Chapter Text
"Wei-Gongzi, you were expecting me to marry, but did you never expect me to compare that person with you at all?"
Wei Wuxian, "What is there to compare? I am a man, and the person you'll marry must be a woman."
Lan Xichen let go of the hands that he held earlier, and instead brought his own hands to the other person's face and caressed the corner of his eyes. "What to compare? For example, don't you think I will compare why their eyes are not as charming as yours?"
His index finger traveled lower and slightly nudged his nose. "——Won't I compare why their nose is not as exquisite as yours?"
He traced lower, "——Or why their lips aren't as red and...as inviting as yours?" He said as his thumb pressed Wei Wuxian's lower lip, causing the young man to part his mouth slightly.
Wei Wuxian called out, "Zewu-Jun, you-,"
Lan Xichen cut him off, and this time sighing as if in lament, he said, "——I will also wonder why their face is not as bright as yours when they smile. Or why they are not as flirtatious enough as they glance at me?"
Wei Wuxian froze as he heard this, forgetting what he was about to say.
Lan Xichen smiled and guided his fingers to continue tracing to the person's slender neck, and again, a parted open robes, showing off quite a large portion of his chest. He said, "——I may also wonder why their collarbone is not as delicately crafted as yours?"
Ultimately, he brought his other hand to circle Wei Wuxian's waist. He lowered his head and whispered in his ears, "——Surely, I will also compare why their waist is not as slender as yours, and-," Lan Xichen paused, suddenly giving a squeeze to the tender flesh on the sides of his waist.
Wei Wuxian let out a loud gasp, and his body inevitably softened, toppling forward. Lan Xichen immediately took him right in his arms, all while continuing to speak,
"——may wonder why their waist is not as sensitive as yours." He concluded with a triumphant smile on his face. "——And why they're not as comfortable as you to....embrace."
Lan Xichen woke up with a startle.
His chest rose and fell vigorously.
He felt one of his arms felt numb and when he took a look at his side, it turned out a certain person was entangling him like an Octopus and used his shoulder as a pillow to support his head.
Faintly the sound of the bell ringing in the Cloud Recesses was heard.
It was early Maoshi.
Lan Xichen carefully lifted Wei Wuxian's head from his shoulder, and unclasped his arms and legs one by one from his body. He put the young man into a proper sleeping position and covered him with the blanket.
He sat up on the bed, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.
'What a dream!'
He rubbed his face and wailed in his mind.
Deep down inside, he accounted such a dream due to Wei Wuxian's, again, provocation last night.
Recalling what happened after reaching a consensus on the right solution, with Wei Wuxian finally agreed to the marriage arrangement, they'd proceeded to have their dinner afterward. Around Haishi, Lan Xichen habitually checked Wei Wuxian's pulse once again in the bedroom.
Afterward, when Wei Wuxian saw him about to enter a side room to sleep, he said, "Isn't this your own bedroom? Why do you have to sleep like a guest? Just sleep here together. Or else, I will be the one to sleep in the side room."
Lan Xichen was still hesitating to explain, but Wei Wuxian came to tease him again, "Why? You dared to do many things, but you don't even dare to sleep on the same bed? Are you afraid I will do something to you? Don't worry, I won't do anything."
As a result, the "I won't do anything"-person rolled around during his sleep and clutched him like an Octopus the whole night.
Perhaps Gusu was way colder compared to the humid Yunmeng. In Lotus Pier, Wei Wuxian would have slept sprawled on the bed and disliked having to crowd with others. But here in the Cloud Recesses, Wei Wuxian changed his sleeping habit to seek a source of warmth instead.
Putting what happened last night aside, Lan Xichen was convinced that it must be due to Wei Wuxian's teasing that he had such...such a lascivious dream!
That's right. It must be Wei Wuxian's fault! It was absolutely not because, he, Lan Xichen himself had such a thought!!
Lan Xichen sighed once again.
Wei Wuxian might be compliant in Jinlintai that night since he was weakened and affected by the medicine, but if in his sensible state Lan Xichen harassed him as in the dream, he wouldn't believe the young man would stay still and let him do whatever he wanted!
'A dream is a dream after all...'
Lan Xichen put his leg down from the bed and stood up, starting his morning routine.
The Hanshi was located in a secluded place at the other part of GusuLan Sect mountain. The residence for every generation of Lan Sect Leader was built no different than the general style of the Cloud Recesses. It's putting more on elegance rather than gaudiness. The residence had finely carved wooden beams and lattice windows framing throughout the building.
