Chapter Text
Chu Xiuyuan climbed up the steps of Koi Tower, stretching his back as he did so. What was the purpose of all these steps?
He would surely be panting if he did not possess a golden core. As it were, Chu Xiuyuan's golden core was not really anything to brag about.
He had devoted his life to research and the study of medicinal plants. It was only reasonable that he was not as strong as the average cultivator.
Nonetheless, he did not care about it. Because the average cultivator would be nothing without his research!
And that is why he had been invited to his very first sect conference. Despite being a rogue cultivator, his research had gained enough attention to be called upon by none other than the Lanling Jin sect leader himself.
Chu Xiuyuan tried not to look too smug. After all, he did not need the sects' approval. He had a lot of opinions about the very concept of sects itself, especially the ones controlled by clans.
But it still helped to gain their recognition. His work was taken more seriously in jianghu and most importantly, he was going to secure some funding if any of these affluent cultivators wanted to use his findings.
He looked around the crowd of cultivators, milling around in groups of three or four. The doors to the hall were open with attendants standing guard, ready to receive their guests, but the cultivators had no interest in going in just yet.
Well, Chu Xiuyuan was not one for idle talk, especially in the absence of any beautiful omegas.
He was about to enter when he heard someone tsk.
"Shameless the both of them! You haven't seen them, Shi-gongzi. You wouldn't believe your eyes that he was once the Jade Omega of Lan."
Chu Xiuyuan stopped in his place, his head angling towards the group of cultivators gossiping in the corner.
"Yes. They really are. The alpha especially! Wei Wuxian looks like he's perpetually in a rut."
Chu Xiuyuan turned around fully, taking a step towards them.
Another man piped in, "Yes, yes. I have seen him scent Lan-er-gongzi in public! The indecency of it all!"
The first man shook his head, crossing his arms. "They do that all the time, Lao Xu. Is It even surprising after the news of their marriage?"
A third man, with a great beard, nodded. "Such a rushed wedding! And the child? Born seven months after it. No matter how much old man Qiren tries to cover it up, the fact remains the same."
The others nodded along.
"And have you seen how the two stick to each other in meetings? So obscene! It is no wonder the Lan omega got pregnant out of wedlock."
Chu Xiuyuan scowled. Did they have no better job to do?
The first man waved his companion's comment away. "What's more obscene is how territorial that Wei Wuxian acts towards the Lan. It would have been fine if he were pregnant. But it has been a year since the child was born and he still growls when an alpha comes near him!"
Chu Xiuyuan gave him a skeptical look. Enough was enough.
With a loud laugh, he walked into their group, wrapping an arm around the man's shoulders. "Ah, does someone have a little crush on Lan-er-gongzi?"
The man turned red and sputtered, "What- who are you? Don't speak nonsense!"
Chu Xiuyuan smiled. "Why else would you go near a happily married omega?"
"That is not true," Lao Xu came to his friend's defense. "Wei Wuxian is extremely hostile. It is saddening to watch. Makes you wonder about Lan-er-gongzi's loyalty."
Chu Xiuyuan huffed. "Do you have nothing better to waste your time on than to wonder about Lan-er-gongzi's loyalty?"
The third man chimed in, "It is only natural. Did you not hear, gongzi, about Wei Wuxian breaking Su She's arm? Just for grabbing Lan Wangji's wrist?"
A new voice interjected before Chu Xiuyuan could, "Now, now. I only sprained it."
They all whirled around and Chu Xiuyuan relaxed at the sight of his old friend.
Wei Wuxian shrugged, an innocent pout on his face. "Why am I being blamed for his weak constitution?"
"Wei-gongzi," Chu Xiuyuan smiled, while the others shrunk in place.
"Chu Xiuyuan! I told you to call me Wei Wuxian." He crossed his arms and pouted even more. "Why do you call my husband by his name, but not me?"
"Well, for one, your husband likes me."
Wei Wuxian glared at him but Chu Xiuyuan could tell he wasn't being serious. Dropping the frown, he waved him over. "Come, Lan Zhan will be pleased to know you are here."
Chu Xiuyuan took his arm off the man, who was now scared to the point of shaking, adjusted his robes and walked over to Wei Wuxian.
But Wei Wuxian left him standing to go to the group of cultivators instead, making them yelp.
He stopped in front of the first man, staring down at him with a glacial smile, the same smile he had when they burnt the plant yao.
"Song Yao," Wei Wuxian said pleasantly, before fixing the man's collar, who shook from head to toe. "If I ever hear my husband's name in any of your mouths again, an arm won't be the only thing I break."
Chu Xiuyuan watched with glee as Wei Wuxian threatened with a cheerful expression as if he was merely commenting on the nice weather.
Without another word, Wei Wuxian turned around and came back to Chu Xiuyuan's side. "Let's go," he said, ignoring the cultivators entirely, who had taken that moment to flee.
Chu Xiuyuan laughed as they walked away. "You haven't changed, Wei-gongzi."
He saw Wei Wuxian smile from the corner of his eyes. "You will understand when you marry."
Chu Xiuyuan shook his head. "You married lot always say this."
