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“A-Zhan, baobei, what should we do for your birthday next week? It’s the end of the school semester too, shouldn’t we do something special to celebrate?” His mother asks as she finishes off her tea.
She, Lan Wangji, and Lan Xichen are at their favorite teahouse in her neighborhood, where they go on Sundays for lunch before Lan Wangji has to head back up the mountain to Cloud Recesses Cultivation Academy.
“We do not need to do anything special,” Lan Wangji says as he stands, securing Bichen’s strap over his shoulder.
“Ge will be here all weekend with us, so that’s enough to make it special,” Lan Wangji adds.
Ever since starting university in Shanghai, Lan Xichen has been kept busy. When he is not focusing on school he is out leading his fellow Lan disciples on night hunts all around Shanghai or Jiangsu province. Lan Xichen always tries his best to spend time with Lan Wangji when he can but his weekends are usually spent away from home nowadays.
Lan Xichen just smiles at him now as they make their way out of the restaurant. He was able to join Lan Wangji and his mother for lunch today before he heads off for another night hunt nearby.
Lan Wangji would have liked to join him but he has to revise for his remaining exams. All that’s left are his cultivation electives and the much dreaded calculus exam. He is confident in every subject except this one, so he has to spend extra time on it.
He spent yesterday revising his notes while sitting behind the counter at his mother’s flower shop and later that evening his mother helped him go through his sword forms. While his mother isn’t a practicing cultivator anymore, she was still top of her class.
She also kindly offered to help him with his math review but took one look at the page and made a quick excuse to leave. Lan Wangji wishes he could do the same.
“How about a movie? Is there anything you’d want to see?” His mother asks, still fixated on possible birthday activities.
Lan Wangji just shakes his head.
If he was going to do anything for his birthday, he would like to go night hunting.The last few times have been quite rewarding. His brother paired him with Wei Ying, which he knows is intentional.
Last time, his brother had even treated the juniors to dinner for a job well done. Wei Ying had sat next to him, chatting away the entire time while Lan Wangji ate silently next to him. Lan Wangji had felt particularly smug that Wei Ying had eschewed sitting with his friends Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang to sit next to him instead.
The truth is that going night hunting is one of the only times Lan Wangji has an excuse to spend time with Wei Ying outside of an academic setting. Additionally, with the semester coming to a close, Lan Wangji will not see Wei Ying again until he returns for the new semester in March…so getting one last chance to go night hunting with Wei Ying would be ideal.
“We could go ice skating! A-Zhan, you always used to love going skating with me!” His mother enthuses.
“Mama, I’m not six anymore,” Lan Wangji complains but as her face drops and Lan Wangji immediately rushes to assuage her.
“I do not mind ice skating, I would just rather do something else,” he insists.
“Hm,” she considers. “Well what are some cool things that seventeen years olds do, then?”
Lan Wangji sighs resignedly, shaking his head at her teasing inflection. He’s brought this upon himself.
Sure enough, Lan Xichen laughs with delight.
“Well, I know many of Wangji’s classmates like to go to the mall and the arcade. Or the skate park nearby… I think Wei Wuxian likes to go there, right, Wangji?” Lan Xichen asks. His face looks as serene as it usually does, only someone like Lan Wangji can detect his devious intent.
“Ohoho, yes, I’ve heard of this boy… The one who's been in detention all semester for scandalizing Qiren,” their mother laughs. “I applaud him, your uncle could do with some scandalizing now and again.”
Lan Xichen just chuckles, “Yes, he is the only one in the program with as much raw talent as Wangji so Shufu has to endure it. He has some unconventional opinions but is very bright. He and Wangji did well the other week, when I chaperoned their class on a night hunt on Taihu Lake…”
Lan Wangji glares at the two of them before ducking into the ink and stationery shop he likes, avoiding the way his brother and mother gossip about Wei Ying behind him.
The two of them are humiliatingly aware of his crush and are always trying to think of subtle ways to bring him up.
They never quite succeed.
Later as they walk back to their mother’s, Lan Wangji is pleased with his haul from the stationery store. He’s stocked up on ink and replaced his calligraphy brush. Lan Xichen even insisted on buying Lan Wangji the rabbit themed notebook and stationery set they had out in honor of the Lunar New Year, as an early birthday gift.
He and Lan Xichen drop their mother off behind her shop, Gentian House Floristry, where she rents a small apartment above it.
“I’m meeting the rest of the disciples by Lingyuan Temple, so it will be easier if I fly. Shall I walk you to the metro station?” Lan Xichen asks and at Lan Wangji’s nod, they take off together down the familiar streets of Suzhou.
His brother is dressed in his blue and white cultivator robes, so they get some curious looks as they walk through the street. Most locals are used to seeing the familiar robes and forehead ribbons of the Lan cultivators, but Lan Wangji supposes his brother just commands attention no matter how he is dressed.
“Here, take some money for the fare,” Lan Xichen says, pulling out change from his qiankun pouch.
“Ge, I have a bus and metro pass,” Lan Wangji protests.
“You know, Wangji, you don’t have to head back right away… You told Shufu you would be back before dinner but that still leaves you plenty of time. Isn’t that skate park nearby…?”
Lan Wangji turns around to glare fully at Lan Xichen who just smiles, looking innocent. He opens his mouth to utter a rebuttal—He has exams! He cannot be frivolous at a time like this!— But before he can respond, a familiar voice calls out.
“LAN ZHAN!”
And sure enough, Wei Ying is whizzing past them before Lan Wangji can wrap his head around what is happening.
Wei Ying makes a hard left to hover directly in front of the pair from where he rides Suibian like a surfboard.
“Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan, oh my god, it’s really you! I wouldn’t have recognized you if I hadn't seen Xichen-xiong!” Wei Ying shouts excitedly as he leaps down from his sword.
Lan Wangji flushes as the movement sends a waft of Wei Ying’s body cologne in his direction. Lan Wangji realizes he has no chance to escape this encounter unscathed as soon as he takes in Wei Ying’s appearance.
Wei Ying is in casual clothes.
Not the standard white robes the Lan assign to all their cultivation students.
Instead Wei Ying is decked out in all black, with torn baggy jeans and a leather jacket. He’s got his hair tied back in a messy half bun with a backpack shrugged over one shoulder where his red skateboard sticks out.
Wei Ying beams at Lan Wangji, who just blinks in despair as he temporarily forgets how to speak.
