Chapter Text
“Excuse me, but have we met before?”
Lan Xichen looked up from the book he was reading when he heard someone calling out to him. Something lodged itself in his throat at the sight of the person who called out. The cafe they were in was bustling with customers but Lan Xichen felt like it was silent because his brain wasn’t registering anything else other than the man in front of him.
The person’s hair was tied into a loose braid that nestled on his shoulders. He might not be wearing his signature golden robes anymore and the hat he was known for back in the day was long gone. Even the red mark in between his eyebrows wasn’t anywhere in sight now too. But he still had the same facial structure Lan Xichen had been so familiar with.
Jin Guangyao didn’t look like he’d changed much from before. After all, he still had the same smile he used to show Lan Xichen back when they were still friends.
“Are you okay?” Jin Guangyao asked, looking at him with worried eyes. “I’m sorry, you’re probably confused since I called out all of a sudden. I can’t help but feel as if we’ve met before.”
Lan Xichen set down his book. “I don’t think so.” he said, although he struggled to say it. “But I do feel like we’ve met before though…”
The other’s face brightened up. “My name is Jin Guangyao. Do you mind if I sit down with you? I’m waiting for someone, you see.” he said, pointing towards the empty seat in front of Lan Xichen.
“N-No. Be my guest.” he said, smiling at Jin Guangyao despite the conflicting feelings bubbling inside of him. “My name is Lan Xichen, by the way.”
“Thank you.” Jin Guangyao said, sitting down on the chair. “Nice to meet you, Lan Xichen.”
“Nice to meet you too, Jin Guangyao.” Lan Xichen replied, picking up his coffee mug and drinking from it. “Are you waiting for someone?”
“My friend and his younger brother.” Jin Guangyao replied, taking a sip from his own drink. “We were all supposed to go on a trip but I had something to do last-minute at my workplace so they said they’ll just pick me up from there but they got stuck in traffic.”
Lan Xichen let out the breath he didn’t know he had been holding. “What work do you do?” he asked.
“I’m an accountant.” Jin Guangyao said. “For my half-brother’s company. Our shitty father used to be the boss but he retired before I entered the company, fortunately.”
So he wasn’t able to escape the cruel fate of becoming Jin Guangshan’s son in this life too. Lan Xichen thought as Jin Guangyao shared his story. But he seems to be doing well in this life. Better than his life as Lianfang-zun.
“You’re still here, A-Yao.” A man called out one hour later, placing a hand on Jin Guangyao’s shoulder. “A-Sang is waiting in the car. Are you ready?” After he asks that question, his eyes move to meet Lan Xichen’s and the small moment they spend staring at each other lasted a lifetime in Lan Xichen’s perspective.
“Da-ge? Is it really you?” Lan Xichen asked, voice barely a whisper. “You’re…”
He felt overwhelmed at the sight of his two friends finally reincarnating to live a happier life. At some point of his new life in the modern world, Lan Xichen knew that he would eventually encounter the reincarnations of his past friends. His family had met the reincarnations of their old friends and he was bound to experience the same.
They just never told him how overwhelming the experience was when you do.
“Have we met before?” Nie Mingjue’s reincarnation asked him.
“Ah…” Lan Xichen stammered, trying to think of an excuse. “You just look like someone I once knew. A close friend of mine.” he said. He then extended a hand towards Nie Mingjue. “My name is Lan Xichen. You are?”
“Nie Mingjue. Nice to meet you.” the man answered, shaking his hand. “You don’t mind if A-Yao and I leave already, right? Traffic is horrible and we might arrive at our destination late if we don’t leave soon.”
“No, no.” Lan Xichen replied. “I wouldn’t want to keep all of you.”
“Can I have your number though?” Jin Guangyao asked, pulling out his smartphone. “If possible, maybe we can all meet up again in the future? I don’t know why but I just can’t shake off the feeling that we were once good friends in the past. Is that weird?”
Lan Xichen debated whether or not he should accept the offer. His past should have been enough of a warning for him to keep himself away from these two but before he realised it, he had already given his phone number to Jin Guangyao and has the other’s already saved in his phone.
After the two had left, he immediately messaged Jiang Wanyin to ask for advice. Asking his brother or uncle for advice might end up in a long-winded sermon that he really isn’t in the mood for. Jiang Wanyin would just go straight to the point.
Not long after, Jiang Wanyin replied with:
So? This is your chance to make amends with them. Don’t be afraid simply because of what happened in the past. They don’t remember that grim part of their lives anymore and you shouldn’t give mind to it either. It’s a different time now, it’s fine. Fate brought you guys together again, shouldn’t that be a good thing?
Lan Xichen was about to send him thanks for the advice but the other had sent another message to him.
Also, why the fuck are you asking me for what I think? You know you’re going to befriend them in the end again anyway. They’re still your friends. >:(
He laughed to himself at the message then shot back a message thanking the other for the advice.
Just as he was about to pocket his phone, he received a message from Jin Guangyao’s number. And, after thinking about it for a few seconds, Lan Xichen responded back with hopes that this may start a new and better friendship between the three of them.