Pitched Normal

Part 26

Wei Ying was a bit of a coward. He knew that. So when the morning came at 5am and the gates were once again open to guests and disciples alike Wei Ying rushed out the door as fast as he could without technically running to the Library. It was the last place that Jiang Cheng would look for him, and he really did not want to deal with his scolding and his anger at the moment. He just rushed to the library, eager for the chance to play with Lan Zhan, even if it was not really playing just reading. Being in Lan Zhan's presence was like a breath of fresh air that he wanted to keep for himself. He wanted to inhale it, consume it, keep it. He knew that someone like him would never be allotted such a thing but...but he could hope. He could spend the little time that he would be given with Lan Zhan and keep it to himself, in his heart, and treasure it. Even if it was not going to continue forever. He could treasure these small moments for now. They would have to be enough. He could look back on them, and enjoy the clear headed happiness when he was forced to return.

Wei Ying stopped right before he got to the library, soothing his robes down and pressing his hair flat. He was nervous. Why was he nervous? Wei Ying cursed himself under his breath and shook his head to get rid of the nervousness, but it still was there, under his heart, which was racing rapidly. He inhaled shakily, moving to open the doors of the library, almost sure that Lan Zhan had forgotten, or that he had been called away for some other thing that was far more important. He was the Sect Heir after all, it would not be surprising if he had other things to do considering Lan XiChen may be busy at the moment. Lan Qiren was gone, and as such, Lan XiChen needed to take care of classes of the younger Lan disciples in his absence. Perhaps he had regaled some work to Lan Zhan and he would not be able to make it.

His thoughts were, as always, entirely unfounded. Lan Zhan was sitting at the desk he had been during his rote punishments and it made Wei Ying's heart take a steep dive off a cliff. He stood there, Library doors shut behind him, in utter silence, just seeing Lan Zhan, taking him in, taking in the refreshing atmosphere. He gave a small smile once Lan Zhan noticed him, flouncing up to him eagerly.

"Lan Zhan," He spoke in a whisper, eyes glittering brightly. "I am glad to see you could actually make it." Lan Zhan furrowed his brows confused at the statement. Did Wei Ying think he would...ditch? Never. He had given his word, furthermore he was the one who asked him to come. It would be bad manner to not come himself. He was not like that, and he knew that Wei Ying was aware of that, he would suspect it was another thing to do with how he was raised.

He began to worry further. It was not just that, he had noticed the way others spoke about Wei Ying. Despite gossip being forbidden it heaped about. Saying the he was the son of a servant, that he was the bastard child of Jiang Fengmian, calling him a freeloader, and all sorts of horrible things. Even his Uncle seemed to have something out for him, which Lan Zhan fully intended to go to Xiongzhang about. He had thought that perhaps the treatment would stop, but it had not, and it was rather concerning him. True, Wei Ying got into a lot of trouble, but from what he could tell, Uncle did not even do the customary questioning to get the full jest of the situation, and most of the punishments were far beyond what was normally assigned to guest disciples. He found himself worried about it. It was not something he saw and could just sit silently about. Furthermore, he was suspecting....many things. He would also have to speak with XiongZhang about those things as well.

"Mhm," Lan Zhan looked at Wei Ying trying to convey the fact that he was happy to see him. Shockingly, Wei Ying seemed to be able to read it, his own eyes sparking with a sense of great happiness. It was a wonderful look on Wei Ying and Lan Zhan found himself wanting to keep it there.

"It is good to spend time with you Lan Zhan, I...I was beginning to worry perhaps A-Cheng was right and you did not really like me." Lan Zhan stared at Wei Ying with thinly concealed horror.

Not like Wei Ying? how could he not like...oh...perhaps that made a bit of sense. He was not good with addressing his emotions after all. It must have caused much confusion for everyone around him. Especially since he never really made much effort to interact with anyone besides his Uncle and Brother. Wei Ying though...he had caught his attention immediately. He found his wit and intelligence astounding. He wanted to learn more. To hear more. He was so...fascinated. Wei Ying's mind was a maze of bright plans and curious ideas, and half thought theories. He made everyone around them think.

Even in their first lesson, he knew what Wei Ying had been doing, talking about resentful energy, but Uncle was too angry and incensed to realize what it was. He had felt himself shocked that his Uncle would lose himself over a question. Wei Ying had clearly been curious. Yet, it would seem as though he had a vendetta against Wei Ying. Something that Lan Zhan could not understand. He would have to talk to Xionzhang again. He felt bad about the list of things he would need to talk to his older brother about, but he also knew that it was necessary.

"Never." Wei Ying looked at him with a bit of a confused expression. "Hate Wei Ying. Never. Could." Lan Zhan somewhat stuttered over the words. "R-Really like W-Wei Ying." Lan Zhan felt his ears flush at the statement and his words were quite weighty and heavy for the youth but Wei Ying looked as if he was stumped.

"I-I really like Lan Zhan too." He said with a small laugh and a wet voice.