“Hello there Wuxian, how nice to run into you! Wangji and I just finished lunch with our mother,” Lan Xichen greets Wei Ying, looking enormously pleased with this turn of events.
“Lucky for me!” Wei Ying cheers. “Lan Zhan! I‘ve never seen you in regular clothes before—You’re wearing jeans! You look nice! I don’t know why I imagined you to dress like a librarian,” Wei Ying laughs as he tugs at white and gray striped shirt Lan Wangji has tucked into his jeans.
If Lan Wangji’s blush had receded before, it burns again in full force as he steps away from Wei Ying’s curious hands. He grips Bichen tightly from where it’s strapped against his hip.
He can feel his brother’s knowing gaze as if it burns against the back of his head.
“Jiang Cheng and I were at the skatepark to blow off some steam and take a break from studying. As usual Jiang Cheng has worked himself up to a state before finals,” Wei Ying continues, oblivious to Lan Wangji’s plight. “We were going to meet up with Huaisang for lunch and then go to the park to study outside since the weather is nice—Lan Zhan, you’ll come with us right? You have to! We never hang out outside of school!”
“I already ate—” Lan Wangji starts but his brother cuts in before he can finish.
“That sounds like fun, doesn’t it, Wangji? I’m sure he’d be happy to join you. It’s always good to revise with friends,” Lan Xichen smiles and he has the audacity to use the back of Shouyue to gently nudge Lan Wangji forward.
Lan Wangji sends his brother a panicked and betrayed look but his brother is already turning to leave with a cheery wave.
“Wuxian, my brother is expected back at Cloud Recesses by dinner time. I’ve given him extra money for the metro and cable car fare which should be enough for the both of you. I trust you’ll escort him home safely by public transport and will not attempt to fly up the mountain again?”
Wei Ying laughs, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “Of course, of course, Xichen-xiong! I'll bring him back safe and sound… the boring way!” Wei Ying salutes.
Lan Wangji glares at his brother’s retreating form. As if he needs Wei Ying to escort him home, as if he hasn’t done it hundreds of times on his own, he thinks mutinously. He sees right through his brother’s plots.
“Lan Zhan! This is going to be so fun! I’ve been trying to get you to hang out with me outside school forever but you’re always busy,” Wei Ying says as he tugs at Lan Wangji’s sleeve, practically bouncing with excitement as he leads Lan Wangji down the street.
“Is this what you’ve been up to? You stay at your mom’s?” Wei Yings asks, whirling around to look at Lan Wangji.
“Yes,” Lan Wangji replies, “we stay with her on the weekends when we are not nighthunting.”
“Cute!” Wei Ying responds which just makes Lan Wangji flush again much to his aggravation.
“What’s this?”
Wei Ying takes advantage of Lan Wangji’s distraction to snatch the gift bag Lan Wangji is still holding from the stationary store. He hadn’t felt the need to tuck it in his qiankun bag yet, he thought he might drop it off at his mother’s before heading back. Lan Wangji immediately regrets the delay.
“Wei Ying, don’t—” Lan Wangji protests as the boy gleefully starts pulling out the rabbit themed notebook set.
“Ah, Lan Zhan! So cute! You like rabbits?”
Lan Wangji fumes, snatching the contents back and tucking them safely away in his qiankun bag, as he should have from the start. Wei Ying has called him cute twice now in a row and Lan Wangji internally writhes.
He is not cute. He is one of the Twin Jades of the Suzhou Lan and a pride to his Sect. And, well, his internal thoughts when he is around Wei Ying certainly aren't cute anyway.
“Ah, Lan Zhan, don’t be like that, they are very nice!”
“They are for the Lunar New Year. My brother got them.” Lan Wangji stops himself from saying “for my birthday” just in time.
It’s not like he doesn’t want Wei Ying to know when his birthday is— it’s just that Wei Ying has been trying to guess his birthday since they’ve met. Lan Wangji enjoys leaving him in suspense.
Lan Wangji isn’t sure what he would do with himself anyway, if Wei Ying wanted to do something with him for his birthday. And, well, if Wei Ying didn’t want to do anything for it… that’s even worse. So it’s best to just not mention it.
Wei Ying is likely headed home this weekend after the semester finishes anyway, like the rest of the visiting disciples in their program.
“Year of the Rabbit, yes! The year before all goes to shit! The millennium dragon is coming for us!” Wei Ying chuckles. “Lan Zhan, have you heard about this Y2K thing?”
“Yes. It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” Lan Wangji states.
Wei Ying throws his head back in a laugh, which is terribly distracting, so when Wei Ying tugs him along down a side street, Lan Wangji is close to having to dodge around an old woman throwing out her trash.
Lan Wangji has no idea where Wei Ying is taking him but as they round the corner he catches sight of Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang. Jiang Wanyin is wearing a purple windbreaker with his usual constipated expression while Nie Huaisang looks startled to see him. Lan Wangji tries to not feel too disappointed. He’s been so swept up in being alone with Wei Ying that he’d forgotten the two of them were also here with him.
“Look who I found! I told you it was Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying remarks, looking victorious.
“Literally no one told you it wasn’t,” Jiang Wanyin rolls his eyes. “C’mon, I’m hungry,” he urges them into the noodle shop they are waiting outside of.
Wei Ying tugs him along inside and Lan Wangji hovers awkwardly in the overcrowded space, wondering if it’s best if he waits outside. It’s one of those noodle take away restaurants where everyone crowds around the counter to order and it’s packed for the lunch rush.
“Lan Zhan! Do you want anything?” Wei Ying shouts over the noise.
“I already ate…”
“Right, right, well they have good cakes next door, we can get them for dessert!”
“Not necessary…” Lan Wangji mutters, shifting in discomfort as a man in a suit jostles into his side, knocking into Bichen.
“I’m going to wait outside,” Lan Wangji informs and makes his escape before Wei Ying can respond.
Once he’s outside he breathes a little easier but his anxiety is still high. He contemplates if he can get out of this without hurting Wei Ying’s feelings. He wants to spend time with Wei Ying. He thinks about it constantly. But when he’s actually faced with Wei Ying and his vibrant laughter, Lan Wangji spends most of his time panicking and looking for an exit.
After several minutes, there is a flash of purple next to him when Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang wander over, slurping their noodle takeaway without a care.
“Where is Wei Ying?”
“Oh, he went to go get some treats next door. He didn’t want you to feel left out, since we’re all eating around you,” Nie Huaisang smirks a little knowingly.
