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That paper felt heavy between his hands, the seal of the Lan clan's remained intact even when he gripped it with superhuman strenght. A single line was enough to shatter Wei Ying's vile facade.
“Lan Wangji's wedding..." the rest of the words blurred before his eyes.
—How funny. —he mutted as he dropped the thin invitation onto the table. Some malicious being had slipped that letter into his territory justo to tortured him.— The greatest Huanguang-jun. Getting married. —He leaned back, trying to process the news, letting a laugh rise in his chest. However, it never escaped his lips; the lump in his throat barely allowed him to breath, while his hands trembled.
—With Mian Mian... —he finished in a low voice. The sweet, proper, and decent Luo Qingyang. Wei Ying wanted with all his might to hate her, to despise her as much as he loathed the idea of her being Lan Zhan’s wife, yet he couldn’t. Deep down, he knew it wasn’t her fault either; the whole situation was a shit.
—Don’t even think about doing anything stupid, nobody wants you there —Wen Qing warned, with anger in his voice. He knew his friend was planning some idiocy, and he wasn’t wrong. Wei Wuxian suddenly stood up, pushing the table aside; the invitation fell to the floor, almost forgotten.
—Perfect. —Wuxian spat angrily.— Perfect, Lan Zhan. As proper as ever.
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The wedding was anything but low-key, even though the bride and groom are known for keeping a low profile. It was the union of two powerful clans, a sign of stability amid the chaos, with music and forced smiles, accompanied by well-wishes that sounded monotonous and insincere.
And at the center of it all stood Lan Wangji, his snow-white robes replaced by red-a crimson so familiar it hurt just to remember it. He stood as straight as ever, motionless and with a vacant gaze.
—You still have time to repent. —Lan Xichen murmured softly at his side. He received no answer, so he continued.— No one would judge you, and even if they did, you wouldn’t be able to hear them. You’d already be far away with… —He didn’t finish the sentence; there was no need. "It" was Wei Ying, always Wei Ying.
He met Wei Wuxian one spring in Gusu; his laughter made the icy heart that characterized Hanguang-Jun beat too fast. At first, he thought it was anger, his presence annoyed him so much that his heart rate increased. But he soon discovered it was love, a mutual affection. Thus began a romance so fleeting that only at night could he recall the kisses of his beloved, someone he now had to leave behind.
—It is my duty —Lan Zhan continued. This was what his uncle and the clan desired, he could never go against the rules, but it sounded so hollow. Lan Xichen, who knew all his traits, could sense it; for the first time, he didn't see the natural resolve of the youngest of the Lan's. Quite the contrary, he found only resignation which hurt more than any defiance. He prayed for that invitation would find it's way into the right hands and save his brother from this cruel fate.
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Soon the ceremony began; a beautiful Luo Qingyang walked toward her future husband with delicate steps, while Lan Wangji could only recall the happy moments he’d shared with the love of his life. The desperate kisses in the midst of nighttime hunts and those comforting embraces that only Wei Ying could offer him. He was so lost in his memories that he was taken completely by surprise by the sound of a flute bursting through the soft guqin, leaving everyone speechless. Despite this, it did not inspire fear... At least not in Lan Wangji, who already knew that melody; he had composed it and sung it softly for Wei Ying. That note sounded again, this time clearer and more resolute, making an impression on the guests.
“What is that?”
“That music…”
They murmured as the wind shifted, the candles flickered, and the incense faded. And from the gloomy shadows, Wei Wuxian made his entrance, walking slowly and without haste, striding right through the center of the ceremony as if the world belonged to him. His smile remained, while in his eyes there was nothing but anger.
—Sorry, I’m late —he said, tucking his flute into the belt of his robe.— Has it started yet? Or should I wait to shout ‘I object’? —A laugh escaped his lips, startling more than a few people.
—Wei Wuxian! —someone shouted.— This is a sacred ceremony.
The newly appointed one didn’t flinch at being mentioned; his eyes were already fixed on Lan Wangji.
—Lan Zhan —two words that brought down all the barriers of the younger Lan, who impulsively took a step forward, uttering “Wei Ying” almost in a whisper. It had been so long since he’d seen him; he missed watching his long hair move in the breeze and his ribbon as red as the outfit he was wearing right now. The mocking smile that had characterized him was almost gone; now, deep dark circles under his eyes and a worrying weight loss accompanied him. Despite that, he was still that boy he’d been hopelessly in love with for years.
—Really? —the patriarch of Yiling confronted him, tilting his head.— Is that all you’re going to say to me? After our abrupt separation and distance? Right in the middle of this circus you’ve put on? A complete charade. —He spread his arms, gesturing toward the altar, the guests, and the decorations.— What a spectacle you’ve put on.