In the late afternoon, the sun bathed the yard in a warm glow. The gentle rustling of bamboo leaves in the surrounding area created a soothing rhythm under the light breeze, adding to the tranquility of the scene.
Lan Wangji was standing on the small path among the bamboo grooves.
His gaze locked onto the courtyard a short distance away from him.
It wasn't the first time he was here, standing quietly for who knew how long. During the past 1 month, he had been here like this. He knew inside the building was the person he wished to see the most. But he couldn't bring himself to visit and see how the other person was doing.
Yesterday, Lan Xichen had informed the Clan that Wei Wuxian had woken up.
...As well as the news that Wei Wuxian agreed to the marriage arrangement.
The more reason Lan Wangji was unable to bring himself to see him.
His eyes were in a daze as his mind was filled with various struggles.
It was because of this that he was caught unprepared when suddenly, the door of the courtyard slid open.
A young man in a white GusuLan garment walked out to the front veranda.
As he looked around the yard, he exclaimed in surprise when he spotted Lan Wangji in the bamboo path,
"Lan Zhan! It's you!"
It was too late for Lan Wangji to walk away. The other party had already strode out excitedly to his side. "It's just right! I feel so bored inside. Why don't you accompany me and chat for a while?"
This morning when Wei Wuxian woke up at the late hour of Chenshi (09.00), Lan Xichen was no longer in the house. A small tray of breakfast set was left behind with a note:
"Wei-Gongzi, I am going down the Mountain to take care of some small matter until Shenshi (17.00). Wei-Gongzi is free to do whatever he wants, and you may use the Hanshi however you like."
Lan Xichen.
Wei Wuxian had slandered him in his heart, 'You are obviously going out but you didn't bring me out to play! What injustice!'
But then again, thinking that Lan Xichen probably went out at the late hour of Maoshi (07.00), it's no wonder that he didn't think to bring Wei Wuxian along. It's his own fault for not waking up early!
After having his breakfast, Wei Wuxian had tried to rummage around the Hanshi a little, but found nothing he felt interested in, at least for now. To be more honest, Wei Wuxian felt itchy and just wanted to go out. Even if he saw an interesting book inside that he'd love to read, he still couldn't force his mood to read. When he wanted to do something, he just wanted to do it, and all other interests were unable to hold him down.
It was at this time when he planned to take a peek around and see what the yard of the Hanshi looked like, that to his surprise, he found Lan Wangji instead.
On the other hand, when Wei Wuxian excitedly greeted him, subconsciously, Lan Wangji wanted to refuse.
However, his mind unknowingly trailed back to that regretful night in Lanling. Thinking about it, if he were to refuse again today, would he pile another regret he could never reconcile in the future?
Lan Wangji veered his gaze downward, staring at the top of his white boot. When he looked up, he calmly replied, "What do you want to talk about?"
Wei Wuxian said, "Whatever is fine. Hmmmm, Let's say, for example, how about you first take me and have a look at the newly built Cloud Recesses?"
The person in front of him hesitated. "...Why don't you go with Xiongzhang?"
"Why should I go with him?" Wei Wuxian looked at him in confusion. "It's just strolling around, there's no need to bother Zewu-Jun."
Lan Wangji dazedly thought, 'Just strolling around...'
——but this kind of thing, should it not be done between couples to spend some more time together?
However, if...if Wei Ying wanted to go with him instead,
He turned around and said softly, "Follow me."
Wei Wuxian cheered and immediately rushed past him. The young man later walked backward, putting his two arms on the back of his head, and talked with him.
"Lan Zhan, you were so persistent in bringing me to Gusu. Too bad for you now, you can't force me anymore, haha. Now I can be considered your elder, you have to think more before chiding me. I will make a complaint to your older brother if you make me angry."
Lan Wangji didn't reply, merely pursing his lip in a tight line.
Wei Wuxian didn't mind his silence either. In reality, this was how the usual "chatting" often went with Hanguang-Jun. It's his responsibility to speak and Lan Wangji could just listen silently.
He looked around at the sparsely populated mountainside and suddenly wondered, "Speaking of which, why don't you show me where are you planning to imprison me during my rehabilitation here?"
Lan Wangji was taken aback. "Who said I will imprison you?"
Wei Wuxian whipped his head back. "Weren't you?? With how tenacious you are criticizing me over and over about my cultivation, were you not planning to convert me back to the right path at all costs?"
"The visit has never been intended to denounce you!" Lan Wangji suddenly stopped his pace and interjected him.
