."

"Someone who can turn charm into an art form," Wei Wuxian confirmed with a grin.

"Someone who's been melting ice-cold marks since—" Jiang Cheng started.

"Since Prague," Qing Yi cut him off. "That was eight years ago. Are you two done?"

Wei Wuxian leaned forward, suddenly serious despite his playful demeanor. "We're saying... "

"I know what you're saying," Qing Yi interrupted again. "You want me to get close to Lan Xichen. Close enough to be invited to one of his private gatherings."

"Precisely," Wei Wuxian confirmed. "Once inside the penthouse, you'll need to get near enough to his office to scan the interior through whatever gap you can find—door, window, ventilation. Jin Ling's designing specialized tools for the job."

Qing Yi moved to the table, studying the projection with clinical interest. "And Jin Zixuan can't do this because...?"

"Jin Zixuan gets us staff schedules, security rotations, access to the high-roller rooms," Jiang Cheng explained, standing to join him at the table.

"But Lan Xichen's private penthouse? That's strictly invitation-only," Wei Wuxian added. "Jin Zixuan is staff. Valuable staff, but still staff."

"And you think I can just..." Qing Yi's fingers passed through the hologram, disturbing the light patterns. "...charm my way into his social circle?"

Wei Wuxian scattered photographs across the table, surveillance shots of various elegant, attractive people at Cloud Recesses events, all captured in moments of attempting to engage Lan Xichen's attention.

"Twelve different approaches in the last month." Wei Wuxian pointed to each in turn. "The Israeli diamond heiress, the Russian prima ballerina, the Malaysian tech CEO, the French fashion designer..."

"...that British lord who was actually just some guy from Leeds with a convincing accent." Jiang Cheng added dryly.

"All of them trying to get close to him," Wei Wuxian continued. "All of them had an angle."

Qing Yi studied the photographs with detached interest, arranging them in a pattern only he understood. "And that was their mistake."

Wei Wuxian's expression brightened as he pointed finger-guns at Qing Yi. "Bingo. They all wanted something. But you—"

"—need to make him want something from me," Qing Yi finished, his eyes still on the photographs.

"According to Jin Zixuan, Lan Xichen can spot desperation from space," Jiang Cheng said.

Wei Wuxian nodded enthusiastically. "But genuine intrigue? That's his weakness."

"You need someone he can't quite figure out," Qing Yi murmured, almost to himself.

"We need someone who speaks fluent billionaire without sounding rehearsed," Wei Wuxian elaborated.

"Someone who can drop a Tang dynasty poem into conversation without sounding like a Wikipedia page," Jiang Cheng added, the corner of his mouth lifting in a rare half-smile.

Wei Wuxian reached into his pocket and tossed a small black case to Qing Yi, who caught it without looking up from the photographs. Decades of working together had made such movements almost telepathic.

"Temporary hair dye," Wei Wuxian explained unnecessarily. "That silver's like a neon sign."

---

Rating - Mature

Category: M/M

Title - Perfect Illusion

Genre - Danmei, BL, Romance

Pairing: Lan Xichen/Original Male Character

The high-end Cantonese restaurant was nearly empty at midnight, a handful of late diners scattered across the elegant space. Wei Wuxian and Qing Yi sat at a corner table, remnants of a meal between them. While Wei Wuxian casually picked at the remaining food, Qing Yi sat perfectly straight, sipping his tea with measured precision.

"So Jin Guangyao gets kicked off the Macau Casino Alliance by the Lan brothers—" Wei Wuxian began, sketching the situation with his chopsticks.

"And now he wants revenge," Qing Yi interrupted, unimpressed. "How original."

"They're planning a hostile takeover of Koi Tower. Jin Guangyao claims it's about saving his business," Wei Wuxian continued, watching Qing Yi's reaction.

Qing Yi's expression remained neutral, but something flickered in his eyes—the calculation of a mind that never stopped analyzing. "It's never just business with him." He paused, setting down his teacup. "What's the split?"

"Jin Guangyao wants an equal cut."