—It’s not a spectacle.— Lan Wangji replied, trying to sound firm.— It’s a wedding—my wedding. —Wei Wuxian laughed, a loud, pained laugh.
—Of course. An elegant wedding with someone you don’t love. —Silence fell abruptly as the bride frowned.
—This is inappropriate... —she said nervously.
—Silence. You know perfectly well this has nothing to do with you. This is between Lan Zhan and me. —Wei Ying took another step forward.— Answer me, Lan Wangji, do you love her?
The man in question lowered his gaze, unable to answer. The Lans didn’t lie, and he certainly couldn’t do so in front of Wei Ying and those eyes as intoxicating as the emperor’s smile.
—Look at her. —Wuxian insisted.— Look at her and tell me you love her and want to spend the rest of your life by her side. —Lan Wangji obeyed. Mian Mian watched him expectantly, not out of love or longing, but only for the sake of her clan. And a marriage without affection is even sadder than death itself.
That was how Lan Zhan’s eyes met his once more, uttering an almost inaudible “no”. But it was enough to shock everyone present.
—Hanguang-Jun! This is a disgrace.
And Wei Wuxian could only smile as his eyes sparkled with the excitement and anxiety of the moment.
—Wei Ying, this changes anything. —The man’s face contorted, and his voice rose.
—No? —he asked, invading the honorable Hanguang-Jun’s personal space.— Then say it to my face. Tell me you don’t love me and that you can live without me. —Lan Wangji didn’t move or utter a single word; only thick tears fell alone down his porcelain cheeks.— Tell me. —He repeated, his voice breaking.— Tell me you don’t care, that you can live happily the life you’re choosing, tell me you’ll live without regrets and that you won’t think of me, tell me! —He exclaimed in a shout, straining the air as a dark energy flowed around him; the cultivators began to move, alarmed.
—Wei Wuxian, get a hold of yourself!
—Shut up! —he spat, his gaze still fixed on Lan Wangji, closer now, so close he could see his perfect features... Those golden eyes, his chiseled jawline, and his firm, prominent nose, marked by an arched bridge that jutted out at the top of the bridge but ended in a straight, upturned tip, dangerously attractive.— Because I can tell you this: I tried to forget you for both of our sakes, but you always came back to my memory, because you’re etched into me like a tattoo, and I love you so, so much that I feel like I’m dying just imagining you in someone else’s arms.
Lan Zhan closed his eyes.
—Please, Wei Ying.
—No, —He cut him off.— Today you won’t hide behind duty and rules, Lan. Fuck those stupid rules! —And without warning, he grabbed his wrist.— You must choose: them or me.
Lan Wangji opened his eyes, and this time there was no doubt, no resignation; it was as if the blindfold over his eyes had fallen away and now he could see only clarity. He raised his hand and cradled the face of his beloved Wei Ying, who looked at him through tears.
—You. —A single word was enough to send the crowd into a frenzy, but the protagonists of this story were oblivious to everyone else; Wei Wuxian broke the bubble between them with an incredulous laugh.
—Damn it, Lan Zhan, I thought I’d have to drag you out of here —he remarked as they hurried toward the exit, together, always together. Before crossing the threshold, Wei Ying stopped, afraid. What if Wangji later regretted this decision? He couldn’t live with that.— Are you sure? —he asked fearfully. However, the smile Lan Zhan offered him managed to erase all uncertainty.
—I’ve never been more sure. —Wuxian smiled.
—Good, because if you’d hesitated, I was going to kiss you passionately in front of everyone.
A blush spread across Lan Wangji’s usually serious face, reaching all the way to his ears.
—Wei Ying…
—What? —Lan Zhan didn’t answer; he simply pulled him close by the waist and suddenly kissed him right there, in front of everyone, and for the first time in years, Wei Wuxian felt whole.
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—And then? —asked his little listener.
—Then we bought radish seeds, which we planted and cared for with love, and after a few months, this little radish sprouted! —said Wei Wuxian, tickling his young son. Lan Wangji shook his head as he watched from the doorway.
—I hope you left out the swear words. —Wei Ying looked at him indignantly.
—Of course I did! What do you take me for, Lan Zhan?
—Dad said ‘damn it’ and another word I don’t remember —A-Yuan muttered, getting more tickles from his father.
—Lan Yuan, you’re a traitor! —Lan Zhan smiled at the scene, deeply happy that he’d made the right decision to be with Wei Ying, always by Wei Ying’s side.