Work Text:
Jiang Cheng was glad that Jiang Yanli had been at Meishan when Lotus Pier burned down. If she had been with him and Wei Wuxian, would she still be alive?
…was Wei Wuxian still alive?
They had left Lotus Pier together. They then returned, and left, and returned—and left for a final time, Jiang Cheng without his core. Wei Wuxian eventually brought him to Baoshan Sanren, who restored his core, but when Jiang Cheng descended the mountain… Wei Wuxian was gone.
Jiang Cheng had to believe that he was alive. He and Jiang Yanli couldn’t be the only survivors of the burning of Lotus Pier. Wei Wuxian had to be out there as well.
“This is where she’s been staying.” The kind voice of a Meishan Yu Clan disciple broke Jiang Cheng out of his thoughts. Jiang Cheng nodded in thanks, then knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” Jiang Yanli’s voice came through. Jiang Cheng almost sobbed. His sister. His sister was here, was alive…
“It’s me,” Jiang Cheng said, trying not to cry.
“A-Cheng?!”
The door opened, and Jiang Yanli’s eyes lit up. “It really is you!” She looked around. “Why are you here? How come no one else from Lotus Pier is with you?” She looked back at him and her eyes widened. “A-Cheng, why are you crying?”
It seems that Jiang Cheng couldn’t stop himself after all.
Jiang Cheng shut his eyes. “A-Jie… something happened.”