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It had been more than a decade and a half since Wei Wuxian had lived at Lotus Pier, but still, he remembered.
He remembered hot summers, splashing in the water with his shidis, and watermelon juice running down his throat. He remembered the roll of Jiang Cheng’s eyes and the smile on Jiang Yanli’s face. He remembered Jiang Fengmian and Yu-furen and–
Wei Wuxian tried not to think about Yunmeng when he was awake. He lived in Gusu now with his husband, Lan Wangji. The two of them were happy together. They didn’t always stay in Gusu, of course, they would often go out on night hunts together. It was a peaceful life, and Wei Wuxian would not ask for anything more. The past was the past and the present was the present.
But when he was asleep, Wei Wuxian was in Lotus Pier. He was still part of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan. Yet that was only in his dreams.
One day, Wei Wuxian woke up to see Lan Wangji gazing at him. Wei Wuxian tensed up. There was something strange about the way Lan Wangji was looking at him. “Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian said, trying to make his voice sound teasing. “Why are you looking at me like that? Do I look pretty?”
Lan Wangji nodded. “You are,” he confirmed. “But I want to ask…”
Wei Wuxian blinked. “Ask what?”
“What were you dreaming about?”
And Wei Wuxian realized: He must’ve said something in his sleep, or something similar, something to make Lan Wangji suspect that he was dreaming of Lotus Pier.
Wei Wuxian sat up quickly, and Lan Wangji got up as well. “Lan Zhan,” he said. “I’m happy in Gusu, I promise–” He swallowed. Oh, he was starting this off badly. “It’s just… I grew up in Yunmeng. I spent most of my life as head disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan.”
Lan Wangji nodded in understanding. “Do you want to go back?”
“No!” Wei Wuxian yelped. “It’s not the same, and they won’t accept me. Besides! I’m happy here! I told you!” He wasn’t too sure what was making him so scared. Maybe it was because he knew that Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng didn’t get along? Maybe he feared that Lan Wangji would think Wei Wuxian would choose living in Lotus Pier again over him?
But once he calmed down, he thought it through. No. Lan Wangji knew him very well. He knew Wei Wuxian wouldn’t leave him for anything in the world.
“I meant,” Lan Wangji clarified, “would you like to go back to visit?”
Wei Wuxian looked at his husband, then smiled slightly. “I would,” he confirmed.
So the two of them set off, and after a quick ride on Bichen, they ended up at the gates of Lotus Pier.
One of the disciples noticed them and rushed off to inform Jiang Cheng. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji could do nothing except wait.
And finally, Jiang Cheng arrived.
“Hanguang-jun,” Jiang Cheng greeted Lan Wangji first, then looked at Wei Wuxian and frowned, unsure how to address him. Eventually, he said, “Wei Wuxian.”
Wei Wuxian was glad Jiang Cheng used his name. Their relationship had seemingly been ruined beyond repair, but maybe it could be fixed, just a little.
Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian respectfully greeted Jiang Cheng as well (though Wei Wuxian called him “Jiang Cheng,” which drew a few looks from the nearby disciples), and then the three of them entered Lotus Pier.