Lan Wangji’s heart races. He has to clench Bichen in reminder to regulate his qi.
“Alright everyone! Let’s do this!” Wei Ying cries out as he bursts out of the shop moments later.
“I’m armed with positive reinforcement,” he says, tucking a box of sweets into his backpack.
His arm brushes Lan Wangji’s as he leads them in the direction of the park, the scent of sugar and osmanthus clinging to him. It lingers in Lan Wangji’s nose.
Revising with this group isn’t as terrible as Lan Wangji expected it to be all things considered. Nie Huaisang whines just as much as Lan Wangji would expect but mostly distracts himself by doodling into his notes. Jiang Wanyin is intensely focused on his own work, only occasionally coming up for air to ask Wei Ying to clarify something in the text.
And Wei Ying…he took one look at Lan Wangji’s calculus notes and glued himself to his side, offering his help. “I will help you with math and you help me with history! Fair trade off!”
Having Wei Ying’s undivided attention on him is a powerful thing.
Wei Ying is an excellent teacher. Lan Wangji has known this for a while, seeing the way he always helps and guides younger disciples through problems with an easy smile. He explains abstract ideas in an effective and accessible way.
Lan Wangji would truly appreciate this quality of his at this time, if he could focus on anything besides the way Wei Ying’s mouth looks as he talks.
“— Make sense?” Wei Ying asks him, looking at Lan Wangji expectantly.
“Mn, yes, thank you,” Lan Wangji replies, having no idea what Wei Ying just said.
Wei Ying beams.
“I think it’s time for a snack break!” Wei Ying pulls out the box of sweets he’d bought earlier.
He’s ordered an assortment of different items. Lan Wangji is not sure how they will finish them all.
Nie Huaisang eagerly reaches for a mooncake.
“Ey, that one is for Lan Zhan! I got those especially for him,” Wei Ying bats his hand away.
He presents the mooncake with a rabbit pattern on it for Lan Wangji to take instead, which he does with reddening ears.
Nie Huaisang makes a complaining noise and snatches a cloud cake instead. He stares between Wei Ying and Lan Wangji for a long moment. The look in his eye has Lan Wangji suddenly filled with dread.
“Oh, did you get it for him for his birthday?” Nie Huaisang laughs in a carefree way but Lan Wangji recognizes the pointed look in his eyes.
“It is your birthday on the 23rd, right? It’s always at the end of the semester. Xichen-ge never was able to go out to celebrate with Da-ge at the end of the term…”
Lan Wangji feels rooted at the spot as Wei Ying chokes on the dessert in his mouth next to him.
“LAN ZHAN! Wait, really? Is it really your birthday next week?!” Wei Ying is sitting ramrod straight, his eyes wide as he stares at Lan Wangji urgently.
Lan Wangji simply nods. There is no use in denying it. Lan Wangji is not a liar.
He bites into a mooncake to distract from Wei Ying’s high-pitched screech in response.
“LAN ZHAN! Lan Zhan! How come you never said? Your birthday is right after exams too, we should all be celebrating! Let’s do something next weekend!”
“Aren’t your parents coming to pick you up on Friday?” Jiang Wanyin asks with an annoyed look at Wei Ying.
“Well, yeah, but…” Wei Ying deflates and Lan Wangji tries to curb his disappointment. “We’ll figure something out!” And with that Wei Ying looks contemplative as he chews his osmanthus cake.
Lan Wangji waits until he finishes his own dessert and cleans his hands until he replies, shaking his head and pulling out his notes once more.
“It’s not important. You should focus on your studies.”
Wei Ying makes a face at that.
When it gets closer to dusk, Lan Wangji begins packing his things, reminding them that he needs to return to Cloud Recesses before dinner.
Jiang Wanyin doesn’t look up from his notes just makes a vague noise. It’s only when Wei Ying starts gathering his things as well that he looks up.
“Eh? But we’re not done yet!”
“I promised Xichen-xiong that I would escort Lan Zhan home safely! It’s no problem anyway, all I have tomorrow is my advanced talisman making exam and I could do that in my sleep… Literally,” Wei Ying indicates to one of the paper man talismans he likes to keep on hand to terrorize Lan Wangji with during class.
Wei Ying enjoys making them tug at his hair and pen until Lan Wangji has to complain to their teachers and make Wei Ying get added time to his nearly semester long detention.
“Why does he need to be escorted, he lives here!” Jiang Wanyin questions and if it was anyone else, Lan Wangji would agree with him, but it’s Jiang Wanyin, so Lan Wangji is irritated by his tone instead.
“If you stay here any longer, you will miss dinner,” Lan Wangji informs the group.
“What a loss,” Jiang Wanyin mutters as he shakes his head, burying his face back in his textbook.
Nie Huaisang just smiles apologetically at Lan Wangji, “Ah, Wangji-xiong, we usually eat out on the weekends.”
Lan Wangji is hardly surprised by this information. The three of them are notorious for sneaking outside food in the dorms (and in one memorable instance— alcohol).
The food served in Cloud Recesses is meant to help nourish your core and balance the yang energy they use for cultivation. It tends to be earthy and bland with more bitter foods. It is mostly vegetarian but since the Academy has started accepting non-Lan disciples, they serve some fish and chicken in moderation. Lan Wangji has grown a tolerance for the palate over the years— though he still attempts to transfer his bitter melon to Lan Xichen’s bowl when the opportunity arises.
Wei Ying just sighs, “ah, well, healthy food is good for the brain! I guess I’ll see you suckers later then!”
With that, he indicates for Lan Wangji to head off with him in the direction of the metro station.
“The gates close at 7pm,” Lan Wangji reminds the pair as they turn to leave. He knows that they know this but yet it feels irresponsible to not say anything… He has never been skilled at socializing.
And with that, he and Wei Ying are once again alone for the second time today.
It can take up to an hour to commute back up the mountain to Cloud Recesses from this part of town and Lan Wangji plans to savor this time.
“Lan Zhan, should we race to the metro?” Wei Ying teases waving Suibian at Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji huffs,“It’s not safe to ride our swords in the street.”
Wei Ying waves his hand at the predictable answer. “Yeah, yeah… You know, I will never understand why you Lan live on a mountain but ban flying on your swords up to it! Terribly inefficient!”
Lan Wangji resists the urge to smile as he’s reminded of the first time he met Wei Ying, flying above the school grounds so he could eat the outside food he’d snuck into the school dormitories.
