Afternoon Tea and Talking To Your Crush
Within that same afternoon, Lan Wangji entered the Elegant Room where he had been previously told that his uncle was there and was greeted with an attendant.
"Ah, second master. Your uncle is in the tea room." The attendant bowed before him and Lan Wangji nodded and hummed.
The attendant moved to allow Lan Wangji access and he entered the tea room - a spacious yet lightly furnished room at the back of the Elegant Room with a wide polished table in the middle on a raised platform. Seated on one end of the table was the strict, bearded and wise Grandmaster Lan Qiren, with his eyes closed as if he was in the middle of meditating.
Lan Wangji stood by in complete silence, his breathing slow and steady. He waited for his uncle to finish contemplation before addressing him. The same attendant had entered with a tray of white and blue porcelain tea cups and was placing them on the table, the soft chinking of porcelain making contact with the polished wood of the table stirring Lan Qiren from his meditation.
"Ah, my tea is here." he rumbled quietly. He looked up to see Lan Wangji standing still as ice, his expression neutral.
"Oh, and my nephew is also here. For how long have you been standing there, Wangji?"
"Long enough." the younger nephew spoke quietly yet cordially. A small affectionate huff escaped Lan Qiren's lips.
"Why didn't you tell me you had arrived?" He asked. Lan Wangji looked as guilty as he could muster without breaking his icy facade.
"I didn't want to disturb you." He answered, his voice rumbling quietly.
"You don't need to worry about that. You can disturb me whenever you wish." Lan Qiren answered with a wave of his hand and gestured for Lan Wangji to take a seat opposite him. Lan Wangji silently accepted and elegantly knelt on the cushion, readjusting his robes accordingly. With his back perfectly straight and eyes looking ahead, the Second Jade was as polished and poised as ever. The same attendant poured Lan Wangji some tea before slipping away to give them privacy.
"I have been informed that Xichen will not be able to join us this afternoon, which is quite the shame, however since you're here, my afternoon isn't going to be so dull. How were the students this morning? I was teaching the afternoon classes a while ago and some of them mentioned you. Thought I would check in." Lan Qiren queried innocently. Lan Wangji slowly took a sip of his steaming tea before answering.
"The students were attentive as usual and some had stayed behind to ask me questions. They were all very well behaved. I had no issues."
"That's good to hear. The juniors harbour quite the admiration for you as it is. Have you spoken with Jingyi at all since class finished? I was hoping to know if he's doing well."
Lan Qiren seemed keen for some insight and information - it wasn't because he was being nosy, in fact it was quite the opposite, he was only looking out for his family. Lan Jingyi was Lan Qiren's grandnephew as his own uncle had a brother who sired a son who then grew up, then got married to a lovely woman from a branch sect of Gusu Lan before they had a child of their own - that child was Lan Jingyi. Lan Jingyi greatly admired Lan Wangji and practically idolised the Second Jade, aspiring to grow up to become someone like Wangji and he was an outspoken, loud, sassy and honest young man who didn't quite fit into the image of the "demure and saintly" cultivator that the Gusu Lan elders had been trying to convey for over seven hundred years. But, despite Lan Jingyi's brashness and loud personality, he was no doubt a righteous Lan in his own right and Lan Xichen practically showered the boy in love and affection in the absence of his parents were were currently away.
Lan Qiren, despite his strict outward nature, was a soft and humble man who adored his family and unflappably allowed Lan Jingyi's personality to shine - he did not wish for his own grandnephew to receive the same treatment his nephews had been subjected to as children and cause the child to lose his spark.
"No, not since I finished the morning lessons. Xiongzhang might have but I didn't ask when we took a stroll together." Lan Wangji answered in his usual monotonous voice, yet still held a high degree of respect. He didn't want to be caught being rude to his uncle.
"I'm certain you experienced no issues on your end either Shufu. The senior disciples are more like us rather than harbouring the innocence of the younger generation." Lan Wangji initiated more of the conversation, having taken an interest. Lan Qiren sipped more of his tea, savouring the mellow flavour.
