Dark Knight | WangXian Novel

32: By Your Side

"Hmm..." Wei Wuxian tapped his nose. "Clear river chasing the winter breeze. Makes sense. Your name is Jiang Cheng, literally 'clear river'. And Lan Xichen is more or less a winter breeze, typical Lan description. But you know, A-Cheng, your dream has meaning."

"Hmph."

"No, really. Dreaming of running water is usually foresight of a big change to come."

"Ah, guess I'll fix my loose nuts then. My brain will start working again? Great."

"Winter breeze is usually 'hardships'. Thing is... A-Cheng, it's mostly you pushing Xichen-ge away. Not you chasing after him and him running away. Maybe the nightmare of yours is you realizing what you should have done instead?"

Jiang Wanyin shrugged. "Sounds likely. Too late now."

"Never too late–"

"Forget it, it's over. And don't change the topic. Back to you."

"Nothing left to change, A-Cheng, we're both in this together. We're both a mess, aren't we?"

"Mhm."

"Wei Ying!"

"Holy–" Wei Wuxian stumbled up and pasted on his smile. "Lan Zhan! You're back."

"Wei Ying, I need you to promise me."

"P– promise you what?"

Lan Wangji stopped walking only an inch away from Wei Wuxian, and slid his thumb across his lower eyelids, flicking the uncalled-for tears away. "No more hiding from me. Not a single word about you will you hide from me hereafter."

"Lan Zhan..."

"We promised. Vowed to share everything, good or bad, happy or sad; for the husband contract, remember? Two months ago?"

Wei Ying bobbed his head.

"I told you all. You're the one hiding."

"I'm so sorry..."

"It's not your fault. We'll find a way, mn?"

"There is no way," Wei Ying gulped.

"Then doesn't matter. I'm not leaving you."

Wei Wuxian sighed and shook his head. "Lan Zhan... you..."

"Fuddy-duddy?"

Both smiled helplessly.

"Ahem, ahem."

"Oh, A... A-Cheng..."

"Never mind, pretend I don't exist. Well then, I'll leave you two alone?"

"No, no, we're going back, A-Yuan's at home."

"YOU LEFT HIM ALONE?"

"No! He's at his new friend's place. That little Lan boy, Jingyi."

"Ah, okay. Safe journey home, then! Do update me on Wen Xu! And be careful."

"Thank you," Lan Wangji inclined his head to Jiang Cheng and took Wei Wuxian onto the boat they came on.

Did he... thank me? For what? Consoling A-Xian? Sheesh. Damn hell of a dear husband. Jiang Cheng chuckled to himself, watching the boat drift away. Sure, A-Xian, we're both a mess. The difference is... he kicked a pebble as he sauntered back inside. You have someone by your side.

**********

Wei Wuxian sat cross-legged on the boat, watching the sunset with Lan Zhan as they floated back to Gusu. After quite some time of fidgeting and thumb-twiddling, he took a deep breath and turned around.