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IV
It is after 10 p.m. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian are strolling down the castle’s garden. They are still in their Luigi and M(W)ario outfits, but they have lost the mustaches.
“Wei Ying, I still haven’t given you your birthday present,” Lan Wangji reminds him. He gently taps on Wei Wuxian's eyelids, “Close your eyes."
Wei Wuxian abides. Lan Wangji takes out the pouch from his pocket and takes out the necklace, "Happy birthday," he wishes while circling his hand around Wei Wuxian’s neck to secure the chain.
He can feel Wei Wuxian tremble when he opens his eyes to see the necklace. He reaches to take a glance at the dangling pendant that lies on the dimple of his throat.
"Lan Zhan… Is this the exact replica of the half heart as our invitation to Jiejie’s wedding?" he asks when he realizes the meaning of the pendant in the shape of a half broken heart covered with little red rubies.
Lan Wangji nods and takes out the other pair, the half heart that completes his, covered with white diamonds. He combines the two half hearts to create a full heart. “I won’t be complete without you, Wei Ying.”
Wei Wuxian chuckles, "It's my birthday, and you give yourself a present, too?"
"Mn. Giving you means giving myself too."
Wei Wuxian circles his arms around Lan Wangji's neck and kisses him softly, lying his head on his shoulder, clinging to him like he has lost all power to stand, "Thank you, Lan Zhan. I love it. I love you."
Lan Wangji rounds his hands around his waist to support him and kisses back, gently, "Forever, Wei Ying."
Wei Wuxian doesn't reply with ‘forever’ like he always does. They stay in that position for a long time. Lan Wangji swiftly moves them while humming ‘Wangxian'. He is reminded of their encounter 3.5 years ago, where they agreed to become secret lovers for a night, but made no promise to stay together forever.
What happened to Wei Ying? Has the talk this morning with his father still bothered him?
But I already pledged to be with him at all costs. Does he need more reassurance?
When he finishes singing their song for the second time, Wei Wuxian’s energy suddenly returns.
“Lan Zhan, let’s do our punishment for breaking you out of jail.”
“Mn.” Lan Wangji still follows the 24-hour birthday rule, although he doesn’t understand why Wei Wuxian wants to do their punishment at this time on his birthday. He lets Wei Wuxian drag him while running to the nearest toilet and asks the guard to clean it as punishment.
The guard looks confused, but he nods when he sees Lan Wangji’s stern stature and gives them the needed utensils to clean the toilet. It is already cleaned, so there is not much they can do.
“We have the right outfits for this job, Lan Zhan. I think we can manage to be wet!” he says while spraying him with water.
Lan Wangji smiles. This boy always manages to make things fun, even punishments like cleaning the toilet. Lan Wangji equips himself with another spray, and there they have their water battle. The clean toilet becomes flooded, and they basically get wet all over when Wei Wuxian starts to slide over the water and falls down, pulling Lan Wangji with him, ignoring all the repercussions that they may face.
His laughter is contagious, and it brings warmth and happiness to Lan Wangji’s heart. He loves this man so much. At this moment, when they are at their happiest, playing like six-year-olds, all problems forgotten, it is clear what he wants for their future.
Making a family with Wei Ying.
When they finally are able to dry the toilet, it is closed until 12 a.m. His birthday is almost over.
"Lan Zhan, I have a wonderful birthday. Thank you for spending it with me," he whispers under the moon, where they have their hands on each other's waists, water dripping from their clothes, being watched by Hanguang Jun and Yiling Patriarch. He leans in for a romantic, gentle kiss.
"Anything for Wei Ying," he answers after the kiss.
"Lan Zhan, it's almost 12. But can I ask you three things from you?"
Lan Wangji nods. He can never deny Wei Wuxian anything.
"Find warmth, the kind of warmth you feel when you are surrounded by people who love and appreciate you.
Pursue accomplishments, the kind that make a name for yourself—and be proud of it. Can you do those two things for me?"
Lan Wangji looks at him. He has bad feelings about this, but the things he asks for are wonderful. How can he say no?
"I will."
“My third…” He stops to take a deep breath. "Until then, let's walk our own ways."
He jerks, “What?”
"Lan Zhan, a break… That's all I ask so you will be able to do these things."
If he ever gets hit by lightning, he probably would not suffer less than this. It feels like someone takes his heart out and squeezes it. Pain. Hurt.
