baby it's cold outside (WangXian FF)

10

Talking to Lan Wangji was like talking to a… beautiful doll – easy on the eyes, but it's a miracle to make him utter any unnecessary word other than a few curt ones.

Wei Wuxian concentrated more on examining Lan Wangji's features rather than tasting the bland food that was served to him.

He had a longish haircut, brilliant light hazel eyes that would turn gold under the sun, chiseled jaw, and perfect face like an Asian David, and from what he saw back then with his sword playing skill – a very fit body.

The man was very ethereal, like a Heavenly King from faraway place, and he was sure acting like one.

But that didn't make him discouraged. In fact, he became more determined to make the man show some kind of emotion.

"I have an extra clause to be added to the contract." Lan Wangji suddenly spoke and it seemed to make Luo Binghe surprised, since they never talked when they were eating. Ever.

Even the kids knew not to make a noise when they were eating.

"Oh? Please, do tell." Wei Wuxian put away his chopstick and thanked the lords above that he could skip eating the bland food. Maybe he should teach Luo Binghe to cook something spicy if he was going to buy the palace. A spicy feast for the whole village. Ha.

"I heard from my lawyer that your lawyer already gave him a deposit to buy the palace. Well, everything seems fine with the contract, but you have to stay here until Christmas and not change your mind. If you do happen to change your mind after Christmas, then the deposit is non-returnable."

"Oh?" Wei Wuxian smiled. He already gave Hua Cheng a cheque for fifty percent of the palace's price, and the rest of it would be given at the transfer of the ownership, around Christmas. He wanted the palace to be a Christmas present for himself, but judging from the owner's firm stance that he stayed in the primitive place, he sensed that Lan Wangji didn't really want to sell the place.

He was sure if he accepted the dare, Lan Wangji would do anything to drive him out of the place and pocketed the deposit to take care of this… dilapidated place, without having to sell them.

What a cunning man.

But Wei Wuxian loved challenges, and he would like to see what was inside this beautiful statue's brain, so he grinned and offered Lan Wangji his hand.

"Challenge accepted… I mean, condition accepted. I will instruct my lawyer to continue with the transfer and you can use it as you wish. It's yours anyway." He smiled widely and then he turned to Luo Binghe. "I will move here this afternoon, would you mind showing me my room then?"

Lan Wangji was baffled by Wei Wuxian's reaction.

He expected the man to be offended and then stormed out of the place, just like the others, and yet he just smiled and agreed on everything he said.

He knew it was one sided agreement, by forcing him to stay in a place that didn't even have a proper heating or toilet. But it was the only way he could see their sincerity.

Perhaps… perhaps this one he would find someone who loved this place as much as he did, and took care of this place like it should since he wouldn't be able to stay if the sale took place.

His heart felt like it was ripped from its place when he remembered that he had to move out by the end of the year. He had so many memories here, with his brother, his parents… and yet he was incapable of even taking care of his heritage like he should. He didn't even know where to go from here, this place was his heart, his soul, his everything.

Lan Wangji heard the commotion first. The twins were yelling excitedly and laughed hard, so he peeked from his window and saw that Wei Wuxian had already arrived with his entourage – the expensive looking lawyer, and the eccentric looking man who was wearing a huge green fur jacket, which looked so out of place in the rural area.

Luo Binghe helped them with their luggage and he could see that the man was flustered when he was talking to the green monstrosity and he wondered if Luo Binghe was interested in the odd duck.

But he also saw Xie Lian – who rarely came out because he hated cold – and saw that he was talking to Wei Wuxian's lawyer, the rich looking man, and he sighed.

Apparently spring had come for everyone except for him. He wondered if he would be able to escape his eternal winter – where he was trapped ever since everyone left him and put him in despair.

Thankfully for the twins, at least he had some slither of light in his bleak world. Not to mention the townspeople who depended on him.

Lan Wangji sighed once again as he poured himself the last of his tea, and prepared himself mentally to face the crowd outside.