Chapter Text
"Father, where is Dad?" Lan Sizhui asks.
Lan Zhan is reading a book about jokes. A gift from Wei Ying. Well, it's not really a gift, he just happened to have this book on him. But Lan Zhan took it anyway. He loves that he reads books now and not complaint letters for the Chief Cultivator.
He raises his face from the book to answer their son. "In Caiyi Town with the Jiangs and the Wens."
Sizhui nods. "Right, it is their last day here."
But the boy looks confused, so he offers his help. "What do you need, Sizhui?"
He shakes his head. "I don't need anything, Father. There is a guest for Dad."
"A guest?" It piques his interest.
"Yeah. He is weird. He said his name was Lan. When I asked about the absence of his forehead ribbon, he changed it to Wei... He looks suspicious."
Lan Zhan stands up. This is not okay. He just got Wei Ying back, and already a suspicious liar is looking for him. He will not jeopardize their newly established relationship.
"Where is he?" He asks, tone seep.
"He is in the guest hall."
"Mn." Lan Zhan cannot run, but that doesn't mean he can't walk fast.
Sizhui is trailing after him, half running to catch up with his speed. "Father, are you sure you want to meet him?"
He halts his steps, turning to look at Sizhui behind him. "Should I not?"
Sizhui seems a bit edgy.
"Tell me," Lan Zhan speaks softly to his son.
"It's just that... you don't have power, and he doesn't seem... safe."
"Sizhui, are you worried about me?" Lan Zhan teases. After getting his memory back, he is reminded that in their previous life, he was good at imitating his husband's teasing.
"I just think... I should join you."
Lan Zhan is touched by the protection his 11-year-old son offered. He reaches to touch his crown to show his affection, another thing he copied from Wei Ying. "I will be fine."
He raises his eyebrow—that's another thing Sizhui learns from his dad. "Are you sure?"
He smiles. "Just because I don't have a golden core doesn't mean I can't beat you."
Wow, I really start to sound like Wei Ying.
Sizhui nods, hiding his grin. "Call me when you need me, Father."
"Mn." Lan Zhan messes his hair—he couldn't resist the urge—and smiles when Sizhui pouts.
***
"Hanguang-Jun…" the guest bows when Lan Zhan enters the guest hall. He fidgets a lot while bowing.
Sizhui is right. He is suspicious.
He is also young and handsome. Lan Zhan feels something in the pit of his stomach that is not agreeable.
"My name is La… We-Wei … Jin and I am here for .. Xian-Ge.. I mean.. Master Wei Wuxian."
"Yes, please take a seat. Wei Ying is out, but he will be back soon." He put emphasis on the familiar way he calls his husband's name.
"I-I can wait alone.. or outside.... I-I don't want to trouble Hanguang-Jun," he stutters.
How is this man related to Wei Ying?
"Wei Ying's guest is my guest." He says. This man must not have known about his relationship with Wei Ying.
"Thank you for… the hospitality, Hanguang-Jun," he says, bowing, but it appears like he doesn't want to be there.
Lan Zhan suspects that this young man is not telling the truth. He must be up to something.
Yet he is confident he can still beat him without needing a golden core. This man's cultivation is barely higher than Sizhui.
The problem is that he wants to know so much about this young man that it bothers him. He takes his book out and reads again, trying to concentrate.
From time to time, he sneaks a glance at the young man. He is still fidgeting, sometimes biting his nails. His posture is immaculate, though. Maybe it is a nerve. He is not served tea and does not ask for it. He just sits there, like he is being judged.
Well, he is being judged by the great Hanguang-Jun. He should be nervous.
An hour later, Wei Ying runs into the guest hall.
"Lan Zhan! I heard I have a guest here, and you've been kind enough to wait with him." He beams at Lan Zhan as he skids in front of the hall entrance.
"Wei Ying, no running in Cloud Recesses," he chides lovingly. This man really brings warmth to this place.
"Haha Lan Zhan, be nice... Eh A-Yu!"
Lan Zhan is alarmed. Wait didn't he say his name was Wei Jin?
"Xian-Gege," he stands. Relief floods his face.
Wei Ying immediately hugs him. Lan Zhan boils with jealousy.
He should've bowed to Wei Ying! Why does he hug him back?