"Yes, the seniors who attended were all as dutiful as you and Xichen. I had no issues whatsoever. Though, speaking of your brother, I have heard that he has invited two esteemed guests to the Cloud Recesses." Lan Qiren quipped, sipping another mouthful of his tea.
"Really? I was not made aware of this Shufu." Lan Wangji spoke again.
"He did not tell you?" Lan Qiren was surprised by this piece of information. Lan Xichen always told his younger brother of the many things that went on in the Cloud Recesses - they practically ran the clan sect together. It seemed so out of character for Lan Xichen to deprive Lan Wangji of any sort of news. It was a main source of conversation for both brothers since Lan Wangji was not the most confidently outward speaker.
"Not exactly." Lan Wangji answered vaguely. Lan Xichen had actually told him earlier but on the way to the pavilion for afternoon tea, Lan Xichen had come up with a plan. He told Lan Wangji to tell their uncle that "he hadn't heard about the esteemed guests since Xiongzhang had been busy." Essentially, Lan Wangji was to tell a white lie to make it look like he hadn't had an unfortunate and unexpected encounter with the Yiling Laozu (in the Cold Springs). Lying may be forbidden for the Lans, but telling a white lie or a vague truth was hardly a punishable offence. Lan Xichen explained on the way that he would bring his guests to the Elegant Room's tea area so that Lan Wangji would be able to redo his reunion on a much more cordial term.
"Oh I see. Well perhaps he had meant to yet he did not get a chance to speak with you about it."
"Xiongzhang is very busy with sect matters most days, so I don't blame him."
It was as if Lan Xichen had heard these words being spoken by his brother that he had suddenly appeared, robes fluttering as he walked gracefully into the room. "Shufu." he greeted with a radiant smile and a twinkle in his eye. Lan Qiren let out a chuckle.
"Ah, it seems speaking of him summons him to our side. We were just talking about you."
"Oh really?" Lan Xichen played along, laughing. The plan was going smoothly it seemed.
Lan Wangji dipped his head in greeting. "Xiongzhang."
Lan Xichen touched the top of Lan Wangji's head and stroked his hair gently - similar to how their mother used to many, many moons ago.
"There's no need for such uptight formalities, especially between family." Lan Xichen gently chided, eyes still twinkling. Even Lan Qiren chuckled a little.
"But our teachings…" Lan Wangji protested a little.
"Your brother is right, Wangji - or should I say A-Zhan - when we're all together in this tea room, formalities are not needed. In this room, we are not upstanding Gusu cultivators of righteousness, we are just the Lans. Family. There's no need to treat us or address us differently because we have a higher status. And besides, if we are speaking of ranks within the family, you hold the second highest -"
"Fifth." Lan Wangji muttered in a breath, his forlorn expression even more downcast. Lan Qiren tutted.
"Second." He corrected glumly. "Forget about your aunt and your granduncle, in this immediate family, you are your father's youngest son and you outrank even myself. I just want to have tea with both of my nephews without the formalities dragging you down."
Lan Wangji nodded and a faint smile appeared on his pristine and handsome features.
"Alright." He murmured.
Lan Qiren, satisfied, turned his attention to his eldest nephew.
"I'm glad you were able to join us. It's not exactly the same without you."
"Hopefully I haven't kept you waiting long Shufu."
"No you didn't. Though I thought you weren't going to be able to join us this afternoon, which would have been a massive shame if that became the case."
Lan Xichen chuckled. "Well, I had some time on my hands so I've put aside my work to join my family. Besides, I wouldn't miss our afternoon tea session for the world." Lan Xichen patted his uncle's arm.
An attendant was summoned once more - to be precise it was the same one that had served tea to Lan Qiren earlier - and they bought another plate of cakes and an empty white and blue porcelain tea cup for Lan Xichen to use.
As Lan Xichen settled, the attendant disappeared just as swiftly as they arrived and Lan Qiren prepared the tea for his eldest nephew.
