Courtship Rite

Crying

"Is Wei Ying not happy?" Lan Wangji asked. "Does he not love me?"

Meng Yao's thoughts raced. Xichen had once told him that Lan Wangji would, if he disagreed too strongly, stop looking for approval and act even if others advised against it. Meng Yao hadn't quite believed him. "I thought we agreed you would not visit Wei Ying this evening."

Lan Wangji looked betrayed at Meng Yao's words. "I didn't. Brother bugged the room."

Meng Yao wondered if Xichen could be convinced to keep the bugs in place. Probably not. Recording your brother having sex? Far too prurient for the Lan. Too bad. A listening device would have allowed him to keep a closer eye, so to speak, on Wei Ying.

"You knew he did not want me," Lan Wangji continued. "That's why you told me to stay away."

Meng Yao didn't blame Xichen for sighing audibly. They had already told Lan Wangji that this courtship had proceeded too quickly. What other excuse could they make?

"Brother, do you remember in university when you thought you'd been unfairly graded?"

"I was right. The professor was wrong."

"You took a bo staff and destroyed his car."

"Mm."

"Wei Ying doesn't have anything he can destroy," Xichen said. "Crying is just a different outlet. He's feeling overwhelmed by the changed, but he'll get over it."

Lan Wangji turned and headed for the door. "Where are you going?"

"To get Wei Ying something he can break."

"No, no," Meng Yao said. "He just needs time. Give him space until tomorrow. I'm sure he'll be fine."

"He shouldn't be alone when he's crying."

"Brother," Xichen said, "You prefer to be alone when you're crying. Don't you think Wei Ying might feel the same?"

"No. If I were crying, I would want Wei Ying."

Fuck. Meng Yao imagined Lan Wangji barging in on a terrified and overwrought Wei Ying. Not only that but on a Wei Ying who as naked in the shower and feeling vulnerable. There had to be something he could do to stop him.

"Let Meng Yao visit him," Xichen said.

What? Xichen'd decided to throw him between Lan Wangji and his obsession? That was not the solution he'd been looking for.

"He'll make it better. I promise."

The two men stared at him. Meng Yao smiled. There was nothing for it now. He rose to his feet, leaving half his dinner behind. "Of course."

As soon as Meng Yao hit the hallway, he dialed Qin Yingtai. "Sir?"

"I hope I didn't wake you."

She paused before replying. "Do you need me to return to the office?"

"Yes. One of the Lan brothers will have a full dossier on Wei Ying. I'll need a hard copy. It's need-to-know, highest security. Don't let anyone take a look. In fact, bring it to my office and sit with it until I get there. I'm not sure how long I'll be."

"Of course, sir."

"First, call the doctor in the Lan residence. I'll need a relaxant, not something that'll knock a person out but enough to help a stressed person sleep. Have the guards outside the courtesan rooms keep him there until I arrive."

Meng Yao certainly wasn't about to barge in on Wei Ying while the man was still in the shower. He took the elevator to the fifth floor and asked the head of security to let him see the feed. "I know Lan Xichen arranged a feed from courtesan room four. Please call him and as if I may see it."