"Why, you want to break up with me?" he whimpers, showing his raw emotion for his boyfriend to see.
"I am not breaking up with you. It's just a break. I am your stumbling block. I make you stop growing. I caged you. I curse you. I don't want to be that person, Lan Zhan... please don't make me be that person who does all that to the person I love most," he pleads with dignity, not a single doubt in his voice.
"We can do that together. Stay beside me," he begs.
"Not 'we', Lan Zhan. 'You'. I have been beside you for a while now, and your focus is always on me. I have to scram for you to be a little selfish.”
“I will wait for you, never falter. My heart is yours, forever, Lan Zhan…,” he lets him go.
Lan Wangji loses all strength in his legs; he stumbles. His mind is cloudy. Should he hang on to him? Should he stubbornly insist that they stay together? But Wei Ying doesn't want to be with me.
Wei Wuxian holds his forearms and puts him gently down on the ground.
“Goodbye, Lan Zhan. I will count the days till we meet again,” he says so calmly, kissing the top of his head.
It is exactly 12 when he is gone, like Cinderella, leaving him until who knows when.
***
Lan Wangji does not leave his room, moping and crying and losing all will. He does not know how someone survives the agony, the torture, and the suffering. He feels like his heart is always aching and tears keep streaming down his face. The most hurtful thing is that he doubts Wei Wuxian’s love for him.
The fact that Untold Truths’ gives out a new article about their breakup makes him rip his hair out. Breaking News: Prince Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian break up. Both are up for grabs!
They are on a break! Not a breakup! It is temporary! Does Su Minshan not remember his threat?
He still remembered what he said: “I had broken your right arm. But if you keep writing lies, I’ll punch you until you have to swallow all your teeth.”
He might need reminding, Lan Wangji grits his teeth.
It is a week later when the pain becomes numb. It is then when it hits him that if Wei Wuxian really loves him as much as he believed, this will hurt him as well.
Love hurts. Hope is another vice, though.
He tries to message him, but he receives no reply. He goes to Wei Wuxian’s apartment and finds it empty. No sign of life.
He drops down again, and tears start to well up when he hears someone at the door. His hope lifts as he runs to the door and belatedly realizes that Wei Wuxian would have known the passcode.
He is face-to-face with Jiang Wanyin.
“Lan Wangji. It’s you,” Jiang Wanyin sounds disappointed.
“Where’s Wei Ying?” he snarls.
“He has been missing for almost a week. A day after his birthday, he showed up at Jiejie’s house, totally drunk and miserable. He kept on crying and saying sorry to you. What happened?”
“Where is he?” Wei Ying is also sad...
“I told you he is missing! He is gone. When the security told me that someone had entered his apartment, I ran here. I thought it was him.”
“He is gone?” Another bolt of lightning hits him.
“He doesn’t even answer his phone. We keep trying to contact him without result. The only messages we received were orders. 1, to bring all evidence against Jin Guangshan to Peacock. He wanted him to drop his charges against you for hitting him in return for this being a silent trial that would not be made public. 2, to leave all leadership of Stygian Hologram to A Ning and Mingjue Ge. He plans to be missing for a long time.”
Lan Wangji stiffens. He finds it hard to breathe. Wei Ying still protects him even when he is gone.
“You should know, it is not the first time he has been missing. There were dark moments in his life where he stayed away from us in the name of protecting us. That was why we assigned a bodyguard to watch over him. Although he made a promise not to disclose his whereabouts, he gives us a daily report on how A Xian’s doing.”
He looks at him expectantly, hoping for news about Wei Ying.
“Mo Xuanyu provides food for him, but he is barely eating. He is busy in his room doing something. But the fact that he has a project is a good sign. He is alright.” He pauses. “Do you want me to stay with you?” he asks awkwardly.
Lan Wangji shakes his head. He just wants to be left alone to think.
Right after Jiang Wanyin leaves, he walks to sit at the dining table.
He sees it then, an ancient bamboo paper holder with a carving: Two forces, one light and the other dark, one a chief cultivator of the four righteous sects, the other a demonic cultivator who raises dead armies. Two eternal soulmates, together in harmony, a melody, an unbreakable bond.
