Fate

Ch. 22

Yibo moved to sleep in Zhan's room for a while and let Xichen take his room. A'Yuan wanted to be with Wangji and Wuxian so they let him be with them at night. Xichen sat in his room still very confused about everything. It was made clear that he was in an alternate world. He met his doppelgänger as well as the others. While he was listening to Wei Wuxian tell him everything, he couldn't help but glance at his brother from time to time. He felt that Wangji was avoiding him in some way. Not looking at him in the eyes, not being as close.

He called him Huan-Ge which he hasn't done in a long time but Wangji also looked pained, and he looked like he had many things on his mind. Being around Wangji long enough, he knows that there are some looks that he notices, that Wangji was not happy. Wangji was hard to please as it is but he looked upset about something specifically but he wouldn't say what. As he sat there, a knock came at his bedroom door. So Xichen answered it, only to find Xiao Zhan standing there.

"Hi," Xiao Zhan said with a smile. Xichen smiled in return and let him in, "I just wanted to check in to see if you were alright and are comfortable?"

"I am thank you," Xichen said, "you said your name is Xiao Zhan?"

Zhan nodded, "I did, you can call me Zhan if you want."

"Alright Zhan, do you have a profession?" Xichen asked.

"I am a psychiatrist," Zhan replied and realized that Xichen did not know what that was, "I am a doctor that specializes on the mind and mental health disorders. Like while I was evaluating Wei Wuxian, he is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder as a result from the abuse he received when he was younger. Yibo is a regular doctor who specializes in the body."

"You are both doctors," Xichen said, "what about Yibo's brother?"

"Yibo's brother is a scientist. He researches things about the human body and genetic makeup. Biochemistry and Geneticist. If it involves the body he is always looking into and researching them. He also works on finding cures for rare diseases and illnesses," Zhan said.

Xichen nodded.

"This world is more advanced in medicine and technology than yours," Zhan told him, "if you ever have questions, feel free to ask."

"Yibo called you boyfriend?" He asked.

Zhan blushed a little and cleared his throat, "Wang Yibo and I have known each other since we were little kids. Our families were close and Yibo and I became close friends. We depended on each other and we even went to the same schools. He and I only just started exploring our feelings for each other, but we know we love each other."

"If you don't mind me asking, is that acceptable here? Love between the same gender?" Xichen asked.

"A good amount of places it is, but there are also places that are still not acceptable to it. The thing is, love is love. It shouldn't matter if the person loves the same gender or the opposite gender. If they are not hurting anyone, including themselves, they have a right to love. Our families have always been open to Yibo and I being together...well my brother's questions sometimes but that's his problem," Zhan replied.

"You have siblings?" Xichen asked.

"I do, I have an older step sister and a younger half brother. My mom died when I was really little and my dad remarried eventually. At the time I met my step sister Xuan Lu. She is really nice and has a mother-like personality to her. My half brother is Zhuo Cheng, he is a bit more temperamental but we blame his mother," Zhan explained, "Xuan Lu is married and she just had a baby boy not long ago. Perhaps you'll meet them someday."

"Are they lookalikes too?" Xichen asked.

"Wei Wuxian saw a picture of my sister and he said she looks like his shijie so probably," he replied.

Xichen nodded, "thank you for talking with me," he said.

"Of course, I am here as well as Yibo if you need anything...although, you might get more answers out of me than Yibo. He is quieter then I am," Zhan told him.

"I could tell," Xichen said, "growing up with Wangji, he was always quiet. I could tell that Yibo was similar but not as closed up."

"I am working with Wangji a little bit, he and I had a nice talk not long ago. He is willing to talk but he needs that trust and confidence. I even showed him a journal. He could write down his thoughts and feelings and it's all private so no one can read it but him. He said he would consider it," Zhan said.

"I am impressed," Xichen said, "but I will sit with him sometime to talk. He looks like he has things he wants to say."

"He does, he just wants you to really listen," Zhan said, "he is nervous to talk. I can tell he doesn't open up that often."

"He does not, but I will keep that in mind," Xichen said.

Zhan nodded, "well, I will let you get some rest. I will be in the room down the hall to the right if you need anything."

Xichen nodded and watched Zhan leave. He was impressed with how Xiao Zhan could have a successful talk with Wangji. Since Wangji is free from the sect at the moment, he has a chance to let go and really just be himself. He has no rules to follow and responsibilities to handle. His only concern was Wei Wuxian right now. He knows that he was framed and that was enough to know he had Wei Wuxian wrong for quite some time. Xichen could tell that there was a bit of development between Wangji and Wuxian. He just doesn't know how much yet. Knowing they have a new development, it worried just how much his brother lost his trust in him since finding out Wangji had Wuxian right from the beginning.