Chapter Text
The plan is actually pretty straight-forward. In the morning, Luo Qingyang will release the photos to the press, the authorities, and—literally everyone. Wei Ying’s smartphone (which Lan Zhan now realizes is a throwaway—how he managed to break the screen so fast in so little time is beyond him) is now evidence, and any conclusions can be formed just by looking at the photos taken with the device. They’ve all pretty much agreed that any rational person would come up with the right idea about who is right and who is wrong.
The camera roll is empty save for the pictures that Wei Ying had captured. Luo Qingyang had backed them up safely, and their little group went through them together. Turns out, Wei Ying had been very thorough—and somehow very sneaky—though that’s no surprise considering that he is Yiling-laozu. There are plenty of images of Jin Guangyao and Wen Ruohan interacting together, and also many scans of secret, illegal documents that perfectly outline their shared criminal activities. It makes satisfaction curl up in Lan Zhan’s stomach.
Wei Ying had been passed out in another room, already treated by the doctor as the rest of them went through their plan. It’s then that Lan Zhan remembers the warning he had been given earlier today.
“This morning,” he starts, after they had finalized the idea and smoothed out all the rough edges, “I received a call about the mission.”
They’re all seated around Luo Qingyang and her monitors, haphazardly organized on foldable chairs. Wen Qing is the only one standing, and she looks at Lan Zhan with a puzzled expression.
“I don’t recall you giving out your number to us.”
He nods. “The caller—was strange. They spoke to me in Mandarin before it switched to an encrypted line. Afterward, they warned me of a trap. It seems they have interior knowledge about the Wens and the Jins.”
Wen Qing contemplates this for a moment, then looks to the other two in the room.
Luo Qingyang looks skeptical and shrugs. “I mean, they did no harm.”
Jiang Cheng is blunter: “Who gives a shit? They’re all gonna go down soon anyway.”
Lan Zhan hums, and that’s that.
He’s given his own room to stay in for the night. Since Wei Ying will have to recover here at Yiling, Lan Zhan decides to stay as well. He agrees with Wen Qing that his friend shouldn’t go unsupervised yet again—he doesn’t know what he’d do if Wei Ying got kidnapped a second time with less forgiving circumstances. Apparently, the other had snuck out of the dorm, trying to get the mission done early—only to get snatched away.
Lan Zhan stares at the ceiling, brows scrunched. It’s way, way past his bedtime, and he’s ready to knock himself right out, but to no one’s surprise, thoughts of Wei Ying keep him awake.
He recalls Jiang Cheng’s earlier words to him about his brother. Lan Zhan thinks he has been obvious with his affections toward Wei Ying. But he’s never outright said anything, never had the courage, never thought it was needed. (Well, it’s definitely needed now.)
Wei Ying is…so good. Good to him, good to the world. He values family, values friendship. Lan Zhan had never thought he would ever want—ever need—anyone by his side, save for his brother and uncle, but Wei Ying proved him wrong. It’s good to have a few more friends, a close group of people to rely on.
Lan Zhan may not like Jiang Cheng, but the other is important to Wei Ying, and (unfortunately) that makes him important to Lan Zhan too. The fact that Jiang Cheng had even talked to him at all about Wei Ying…it makes Lan Zhan realize that he really does care about his brother, and in a way, Lan Zhan as well, he thinks. A warmth floods Lan Zhan’s heart at that; it comforts him to know that there are people there for both of them.
Wei Ying might think that Lan Zhan hates him. Certainly, Lan Zhan will have to dispel that thought. Foolishly, he thinks he understands why now.
After all, Lan Zhan never made himself clear on the matter of Wei Ying’s job as Yiling-laozu. It becomes obvious now that all Wei Ying wants his approval. Lan Zhan will admit that certain things…are not that great. But Wei Ying is Wei Ying, and he would support him no matter what.
The only matter is—does Wei Ying feel the same?
He’s well aware of his friend’s infatuation with his hero persona. There’s no doubt that Wei Ying holds a great appreciation in his heart for Hanguang-jun, after all the years he’s known him, but does he feel the same about Lan Zhan?
It’s been a hectic day. What’s wrong with a little more?
Lan Zhan promptly rises from the little cot in the room and makes his way to Wei Ying, who’s likely resting in the next hall over. When he knocks on the door, he thinks he should be less surprised to see both Wen Qing and Jiang Cheng there, looking like they are giving Wei Ying a well-deserved lecturing. Both of them are standing while Wei Ying lies on a cot.
He still looks tired, and for good reason too. A few hours have passed since they got to Yiling, though, and, at the very least, he’s no longer tense or grimacing in pain. Lan Zhan sympathizes; he’s still nursing a few bruises and nausea of his own as well.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan says. Everyone stares at him with varying expressions.
The other two exchange another glance and leave the room. Wen Qing has a knowing little smirk on her face, and Lan Zhan can feel Jiang Cheng glaring daggers into the back of his head, despite not even acknowledging him.
“Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying says after they shut the door. He has a smile on his face, too, and it’s then that Lan Zhan thinks that everything will work out.
Months later, Hanguang-jun and Yiling-laozu are patrolling the city of Caiyi. It’s been pretty peaceful after the Wen’s downfall and the near-collapse of the Jins. The latter have found a new leader and has replaced a number of its members. Personally, Lan Zhan doesn’t really favor Jin Zixuan that much, and Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng have even dubbed him the Peacock, but at least he has good intentions in mind. It’s not easy to take over such a large organization like that.
Yiling-laozu is trailing close behind him, snickering along the way. He’s tapping away on his phone, laughing at whatever’s on his screen. Likely, it’s some video that their new friend, Nie Huaisang, has sent him.
“Wei Ying,” Hanguang-jun reprimands, voice low. No one is around to hear him except for Yiling-laozu, but he’s still careful anyway. “We are on duty. Don’t play.”
“Aw, c’mon! Here, check your phone.”
With a fond sigh and a quick look around to make sure there are no imminent disasters in the streets that need his help, Hanguang-jun pulls out his phone. His wallpaper has changed recently—now, instead of one white bunny, there’s two. The white one and a new black one.
He opens his notification to a message from Wei Ying.
Wei Ying: lan zhan! give your boyfriend a kiss :3 !! please!! dont b a fuddy-duddy :(
Lan Zhan turns off his phone and pockets it again. He looks over to Yiling-laozu with a blank expression—barely visible underneath his hood. Wei Ying is looking expectantly at him with a puppy-eyed expression, lips slightly puckered.
With a roll of his eyes, Lan Zhan leans in for the kiss.