Lan Wangji opens it carefully and unrolls the scroll inside. A picture of two ancient figures, with his and Wei Wuxian’s faces, playing a guqin and a dizi. In the painting, both men don’t look at each other, but he can feel love emanating from their bodies. Their names make his heart clench. Hanguang Jun and Yiling Patriarch.
And below it, a post-it note in Wei Wuxian’s scrawled handwriting.
I still believe in us.
***
It breaks him to lose Wei Wuxian, but his brother gave him a theme song to whip him into working toward his goal: After Tonight by Reo Speedwagon.
Staring up at the moonlight
Looking up at the stars
I'm alone and I just want to be with you
But I don't know where you are
Maybe I took you for granted
So blind, I let your love slip away
Now I'm missing you so much I can't stand it
Please believe me when I say,
After tonight, I never will be the same again
This time I'm sure that nothing means more
Than giving you all the love I can
Anticipating the moment
When I can make love with you again
Patience is a virtue I'm finding
Very hard to understand
After tonight I promise, I'm gonna be a better man
Just hold me tight, and I'll be alright
After tonight
He is showing Wei Wuxian all his love by doing his best to fulfill his wishes for him. Spending all this time with his love, he knows what he wants to do with his life.
Teaching the kids with heart.
Just like Wei Ying.
He starts working on the concept of his after school program with the help of Luo Qingyang. This project will be cross-subsidized; the rich will pay more and the poor will pay less. He messages Wei Wuxian about this. It is the first time after that night that he reaches out to him. He remembers that Jiang Wanting said he didn't get a reply. So he waits with his heart racing, trying to reduce his anticipation.
But Wei Wuxian replies! He replies with his pros and cons, and they start discussions.
He uses his connection as a prince to enlist the help of the experts in their fields: sports, arts, cuisine, and the list keeps going. He works so hard on the curriculum while Luo Qingyang helps with the operations, such as renting the place, managing the finances, and all admin work.
Wei Wuxian praises him and continues to support him through his messages.
He starts to have a different goal in his life, which is to build a better future for these children. He also teaches composing, playing the piano, and fencing. It takes time, of course, to build this dream and it is hard work. He is tired but happy and misses Wei Wuxian very much. It only makes him work harder, though, to shorten the time until they meet again.
He still messages him every day, telling him about his plans and his day, but they never talk about feelings. When he asks about Wei Wuxian's day, he receives one kaomoji reply. One. Cute kaomoji. Never the same. He keeps track. It is enough. He needs to focus on his new dream anyway. Wei Wuxian is content with sharing only his brain and encouragement. That should be enough for him, too.
Who is he kidding? He misses him so much.
***
Lan Wangji sneaks into the Stygian Hologram annual anniversary party. All employees and their families are there. Too crowded. Nobody will notice him wearing a cap and shirt.
He sees Wei Wuxian on the stage, opening the party. He jokes as usual and reminisces about the day he and Wen Ning decided to start Stygian Hologram when they were drinking that night on their graduation day.
After that, Wei Wuxian mingles, talking animatedly with his coworkers.
Seeing him makes his stomach flutter. It feels weird, half of him wants to run to him, and the other part wants to run away because he doubts Wei Wuxian's love for him.
So this is how it feels to be pining over him.
Wei Wuxian looks in his direction, but Lan Wangji hides his face.
It is enough to see him. He will go now. It is obvious he is not brave enough to confront his feelings.
But his feet betray him.
They go to where Wei Wuxian is. He almost bumps into him but changes his direction at the last minute.
He heads out and waits for his car in the dim light near the entrance.
It is raining. He sighs. Even the weather understands his cloudy feelings.
Suddenly someone crashes into his back, hugging him from behind, crossing his arms, and putting his hands inside his jeans' front pockets.
He knows this special hug.
He reaches to stroke the crossed arms that rest on his stomach and leans back his head, smelling this man he so misses, basking in his warmth.
"Hurry up, Lan Zhan. I almost can't bear this." He can feel his hot breath on his shoulder.
He nods, and Wei Wuxian squeezes him with him before letting go.
Lan Wangji can feel the cold wind attacking his body.
He is gone.
But then, another crash, fingers stumble around his neck and seem satisfied when they find his necklace.
"One more time."
Then the arms envelope his neck, suffocating Lan Wangji, yet he gives in to that pain.
It lasts shorter this time.
When Lan Wangji looks back, he is nowhere to be seen.
