Pitched Normal

47

Things had changed quite abruptly, even for Lan Wangji. He could tell that Wei Ying was having trouble with the sudden changes as well, though he was good enough at acting not to show them to others, his discomfort, anxiety, fear. Lan Wangji saw it though, and it would seem it was similar enough for some...he saw things that others could not see with Wei Ying, and Wei Ying saw things that others did not see for him-barring his brother, of course, but XiChen was a unique situation. Still, he was grateful in some ways for these changes, because it meant that Wei Ying relied on him a bit more, something which caused him to have more time with Wei Ying, as he began to studiously avoid the other disciples. Lan Wangji was quite happy to indulge in this avoidance, though he was uncertain whether it was a good thing for Wei Ying in the long run. He would allow it, for now, but he had a feeling that he would need to intervene at some point. What point that would be, he was not sure, but it was coming soon enough.

He had also seen how Huaisang and those Wen siblings were searching for Wei Ying on their off time. However, it was naught, as Wei Ying and him had taken to holing themselves up in either the back section of the library, or Wei Ying's rooms so that they could speak with each other about a wide many things. Mostly about Jiang Cheng. Wei Ying was truly worried about what was going to happen, how Jiang Cheng was going to act, and what it could mean for the sect of the Jiangs, but he took things gracefully. Though Lan Wangji still sometimes saw him wince whenever they were in class and Jiang Cheng made a fool of himself, the other had taken to not intervening as Lan Wangji had suggested. He had said that it was highly likely that the Jiangs were resentful, at the moment, considering that Wei Ying had managed to procure security for himself, rather than having to rely on them. Highly likely being a vast understatement, if what his brother had told him was true, and Wangji had no reason to believe that his brother had lied. Lying was simply not his brother's sort of thing, though deception and redirection was far more like him than anything else, Lan Wangji had always managed to see through it. They had always agreed to not mess with each other like that, not with how things went after their Father and Mother's relationship went, and by contrast their father and uncle's. They would never act like that with each other, preferring to be as honest as possible when it came to their own situations and expectations, and potential continuations of previous actions.

That was why XiChen had told Lan Wangji what he had essentially forced the Jiangs into agreeing to, after all, the proposal that they are not allowed, or allotted, to be having contact with Wei Ying after the wedding was perhaps a large step, and difficult in many ways for them to agree to, but they had not really had a choice. It was to be expected, but Lan Wangji personally saw it as a good thing. He was glad his brother had stood up for Wei Ying. Though they both agreed that this sort of information would not pass beyond them and Uncle.

Wei Ying may be kind and graceful, but Lan Wangji did not want to figure out whether he would be pleased with the steps that Xichen had gone for him. Though it was for the best, Wangji doubted that Wei Ying would see it that way, which could cause complications in the future. As a result, it was far easier to simply pretend that the Jiangs wanted nothing to do with him after the wedding. This was getting easier with Jiang Cheng's dark looks and studious avoidance. At this rate, Wangji would not even have to explain things to Wei Ying, Jiang Cheng was falling into him and his brother's ideals at the very rate that they were eager to have it happen.

It was something else about Huaisang though. Wangji would have to speak to his brother, and see what was to be done about him, and whether or not this interference could become a threat to their mutual attempts to keep Wei Ying safe from his family.

Wangji was not necessarily worried about the Nie Heir, but he was aware that it could cause complications if things were not handled soon. He was not sure if he would have to talk to the Nie Heir, or if they should let Wei Ying talk to him, and allow the other to simply ask his questions and get whatever answers it was that he was looking for. He had no idea how his brother would want to approach this, but he did have a meeting with him later that evening, after his nightly renditions with Wei Ying, pouring over the books that Uncle had given them earlier to handle as homework.

It was yet another thing, Wei Ying knew almost everything in the books, but sometimes he seemed to forget simple things. Wei Ying's genius was definitely something unique, and it was fascinating to run circles around. Wei Ying's mind was a brilliant place, and together they had begun to assess the issues with the Wen, or at least, the issues that Wangji felt were relevant. It was astounding to see his thoughts, and Wangji really enjoyed listening. 

As for the issues with the Jiang, circling back around to that...Wangji was certain that things would manage to clear themselves over, and Wangji was rather happy that he likely would not have to even do anything. Though, with the continued disturbances of Jiang Cheng, it was likely he would be forced to push that the Heir return home if he was going to continue being problematic.