Qing Yi raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow, the expression conveying volumes of skepticism. "For financing?"

"That was my reaction," Wei Wuxian admitted with a half-smile.

"He gets 20%. Standard arrangement," Qing Yi declared. "We split the rest between the crew."

Wei Wuxian leaned back slightly. "He won't like that."

"He doesn't have to like it," Qing Yi said with the confidence of someone who knew his value. "He's already getting his casino alliance position and business assets back. The 20% is just gravy."

Wei Wuxian grinned, adjusting his chopsticks with the restless energy that had always characterized him. "And what about us?"

"Three ways on the leadership cut. You, me, and Jiang Cheng."

Wei Wuxian's eyes lit up. "Just like the glory days."

He shifted gears, mentally assembling the pieces they'd need. "We'll need documentation. What about Liu Wei for the papers?"

Qing Yi adjusted his cufflink, a slight movement that conveyed his distaste. "Currently changing diapers, not identities."

"The forger? Since when?" Wei Wuxian's disbelief was evident.

"Since approximately once every eighteen months, by my count," Qing Yi replied dryly.

Wei Wuxian considered the alternatives. "Chen Hao then. His work on the Hong Kong job was flawless."

"Retired." Qing Yi paused deliberately. "Permanently."

"Job went bad?" Wei Wuxian asked, leaning forward.

"Marriage went worse. His wife developed a sudden interest in firearms."

Wei Wuxian raised his eyebrows, genuinely startled. "You're kidding."

“I rarely kid about bullet wounds,” Qing Yi said, face impassive.

“I assume you paid your respects?”

Qing Yi took a sip of tea, his expression inscrutable. “To the son. Extensively.”

Wei Wuxian made a face, a mixture of disgust and amusement. “Your romantic choices continue to fascinate and disturb me.”

A waiter started to approach their table. Qing Yi barely glanced at him, but the look was enough—the man pivoted mid-step and disappeared back toward the kitchen.

Qing Yi returned his attention to the matter at hand. “The Lan casinos have the best security in Asia. Possibly the world.”

Wei Wuxian’s grin held a touch of madness. “That’s what makes it fun.”

“That’s what makes it suicide,” Qing Yi countered, the voice of reason against Wei Wuxian’s chaos.

Undeterred, Wei Wuxian pulled out his phone and slid it across the table. The screen displayed photos of three distinctive properties. “Cloud Recesses. Caiyi Bay. Gusu Pavilion. All running on the same security system.”

“Is Jiang Cheng in town?” Wei Wuxian asked, changing tactics.

Qing Yi’s mouth curved into a rare smirk. “I guess, if that bastard could keep his personality in check for five minutes.”

Wei Wuxian studied his old partner. “How is the angry brother-in-law these days?”

“Domesticated,” Qing Yi replied, the smirk lingering. “Jing Xiang has him renovating their kitchen.”

“A man who once cracked the Bank of Shanghai is now installing cabinets?” Wei Wuxian asked incredulously.

“And coaching Little League on weekends,” Qing Yi added.

They shared a moment of amused disbelief, the absurdity of their former partner’s domesticity not lost on either of them.

“Will he even want in?” Wei Wuxian wondered. “He’s got the family, the hotels…”

“He’s bored,” Qing Yi said with certainty. “Jing Xiang tells me he’s been tinkering in the basement again.”

Wei Wuxian’s expression softened slightly. “The three of us back together. Like old times.”

“Except now he has three children and a wife who will kill all of us if anything happens to him,” Qing Yi reminded him.

"Your sister always was the scariest of us all," Wei Wuxian acknowledged.

"Which one?" Qing Yi asked with dry sarcasm. "I've got two of those."

Wei Wuxian chuckled, the sound warm and unguarded. "Both equally formidable, to be fair."

Qing Yi's perpetual smile widened into something genuine before he continued methodically. "We'll need more. Jin Ling for tech."

“Jiang Cheng’s nephew?” Wei Wuxian asked, surprised. “Isn’t he still in university?”