"A-Yu. You must miss me! How do you know I am here?"
He misses him? At least Wei Ying did not say he missed him back. He wouldn't have time to miss anyone with his husband by his side, using up all his time and energy.
"Xian-Gege… You always hang outside every Discussion Conference. I know you too well." A-Yu says as he sit back down.
Wei Ying nods approvingly. "That is true. But how can you guess I am inside Cloud Recesses and not some inn?"
"I asked around for Little Apple. They said a Lan brought her here."
"Smart!! I taught you well!"
A-Yu's smile brightens. He has a great smile.
Lan Zhan clears his throat.
Wei Ying snaps his head to look at him. "Ah hahahaha… How long have you been accompanying him, Lan Zhan?"
"An hour."
He grins. "You must be well acquainted now!"
Lan Zhan sees the secret shake that A-Yu tries to signal Wei Ying. It seems private.
How could this man think he could just do that in front of Wei Ying's husband? It is condescending! Who does he think he is? I know Wei Ying better!
"Or not." Wei Ying interprets A-Yu’s signal.
Who is this man? Why is he so comfortable around Wei Ying that they have a secret language? I will just glare at him until he stops being so near to Wei Ying.
Wei Ying seems to detect his irritation. He takes a seat beside Lan Zhan, while A-Yu sits in front of them. He starts flipping teacups over and pouring tea into them.
"So this is…" Wei Ying scans A-Yu again, trying to find a clue.
"Wei Jin," Lan Zhan provides.
"Yes. Hahahaha.. you know how bad my memory is, Lan Zhan." He rubs his thigh under the table.
Lan Zhan takes his hand, intertwines their fingers, and puts them on the table. So A-Yu can see.
Wei Ying is mine!
A-Yu's eyes widened. He seems surprised to see their linked hands and embarrassed enough that he shifts his glance to the wall behind them.
Lan Zhan feels he wins this one. He probably has one of the smug smirks that Wei Ying is so fond of.
Somehow Wei Ying seems nervous, "A-Yu is my….” he pauses, “Didi?"
Great! He does try-and-error now. How big of a secret is this?
"Wei Ying, lying is forbidden in Cloud Recesses."
His eyes widened. "I am not!"
Lan Zhan stares at his eyes, challenging him to lie more. He is becoming more upset by the minute.
Now, he is also jittery. "It's just hard to explain my relationship with A-Yu."
"Wei Jin is not his name." It's a statement, not a question.
He gulps before answering. "No… it's not… It is more complicated than that."
Lan Zhan waits for more explanation.
Wei Ying leans in to whisper in his ear. "Can we go to the Jingshi?"
He wants to do 'it' to avoid talking about this????
Lan Zhan will use this opportunity. He asks louder, "What for?"
Say it in front of A-Yu so he knows you belong to me; his brain is willing Wei Ying now.
He doesn't get the clue. The signaling doesn't work between them. It saddens Lan Zhan.
"Lan Zhan, come on. I want to have an adult conversation with you," Wei Ying pleads. That makes him feel better.
Take that, A-Yu! Adult conversation. With me! He gives the young man a side glance.
"We'll ask Sizhui to accompany him."
"Good idea, Lan Zhan. Hurry!" Wei Ying stands up, already pulling Lan Zhan to get up.
Hurry it is, then. They do the speediest walking. Running is prohibited in Cloud Recesses.
***
When they reach the Jingshi, Lan Zhan pulls him until Wei Ying falls into his arms and starts claiming his luscious lips. Wei Ying seems to enjoy the kissing until he pushes Lan Zhan’s face with his palm.
“Wait, wait, Lan Zhan, wait!”
Lan Zhan draws nearer to him again, but Wei Ying pushes his face even further.
He grunts, “Lan Zhan, I said I wanted to talk.”
“This is not the ‘adult conversation’ you want?” Lan Zhan is confused.
His jaw drops, but he quickly denies it. “No… no, no, no, no! So shameless, Lan Zhan!"
Lan Zhan steps back but keeps his hands on his husband's waist. He is kind of embarrassed. He can feel his ears getting warm.
Wei Ying peeps at Lan Zhan guiltily. “Let’s talk. After this, you can do whatever you want to me.”
“Mn.”
