Phoenix

Chapter 8*Revised*

                 "Laaaaaan Zhaaaaaaaaaan do we really have to pretend nothing is going on between us? Shouldn't this be a happy time to get to know each other and do couple things?..... Wait what do couples even do together before marriage? Sect leader Jiang never goes near his wife and the only other couple I know are Shije and the peacock, but they don't interact either." Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji with big sparkling curious silver eyes hoping the other would have an answer. 

                  Lang Wangji just looked at him amused. To him, Wei Wuxian had seemed so experienced but it was all an act. "Must pretend in public." Was the only answer Wei Wuxian received as Lan Wangji walked away while he pouted. The hurt had not vanished completely. His mind understood the plan his instincts still took the actions as rejection. To his body, it was like his mate was ashamed to be his mate but he would try endure for Lan Wangji.

               Wei Wuxian stomped his feet on the ground before running to catch up to Lan Wangji. "Ugh! fine! but Lan Zhan we should really start talking to the people we were assigned to get. I mean the sooner we get this done the better right? It would be faster if we could split up but most of these places seem restricted from everyone but your main family line. So who should we talk to first?" Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji expectantly while bouncing on the heels of his feet. "Lan Bai is busiest but we may speak to him tonight....... come."

             Wei Wuxian marveled at the use of deserted pathways he never knew existed in Cloud Recesses even after all his exploring.  They managed to cross all of Cloud Recesses to the educational pavilions without running into anyone. Wei Wuxian was impressed his brain already trying to make plans to utilize this new information, But the more he thought about it the more he suspected he wouldn't find the paths again without Lan Wangji at his side. It annoyed him a little bit that he couldn't utilize these walkways alone for mischief. 

             Wei Wuxian was so in his thoughts that he bumped into Lan Wangji when the boy stopped in front of an unassuming building. Lan Wangji wrapped his arm around Wei Wuxian making sure he didn't fall while opening the door. There was an older male inside behind a desk with mountains of paperwork. He stood face full of aggravation before he noticed Lan Wangji which seemed to startle the man before he schooled himself into an impassive face. "Second young master, to what do I owe this visit? I am a very busy man as you can see." 

             Lan Wangji hummed before bowing in respect to the elder. "It is because you are busy that we came to you first." Noticing that Lan Wangji wasn't sure how to continue Wei Wuxian stepped up. "Elder Bai we need a favor from you requested by Lan Yi but first is there anything we can do to help even a little?" The man looked at them critically before nodding he had Wei Wuxian sort the papers alphabetically and birth date while Lan Wangji was to find specific profiles and bind them together. With all of them working together the paperwork was more manageable so the elder made tea so they could speak.

           Wei Wuxian made sure to narrate everything that happened to them and the request Lan Yi had made to meet in her cave in a week during the mid-day meal. For a few minutes, Wei Wuxian felt worried recognizing the mischievous twinkle in the old man's eyes. "Do you know what is the reason for gathering us there?" Lan Bai asked patiently while drinking his tea. Both boys shook their heads "No I only know it is to make sure me and Lan Zhan won't be torn apart." The elder studied them carefully before grabbing both their wrists in each hand. 

           "I see and are you guys willing to fight to be together? The road will not be an easy one but if you are both determined love will prevail." The old man chuckled at the determined gleam to rose in the young boy's eyes proud to see this younger generation be stronger than the last few. " I will be there now go on it is almost curfew."    

            They bowed in respect and left with an excitable Wei Wuxian bouncing around Lan Wangji. "Lan Zhan that was really easy. Do you think everyone will be this easy to get? What did he do with our wrist? I didn't notice anything. Who is he anyway? That was a LOT of paperwork for one little old man." Lan Wangji waited amusedly for the pause in Wei Wuxian's speech. 

             "Lan Bai has been the Cloud Recesses matchmaker for over a hundred years. He was looking into how our bond was fated to develop. No, it will not be easy. Elders in seclusion are stubborn so we may have to plead or prove to be worth their time. Tonight was not supposed to be easy. Now we must separate Wei Ying. Will meet you in the library after class to get the next elder." Wei Wuxian pouted before leaning up and kissing Lan Wangji on the cheek before running away.

            Returning to his room was a whole other hassle for Wei Wuxian. His brother was there waiting for him to interrogate where he was and what he was doing. It was a harsh reminder of how bad their relationship actually was. Jiang Cheng kept yelling at him for disgracing the sect with almost everything he did. He noticed the first change since the seal was lifted that night. 

           Normally he would feel his heartbreak at the thought that his brother was always disappointed in him and feel the need to change. That night though it still hurt but it was bearable. He still loved his brother but he was over being treated badly by both his brother and Madam Yu. So for the first time since ever, he ignored his brother's rant and climbed into bed to go to sleep early.