"Hmm?" Wei Wuxian also stopped. "Oh? It's not to denounce me? Than what? To rehabilitate me? If I'm still unwilling to stop, will you resort to a more serious method? Well, either way is the same."
Lan Wangji looked like he was at a loss. "I am not. Wei Ying, I have never...I do not think that way."
Wei Wuxian raised his brow. "You don't think that way? Then why did you keep saying my GuiDao harms the mind and body, saying it as if the nature of the path is malevolent? Where did you get the evidence from? Aside for me, was there anyone who successfully manipulated resentful energy? No one, right?"
Wei Wuxian suddenly laughed lightly. "...But it's to be expected. After all, what I have shown you all, the mastery in my cultivation path, is one where it's leaving nothing but a bloody path."
He turned around and waved his hand. "Forget it, let's not mention it again. I'm here in Gusu at the end of the day."
Hearing this, Lan Wangji looked even more at a loss.
Indeed, putting the reason aside, Wei Wuxian really came to Gusu in the end. Forgetting whoever brought him here, the goal of keeping him safely in Gusu was achieved at the end of the day.
"...You are right...You are in Gusu, after all of this..." He murmured under his breath.
Wei Wuxian resumed his walk and started to stroll around the stone paths.
He started the conversation again, "Lan Zhan, now that I remember, I seemed to give you 2 rabbits before. Where are they now? Are they still alive? Oh, no, I'm sorry, I heard wild rabbits only live around 5-6 years. It's been exactly that period."
Wei Wuxian said that, but in reality, he realized that the Cloud Recesses once had some parts of their buildings burnt down. During the chaos, who knew, maybe the rabbits back then were chased away by the commotion, or died due to stress. Keeping pets wasn't that easy.
He kept walking forward but suddenly noticed Lan Wangji had stopped following him.
"Lan Zhan?" He looked back.
The other man stared back at him. "It is this way." He said.
"Hm?"
Lan Wangji patiently said, "You said, you want to see the rabbits. It is this way."
Wei Wuxian saw the stone path Lan Wangji motioned him to leading to a small mountain path. He felt his eyes widened in amazement.
A second later, he spun around, trotting back to Lan Wangji's side, and began to urge him happily, saying, "I want to see! Let me see the rabbits! Let's go, let's go see them, Lan Zhan!"
To no one's surprise, the development became into a one-sided love-shura field. In other words, Wei Wuxian's popularity with little animals still didn't get better.
The cluster of rabbits ran away when he tried to catch them.
Wei Wuxian felt the relationship between him, the rabbits, and Lan Wangji was like a pet seller, the pets, and the pet owner. Once the pet changed hands from seller to buyer, these little rascals forgot the person who rescued them to the warm house, and soon pledged their love to the new owner.
So pet owner Lan Wangji had to catch the rabbits and put them properly to be held by Wei Wuxian.
Looking at the pair of rabbits, one cheeky, one docile, Wei Wuxian wondered, "Lan Zhan, how did you differentiate these 2 between the cluster? Why can't I see the difference?" Wei Wuxian looked back at the white furry group on the other end of the field. "How strange...They all looked like chubby little bunnies to me. Are you sure you don't overfeeding them? They look so round, oh! Hahaha, on second thought, they are fitting to the term 'Chang'E bunnies', as round as the Autumn Moon! What do you think, Lan Zhan?"
Lan Wangji examined the two furry babies seriously, and reflected in his heart, 'Did I give them too many treats these months?'
During the war, Lan Wangji didn't have much time to care about the rabbits. Therefore, as soon as the war ended and they returned to settle back in the Cloud Recesses, he couldn't help but spoil the rabbits. However, as rabbits' staple foods were hay, other delicacies like carrots, apples, strawberries, or bananas shouldn't be given too often and only in moderation.
He reacted, "...Mn. I will pay attention more to their meal."
As if knowing their fate, the two rabbits suddenly struggled fiercely in Wei Wuxian's arms.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Wei Wuxian had to put them down, and as soon as the two were put on the ground, they gave him a look of resentment, as if denouncing him, 'Whoever says to reduce our treato time is a Heinous Human!'
Wei Wuxian was amused with their baleful little stare instead and joked, "Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, look at these two! Hahaha, they're amazing. Do you think they know that they're going to have less snacks?"
Lan Wangji bent down and petted the two bunnies to soothe them, huffing softly. "I don't know."
It was unknown how long they sat in the clearing, with Wei Wuxian talking, and Lan Wangji responding in between, while petting the rabbits.
The moment they were aware of the time was when they heard someone suddenly called out,
"Wei-Gongzi! So you were here..."
