Chapter Text
Step. Step. Step.
Jump!
Balance...
“Hoo...”
Wei Wuxian smirked as he is finally on the roof. This is his legendary encounter with THE Lan Er Gongzi. Who is he to change the past and not meet Lan Zhan?
3...
2...
1...
“Those who come at night should not be allowed in until 7 AM.”
A voice echoed behind him.
Wei Wuxian smirked. Lan Zhan... With his pink flowy robes, he poorly hid the Emperor’s Smile and face the Gusu’s Second Young Master.
“Come on~ One of my leg is already in! Can you be lenient and let me pass?” He winked at the frozen Young Master. He chuckled internally, Must be wondering why he encountered a shameless disciple on the very first night！
“Move it, come back in the morning.”
Enjoying the banters, he momentarily forgot about the Emperor’s Smile he is holding and waved his hand in front of Lan Wangji. “Oh, come on- Oop.”
“What is that in your hands?”
His mind might be playing with him, but Wei Wuxian could swear he saw a hint of a smile on Lan Wangji’s face.
Eyes filled with mirth, he bounced and said, “It’s Emperor’s Smile! If I share a jar with you, can you pretend you never saw me?”
In a flash, his swaying hand was caught in a tight grip. He looked at Lan Wangji in shock. He was about to open his mouth and complain, but Lan Wangji beat him into it.
“I will take you back to the Jingshi with me.”
Head empty, he stared ahead. Only to open his mouth and blurt, “Jingshi...?”
“Mn.”
If the Lan disciples were asked, they would say that their Second Young Master looked like he had his whole family murdered, for he looked like he was in mourning. Even his brother, First Young Master Lan had worried for him.
All of this happened after the Second Young Master was back from Yunmeng’s Conference.
Lan Wangji wanted to meet Wei Ying early that he requested to also come to the Conference in Yunmeng.
And, oh yes. He doesn’t know what happened but ever since he came back from rescuing Wen Yuan, he had been losing memories of his childhood. He didn’t notice it at first, but when the day his “seclusion” came to an end, he suddenly shuddered at the sight of Gentian House. He felt that he should have at least a bittersweet memory from that house but he couldn’t remember what it was.
As he walked in the direction of Hanshi to officially announce his return, he fainted at the moment the door opened. And if his ears aren’t ailing him, he thought he heard his Brother call him.
—
Lan Wangji woke up cold. Very cold. He swept his eyes to inspect his surroundings and was surprised to see that it is Winter. As far as he could remember, it’s already Spring.
He stood up and was perplexed to find himself in a body of a child.
“A-Zhan!”
A-Zhan?
Frowning, he looks towards the direction of the sound.
“XiongZhang...?” He muttered quietly.
That couldn’t be! This Lan Xichen is small...young.
“A-Zhan! Come to Dada, hm? Mother... Mother is gone. She won’t be coming back, Shufu said so. Come to Dada, A-Zhan, let’s bring you to your room, okay?”
Mind in a mess, he could only nod. He never trusted himself in words.
A-Zhan... Mother? Kneeling... Kneeling! That’s... what I had forgotten... Did I... Did I time travel? But, that’s impossible! How could I possibly time travel...?
(Far away from Gusu, a certain Deity smiled. Ah. He’s here. With the first experience of grief as a catalyst, he finally joined this world...)
Entering the room he shared with his XiongZhang, he made up his mind. This time... whoever made it possible for him to travel through time... he would thank them for this chance to stand by Wei Ying’s side... He would protect Wei Ying this time...
—
It was only when he was 10 years old was he allowed to go out of Gusu to accompany his brother to Discussion Conferences. Coincidentally, the Discussion Conference is located in Yunmeng. He was overjoyed that his brother even took notice of it.
“Psst. A-Zhan! You look excited! Should we bring you to many more Discussion Conferences? To visit the towns, perhaps?”
As usual, Lan Wangji - while he hasn’t been given his courtesy name, he was used in using WANGJI as a sign of formalities - didn’t answer and continued looking ahead to turn in the homework that has been given to him.
The next day, they departed to go to Yunmeng.
...
Only to be disappointed seeing that Wei Ying isn’t a part of Yunmeng Jiang.
Quickly, his disappointment turned into worry. Wei Ying had been a disciple of Yunmeng since he was 7-9, and with him being 10 years old, 8-9 years old.
So... Where is Wei Ying?
What was discussed in the Discussion Conference was absorbed in one of his ears, only to leak in his other ear. He left Yunmeng in a gloomy expression.
The Lan Disciples hurried out of his way after they landed in Gusu. Their Second Young Master looked like he has a dark cloud looming all over his face.
That was the first and last time he accompanied his Brother and Uncle to any discussion conferences.
—
He was fourteen when responsibilities were divided between him and his brother.
While his brother is tasked with personal matters regarding the sects, he was tasked with certain members of the sect. It contains the list of who are the disciples, head disciples, and sect heirs.
Passing by the YunmengJiang’s scroll, he frowned at how few disciples they have yet still held the title of being in a Great Sect. One reason for his frown is that from what he can remember, YunmengJiang is one of the sects that had the most popularity with how lively they are. Yet, based on the scroll in his hands, it is certainly quite the opposite.
He is not one to pry, so he read the scroll to familiarize himself with the changes. Perhaps, with his time traveling, such consequences are to be expected. However, from the back of his mind, he couldn’t help but be confused since he hasn't done anything to warrant such consequence.
He nearly dropped the scroll after reading who the Head Disciple is.
Jiang Cheng, Jiang Wanyin.
Re-reading the scroll, he held to an unknown hope to find Wei Ying’s name.
None.
None. None. NONE. Lan Wangji couldn’t breathe.
He’s gone... HE’S GONE... Is this the price of time traveling...? His soulmate, gone...
—
And, yet...
His world starts to color.
Today is supposed to be the day he would meet Wei Ying. Under the moonlight, on top of the roof. With his soulmate gone, he could only watch the moon alone...
Therefore, it is a surprise to feel someone’s presence.
Could it be...? He dared to hope.
“Those who come at night should not be allowed in until 7 AM,” he automatically said.
That ‘someone’ freezes, and faced him.
Tug.
Wei Ying! His heart cries. Wei Ying, Wei Ying, WEI YING! Beloved!
Wei Ying said something, his mouth moved mechanically. His mind is still grasping the sight of Wei Ying in front of him.
He can finally breathe. Wei Ying...
He felt his mouth curve as he reminisce the same encounter from the last timeline. Wei Ying...
The same scene, the same wine. (Different robes, but he will deal with that later.) Wei Ying...
“It’s Emperor’s Smile! If I share a jar with you, can you pretend you never saw me?”
Acting quickly, he captured the swaying hands in a tight grip Never will I let you fail again. I will protect you. My heart, Wei Ying...
“I will take you back to the Jingshi with me.” Wei Ying...
He gently dragged his Wei Ying to his Jingshi. Wei Ying...
“Jingshi?”
“Mn.” Wei Ying...
WEI YING! Lan Wangji’s heart soars, My love...