It's enough.
Those hugs, in the dark.
His treasure.
***
It is New Year's Eve and 2 weeks since he met Wei Wuxian in the office party. Not much has moved at his after-school program. Mostly teaching and finding new tutors. Lan Wangji is in need of a boost.
Lan Xichen has indicated that he is going to Nie Huaisang's New Year's Party for Singles.
Will Wei Ying be there?
He takes his chance and shows up at Nie Huaisang's party.
"Catch this!" Nie Huaisang says, throwing him a coin when he enters the premises at 11 p.m.
He does, and when he opens his palm, it is a 'tail'.
"That means your hands will be tied."
"What?" He pulls away.
"This is the rule of the party. If you draw tail, your hands will be tied. If you draw head, you will be blindfolded. The blind will use their hands to help the cripple, and vice versa.
At 12, they should be with someone and kiss the old year away, and hopefully they will become a couple!"
Lan Wangji gives up and lets Nie Huaisang tie his hands. Wei Ying might be here, and if he has to have his hands tied, then so be it. It is Nie Huaisang's party anyway, he should have known there would be a gimmick.
"What did my brother draw?" He may be able to lean on him.
"I am not here to babysit my baby brother," Lan Xichen says, coming from behind Nie Huaisang with his hands tied. "I am here to mingle and party!" He grins.
"Is Wei Ying here?" He asks. He hates the evidence of hope in his tone.
"Last time I saw him was two months ago, Lan Wangji. He is swallowed by the earth," Nie Huaisang answers. "He'll show up when he is ready."
"I am leaving then. Free my hands," he orders Now Huaisang.
Nie Huaisang shakes his head. "Nobody can leave until the new year. Try to enjoy the party. There's plenty of drink and food here. Find someone to feed you."
Lan Wangji sighs. He peeks inside. Half of the people are blindfolded, and the other half have their hands tied. Chaos and loudness. People bumping into each other, hands grabbing at all surfaces, decent and indecent. laughter and squeals.
He opts to wait in the empty garden, away from the crowds, moping on New Year's Eve about his missing boyfriend.
At least people with blindfolds cannot see him. The downfall of being considered 'single' after Wei Wuxian is gone is the constant flirting from boys now that they know he is capable of love. What they don't know is that he can only love one person, and that person is gone.
Lan Wangji leans back on the garden chair and closes his eyes. Maybe he can sleep the new year away. It is past his bedtime anyway.
He has truly been asleep for a while when he feels something against his eyes. His body tenses. Somebody is blindfolding him.
"The rule is for you to pick up a partner for the New Year's kiss. I guess I need to punish you for breaking the rule," whispers in his ear.
Wei Ying.
His heart thumps.
"Are you single?" He asks when he sits on his lap, facing him. Lan Wangji can feel his breath on his face.
Damn, Wei Ying. This is so sexy. Only you can pull a stunt like this.
"I am on a break."
"So am I allowed to kiss you? I know you can't see me, but I am very good looking, you know."
"My boyfriend is the most handsome, but he is not here. Feel free to do what you want with my lips and mouth."
"Ah, he is a fool. He doesn't know how to cherish this celestial being."
Lan Wangji can almost imagine Wei Wuxian's smirks. He feels him take his tied hands and put them behind his neck. "Then you are all mine."
They kiss.
Oh, how he misses this.
Time stops. The way their mouths and tongues dance, the ways his lips taste, his scent he misses so much, his... mine .
The kiss becomes hotter by the minute, and his sitting on his manhood really doesn't help. The way his body responds to his lover, the way his heart beats too fast, the way he bares open his raw feelings.
"Lan Zhan… Lan Zhan … I miss you," he moans, breaking his disguise.
"Come back, Wei Ying."
"Not time yet."
"When?"
"One day, one day when you finish all I requested, I'll be standing before you. Then I'll ask you to marry me," he whispers in his ear. A similar promise like the one he made all those years ago.
"Then tonight I am your secret lover," he breathes, replying to his promise with the same answer he gave then.
“Of course you are. Imagine my surprise when Nie Xiong messaged me that my boyfriend was at the single New Year’s party. I had to come and take my claim on the hottest person there.”
“Mn. Claim me, Wei Ying.”
