Backlash Part 1

Chapter 16: The Infirmary

Lan Wangji furrowed his eyebrows in thought. This morning's interaction with Jiang Wanyin had bothered him greatly, but even at the time he felt like there was something about the matter he wasn't quite understanding. Perhaps Wen Qing would be able to expand upon it? She was Wei Wuxian's jie after all. That much had been made clear to Lan Wangji, even if he noticed they did not indicate it in front of anyone else.

Lan Wangji began explaining what he observed. He included Wei Wuxian's changes in behavior. Wei Wuxian stiffening in Lan Wangji's arms when Jiang Wanyin asked if he was awake. Wei Wuxian quickly moving to sit separately from Lan Wangji. The posture of being hunched in on himself when he sat without touching Lan Wangji. The way Wei Wuxian remained silent until Jiang Wanyin asked for an explanation, at which point Wei Wuxian had tried to tell Jiang Wanyin not to worry about it. The way Jiang Wanyin lost his temper and yelled at Wei Wuxian. The way Wei Wuxian flinched away in fear from the raised voice. How Wei Wuxian appeared to be ashamed about flinching away, even remaining silent when Lan Wangji tried to ask if he was alright. The way he flinched again when Lan Wangji touched his hand. Only to then move closer to Lan Wangji and interlock their hands. The way Jiang Wanyin seemed to become even more upset while watching this. His last question to Wei Wuxian asking for an explanation. Then the last sentence that Lan Wangji had found particularly odd.

'Fine. I get it. You'd rather talk with the person who made you rewrite thousands of rules than with your own family.' After which Jiang Wanyin stormed out.

That part had seemed to disturb Wei Wuxian greatly. He had immediately gotten to his feet only to freeze in his pursuit and begin shaking. He apparently felt he needed to go after Jiang Wanyin, but also couldn't bring himself to do so. It had left him distraught and paralyzed.

Lan Wangji did his best to recite every word spoken and describe every detail he remembered. When Lan Wangji finished he examined Wen Qing's expression carefully. Her eyebrows were creased in concentration as though she was thinking carefully. Her mouth was pressed into a slight frown. Whatever she thought of the situation it was clear she wasn't pleased. However, it did not seem to be simple anger either.

Lan Wangji waited patiently for her to respond. He wanted to be able to support Wei Wuxian. That included in situations like the one this morning. Jiang Wanyin was supposed to be family to Wei Wuxian, but there seemed to be a lot of distress between the two. Wei Wuxian had certainly been distressed when he first saw Jiang Yanli, but he had had a similar response when he first saw Wen Qing. The feel of it was different from the distress he witnessed earlier.

"A-Ying cares very deeply for Jiang Wanyin. Apparently A-Ying was his first friend. Jiang Yanli seemed to think Jiang Wanyin might initially react poorly to the relationship between A-Ying and you. Something about him being afraid of losing A-Ying. From what A-Ying said to you, it sounds like A-Ying worries about Jiang Wanyin a lot." Wen Qing paused, frowning lightly.

"I'm always the one who goes after him and helps him feel better. It's always been me." Wen Qing quoted the words Wei Wuxian had said this morning.

"These are the words he said to you, right?" Wen Qing asked. Lan Wangji nodded his head slowly. Wen Qing's look of concern deepened.

"I'm guessing ever since they were little A-Ying would probably immediately jump to help if Jiang Wanyin was upset. The words Jiang Wanyin said before he left the room. They sound like he is accusing A-Ying of choosing you over him. With the way he said them it would have been the equivalent of Jiang Wanyin saying that A-Ying doesn't care about him. Maybe that was how Jiang Wanyin felt, but to say that and then immediately leave." Wen Qing shook her head. She looked at Lan Wangji waiting to see if he understood what that would mean to Wei Wuxian.