"We were speaking about Jingyi just now. Did you see him at all after his classes?" Lan Qiren asked. Lan Xichen smiled serenely and nodded. "Of course. It was a brief conversation but it was after the morning classes. I was at the Orchid Room to see Wangji and Jingyi was leaving so I spoke to him and he was his chipper, sunshine self."
"That's good to hear. Wangji told me the students were all exemplary in their behaviour as a disciple of Gusu Lan should. Now, I wish to speak about another matter."
Lan Xichen looked confused. "Another matter? What's on your mind?"
Lan Qiren made stern eye contact with his eldest nephew.
"It's about those esteemed guests you invited here. You didn't tell your brother about them?" Lan Qiren asked with a chastising tone in his voice. "Shufu-" Lan Wangji was about to speak a full sentence when Lan Xichen silently signalled for him to halt, speaking only with his eyes.
'A-Zhan, don't worry. I have it handled. Let me do the talking.'
Lan Wangji gave another slight nod and remained quiet, sipping on his tea and tuning out his brother's words only just.
"No, I didn't tell him. It was a surprise."
"Surprise? Who on earth did you invite?" Lan Qiren questioned.
At that precise moment, two well-dressed men in their mid-to-late thirties, one dressed in shimmering silk deep blue robes, the other dressed in black and red patterned satin robes, entered the tea room, their long sleeves trailing behind in the air. Lan Qiren was speechless at the sight.
"The Yunmeng Shaungjie themselves, Shufu. That's who I've invited. I extended an invitation to them for a casual visit and they gladly accepted."
Lan Wangji was rendered speechless himself, taking in the sight of the black satin-robed man - Wei Ying - and his breath was caught in his throat. To be honest, Wei Ying looked stunning in that black and red satin robe and his hair was silky and long. There was the barest hint of tanned skin peeking out from the v-neck of the robe where it was crossed over his chest and the belt around his hips made his waist look snatched to a degree. In Lan Wangji's eyes, Wei Ying was a vision of beauty only the heavens could create and even with his clothes on, he was still so stunning. The events from earlier played in Lan Wangji's mind, each memory more vivid than the last and Lan Wangji had to force himself to remain calm.
Remembering what his brother had told him earlier, Lan Wangji knew that this was his chance to make the best impression, and disregard the earlier incident and start anew. Lan Qiren was also rendered practically speechless, his mouth hung open in surprise.
He hadn't expected to see both martial brothers together, standing side by side in the same room as him and it made him utterly confused.
On the one hand, Jiang Wanyin was, in his eyes, a perfect gentleman. With a steady and respectable gait, neutral facade and dressed to impress the elder, Lan Qiren internally remarked the sect leader's good looks and esteem. What he wasn't expecting was to see him after all these years.
Twenty years….the boy was alive and well, healthy and standing tall.
Lan Qiren never agreed with the fables fed to his disciples by the elders who hoped to never speak of his name again, it never sounded right to lie to his nephew about the Yiling Laozu's fate and he should have known much sooner how his nephew felt about Wei Wuxian and indulged in his youngest more. He should have done better in the past to ensure that his youngest boy hadn't gone through all that pain… to ensure his nephew hadn't become so withdrawn and silent in the years after the Siege…
He swallowed that bitter taste that had crawled its way up his throat as he looked upon the regal man in black. Instead of a wild child with a big heart running amok, in his place was a subdued and quiet adult, shying away from wandering eyes.
Lan Qiren knew that at some point, either he or Lan Wangji would have to approach the man in black.
"Greetings Sect Leader Jiang, how are you faring?" Lan Qiren spoke cordially, dipping his head in greeting. Out of the corner of Lan Xichen's eye, he spotted Wei Wuxian, dressed in his satin robes, inching backwards, almost out of the room. Which the older Jade found very strange.
"I am faring well Grandmaster. I hope I'm not intruding upon you?" Jiang Cheng spoke politely, hands behind his back as he mimicked his father's stance - poised and respectful, yet a little tense.
