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The sunlight spilled through the curtains, casting a golden hue across the room and illuminating the figure lying on the bed. He looked serene, far removed from the stern expression that often graced his face. His brows were relaxed, and his lips slightly pouted in sleep. The peace of the moment shattered with the loud ringing of a phone. With eyes still closed, Lan Wangji blindly reached for it, fumbling across the sheets.
"Hello, Lan Wangji speaking."
Whatever he heard in response erased every trace of sleep. He bolted upright, washed quickly, and rushed out the door. He didn’t bother taking the car—his hotel was only a few minutes away, and the morning city traffic was a nightmare. He arrived at Sunshine’s Café, breathless. The café belonged to Wei Ying. The sign on the door still read “Closed,” and Wen Qing stood waiting, her expression grim.
“Why did you call me so urgently?” he asked, already feeling a strange tightness in his chest.
Wen Qing didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she turned and led him toward the apartment above the café.
“I was told to inform you that the date you and Wei Ying had planned for today is canceled,” she said quietly. “But I thought you needed to see why for yourself.”
Lan Wangji’s heart skipped. Canceled? Why? Did he do something wrong? Why hadn’t Wei Ying called him directly? And why wasn’t the café open? There were no signs of preparation—no fresh pastries, no scent of brewing coffee. Anxiety crept in like a shadow.
“Is everything alright?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
“No,” Wen Qing replied, unlocking the door to Wei Ying’s bedroom. “That’s why I brought you here.”
Lan Wangji stepped in.
The room was dark, curtains drawn. The figure on the bed was so still that, for a terrifying moment, Lan Wangji thought—no. But then he saw the gentle rise and fall of Wei Ying’s chest. His skin was pale, almost waxen, and his eyes stared straight ahead, unfocused.
“Wei Ying…” Lan Wangji whispered, taking a cautious step forward. He reached out, but there was no reaction—not even a blink.
He turned to Wen Qing, who silently led him back into the hallway.
“I hoped your presence would snap him out of it,” she murmured. “But I guess not.”
“What’s going on?” Lan Wangji asked. “Why is he like this?”
Wen Qing rubbed her arms, as though warding off a chill. “He’s dissociating. His therapist confirmed it this morning. It’s happened before, but rarely. Last night, he was fine. We even spoke before bed. I was on my way home from a hospital shift when I dropped by. He was on the phone—on speaker. At first, I thought it was you, given how upset he looked. But as I got closer, I realized it wasn’t.”
She paused, face hardening.
“The voice belonged to Jiang Cheng.”
Lan Wangji’s jaw clenched.
“He was cursing Wei Ying, blaming him for the collapse of the Jiang family. Apparently, the Jiang Group lost everything—investors pulled out, loans were recalled, assets liquidated. They're buried in debt now.”
She watched Lan Wangji’s expression closely. “I did some digging. Only one person could have orchestrated a downfall like that in three days.”
Lan Wangji didn’t respond, but his silence spoke volumes.
“Jiang Cheng called to extort Wei Ying, but that wasn’t what scared him. It was… everything else. The ghosts of his past, the control the Jiangs had over him for so long. Words, threats—they still have power. He was afraid. For Yuan, for me, for Wen Ning.”
She looked away, then continued, “Wei Ying had just read your good night message. He decided to cancel your date and asked me to inform you. He said he was too tired. I stayed the night just in case. This morning, he didn’t get up. Didn’t open the shop. By 6:30, I went to check on him. He was in bed, unresponsive, with that voice message from Jiang Cheng playing over and over on repeat.”
Lan Wangji’s stomach twisted.
“The stress pushed him over the edge. His therapist said we have to wait. He’ll come back when he’s ready.”
---
Hi everyone,
How have you been? I'm sorry for the delay in updates. I know I promised a chapter last month, but my exams got pushed to this month, and life has been draining. I haven't had time to sit and write, and I'm truly sorry for the delay. I hope you enjoy this chapter—I’ll try my best to update again tomorrow.
I’ve started a new job recently, so I’m adjusting to that too. Just a heads-up: I don’t have a written draft for this fic. Everything I write is on the fly, so if you notice any inconsistencies, please forgive me. Also, my Z key is broken, so if you see a missing Z in Wei Ying’s name (formerly Xiao Zhan), that’s why—just let me know, and I’ll fix it!
I never thought this story would reach so many people. I’m overwhelmed by your support—more than a thousand likes?! I’m screaming (silently)! Thank you so much for reading, voting, and commenting. Your words keep me going.
One last thing: please don’t take my portrayal of mental health as professional or accurate. I’m not an expert, and I’m writing based on my imagination. Thank you again for understanding.
Love always 💜
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innocent lotus flower
FanfictionLan wangji marries wei ying an innocent boy that has had a hard life but does not love him and mistreats him a few years later lan wangji first love returns will wei ying have captured lan wangji heart or will he get the short end of the stick. The...