“Graduate school. Cybersecurity,” Qing Yi corrected. “And he has something to prove.”

“And we need Nie Huaisang,” Qing Yi added.

Wei Wuxian frowned slightly. “He retired.”

“So did I,” Qing Yi said, sipping his tea. “Nobody stays retired in this business.”

“Su She?” Wei Wuxian suggested.

“In prison,” Qing Yi replied. “Got caught trying to copy the Lan security system.”

Wei Wuxian brightened. “Maybe we should hire him as a consultant.”

“From his prison cell?” Qing Yi’s tone was flat but his eyes held a hint of amusement.

“It would keep overhead down,” Wei Wuxian said with a grin.

Qing Yi ignored the joke. “We’ll need someone on the inside.”

After a moment’s consideration, Qing Yi reached for his phone. “Jin Zixuan,” he said decisively.

Wei Wuxian’s surprise was evident. “Jin Guangyao’s half-brother? Isn’t he—”

“Working VIP relations at Cloud Recesses? Yes,” Qing Yi confirmed. “Has access to everything and everyone.”

“Can we trust him?” Wei Wuxian asked, skepticism clear.

“He owes me a favor,” Qing Yi said simply. “And he’s not particularly fond of the Lans.”

Wei Wuxian leaned back, a familiar smile spreading across his face—the smile that had preceded some of their most lucrative and dangerous ventures.

“So we’re doing this? The three musketeers, back for another lucrative caper?”

Qing Yi finished his tea, the barest hint of a smile breaking his composed expression—a crack in the perfect façade that only Wei Wuxian could elicit.

“We’re discussing it,” he said, not quite committing despite they both knowing he was already calculating odds and angles.

“When do we start?” Wei Wuxian pressed.

Qing Yi stood, straightening his immaculate suit with a practiced motion. “We start by getting Jiang Cheng on board. Which means you need to apologize for whatever you did at his twins’ birthday party.”

Wei Wuxian winced visibly. “That might be a problem.”

“Fix it. We need him,” Qing Yi insisted, then paused. “And you’ll need to be the one to convince him. He’ll see through me immediately.”

“And why would he listen to me?” Wei Wuxian challenged.

Qing Yi looked down at him, silver hair catching the light. “Because you’re the only one who can make it sound crazy enough to be worth risking his comfortable life for.”

As they left the restaurant, the pieces of a plan began to align in Qing Yi’s mind—familiar patterns of risk and reward, with stakes higher than anything they’d attempted before. Three years of legitimate boredom dissolved in the face of the impossible challenge before them.

The Lan casinos awaited.

Rating - Mature

Category: M/M

Title - Perfect Illusion

Genre - Danmei, BL, Romance

Pairing: Lan Xichen/Original Male Character

-------

Nacre sat on the forty-second floor of a Pudong high-rise, unmarked and unlisted — the kind of place that didn't need a sign because everyone who mattered already knew where it was. Its crown jewel, the Obsidian Lounge, had curated its atmosphere to within an inch of its life—dark walls, strategic lighting, and an undercurrent of money that came from catering to Shanghai's financial elite.

In one of the premier lounges, Qing Yi sat at the center of a semicircle of expectant faces, his silver hair pulled into a ponytail that managed to look both precise and effortless. His fingers moved through a deck of cards with casual grace, though tonight those skills seemed criminally wasted.

"You see," said David Zhang, tech billionaire and recent cryptocurrency convert, his Patek Philippe catching light as he gestured, "the key is tracking dealer patterns. I've been using an AI algorithm to predict shuffling sequences."

Robert Lee, hedge fund manager turned poker enthusiast, nodded eagerly. "I've got a guy who makes contact lenses that can read infrared markers. Cost me thirty thousand for the prototype."

Qing Yi's fingers paused for a microsecond in their shuffle—the only indication these "innovations" affected him at all. He dealt cards with mechanical precision as another voice chimed in.

