Delinquent High

Chapter 65

Wei Wuxian was watching a tray of food that Lan Wangji put into his lap. He had no appetite and still thought that if he ate even a bite, he would throw up. However, Lan Wangji was insisting and Wei Wuxian was afraid that if he did not please him and ate at least a little, his former childhood friend would get tired of dealing with him and leave. Perhaps never to return.

He was staring at his breakfast – or lunch already? He was losing sense of time again – and waiting for something to happen. Although he had apparently slept for more than one whole day, he was still feeling extremely tired. He was glad that Lan Wangji was simply sitting here with him, not talking and not asking him to talk. It was easier this way.

Lan Wangji finished peeling an apple and reached out his hand to give him a slice. It made Wei Wuxian recoil away by instinct, he did not want anyone to touch him. What if they wanted to hit him, pinch him or something even worse? His mind was a mess, he believed that Lan Wangji would not do something like that, but he also did not believe that he would not do it.

He was watching the piece of peeled apple Lan Wangji was offering him, a perfect bunny shaped slice. He did not know what to do. He did not want to take it and eat it, however, Lan Wangji clearly expected him to.

He was saved from his dilemma by knocking on the door and a voice asking for permission to enter: "Wangji, Young Master Wei, can I come in?"

A shiver of fright run through Wei Wuxian's body. All could upset the fragile balance he had found with Lan Wangji here. He did not want this former childhood friend to leave. Even if Lan Wangji did no longer consider him a friend and was probably staying by his side out of duty or something similar. Was he watching Wei Wuxian so he would not run away before police came to arrest him?

Before Wei Wuxian could oppose to the intrusion, Lan Wangji was already inviting the person inside: "Brother, we have been waiting."

Lan Xichen came in and Wei Wuxian lowered his head in shame. It was one thing to have Lan Wangji here with him, but it was something entirely different to have an adult walk in. Especially an adult who knew everything and who had seen Wei Wuxian stark naked and being punished. He was not sure how he was supposed to face the chairman of the Cloud Recesses High School.

It was Sunday too, should he not be allowed at least one free day from school? Granted that he had so much homework that he should be freaking out about not being able to finish it, but he had already decided that he was not going back to school anymore. What was the point of doing homework now? Under these circumstances, why did it even matter to Lan Xichen to come see him aside for telling him the obvious?

With emptiness in his heart, Wei Wuxian watched Lan Xichen pull a chair close to his bed and sit down next to his younger brother. Side by side like this, the difference between them was as clear as day. Lan Wangji with his neutral expression but his eyes full of worry, and Lan Xichen who was wearing his emotions and concerns openly. One thing they had in common though, they were both watching Wei Wuxian intently and he did not like it. It felt like they could see through the blanket around his shoulders and the rest of his borrowed clothes, right into his guilty and ashamed soul.

At last, Lan Xichen made an effort to smile at him as he asked: "Young Master Wei, how are you feeling today?" Wei Wuxian did not believe he could answer that question without breaking down, he stayed silent.

The chairman did not seem to mind because after giving Wei Wuxian a polite pause to reply if he wanted to, he continued as if he had not been bothered by anything: "I am glad to see you up and awake. We have been worried about you. Your family had been as well, they called every few hours to check on you."

Wei Wuxian flinched at the mention of his adoptive family. He wondered what they had been calling about. Could it be as Lan Xichen was explaining because they had been worried about his well-being? Or because Madame Yu could not wait to see the hour to get rid of him and send him to the police? Was she even considering Wei Wuxian as part of her family anymore? And Uncle Jiang? Had he told everything to Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng already? Even the most shameful stuff? Wei Wuxian could not imagine facing them after this.

As if Lan Xichen decided to ignore his reaction, he continued, still as reassuringly and calmly as ever: "If you want to, I can give them a call to come. But if you would prefer not to see them right now, that is fine as well. My offer from earlier stays; you can go home at any time or you can stay with Wangji. We both live on campus. You can take all the time you need to recover.

I can arrange private tutoring for you to not fall behind too much. Or you can study with Wangji for the time being. I would understand if you do want to meet any teachers for a while. But when you feel ready to go back to school, there will be good teachers waiting for you. The Delinquent High has been closed for the time being and an investigation is ongoing. I am sorry we have come too late, but at least no other child will ever have to suffer as you have. Many of the students had found their courage to testify about the horrors that our uncle has been allowing the teachers to do and also committing himself. I will make sure to put an end to it."

Wei Wuxian was blinking blankly at Lan Xichen. Those were the same words he had already heard, but even on the second try, they were not making any sense to him. There was no way that after everything her had caused, he would still be welcomed anywhere. Everyone should have already been glaring at him through their fingers and eagerly waiting for the moment when he would be taken away by the police.

Could Lan Xichen not see that? Why was he offering anything to Wei Wuxian when it has been him personally who had ruined everything? Could he not see what the result of an investigation would be? There was no doubt in Wei Wuxian's mind that Lan Qiren would somehow made it sound like Wei Wuxian had been an incorrigible student and had needed a strict hand when it came to discipline. He knew so much himself already. It would only result in him being punished again and in having more students face the wrath of the chairman of the Delinquent High for lying and standing against his truth.

Wei Wuxian was so confused with the world right now that he could not find a way how to reply to Lan Xichen's speech. The adult must not have heard everything about him, he would not be treating him this kindly if he had. Not such a troublemaker, criminal and failure.

Wei Wuxian wondered what the correct course of action was for him now. Under these circumstances, running away seemed like the only viable option. The world had become simply too much and he had no idea how to continue living in it. Did he still have a place there? He did not think so; it would be better if he just left everything behind and disappeared somewhere far, far away where he would not be able to offend or annoy anyone. And where no one would be able to hurt him.

He was called back into reality when Lan Wangji took one of his hands – why was it trembling again? – into his own. Wei Wuxian lifted his head to look at him in surprise. He was such a broken and unlikeable person that he was afraid he would dirty Lan Wangji's pristine reputation just by being in the same room as him. Never mind letting the other touch him.

Though, he could not find it in himself to take his hand away. It was so reassuring to know that despite everything, despite all Wei Wuxian's crimes and tarnished reputation, Lan Wangji was still there, right by his side.

"Wei Ying, come live with me for now. Until you find what you want to do next. Until you feel like you can comfortably stand on your own feet again. Let me help you." Lan Wangji proposed. He must have read Wei Wuxian's mind, there was no other explanation.

Suddenly, Wei Wuxian was once again that small broken soul that Lan Wangji had been holding together in Lan Qiren's office. He had not known what he should do or what would be done to him back then.

And he still did not know it now. But he thought that with Lan Wangji by his side, he would be able to figure it faster. He was wary of everyone else, even his adoptive family, but not of Lan Zhan.

"Alright," he nodded his head. He felt too exhausted to deal with anything right now. He decided to lean on Lan Zhan; where he could not trust himself, he could still put his faith in the only person he trusted right now.