"Because it is true."
"Really? So have you finally told Lan Wangji you love him?"
Wei Wuxian turned to him, suspicious. "Did Lan Zhan tell you something?"
Chu Xiuyuan shook his head. "I merely guessed. For you to be as happily married as you are, that can be the only conclusion."
A small wistful smile appeared on Wei Wuxian's lips, his eyes far away. "Yes, yes I did," he said softly.
Chu Xiuyuan sighed in relief. "I am glad."
He had not liked seeing his friend hurting back then, especially when the solution itself was so simple. It didn't take a genius to figure out how serious Wei Wuxian was about Lan Wangji, but it seemed that in matters of the heart, Wei Wuxian did not quite live up to his infamous reputation.
"Where is Lan Wangji anyway?"
"He will be coming out anytime now. He had to stay behind in our rooms to feed A-Yuan," Wei Wuxian said proudly.
Chu Xiuyuan lit up. "Oh, A-Yuan is here?"
Wei Wuxian nodded, puffing up his chest even more. "We came here a few days early to visit my sister. Did you know he can walk now? He's such a fast learner!"
"Taken after Lan Wangji, I presume."
Rather than being angry, Wei Wuxian smiled at the teasing. "Yes, he is so adorable. He looks more like me but his nose is entirely like Lan Zhan's! And he quiets down the moment Lan Zhan frowns at him. It's so cute."
Chu Xiuyuan nodded, knowing the barrage of stories about the baby was just beginning.
"And he falls a lot! But he still walks! So brave and strong! Just like his A-Die!"
Wei Wuxian spoke with animated hands, getting more excited, "And he's so small but he doesn't get scared at all when we fly with him! I have never seen anyone be so peaceful that high up in the air. You should see him, Chu Xiuyuan."
"I will."
"And when you hold him, he will grab your chin without fail and it's the cutest thing ever! He has an obsession with chins right now. He starts crying if anyone denies him. Lan Zhan is the only one who can quiet him down after that."
As Wei Wuxian droned on, Chu Xiuyuan internally sighed. This is why he never befriended parents.
But as he looked at Wei Wuxian's smiling face, he found that he couldn't really resent them for having found their happiness. Especially when they had been so close to losing it.
And so, Chu Xiuyuan dutifully listened.
***
Lan Wangji squeezed the hand on his thigh as Sect Leader Yao prattled on about sect boundaries and the importance of maintaining it.
His husband turned to him in question.
"I will go check on A-Yuan," Lan Wangji whispered.
Wei Wuxian nodded. "I will come with." He got up in an instant and pulled Lan Wangji along with him, interlocking their fingers in the process.
"You don't have to," Lan Wangji protested, despite the two of them already walking towards the doors.
"Why would I stay in a hall full of stuffy old men," Wei Wuxian said as they rounded the exit, "when I could be doing this?"
With that, Wei Wuxian suddenly pushed him against the wall, making Lan Wangji gasp.
He mouthed against the mating mark on Lan Wangji's neck, his hands grabbing his waist. "Have I told you today," he mumbled against his skin, "how much I love you?"
Lan Wangji smiled, melting in Wei Wuxian's arms. "Mn."
Wei Wuxian kissed his way up his throat before sucking at his jaw. "Really?"
Lan Wangji nodded, going weak in the knees. "This morning."
Wei Wuxian pressed kisses into both of his cheeks. "That long! I let my Lan Zhan go without thinking he's loved for that long."
Lan Wangji huffed in amusement. "I would not forget that quickly."
Wei Wuxian shook his head, his lips finally pressing down to Lan Wangji's before moving away. "I should serve my penance. I deserve to be whipped."
Lan Wangji wrapped his arms around his husband's neck, joining in in his games. "Make up for it instead."
It was a thing Wei Wuxian had started after the first time he had confessed his love to him. It had been around the time Lan Wangji had been carrying A-Yuan for eight months, nearly at the end of his pregnancy. They had been in bed, with Lan Wangji almost dozing off in Wei Wuxian's arms, when his husband had jerked him awake.
"Lan Zhan? Lan Zhan, wake up. Lan Zhan!"
He had blinked open his eyes, to find Wei Wuxian teary-eyed, smiling down at him.
"I love you."
Lan Wangji had gasped, all sleep forgotten as he struggled to sit up with his heavily pregnant belly.
"I love you, I love you. I love you so much, Lan Zhan. I am sorry I didn't say it earlier. I am sorry you had to wait. I love you so much. So, so much. I don't think it was ever possible for me to not love you."
And he had continued to say it ever since. Everyday, without fail, Lan Wangji was reminded of how much he was loved.
"I love you," Wei Wuxian whispered now against his lips. "My husband, my omega, my Lan Zhan."
Lan Wangji shivered in place, closing his eyes as his husband kissed him.
"I will love you in this life and all my lives after that."
Lan Wangji kissed him in return. "You aim to cultivate to immortality."
Wei Wuxian laughed. "Then it's good that I am planning to be married to you forever."
Lan Wangji smiled yet again. "Mn."
It was good indeed.