"No, you're not intruding, Sect leader. You're my nephew's esteemed guest. I'm glad that you're doing well these days." Lan Qiren replied with a gentle, fatherly smile.
Wei Wuxian spied the way Jiang Cheng's shoulders were square and even, straight as a plank of wood. His back was also stiff, as if he was trying to appear more mighty and tall.
"There's no need to copy uncle Jiang, Chengcheng. The old goose likes you anyway. Compared to me, the old man would certainly accept you as a nephew-in-law."
Jiang Cheng felt that familiar tug in his mind and he fought to suppress a smile as he heard Wei Wuxian speak inside his head.
Jiang Cheng's mind answered in kind.
"I highly doubt that. You forget that I still quote-on-quote "dabble with and solicit with dark magic" Clearly compared to you and your reputation, you're far more worthy of his respect and kindness than I am in his eyes."
There was a pause that permeated between them before Jiang Cheng asked the main question:
"You're still bitter about your old punishments, aren't you?"
"AS I SHOULD BE!!! THOSE LAN ELDERS ARE GLUTTONS FOR PUNISHMENT!!! I CAN STILL FEEL THE 300 WHACKS I GOT FOR DRINKING ALCOHOL!!! 300!!!! DO YOU KNOW HOW PAINFUL THAT WAS!!!! THESE PHANTOM PAINS ARE NO JOKE!!!! AND ON THE SUBJECT OF PUNISHMENT -"
"Yingying! Please don't yell, I've now got a headache." Jiang Cheng internally winced, his shoulders rolling just ever so slightly and his posture changed to make him seem more upright as he fought that sting in his brain from his martial brother's yelling.
"Shit sorry." came the apologetic reply and a soothing silence remained, washing over his mind.
"It's truly an honour to be able to visit the Cloud Recesses during such a peaceful period in our lives. I've been able to bear witness to the fruits of the Twin Jades' hard work, or so I've heard." Jiang Cheng continued his polite conversation, biting down his nerves. He heard the faint humming of a lullaby in his mind, washing away his anxieties like the wind blowing away leaves. That faint humming turned into a quiet flute whistle and he realised it was Wei Wuxian playing a song using their telepathic connection. The lullaby was actually helping to keep that shadowy bundle of horrible, self-deprecating thoughts at bay so the dark cloud wouldn't plague Jiang Cheng's mind.
To which the Yunmeng sect leader was truly grateful.
"I'm sure that the working alliance between our sects has been fortuitous throughout these last fifteen or so years, and I'm positive that your own merit and hard work has allowed Yunmneg to flourish much like our home." Lan Qiren answered, and Jiang Cheng spied a proud twinkle in the old man's eyes.
Wei Wuxian had disabled the telepathic connection after finishing that mind-soothing lullaby and watched on silently, gauging Lan Qiren's mannerisms towards his shidi, watching them politely converse whilst Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji watched on. Wei Wuxian hadn't actually noticed the Second Jade thus far as he was too focused on what was happening in front of him. As a matter of fact, he hadn't even noticed Lan Qiren's gaze slide from Jiang Cheng to see where he was standing.
"In all my years, I never expected to see him here." Lan Qiren curtly spoke once he removed his gaze from the person standing behind Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng displayed confusion over this.
"Who?"
Lan Qiren let loose a sigh. "Wei Wuxian." He simply responded. Lan Xichen whipped his head to see Wei Wuxian still lurking near the threshold leading into the tea room and gestured for him to step forward. Much to Wei Wuxian's chagrin.
He shook his head, mouthing "no" whilst pointing to the Grandmaster. Lan Xichen wasn't giving up though. They had come this far and Lan Wangji had noticed the Laozu's appearance anyway for the second time that day, so Lan Xichen needed to press on.
"I hope that Sect Leader Wei's presence hasn't upset you Shufu." Lan Xichen asked. Lan Qiren looked back at his beloved eldest nephew in confusion.
