Tis The Season (WangXian RomCom, SEASONAL)

1

It was when the first autumn leaves were falling when Lan Wangji heard the news that his brother died in an accident – leaving his only son alone with no one else to take care of him.

He remembered clearly that he was in the middle of recording his newest album with his guqin, when the news broke.

His manager – Nie Huaisang – was frantically trying to get his attention from behind the studio room. When he finally realized that Nie Huaisang was not doing his usual shenanigans but instead he looked panicked, Lan Wangji halted the recording session.

He was the number 1 guqin player that had the most sold out album and the title of the most eligible bachelor for 3 years in a row although he only released 1 album per year since he composed every song himself, and he did not appreciate the disturbance to his very strict schedule – and his manager knew it.

Unless…

“What happened?” 

Lan Wangji got out of the recording room and immediately faced Nie Huaisang. He had a bad feeling about whatever his manager was about to tell him.

“It’s… it’s your brother…” Nie Huaisang looked like he was about to pass out. “He was in an accident and now he’s in the hospital.”

Lan Wangji suddenly had difficulty breathing.

His brother – Lan Xichen – was a lot older than him, and he was the one who raised him like his own child. Lan Wangji loved and respected him above all people, and he was also the owner of the Cloud Recess Group – where he was recording his new album.

But more importantly…

“What about Xiao Yuan? Is he alright? Was he in the car?” Lan Wangji’s face was stoic but he could feel that his hands were cold when he imagined the boy was also in the accident.

“No, thank heavens, no. The boy was still in the kindergarten, but he will be out in an hour. What do you want me to do? Do you want to…” 

“I’ll pick up Xiao Yuan myself before going to the hospital.”

Lan Wangji took his coat and informed the music producer and the others that he would resume the recording after he took care of his personal business, and then he left to pick up his nephew.

The drive from the studio to the kindergarten took around 30 minutes, and Lan Wangji was quiet all the way. Not that he was ever chatty, but his driver slash bodyguard – Xue Yang – knew that the second young master had a lot on his mind, especially since Nie Huaisang had updated him about the accident.

Lan Wangji’s routines were like clockwork – home, studio, home, and repeat. Once a week he went to his brother’s house to have family dinner with him and Xiao Yuan, since the mother was not around. He didn’t ask his brother and Lan Xichen didn’t tell him, so he assumed that they were separated.

When they arrived at the kindergarten, there was still a few minutes left before the children finished, so Lan Wangji decided to speak to the teacher and informed her about the accident.

The teacher – who was a young man with a gentle temperament named Wen Ning – was surprised to see Lan Wangji instead of Lan Xichen, and she wondered if something happened by the grim look on Lan Wangji’s face.

“Mr. Lan! Is there anything I can do to help you?” He hurriedly approached Lan Wangji with worry in his eyes.

“Teacher Wen, I’m here to pick up my nephew. There’s an accident and we need to go to the hospital right away.” 

Lan Wangji put on his poker face to not let anyone know the turmoil he felt inside, but still, he could feel his hands trembling from worry.

“Of course, I will prepare Xiao Yuan’s stuff right away, Mr. Lan.”

Wen Ning worked with many kids including the introverts and autistic ones, so his empathy was high. He could see that although Xiao Yuan’s uncle looked calm and collected, there was turbulence behind his golden eyes that made Wen Ning know immediately that something was wrong.

But he would not ask him and wait until he was ready to inform him – as Xiao Yuan’s teacher – and the school.

He went in to fetch Xiao Yuan and the boy was so happy to see his uncle pick him up that he ran and asked for a hug.

Lan Wangji immediately picked the boy up and hugged him tight for a few seconds, before he took the bag and nodded at the teacher.

“Thank you, teacher.”