"My method's simpler," announced William Park, whose family owned half of Gangnam's real estate. "Tiny camera in my cufflink, team member watching from the car, feeds me information through my earpiece."

"Morse code," added someone else proudly. "Tapping my pen on the table. Works every time."

Every time, Qing Yi thought, maintaining his placid expression while internally cataloging the fundamental flaws in each approach. Against whom? Casino staff who learned dealing from YouTube tutorials?

The conversation continued, each contributor unveiling progressively more elaborate (and terminally flawed) schemes. Qing Yi made appropriate sounds of interest while his mind wandered to more sophisticated pursuits. His gaze drifted to the window, where his reflection showed a man who'd forgotten what genuine interest felt like.

"Of course, the real secret—" David began, leaning forward conspiratorially.

"Is knowing which games are worth playing in the first place."

The voice cut through the amateur hour with surgical precision. Qing Yi's attention sharpened instantly, the shift so sudden he hadn't realized how dulled his focus had become.

Wei Wuxian lounged against the doorway of their private booth with studied casualness, his dark hair artfully tousled, designer jacket hanging open. But it was his eyes—sharp, calculating, amused—that made Qing Yi's pulse quicken for the first time in months.

Their gazes met across the lounge. Years apart dissolved in a silent exchange that lasted barely a heartbeat, yet conveyed everything—a shared understanding of what real skill looked like, of how far above this room's pay grade they both operated.

"Amateur mistakes are always the same," Wei Wuxian continued, addressing the group but keeping his attention on Qing Yi. 

"Complex solutions to simple problems. The best marks don't realize they've been played until the dealer's already three countries away."

David shifted, clearly unsettled by the interruption. "And you are?"

"Someone who's watched too many talented people waste potential on carnival tricks." Wei Wuxian's smile was all teeth. "Though I have to admit, the infrared contact lens idea shows initiative. Just completely impractical against anyone who knows what they're looking for."

"How would you know?" Robert challenged.

"Because," Wei Wuxian said simply, "I've been both."

Qing Yi felt something dormant stirring—not quite excitement, not yet hope, but the first whisper of genuine interest he'd felt in longer than he cared to admit.

Wei Wuxian caught his eye again, this time with clear intent. "Drink?"

Understanding the subtext perfectly, Qing Yi stood with fluid grace, already reaching for his jacket. "Gentlemen, I'm sure you'll continue improving your methods. Practice makes perfect—or at least, it brings you closer to understanding why perfection might be impossible."

He didn't wait for responses, didn't explain or excuse himself. He simply walked away, falling into step beside Wei Wuxian as they moved from the private lounge to the main bar area.

The bar stretched before them like a stage for a private performance. Qing Yi slid onto a stool, and with a gesture both casual and commanding, ordered their drinks from the bartender who immediately recognized the owner's prerogative.

Wei Wuxian grinned, that familiar gleam of mischief dancing in his eyes. "Didn't know you'd replaced me with a collection of billionaires who think they've cracked the code. I hope they've been keeping your bed warm... in my absence."

Qing Yi's expression remained neutral, though something flickered in his eyes. "Please. Their intellect couldn't simulate the most basic foreplay if it came with an instruction manual."

"If I'd known you missed me this much, I'd have stayed away longer," Wei Wuxian said, his smirk widening.

"I've been counting my blessings." Qing Yi took a deliberate sip.

With a casual gesture, Wei Wuxian signaled the bartender, who immediately poured two shots without being told what. They clinked glasses, the crystal chiming like a promise renewed.

"Ten million from the Hong Kong job." Wei Wuxian leaned in slightly. "Plus whatever you've made running this place. Not bad for someone who swore they'd never go legitimate."

Qing Yi's eyes drifted around his club—the carefully curated atmosphere, the select clientele, the subtle security measures visible only to those who knew what to look for. All of it profitable, respectable, and mind-numbingly predictable.

"It's safe. Stable. Good passive income, so I've been told," he said, the words practiced and hollow.

Wei Wuxian studied him, seeing past the perfect façade. "You look bored."