Does he mean I can ‘do’ whatever, as in sex, or as in killing him out because he likes another?
He becomes really afraid of their talk.
“You like A-Yu," he accuses. His heart drops to his stomach.
“Yes, of course.… A-Yu has helped me before. I met him around 6 years ago, and he started following me. He refused to go home to his family. He and I… I mean, I do owe him..
And he is nice. I like him... but that’s not the point….” Wei Ying stops. He is trying to rephrase what he was going to say.
Lan Zhan's breath hitches. He thinks his heart stops pumping. Will it harm him when he doesn’t have a golden core?
But he needs Wei Ying to clarify his rambling. “You like him? So you live together?”
“Yes! That’s it!”
Why did he agree to it so easily? Did he lie again? Did he hide something more? Did he think that living together with another man is fine? Did he take me for granted?
Even I, am not that strong.
“Lan Zhan, why-why are you so pale?” Wei Ying is panicked.
“Am I?” he answers dejectedly.
The man steps into his private space, caressing his cheek with his knuckles. “I mean, okay, I get it. I am wrong… Forgive me, Lan Zhan, please, please don't be angry at me.”
He knows Wei Ying does not need an answer. Lan Zhan will always forgive him, no matter how many mistakes he makes or how dire his mistakes are.
He waits for the next sentence with bated breath.
Wei Ying inhales deeply before he explains. His hand moves to Lan Zhan's nape, making light circles on his skin there. Lan Zhan knows he is trying to lessen the impact of what he is going to say, and that worries Lan Zhan.
“When A-Yu needed a courtesy name, I gave him your last name and the name that has been our inside joke. He is Lan Rujin.”
Lan Zhan’s eyes widened. “What?”
Wei Ying panics. “Sorry, sorry, Lan Zhan. I apologize… but he refused to use his real family name. You know, because of the abusive family thing. However, I think that name suits him. He is a Jin, so he can still have 'Jin’ in his name. Of course, with how bad my reputation was, he couldn't use mine.
And I-I was kinda daydreaming that he could be a Lan… like he is ours." Wei Ying is babbling.
Lan Zhan is more confused.
What is he trying to say? He named him Lan Rujin so he can be with a Lan who is not me? How does this make sense at all?
Has Wei Ying lost his mind when he missed me? He doesn't look like a Lan! I am more gorgeous than him!
Seeing the confusion on his face, Wei Yong continues. “I don't know how to describe A-Yu. I think of him as a son, but he refuses to become my son because he is only 9 years younger than me.”
Lan Zhan is quiet. He tries to combine all the facts in his head.
- A-Yu is 9 years younger than Wei Ying, which means he is only 16. So there is no way that he and Wei Ying are together.
- He is a Jin from an abusive family.
- Wei Ying owes him, so he took him under his wing to protect him.
“He is Mo Xuanyu." He finally realizes.
Wei Ying nods; he appears sheepish.
“That’s the big reveal?”
Unbelievable! All this angst for this stupid thing?
Wei Ying is looking at him weirdly. “And that I named him Lan Rujin.”
That's it? He opens his mouth and closes it again.
“What do you think I have been talking about?” Wei Ying's face changes when it clicks.
“You think he is my young secret lover, don’t you?” He scrutinizes him; he is pinching his nape now.
Lan Zhan winces. He feels his ears blush. At least it means that the blood circulation is back on; it is good to know he is not going to die.
“Lan Zhan! I cannot believe you! He is 16!!!”
“He looks 20,” he mumbles while changing his focus to stare at his hands on Wei Ying's waist.
“Lan Zhan! Don’t you dare look away! And here I felt guilty because I named him after you without permission.”
Lan Zhan now focuses on the wall behind Wei Ying.
Wei Ying takes over his face, cradling it with both his hands, forcing him to look at him.
“Admit you are wrong!”
Lan Zhan finally looks at him. He has to admit that the fact that Wei Ying adopted another son and named him after himself makes him happy. He can also see that Wei Ying is also delighted, his silver eyes twinkling with joy.
“I am wrong," he admits, pulling Wei Ying closer. "And I like the name, he says, then lurches forward until Wei Ying is pressed up against him.
Wei Ying yelps, but he doesn't care. He can now do whatever he wants to him, Wei Ying promised.
And he is not jealous anymore.