"Why would it upset me?" He asked, unaware that Wei Wuxian was already slipping away, hoping to avoid the stingy old man and leave Jiang Cheng to speak to the Grandmaster.
Lan Wangji, spotting Wei Wuxian- Wei Ying - slipping away, made his split second decision, fearful that he would once again lose any chance of seeing him after waiting for so long, silently stood up from the table and cautiously approached the sect leader and Yiling Laozu just as he was about to head off. He wasn't going to let him leave again. He wasn't going to let him slip through his grasp again.
He just wanted to talk to Wei Wuxian.
That's all he desired.
Wei Wuxian heard a voice call his name behind him and turned to see Lan Wangji standing opposite him. He tensed up, either out of shock or fear or even both, both of them silently staring at each other. Not a single word passed between them in that tense moment, and Lan Qiren looked almost apprehensive. Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng both held their breaths, unsure whether to wedge themselves between the Yiling Laozu and Hanguang-Jun or to let them both speak on more casual terms.
Then Lan Wangji cleared his throat, breaking the spell.
"Sect Leader Wei." He greeted, bowing. Wei Wuxian was shocked, standing frozen and bog-eyed.
'Huh?? Did he…just…wha-?'
Jiang Cheng made a garbled noise of confusion and shuffled over to stand near his martial brother, swallowing his desire to act as a shield.
"Uh…" Wei Wuxian couldn't get a single word out of his mouth, his throat squeezed tightly making it painful to swallow.
He felt a gentle nudge on his upper bicep and saw that Jiang Cheng was signalling for him to speak but Wei Wuxian simply shook his head, fear and shock freezing him in place.
"My apologies. A-Xian is just surprised to see you again after all these years." Jiang Cheng spoke for Wei Wuxian with a polite and courteous tone. Despite the prior events that had happened between them, Jiang Cheng couldn't let Lan Wangji find out that Wei Wuxian had told him about the Cold Springs incident.
He too was hiding his inner emotions. He and Lan Wangji didn't have the closest relationship, compared to what they had with their respective friends. It wasn't that bad as they had worked together on a few occasions and even saw each other on a few nights hunts - one of them being when Jiang Cheng took his nephew, Jin Ling, out on his very first night hunt - but despite the cordialities, the two never truly got on well enough to refer to each other as "friends". In hindsight, they saw each other as "reluctant friends".
Nothing more, nothing less.
Lan Wangji's exterior frostiness and Jiang Cheng's awkward hostility and jealousy spikes made it somewhat difficult for the two to even speak to each other with warmth and they were constantly at odds, yet Jiang Cheng knew he was going to put aside his own issues towards the human iceberg for the time being.
"Hello." Wei Wuxian managed to reply, despite the turmoil that brewed inside of him. He really wanted to run away and hide, to cower in a dark corner and wish not to be seen….
And yet….
The man he was trying to avoid was now - once again - standing in front of him (thankfully fully clothed this time).
The entire room was silent. Tense. Waiting with bated breath to see what events would unfold. Despite the small number of people, all eyes were on Wei Wuxian and he felt himself shrink.
"You're here, breathing and very much alive." Lan Wangji whispered, his voice slightly hoarse with emotion. Wei Wuxian was bewildered by that statement.
"Huh? Yeah of course I'm alive." He snarked quietly.
Why did he think he had been dead? Sure he almost died a few times many years ago, but he had always been alive.
Unless, Lan Wangji had been told a different story….
"Uh…sorry….I didn't mean to be like that…." Wei Wuxian saw the way Lan Wangji's lower lip had wobbled and he shied away again, attempting to flee. He really was not suited in his entirety for proper meetings with higher ranked individuals of other clans and sects. It wasn't in his nature.
"Wei Wuxian." he heard his name being called and he turned to see Lan Qiren rise from his seat. The elder gracefully walked over, a single hand behind his back and with a wistful expression on his face. Wei Wuxian had to stop himself from crumbling to the floor when Lan Qiren was close enough. He thought he was going to get thrown out for upsetting Lan Wangji but instead, Lan Qiren regarded Wei Wuxian with a bittersweet smile.