“I’m not breaking the rules if I'm not on school grounds,” he’d teased insolently as he floated above an absolutely irate Lan Wangji.
It had been their first day at Cloud Recesses Cultivation Academy, which is the most prestigious joint cultivation and secondary school program in the country. Lan Wangji had been working his entire life in preparation to succeed in the program, to honor his family and his Sect. Shufu expected Lan Wangji to lead his peers by example.
Then, on his very first day, Wei Ying happened.
Now, though, Lan Wangji can’t help but to feel fond of the memory.
“It is not banned. You just have to have a registered license,” Lan Wangji rebukes lightly.
Wei Ying groans. “It’s not fair that I have to wait until I graduate to get registered though. When I graduate, I won’t need to have the license to fly up the mountain to school any more! There aren’t stupid rules like that in Wuhan…”
Lan Wangji knows for a fact that there are regulations on sword flying in Wuhan just as there is in most of the urban cities in the country.
“I believe it is for safety reasons, which is standard for all places where planes travel through,” Lan Wangji replies and then for Wei Ying’s benefit he adds, “I believe someone may have run into an airplane once…”
Wei Ying predictably laughs at this and Lan Wangji feels a thrill wash over him at the sound.
“Oh my god, how terrible of a cultivator do you have to be to run into a freaking plane?”
“Perhaps it was cloudy…” Lan Wangji offers lightly and this just makes Wei Ying laugh even more before he starts acting out the unfortunate cultivator’s fate with more and more theatrical exaggeration.
“Lan Zhan, you don’t think it’s a little messed up that us cultivators don’t use our powers to help more sick people?”
“What do you mean?”
The two of them sit, pressed close together on the metro which takes them to the last stop before they have to walk the rest of the way to the Lan clan gates, where they will then board a cable car to transport them up the mountain.
While sometimes Wei Ying can be a little too controversial with his opinions, Lan Wangji looks forward to these debates and discussions with him. No one else truly challenges Lan Wangji to think outside of the bounds of tradition the way Wei Ying does.
At first, Lan Wangji was extremely resistant to ideas that challenged the principles of what he knew, yet as he has spent more time with Wei Ying, he has found himself growing more accepting of differing opinions.
“I just mean,” Wei Ying continues, he has the sparkling look in his eyes that he gets when he’s feeling truly passionate about something. “We have this ability to cultivate our qi and form a golden core and this makes us impervious to most diseases, wards off cancer and the like. I can’t help but think, why aren’t we using these abilities to help others? Isn’t our goal as cultivators to protect the common man?”
Lan Wangji looks thoughtful before responding, “Well, yes, but also our role is to specifically help to guide lingering spirits—“
“Right, right, right… I know, I know. It’s just I see so much potential to do more and no one seems interested in exploring how we can use cultivation outside of traditional practices…Like how can we integrate modern technology with cultivation techniques?” Wei Ying waves Suibian impatiently to emphasize his point.
“Like, for example, people keep telling me to stop exploring new talisman uses but then don’t give me any reason why I shouldn’t. For example, Jiang Yanli has health issues, so she can’t cultivate the way her brother and parents do. So why should she be left behind? I think there are technological accommodations that should be allowed…”
“Yes, I see your point,” Lan Wangji considers his words before elaborating. “I think you are right in that we could be doing more exploratory and scientific research. There are laws that some influential families have put in place, to keep control of their power and influence. That is incorrect and against our principles—“
“Yes! Exactly! Exactly!” Wei Ying agrees enthusiastically.
“— but I also think it’s important to honor what is natural to your own body. It is one thing to help assist someone with a disability, to improve their quality of life, like how you reference, but I know the concerns from my clan regarding modern medical cultivation integration are about the potential for exploitation…” Lan Wangji trails off.
With the progression of technology, cultivators don’t necessarily have the upper hand on non-cultivators anymore. They may have advantages but even they cannot out run a machine gun.
“Hm, I see your point there. I think unfortunately the potential for exploitation is always a reality. I would still argue it’s worth exploring, we would just have to have ethical accountability. Have you heard of the work of Baoshan Sanren—?”
“Okay, you know what, for all I complain about the commute, this part is actually really cool,” Wei Ying comments as the cable car starts its slow ascent up Qionglong Mountain.
It’s just them in the car, which Lan Wangji feels grateful for. There was a group of fellow students waiting in line to return to campus but when it was their turn to board, Mianmian held out her hand to stop her friend from following, “We’ll take the next one,” she’d said with a cheery smile at Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji knows he owes Mianmian a favor now.
Mianmian is his sword practicing partner, as Lan Wangji and Wei Ying were banned by his uncle from partnering based on their tendency to get too intense. She is the best in their year behind him and Wei Ying, tied with Jiang Wanyin, and is one of the few other classmates he can safely call a friend.
So he owes her his thanks for this moment. He feels luxuriant now, sitting quietly with Wei Ying as the cable car overlooks the views of the countryside while the sun sets over the mountains behind them.
The sky car shudders suddenly with a familiar jolt as they pass through the Lan wards and with that, the mountain range next to them transforms. The peaks of Qionglong and the surrounding mountain range shoot up into the sky so that they disappear into the clouds. Only cultivators with a jade token bequeathed by the Lan clan are privileged with this sight.
“Ah, I bet you’re disappointed you got stuck with just me,” Wei Ying mumbles, out of the blue. He’s staring out at the mountains in front of them, avoiding Lan Wangji’s eyes.
Lan Wangji blinks, having no idea how to respond to such a blatantly incorrect statement.
“What are you talking about?”
“I mean— it’s just— I know you like Mianmian so you must be disappointed you had to ride with just me.”
Lan Wangji continues to stare in utter disbelief, his mind blank with shock.
“Wei Ying… what are you talking about?”
“Aiyo, Lan Zhan, no need to pretend, I know you like her. I saw the two of you walking alone together the other day!” Wei Ying glances at him briefly before quickly looking away. He tugs at the ends of his jacket in his lap, pulling them over his hands like gloves.
“Wei Ying, she is my friend —”
“I mean, she’s pretty great! Definitely one of the prettiest girls in our year and the best cultivator among them, so I get it! No need to be embarrassed! I mean, we’re friends, you can tell me these things—”
“Wei Ying, I’m gay,” Lan Wangji interrupts Wei Ying’s nervous rambling, unable to withstand this a moment longer.
It’s Wei Ying’s turn to blink in disbelief at Lan Wangji this time.
