Never Let You Go, Again

10: A Ribbon, a Rattle drum and a Smile

"Alright. You may leave for the lunch break."

"Thank you, Hanguang-Jun!" A short Jiang female disciple stood up, bowed to her teacher and fast-walked out of the classroom.

Hanguang-Jun also stood up and walked out. Right outside, he saw his son and others walking towards the Lunch Hall. He strode over to stand beside his son, and then slowed down to his pace.

"Hanguang-Jun?"

Lan Zhan gave a look.

"Oh... Father. Why are you here?"

Lan Wangji nodded at the word. "Walking to lunch with you."

Sizhui beamed.

"Ey, Sizhui, he's your dad too now?" Jin Ling and Jingyi leaned in and whispered.

"Not just his. Yours too." The cold voice replied.

The three children looked up, wondering if he meant it.

"Wei Ying is your dad?"

The three nodded.

"Then I am too."

The trio grinned, held hands together, and walked beside their new father to the Lunch Hall, proudly strolling past the others.

"Haha, Wangji, looks like you've found your children?"

"Xiongzhang! Mn."

"Zewu-Jun!"

"WHAT did you call me? Look here, this is unfair. He gets to be dad, I can't even be uncle?"

All three children chuckled. "Shushu. Excuse us, Shushu, Father, we need to go have lunch."

"Mn," the Jades chorused.

"Xiongzhang, Wei Ying didn't come back yet?"

"Huh? Oh no, he didn't. Which reminds me... Wangji I came to tell you..." He leaned in and whispered something in Lan Wangji's ears. Something that made the younger's eyebrows disappear into his hair, turn on his heels, and sprint out of the Hall.

Zewu-Jun shook his head. Bowing to the elders, he explained, "Forgive my brother, Elders, but Wuxian is missing. Please excuse me." And with that, Lan Xichen also left the Hall.

**********

Bang! Lan Wangji crashed through the Jingshi.

"Wei Ying!"

No reply.

Lan Zhan turned the Jingshi upside down, searching madly. But there was nobody else in the Jingshi.

"Wei Ying..." Lan Zhan slumped onto the floor by the bed — their bed. Why? Why did he have to take off like this? All the time? And just like last time, he had lied. Said he's going to Caiyi. Why? Why lie to him? Why hide his worries from him? Was he not his husband? Was he not his soulmate? Were they not married, soul-bound, vowed to stay together, forever? Then why did A-Ying keep leaving him like this? Leaving him in the dark... The dark... The Jingshi suddenly felt dark... lonely... cold... The soul and heart in here that once made this place bubble with cheer had vanished. The candle was no more. All Lan Zhan felt now, huddled on the cold, cold wooden floor, was a sense of dark isolation.

In came a sudden burst of sunshine. Lan Zhan opened his eyes to see if it was him, but no. Shivering, he shut his eyes again.

Xichen stopped in his tracks. Wangji was freezing. His little Wangji was shaking, hands clutching his arms, like a little boy kneeling in the winter... Like the little Wangji back then...