"Hello child, have you been okay?" he asked, his voice incredibly soft and affectionate. Almost too affectionate for Wei Wuxian's liking. This was odd. Even Jiang Cheng displayed his honest bewilderment through half wide eyes and a slightly unhinged open mouth.
Wei Wuxian blinked, unsure of what to say at that precise moment. He was not used to this atmosphere.
"I-I'm doing okay…? Sorry, this has come out of nowhere…..did somethi-?"
He trailed off, not even finishing his sentence. Lan Wangji looked back at his uncle.
"Shufu…."
Lan Qiren nodded. "It's alright. You can take him."
'Take me? Take me where?!' Wei Wuxian frantically thought.
"N-no….no way….you're not locking-"
Before Wei Wuxian could continue to protest, Lan Wangji had gently taken him by his wrist and led him over to the table, making him quite flustered in the process.
"What? What are you doing?" Wei Wuxian asked, still very confused. Lan Wangji did not say a word but instead gestured for Wei Wuxian to kneel on the cushion he had previously sat on.
Whilst kneeling on the soft cushion, Wei Wuxian (and everyone else in the room) watched Lan Wangji perform a light hearted tea ceremony, pouring some of the tea into Lan Xichen's untouched and empty cup before sliding the cup gingerly over to Wei Wuxian with a faint smile and a light glimmer in his golden eyes.
"Have some tea." His voice was deep, dripping with courteous sweetness and made Wei Wuxian shiver. Why was he being nice?
"Why are you giving that to me?" Wei Wuxian asked, mind still trying to play catch up. He racked his brain for any memories or instances of tea ceremonies in the Lan sect precepts but no memory served him.
"You are our esteemed guest, Wei Ying. It would be rude of me not to serve you the finest tea our family has to offer." Lan Wangji spoke quietly. He sat still, waiting for Wei Wuxian to drink the tea.
Slowly, Wei Wuxian took the cup and tentatively brought it to his lips, the fragrant aroma of the tea filling his nose.
The liquid languidly seeped into his mouth, the mellow flavour dancing on his tongue. The water wasn't actually too hot, just hot enough to allow warmth to spread across his chest as he swallowed.
"Oh. This tea…" He murmured, surprised. He hadn't expected it to taste this good.
"Do you like it?" Lan Wangji asked, his smile still soft. Wei Wuxian looked over and noted how that same smile reminded him of freshly fallen snow amidst the morning sun.
Not too bright, but pretty to look at.
"Yeah…I do actually." Wei Wuxian spoke in a slow, surprised manner, carefully blowing on the tea to cool it down more.
"That's good to hear. This specific tea was imported from a specialist tea maker in Gusu and they're blends are of high quality and in high demand. Xiongzhang and Shufu also like this blend of tea." Lan Wangji heard himself speak more than usual as he told Wei Wuxian about the tea and its method on creating such a lovely blend. He noticed Wei Wuxian nodding along, sipping on the tea and humming in response to Lan Wangji's explanations.
Jiang Cheng smiled at such a wholesome sight, finally able to breathe a little now that his shixiong was at least more relaxed. He saw the way Wei Wuxian's shoulders were sagged a little, but his back was straight like a pole, maintaining a good and respectful posture.
He suddenly hurried to the table just as Lan Xichen was getting up and grabbed his hand, causing the First Jade to blush.
'Oh how forward of you Wanyin.' He internally purred. Jiang Cheng tugged Lan Xichen with him out of the tea room and whispered as he did so.
"Let's leave them be for a while. They don't need an audience eavesdropping on their conversation."
Lan Xichen understood and stretched his arm out to signal Lan Qiren.
"Shufu. Shufu, come on." Lan Xichen loudly whispered, catching Lan Qiren's attention and he hurried to follow his nephew.