Wei Wuxian takes the liberty to claim his neck and his throat, putting his necklace in his mouth so it is wet against Lan Wangji's skin. “I can understand your perverted obsession with kissing me with my face covered and my hands tied now. Your neck looks very enticing.”
They didn't do much but kiss for hours.
When the party ends, Wei Wuxian is gone. Again.
Lan Xichen finds him on the garden chair, still blindfolded and with his hands tied, wearing a smile and swollen lips.
"Happy New Year, Wangji. I can see you had fun," his brother teases, probably not knowing Lan Wangji has been kissed senselessly by his own boyfriend.
"I did."
After all, Wei Ying left with a promise. And he has never broken a promise before.
***
Lan Wangji has been working harder and longer hours. His booster worked well.
On the trial period before the new year, he started with free enrollment for only 100 children (the lucky kids under the Stygian Hologram program), and he gets to spend time with Wen Yuan, who takes all of his classes, and Jingyi and Zizhen, who take his fencing class. Jin Ling is still too young for his classes, but he always takes time to greet him when he comes to the after-school program.
It has been going so well that he has hoped to create a grand performance. He knows it is a high ambition. Still, working toward a goal so big has its own perks, and he likes the dedication, the thinking, and the hard work that follow it.
But secretly, he has been hoping for Wei Wuxian to show up again. Maybe if he wishes for his birthday, although he doesn't dare voice it in his daily message to him. He is afraid of rejection and how it would affect him.
That is why he is still awake at 11.59 p.m. tonight, a minute before his birthday, hoping, yearning for Wei Wuxian. He is disheartened when nothing happens at 0:00 or a minute later or a few minutes later. Not even a birthday message.
Disappointment and sadness envelope him. He has dared himself to hope. He scolds himself and puts his phone down. He will sleep this off.
It is then that his phone rings. It doesn't take him a second to answer.
"Happy birthday, Lan Zhan! Sorry, I am late!" He sounds like he is out of breath.
"Wei Ying, where are you? Are you okay?" He can't help but worry.
"Ahahahahaha," he laughs. This laugh he misses so much. "You see… I am doing this punishment, and I forgot about the time. Well, not really... It took a while to enlist your brother's help to convince the guard that I haven't done anything wrong, although I would soon, and when finally he relented, time was at essence. I worked as fast as I could, but now I cannot find the ladder," he keeps on babbling.
Yet Lan Wangji knows.
He runs downstairs, and he finds him there, talking on the phone. He freezes.
Wei Wuxian sees him and immediately sprints toward him.
Lan Wangji opens his arms. He doesn't have time to prepare for the hard impact of their bodies colliding, but he welcomes the pain. Such a small price to pay.
He is showered with kisses as he lifts Wei Wuxian up. Wei Wuxian wraps his legs around him and cups his face, kissing and kissing and kissing him.
"Forgive me, Lan Zhan…," he says between kisses. ”I cannot stay away on your birthday…”
"You are forgiven," he answers breathlessly.
"Shall we go to your room?" His voice is hoarse with need, and his eyes are filled with intent.
"You're staying?"
"I am your slave for the next 24 hours. We are taking a break out of our break,” he grins.
"Mn. I'd like that."
"Let me down. I'll walk,” he squirms.
"No,” he denies him this time.
"Ahahahahaha.. do whatever you want then. I had your brother clear us up. He said it's his birthday gift for you. I am telling you that Xichen Ge is stingy. For my birthday, he gave me clearance to kidnap you, and he got you a license for me to break in."
"Wei Ying, I want nothing else. I want only you. He gave me the best present."
Wei Ying looks shy, and he finds it really cute. He hides his face in the crook of his shoulder as he holds him upstairs toward his room. He feels light and small. Jiang Wanyin is right that he probably doesn't eat well in his isolation. That will be a good objective—to work faster and harder to be together.
He stops thinking when they reach his room. For the first time in 3 months, they roll into bed together, not a single thread between them, their couple necklaces are the only decoration on them. They make love to each other, tasting each other's flesh.
It is awesome , to say the least.
It's heartfelt.
It is heavenly.
***
It is 7 am, and he is still wrapped around his lover's sleeping form. He doesn't really mind. After all, it is his birthday.
He enjoys the view of his shining boy—his full, swollen lips, his beautiful eyes, his sharp nose, his black undereyes, his hollow cheeks, and the creases on his forehead.
It has taken a toll on him, too, being separated from him.