It was Lan Xichen.
He descended, with slow and graceful steps to the clearing on the slope. The man was smiling the whole time. Coupled with his white robes fluttering from the mountain breeze, he appeared even more elegant and picturesque.
"Zewu-Jun!" Wei Wuxian greeted him in surprise.
"Xiongzhang." Lan Wangji also greeted him in a low voice.
Lan Xichen came to their side and told them, "I went back to the Hanshi and couldn't find Wei-Gongzi, so I thought you probably went to find Wangji. I was right." Bending down and petting one of the bunnies, he apologized, "I should have realized you might feel bored without company and things to spend time with in the Hanshi. It is my negligence."
"No, actually, it's not as serious as you think. It's just a coincidence that I saw Lan Zhan when I came out about to see what the yard in the Hanshi looks like, and then here I come, to bother him." Wei Wuxian laughed.
Lan Xichen smiled at him. "Is that so? You can tell me if you would like to get some items to spend your time, or if you would like to do something else?"
"Hmmmmmm..." Wei Wuxian relaxed his posture and pondered as he shifted his gaze to the sky.
It was at this time that he finally discovered the sky had turned orange, sparsely dotted with some small cluster of dark clouds. It's dusk already. No wonder Lan Xichen had gone back.
After mulling for some time, Wei Wuxian was still humming and had yet to answer.
"Can't think of it?" Lan Xichen chuckled.
Wei Wuxian raised his brows and looked back at him. "If you suddenly ask me like this, I can't make up my mind right away. My interest often comes out of nowhere."
Lan Xichen patted his arm gently. "That's fine. Just tell me when you have things you want to get."
Lan Wangji put his gaze lower and lower.
His knuckles grazed on the rabbit's fur absentmindedly, giving them rigid grating rather than rhythmic stroking.
The rabbit he was petting let out a small whine, complaining why this petting officer didn't work conscientiously.
But the petting officer didn't realize their complaint. The corner of his eyes caught the scene not far from him. Even if he wished not to see it, he couldn't help but still glance at it.
Right now, whoever was here witnessing the scene, they must think that the picture of these two people was so pleasing in the eye. The view of two good-looking men sitting closely facing each other with smiles on their faces —— one appears as gentle and elegant as an Orchid, while the other is as amorous and charming as Peach Blossom —— it's breathtaking. Looking so harmonious that no third person could get in...
"——Ji, Wangji? Wangji? Did you hear me?"
Lan Wangji was snapped out of his trance.
He looked up and saw both Lan Xichen and Wei Wuxian were staring at him with expectation.
His older brother repeated himself, "I told Wei-Gongzi just now, if he would like to help you in arranging the Library Pavilion. Wei-Gongzi said he's interested in seeing our book collections. In this case, starting tomorrow, he will join you in the library. What do you think?"
Lan Wangji blinked his eyes, digesting the information given.
"Xiongzhang?"
'Why?'
Lan Xichen smiled warmly at him. "These days, I have a lot of things to organize. Since Wei-Gongzi is here, why don't you accompany him in my stead?"
He saw how anxious his younger brother was, both in the morning after the accident in the Flower Banquet, and also the past 1 month during Wei Wuxian's coma. After hearing Lan Wangji's confession that day in the Ancestral Hall, he knew that the two had parted away in a bad light. If he didn't push them from behind, Lan Wangji would never try to come forward.
So, it's just right. Letting Wei Wuxian participate in their Library Pavilion re-arrangement was to make the young man feel closer and plant a sense of belonging to the Cloud Recesses in him. As Lan Wangji supervised the work there, it could also alleviated their tense relationship from before.
Meanwhile, Lan Wangji dazedly thought in his heart,
'...Does this mean, I will spend the whole day with Wei Ying, in the library, starting tomorrow?'
Wei Wuxian snickered at the side.
"Lan Zhan! First of all, I'm not there to be punished. So you absolutely can not silence me like before! Zewu-Jun, how about you give some of your words to tell your younger brother now."
Lan Xichen assured him, "Don't worry, Wangji will not put you in any silencing spell. But also, Wei-Gongzi, you must reduce the volume of your voice, well...at least so that it can't be heard from yards away." He joked lightly.
Wei Wuxian gained his insurance and immediately became triumphant, "So you heard that, Lan Zhan!"
Lan Wangji lowered his eyelid slightly. His eyes trembled for a moment.
"...Mn." He answered.
There's a minuscule smile in the corner of his lip
He promised, "I will never silence you."
Whatever you want to say, I will hear it.