The Truth That Lies (WangXian Modern AU)

22

Would it have been easier if I knew before that a right way does not exist?

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Wei Ying

There's this book Lan Zhan reads from time to time.

I've seen him quite often flipping through its pages, but I didn't get to read what it is until I . . . stole it.

It has a set of short stories from around the world, classics, myths, folk tales—gifted to him by Xichen on his birthday he spent hospitalized. Over the years, he has highlighted quotes, added some notes, that it looks like a textbook now, except for this one story which only had the title highlighted, and a small struck-through note, don't look back, and then for him.

The story is about a man who fell in love with a wood nymph. They got married. Lived happily. But the nymph died at a young age. The man, heartbroken, entered into the world of the dead to get her back. The God of the dead agreed to let her follow him to the human realm, under the condition that he should not look back at her until he has walked out of the realm of the dead. However, he looked back and she disappeared in front of his eyes forever.

At first, I didn't understand how Lan Zhan related to this. Then it occurred. Seven years of ghosting, not looking back, crossing the realm of the dead; it's about his work. It's about keeping his faith to earn the one he wants. There was more reason than just the agreement with his Uncle behind the beginning of Jade Industries. That was a person. The person Lan Zhan loved.

That became one of my reasons to make amends.

The other, the little hope that came to light with Lynn's invitation.

I underline a highlighted quote with my finger, listening to the rings on my phone. As much as it blows it off, it's the air that fuels the fire. I need to set a fire and blow it off at the same time. I have to start by setting a spark.

"Hello," the voice on the other side says when the rings cut off.

"Ms. Zhi. This is Wei Wuxian. I'm—"

"Yes, I know. Wangji's—" she chuckles. "Just call me Lynn."

"Xian, please," I reply. "Look, I really wish that we could've introduced ourselves under better circumstances. But this is sort of urgent. I'll get this over with quickly, okay?"

A breath. "Okay."

"I saw your invitation. Thank you. I assume a lot of interested parties of your company will attend this ceremony?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Is Ruo invited?"

"No. My father didn't accept the guest list until I cut her name off."

As expected. "Did it occur to you that it's weird that he let you invite me but not her?"

"I mean," she says, her voice thoughtful, "the invitation was for Wangji and his partner. He doesn't know it's you."

"He does."

"What?"

"Yes, he's aware that it's me, and he's not pleased," I tell her. "I have a feeling that your father will force you into the engagement with Wangji again. My guess is, he'll make an announcement publically at the ceremony." Supposedly, he wanted to humiliate me by forcing Lan Zhan into a situation he can't refuse.

"I knew it—" Lynn mutters and I hear a shaky breath. "Okay." Her voice sounds steadier. "Okay. Tell me what I could do."

"I want you to invite Ruo."