He kisses every good and bad feature, and it wakes him up.
Ahhh, my boyfriend's arms are the best place to sleep," a sunny smile greets him.
"Have you been sleeping well?" he asks fondly, caressing the creases on his forehead.
"I have been sleeping... barely."
He gives him a look, and Wei Wuxian smiles. "I was working on a project for 2 months. It's done, though."
"Were you alone?"
"A-Yu was with me. Do you remember him? Sailor Moon?"
Lan Wangji burns with jealousy.
"Calm down, Lan Zhan. He thinks I am a ghost. He said all I did was sleep-project-eat-repeat."
"No interaction at all?" he interrogates.
Wei Wuxian kisses him. "You are so adorable when you are jealous, Sweetheart. A-Yu is a spy assigned to take care of me. Jiejie somehow knew I was going to isolate. A-Yu reports my well-being to them but refuses to disclose anything else. He provides food for me and reminds me to sleep. We talk sometimes, too. Well, he mostly listens when I whine about how much I miss you or when I brag about how good you are. He thinks I am stupid, you know… hahahaha… because I left you when I love you so much."
"Then come back," he persuades him with pecks, all jealousy gone.
"I can't count this as a birthday request."
Lan Wangji pretends to pout.
Wei Wuxian beams at him. "I'll be here for the day. Let's just focus on that, Love."
So that's what they focus on. Lan Wangji is given a surprise birthday party once he enters the after school building. A first. It moves his heart. There are balloons, cakes, and plenty of food brought by the teachers. When the children arrive, they bring him gifts, including drawings, handmade stuff, and simple gifts.
Since Wei Wuxian is there today, they have a special coding class where he conducts his famous mission coding. Lan Wangji is freed from teaching that day, and instead he is being paraded from class to class, and the children sing him happy birthday and hug him, clinging to his forearms and legs.
This is the warmth that Wei Wuxian is talking about.
He understands now.
***
Lan Wangji has just finished being paraded in the last class. The class is dismissed and almost empty when he sees Wei Wuxian leaning on the door frame, being so charming. His eyes are full of love and pride, and he has never been more handsome.
“Happy?” his boyfriend asks, walking slowly toward him.
“Mn,” he says, opening one arm to welcome him.
"You have changed, Prince Lan Wangji. You are more confident in handling this. You make the right decisions almost all the time, and even when you are wrong, you learn from it. You are truly great. I am so very proud of you."
Lan Wangji feels like he is in the seventh heaven, getting a compliment from someone who is most important to him.
“I see you finished one job. You found the warmth.”
“What do I get?” he asks as his lover slides into his arm.
“What do you want?” He winces, "I see that now you are good at negotiating."
“A big rock on my engagement ring.”
Wei Wuxian smiles. “I must work hard for it. I am no longer a CEO.”
Lan Wangji raises an eyebrow.
“It is never for me, being the head. I switched places with Wen Ning after the annual anniversary. I will be the head of technology. It is the creative work behind it that excites me. I am coming back to it. This time for myself really puts perspective on what I want as well.”
“Ah, so I am not getting a CEO husband and the big rock on my finger?” he quips.
“Nah, I am still the biggest shareholder of Stygian Hologram.”
“I’ll be marrying rich then?”
“You will have a comfortable life. I will take care of you and not let you suffer.”
Lan Wangji likes this banter about their future. He likes him in his arms as well, for the familiarity, the warmth, and the feelings it brings.
“You will not let me suffer later on in life, but you are making me suffer now,” he sulks.
“How can I ease your pain, Sweetheart?” He leans in to kiss him, but he gets cut by four boys running and stumbling over them.
“Wangji Gege! Happy birthday again! We have a special gift for you!” Wen Yuan shouts.
“I told you to give me 10 minutes,” Wei Wuxian chides them.
“It is already 10 minutes!” Jingyi chides him back.
Lan Wangji smiles, “What gift?”
“A performance!” Zizhen answers.
Wen Yuan puts his keyboard down and plugs it in. Jingyi and Zizhen take out their fencing swords, and Jin Ling clears his throat.
A Yuan plays Happy Birthday with his keyboard, and he and Jin Ling sing while Jingyi and Zizhen dance using the fencing stands and styles. When the performance is over, he and Wei Wuxian clap so hard that their hands are red. The kids beam with pride.