"Xichen?" he whispered in an urgent tone, displaying his confusion. Lan Xichen gestured to Jiang cheng who had a grim look on his face. "We should let them be alone for a while. I don't think A-Xian would appreciate having an unwanted audience peeping on his conversation with Lan Wangji all that much." Jiang Cheng repeated his words to the elder in a hushed voice.
Lan Qiren mulled over these words before nodding in agreement. The three of them walked back into the main hall of the Elegant Room to converse whilst Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian were left alone to talk over tea.
Whatever it was that they were talking about, it was none of the trio's business.
Wei Wuxian was still seated at the low-rise table, quietly sipping on the tea that had been served to him.
The atmosphere was inherently peaceful and surprisingly, he quite liked it. Much like the home of the Lans, the tea room held an air of serenity and calm that Yiling didn't usually have. Despite growing up in Yunmeng after spending months living on the cold wintery streets of Yiling, starving and injured, Wei Wuxian had never truly known peace and quiet until he stepped foot back into the Cloud Recesses after a full two decades.
To him, this peace, this serene atmosphere seemed to be a blessing. He used to hate how quiet the Cloud Recesses were. He used to mourn the freedom he used to enjoy back home, always finding ways to break the rules and cause chaos wherever he went. He was once a restless, ever consuming storm of hormones, noise and joy - uprooting the calming atmosphere and creating headaches for all. Now, he was a responsible, subdued man - not exactly prone to mischief like he had been in his youth.
He couldn't afford to be childish when he had a large family of society's outcasts and runaways to look after. The Yiling Wei sect was his responsibility after all.
And he had noticed that those incessant whispers that would crop up in his mind to tear him down had dissipated, as if there had been some spell cast upon him to make him feel better.
"Wei - Wei Ying?" That deep voice, now soft, called out to him. Wei Wuxian turned his head and made eye contact with Lan Wangji, who was looking at him with a gaze he couldn't pinpoint.
"Yeah?" He asked, curious. It seemed that all formalities had been thrown away since Lan Wangji wasn't addressing Wei Wuxian by either of his titles. Lan Wangji looked at Wei Wuxian with his golden eyes, a shadow of concern washing over his stoic, jaded face "Are you okay? You're not talking like you usually do."
"Of course I'm okay. I'm just taking in the quiet and getting lost in my thoughts. Though, how strange is it of you to not refer to me by my titles Hanguang-Jun. I thought you put etiquette, morals and your teachings above yourself?" Wei Wuxian eyed the cultivator with a disapproving glance before he turned his attention back to his tea. Lan Wangji made a sad noise and Wei Wuxian glanced back to see Lan Wangji puffing his cheeks out like a rabbit, his eyes dimmed in their lustre and the tips of his ears pink with…
Shame?
Embarrassment?
Wei Wuxian didn't know. He didn't have Lan Xichen's ability to read Lan Wangji like an open book.
Though, he did find it quite adorable how Lan Wangji was puffing his cheeks out like that. He really did look like a rabbit, all huffy and pouty.
"Hahaha." Wei Wuxian suddenly started to laugh, his voice filled with a familiar joyous sound - one that he used to hear so many times when they were just spirited youths - that stopped Lan Wangji from further pouting and huffing.
The sound of such a laughter caused Lan Wangji's heart to quiver and jolt in his chest, bringing an ache that he swore he hadn't felt in years. He had been told by the elders time and time again that Wei Wuxian had perished or his soul had been shattered and scattered across the realms. That Wei Wuxian would never return. That they were glad that he was dead so that he would no longer corrupt their Second Jade. They spouted and preached daily that Wei Wuxian had corrupted the soil, the purity of every righteous cultivator with his luridity, spat lies his sordid temptations, cursed his dark magic….and Lan Wangji had foolishly believed them. In his turmoiled mind, a mind so bereaved and filled with pain and sacrilegious thoughts - he simply did not have the strength to fight back these words, he used to have nodded silently, in pain and unable to fight back, and in privacy; he wailed and prayed that the elders' words were not true. Silently begged the heavens and the ancestors to give him sign that his beloved, the beloved he could not save in the midst of him being consumed by resentment and death, was alive somewhere in this world. Perhaps he was alive in another country under a new name, living a peaceful life far, far away.
