One Year Time Bomb

First Love

After that night, Lan Wangji returned broken, detached, and cold. His father hit him when he was forced to go to Wei Wuxian. The hit was somewhat gruesome, he just realized how pathetic he was.

Lan Qiren and Lan Tian watched him withdraw to his shell. They have already seen him once like this before. Seen him this pitiful.

They cannot form any words when Lan Wangji's tears finally fell. Lan Wangji stood motionless. He did not sob, nor make any noise, he just stood in front of them, silent as his tears fell.

"When?" He asked, not sparing them a glance.

"Since the day he had his seizure." Lan Qiren replied, "Ms. Wen told us."

"Why?"

"Because he wanted to tell you himself..." Lan Tian, "however you chose otherwise."

Lan Wangji did not speak. He turned around and paved the way to his room.

"Do not seek for him Wangji..." Lan Qiren said, "let him be happy—away from you..."

Lan Wangji paused, his hand on the knob.

"I know it hurts... But..." Lan Qiren said, "this was your choice, Wangji..."

He turned around. Lan Qiren and Lan Tian expected the worse but Lan Wangji did not. He merely smiled at them.

Hurt. He just smiled at them, a painful smile they knew will remain forever. They stared at him but Lan Wangji turned around for the third time and disappeared.

Lan Qiren only sighs. This was too much, too painful for the both of them. But... No one's fault... No one to blame.

Later, Feng An's family arrived to discuss matters with them. However, Lan Tian stood his ground and refused, announcing that no marriage will happen between their families. And declared that if Lan Wangji would marry, it would be because of love and not because of arrangement

Feng An shouted her refusal, but Lan Tian did not give her a favorable response, "how long do you want to torment my son?"

The Feng family remained silent, "just how greedy you are that you can't even see him breaking apart? It's not love it's selfishness! How long do you intend to keep him by yourself when he does not belong to you! If my son would marry, I will allow him to marry for love... So, please... Stop torturing him more than you did! You just killed him with your selfishness by taking him away from his love!"

Feng An wanted to answer back and recite her reasons but her parents slapped her hard, "enough is enough!" Her father shouted, "I didn't know I raised a monster like you."

After that, that was the start of the Feng Family's fall. The Wen's pressured their business and cause them to shut down a few. Her mother divorced her father because she could not live a poor life. She was left behind with an angry father and cold siblings who continuously reprimand her. She had nowhere to run, nowhere to go.

Feng An went to school only to be bullied. The previous Belladonna of the school was reduced to such a pitiful state where she would eat scraps from her classmate's plates. She had gone harsh words, rotten eggs thrown at her. Those who knew Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian's love branded her as a third wheeler—a blackmailer.

There was one time she saw Lan Wangji. But, how stupid she was to approach the man who despise her to the guts.

"What?" Lan Wangji said, who was reeking with alcohol, "telling me you're committing suicide again? Go on... I have wasted so much of my time with you... I wouldn't care anymore..."

She watched Lan Wangji became so wasted. Always reeking with alcohol and his face covered with cuts and bruises. His eyes were dead, not even a speck of light or the usual standard that had been set.