Those happy expressions, from the kids and from his beloved, are his light. He needs it now that he has it.
He intends to keep it forever.
***
That night, after dinner, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji go to his apartment, and he is welcomed by new posters on the wall. No longer his big poster there, but six different charcoal drawings in a style he really likes.
The first drawing is of an 11-year-old him and little Wei Wuxian with his head inside a paper bag, sitting on his mother’s grave.
The second is of 15 year old him and Wei Wuxian with his scarf covering half his face next to the pond, surrounded by Hanguang Jun, Yiling Patriarch, and Xuan Wu.
The third is of him and Wei Wuxian fighting in a fencing tournament when they were 18.
The fourth is of him waiting on Wei Wuxian to fall asleep on that bench near the toilet, a day after Wei Wuxian’s 21st birthday.
The fifth is them in their masquerades, dancing under the moonlight almost 4 years ago.
And the last one is him bestowing a medal on Wei Wuxian where they stand tall together, eyes full of love.
“My birthday gift to you. It took me more than 2 months to finish all of them,” he whispers. “These are the best ones of my efforts. I hope you like them.”
This thoughtful gift of their story over the past 16 years, captures all the feelings they shared on those days. To think that once he thought he didn’t love him enough, he left him.
He cries, putting his head on his lover’s chest.
“Happy birthday, Lan Zhan, my Wangji,” he strokes his hair.
“I love you so much, Wei Ying,” he sobs, “So so much…. Thank you for loving me, too...”
***
Wei Wuxian's alarm rings at 12 a.m., playing a barely heard 'First Love'.
You will always gonna be the one
And you should know
How I wish I could have never let you go
Come into my life again
Oh, don't say no
You will always gonna be the one in my life
So true, I believe I can never find
Somebody like you
my first love
The fact that Wei Wuxian doesn't turn it off means that he wants Lan Wangji to hear that lyric. He is touched.
My first love.
Instead, Wei Wuxian snuggles closer, positioning himself deeper into Lan Wangji's embrace. Lan Wangji puts his hands behind his back to pull him even closer.
"Lan Zhan, can I stay a bit longer?" Wei Wuxian mumbles.
Stay forever …
"Mn," he answers instead.
It is a few minutes before 5 a.m. when Wei Wuxian finally leaves.
But Lan Wangji lets him, pretending he doesn’t notice him hovering over him and giving him one last kiss on the top of his head.
One day , he thinks, one more thing to do.
Soon.
***
Bonus:
At exactly 6.55 am, Su Minshan arrives at the castle with flowers. A monstrous 'Happy Birthday, Gorgeous' message is visible in the bouquet. Lan Wangji always goes to his new office at exactly 7 a.m.
He has to wait because today Lan Wangji breaks his habit.
In fact, he has to wait a long time because Lan Wangji comes out at 8:30. That means he has been sitting in the lobby like an idiot for one and a half hours.
It is worth it, because Lan Wangji gets out with a small smile on his lips as each castle employee greets him 'Happy Birthday'. He must have been in a good mood.
"Your Highness, happy birthday," he wishes, showing his practiced smile and offering the bouquet.
But Lan Wangji ignores him and keeps walking.
Su She chases after him. "For you, My Prince," he again offers his big bouquet.
But the prince dismisses him easily. "You are not qualified to talk to me."
Su She's jaw dropped.
"Don't show him your teeth. Aren't you afraid he is going to punch you in the mouth? You still need your teeth." He hears someone say behind him.
He turns around to see the biggest, stupidest grin on Wei Wuxian's face.
"You!"
"The witch is back!" he shows his evil laugh.
"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji chides him softly, reaching for his small waist that Su She so envies. How can someone have that body and that face? He is truly an alien!
"Don't waste your time. We have somewhere to go. What do you want for breakfast?" Lan Wangji asks his boyfriend or whatever status he is holding right now.
"Breakfast? I just had you for breakfast. I am full."
That is gross.
"Wei Ying," he chastises again tenderly.
"Ah, do I have to remind you again, Su She? The last article you wrote about us was still bogus. You got to close your mouth at all times. Only I am allowed to open my mouth in front of my Sweetheart."
He does it then, opening his mouth and Lan Wangji claims it so quickly that it makes him want to throw up.
He walks away crying, hiding behind his flowers.
Just you wait, Wei Wuxian!