“Mianmian is my friend. I have no romantic interest in her or any women,” Lan Wangji insists firmly.
Wei Ying’s cheeks flush as Lan Wangji utters the word “romantic” and he looks away once more.
“Oh… I— I don’t— I’m not sure why I assumed— Well, welcome to the queer kids club, I guess! It’s the best! I mean why be straight when boys are right there, looking like that, amiright? Except girls are nice too! And all genders! As a proud bisexual, I say equal opportunity flirting all around! It is the best way to go really—”
“You shouldn’t flirt if you don’t mean it,” Lan Wangji interjects, feeling sore on the subject.
So many times he’s fallen for it, thinking that maybe Wei Ying might like him back. The way he looks at Lan Wangji like he’s the only one in the room sometimes, it’s intoxicating. But then Wei Ying will ruin the moment by making a joke or turning around to flirt with someone else.
Lan Wangji has spent many nights sulking about it on his mother’s sofa or in his brother’s room as they attempt to cheer him up.
“Hey, I mean, I don’t really flirt. Not seriously anyway, unless I mean it. But anyway, back to the point at hand, I can’t believe I didn’t know you were gay! I thought my gaydar was immaculate but I guess you've never really showed an interest in anyone so I just—“
“That’s not true,” Lan Wangji refutes reactively and then immediately regrets it. His own face is flushing now.
“What—! Who then? The only other person besides your family you ever talk to is me,” Wei Ying laughs, self deprecatingly.
Lan Wangji feels trapped inside this cable car.
He’s ready to endure punishment and leap out, to fly the rest of the way on his sword himself.
Getting expelled seems a better alternative than being alone with Wei Ying at this moment.
“You’re such an idiot,” Lan Wangji mutters in misery, resisting the urge to sink low in his seat. He can’t believe he’s in love with the most oblivious boy on the planet.
“Hey! Hey! Lan Zhan, don’t be like that!”
The rest of the mind-blowingly slow ride up the mountain consists of Wei Ying getting increasingly more unhinged in his efforts to provoke Lan Wangji into confessing who he likes.
Lan Wangji is tested to his limits, wanting nothing more to unleash Bichen on him and never speak to Wei Ying ever again.
He will simply spend the rest of his school years in seclusion, surely Shufu will understand.
When they finally reach the gates of the Academy, Lan Wangji propels himself out of the sky car with the help of his cultivation. He's already halfway across the quad before Wei Ying is out of the door.
“Hey!”
Wei Ying scrambles to mount Suibian and race after him.
“Lan Zhan! C’mon, I’m really sorry, okay? Don’t be like that! We were having such a nice time! I’ll stop, okay? I’m sorry! At least take the desserts I bought for you!”
Wei Ying pleads as he floats next to Lan Wangji, who power walks his way to the residential wing for Lan disciples. There is no way Lan Wangji is eating in the canteen tonight.
Lan Wangji turns to glare, to tell Wei Ying off for flying on campus grounds and for speaking openly about bringing in outside food but he’s beaten to it by another student.
“Hey, keep it down! Some of us are studying for finals!”
“Yeah, take your little lovers quarrel somewhere else,” another boy chimes and there is a jeering tone to his voice that makes Lan Wangji stiffen in offense.
When Lan Wangji turns to glower, he’s unsurprised to see Su She, an upperclassmen in the year above them that Lan Wangji beat in a duel when he was only a first year. The boy has resented him ever since.
“Hey, you need to watch your tone when you speak to Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying glares as he hops down from Suibian. He towers over the group with an intimidating look Lan Wangji has only ever seen directed at Jin Zixuan. “Isn’t there a rule here about speaking respectfully to your peers?”
“There is also a rule about forincating on campus grounds. So perhaps you can explain to Lan Xiansheng why you are following Lan Wangji to his dorms? This area is for Lan disciples only,” Su She rebuffs, making his friends snicker.
At this point, Lan Wangji is unsure how his evening can get any worse. He is torn between intervening and simply turning to leave.
Wei Ying decides for him, as he lifts Suibian, still sheathed, to hover warningly in front of Su She’s throat. “I said you better watch your tone when talking about Lan Zhan. Spreading false rumors that Lan Zhan is involved with me is definitely against the rules—“
“Wait, what —are you serious? You’re not even really together? That’s so embarrassing for you, Wangji,” Su She chuckles with a look of cruel amusement.
Lan Wangji grips Bichen so tightly that it glows with spiritual power in response to his anger. He’s about to unsheath it, to see if Su She would like to try his hand at another duel when Wei Ying beats him to it.
“How fucking dare you speak to him like that? Watch me straight up toss your ass off this mountain you snivel faced piece of sh—“ Wei Ying has forgone Suibian to simply seize Su She by the front of his robes, bodily lifting him off the ground.
“What seems to be the problem here?”
They all turn in surprise at the sound of Lan Xichen’s voice echoing across the grounds. He descends on the group with his robes billowing behind him. There is a group of Lan cultivators lingering behind him, they all must have just returned from their night hunt.
Both Wei Ying and Su She start immediately arguing over each other and Lan Xichen quickly silences them using a silence spell. “You will both report to my uncle’s office at once, Wang Lifen will escort you,” he indicates to one of the lead disciples in his group.
Lan Xichen is clearly angry, which is always a mildly terrifying experience to witness. Lan Wangji wonders how much he must have overheard, as this area of the grounds tends to echo.
He burns with humiliation and once he’s alone with his brother, he can feel his eyes sting with the threat of tears.
“Wangji, what happened?”
“Xichen, please, don’t let them punish Wei Ying too harshly, he was just defending me,” Lan Wangji pleads.
Wei Ying has already gotten suspended once for sneaking in alcohol in his first year. That, plus being in and out of detention all year for minor infractions, makes Lan Wangji fear the worst.
If this of all things is what gets Wei Ying expelled, Lan Wangji is not sure what he’ll do.
“He cursed at and threatened another student, Wangji, I can’t promise you he won’t be disciplined. Shufu has already been lenient with him purely because of his promise as a cultivator but that can only go so far…” Lan Xichen shakes his head sadly.
Lan Wangji stares at the ground, trying to focus on his breathing to combat the tears threatening to fall. He is overcome with the urge to throw Bichen in a rage into the nearest tree.
“That being said, Su She is both a student at this school and a disciple of the Lan clan. His actions and words toward you are completely unacceptable as a representative of our Sect. I will ensure that he is properly punished for his offense. Why don’t you go back to my rooms and wait for me there? I will let you know how this goes. I’ll bring us some dinner when I do.”