A pause hung between them, heavy with unspoken truth. Qing Yi set his glass down with deliberate care, the soft clink barely audible over the ambient music.

"I am bored," he admitted, the words carrying the weight of three years of respectability.

Wei Wuxian's grin widened as he slid a shot glass toward Qing Yi. They clinked glasses, the familiar ritual feeling like slipping into old clothes that still fit perfectly.

"Jin Guangyao called," Wei Wuxian said after they drank, his tone deliberately casual.

Qing Yi's eyes narrowed slightly. "After all this time? Interesting." There was an undercurrent of suspicion in his voice. Jin Guangyao never reached out without purpose, and rarely without a trap attached.

Wei Wuxian leaned forward slightly. "It's the Lan brothers."

Qing Yi raised an eyebrow—the first genuine reaction Wei Wuxian had earned since sitting down. "The Lans? What did Jin Guangyao want with them?"

"Not just want. Take," Wei Wuxian clarified.

Understanding flashed in Qing Yi's eyes as he immediately grasped the implications.

"Three casinos. One night," Wei Wuxian continued.

"Impossible," Qing Yi said, analytical mind already calculating angles, security measures, personnel.

"You've been saying that about my ideas since we were twenty."

"And I've been right every time."

Wei Wuxian's eyes danced with challenge. "Yet here you are, still following me into impossible situations."

Qing Yi stood, straightening his already perfect suit with a practiced motion. "Someone has to make sure you don't get yourself killed."

"Is that a yes?" Wei Wuxian asked, though they both knew the answer.

Qing Yi was already moving toward the exit. "That's a 'tell me more somewhere that isn't filled with people who might recognize you.'"

Wei Wuxian grinned, throwing money on the bar before following his old partner into the night, the familiar rhythm of their partnership resuming as if the three-year hiatus had never happened.

---

Fandom - Mo Dao Zu Shi

Rating - Mature, Explicit

Category: M/M

Title - Perfect Illusion

Genre - Danmei, BL, Heist, Romance

Wei Wuxian rolled his neck. Slow, one side then the other, and worked his shoulders back the way he did before jobs, the unconscious habit of a body burning off energy it couldn't spend yet.

Jiang Cheng watched him over the rim of his cup.

"You nervous?"

Wei Wuxian sipped his coffee. "Terrified."

"Really."

"No." He sipped again. "Maybe. I don't know. Are you?"

"It's not like we haven't done this before."

"That's what makes it worse. Experience just means you know all the ways it can go wrong." He stretched his legs out, crossed his ankles, looked at the ceiling. "Last time I was in Vegas, Huaisang wanted to try going legitimate. Had this restaurant idea. Farm-to-table dim sum, craft cocktails, the whole thing. Very serious about it."

Jiang Cheng looked over and snorted. "Huaisang's been going 'legitimate' since 2015. It never takes."

"He was very committed. For about thirty-six hours."

"Shocker. And how'd that end?"

Wei Wuxian tilted his head. "Well. Food was fantastic, actually. Really good soup dumplings. But the next morning we both ended up in the hospital."

Jiang Cheng's eyebrows went up. "The hospital?"

Wei Wuxian took another sip, completely straight-faced. "It's a big white building with lots of patients."

Silence.

Jiang Cheng stared at him. Wei Wuxian stared back over the rim of his cup, not a crack in his expression.

"You're an idiot." Jiang Cheng shook his head but the laughter was already escaping, a snort first, then his shoulders going, one hand coming up too late to catch it.

Wei Wuxian grinned into his coffee. Wide, crooked, completely unbothered, the way he grinned at everything, as if the world had never once managed to wipe it off his face and had long since stopped trying.

They drank their coffee. Neither of them tasted it. But they were smiling, and in a corridor beneath a building they were about to rob, that counted for something.

— from Perfect Illusion, an MDZS modern AU where the Lan brothers run a casino empire in Macau and a team of seven specialists is hired to bring it down from the inside. Heist fiction. Slow burn. LXC x original male character.