Backlash Part 2

Chapter 225: Sightings

"A-Yao," Lan Xichen greeted automatically. "Is everything alright?" There was a tiny seed of hope in Lan Xichen's chest. Hope that Jin Guangyao was here with information about where Wei Wuxian was being held. They did suspect Wei Wuxian was held by the Jin, and Jin Guangyao arriving without any prior warning would be consistent with bringing urgent and sensitive information.

"Xichen-ge," Jin Guangyao greeted.

Lan Xichen remembered insisting on the informal address when Jin Guangyao had been hiding him during the war. Jin Gaungyao had been so painfully polite, deferential as he cited his own unworthiness to address Sect Leader Lan so familiarly. At the end of the war it had been almost a reflex for Lan Xichen to insist Jin Guangyao call him Xichen-ge.

Sometimes Lan Xichen regretted that. Jin Guangyao had saved his life, but Lan Xichen was not comfortable with the way Jin Guangyao had begun speaking about Wei Qing and Wei Wuxian after the war. It bothered Lan Xichen, and it bothered him that Jin Guangyao continued to do it, even after Lan Xichen had addressed Jin Guangyao's concerns.

By then, Jin Guangyao was already used to calling Lan Xichen by the more intimate name. Lan Xichen had tried calling Jin Guangyao by his full name during the end of one particularly frustrating conversation. Lan Xichen had been frustrated, and thought the more formal address would make it clear how Lan Xichen felt about Jin Guangyao continuing to bring up the same concerns about Wei Wuxian and Wei Qing over and over.

Jin Guangyao's eyes had gone wide, shining with hurt as though Lan Xichen had slapped him across the face. Seeing that look on Jin Guangyao's face made Lan Xichen feel like a monster. Lan Xichen hadn't been able to bring himself to call Jin Guangyao anything but 'A-Yao' ever since.

"A-Yao, is something wrong?" Lan Xichen asked with growing concern. Jin Guangyao had not answered his first question, and Jin Guangyao must know what today was. To visit today, it had to be something urgent.

"I don't want to burden you Xichen-ge. There have been disturbing reports from a few of the minor sects that have been causing some trouble, but that's not why I'm here." Jin Guangyao gave him a tired smile. He did look exhausted, but that only reinforced the question of what could have been so urgent to prompt the visit.

Lan Xichen was also exhausted. No one was willing to let the search for Wei Wuxian and Nuan-er slow down. The strain of their absence was wearing on everyone, as was the strain of the search. Today was an especially difficult day, particularly for Lan Wangji. There was a reason that Lan Xichen had turned down even Nie Mingjue's offer to visit.

Lan Xichen knew there was a polite way to ask why Jin Guangyao was here. Lan Xichen was certain he had asked people why they had visited without flat out saying, 'Why are you here?' Lan Xichen could not seem to think of a single alternative way to phrase that question. He knew that asking the question that way would be rude, and could even be considered hostile. He knew that there were polite ways to ask. All of them were apparently beyond him today and Lan Xichen was not certain he was going to make it through a polite conversation of any length when all he wanted to do today was spend time with his didi.

"I hope you don't mind. I brought tea and asked to have some prepared for us." Jin Guangyao said, already pouring tea for Lan Xichen.

Lan Xichen smiled gratefully and hoped it didn't look as forced as it felt. He didn't usually struggle so much with patience. Patience, calm, etiquette, manners... These were things Lan Xichen had been able to do almost in his sleep from a young age. He had been praised for how effortlessly diplomatic and sociable he could be since a young age. Much in the way Lan Wangji had been praised for embodying the rules of their sect.