Lan Wangji nods, still staring at the ground, unable to make eye contact for the fear that his tears might actually fall if he sees his brother’s sympathetic expression.
Later, as he waits, Lan Wangji shakily removes his forehead ribbon and takes Bichen out to the wood training post Lan Xichen has outside his rooms, unleashing the explosion of feeling he’s kept restrained all day. He and Wei Ying were having such a nice time before, of course it wouldn’t last.
Lan Wangji wonders how long it will take Wei Ying to connect the dots regarding his feelings, in light of Su She’s cruel taunts.
“He is not expelled,” Lan Xichen announces, when he returns.
“The Lan disciple witnesses corroborated that Su She was at fault. Still, Wuxian’s actions were debated and he has received another official warning. One more and he will face the disciplinary committee once more for grounds of expulsion. His parents are to be sent an official letter,” Lan Xichen continues as he sets out a dinner tray for them both.
Before he sits down, Lan Xichen gives his brother an inscrutable look.
“Wuxian was mostly concerned if you were alright. He kowtowed and begged me to apologize to you… It was quite the sight. Shufu was so fed up with him by that point he nearly threw him out by the scruff of his neck,” Lan Xichen chuckles quietly.
He then prompts Lan Wangji to prepare some osmanthus tea as well, to soothe heightened emotions. If Lan Xichen has noticed the new sword marks on his training post, he does not say anything.
They eat their dinner in silence together out of habit. After they finish, Lan Wangji ruminates over the events of the day with a frown as he sips his tea.
“Oh, he also asked me to give you these.”
Lan Wangji blinks in surprise at his brother's abrupt statement only to look away at the familiar sight of the box of desserts.
“Outside food is forbidden—“
“In the Academy student dormitories, yes, but in my private residence it is allowed,” Lan Xichen smiles indulgently and helps himself to a cloud cake.
Lan Wangji sighs, as good as the treats were, he has no appetite. He just continues drinks his tea slowly instead.
“So…” Lan Xichen continues, “Wuxian’s got another three semesters ahead of him. That’s a year and half. You think he can manage to not get expelled?”
He knows Lan Xichen is teasing but Lan Wangji feels his stomach sour at the thought.
“I will make sure he doesn’t,” Lan Wangji says, feeling resolute.
Wei Ying is too talented to let his skills go to waste. And, besides his incident with the alcohol, almost all of Wei Ying’s infractions have been related in some way to pestering Lan Wangji.
So Lan Wangji will ensure that this doesn't continue, as he plans to simply never speak to Wei Ying again.
It will be difficult, avoiding Wei Ying when their class sizes are so small, but it’s for the best. This week will help, as they will be busy with exams and then they are off for their break.
“Wangji, can you tell me what you and Wuxian were quarreling about? He was really upset, thinking that you might be mad at him. I thought he might actually cry…”
Lan Wangji frowns at that. After an extended pause, he explains cautiously. He’s never kept anything from his brother before.
“Everything was fine, we were having a good time and studied in the park with Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang. Wei Ying and I left early as I wanted to get home before dinner and then we saw Mianmian in the line to board the sky cars. Wei Ying somehow convinced himself that I had romantic feelings for her and when he said this I told him I was gay… After that he seemed determined to know if there was someone else I liked and he wouldn’t leave it alone! It was humiliating…I got upset and tried to leave and he followed me trying to apologize and we ran into Su She…”
“Hm,” Lan Xichen responds, looking contemplative. “I know that must have been upsetting for you, I am sorry that this transpired in such a way… If you don’t mind me asking, why didn’t you tell Wei Wuxian the truth?”
Lan Wangji stares at his brother as if he has grown a second head.
“Here me out, Wangji. It would have been an appropriate time to do so, if he directly asked you. I know it’s frightening to admit to something like that but the principles of our Sect encourage honesty in all ways.”
Lan Wangji looks down at the ground, feeling chastened. His brother is right of course, his actions were cowardly and avoidant which are in direct conflict with the philosophies and principles of his Sect.
“Didi, I do not mean to scold you. I just encourage you to be open with your feelings. Sometimes, we convince ourselves of the worst but I think that in this case you will be surprised…”
Lan Wangji looks away at that, his mind replaying these words over and over as he attempts to sleep later that night.
Avoiding Wei Ying is surprisingly easy during exam week. They are not allowed to talk while in the exam rooms so he just has to make a quick escape before and after.
Wei Ying throws him desperate longing stares from across the room but Lan Wangji is resolute in avoiding him. He needs to focus on his studies, not worry so much over non-existent relationship drama.
He is somewhat surprised that Wei Ying doesn’t attempt to send his papermen talismans after him to get his attention. However, after Wei Ying tries to wave at him before their calculus exam, Lan Wangji can see his Shufu glaring at Wei Ying until the boy deflates and folds in on himself, keeping his eyes on his desk.
Lan Wangji supposes that Wei Ying has taken his warning seriously and isn’t trying to do anything to risk further disciplinary action.
Still, seeing Wei Ying look so defeated is painful to witness.
Lan Wangji thinks about how he can clear the air with him, to reassure Wei Ying that he’s not upset with him while still maintaining a safe distance. He wants to honor his brother’s advice but Lan Wangji still has his hesitations that are not easy to overcome.
He fears he’s lost his chance however, when the last day of term creeps up on them and he sees Wei Ying leading two people, who must be his parents, to his dorms. They are in regular clothing with simple black robes over top, indicating their rogue cultivator status.
Lan Wangji lingers for a moment, wondering if he should try to say something to him before he leaves for holiday break but then Wei Ying’s mother laughs loudly at something he says and Wei Ying’s face lights up in a way that Lan Wangji hasn’t seen in sometime.
It’s better to not interrupt, he thinks. He doesn’t want to ruin the moment.
The weekend Lan Wangji turns seventeen starts out just like any other weekend.
Saturday morning Lan Wangji and his brother have tea with Shufu. Who, after breakfast and morning meditation, takes out a carefully packaged wooden box wrapped in silk cloth.
“I will be leaving for the cultivation conference in Beijing on Sunday afternoon, so in case I do not see you before you return,” Shufu says.
Inside is a beautiful new set of robes and an intricate silver guan. The robes are the light sky blue of the Lan sect with cloud motifs woven into the silk. Surprisingly, there are adornments on the shoulders to match his jade yaopei, with silk ribbons that will billow out by his sides, when he moves.
