WangXian Forever Book 10

Chapter 20: Confrontation

Wei Ying wakes up feeling a little cold, and the absence of a certain warm body in his bed makes him jolt upright with worry. Where is his husband?

Thankfully, Lan Zhan is just completing his daily exercise routine, and so Wei Ying slides out of bed with his blanket and crawls towards him, half asleep. Lan Zhan is doing a handstand, and there's just enough room for Wei Ying to slide between his strong upright arms and lift his face up for a good morning kiss. He falls asleep again, and the next time he wakes up, he's back in bed.

This time, Lan Zhan's arms are around him, keeping him warm and safe.

"Good morning, my love," he whispers, stretching and then smiling when he feels warm lips lingering on his forehead. "You know, we're not in Gusu at the moment, so there's no need for you to wake up at five."

"Mn. But it is a habit now."

"I like sleeping with you."

"Mn. Me, too."

"What time is it?"

"Just past seven."

"What time do you think they have breakfast here?" Wei Ying opens an eye, squinting at his husband. "It's just that I don't want to be rude, especially since we're gonna have to have words this morning. I'd rather not start something from the get-go."

"Nobility has servants to keep track of things. No doubt we will be summoned soon."

"We can cuddle some more, then."

"Mn."

Wei Ying detects amusement and that quiet happiness Lan Zhan wears like a cape about his shoulders, cocooning them from the rest of the world. Sometimes, he thinks their lives would be so much simpler if it was just the two of them.

"If I could, I would spend every second with you."

"Mn." Lan Zhan sounds pleased at that.

"Do you think we would ever get tired of each other, though?"

"No."

The answer comes back so quickly, attached to a strong belief that it would be impossible.

"Sometimes, I look at you and think how lucky I am. That we met and came together like this is enough of a miracle anyway, given how many people there are in the world, but that we survived a war and still managed to fall in love through it all. But it's not just that. Circumstances aside, it's you, Lan Zhan. I'm so lucky to have you. I am grateful for it every day." Wei Ying presses into his body and plants a warm kiss on his cheek. "I love you so much," he says, blinking back tears.

"As I love you. Out of the two of us, it is I who is the lucky one. We were meant to find each other, although the guarantee of that was never certain. It is definitely a reward for all the shit we had to go through."

"Lan Zhan! You never swear!" Wei Ying is scandalised enough to sit up and straddle him, staring into his rapturous golden eyes, so intense and full of love. He has to laugh out of sheer joy, and it bubbles out of him like a fountain of delight.

Lan Zhan cradles his beloved face, watching him back and feeling a combination of grateful exuberance and love. Like a pot of melted gold hidden deep inside, whenever Lan Zhan thinks about his Wei Ying, it bubbles joyously in his chest and overflows with his love.

Wei Ying is just about to kiss him, when there's a knock on the door.

"Breakfast will be served in half an hour," the voice of a maid calls out. "My Grand lady expects your presence in the pavilion of yesterday, and once you are ready, may the young masters please themselves to come out, and they shall be escorted to there. Good morning."