And for thirteen long, lonely years, Lan Wangji had blamed himself for Wei Wuxian's death, believing that it was his fault for Wei Wuxian falling into the depths of the chasm below to his demise. He used to tell himself that Wei Wuxian was dead because of him, that Wei Wuxian had died because of him.
But that couldn't be further from the truth. Wei Ying was here. Flesh and blood and bones and muscle. Alive. Here. Next to Lan Wangji.
Those thirteen years were now just a memory.
"I missed that laugh." Lan Wangji suddenly spoke again, eyes glimmering. Wei Wuxian halted, caught off guard.
"Huh?"
"Your laugh. I missed hearing it. It seems so long ago now." Lan Wangji whispered, becoming nostalgic. Wei Wuxian's cheeks bloomed a light pink. "O-oh, really? That's unexpected….ummm….thank you Hanguang-Jun."
"Lan Zhan."
"What?" Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji with bewilderment. Lan Wangji looked back at him and spoke again.
"Lan. Zhan. Call me by that name." He sounded resolute. Wei Wuxian laughed again, a little nervous.
"Sorry? You want me, the Yiling Laozu, to call you by your birth name? Are we practically strangers?"
"You used to call me Lan Zhan. When we were-"
"Yes, when we were younger. When you used to call me boring, shameless and avoid me like I was infected with some incurable, contagious disease. Now you're acting all polite and nice to me and honestly….I'm weirded out by it. Where is your usual cold, aloof, prickly self huh? What happened to that?" Wei Wuxian's words dug into Lan Wangji's skin, sinking into his flesh as if he was being stabbed with a thousand needles. These words…made his chest heavy all over again. Yes….he was like that….but he let Wei Wuxian call him by his birth name….without complaint.
All he wanted was him to say his name.
"But….I've changed…." His reply was quiet, subdued, as he held back a shuddery breath. His fists balled at the cloth of his robes, frustration seeping into his body.
"Have you? I would've thought you were the same fuddy-duddy you always were. You never liked me Lan Wangji, and we are now two different worlds. You walk the path of righteousness; the broad field bathed in light shared by everyone, and I walk the single planked road through the darkness. We aren't compatible with each other and we are opposites. You," He pointed at Lan Wangji with a stern finger, "are a being of light. It's in your title: "the Light-Bearing Immortal" your entire presence brings people hope and peace. I am…." Wei Wuxian paused, agony creeping into his heart, his stomach churning with nausea as he spoke his next words.
"I am a being of darkness and sin. Of temptation and damnation. I raise the dead and bathe in the blood of my enemies. I'm nothing like you. And I never will be. So I don't know why, someone of your standing in society, would ever think about being nice to the literal incarnation of darkness and evil in the eyes of all that is righteous and good."
Wei Wuxian downed his tea, ignoring the burn as the tea slid down his throat. He stood back up and bowed. "I shall take my leave. Thank you for the tea, but in order to not bring misfortune to you and to make sure your uncle does not hunt me down for soliciting with his favourite nephew, it's best if we don't see each other. Goodbye."
Wei Wuxian, now quiet once more, turned away to walk out of the tea room when he felt a hand grab his wrist. Stunned and slightly annoyed, with flashes of the earlier incident still fresh in mind, he looked over his shoulder and saw a panicked Lan Wangji holding onto him, stopping him. He had this pleading look in his eyes.
"Stay." He said. That one singular word made Wei Wuxian grimace. "I can't." He responded monotonously, his usual sass no longer there, and he freed himself from Lan Wangji's grasp and walked away - not ran like last time - and once again, like a coward, Lan Wangji watched him go, sadness and frustration bubbling in his veins, tears welling up in his eyes and before long he let those tears fall freely, as there was no one to see him cry.
~Part 4 to be continued in the next half~