“Thank you, Shufu,” Lan Wangji accepts the gift graciously, bowing low in acknowledgement.
“You are nearly of age now, so you will start representing our sect soon not just as a junior disciple and student but as a proud member of our main line. It’s important you have proper robes.”
Between that and the big fuss his mother makes when he and Lan Xichen arrive at her shop later that morning, Lan Wangji nearly forgets about his plaguing thoughts about Wei Ying.
As Lan Wangji insisted, they don’t do anything special that Saturday. He and his brother help his mother mind the store through the day and then that night, his mother cooks some of his favorite dishes and the three of them crowd around her dining table to play some board games and then to eventually watch some of Lan Wangji’s favorite films from his childhood that his mother still has the old VHS’s of.
On the Sunday of his birthday, Lan Xichen and he sit behind the counter of Gentian House Floristry once again, helping their mother prepare orders. It is raining outside, so there isn’t much visitation besides the customers scheduled for pick up. His mother works in the back room leaving the boys to check in on the front of the shop. She is getting ready for the big rush she always gets before any major holiday. The Lunar New Year this year is also quite close to Valentine’s Day, so she’s been fortifying her inventory to prepare.
Lan Wangji is tying a bow carefully on the vase of the white and red camellia bouquet in front of him. Lan Wangji is pleased to do it, camellias have always been his favorite flowers. It’s a birthday gift, from what he can perceive.
Lan Xichen hands him the order for the handwritten poetry the buyer requested to be included in the card.
“Your calligraphy skills are better than mine, so perhaps you should take this one. They are scheduled to come pick the order on the hour,” Lan Xichen had said as he smiled before excusing himself to help his mother prepare orders in the back.
Lan Wangji had frowned after him, his brother’s calligraphy is unparalleled, so Lan Wangji is not sure what Lan Xichen is talking about. The poem itself makes Lan Wangji smile, though, so he cannot complain. It’s one of his favorites as well. Whoever the recipient is for this gift is very lucky, Lan Wangji thinks to himself.
The selected poem is not very long but the imagery the poet conveys in their choice of language is always something Lan Wangji has admired. It describes a cultivator, who writes in longing for his true love, his zhiji.
Lan Wangji’s favorite line compares the poet’s zhiji to a camellia, whose soft petals bloom out of the sharp shock of winter snow. It is an appropriate poem to pair with such a bouquet, he thinks.
Lan Wangji waits behind the counter for the customer to arrive as he idly tests out his new calligraphy pens. He checks the time again, whoever it is is running late, so Lan Wangji continues his sketches.
Unbidden, his thoughts inevitably drift to Wei Ying. Lan Wangji sighs, staring down resignedly at where he has absently drawn the characters of Wei Ying’s name.
He is startled when the door of the shop bursts open. A figure dressed in black struggles to close a massive purple umbrella in the doorway.
“Sorry I’m late, I’m the noon pick up! The camellia birthday bouquet!”
The familiar voice makes Lan Wangji gasp in shock. He blinks as Wei Ying is revealed behind the umbrella, which he leaves by the door with a frustrated noise.
“So sorry again there was a delay with the metro and it’s really coming down out there—“ Wei Ying freezes at the sight of Lan Wangji.
Wei Ying’s eyes bulge, looking enormous as he gapes at him. There is a stuffed white rabbit peaking out from where Wei Ying must have zipped it up in his jacket, to protect it from the rain.
“Lan Zhan — what— what are you doing here?”
“This is my mother’s flower shop. I help her here on the weekends,” Lan Wangji hears himself respond, but his brain feels disconnected from his body.
The white rabbit is making him think things … get ideas…
“You— Oh my god! Oh my god, I’ve been played so hard. This is absolutely unreal. I’m actually impressed—“ Wei Ying stutters, his face burning red as his eyes fixate on the camellia bouquet sitting next to Lan Wangji.
“Oh, hello, there Wuxian,” Lan Xichen floats out from the back room, with a gentle smile on his face. “Glad to see you took advantage of my recommendation! Our mother is the best florist in Suzhou, as I’m sure you’ll agree. Now then, Wangji, Mother says it’s about time for us to close for lunch. Why don’t you take Wuxian upstairs to see if he would like anything? Mother and I are going to continue working on some orders downstairs.”
Lan Wangji has to close his eyes and breathe.
Wei Ying is correct, his brother has truly played them both.
His ears sting mercilessly. He knows they must be as red as the flowers next to him.
With his heart pounding, he nods, indicating for Wei Ying to follow him behind the counter to lead him to the back stairwell to his mother’s apartment.
He throws one final glare at his brother, who just has the audacity to give him a thumbs up.
“Don’t forget your bouquet, Wuxian!”
Wei Ying stutters out a response that Lan Wangji can’t hear over the sound of his own rushing pulse in his ears. Wei Ying trails after him however, fumbling for the vase.
He’s rambling the entire way, as Lan Wangji uses his cultivation to unlock the apartment door. Once he’s in his mother’s apartment he feels his nerves get the best of him.
He’s never brought anyone over to his mother’s place before. He knows her modest apartment is not what people would expect the two Twin Jades of the prestigious Lan clan to call home. Wei Ying is looking around as he kicks off his shoes, clutching the vase tightly. He still has the stuffed rabbit tucked into his jacket. He looks as nervous as Lan Wangji feels.
Lan Wangji is suddenly terrified of his mother or brother bursting in at any moment. He would not put it past his brother at this point, so with a racing heart, he leads Wei Ying to the bedroom he shares with his brother.
It’s nothing fancy, a small bedroom with bunk beds in order to accommodate the two desks that sit on opposite sides of the room. Lan Xichen’s side has a large cork board with pictures of his family and friends, concert tickets, and movie stubs that he’s collected. Lan Wangji’s is more modest.
He has a calligraphy scroll that his Shufu gifted him above his desk with one of his favorite poems. His cork board consists of a calendar with his schedule laid out, some pictures mainly of him and his brother with their mother, and a small little sketch of Lan Wangji with a flower in his hair, as sketched by Wei Ying in detention from earlier that year. Lan Wangji is careful to not let his eyes look in that direction, should he draw Wei Ying’s attention to it but it’s location burns like a beacon in the back of his mind.
“Nice place, I like it,” Wei Ying mutters. “It’s really homey. Your room is nice,” he smiles shyly.
