Live Again, Love Anew

Chapter 20- Story Time: Part One

Summary

Wei Ying and Lan Zhan bicker like a... (married couple. But we're not quite there yet...) They bicker. Lan Yue tells a story.

Beginning Note

Story Time part 1

Enjoy!

Wei Wuxian

The nightly meetings with Aunty Yue have been growing more infrequent with winter closing in. On a good week, Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan can meet her two or three times a week. On bad weeks, only once if they're lucky. Sometimes they go a whole week without seeing her.

Currently, they're meeting Aunty Yue after a four day break, so it could be worse. Winter has been steadily getting worse in the past month, hence the larger gaps between meetings.

That all important date that could spell either a miracle or a disaster is also fast approaching. They have about a month and a half now till time's up.

Which is why when Aunty Yue says, ' Would you boys like to hear the story of how I met A-Zhan's and A-Huan's father? It might help you boys with your investigation. ' Wei Wuxian actually facepalms and exclaims, "Of course!"

Both Lan Zhan and Aunty Yue startle and blink in a fashion so similar it's a wonder Wei Wuxian couldn't see the similarity sooner. Lan Zhan doesn't look anything like his mother, but he sure acts like her perfect copy sometimes.

"Since Aunty Yue is in on our investigation now, she can tell us all the classified details of how she got into the Lan Clan and why she's hidden in the records." Wei Wuxian says, and he can tell that if Lan Zhan was more physical with his emotions, he would be facepalming too.

"You boys got into the records?" Aunty Yue interjects, voice filled with curiosity and concern in equal measure.

"Mn." Lan Zhan nods. "The first step in our investigation." Wei Wuxian nods along proudly. Lan Zhan took the initiative to speak without Wei Wuxian having to kickstart the conversation and give Lan Zhan a chance for input. It seems these meetings with Aunty Yue are good for more than just the investigation.

Wei Wuxian thinks of Lan Zhan like a butterfly. Most people catch him as a boring caterpillar, and move on. Some put in a little effort, and nurture the caterpillar into a chrysalis, but then even the brief excitement of the caterpillar is gone. But those who are actually close to him and wait through the full cycle get to meet him in the butterfly stage.

Lan Zhan may seem quiet or odd or boring the first few interactions, but if you wait and put effort into knowing him, you get to see him at his full potential, with his quiet beauty and half sentences that show his intelligence and secret wishes if you know where to look.

If you wait the full cycle and put in the effort along the way, you find that Lan Zhan isn't actually quiet, he's just reserved with his words and careful to only say what he needs to say. If you wait, you find he isn't actually odd, he's just shy and not sure how to interact with people beyond a formal setting. You find that he isn't boring, he just enjoys things that most people would think of as punishment or learning, not fun.

Which is why Wei Wuxian is so proud of Lan Zhan for starting a conversation all by himself. Sure, it's just answering a question from his mother, but he even added extra input beyond 'mn' when it wasn't needed.

So, progress.

"A-Ying!"

Wei Wuxain startles at his name from Aunty Yue. "Huh?" He says eloquently, because he has no idea what else to say when he's missed the entire conversation.