Lan Wangji allows himself to exhale.
“Thank you—I thought you were leaving with your parents on Friday?” Lan Wangji blurts out, not knowing what else to say.
“Oh!” Wei Ying looks sheepish, his blush blooming anew on his cheeks. “Well, I—I needed a bit of extra time before I left. So my parents agreed to stay an extra night before we head back to Wuhan. They got a tour of the Academy from your Shufu this morning actually.”
“Oh,” Lan Wangji says, not knowing how else to respond.
There is an awkwardly long pause that follows, where Wei Ying uncharacteristically remains silent, staring at Lan Wangji with huge, puppy-like eyes. It makes Lan Wangji, absurdly, want to cup his cheeks in his hands and squish them.
“Lan Zhan—“
“Would you—“
They both start to speak at the same time. Wei Ying shuts his mouth with an audible click before indicating for Lan Wangji to speak first.
“Would you like some tea—?”
“No!” Wei Ying nearly shouts his response, making Lan Wangji stare.
“I—Sorry—I just, no thank you, I don’t want any tea. I just, I need to talk to you before I lose my nerve so…” Wei Ying shifts on his feet before slowly making his way closer to Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji’s heart is pounding so hard against his ribcage, he feels it may burst right out.
“First of all, I’m sorry again, for how I acted the other day. I made you uncomfortable and put you on the spot and that was rude.”
Lan Wangji opens his mouth to respond but Wei Ying steps even closer then, which makes the words get lost in Lan Wangji’s mouth.
“It’s just sometimes, as you know, it can be hard for me to calm down once I get excited about something … and, well, this leads me to my second point, which is…”
Wei Ying trails off and takes a shaky inhale before he presents the vase of camellias to Lan Wangji.
“These are for you! As you may have guessed, I asked your brother for advice on what to do and he suggested this place…”
Lan Wangji takes the flowers gently, holding them as if they are precious, which to him, they are. “I apologize if he meddled. He means well…”
“Oh! No, no, no, he was really helpful. I mean, he played me, for sure, but I’m not mad! Just a little embarrassed. I wasn’t ready to face you just yet. I had a whole speech planned but of course I don’t remember any of it now…”
Lan Wangji feels like he cannot move, Wei Ying has moved closer to him again and now the only thing separating them is the flowers he clutches in his hands.
“The poem… you like it, right? It has always made me think of you,” Wei Ying whispers.
Lan Wangji nods, he cannot speak, he feels hypnotized by their closeness. He can smell Wei Ying’s cologne again, it’s a sharp spicy scent mixed with the smell of leather and the dew of rain.
“Good, that’s good,” Wei Ying breathes. “I don’t know how to—I’m not sure—Lan Zhan if I’m reading this wrong then—“ Wei Ying’s eyes are fixed on his lips and that’s all the warning Lan Wangji has before Wei Ying is darting forward to press a quick kiss to his lips.
It is just a peck, as Wei Ying pulls away quickly.
Someone gasps and Lan Wangji isn’t sure which of them it was, as his own mind seems to be floating pleasantly somewhere from near the top of the ceiling.
“I just — I really like you Lan Zhan, I always have and I feel really stupid if I’ve been so oblivious all this time but I just— like you so much, it was hard to believe you would ever like me the same way—“
Wei Ying is cut off as Lan Wangji sets the vase of camellias down on his desk with a loud clunk .
Then, without a thought or care in the world, Lan Wangji steps forward to cup Wei Ying’s face in his hands and then he kisses him.
He kisses him the way he’s been wanting to do ever since Wei Ying walked into the shop. Ever since Lan Wangji noticed the small freckle under his mouth. Ever since Lan Wangji saw Wei Ying smile.
Wei Ying gasps into the kiss, his hands flailing by his sides for a moment before they come to delicately rest on Lan Wangji’s waist.
Neither of them quite know what they are doing but they fumble their way through their first kiss with joyous enthusiasm.
“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying laughs against his lips. “I guess this means you like me back right? You’ll be my boyfriend…?”
Lan Wangji nods, his hands sliding behind Wei Ying’s head to press their foreheads together.
“Yes.”
Wei Ying just laughs again, his happiness is contagious and Lan Wangji’s mouth quirks into a smile.
“Ah, Lan Zhan, you are so beautiful when you smile,” Wei Ying sighs, a dreamy quality to his voice.
Lan Wangji likes him so much he cannot stand not kissing him.
So he does.
They kiss for a long while, learning how to move in synchronicity together, taking turns pressing their lips together, while their tongues shyly venture out against the other.
When Wei Ying’s hands start absently petting up and down Lan Wangji’s waist, his movements pull Lan Wangji’s shirt up. Lan Wangji breaks away with a gasp.
“Ah, sorry, too much—?”
Lan Wangji doesn’t allow Wei Ying to finish his question as he’s shoving him down to land on the bottom bunk behind them.
Lan Wangji barely takes in Wei Ying’s shocked wide-eyed expression, before he’s clamoring over him, coming to settle over his hips.
“Okay?” He asks, leaning down to hover over Wei Ying’s lips. Wei Ying responds with a groan, and surges up to kiss him once again.
There is an odd pressure against where their chests are pressed together and Wei Ying breaks away with a laugh.
“Oh! I forgot! This is for you too, by the way, happy birthday!” Wei Ying cheers as he pulls the stuffed rabbit out of his jacket. He beams and adorably makes the stuffed toy press a kiss to Lan Wangji’s cheek.
Lan Wangji accepts the rabbit with tender care. Pressing a soft kiss to it’s fuzzy head as he stares into Wei Ying’s eyes. After a moment, he contemplates what to do with the toy before reaching his arm out to toss the rabbit onto the top bunk above them.
Wei Ying blinks bemusedly at the movement. “Wait a minute… Whose bed are we on right now?”
“…. Xichen’s,” Lan Wangji admits reluctantly.
“It’s what he deserves for meddling,” he insists at Wei Ying’s look of disbelief but this just makes him giggle in a fit of hysterics, tears streaming down the sides of his face. Lan Wangji is careful to wipe them away.
Later that evening, Wei Ying and his parents join his family for his birthday dinner. Their mothers get along immediately and Lan Xichen pleasantly converses with Wei Ying’s father who is surprisingly calm in comparison to his wife and son.
As Wei Ying reaches to hold Lan Wangji’s hand under the table, Lan Wangji can’t help but think to himself that this is the best birthday he’s ever had.